VDMA Textile Machinery has re-elected Dr Janpeter Horn, Managing Director of A. Herzog Maschinenfabrik, as Chairman of the association, with Regina Brückner of Brückner Trockentechnik and Verena Thies of Thies Textilmaschinen continuing as vice-chairs for a four-year term running to 2030.

The board elections took place at the association's general meeting in Hanover at the end of September, one year ahead of ITMA 2027, the sector's leading trade fair, which will be staged in the same city.

The meeting's theme — "The world is moving forward – where is Europe?" — framed the commercial backdrop for the incoming board's mandate. Rising competition from Asian machinery makers, combined with difficult trading conditions in Europe, has driven significant declines in order intake and turnover across the German textile machinery sector in recent years.

The numbers remain under pressure. VDMA has revised its turnover forecast for 2026 downwards to -14 per cent nominal. Order intake, however, appears to be stabilising, according to the association.

Horn set out the priorities for his new term. "The discussions and workshops at our General Assembly clearly demonstrated that our industry is in the midst of profound change. The challenges are considerable, yet we possess the innovative strength, the expertise and the technological leadership to actively shape these changes," he said.

"Together, we will work to support our customers even more effectively throughout the entire lifecycle of their machinery and equipment, to capitalize on the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence, and to strengthen the competitiveness of the European textile machinery industry in the long term. ITMA 2027 in Hanover will be an important milestone in showcasing our industry's capabilities to the world," Horn added.

Dr Harald Weber, Managing Director of VDMA Textile Machinery, pointed to the board's composition as an asset. "I look forward to working with the newly elected Executive Board. The board's wealth of experience, high level of technical expertise and broad positioning reflect the diversity and innovative strength of our sector. Together, we will actively drive forward the key future issues facing the European textile machinery manufacturing sector and provide important impetus for the competitiveness of our industry," he said.

The Executive Board for the 2026–2030 term comprises:

• Dr Janpeter Horn, A. Herzog Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG, Oldenburg (Chair)
• Regina Brückner, BRÜCKNER Trockentechnik GmbH & Co. KG, Leonberg (Deputy Chair)
• Verena Thies, THIES GmbH & Co. KG, Coesfeld (Deputy Chair)
• Riccarda Dilo, Oskar Dilo Maschinenfabrik KG, Eberbach
• Peter D. Dornier, Lindauer DORNIER GmbH, Lindau
• Volker Gingter, A. Monforts Textilmaschinen, Mönchengladbach
• Andreas Lukas, ANDRITZ Küsters GmbH, Krefeld
• Dr Jörg Morgner, Temafa Maschinenfabrik GmbH, Bergisch Gladbach
• Benjamin Reiners, Reiners + Fürst GmbH & Co. KG, Mönchengladbach
• Markus Settegast, Groz-Beckert KG, Albstadt
• Alexander Stampfer, Trützschler Group SE, Mönchengladbach
• Georg Stausberg, Barmag GmbH & Co. KG, Remscheid

For mills and vertically integrated manufacturers in sourcing markets such as Bangladesh, India and Turkey, the re-elected board's agenda carries direct procurement implications. A European machinery sector fighting a -14 per cent turnover forecast while pledging lifecycle service support and AI-enabled equipment suggests suppliers will compete harder on service contracts and digital add-ons, not just iron — a dynamic buyers can leverage in capex negotiations at ITMA 2027 in Hanover.