For over 120 years, KOB GmbH, Germany (KOB), has been at the forefront of medical textile innovation, establishing itself as a global leader in specialized bandages and fabrics for diverse therapeutic applications. Renowned for its relentless commitment to quality, innovation, and patient-centric solutions, KOB has consistently set new benchmarks in the field of medical textiles. The company’s expertise spans across phlebology, lymphology, sports medicine, orthopedics, wound care, pain therapy, and pharma solutions, catering to many of the most prestigious healthcare brands worldwide.
KOB’s reputation is built upon its ability to develop high-performance, cost-effective, and clinically superior medical bandages, ensuring optimal therapeutic outcomes. Its strategic B2B collaborations with global medical brands reinforce its position as a trusted supplier of premium medical textiles, with a presence in multiple markets across Europe, North America, and Asia. KOB’s philosophy revolves around continuous research and development, allowing it to stay ahead of industry trends and offer cutting-edge solutions that redefine patient care.
Recognizing the immense potential of India, KOB established KOB Medical Textiles Pvt. Ltd. (KOBMT) in 1998 as its wholly-owned subsidiary, with a vision to create a world-class manufacturing base for medical bandages to meet its global demand. Over the past 25 years, KOBMT has evolved into a center of excellence for narrow-width bandages, catering not just to global markets but also playing a pivotal role in revolutionizing India’s medical textile sector. Headquartered in Palladam, Tamil Nadu, KOBMT operates a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, which adheres to the highest international standards of quality, hygiene, and sustainability.
In this exclusive interview, Dr. A. Shanmugavasan, Managing Director, and Mr. Raju Cherian, CFO & Whole Time Director of KOB Medical Textiles Pvt. Ltd., provide in-depth insights into the company’s journey, innovations, quality standards, and future growth plans. They discuss how KOB’s Indian subsidiary has transformed the landscape of medical textiles and outline their vision for the future.
What sets KOBMT apart is its pioneering approach to innovation and its relentless commitment to improving patient care. The company introduced the “Specific Bandage for Specific Use” concept in India, replacing traditional bandages with advanced, high-performance medical textiles designed for greater efficacy, comfort, and healing outcomes. With a 14% CAGR growth in Indian market, KOBMT has played a crucial role in raising industry standards, actively working with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to develop and implement the BIS 16111 standard for elastic bandages.
Company Growth & Market Presence: A Legacy of Excellence in Medical Textiles
Dr. A. Shanmugavasan: “KOB is globally recognized as a pioneer in medical textiles, specializing in medical bandages and fabrics for various textile medical devices. The strength of KOB lies in its innovative approach to developing and manufacturing products in collaboration with customers and market participants, always keeping patient care at the core of our thought process.”
KOB’s extensive product range includes bandages for phlebology and lymphology therapy, sports medicine and orthopedics, wound care, dressing protection, pain therapy, contraception, hormone replacement therapy, and other pharmaceutical solutions. These products are sold under different brand names worldwide, and what sets KOB apart is the perfect balance of cost-effectiveness, user-friendliness, high quality, and proven therapeutic success.
KOB’s Journey in India
KOB Medical Textiles Private Limited (KOBMT) was incorporated in 1998 with the objective of serving as a global supply base for the group. Over the last 25 years, the company has transformed into a center of excellence for narrow-width bandages, operating a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Palladam, Tirupur District, Tamil Nadu.
Dr. A. Shanmugavasan explains: “Though KOBMT was initially established as a supply base for our German parent company, we soon recognized the need for high-quality elastic bandages in India at affordable prices. This led us to introduce a specialized range of bandages in the Indian market, which has been steadily replacing traditional bandages. Today, we are growing at a CAGR of 14% in Indian market, a testament to our commitment to quality and innovation.”
KOBMT also played a pivotal role in developing the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) 16111 standard for elastic bandages, significantly enhancing product quality and safety across the industry.
Differentiating from Competitors
KOBMT stands out in the Indian market due to its rigorous quality control, innovation-driven culture, and adherence to international standards. The company is certified with ISO 13485, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, SA8000, and BIS-ISI mark certification.
Dr. A. Shanmugavasan highlights: “For the first time in India, KOBMT introduced the concept of ‘Specific Bandage for Specific Use,’ providing specialty bandages designed for targeted therapeutic applications. Our manufacturing processes follow the highest hygiene standards, ensuring that our medical devices are safe for both patients and healthcare professionals.”
KOBMT follows the Total Quality Management (TQM) approach, with an emphasis on Total Employee Involvement (TEI). The company collaborates with leading medical institutions and healthcare professionals for pre-clinical evaluations, clinical trials, and post-market surveillance, ensuring that its products consistently meet evolving medical needs. KOBMT also actively participates in industry conferences and exhibitions such as BHARAT TEX, INTEXCON, MEDICALL, VSICON, IOACON, and VAICON to enhance awareness among healthcare professionals.
Product Innovation & Development: Advancing Medical Textiles through Innovation
Innovation is at the heart of KOB’s business strategy, allowing it to remain at the forefront of the medical textile industry.
Dr. A. Shanmugavasan states: “Our vision, mission, and corporate values drive us to develop safe, high-performance medical textiles that adapt to evolving medical practices. We have adopted ‘Technology Innovation, Continuous Improvement, Digitalization, and Ambient Infrastructure’ as the four core strategic elements to enhance our competitiveness.”
KOBMT , in collaboration with the German R&D team, explores emerging trends, conducts market analysis, and generates innovative product ideas. One of the company’s latest innovations is the Pedilay Foot, a ready-to-use secondary dressing that simplifies wound care management. This product eliminates the need for additional materials such as scissors and fixation plasters, making dressing application and removal quicker and more efficient. The Pedilay Foot recently won the Medical Device Network Excellence Award for its innovative wound care solution.
Customization for Diverse Medical Needs
Customization is integral to KOB’s operations. Mr. Raju Cherian explains: “Our business model, as a global B2B manufacturer, revolves around customization. We cater to different regulatory requirements across countries and supply specialty elastic textiles to renowned global players.”
KOBMT collaborates with suppliers, service providers, and other stakeholders to ensure seamless product development and delivery. The sales team works closely with customers to understand specific treatment needs and relay them to the R&D division, where over 20 specialists develop tailored solutions.
Manufacturing & Quality Standards: Ensuring Global Standards at the Indian Facility
KOBMT’s production site in Coimbatore follows the same stringent quality standards as its German counterpart. The company upholds the Total Employee Involvement (TEI) approach, fostering a high-performance, customer-focused, and passionate workforce.
Dr. A. Shanmugavasan elaborates: “We maintain standardized processes across all operations through real-time collaboration with our German parent entity. Our strong IT infrastructure, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), automated systems, and third-party audits help ensure consistency in quality and regulatory compliance.”
KOBMT’s commitment to quality is reinforced by numerous industry accolades, including:
• Golden Award for Outstanding Export Performance in Medical Textiles from SRTEPC
• Sustain Award for Responsible Business for SMEs from Indo-German Chamber of Commerce (IGCC)
• Innovation Award from INTEXCON 2024
• CII Trendsetters Awards for Employee Welfare (2024) and Business Innovation (2025)
Benefits of a Fully Integrated Production Model
KOB operates across the entire textile manufacturing process, from spinning to packaging. Mr. Raju Cherian highlights: “Our fully integrated production model ensures complete control over quality at every stage. This capability enables us to manage over 2,000 customer-specific product varieties, derived from more than 120 textile constructions, making us truly unique.”
Future Growth & Expansion Plans: Scaling Up to Meet Growing Demand
With rising global demand for medical textiles, KOBMT is actively expanding its production capacity and market reach.
Dr. A. Shanmugavasan shares: “Flexibility and cost-effectiveness drive our production strategy. Given the increasing cost pressures in the global healthcare sector, we invest in advanced technologies, optimize resource utilization, and embrace digitalization to enhance operational efficiency. We are also focusing on expanding into untapped markets and strengthening our presence in existing ones.”
Opportunities and Challenges in India
India’s focus on technical textiles, particularly medical textiles, presents significant growth opportunities.
Dr. A. Shanmugavasan notes: “Government initiatives supporting the development of medical textiles are creating a conducive environment for growth. We are gearing up to introduce innovative products such as Pedilay and two-layer compression systems, which are expected to gain substantial traction in the Indian market.”
However, challenges remain, particularly concerning economic uncertainties and trade restrictions. Mr. Raju Cherian concludes: “As global trade dynamics shift, we must remain agile, adapt to changing regulations, and continue innovating to sustain our competitive edge.”
KOB Medical Textiles Pvt. Ltd. has firmly established itself as a leader in the Indian and global medical textile industry. With an unwavering commitment to innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction, the company is poised for continued growth. Under the leadership of Dr. A. Shanmugavasan and Mr. Raju Cherian, KOBMT is setting new benchmarks in the medical textiles sector, ensuring enhanced patient care and improved therapeutic outcomes worldwide.