Five Decades of Global Excellence and Pioneering Leadership
Lakshmi Ring Travellers (LRT) is a name that resonates profoundly within the textile industry, synonymous with world-class ring travellers. Celebrating its golden jubilee, LRT continues to lead the way, setting new benchmarks in the field. Established in 1974, the company’s stringent focus on quality and innovation has propelled it to global recognition, exporting products to over 45 countries.
In a detailed interview marking the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of Lakshmi Ring Travellers (LRT), The Textile Magazine sat down with Uttara Ravi, Managing Director, and J.M. Balaji, Vice President, to delve into the factors behind LRT’s sustained industry leadership. They shared insights into the company’s unwavering commitment to quality and innovation, as well as its forward-looking initiatives. The conversation also delved into the company’s work culture, with both leaders underscoring the importance of teamwork and continuous improvement.
“Our team is our greatest asset. We foster an environment where every member feels valued and empowered to contribute their best. This collaborative spirit and commitment to excellence have been pivotal to our success,” shared Uttara Ravi.
Visionary Guidance
Over the past five decades, LRT has not only maintained its industry leadership but has also demonstrated remarkable agility in navigating the evolving landscape of textile manufacturing. Under the visionary guidance of industry stalwarts like Dr. G.K. Devarajulu and Dr. D. Jayavarthanavelu, and now under the astute leadership of Uttara Ravi, the company has expanded its footprint while staying true to its core values of excellence and innovation.
LRT’s success is built on its cutting-edge production infrastructure, rigorous quality standards, and a strong R&D focus. The company’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility integrates advanced technology for fabricating world-class ring travellers and encompasses comprehensive testing protocols.
This relentless pursuit of excellence extends to its diversified divisions, which include the Ring Traveller Division, Engineering Division, CNC Profile Cutting Machine Division, Foundry Division, and Agency Division. The company also operates two group companies, Lakshmi Caipo Industries Limited and Lakshmi Energy and Environment Designs Limited.
Staying Ahead of Industry Trends
LRT’s sustained industry leadership over five decades is a testament to its innovative approach and foresight. Uttara Ravi highlights the company’s adaptability: “The spinning industry has undergone significant changes over the last three decades resulting in the growth of compact spinning process, value-added yarns like slub and core yarns, and recycled polyester. LRT’s ability to anticipate and prepare for these industry changes have ensured resilience of the business. For compact spinning, we introduced numerous profiles to meet the industry’s demanding requirements. Similarly, we developed unique travellers for slub and core yarns.”
Balaji adds, “Spindle speeds have increased in recent years, necessitating ring travellers with lower bow heights and better wear resistance to reduce breakage and eliminate traveller fly. Keeping up with the latest trends, we are developing new travellers for spinning recycled fibres and newer materials.”
Cutting-Edge Production and Rigorous Quality Standards
LRT’s cutting-edge production infrastructure reflects its relentless pursuit of excellence. The state-of-the-art facility integrates advanced technology for fabricating world-class ring travellers and encompasses comprehensive testing protocols. The high-tech testing facility enables analysis of diverse and complex parameters to improve performance and accelerate development of travellers.
The company’s rigorous quality control processes and continuous improvement initiatives ensure the highest product standards. LRT implements robust quality management systems (QMS) adhering to ISO 9001 standards, ensuring quality throughout the product lifecycle from design to delivery.
Strong R&D Focus
LRT’s comprehensive R&D strategy has enabled it to expand its global footprint, serving discerning clientele worldwide. Uttara Ravi notes, “At LRT, customer feedback is pivotal. This input drives innovation efforts, ensuring developed solutions meet and exceed market requirements. Our customer-centric approach has helped LRT emerge as a globally accepted brand synonymous with quality, reliability, and innovation.”
Balaji points out, “Being located in India benefits our R&D efforts. We benefit from a vibrant ecosystem of spinning mills producing various counts, operating at different spindle speeds, and utilizing diverse raw materials. This proximity allows LRT to quickly develop and tailor products to specific applications, with trials conducted in spinning mills.”
“Sritex is a vertically integrated mill with a capacity of over 1.5 million spindles, producing approximately 800 tons of yarn daily. Our fabric division boasts a production capacity of 1 million meters per day, similar volume in dyeing and printing and our extensive garment facilities can produce over 3 million pieces per month. Sritex takes pride in its quality, timely delivery, and robust technical support.
Sritex has enjoyed an excellent relationship with Lakshmi Ring Travelers (LRT) for many decades. LRT excels in several key areas, including longer lifecycles, quality, durability, and timely service, all at reasonable prices. Over 90% of the spindles at Sritex use LRT products, and their performance has been exceptional.” says R. Karunakaran, Business Director, Sritex Group
Enhancing Production Efficiency
Uttara Ravi emphasizes the impact of LRT’s ring travellers on textile production efficiency and yarn quality. “Tailored to specific yarn types and production needs, our ring travellers optimize properties such as evenness and dyeability. Their durability extends maintenance intervals, reducing the need for frequent replacements. Overall, LRT’s ring travellers provide stable, consistent production processes, leading to predictable outcomes, reduced waste, and improved process control.”
Cultivating a Strong Team Ethos
The driving force behind LRT’s success is its passionate and committed team. Uttara Ravi remarks, “Our team is our asset. The company fosters an environment where every team member feels valued and empowered to contribute their best. Many employees have been with us for a long time, which helps build a unique culture.”
LRT emphasizes teamwork and collaboration at all organizational levels while empowering employees with the necessary resources, training, and autonomy to excel. The company also invests in continuous learning and development initiatives, fostering a culture of innovation and adaptability.
Expanding Global Presence
LRT’s dedication to quality has made it a preferred choice in many key global markets. Balaji shares, “In India, LRT commands a remarkable market share. China is our second largest market, where our products enjoy widespread acceptance. Additionally, LRT maintains strong footholds in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Vietnam, Turkey, South Korea, Thailand, Iran, and various South American nations, catering to over 5000 mills globally.” LRT has a market share of 74% in India and 42% globally. Regarding aftermarket support services, Balaji states, “We have a dedicated team of engineers offering after-sales service.”
“Lakshmi Ring Travellers (LRT) has been an indispensable partner in our journey for over four decades, consistently delivering unmatched quality and performance. Their unwavering support and prompt service ensure seamless operations, even in the most demanding scenarios.
With LRT, we have achieved unparalleled excellence in superfine counts, setting new benchmarks in quality and productivity.
Their commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction continues to propel the textile industry forward. Here’s to LRT’s legacy of success and to many more years of ground breaking innovation.” says Mr. Mohanarengan, President, Ramco Group (Textile Division)
Future Initiatives
Discussing the company’s strategic outlook and vision, Uttara Ravi mentions, “As we look forward, we aim to continue being a single-stop solution for travellers, providing our customers with innovative and advantageous solutions for their unique needs. With the next generation entering the business, we will focus on growing our engineering vertical and accelerating the growth of our environmental solutions business, bringing more innovative solutions to global markets.”
As LRT celebrates its golden jubilee, it stands as a beacon of excellence and innovation in the textile industry.
Uttara Ravi expresses her gratitude to customers and partners, “We deeply appreciate their contributions to our success and growth. LRT reaffirms its commitment to delivering high-quality products and services that meet the evolving needs and expectations of our customers.”
She adds, “Listening to customer feedback and understanding their evolving needs and preferences is crucial for staying ahead of the curve. Incorporating customer insights into product development ensures LRT remains responsive to market trends and customer demands. Regularly participating in global exhibitions helps identify emerging trends and consumer preferences in the spinning industry.”
Mr. R. N. Empran, CEO, Nagreeka says “We have been using LRT Travellers since we started our mills in 1994, marking a 30-year association. The performance of LRT Travellers has been exceptional, consistently improving to meet and exceed requirements for compact and fancy yarns.
Their after-sales and service support is outstanding, always dedicated to providing immediate and expert assistance, especially when developing new products or starting new count ranges. In a market filled with various suppliers, LRT stands out for its commitment to performance and productivity.
LRT has significantly contributed to our success by ensuring the consistent performance of our ring frames. Their timely development of proper design changes and technological updates has helped us maintain high productivity, a crucial factor in our competitive manufacturing industry.
I wish the dedicated team at LRT continued success in the coming years. May they keep supporting the textile industry with cost-effective and technologically advanced products and services. A properly guided team with a strong leader can achieve and maintain great success, and LRT is blessed with these qualities. I am confident they will continue to excel in the future.”
AGENT TESTIMONIALS
“We have been associated with LRT for almost 20 years, since 2004, in the Korean market. The relationship, which started with my father, is now being continued by me. Our business with LRT is very stable, and we hold the No. 1 position with nearly 80% market share in Korea. In Korea, we use a special type of ring where quality and performance are crucial. LRT is the preferred choice for our customers.”
“I first came into contact with LRT at an event in Shanghai in 2018, and since then, my cooperation with them has been extremely satisfying. The quality and service provided by LRT are excellent, and we have worked closely together for many years. The Belarusian textile industry is growing and robust. I foresee a bright future for LRT in the Belarusian market and have plans to expand into Russia.”
“We have been working with LRT since 2004, marking 20 years of successful cooperation. Thanks to the strong support from Mr. Balaji, who pays special attention to the Chinese market and ensures regular visits. Despite global competition, our customers appreciate the excellent service and support we provide. Our dedication has solidified LRT’s strong presence in the Chinese market.”
“My relationship with LRT started in 1999 when I began my career with the company. Initially, establishing our market presence was challenging. Today, LRT is the No. 1 supplier in the Indonesian market. Indonesia’s substantial fiber manufacturing capacity for polyester and viscose, along with the availability of labor, has been a significant advantage. The long-term prospects for the market look promising, and I am confident that LRT will dominate the industry here.”
“Over the past 20 years, we have developed a strong partnership with LRT in the Indonesian market. Initially, establishing our market presence was challenging. Unlike India, which is a major cotton spinning market, Indonesia primarily focuses on synthetic spinning, particularly polyester and viscose. The unique requirements of the Indonesian market necessitated the development of specialized products and adaptations to meet local demands.”
“We have been dealing with LRT since 2012. Initially, European brands dominated the Egyptian market, but we have successfully established LRT as a leading supplier. Additionally, the LRT team visits customers in Egypt annually, providing excellent service support. LRT success is built on good quality, performance, service, and pricing.”
“We have been representing LRT in Uzbekistan since 2006, starting with one spinning mill. Today, we hold the No.1 position in the market with a 50% market share. Since 2016, Uzbekistan’s textile industry has grown significantly, with many new units exporting to the US and other markets. The future of textiles here is very bright, and LRT, as the world’s largest manufacturer, is a pivotal part of this growth.”
