During Domotex Middle East, Mark Harmon, VP of Sales for Tuftco Tufting Systems Division of Tufco Corp, sheds light on the company’s unique position in the market and its strategic focus on sustainability and innovation.
Thank you for joining us today, Mark. Can you start by telling us about Tufco Corp and the divisions you oversee?
Mark Harmon: Of course. My name is Mark Harmon, and I’m the VP of Sales for the Tuftco Tufting Systems Division of Tufco Corp. We’re unique in the industry as the world’s only manufacturer of creels, tufting equipment, and coating and backing equipment. Tuftco Corp has three major divisions, including Tufco Finishing, which is also represented here at Domotex Middle East.
What brings Tufco to Domotex Middle East, and how significant is this market for you?
Mark Harmon: The Middle East is a vital market for us, particularly in India and Turkey. We are also aiming to expand our presence in North Africa. This region has a rich history of weaving, and our tufting equipment offers a modern, efficient alternative that mimics traditional weaving but with higher productivity and smaller creels. It’s ideal for hospitality, high-end residential, and commercial applications.
How does your business distribution look globally?
Mark Harmon: About half of our business is in the United States, with the other half spread across the rest of the world. Turkey and India are our largest markets outside the U.S., but we also see significant activity in the UAE, Dubai, Nepal, and Indonesia.
Can you provide some insight into the current market trends in your industry?
Mark Harmon: Right now, the residential market is a bit slow, while the commercial sector is steady. Hospitality is particularly strong, and the turf market is experiencing growth. We believe the future of tufting lies in innovation, focusing on producing better patterns and higher-quality carpets rather than just low-end, solid-color cut piles, which is a very saturated market. Our strength at Tufco is in high-end machines that create these quality, patterned carpets.
How is Tuftco addressing sustainability and recycling within the carpet industry?
Mark Harmon: Our Tuftco Finishing division is leading our efforts in this area. They are working with various companies to develop a monopolymer product where the yarn, primary backing, and secondary backing are all made from the same polymer. This uniformity makes depolymerization and recycling much more straightforward, as it eliminates the need to separate different materials later on.
That’s impressive. What do you see as the future for Tufco and the industry as a whole?
Mark Harmon: The future for Tuftco lies in continuing to innovate and produce high-quality tufting equipment that meets the evolving needs of the market. As the demand for higher-quality, patterned carpets grows, we aim to stay at the forefront with our advanced machinery. Additionally, our commitment to sustainability through our finishing division will play a crucial role as recycling becomes increasingly important in the industry.
Thank you for sharing your insights, Mark. It’s been great learning about Tufco’s innovative approaches and market strategies.
