By K. Gopalakrishnan
Luwa is a global market leader in air engineering. Years of experience, profound know-how and proven European technology have helped Luwa provide customized solutions for almost all major customers in the Indian textile industry.
Luwa India Private Ltd., a subsidiary of Luwa Air Engineering AG, Switzerland, was established in 1993 with its manufacturing facility in Bengaluru. The company is now embarking on its next phase of expansion in India.
We spoke to Mr. Gottfried Abrell, CEO of Luwa Group, to elicit his views on global business expansion and the special plans for the Indian market:
Excerpts:
Question: At the recently concluded ITMA Asia, how was the response for Luwa?
Answer: We had very good response from customers across Asia. Not only have the existing customers visited us, but also a lot of new clients who wanted to discuss their new projects with Luwa.
Q: How is the business for Luwa globally, more specifically for the textile industry vertical?
A: Global business for Luwa Air Engineering in 2012 is still on a high level. Our diversification, besides our core business in traditional textile air engineering, in nonwoven, synthetic fibre, industrial air engineering and industrial heat recovery systems is giving us good volume despite slowdown in the textile industry.
Q: How was the business growth in 2011 compared to the previous year? How is the business during the first six months of the current year?
A: The year 2011 was one of the best for Luwa. Many orders have been booked and are now under delivery. The actual order intake has slowed down even though many projects are under discussion. Everybody is waiting.
Q: Can you sum up the products and solutions offered by Luwa for the textile industry?
A: Luwa offers all kinds of products related to air engineering, consisting of humidification plants, laboratory units, filtration systems, waste handling systems, including bale press systems, as well as OHTC and heat recovery systems to the textile industry.
The systems are known for their reliable and unmatched performance. A Luwa system makes textile machines operate at highest efficiency. Overall the best value for money.
Q: How is Luwa’s business in India? How was the business during 2011 compared with the previous year?
A: Almost all of the large textile groups in India are using Luwa systems. The financial year 2011/12 was excellent as major investments of these groups have been realized. Besides being partner of large groups, Luwa is strongly penetrating into markets where customers were not thinking of buying Luwa. For example, many customers at Ichalkaranji, Bhiwandi and Tarapur having small weaving sheds with 12 or 24 looms are nowadays successfully using Luwa humidification systems.
Q: How important is the Indian textile market for Luwa? What percentage of the global business does Luwa India contribute?
A: Very important. Together with our activities in industrial air engineering and synthetic fibres Luwa India is generating around 25% of Luwa’s global sales.
Q: Are you planning any major investments or expansion in India?
A: Yes, the Luwa Group believes in steady growth in India and attaches more importance to Luwa India’s role. We cleared a major investment plan and bought land where we are in the process of starting construction of a new factory and office building.
Q: Can you name some of the major projects executed by Luwa India in recent years?
A: Just to name a few projects and customers, all the big weaving projects in the North such as those of Abhishek Trident, Vardhman and Saluja. In Alok Industries Luwa systems are installed all across spinning, weaving and POY/FDY/PSF. For Reliance Industries we are right now executing their huge expansion in Silvassa, and in the power industry we are supplier to Siemens for power stations of the Torrent Group.
Q: Globally and in India, what will be the focus for the future for Luwa? Are you looking at adding new products or services to the existing portfolio?
A: One of our core competences is being a trusted partner to the textile industry since many years. Around that we are planning to continue adding new products and services within the next years.
Q: Globally, everyone is talking about energy efficiency and green technologies? How do Luwa products help customers in this aspect?
A: There are two aspects on this very important topic.
First is innovative new equipment which is saving energy due to new technology. For example, Luwa has developed a new axial flow fan which is saving 3 to 5% energy compared to the best available fans in the market. The other new Luwa product is the industrial heat recovery systems, which is saving huge quantity of fuel and pays back investments in very short time.
The second important aspect is to utilize all installed equipment in a most efficient way. Luwa, with its know-how and experienced team, is always providing the best designed systems which uses the required energy to ensure the most efficient textile manufacturing process.