By Peter Stahlecker, Managing Director Suessen Fabrik
I am a mechanical engineer who has had the privilege of interacting with the Indian spinning industry for over 20 years. I am not an economist or political analyst. So what I will share with you are my personal observations and conclusions.
The Indian spinning industry is a very dynamic one. Almost all my customers are organizations which are owned by a family and led by one of the family members. The MDs and Chairmen I meet are always very well informed about what is going on in the field of spinning technology. If I want to sell my products to them, I must know them very well. The MDs and Chairmen are willing to take risks, and they are willing to invest too. They are true entrepreneurs and are backed by very knowledgeable managers on all levels, from the GM down.
The Indian spinning mills are the best in the world, I have no doubt about. The Indian spinning industry is mature and, in my opinion, the best in the world. Moreover, the MDs as capable owners do everything every day in order to make it even better and better.
If I compare the Indian airports 15 years ago and today, it is like day and night, so much is the improvement made. Ten years ago, there were many areas without mobile phone coverage. Today everywhere I go there is full coverage. Many roads in Gujarat are very good nowadays. I am sure the rest of India will follow suit. Although the Indian infrastructure has improved, it adds to the cost of doing business.
Still there is a lack of power which is hurting the spinning industry. The Indian spinning industry could be even better if there was enough energy to support the growth planned and needed. The spinning industry also needs good roads, because it exports a lot of yarn and needs to import goods.
I am very confident, that India and the spinning industry will have a bright future. The fundamentals are right: We have entrepreneurial owners and leaders in the Indian textile industry. We have highly skilled technical and commercial managers at all levels. I am very sure that they can reach everything they want with a highly efficient and dedicated workforce.
Let me share just one one example of the entrepreneurial spirit I have experienced, it is very close to my heart: Indian spinning mills were the first to see the advantages of compact spinning. They “jumped” on it and helped us to further develop our SUESSEN EliTe, making India the largest market for SUESSEN.
I want to thank The Textile Magazine for its 55 years of dedicated service to the textile industry, and I am looking forward to many more years of association and good team work with The Textile Magazine and with “my” industry which it serves so well.