The Indian textile machinery industry, which began as an offshoot of the textile industry, is today one of the largest sectors in the country. Textile machinery manufacturers produce sophisticated machines of higher speeds and production capability, at competitive prices. The sector also gets significant support from the well developed IT industry.
Experts point out that the there are nearly 1,446 units making textile machinery in India. Of these 80 per cent are small and medium manufacturers. With 598 units manufacturing complete machinery and 848 units making accessories, the industry churns out weaving machines, spinning machines, winding machines, processing machines, synthetic fibre machine, textile testing instruments, etc.
In the last five years, textile engineering production grew at 4.21 per cent annually. The segment was adversely affected by the global recession. At present the sector is worth around Rs 10,500 crores and domestic production stands, at Rs 6,150 crores. G V Aras, Director, ATE Enterprise says, textile machinery production is projected to grow from Rs 6,150 crores in 2010-11 to Rs 14,300 crores in the next five years, growing at a rate of 15 per cent per annum. Of course, this growth is based on commensurate growth of textile industry and expected policy interventions.
However, stake holders feel growth will be tough unless the industry acquires technological knowhow in related to areas. As Aras opines, “There is an imbalance in the value chain. The weakest link today in the entire textile value chain is processing. TUFS should have a special quota for processing with some interest subsidy. In recent years, most TUFS funds have been eaten away by spinning. So spinning is very modern while other sectors have been neglected.”
Technology up-gradation in weaving is another area that needs attention. Vallabh Thumar, Chairman & MD, Alidhra Weavetech Group, explains, “Though India has one of the largest weaving capacities in the world, it still does not have any influence on global fabric markets. Government efforts through TUFS have had a positive effect on overall up-gradation needs, but still they need to be fine tuned to provide maximum benefit to the weaving sector which still is the weakest link in the Indian textile industry.”
Tapas Nandi, Director, ITEMA Weaving India too feels India has a lot of capacity in the powerloom sector, however now the industry must concentrate on technology up-gradation and invest in shutteless looms. Currently Asia holds the might of weaving capacity. “A lot of the shuttleloom machines are very old and can’t produce quality fabrics. The organised sector should consider investment in modern weaving machines to adapt to changes in the global market.”
The textile industry as a whole needs to adopt high end machineries that offer economies of scale. “Since there is a TUF for textile industry, there should also be a TUF for machinery industry. So there will be an interest subsidy. R&D should also be given incentives,” says Aras.
Thumar too feels India must have more incentives for textile machine manufacturers, so that machines can be made locally and domestic market gets a boost. “If machines are produced locally, they would not just be cheaper but the service aspect will also be taken care of. After sales services is also an important aspect in machines. People just import machines but when it comes to servicing they are stuck as most international companies don’t have service centers across the country,” sums up Thumar.
