Trützschler GmbH & Co. KG, Germany -- represented by Charlotte-based American Truetzschler Inc. and Trützschler Card Clothing (TCC) -- has acquired all production facilities, patents, and copyrights of John D. Hollingsworth on Wheels Inc. (HOW) -- a Greenville-based designer, manufacturer, servicer and tester of textile equipment, which shuttered its operations on Dec. 30, 2009. Founded in the late 1800s, HOW closed its doors as a result of the impacts of the U.S. textile industry's continued decline (See " John D. Hollingsworth To Shutter Operations," Nov. 3, 2009).

The takeover will enable TCC to continue HOW's production at its existing facilities. TCC, founded in 2003, manufactures a full range of card and roller card clothings for the spinning and nonwovens industries. The company has introduced new manufacturing processes with integrated in-process quality controls and runs a global service network.

HOW specialists have joined Trützschler's U.S. sales and marketing team and American Truetzschler's field service.

In 2003, Trützschler acquired all of HOW's activities outside the United States and Canada, including production facilities in Brazil, Mexico and Germany, as well as HOW's European service stations. Those activities operated under the name Trützschler Hollingsworth Card Clothing and Service, while HOW continued production for its U.S. and Canadian operations at its Greenville headquarters.

February 9, 2010