Nestled within the vibrant city of Coimbatore, where tradition harmoniously meets innovation, stands Lakshmi Machine Works Limited (LMW)—a beacon of enduring engineering excellence. For over six decades, LMW has woven a distinguished legacy, seamlessly blending time-honoured practices with cutting-edge technology, embodying the essence of precision engineering.
Revolutionizing the Textile Industry
Established in 1962 with a bold mission to revolutionize the Indian textile spinning industry, LMW has remained steadfast in its quest to provide comprehensive solutions for India’s textile sector and global markets. Beyond textile machinery, LMW’s engineering prowess now spans diverse domains, including machine tools, foundry operations, and aerospace engineering.
Jaidev Jayavarthanavelu: A Legacy of Leadership
Jaidev Jayavarthanavelu, born and raised in Coimbatore, completed his schooling there before pursuing an undergraduate degree in Business Administration in the United Kingdom. Graduating in 2019, he joined the family business, taking on various roles. His journey began much earlier, in the 10th grade, when he interacted with automotive and financial companies in India and abroad. Through school and university breaks, he gained diverse experiences, eventually joining LMW in 2020 as a Special Projects leader. He led the Internet of Things and Sales & Marketing reorganization for the Machine Tool Division and developed strategies for the Advanced Technology Centre. Jaidev joined the Board of LMW in 2022.
In this exclusive article, we share the excerpts from the interview of Mr Jaidev Jayavarthanavelu, Wholetime Director at LMW on his insights and vision for the future. His journey transcends mere corporate beginnings; it’s a symphony of foresight and firm commitment. Join us as we unravel the fabric of LMW’s success and explore the threads that bind tradition, technology, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
Innovation and Global Reach
LMW stands out as one of the few global companies offering comprehensive solutions in the textile industry. Their product range spans from blow room equipment to ring frames for short staple spinning, recently expanding to include automatic winding machinery. With a rich legacy spanning several decades, LMW has consistently pushed the boundaries of innovation, leaving an indelible mark on the global textile landscape.
At the heart of LMW’s success lies a culture of innovation. Mr Jaidev says, “LMW has fostered a culture of innovation, where our engineers, based on customer requirements/expectations, collaborate to create cutting-edge solutions that redefine industry norms.” Operating across continents, the company has strategically positioned itself to cater to diverse markets, leveraging cultural insights and market nuances to instill confidence in its customers. LMW’s manufacturing processes exemplify their dedication to quality. Rigorous quality control measures ensure that every LMW product meets stringent standards, resonating with excellence in every component produced. Regular capex and automation upgrades keep LMW ahead of the curve, ready to adapt to emerging challenges.
Sustainability and Digitalization
Investing heavily in R&D, LMW ensures that both Indian and global customers benefit from superior value through cutting-edge technology. The company’s focus on sustainability and digitalization is encapsulated in their mission of ‘Sustainable Smart Solutions for Spinning Success’ or ‘4S’. This commitment is not just a trend but a core part of the company’s vision, ensuring customers of LMW’s future readiness.
Building Partnerships Beyond Machinery
At LMW, customers are valued as long-term partners. The commitment to customer satisfaction is woven into the fabric of the company’s DNA, influencing every decision and interaction. Whether serving a family-owned mill or a large-scale textile factory, LMW remains a steadfast ally, adapting to evolving needs and supporting customers’ growth journeys. In terms of technological prowess, the company competes shoulder-to-shoulder with global competitors, often surpassing counterparts in specific product segments. This commitment to excellence isn’t merely about staying competitive; it’s about empowering customers. LMW’s state-of-the-art solutions enhance productivity, efficiency, and profitability, ensuring that textile businesses thrive in an ever-evolving industry landscape.
LMW maintains an unwavering pricing policy—a practice unchanged since its inception. Regardless of the client, the price for LMW’s machinery remains consistent, and every customer receives products as agreed upon, without favouritism. This transparent and equitable approach underscores their integrity and reliability. Communication is key at LMW, with channels always open for dynamic and two-way customer interactions. This approach fosters trust and transparency while enabling the company to better understand and meet customer needs.
Technological Innovations
By actively listening to customers, the company gains valuable insights into their unique requirements and challenges, allowing for effective tailoring of solutions. Addressing common industry challenges such as raw material quality, rising input costs, and workforce availability, LMW offers automation solutions wherever possible. They ensure seamless integration of these solutions through meticulous planning, robust engineering, and customer-centric design. Recent trends show that nearly all clients opt for at least 20-25% automation, with some choosing complete automation.
“LMW’s conscious decision to incorporate and offer automation solutions in its textile machinery equipment and services is rooted in its “Customer First” policy”, Mr Jaidev.
Among LMW’s standout innovations is the Ring Frame Auto Piecer (RAP) automation, which ensures uninterrupted production, minimizing downtime and maximizing output, ultimately leading to optimisation of workforce requirements. Looking ahead, advancements in artificial intelligence, robotics, and data analytics are set to bolster automation in the textile industry further. Their digital solution, Spin Connect, provides real-time production, quality, and maintenance data, enabling customers to make informed decisions. LMW also has other automation solutions in place, that increase productivity and quality and optimise workforce like the Blending solutions in the Blow room, a Card with in-built Drafting System, a Lap Transport System, a Roving Transport System and Yarn Break Sensor & Roving Stop Motion (YBS/RSM).
Mr Jaidev says “LMW’s manufacturing processes are a testament to its dedication to quality. The Company embraces cutting-edge technology, integrating automation, data analytics, and artificial intelligence into its production lines.”. With the requirements of the circular economy taking firm roots in the textile industry, the use of AI- and ML-based solutions within the industry is expected to increase. Integrating AI and ML in textile spinning machinery is an ongoing journey, and as technology evolves, it is expected to give even more benefits and innovations. With LMW being committed to providing ‘Sustainable Smart Solutions for Spinning Success’, integrating AI and ML into LMW’s products, wherever possible, is an ongoing activity. Their new-generation machines are also built to enable remote monitoring, remote diagnosis, and real-time data analytics.
Resilience and Future Growth
The COVID-19 pandemic presented a significant challenge, but LMW emerged stronger, turning hardships into opportunities for growth. This period taught the company resilience, adaptability, and the importance of employee-centric decisions. Post-pandemic, they achieved their highest-ever growth figures and turnover. Their success is rooted in their approach to human resources, cultivating internal talent rather than relying solely on external hires. This approach embodies LMW’s core principle of treating everyone as part of a close-knit family. Also, LMW actively supported its customers during this period, especially when the industry re-opened by providing the necessary technical and technological support towards achieving the required production and quality.
Looking to the future, their textile division aims to maintain its strong market share in India while aggressively expanding in key global markets. The company’s world-class products and services position it well to compete globally.
As Jaidev notes, patience and persistence are crucial. “One of my main learnings is to be patient and to persist. To be extremely focused on the objective, results will be seen for what we’re doing today, 3-4 years down the line.” he says and adds “Have that patience and persistence, focus on one vision and goal, and then work towards that. Market conditions will change, but as long as you have that fixed vision of where you want to take the business, your products, and your customers, you are on a safe course.”
To conclude, Mr. Jaidev’s unwavering vision for LMW’s textile division aligns with India’s robust market, which is poised for phenomenal growth. LMW is well-positioned to maintain its substantial market share in India and sustain steady growth. Simultaneously, the company aims to expand aggressively in the global market, prioritizing organic growth within the textile industry.
