Strong partnership with SvanTexcon for Indian market
From left, Mr.Shailesh Desai, Director, SvanTexcon, Mr. Carl Gunnar Jonsson, Area Sales Director, IRO AB, and Mr. Mikael Aremann, Managing Director, IRO AB – Weaving Division
I recently visited a large weaving textile plant in Gujarat. While talking to the plant manager, I asked him about the sturdy weaving machines in operation at such plants. The plant manager told me that these machines have been running continuously for more than 10 years, 24/7, 365 days a year. This is quite an astounding level of productivity, quality and endurance of these machines.
Of course, they might stop once every few weeks or months for periodic maintenance. But still these machines are almost like robots. The machine speed is well over 1100 rpm. That really pushes the limit for every component that goes into the machine making, including the yarn feeders that play a very critical role in the performance of weaving and knitting machines.
The Swedish company IRO AB is the world’s leading manufacturer of yarn feeders for weaving machines. The company based in Ulricehamn, Sweden, was founded in 1958. In 2000, it became a subsidiary of NV Michel Van de Wiele Group.
IRO AB manufacturers yarn feeders and permanent magnet motors. It also offers accessories, including balloon controls, combined balloon controls/tens, tensioners, knot sensors, yarn break sensors, bobbin switch sensors, lubricators, and low twist solutions.
The company’s products are designed for various applications, including wool, shirting, denim, silk, filament and fancy, furnishing and upholstery, curtains, bed sheeting and towels, table cloths and napkins, and automotive. It offers its products through a network of division of companies and agents in Africa, Oceania, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and America.
IRO has been present in the Indian market since the 1990s. The company is represented in India by Svan Texcon Private Ltd. IRO and Svan have established a very strong partnership to serve the Indian market and its customers.
IRO is undoubtedly the market leader when it comes to yarn feeders for weaving machines. IRO today offers the complete range of solutions and has established a strong market position across all major centres. India, Turkey and China are key global markets, says Mr. Mikael Aremann, Managing Director of IRO AB.
IRO joined hands with Svan Texcon for the Indian market in 1998, and since then the partnership has strengthened with steady growth year after year. With the Government’s increased focus on improving the weaving sector, IRO expects good growth in India in the coming years, according to Mr. Carl Gunnar Jonsson, Area Sales Director, IRO AB.
OEM
IRO and the Division companies work very closely with all major European weaving manufacturers in developing solutions to suit their new product development. IRO and the Division companies work with Picanol, ITEMA and Dornier and caters to a significant portion of their requirements.
Through the group company in China, the IRO brand caters to the growing requirement of Chinese weaving machinery manufacturers. 
Thanks to the growing demand in global markets, IRO has been operating at 100 per cent of its manufacturing capacity. The company is confident that the growth trend will continue in the coming years as well.
Mr. Jonsson says that yarn feeder has evolved from being a purely mechanical product to becoming an electronic item. With weaving machines like robots operating at 98 per cent uptime, there is constant development required to make yarn feeders match the high speed and productivity rate of weaving machines.
Mr. Mikael Aremann, Managing Director, IRO AB and Weaving Division, says: “One of our biggest strengths is the electronic and mechanical knowledge within the group. We have one of the most modern and competent R&D departments and very well-established sales and service organisations worldwide.”
In India, IRO has established a comprehensive service facility in Ahmedabad for mechanical and electronic repairs. The company has a team of five service engineers to cater to all the customers across India. “We work very closely with our customers to help them with any issue that they may have as regards product and technology”, says Mr. Shailesh Desai, Director, Svan Texcon.
The Indian Government has been incentivising the growth of the weaving industry and is promoting technology upgradation by reducing import duty to almost the zero level. It’s a natural progression for India to move up the value chain, from its global leadership in spinning to weaving. With good outlook for the weaving segment, companies like IRO are quite optimistic about the growth prospects for its products in the Indian market.