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'There Is Very High Acceptance For Indian Technology Today'

• By  Textile Excellence
• December 09, 2022

SIMTA Group started operations in 1991, with a clear goal and vision to offer products that are suitable and relevant to the global textile industry. Very soon, SIMTA became the largest manufacturer and supplier of spindle tapes in the world. S. Senthil Kumar, Managing Director, SIMTA Group, shares how foreign collaborations have further helped the company in establishing its footprint in the global market.

Textile technology needs are ever evolving. How do you stay relevant?

Yes, this is especially true in the spinning industry, where the need for automation is very high today. Spinners want automation not just to improve productivity and quality, but also for ease of operations. Some of our products like bobbin transport system specifically address this need of the industry.

How have you achieved the quality and performance standards that match the best in the world?

Simta was started in 1991, with manufacturing of spindle tapes. This was our own indigenous technology, developed with our experience in the industry, and by understanding the requirements of the spinners. Today, we are the largest manufacturer of spindle tapes in the world. Clearer rollers is another invention by Simta. Earlier this was a wooden roll covered with fabric. We did a lot of research and development to do away with the problems of such materials. And eventually developed paper tube with coating of filament fibres on the surface. We are suppliers to all the OEMs in the world, including China. Overhead cleaners too we developed indigenously, and launched the product in 2001.

Tell us about your foreign collaborations.

In 2004 we had the opportunity of entering into a collaboration with Jacobi of Germany from 2004-10. In 2010, we started a joint venture company – Jacobi Machinery Pvt. Ltd, for manufacturing bobbin transport system. This collaboration has helped us to change and upgrade our standards of operations like production, planning, marketing, service. Another important collaboration is with Toyoda, Japan, we are OEM suppliers to them for the last 8-9 years. Like most Japanese companies, Toyoda develops their business partners to a certain level, implementing their systems in our factory. Top level team from Japan visits our factory every year, to ensure that the systems are in place. That has really helped us to improve our systems, quality, operations. And then we have always had a strong focus on R&D. We have a very good R&D team for various segments – production, electronics, and one team that researches how our existing products can be improved and upgraded.

Did you face the challenge of selling your products just because it is an Indian product?

Yes, that mindset barrier did exist, but is now changing. Especially in markets such as Bangladesh, Vietnam, South America this is a challenge. We installed one of our machines in their factory for trial. Its been running now for 2 years, they are completely satisfied, now new orders are coming from them. In the case of one of our customers in Punjab, we installed one of our machines in their factory for trial. It has been running flawlessly for two years now, the customer is convinced about our technology. And we are now getting some new orders from them.

Your message to the Indian textile engineering industry.

Today technology is easily available, the market is here, acceptance level for Indian technology is  very high. We only need to be patient, work hard and consistently to develop the machines. The Indian TEI has a bright future. There are opportunities to have collaborations with European and other technology companies, especially as they are looking to shift production out of Europe, and India is the best destination. This also gives an opportunity to further develop textile accessories manufacturing in India. We must utilise this opportunity. Also, we should not be too worried about the economic fluctuations in the textile industry. Markets will certainly improve. We must concentrate on R&D and developing new products, and be prepared when the markets start to improve.

Today technology is easily available, the market is here, acceptance level for Indian technology is very high. We only need to be patient, work hard and consistently to develop the machines. The Indian TEI has a bright future. There are opportunities to have collaborations with European and other technology companies, especially as they are looking to shift production out of Europe, and India is the best destination. This also gives an opportunity to further develop textile accessories manufacturing in India. We must utilise this opportunity.