Set to launch compact system at Texfair 2024
Over the years the Pinter Group has emerged as a global leader in spindle monitoring systems and roving stops. Pinter FA.NI Asia Private Limited, the group’s Indian subsidiary has made rapid inroads into the Indian market. The Pinter Group recently inaugurated a new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Coimbatore. This is the group’s second manufacturing unit in India, with its first unit also located in Coimbatore. The group is also set to launch its ‘Aerofil Compact System’ at Texfair 2024, to be held in the city.
We caught up with the trio of Mr.Adrian Serra, CEO, Pinter Group, Josep Torrent, Managing Director, Pinter FA.NI Asia Private Limited and R. Soundararajan, Director Operations, Pinter FA.NI Asia Private Limited, on the sidelines of the inauguration and got to know more about these latest developments.Beginning the conversation with an overview of the group’s recent performance, Adrian Serra stated,” We all know that the textile industry is passing through a tough phase. What we have realized from the first part of 2024 is that at least the market is not getting worse, as compared to 2023, which was one of the darkest periods in the history of the textile industry. We see the lean period differently. We have used this time preparing for a big leap in technology. We have a wide client base and would say that our operations are at a reasonably good level.”
Going into details regarding inauguration of the company’s second manufacturing facility in India, he mentioned,” We first established Pinter Service India in 2010. Initially we had only tiny operations, i.e., service and spares. In 2012 we moved into manufacturing. We were initially concentrating on monitoring systems. We saw good success with them. We also began to feel space crunch. Our premises was becoming too small and we also wanted to plan for the future growth. In 2021 we decided to set up a new manufacturing unit and today it has become a reality.”
India calling
Continuing further on the company’s India success story, Josep Torrent mentioned,” Earlier customers were importing Pinter products directly from Spain and we were facilitating the service and support. After the Indian economy opening up we saw India going to be a very big market for us.
In 2010 we started a company called Pinter Service India, which was purely for after sales support. ““After Pinter took over FA.NI, we did a lot of reengineering of the spindle monitoring system and roving stops, because it was on the expensive side. The reengineering helped us bring it into the Asian market at a more affordable cost. After our first installation in India in 2009, it became a roaring success.”“Looking at the growing demand, in 2012 Pinter opened its factory in Coimbatore. We started with assembling the components. In hindsight we can say it was a very wise decision, for in the group, India is the most well performing subsidiary, clocking the highest turnover, “he added.
Huge potential
Elaborating on the importance of the Indian market and the manufacturing facilities of the group here, Adrian Serra stated,” The Indian market is the number one for our group. The Indian market is still growing for us. It has got huge potential. You can guage the importance by the fact that our Indian facilities contribute about 30% of the group’s turnover.”
“With our Indian manufacturing set up, we can now give products at a lower price with very fast delivery, as well as service, if required. Come Texfair 2024 and we are going to launch our ‘Aerofil Compact System’ here too. This compact systems comes with parts made in India and designed according to the latest trends in the industry. This compact system is being made in India for the world. In fact, we already have started getting enquiries. Apart from many in India, we also have requests from Turkey, Pakistan and Indonesia,” added SoundararajanThrowing light on the facilities available at the new manufacturing unit, Josep Torrent pointed out, “This unit has an exclusive technical division here, complete with electronics, IT and mechanics. We have a much bigger space. We now also have a spacious warehouse and assembly area.”“Another key highlight of the new facility is our showroom. We have one ringframe here where customers can make samples. For example , if a customer wants compact with Lycra or compact with Siro, he can try out and see how it works for himself,” he added.
Key USPs
Speaking about the level of localization Soundararajan mentioned that most of the components, except the electronics are manufactured in Coimbatore. “That is the reason we have been able to bring down our cost. So far as capacity is concerned, we run one shift and in that, when it comes to monitoring systems and roving stops, we do close to 150,000 spindles per month.”Adding to the point, Josep Torrent said,” We normally doing 80,000 to 1 lakh spindles per month. However, there are times when customers want to speed up deliveries, we are perfectly capable of scaling up.”Considering the fact that India is a very price sensitive market, other than price what are the key USPs that the company offers? Responding to this question, Josep Torrent replied,” Customers know the quality of our products. Pinter has become a kind of reference in the market. For example, if a customer wants a Lycra system, they say,” just call Pinter and find out”. Whether they buy from us or not, that is a different point. However, we are the reference in the market. This holds true for our monitoring systems and roving stops too. Plus, with an exclusive company for offering service here, they need not worry about service support.” The company has got its engineers throughout the country in places like Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh to offer service support.
APR- in the pipeline
With automation being the buzzword in the textile industry, Pinter Group is all set for one more addition to its quality product line – an Automatic Piecing Robot (APR) soon. Going into details regarding this product Adrian Serra explained,” We have been working on bringing our APR since 2020. While the key parts of the product will be manufactured in China, some parts of it will be manufactured in India, for customization is required for it to be suitable for different machines. Some parts are therefore better produced locally.”Adding further on the topic Josep Torrent remarked, “This is a technologically challenging product for us, which involves robotics, communications, mechanics, electronics and textiles. It is the final stages of testing. We had presented it during ITMA Milan in 2023. There has been a flood of enquiries. However, we intend selling it only by the end of 2024. “
New launch at Texfair 2024
Josep Torrent speaking about the future plans of the company, vis-à-vis India said, “We are planning to double our turnover here, because we will be adding to our product lineup. A few years ago, India was our smallest contributions to the group, and now it is the biggest one. We have the experience and we know the pulse of the customers here. We are only going to grow from here.”
Rounding off the interaction with the company’s display in Texfair 2024, Soundararajan mentioned, “We welcome visitors to our booth – ‘B- 57’. We will be displaying our ‘AeroFil Compact System’ at the exhibition. We will also have brochures, catalogues and multimedia on our ‘Optifil Monitoring System’, Roving Stops, Automatic Piecing Robot, CPR- Core Yarn Attachment, TFO Monitoring System and SIRO Sensors, at the exhibition.
