Despite rising energy costs in Germany, ETV, a Gescher-based finishing specialist, continues to thrive. Founded in 1950, the company is installing a third Monforts Montex 8500 finishing range with a working width of 3.2 meters. This new system includes a Montex Coat coating unit and an Eco Booster heat recovery system, both aimed at improving productivity and energy efficiency.
ETV's managing director, Dirk Tunney, attributes the company's success to a strategic pivot 25 years ago, moving from traditional textiles to technical textiles, films, and membranes. Today, the company processes 1,500 tons of yarn and 1.6 million linear meters of fabric annually. Additionally, ETV prints 4 million linear meters of fabrics and coats up to 40 million meters of materials each year.
However, escalating energy prices present significant challenges. Energy costs, which once comprised less than 10 per cent of overhead, now account for up to 13 per cent, amounting to an additional €400,000 per year.
Monforts, a key partner, is addressing energy efficiency through innovations like the Eco Booster, which can save up to 35 per cent on energy. The company is also part of a consortium exploring green hydrogen as a future energy source for textile finishing processes. ETV’s proximity to Monforts' headquarters makes it a prime candidate for testing these new technologies.
Tunney highlights the need for government support in advancing sustainable solutions, stressing that without decarbonization efforts, German industry risks deindustrialization.
