Hitendra Bharagava: We are wherever our customers are
Klüber Lubrication provides high-performance lubricants that ensure seamless machine operation, enabling uninterrupted production of superior-quality fabric. As a global leader in specialty lubricants, Klüber delivers advanced solutions tailored to the evolving needs of various industries, including textiles and apparel. With decades of expertise, the company focuses on enhancing the efficiency, reliability, and longevity of textile machinery. In this interview, Hitendra Bharagava, CEO and Regional Management Board Member Asia Pacific, Klüber Lubrication, discusses the current state of the Indian textile industry and how his company is leveraging automation and sustainable practices to contribute to the Indian market.
Kindly brief us about your company. How is your company serving customers from the textile & apparels (T&As) segment?
Our lubricants are specifically engineered to minimise friction, reduce wear and tear, and optimise energy consumption—helping textile manufacturers boost productivity while reducing operational costs. Whether it’s spinning, weaving, knitting, dyeing, or finishing, our solutions are developed to perform under the demanding conditions of modern textile production.
Equally important is our market presence. We are wherever our customers are. With a robust distribution network, dedicated technical support, and service teams located close to key manufacturing clusters, we ensure that our expertise and products are readily accessible. This proximity enables us to respond swiftly, offer personalised solutions, and build long-term partnerships with both OEMs and end-users across the textile value chain.
By combining world-class technology with a deep understanding of local market needs, Klüber Lubrication continues to be a trusted partner in driving operational excellence for the textile and apparel sector.
What is your perspective on the current state of the Indian textile and apparel industry, and how does Klüber Lubrication support its growth?
India’s textile and apparel industry has the potential to become a global leader, but achieving this requires overcoming key structural challenges. High production costs due to import duties on essential raw materials like man-made fibres and cotton, along with non-tariff barriers such as Quality Control Orders, are affecting the industry’s competitiveness. Additionally, scaling up manufacturing and ensuring smooth production processes are critical to sustaining growth. At Klüber Lubrication, we support the industry by providing high-performance specialty lubricants that enhance machine efficiency, reduce unplanned downtime, and optimise energy consumption. Our solutions help textile manufacturers improve their production capabilities, making them more resilient and globally competitive.
What challenges could hinder India’s textile sector from reaching its $350 billion target by 2030, and how can Klüber Lubrication contribute to overcoming them?
One of the biggest challenges is ensuring large-scale, cost-effective production while maintaining product quality. Import dependency on critical raw materials and fluctuating cotton productivity can create supply chain disruptions. Additionally, machinery efficiency plays a crucial role in achieving production targets, but many textile manufacturers face issues related to excessive wear, frequent maintenance, and energy losses. Klüber Lubrication addresses these challenges by offering advanced lubrication solutions that enhance machine reliability, extend component life, and reduce operational costs. By minimising friction and wear, our products help manufacturers achieve uninterrupted production, ultimately supporting the industry’s growth ambitions.
How crucial is technological modernisation for the Indian textile industry, and what role does Klüber Lubrication play in this transformation?
Technological modernisation is key to improving efficiency, sustainability, and global competitiveness in the textile sector. Advanced spinning, weaving, and finishing machines require precision and reliability to function optimally, yet many manufacturers struggle with frequent breakdowns and high maintenance costs. At Klüber Lubrication, we provide innovative lubrication solutions specifically designed for high-speed textile machinery, helping manufacturers enhance productivity and extend the service life of critical components. Our solutions not only reduce friction and wear but also contribute to energy savings and lower emissions, aligning with the industry’s shift toward more sustainable and automated production.
As the Indian textile industry scales up its manufacturing capabilities and moves toward greater digitalisation, what opportunities does Klüber Lubrication foresee, and how are you enabling this transformation?
The Indian textile industry is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by the twin objectives of expanding manufacturing capacity and adopting smarter, technology-driven operations. With initiatives like PM-MITRA (Prime Minister Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel) aimed at consolidating value chains and creating integrated textile hubs, there is a clear shift toward scale, efficiency, and digital maturity.
Klüber Lubrication sees this as a strong opportunity to contribute not just through high-performance specialty lubricants, but also by supporting the digital ambitions of our customers.
As textile manufacturers adopt more advanced machinery and automation, the demand for precision, predictive maintenance, and data-driven operations is growing rapidly. We help customers enhance their capabilities by integrating lubrication strategies into their digital maintenance systems—enabling real-time performance tracking, improving machine uptime, and reducing manual intervention.
By working closely with our customers, we enable condition-based lubrication and support them in aligning their production goals with intelligent maintenance practices. This helps reduce unplanned downtime, improve energy efficiency, and extend equipment life—key outcomes for manufacturers aiming to stay competitive in a globalised market.
In this evolving ecosystem, Klüber Lubrication plays the role of both a technical advisor and a strategic partner—offering solutions that empower textile manufacturers to transition smoothly into the era of smart manufacturing.
Sustainability is becoming increasingly important for the textile and apparel sector. How is Klüber Lubrication contributing to this transition, both through its products and broader sustainability initiatives?
Sustainability is no longer just an aspiration—it is a core requirement for textile manufacturers aiming to stay competitive and aligned with global expectations. At Klüber Lubrication, we actively support this transition by providing high-performance synthetic lubricants that help reduce friction and wear, extend the life of machinery, and significantly lower energy consumption. This leads to a tangible reduction in emissions, resource usage, and operational waste—critical factors in any sustainability-driven production model.
Our commitment goes beyond product performance. Klüber Lubrication has been awarded the EcoVadis Gold rating for four consecutive years, placing us among the top 3 per cent of companies worldwide in terms of sustainability performance. This recognition reflects our consistent focus on environmental responsibility, ethical business practices, and supply chain transparency.
In the textile industry specifically, we collaborate with both OEMs, manufacturers and service partners to implement lubrication strategies that enhance equipment reliability while meeting sustainability benchmarks. Whether it’s optimising lubricant change intervals to reduce waste or supporting energy-efficiency goals in high-speed textile machinery, our solutions are designed to align with the industry’s green transformation. Through this dual approach—innovative products and robust sustainability practices—we are proud to contribute meaningfully to a cleaner, more efficient textile ecosystem.
