ltj Bukem - I know he isn't techno but he changed the way i listened to music round about 91 and influenced me most when i just started playing
Surgeon - He is seriously pushing boundries at the moment and love his sound along side the rest of the downward boys
Hawtin - always changing, always masterfull and always pushing boundries
and also worth mentioning, steve rachmad, laurent garnier, the advent, damon wild, steve stoll, juan atkins, cari lekebusch, adam beyer