By. K. Gopalakrishnan
Aayush Rathi Outlines the Company’s Vision to Build a Complete Inkjet Ecosystem Across Textile and Industrial Applications
Over the past fifteen years, digital textile printing has evolved from a niche technology into one of the fastest-growing segments of the textile industry. Few companies have contributed as significantly to this transformation in India as Orange O Tec, which has consistently introduced world-class digital printing technologies while helping textile manufacturers adopt faster, smarter and more sustainable production systems.
Today, Orange O Tec is entering an exciting new phase of growth. Having established itself as one of India’s leading providers of digital textile printing solutions, the company is now expanding its presence across multiple inkjet applications while strengthening its portfolio through strategic global technology partnerships. From representing internationally renowned machinery manufacturers to developing its own branded products and indigenous ink manufacturing capabilities, Orange O Tec is steadily positioning itself as a complete inkjet technology company.
Speaking to The Textile Magazine, Mr. Aayush Rathi, Director, Orange O Tec, shares the company’s journey, its latest partnership with Italian digital printing specialist MAS, the remarkable success of Homer’s Rocket Hybrid Single-Pass Digital Textile Printer in India and the company’s vision for the future of digital printing.
“Our philosophy has always been to partner with companies that offer genuine technological differentiation. We are not interested in offering products that everyone else already has. We want to bring innovations that help our customers stay ahead of the market,” says Mr. Rathi.
Building One of India’s Most Comprehensive Digital Printing Portfolios
Orange O Tec today represents one of the broadest portfolios of digital textile printing technologies available in India.
Among its most successful partnerships has been with Homer, one of China’s leading digital textile printing machinery manufacturers. Orange O Tec has played a pivotal role in establishing the Homer brand in India, particularly through the successful introduction of the Rocket Hybrid Single-Pass Digital Textile Printer, which has rapidly gained acceptance among leading textile manufacturers.
The Rocket represents a new generation of digital production technology by combining the productivity of rotary printing with the flexibility of digital systems. Capable of producing up to 75,000 linear metres per day, the machine enables manufacturers to achieve industrial-scale production while retaining all the advantages associated with digital printing, including shorter production runs, rapid design changes and reduced environmental impact.
The market response has been highly encouraging. Three Rocket installations are already operational across India, with three additional printers in transit which reflects growing confidence among textile manufacturers in high-speed digital production technologies. It has Inline coating treatment within the printing line itself & it also has rotary rolls to do hybrid jobs.
“Homer has been one of our strongest success stories., We have installed 300+ Homer digital printer and the Rocket platform demonstrates how digital printing is no longer limited to short runs—it is becoming a viable solution even for large-scale industrial production,” says Mr. Rathi.
Designed for speed, sustainability and scalability, Rocket has emerged as a future-ready manufacturing platform that bridges the gap between conventional rotary printing and next-generation digital production.
Adding European Innovation Through MAS
Further strengthening its technology portfolio, Orange O Tec has recently entered into an exclusive partnership with Italian digital printing specialist MAS for the Indian market.
According to Mr. Rathi, MAS brings unique capabilities that complement Orange O Tec’s existing product offerings rather than competing with them.
The company’s most distinctive innovations include a vertical printing system, capable of simultaneously printing both sides of a fabric, and an advanced 12-colour digital printing platform that significantly expands the achievable colour gamut beyond conventional eight-colour systems.
These capabilities are particularly valuable for premium fashion applications such as scarves and luxury textiles, where identical front-and-back appearance and superior colour reproduction are essential.
“Italian manufacturers have always differentiated themselves through innovation. MAS offers technologies that are genuinely unique, such as vertical printing and 12-colour systems. These are capabilities that premium brands are actively looking for, and they perfectly complement our existing portfolio,” explains Mr. Rathi.
With MAS joining its portfolio alongside Homer, Orange O Tec now offers customers solutions ranging from high-volume production to highly specialized premium digital printing applications.
Digital Printing Enters Its Next Growth Phase
Having witnessed the evolution of digital textile printing since its early days in India, Mr. Rathi believes the industry is now approaching an inflection point.
Digital technology has significantly lowered investment barriers, allowing entrepreneurs to establish printing businesses with comparatively modest capital while scaling production as demand increases.
More importantly, digital printing is steadily moving beyond its traditional role in sampling and short-run production.
“What the industry has achieved over the last fifteen years will probably double during the next five years. Digital printing is no longer limited to small volumes. High-speed technologies such as Rocket clearly demonstrate that digital production is ready for industrial-scale manufacturing,” he observes.
This transformation is expected to accelerate further as textile manufacturers seek greater flexibility, faster response times and more sustainable production processes.
Expanding Beyond Textiles
While textiles remain its core business, Orange O Tec is rapidly expanding into several new inkjet applications.
The company is introducing digital solutions for label printing, book printing, carpet printing, terry towel printing and technical textiles while simultaneously strengthening its own product portfolio through the Colorix and Colorado brands.
To support this diversification, Orange O Tec has established assembly operations in China under its own brand while investing heavily in indigenous manufacturing capabilities in India.
The company has also commissioned its own ink manufacturing facility, with production capacity set to increase substantially over the coming months.
“Our vision is straightforward. If there is an application where inkjet technology can create value, Orange O Tec should have a solution. We don’t want to remain only a textile machinery company, we want to become a complete inkjet technology company,” says Mr. Rathi.
Customer Success Remains the Foundation
Despite its rapid growth, from a business of around ₹50 crore to nearly ₹280 crore, Orange O Tec continues to operate with the same customer-first philosophy that has guided the company since its inception.
The organization today employs nearly 200 professionals, including more than 80 service engineers spread across the country, ensuring customers receive prompt technical support whenever required.
Digital monitoring systems, mobile service applications, strategically located spare parts inventories and a dedicated service network enable the company to minimize downtime for customers.
“Machine stoppage is simply not acceptable for us. Every member of our organization understands that customer support begins the moment the machine is installed and continues throughout its operational life,” emphasizes Mr. Rathi.
This relentless focus on customer satisfaction has enabled Orange O Tec to build long-term relationships with several leading textile manufacturers, including Arvind, Shahi Exports, Indo Count and Donear.
Looking Ahead
As Orange O Tec prepares to showcase specialized digital printing technologies for embroidery, carpets and terry towels at Bharat Tex while simultaneously expanding into international markets, the company remains focused on one objective—driving the next phase of digital printing innovation.
Strategic partnerships with global technology leaders such as Homer and MAS, combined with investments in indigenous manufacturing, inks and new industrial applications, are steadily transforming Orange O Tec into one of Asia’s most comprehensive inkjet technology companies.
“You have to stay young in your thinking. The moment you believe you have achieved enough, innovation stops. Our focus is to keep challenging ourselves, introduce new technologies and continue creating value for our customers,” concludes Mr. Aayush Rathi.
With a growing portfolio of globally recognized technologies, strong customer relationships and a clear vision for the future, Orange O Tec is well positioned to lead India’s transition towards faster, smarter and more sustainable digital printing across textile and industrial applications.