With the experience of 200 years guiding its every move, France-based N. Schlumberger has been a globally renowned manufacturer of a wide range of textile machinery and its position at the top can be credited to its focus on continuous innovation and customer satisfaction, says Ganesh Kalidas
The industrial revolution that unfolded during the 19th century had a wide-ranging impact on the global manufacturing sector, bringing about a huge transformation in the way products were made and distributed. France was one of the countries that witnessed a massive turnaround, especially so in the textile sector. One of the companies which benefited from the progressive wave that the revolution brought in its wake was N. Schlumberger, manufacturer of textile machinery and complete fibre-to-yarn lines. The 200-year-old company was established in 1810 and is now a world leader in textile machinery for combing and recombing, spinning preparation, tow to the top, and semi-worsted of long-staple fibre.
With a strong presence across 60 countries, N. Schlumberger is now known as the master of the complete long-staple fibre line – the result of its intense focus on research and development for which the company re-invests 7% of its annual turnover each year.
Elaborating about what makes their machines so special, Area Sales Manager Eric Fessler says: “Our machines have always been a preferred choice because we provide the complete range for worsted spinning. Despite having competition from Chinese and Italian companies, we still have a global stronghold with a market share of up to 70%”.
Speciality products
Each year the company installs more than 100 machines for customers’ across the world, having sold as many as 6,000 machines so far. It provides a portfolio of 20 diversified machines designed for various purposes, one of them being the Alfa Lin combing machine which is specifically designed for combing of hard fibres. It has a mechanical sword and counter-sword system which is complemented by a mono bloc circular brush having a lateral insertion and an automatic forward motion. Such innovative and technologically advanced features make the machine produce more without compromising on quality.
Another excellent machine the company makes is the Worsted Card which is adapted to accommodate a larger range of wool. Its unique design effectively facilitates optimal use of carding surfaces at high speeds. N. Schlumberger also makes the much-in-demand S200 that converts man-made fibres into long-staple silver with wool-type designs. The end product is used for manufacturing blankets and carpet yarns, amongst other products. The machine requires minimal upkeep as it is designed to work for a longer number of hours and with low power consumption. Some of the other machines offered by the company include the D2, D3, D5 GC40 blender defelter, card for bast fibres, the DUO, GC blending machine, ERA comber, and M20 horizontal rubbing frame.
Ensuring customer satisfaction
One of the crucially beneficial components of the company’s functioning process which ensure its efficiency and survivability in the market is its unwavering dedication towards delivering top-notch after-sales service. “Customer satisfaction is one of our prime objectives and in order to achieve it, the company provides guidance to customers throughout the processes of installation as well as production,” says Fessler. To maintain such a widespread market presence, the company has partnered with various other enterprises and appointed them agents so as to optimise the after-sale service process. In the meantime, it continues to explore new markets, one being India where it has appointed DN Associates of DEECO Group as its agent. N. Schlumberger recently showcased its product at ITMA 2019 held in Barcelona, Spain.
One of the highlights was its ERA combing machine which incorporates Industry 4.0 features with wireless connectivity that helps visualise and track the entire production process. In the new upgraded machine, all the mechanical drives have been replaced with electric drives. These drives allow data exchange between the machines through its manufacturing execution systems along with keeping the settings more precise by controlling the drive. “The machine attracted many visitors to our stall, including both existing and potential customers,” Fessler states. It is this emphasis on being ahead of the technical curve that has given N. Schlumberger its leading position. “Our design and engineering department handles every mechanical, electrical, electronic and IT aspect of machine development. In 2000, it began using the CATIA V5 3D CAD software for every aspect of development,” Fessler informs.