”Our products are technical, which really appealed to me as I’ve always worked with technical systems.”

Get to know Michél Gamhov, Sales Engineer at Eltex of Sweden. Here, he shares how he found his way into the world of weft and yarn supervision in textile machinery — and what has surprised him most about this highly technical and innovative industry.

– In high school, I studied to become an electrician. After graduation, I started working in the field and did so for 11 years before joining Eltex,” says Michél.

Even though Michél is local to Osby, where Eltex has its head office, and had walked past the company many times, he didn’t know what they were known for globally:

– I had walked past Eltex many times and always thought they must be doing something intelligent, but I never knew exactly what. I first visited Eltex in service as an electrician and later Brian Hicks, my current manager, offered me the opportunity to join the company. Our products are very technical and that really appealed to me, since I’ve always worked with technical systems.

Eltex is an expert in weft and yarn supervision, with customers all over the world ranging from large machine manufacturers to small factories with just a few machines. Despite their differences in size, many customers share similar challenges: they want to automate, increase quality, and modernize their production while becoming more sustainable and reducing waste.

– Our goal is to help customers increase efficiency, improve quality, and solve the production challenges they face. That can range from simple forms of yarn break solutions to advance thread tension measuring and control to ensure consistency and quality. We can also modernize older machines by integrating new technology, which is beneficial from a sustainability perspective. Customers can keep their existing equipment and upgrade it to perform like new, essentially bringing older machines into modern production.

When asked whether the textile machinery industry matched his expectations, Michél says:

– To be honest, I thought it would be simpler than it actually is. I think many people would say the same — you don’t realize how complex the production process is, whether it’s making a sweater or a face mask. There are so many steps from start to finish, and that’s not something you think about when you see the finished product.

It has now been two years since Michél joined Eltex, and today he works in sales alongside a colleague.

-We prepare quotes for customers and spend a lot of time developing solutions to the problems they face. Many companies want to increase efficiency, run machines faster, and reduce the number of operators required, so there are many reasons why they come to us. We offer a wide range of products, and what we deliver is often tailored to each customer’s production needs.

– Part of my job also involves travel, for example attending trade fairs where I represent the company and meet customers face to face — a very valuable part of my role. This year, I’ll also visit our office in the USA and our production in Ireland to gain an even deeper understanding of our products, from start to finish. Being there in person and seeing it with your own eyes makes our contribution feel more real.

Like many roles, a typical day involves a lot of email correspondence. Other recurring tasks include a mix of sales and marketing activities, such as updating the website, planning trade shows, preparing quotes, and responding to customer inquiries.

– Some weeks are all about solving customer issues. Other weeks, I’m at a trade fair in Germany, and then the days look very different, Michél says. I love traveling, it’s a lot of fun, but I also have a family with two young children at home, so traveling is especially rewarding when it fits well alongside family life. It’s exciting to visit customers, see how they work, and understand what goes into all the products we use and buy. Right now, I work from the office and adapt my schedule to what works best. That flexibility is really important to me.

Why would he recommend the textile machinery industry?

– It’s far more interesting than many people might think. There’s so much to learn, and you start to appreciate the products you buy, use, and wear even more once you understand how they’re made. It’s a field you don’t easily get tired of — it’s constantly evolving. The industry has been around for a long time, but it continues to innovate, and it’s certainly not going away. Technology is advancing rapidly, and the future of textile machinery looks bright.

And then there are the people:

– The people is one of the things that stands out. Sometimes I meet decision-makers, and other times I talk to the people who actually operate the machines. It’s fascinating how different their perspectives can be. Those who aren’t directly involved in production might think everything works fine, but the people on the floor often see things differently. That contrast is a big part of what I enjoy about this job. Working with all kinds of people keeps it interesting.

Textile heroes