Voices of the Professional Textile Care Industry
To support exchange of ideas for profitable business development
We are living in dynamic times of great and fast changes. We see rapid innovations and new technologies, a need for sustainable and more circular processing, fast changing customer demands, tremendous increases of operational costs and a lack of availability of staff. Just to name a few aspects. A true transformation of the industry is needed to create a sufficient profitability and a new long term perspective again.
This series of VOICES OF THE PTC INDUSTRY aims to support this proces by presenting the views and visions of esteemed and influential Professionals from stakeholders of all parts of the world.
The VOICES of YOUR CHOICE!
Yukonda Esparragoza – Combine Experience, Technology, Sustainability and Collaboration
Yukonda Esparragoza Jiménez – CEO – Lavandería Industrial Romeral For more than four decades, Lavandería Industrial Romeral has developed alongside the tourism and hospitality market in Gran Canaria. Since its foundation in 1980, the company has moved from a traditional service model towards an increasingly automated and digitalized industrial organization….
Martin Rauch – Laundry 2.0: Robotics, AI and the Future of Industrial Laundry
Martin Rauch – JENSEN-GROUP My vision for the industrial laundry is a workplace in which technology takes over much of the repetitive and physically demanding production work, while people move into safer, healthier and more valuable roles. I believe we are entering a new era in which robotics, artificial intelligence…
Suresh Bhatia – India’s Professional Textile Care Market on the Verge of Transformation
Suresh Bhatia – President – Dry Cleaners & Launderers Association of India (DLAI) My view is that India offers enormous long-term potential for professional textile care, but it is important to understand one thing from the beginning: India is not one market. It is a country of around 1.4 billion…
Dirk Berges – “Robotics Will Transform Laundry Operations — But It Needs a High-Performance Foundation”
Automation, artificial intelligence and sustainability are shaping the future of professional textile care. Yet, in the view of Dirk Berges, Head of International Sales and Member of the Group Management Team at Kannegiesser, industrial laundries will not be redefined by robots alone. In conversation with Geert Böttger of CINET, Berges…
Mercè Girbau – Transforming Our Industry Through Sustainability, Collaboration and Long-Term Vision
I am Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Girbau Group, a family-owned global manufacturer and supplier of comprehensive textile treatment solutions. Founded in 1920 in Vic, Catalonia – Spain, Girbau develops and supports equipment, systems and services for professional laundries worldwide. Our purpose is to be a reference in creating…
Paolo Schira – The future of professional textile care
President & CEO, Electrolux Professional Group Since May 2026 Paolo Schira has been President and CEO of Electrolux Professional Group. He joined the company in 2006 and led Business Area Laundry before taking up his current role. Electrolux Professional Group is one of the leading global providers of laundry, food…
Julie Lijun – Customer Value, Digital Intelligence and Sustainability
Lijun Zhu – CEO – Fornet My view is that China’s professional textile care market will become more digital, more personalized and more closely integrated into the customer’s everyday life. The companies that succeed will be those that continue to create clear customer value while combining omnichannel service, sustainability and…
Anup Poddar – Technology, Sustainability and Integration Will Shape the Future
Anup Poddar – Managing Director – BEEPEE Group My view is that India’s professional textile care industry is moving rapidly from fragmented service models toward larger, more integrated and technology-enabled operations. The companies that combine operational efficiency, sustainability, digital systems and consistent quality will be best positioned to capture the…
Krystian Wielgus – Build the Laundry as One Integrated System
Krystian Wielgus – Co-Owner – G.K. Wielgus Industrial Laundry “When we started our industrial laundry operations in 2014, we built the business from the ground up. In our first full year, we processed approximately 40–50 tonnes of textiles. Today, we process a similar volume in a single week, while still…
Fabrice Shoshany – From Textile Rental to Full Circularity
Fabrice Shoshany – CEO – Netexial My view is that professional textile care needs to explain much more clearly what customers are actually buying. In textile rental, the value is not only the washing process. It is the complete management of textiles, resources, standards, logistics and service. That broader value…
Alexander Seitz – Seitz – Change is inevitable, so embrace it and move forward
Mr. Alexander Seitz is owner of Seitz in Germany. He has led the company for more than 30 years. Seitz is a leading global supplier of chemicals and solutions for the laundry and dry cleaning industry, with a particular strength in retail textile care. In which countries and market sectors…
Stephane Cohen – Hublo – GUARDIANS OF GARMENT VALUE: INVEST, INNOVATE AND COLLABORATE
Stephane Cohen is founder and President of Hublo, a French mission-driven professional textile care company created in 2020. Hublo operates four premium dry-cleaning and laundry locations in Paris, with collection and delivery services for private customers, companies and leading luxury and fashion brands. Our ambition is to combine textile craftsmanship…
Rui Torres – Wash Lavanderia – PROFESSIONALISM, PEOPLE AND PROCESSES: THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PROFIT AND LOSS
1. Can you please share with us your current position/job and profile of the organization you work for? I am Rui Torres, I have almost 30 years of experience in the PTC market, in retail, as a franchisee at first, and as an independent operator over the years, and I…
Zarina Ismail – Drop & Wash – BALANCING QUALITY, TECHNOLOGY AND SUSTAINABILITY FOR THE FUTURE
1. Can you please share with us your current position/job and profile of the organization you work for? I am representing Drop & Wash Sdn Bhd, an eco-friendly professional textile care company based in Malaysia and an accredited Social Enterprise founded in 2008. Drop & Wash was established with a…
Christoph Richter – Kreussler – FOCUS ON QUALITY, PROMOTE YOUR SERVICES AND SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITIES
Mr. Christoph Richter is the Managing Director of Kreussler Textile Care. Manufacturer of laundry- & dry-cleaning detergents, dosing-, energy- & water-saving solutions, service for the professional laundry industry In which countries and market sectors of Professional Textile Care did you work and did you gained experiences? Could you please describe…
Sultan Mehmood Kayani – Bubble Laundry – INNOVATION, SUSTAINABILITY AND PEOPLE: THE DRIVERS OF LONG-TERM SUCCESS
Mr. Sultan Mehmood Kayani currently serves as an Environment, Health, Safety, Quality & Infection Control Manager for one of the largest healthcare laundry service providers in the United Arab Emirates. Our organization specializes in processing healthcare textiles for hospitals, clinics, healthcare facilities, hospitality clients, and industrial customers. We operate under…
Luca Rappini – FMB Group – MAKING LIFE EASIER THROUGH PROFESSIONAL MACHINES AND SERVICES
1. Can you please share with us your current position/job and profile of the organization you work for? I’m the CEO of FMB Group (Dry cleaning machines manufacturers: Union S.p.A, Firbimatic S.p.A. and Realstar S.r.l.). 2. In which countries and market sectors of Professional Textile Care did you work and…
Jash Dalal – The Laundry Concierge – INVEST IN QUALITY, PEOPLE AND TRUST
Jash Dalal is Founder & Director of The Laundry Concierge, a premium dry-cleaning and textile-care business in India. Our focus is on delivering reliable, high-quality garment care through professional processes, customer convenience and a strong service culture. I have spent more than 15 years in the laundry industry, including over…
Mrs Dawn Avery – NCA – Embrace AI and digital tools, deliver highly personal service
Artificial intelligence is already changing the customer journey in professional textile care, but Dawn Avery does not see technology as the industry’s only differentiator. Her perspective is built around a combination of strong systems, accessible information, human service and trust. The companies best prepared for the future will be those…
Dr. Geert Böttger – CINET – “The Future of PTC: Opportunities Amid Economic Challenges”
The Future of Professional Textile Care: Opportunities Amid Economic ChallengesAn Interview with Dr. Geert Böttger, Advisory Board Member of CINET Professional textile cleaning is a vital industry, not only for its functional benefits but also for the comfort and convenience it offers to customers. Geert Böttger, a key member of…
Mr. Paolo Schira – Electrolux Professional Group -“PTC can offer an important contribution to CO2 savings “
Electrolux Professional has a clear track record on sustainability, even when awareness of this concept was not so strong in the market. When and how did Electrolux Professional start to include sustainability in their products and services as a key priority? When I joined Electrolux Professional in 2006, sustainability was…
Zhu Lijun – FORNET – “The key to sustained success lies in a balance between online and offline services.”
An Insight into FORNET’s Growth and the Future of Professional Laundry in China and Beyond: A Conversation with CEO Zhu Lijun As CEO of FORNET, China’s largest laundry chain, Zhu Lijun (Julie) has been at the forefront of the professional textile care industry for over two decades. With 1,800 outlets…
Mr. Anup Poddar – BeePee Group – “Automation is the future of laundry care in India.”
A Visionary Approach to the Indian Textile and Laundry Industry: Interview with Anup Poddar, Vice president of CINET & DLAI In this interview, we explore the remarkable journey of Anup Poddar, a leading figure in the Indian laundry and textile care industry. As a Vice – President of the International…
Mr. Chirag Bahtia – Cleanovo – “PTC offers a wealth of opportunities”
1. Please introduce yourself (personal profile, current job, background, experiences, and interests) I’m Chirag Bhatia, a first-generation entrepreneur and the driving force behind CLEANOVO – Dry Clean Experts, a leading brand in India’s retail laundry sector. I’m passionate about revolutionizing the way people experience dry-cleaning and laundry services across multiple…
Dawn Hargrove-Avery – NCA – “Strengthen International Cooperation in PTC”
This weeks Voice of the industry is coming from Mrs. Dawn Hargrove-Avery, Executive Director of the National Cleaners Association in the USA. To strengthen International Cooperation is of great interest to all professionals in the Industry. Please check below: All contributions in the “Voices of the PTC industry” are published…
Mr. Toran Brown – Rytina Fine Cleaners & Launderers – “I’d like to share with you where I believe we’re heading over the next 3 to 5 years”
Johannes Schmid-Wiedersheim Director of Texcare International
Texcare International 2024: The Return of a Global Laundry and Dry-Cleaning EventAfter an eight-year hiatus, Texcare International is back. Set to take place in 2024, the much-anticipated event is once again set to bring the global laundry and dry-cleaning industries together in Frankfurt, Germany. Johannes Schmid-Wiedersheim, the director of Messe…
Mr. Kyle Nesbit – DLI – “Today we sit in a pivotal time in the evolution of our industry.”
Joe Hallak – Hallak Cleaners, New York – “Excellent & Branded Services a Must!”
Mr. Niels Pols – NETEX – ”Today’s consumers are more demanding…”
Transforming the Industry: … A proactive approach and collaboration needed!Niels Pols has been actively involved in textile cleaning since 1998. He started his career in the family business of his parents. Over the years, he has expanded his expertise, worked for several other drycleaners and some years ago he was…
Léon Wennekes – Fornet – “There’s definitely a lot happening in our industry“
PUSHING FOR EVOLUTION IN THE LAUNDRY & DRY CLEANING INDUSTRY BackgroundThe interview with Leon Wennekes delves into the current state and future prospects of the professional textile care (PTC) industry. Wennekes who has been active in the sector for 16 years, brings a wealth of experience and insight into how…
Mr. Christopher White – America’s Best Cleaners – “We are really happy with the growth and trajectory that our Affiliates have seen over the last two years.”
Mr. Charles A. Anton – Anton’s Cleaners – “If you were beginning your career, would you choose to enter this industry? Why or why not?”
As our industry exits the pandemic, the impact of it has remained and may have accelerated the piece trend decline which began during the recession of 2008/2009. Pieces have diminished for a variety of reasons: smoking bans, remote working, more casual working dress standards, easier care garments, and price increases…
Mr. Ken Uchikoshi – Sankosha – “Market changes in Japan and elsewhere require new strategies and supply chain cooperation!“
Before COVID Japan was still the biggest Drycleaning market in the World. However, during the COVID period many cleaners closed. Meanwhile Dress Codes changed and drycleaning was just not that attractive anymore. Shirts became the most popular product and finishing was top. However, sales of drycleaning solutions dropped considerably. Focus…
Diana Vollmer – CINET Executive Board – The Future of the Textile Cleaning Industry: Embracing Collaboration and Innovation
Introduction In a recent interview with Diana Vollmer, a prominent Marketing Expert in the textile cleaning industry, we delved into the future of the sector, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation and innovation. The discussion was part of the “Voices of the Industry” series, which aims to gather insights from…
Jan Barlow – Jan’s Professional Cleaners – “Being the Best isn’t Resting on your Laurels”
Jan Barlow has been owner of Jan’s Professional Cleaners in Clio Michigan since 1982. Starting in 1984, she has been involved in Association work in the US for organizations such as the Drycleaning and Laundry Institute (DLI), the National Fire Protection Association International and the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council…
Mr. Alexander – Seitz – Seitz Company – “Everyone can be a winner!”
Background The SEITZ company was founded in Germany in 1885 and has developed an outstanding name in the international field of professional cleaning and care. Based on his expertise, its owner Alexander Seitz has been a partner of CINET for some years now.
…Chris Tebbs – CINET Executive Board – a real Professional Textile Care ‘Guru’!
Background Chris Tebbs has always believed that this industry is truly international, and that international cooperation is essential! During his career he was involved with various Associations (e.g. Dyers & Cleaners Research Organisation, British Launderers Research Association and Fabric Care Research Association), before he became one of the first members…
Jim Gilligan – Snedicor Cleaners – “As for Service & Quality ..we are at the top!”
An Interview with Jim Gilligan of Snedicor Cleaners: “As for Service & Quality ..we are at the top!” CINET – The International Committee of Textile Care – has been growing ever since its founding 35 years ago and until this day, new members are being welcomed in this global network…
Mr. Rolf Slickers – Servitex – “International Personal NETWORKING? A MUST”!
For almost a year now, CINET – the International Committee of Textile Care – has been making preparations for the ‘World Congress of Textile Care’. Since laundries in Europe and US are faced with entirely different situations compared to those in Asian and African continents. CINET prepares a holistic program…
