Despite the fact that textiles are a necessary component of daily life, relatively few people are aware of the amount of labor and attention that goes into their creation. Many textiles would be useless without finishing, which is the process of dying, printing, or coating a fabric in order to make it functional. A family-run company called Textilveredlung Drechsel GmbH, with its headquarters in Selb, Bavaria, has committed itself to this significant endeavor and produces high-quality goods from textile raw materials. The business has long depended on its partnership with Mahlo, a maker of machinery, to do this.
Textilveredlung Drechsel GmbH’s path from modest beginnings to become a well-known service provider in the textile sector is an outstanding one. Emil Geipel and Friedrich Drechsel established the business in 1950 under the name “Färberei Geipel & Drechsel.” The business began by re-dying clothing and blankets and dying yarns for the carpet and scarf industries. By employing the first stenter frame to dry the colored and washed fabrics, they drastically sped up the process and transformed the industry as early as 1952.
For more than 70 years, Textilveredlung Drechsel GmbH has blended cutting-edge technology with traditional craftsmanship.
The corporation developed gradually over the following thirty years or more. As a top service provider today, Textilveredlung Drechsel GmbH finishes a broad variety of textile products, including textiles for sun protection like pleated, roller, and vertical blinds as well as textiles for the home and house, upholstery, and increasingly, technical textiles. The firm, which employs around 150 people, processes 10 to 15 tons of textiles every day, or 80,000 to 150,000 square meters.
Before it is finished, the straightening automation removes distortions.
Managing Director Dr. Ernst Drechsel, his son Bernd Drechsel, and his niece Annette Herold currently oversee the family firm. According to Bernd Drechsel, “Our goal is to always fulfil the growing demands of the market and offer innovative solutions.” For many years, the systems from Mahlo GmbH + Co KG in Saal a der Donau, Bavaria, have played a significant role in fulfilling these objectives. The commercial partnership dates back more than 40 years. Furthermore, the family business has consistently chosen Mahlo, even in the recent past. We bought a coated stenter frame in 2001. We needed it to be able to transport a wide range of commodities because of the diversity of our products. Only Mahlo was able to meet the requirements as intended after much testing. The clamping frame was therefore fully equipped with a Mahlo levelling machine, three measuring bridges of the Qualiscan QMS quality measuring system and a process control system.
Technological advancements for optimal accuracy
In practically all textile applications, distortions may be identified and corrected using the Orthopac RVMC automated straightening system. Before the fabric is finished, Drechsel says, “this is absolutely essential, as distortions can then no longer be corrected or can only be corrected with a new fabric pass.”
The three QMS systems, among other things, verify whether the product has the appropriate moisture content or if the coating application matches the stipulated amounts. By doing this, we not only guarantee the textile’s functionality but also promote sustainable manufacture by avoiding the use of needless energy or raw resources.
solutions that are specifically tailored to meet difficult needs
In addition to updating its stenter frame, Drechsel developed a unique concept specifically for Mahlo in 2004. There wasn’t precisely a lot of room for installation. The straightening machine for Drechsel was customized because of space issues at the outlet, according to Matthias Wulbeck, Product Manager QCS at Mahlo. In order to insert a space-saving fine straightener into the outfeed, the machine maker altered it. “It took a lot of effort and money on both ends, but it was worthwhile.” Mahlo‘s ability to find solutions even in difficult cases characterises the company and is a decisive factor in the long-standing cooperation between the two family businesses.
The incident about the malfunction of a straightening machine that required specific rollers with a unique breadth serves as another illustration of this strong relationship. To ensure a successful restart of the manufacturing line on Monday, Mahlo personnel in Saal worked through the night and fog to take the rollers from another machine, bring them to Selb, and install the parts. “What unites us is using systems as effectively as possible and responding quickly to customer problems,” adds Wulbeck.
increased ability to create a sustainable future
These two businesses are still successfully collaborating today. Drechsel made an investment in a second coating stenter frame in 2023 in order to boost throughput and reduce the possibility of downtime. And of course, this investment was also made in close cooperation with Mahlo. Another Qualiscan QMS quality measuring system with three scanning frames supports the smooth running of the production line.
Through reliability and quality, also thanks to the Mahlo systems, Textilveredlung Drechsel GmbH has established itself as an important partner in the textile industry. With a combination of tradition and The firm has demonstrated through innovation, a broad range of applications, and a committed team that textile finishing is not just an art but also a crucial facet of the textile sector.