Vetal’s upgraded models vital for tackling cotton contamination

Vetal is a 35 years old ISO 9001 : 2000 certified electronics group company manufacturing products in Coimbatore. Vetal offers quality products and cost-effective solutions for wide range of industrial applications world wide in simplified forms. PT Muralidharan, General Manager – Marketing, Vetal Hitech Machines, speaks on the latest innovations in blowroom and cotton contamination removal, and plans after ITMA.

Are there any specific product that you have launched for ITMA? What are its USPs?

We have launched two new products for cotton blow room to tackle cotton contamination. This is the new generation model, entirely different from our older models. The machine is at par with any other European machinery available in the market. This new generation machine has a good camera, which is the brain of our machines. It is one of the latest innovations with around 2048 pixels. It can detect smallest impurities be it color or white polypropylene present in cotton, which are the biggest culprits in cotton.

How do you think is the market for your products in India?

The buyer is now insisting for high-quality product either yarn or fabric. This has made manufacturers to produce products with less contamination. This is one of the drivers of the industry. We believe that the customers who have been using our machines for the last 15-20 years might upgrade to our new machines, and for those who are already using some other models – may be old European brand, they will also upgrade to this newer model. This model will stay in the market for at least four to five years or even more. The technology used is far superior, and the existing demand of yarn buyers can be met with this machine.

What are the major challenges you face in the industry you are in? How are you tackling those? Ours is a semi-capital product. Opportunity is usually good when there are new projects. Now there is a downtrend in India due to various reasons . Due to highly volatile cotton price, people have started looking at other projects. This is one of the biggest challenges we face in the industry.

Globally, there is a recession. In every country, either they are flooded with the end products or the take offs for the market is not so good, temporarily or permanently. Due to this, there is set back again. These two are the major challenges, which are sentimental and stops the customer to setting up new ventures. These are holding them back.

Which are your stronger export markets?

We export to more than seven to eight countries in Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Bangladesh and Vietnam. We also export our products to the close to European markets like Turkey. We have just forayed into the Brazilian market even though the market there is not very strong.

How do you think Make in India has progressed in the segment that your company deals with?

Manufacturing is 100 per cent in India. However, the components that are used are either from Germany or Japan. Critical Hardware is imported, software is our own.

Do you think the government is providing enough support to the industry you are in? What are the suggestions for the government?

Every year, there is a new problem. Six to seven years back, there was a problem of power shortage. However, this time we have a new problem-poor market trend. Other States enjoy subsidies for the upliftment of the sector. So the number of new projects there is very high. Investment has to come to the industry first and then it will filter down to us. If the investment is not coming to the industry then we are indirectly affected if not directly.

The government may not have to support us directly; they can accelerate the process of the textile manufacturing. All the connected suppliers will then get benefitted.

Revenue-wise, how has your company been faring over the years?

We have customers spread all over India. In India, our customer base is mostly around 60 to 70 per cent. We try to meet them and make them upgrade to our new product, and we believe that in the coming months, it will be good.

What next after ITMA?

R&D is a continuous process at Vetal. So every three to four years, there is a new technology fusion to the product, and then entirely new version of the product will come into picture. This product is an outcome of the high tech design and innovation. The market is ready for such kind of products.