#Textile chemistry

2024-12-19

RUDOLF appoints Marcos Furrer as CEO, Dr Gunther Duschek as CTOO and Dr Oliver Kusterle as CSO – Dr Wolfgang A. Schumann becomes Chairman of the Board of Directors

RUDOLF, a leading global medium-sized specialty chemical company, is adopting a new management structure at the beginning of 2025 to accelerate the implementation of its strategic goals. The aim remains to further strengthen RUDOLF‘s international market position and to sustainably, expand the company‘s innovative strength in an increasingly dynamic competitive environment.

The new RUDOLF management team © 2024 RUDOLF

Global strategy - local execution

The reorganisation also underlines RUDOLF‘s commitment to remain a leading player in the speciality chemical industry and to make a sustainable contribution to the future of the textile, construction, paper and coating additives industries.

Change in the management structure

At the beginning of 2025, Mr Wolfgang Schumann and Dr Wolfgang A. Schumann will take over the chairmanship of the newly established Board of Directors as its Co-Chairs. In his new role, Dr Schumann will focus specifically on developing strategically important business in Asia in order to further expand the company‘s market position there.

"It is with great pleasure and confidence that I hand over the role of CEO to Marcos Furrer. I am equally pleased that Dr Gunther Duschek as CTOO and Dr Oliver Kusterle as CSO, in their existing global responsibilities, will round off the operational management team in terms of continuity and commitment. This new management structure is a decisive step for the future of our company. It will apply from the beginning of 2025. In my new role as Chairman of the Board of Directors, I will focus specifically on the development of the strategically important business in Asia and continue to be the point of contact for our joint ventures. I am convinced that this realignment will enable us to further expand and strengthen our market position. I would like to thank all employees for their commitment and support over the past years and look forward to continuing to advance the vision of RUDOLF together with the new management team and to serve our customers worldwide even better", commented Dr Schumann.

Marcos Furrer has been appointed as the new CEO of the RUDOLF Group and will also take on the role of Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). His many years of experience in the speciality chemical industry and his strategic insight make him the ideal person to drive RUDOLF‘s global vision forward.

He said: "I am very pleased to take on the role of CEO of the Rudolf Group. You can literally feel the Group‘s more than 100 years of activity in the textile chemical business. The excellent team and the special customer proximity are the cornerstones of our success, which I would like to build on in order to further develop the successful strategic path. I am convinced that with this new approach we will not only strengthen our international market position but also make our contribution to a sustainable future. Together with our dedicated team, I look forward to advancing the vision of RUDOLF and serving our customers worldwide even better."

RUDOLF introduces innovative digital pigment printing toolbox

RUDOLF, a world leader in speciality chemicals, announces a development in digital textile printing with the introduction of its new Digital Pigment Printing Toolbox. Continuous research and development enables RUDOLF to offer products with maximum performance and minimum environmental impact. Interest in digital pigment printing is growing because it has the advantage over other printing technologies of eliminating one process step. With pigment printing, there is no need for posttreatment, which means that the water required for post-treatment can be saved.

RUDOLF wins Responsible Care Federal Competition 2023

The innovative company RUDOLF has been honoured for its outstanding achievements in the field of sustainability and environmental protection and has won the coveted Responsible Care Federal Competition 2023 in the category SME. In line with the theme „Our sustainable and economical use of energy“, RUDOLF is investing in a new refrigeration plant to supply cooling water for production at its headquarters in Geretsried.

Ascend Performance Materials secures court approval for restructuring and appoints new CEO

Ascend Performance Materials has reached a major milestone in its Chapter 11 process: the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas has confirmed the company’s Plan of Reorganization. Ascend expects to emerge from Chapter 11 by year’s end with a significantly improved capital structure. In parallel with the restructuring progress, Ascend announced a leadership change.

Indorama Ventures ranks first globally in ChemScore 2025 for excellence in chemicals management and environmental performance

Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited (IVL), a global sustainable chemicals company, has been ranked first globally with a green card in ChemScore 2025, the internationally recognized benchmark developed by ChemSec, assessing the environmental performance and chemical management of the world’s 40 largest chemical companies. The company has consistently found itself in the top three ChemScore companies and scored twice as high on average as the Asia-based companies taken together.

SHIMA SEIKI returns to ShanghaiTex

Leading flat knitting solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan, together with its Hong Kong and Chinese market subsidiary SHIMA SEIKI (HONG KONG) LTD., will exhibit at the ShanghaiTex 2025 exhibition (Booth No.: Hall N3, Booth A20) held in Shanghai, China this month. This marks the return of SHIMA SEIKI to ShanghaiTex after a 14-year hiatus, its last exhibit at the show having been in 2011.

Fraunhofer CCPE presents the “Monomaterial Design Set” – Innovative solutions for circular product design

Composite materials made from different types of plastic often extend the lifetime of products but make recycling more difficult in the circular economy. That is why Fraunhofer CCPE has developed the “Monomaterial Design Set”. This new approach helps to reduce the variety of plastics used in durable products and offers circular solutions for designers and product developers.

arena introduces renewable LYCRA® EcoMade fiber in its latest swimwear collection

Italian swimwear specialist arena has unveiled a new collection that brings sustainability and performance even closer together. Launched on December 4, the line features swimsuits made from recycled nylon and renewable LYCRA® EcoMade fiber — the first time the bio-based spandex has been used commercially in swimwear.