“We expect business to improve in coming year”

Since 1985, Coimbatore-based Statex has been into production of fibre and yarn testing instruments. K Subramaniam, who is a graduate in engineering, is the Managing Director of Statex Group of Companies, with more than eight years of dedicated service in a textile research associations, where he concentrated in textile testing instrument R&D. Enriched with his guidance and direction, today Statex has established its name throughout the world.

K Subramaniam takes the ITJ through the journey of the company during an interview with ITJ Senior Sub Editor Karthik Muthuveeran.

Give us a brief introduction of the company.

Statex Group of Companies is in textile market for more than 30 years. Statex was started by me. Earlier, I’ve been associated with South Indian Textile Research Association (SITRA) for five years. Statex Group is into manufacturing textile testing instrument for cotton to yarn, compact attachment and 100 per cent cotton yarn.

What are the various technologies offered by Statex?

Statex was offering its instruments in all ranges from cotton to yarn from lower end to highly sophisticated higher end instruments with high precision in results. Summit Compact system an retrofitting compact attachment suitable for all type of ringframes. So far, we have supplied more than four lakh spindles of retrofitting compact attachment to manufacture superior quality yarns.

How do you think is the market for textile industry in India?

We feel it will be good after January 2018. Textile market will start smoothly and will reach our expected speed. We hope the business will improve in upcoming years.

What makes your technology different from its competitors?

We are frequently updating latest available technologies in market both in electronics and in metallurgy to satisfy our customers need to meet their market need.

Before four months, we had supplied five mobile high volume instrument fitted in van. The van move each and every time to conduct test in farmers spot. This is a challenging job, because instrument moved along with van daily 50-100 km in bad road conditions. All high volume instrument manufacturer have refused to supply with the above conditions, but Statex taken as a challenge and redesigned entire high volume instrument to withstand shock and vibration. Also, we introduced Legend compact with the patented technology.

How many installations in India so far?

We are having more than 25 instruments in our product range. We had supplied to almost all mills in India, and we are having market share of 75 per cent and 40 per cent in foreign countries. In India, we are stronger in almost all the regions.

Which are your stronger export markets?

We export our products to Bangladesh, Vietnam, Indonesia, Germany, Turkey, Hong Kong, to name a few.

What are the various challenges does your industry face?

We are having enough orders in hand. But very challenging is mills financial criteria, which is not as we expected. Due to various up’s and down’s in cotton price, the total concentration of mill at present is in cotton purchase.

Do you think the government is providing enough impetus to the industry you are in?

The Government should take necessary steps to control the cotton price variations, which will make industry more viable and steady in growth of industry and nation.

Performance-wise, how way the year 2017 for your company as well as the industry? What next in 2018?

The first half moved with lot of trouble and strongly due to so many reasons.We felt second half is good and the coming year will be even better.