Schoeller Textil AG is taking over Eschler Textil GmbH production and R&D facility in Balingen Germany as part of a cooperative agreement between the two family-owned Swiss textile companies that will leave the Eschler brand intact.
“I am particularly pleased about this collaboration,” said Franz Albers, president of the board of administration of Schoeller Textil AG. “It is the coming together of two companies, each of which is among the world-wide market leaders in its own segment and ideally complements one another.”
Eschler and Schoeller have been cooperating at the production level for many years, but under the new agreement, the Eschler family will become joint shareholders of the Balingen operation, said Peter Eschler.
“The Eschler family is proud to be represented in this merger, both at the operative level and as shareholders,” he said.
In November 2011, Eschler announced it was building an innovation center in Bühler as part of a restructuring plan. This plan will now be implemented in Schoeller’s research and development department in Sevelen and in the Schoeller laboratory for chemical analysis and microbiological studies in Gams.
“The power of this concentrated expertise opens up entirely new dimensions for further exciting developments,” declares Hans-Jürgen Hübner, administration board member of Schoeller Textil AG.
Schoeller Textil AG is taking over Eschler Textil GmbH in Balingen, Germany, while Eschler Group’s sales organization for commercial and professional sportswear which will remain in Bühler employing 45 people. Matthias Eschler, the former managing director of Eschler Group, will remain in charge of the plant in Germany and will further expand the Technical Textiles segment. In addition to these Technical Textiles, the production plant in Balingen will also manufacture the high-tech knit fabrics for commercial and professional sportswear for Schoeller.
Within the new association with Schoeller, the well-known Eschler brand will retain its independence.
Schoeller will soon be commissioning a new and highly modern automated washing system for stretch woven and knits at the Sevelen site. This will give maximum consideration to the highest environmental standards and economical use of resources. Production will continue to comply with bluesign® the world-wide most stringent ecological standard for textiles.
Siegfried Winkelbeiner, CEO Schoeller Textil AG, views this merger as an investment in the joint future. “We are convinced that there will always be a global market for premium Swiss textile products,” he said. “With the combined innovative power of these two companies, entirely new perspectives are opening up for the cooperation with our joint customers.”
