Cottano Vliestex

Cottano Vlieswerk GmbH is a long-established textile manufacturer with more than 50 years of experience in nonwovens production. The company’s roots date back to 1972, when it was founded in Mühlhausen, Thuringia, Germany, as the publicly owned enterprise VEB Cottana Mühlhausen within the former GDR. At that time, the facility operated as part of a cotton combine serving the broader needs of the state economy.

Following German reunification, entrepreneur Dieter Perick acquired the company and transformed it into Cottano Vlieswerk GmbH in 1992. This transition marked the beginning of an entrepreneurial era characterized by technological investment and a strong focus on innovation in nonwovens. A major milestone came in 2008 with the acquisition of VTT Vliestextilien GmbH, strengthening Cottano’s capabilities in stitchbond and stitchable nonwovens. In December 2024, the affiliated company was rebranded as Cottano Vliestex GmbH, consolidating both entities under a unified “Cottano” brand.

In July 2023, Cottano entered a new chapter following a change in ownership. Since then, the company has undergone a deliberate internal realignment—strategically, operationally and culturally. “With a renewed mindset, sharpened focus and strong commitment to innovation and change, Cottano has built a solid foundation internally and is now actively re-engaging with the market to signal: Cottano is back—with clarity, ambition and forward momentum,” says Nico Miebach, managing director.

Today, Cottano operates from its headquarters in Mühlhausen, Germany, supported by an integrated production network that reflects its vertically aligned structure and strong regional roots.

Cottano specializes in drylaid nonwoven technologies, with a strong focus on stitchbond (Malivlies/Maliwatt) processes developed and expanded over decades of expertise.

While rooted in long-standing technological know-how, the company is now combining this heritage with a renewed innovation mindset established since 2023. Production systems—many of which trace their origins back to advanced machinery concepts developed in the GDR—have been continuously modernized to meet today’s quality, performance and sustainability standards, Miebach explains.

Cottano serves a diverse portfolio of end-use markets, including automotive and technical textiles; construction and insulation materials; cleantech; industrial applications; and packaging and protective solutions.

According to Miebach, these markets continue to show resilient performance, particularly in technical and industrial segments where nonwovens are valued for their durability, functionality and cost-effectiveness. “While global economic fluctuations impact demand cycles across industries, the long-term outlook for nonwovens remains strong due to increasing substitution of traditional materials and growing demand for lightweight, efficient solutions,” he says.

Cottano is actively strengthening its footprint by expanding partnerships and distribution channels across Europe and beyond. Following the internal transformation phase since July 2023, the company is now deliberately increasing its external visibility and market engagement. The unified branding under “Cottano” enhances visibility in global markets and simplifies market access for customers.

The company is also focusing on application-driven innovation, enabling entry into new sectors where technical nonwovens can replace conventional materials. “Strategic collaborations with customers, suppliers and research institutes for ensuring customer-specific development projects play a key role in this growth strategy,” Miebach says.

Cottano believes that now is an excellent time to be active in this industry. “The ongoing shift toward lightweight materials, circular economy models and sustainable product design creates significant opportunities for companies with strong technical know-how and a flexible, customer-oriented approach,” he explains. “However, we do see the risk of dependence ranging from individual major players to specific regions. We consider a certain degree of resilience to be essential at this time in order to be able to respond flexibly to changing market conditions. With its long history, integrated structure and continuous investment in innovation, Cottano is well-positioned to contribute to and benefit from these developments.”