A new chapter of innovation: Marco Esper leads AstenJohnson into the future of paper machine clothing in Eurasia Jill Chang, Marketing Leader Asia, André Hüttner, VP PMC & Product Management, Eurasia

PAPERTECHNOLOGYINTERNATIONAL
Expanding Capabilities in Eurasia
While AstenJohnson is widely known in Europe for its dryer
fabric expertise—thanks to standout solutions like the MonoTier™
and newly launched MonoLine™—Esper is quick to point out that
the company’s innovation runs far deeper.
“Europe has long viewed us as Dryer specialists, and for
good reason,” he explains. “But we also offer outstanding solutions
in the Forming and Press sections — the heart of every paper
machine. We’re now bringing our full North American and Asian
portfolio into the EMEA region.”
That expansion started three years ago with the introduction
of Press Felts in Europe. According to Esper, the timing is ideal to
scale up. “We see tremendous growth opportunities. The market is
increasingly looking for suppliers who understand the full machine
and can deliver performance across all segments. That’s our
strength.”
Safety and People at the Core
In today’s complex manufacturing environment, performance
cannot come at the expense of safety. One of the early things Esper
prioritized was reinforcing AstenJohnson’s Zero Accident Culture.
“Safety is non-negotiable,” he states firmly. “What
impressed me most when I joined were the dedication of our teams
and the excellence of our facilities. Everyone—from operators
to engineers—is committed to delivering tailored solutions to
customers while keeping each other safe.”
This commitment to safety and people is foundational to the
company’s values, alongside excellence, integrity, sustainability,
and innovation. And it’s not just internal. AstenJohnson extends this
culture to its customer relationships, ensuring that partnerships
are built on shared trust and long-term value.
Technical Excellence with Global Reach
As a technical leader, Esper is particularly energized by
AstenJohnson’s world-class R&D and product development
pipeline. Central to that innovation engine is AstenJohnson
University — the company’s internal institution focused on
transferring knowledge and training both employees and
customers.
“In a rapidly evolving industry, continuous
learning is essential,” Esper says. “AstenJohnson
University is a game-changer. It helps
us onboard new talent and empower
the next generation of
papermakers,
while also
equipping our
customers with the
expertise they need to
maximize performance.”
The investment in
knowledge is matched by ongoing
product breakthroughs — especially
in Press and Forming fabrics, where
AstenJohnson continues to raise the bar.
The Launch of ExO 4D: A Breakthrough in
Press Fabric Innovation
Among the most exciting developments is ExO 4D,
a new press felt enhancement launching in 2025. Designed
to address key performance criteria — break-in time, dewatering
efficiency, and felt life — ExO 4D introduces a self-cleaning
capability previously unseen in conventional fabrics.
“The challenge with traditional felts is that over time, the
base fabric compacts,” Esper explains. “Compressibility and
capillarity can only do so much. So, we asked ourselves: What if we
could add a controlled, self-cleaning effect to the felt structure?”
Working with supplier partners, AstenJohnson’s product
management team developed a novel material that combines high
compressibility, openness, and a self-cleaning effect. The results
exceeded expectations:
• 10–25% longer felt lifespan
• Break-in times reduced from 3–4 days to just 12 hours
• Higher machine speeds and fewer sheet breaks
• Dramatic reduction in contamination
Perhaps most importantly for customers, ExO 4D can be
integrated across all AstenJohnson’s press felts, including the
iconic FlexFlow family — in both endless and seamed formats —
ensuring flexibility and value across multiple machine types.
Figure 2: ExO 4D introduces a self-cleaning
capability previously unseen in conventional
fabrics.
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