Chinas rapier looms have many advantages

SM Industries, with its head office located at Islampur, Sangli district in Maharashtra, has been involved in the manufacturing of fabrics. Today, the company has about four Chinese loom manufacturers under its fold. Sheeza Impex, a SM Industries company, is doing roaring business of selling high speed rapier looms, airjet looms and waterjet looms. Saeed Momin, CEO, Sheeza Impex, claims to have sold over 3,000 sets of looms so far all over India. The company offers assistance-right from project preparation to installation of machinery and even in marketing of fabrics. Momin says he pioneered introducing electronic high speed rapier looms in 2003, in which he has achieved 20 per cent repeat orders.

Sheeza Impex has grown by leaps and bounds thanks to Chinese looms that made a huge hit with many customers, says Momin, who minces no words when he lays his claim to be a pioneer in the Indian market for these looms. He spoke to the ITJ Editor in an exclusive interview.

Excerpts:

ITJ Editor: In which year did Sheeza Impex start selling shuttleless looms from China? How has your company progressed?
Saeed Momin: We started our business of shuttleless rapier looms in 2004. We are pioneer in launching the first fully electronic cam beat up shuttleless rapier loom from WANLI -China in 2004 when we supplied one machine. Now we have supplied more than 1,100 sets of WANLIs fully electronic high speed rapier looms and more than 2,500 sets of other mechanical type of rapier looms from Hangzhou Huhaong & Texas.

ITJ Editor: What according to you are the advantages of these looms? Are these looms bridging the gap between shuttle looms and high-end shuttleless looms?
Saeed Momin: China has developed these high speed and slow speed electronic as well as mechanical shuttleless rapier looms because of their need and to fulfil their domestic requirement. Second hand European or Japanese or any other country machines import was banned by the China government 20 years before, therefore Chinese end user had no choice but to develop their own technology in shuttleless looms.

Of course, Chinas economical rapier looms have many advantages like: They are economical, consume minimum power. They are shuttleless and so no pirn is used, therefore no pirn winding machine is needed. Less labour and low maintenance are the other advantages.

They cover maximum production on economical mechanical type of shuttleless rapier looms which are bridging the gap between high speed shuttleless looms and shuttle looms. We have models like TEXAS – SM 788-T & SM 787.

Only one thing is needed now. If the Indian government supports it with 30 per cent TUF capital subsidy then it will be even better for bringing more such looms into our country.

ITJ Editor: Which are the ones selling more in India – airjets or rapier? Can you give the reasons for it?
Saeed Momin: Rapier and economical, slow speed rapier with speed limit 200-250 rpm are selling more than airjets from China. Because still Chinas airjet looms are not stable and consume more power while slow speed Chinese rapier looms are economical and ensure low power consumption. Buyers choose it as per their end use of fabrics and market.

ITJ Editor: What are the possible products that can be woven out of these looms?
Saeed Momin: Many fabrics are possible but mainly suiting and shirting. The range includes 100 per cent cotton gray, dyed yarn cotton fabrics, P/C blends, synthetics, even dobby and jacquard as well in furnishing, etc.

ITJ Editor: How many looms must have been imported into India since these loom