Ideal was founded in 1956 by my great-grandfather, Mr. Ramanlal M. Shah. Since its inception, we have been manufacturing products in India, leveraging technical know-how from world-class manufacturers and developing products in-house with a dedicated team of technocrats. Under his leadership, Ideal expanded into defense and automobiles while always maintaining textiles as its core.
As the fourth generation in the business, I grew up in Ahmedabad, India, where I also completed my schooling. At 17, I went to Northeastern University in Boston, USA, to earn a degree in supply chain management and data science. With a clear intention to join the business, I came back in 2021 and joined the Ideal family.
The early involvement of my aunt, Ms. Khushi Palkhiwala – CMD and mother, Ms. Raji Shah – Director in the business, both joining business at the age of 20, has always inspired me. I knew that early experience would give me a head start. The initial 1-2 years helped me understand the market and product offerings better and how Ideal could support the mills in spinning at their finest. Long story short, I am very glad to have joined the family business early. These initial years of experience have been incredibly valuable, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Today, Ideal is a one-stop solution for spinning spares, offering a comprehensive product portfolio that includes yarn carriers, sliver cans, bobbin holders, yarn guides, and ABC Rings. The company completely designs and manufactures 100% of all the products in-house to meet the mills’ and OEM’s requirements to the T.
Our current manufacturing facility is located at Vatva, Ahmedabad, India. Ideal is preparing for the opening of a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at Bavla, Ahmedabad by the end of 2024. This facility, spread over 700,000 square feet, will feature the latest technology with a focus on material handling, enabling us to reduce labour and achieve higher efficiencies. We plan to invest in robotic arms, sorting conveyors, and automatic packing lines to further automate our processes.
With this new plant, Ideal’s vision is to be the market leader in the textile machinery space across the globe, and to support and enable the industry to grow further and spin better. Utilizing my background in data science, my initial role was to enhance traceability in our manufacturing process. We implemented a fully integrated cloud-based ERP system, which provided real-time data from the machines, helping us monitor our efficiencies and yield more effectively.
Like any other industry, the textile industry is cyclical. I was fortunate to join the business in the post-COVID era, when the market was on the upswing. It was invigorating to connect with the market at the peak during the major textile machinery events – ITME 2022 in Delhi and ITMA 2023 in Milan – and witness the promising future of the textile industry. As the next generation, my goal is to elevate the Ideal brand to new heights with a laser focus on quality and service, aiming to become the most preferred textile machinery spares supplier across the globe.
