06/02/2026
Mattei Group announced Paul Moellers as Sales Director of Mattei USA. The U.S. compressed air market is a vast, highly competitive arena where purchasing decisions are often driven by upfront cost. However, Moellers is determined to change the rules of the game. With a background spanning engineering, Lean Six Sigma and executive leadership at industry giants such as Hitachi and Atlas Copco, Moellers brings a rigorous, value-driven approach to Mattei’s North American expansion.
Paul Moellers, Sales Director, Mattei USA
"I was attracted to Mattei because it combines a differentiated technology like rotary vane with a real opportunity to succeed in North America through education and value-based selling," said Moellers.
The mission is clear: move the market beyond the commodity trap and focus on long-term operational value. In a market dominated by traditional rotary screw air compressors, Mattei’s technology stands apart as a fundamentally different mechanical solution. Moellers identifies this as the company's primary strength. "What stands out is the simplicity and efficiency of Mattei’s rotary vane technology," Moellers said. "It is mechanically linear, highly reliable and delivers exceptional lifecycle efficiency compared with more conventional systems."
This mechanical linearity isn't just a technical detail; it is the foundation of a strategy built on total cost of ownership. Moellers notes that while many buyers continue to focus primarily on CAPEX, energy consumption represents the highest cost over the lifetime of an air compressor. "That gap between purchasing behavior and operational reality is where the real opportunity lies," Moellers said. To bridge this gap, he’s equipping distributors with tools that shift the focus away from purchase price and toward cost per operating hour.
One of the key elements of Moellers’s strategy is his nuanced understanding of the U.S. market. Rather than adopting a one-size-fits-all national approach, he’s developing a strategy centered around regional industrial hubs. The Midwest remains the country’s industrial backbone, the Southeast is the fastest-growing manufacturing corridor and the Gulf Coast continues to play a critical role in the energy and process industries.
"Success comes from tailoring the sales approach to the way each region actually buys," Moellers said. Expansion efforts are therefore focused on the Southeast, Texas and high-growth areas where advanced manufacturing and energy sectors are thriving. With global trade tensions and tariffs continuing to create uncertainty, Moellers is emphasizing resilience through product availability.
"Competitiveness ultimately comes down to channel availability and responsiveness," Moellers said. "We don’t compete on discounts; we compete by strengthening lifecycle economic advantages.” The strategy involves maintaining strong regional inventory levels and ensuring an efficient product flow to reduce lead times. Crucially, he refuses to engage in price wars. In an environment where downtime can have catastrophic consequences, having spare parts and machines readily available is the ultimate competitive advantage.
Looking ahead, Moellers sees enormous potential in high-tech sectors. E-mobility, EV battery manufacturing and renewable energy systems are all prime targets for Mattei’s differentiated technology. In these industries, reliability is paramount. To support these sectors, Mattei is leveraging IoT and cloud-based predictive maintenance technologies. The goal is to transition from reactive servicing to proactive productivity management.
"The key is not simply collecting data, but transforming it into clear maintenance actions that reduce downtime," Moellers said. "Customers don’t remember the purchase; they remember the uptime."
Success in this new phase will require a unified approach. Moellers’s leadership style is based on what he calls "visible leadership" – spending time on the ground with distributors and sales teams rather than remaining confined to the boardroom. He stresses that a successful sales strategy depends on consistent messaging and standardized tools across the entire distribution network.
"The opportunity at Mattei is real, but success will depend on disciplined execution," Moellers said. "Compressed air is no longer just a utility; it’s an energy and uptime decision. Mattei is uniquely positioned to deliver that long-term advantage to the American market."
About Mattei Group
Mattei Group is a leading Italian and global company in the compressed air industry, renowned for its pioneering rotary vane technology. Established in 1919, the company is recognized for manufacturing highly efficient, reliable and durable air compressors capable of operating for over 100,000 hours. Driven by a strong commitment to innovation and sustainability, Mattei develops customized solutions for industrial applications and electric mobility, delivering low environmental impact and simplified maintenance for customers worldwide. For more information, visit https://www.matteigroup.com.
