Exports contribute over 40%
‘Tex-Tech’ has almost become a byword among Indian textile circles, particularly in the spinning sector. Established in 1975 by three entrepreneurs of Coimbatore – Mr. S. Srinivasan Iyer, Mr. Sampath Iyengar and Mr. Abbayi Naidu – with a negligible investment, the company has today become so big as to earn its name as a global player by supplying quality spares for combers.
However, the success of the company lay in the main on the bold and courageous decision taken by Mr. Srinivasan Iyer to acquire full control of the loss-making organisation and restart business with a minimum investment of Rs. 30,000. Today the company’s monthly turnover has moved up to Rs. 1 crore from Rs. 13,000 in 1982.
What rendered it possible for Mr. Srinivasan, the current Chairman of the company, to convert it into a profit-making concern was doubtless the able and sustained support of his second son and the company Managing Director, Mr. S. Malligarjunan. He joined his family business in 1985 after completion of his Diploma in Machine Designing.
While assisting his father, Mr. Malligarjunan attended and completed different courses, including B.E. as well as Diploma in Powder Metallurgy through L&T in UTECTIC of CASTOLIN of the US. Now, he devotes almost 18 hours a day for company activities to emerge a most successful entrepreneur from Coimbatore.
With his visionary approach and determination to make it a global player, Tex-Tech Industries (India) Private Ltd. has been able to double its turnover from Rs. 6 crores in 2008-09 to Rs. 12 crores in 2009-10. Of the total sales turnover, 40 per cent came from exports and a single order from GIZA Textiles of Egypt alone fetched Rs. 1.5 crores.
Tex-Tech is one among the few companies in Coimbatore with its full reliance on exports, and its first export was made to a Malaysian company as early as in 1987. It has invested heavily on plant and machineries. Today the plant is equipped with 10 CNC vertical machines, two turning centres, a newly-imported needle machinery plant from Germany, high-tech scanners from the US, etc. All the components used in the production process are made out of aluminium diecast that adds strength and reliability to the products turned out.
As part of its expansion plan, the company recently acquired land in that area in which it started operations in 1980 on a 300 sq. ft. plot.
Pioneering technology
Tex-Tech Industries which manufactures nipper assemblies for Rieter E7, E7/2 and E7/4 combers, was the first company in the world to introduce the technology of reconditioning nipper assemblies. In 1985, Tex-Tech developed all special-purpose machines for mass production of nipper assemblies and spares for combers.
It was in 1995 that the company developed aluminium alloy nipper assemblies and critical spares for Rieter E7/5 and E7/6 combers. It also successfully introduced the concept of automatic top comb cleaning system by means of blowing of air intermittently on the top comb strips. In 1997, it developed retrofit noil saving conversion kit for upgrading the LR E7/4 and LK 250 combers to the latest Rieter E60 type. This high performance nipper kit with modified nipper geometry ensured saving of 1.5-2 per cent noils.
Tex-Tech came out in 1998 with the modified detaching loading system as in Rieter E60 for converting the indirect type pneumatic loading of detaching top rollers in LR E7/4 & LK 250 combers to direct loading type. This resulted in lower U% levels and also reduction in auto coner cuts.
With its development of modified spring loading system for draw box along with single coiler conversion kit for LR E7/4 combers, Tex-Tech became the first to introduce Mexican fibre brushes made of ABS base with stainless steel wires and also the first to develop metalon lap spools.
The company is always on the look-out for latest technology for upgrading the existing generation machine systems. It has its agents all over India and in countries like Egypt, Turkey, Vietnam, Indonesia, Peru, Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Spain, etc.
The company’s retrofit noil saving nipper conversion kit ensures saving of 1.5-2 per cent noils and 10-15 per cent increase in production for the existing yarn imperfection and CSP levels. These retrofit kits manufactured with the computer-aided machining process (CAMP) technique have enhanced life due to low wear and tear.
Tex-Tech has successfully converted the indirect type pneumatic loading of detaching top rollers in LR E7/4 & LK 250 comber to direct type as in Rieter E60 comber. These kits are manufactured with the CAMP technique. Here the detaching top roller centre distance has been increased from 38mm to 40mm. As a result, the nipping distance between the top detaching roller and feed roller has been reduced by 1mm. Lapping problems have also been totally eliminated by removal of static electricity in web by provision of static discharge kit.
The latest lightweight aluminium alloy nipper assemblies of Rieter E60 and E62 models have been supplied as replacement for OEMs and are in operation in most of the mills in India and abroad.
The company also converts the Rieter E7/5 to E7/5A type by incorporating latest lightweight aluminium alloy nippers as retrofit kit. It can also supply similar retrofit kits to convert the Vouk CM 400 to Rieter E7/5A type. The direct loading high power of the nipper pair ensures perfect processing of heavier laps. The feed roller has been moved closer to the nipping point and a pressure bar has been provided. The nipper grip has been modified to 3.5mm by adopting the CAMP technique.
The Metalon spools developed for LR sliver lap, ribbon lap, Rieter Unilap, Hara Hi-lap and Vouk Lap formers are finished to very critical tolerance both in dimension and in weight and can take up laps of heavier batt weight (80gms/mtr). The spools are heat-stabilized for low moisture absorption and excellent dimensional stability and are offered in four colours.
The company manufactures Mexican fibre brushes with plastic as well as wooden base for Lakshmi, Rieter, Hara, Howa, Toyoda, Marzoli and Vouk combers, as also Mexican fibre brushes with a combination of stainless steel wires 0.07mmdia. These wires, pinned in a single row spirally for the entire length of the brush, help in maintaining the unicomb 100 per cent clean by avoiding embedding of cotton and trash.
Also manufactured are “press in type” top comb strips using hardened needles (K-20) imported from Germany. In these strips, the top comb plates are made out of spring steel and are specifically treated for superior finish to avoid accumulation of micro dust. The needles are clamped on both sides to provide better strength. The strips in 23, 26, 28 and 30N/cm are for Lakshmi, Rieter, Hara, Howa, Toyoda, Marzoli and Vouk Combers.
The automatic top comb cleaning system developed for LR E7/4, LK 250, Rieter E7/5A, E60, E62 and Vouk combers ensures 100 per cent penetration of the top comb during the combing process. The top comb holder is of detachable type with moulded air chambers (vanes). Compressed air is blown intermittently on the strips through these air chambers. The timing of the blowing is taken from the drive of the comber, hence there is no disturbance during combing and piecing. The sequence of blowing can be varied from once in 2 nips to 64 nips. These systems are manufactured with the CAMP technique.
Its detaching and draw box top rollers with end brushes for Lakshmi, Rieter and Vouk model combers can be supplied with mounted cots as well as imported alucore cots.
Tex-Tech also specialises in all types of gas springs (shock absorbers) in variable Newton’s starting from 100N to 1200N for Lakshmi, Vouk, Rieter series Combers, Unilap and other machines.
The flocked cleaning rollers in both paper base and plastic base are manufactured using the latest static charge technology for better take-up of clearer waste.
The other products supplied by the company are all critical spareparts like polyurethane strippers, nipper cranks, guide pieces, front supports, top comb holders, tension nut with boss, fleece guides, supporting bearings, feed rollers, etc. The plastic components include ratchet wheels, ratchet pawls, top comb carriers & brackets, condensers, guide nuts, guide shoe, calendar roller bearing, plain shaft bearing, etc.
Spareparts like split type front supports, nipper cranks, brush shaft bearing brackets, cardon shafts, clearer guides, main bearings, bearing saddles, flexible bushes, hylam gears, casting gears, and differential gear assemblies for E7/2, E7/4 & LK 250 combers are also supplied by the company.
Tex-Tech also manufactures setting segments, setting rings, roller levers, neck bearings, aspirator drum holder brackets, bearings blocks, endplates, guide pieces, pulleys and weighing levers, as well as all types of gears for E7/2, E7/4 and LK 250 combers.
For details, contact: Tex-Tech Industries (India) Private Ltd., 27-D, V.N. Industrial Estate, Bharathy Colony, Peelamedu, Coimbatore – 641 004. E-mail: textech@vsnl.com