The Prashant Group is one of India's leading groups catering to the textile industry and a trendsetter in the field of weaving preparatory. Ever since its inception in 1975, Prashant Group has been on the path of continuous progress and today, the Group boasts of ultramodern infrastructure spanning across 54,000 sq m.
The chairman of the group, Mr Prakash Shah has won many awards for quality and developments on behalf of the Group. Some of them include Outstanding Entrepreneur Award and multiple awards for Quality Performance.
 The Group has successfully participated in various reputed exhibitions like ITMA, ITMA Asia, ITME, etc. The Prashant Group is amongst the first few companies in India to achieve the ISO 9001 quality certification and CE certification in 1995.
Prashant Gamatex of Prashant Group is a market leader in world-class high-tech sectional warping machines. It introduced the fixed cone technology for the first time in India in 1987 in collaboration with Gamatex Italy. 'From 2 machines in the first year to 150 machines a year' that's the journey of Prashant Gamatex. Today Prashant Gamatex is the sole provider of international quality machinery in India.
Mr Amoli Shah, director of Prashant Gamatex replied to a questionnaire from The Indian Textile Journal. Excerpts:
ITJ: Please tell us about your company, particularly its performance in the last 2 years.
AS: Prashant Group is India's esteemed engineering group in the field of weaving preparatory. The group company includes Prashant Gamatex, Prashant West Point, Prashant Anetex and Prashant Texmach,
 "Prashant Gamatex" has been manufacturing high-tech sectional warping machines in collaboration with Gamatex srl, Italy since 1987. It is enjoying No.1 position in India for High-Tech Sectional Warping Machine. With more than 600 installations worldwide, their machines are working in almost all reputed textile units in India for suiting, shirting, industrial fabrics, furnishing fabrics, terry towel, silk, labels, etc.
Prashant Group signed the joint venture with world renowned West Point Foundry and Machine Company, USA. West Point is the original inventor of sizing machine and it is making the sizing machine since last 75 years. "Prashant West Point" is manufacturing Sizing Machines, Direct Warper ,V creel, H creel, Polybeamers, Corduroy Cutters and denim preparatory equipment in India as per West Point drawings, design and technology.
"Prashant Anetex" provides complete solution for Warp Beam Handling System. The product range includes manual and motorised beam loading trolleys, gaiting trolleys, warp beam low lifting trolleys, empty beam trolley, pile beam high lift trolley, fabric roll trolley, and completely computerised vertical beam storage system (beam stoker) for safe and efficient storage of warp beams.
"Prashant Texmach" is one of the leading manufacturers for various types of narrow fabric machinery like needle looms with jacquard, warping machine, finishing machine, selvedge warping machine, measuring & winding machine and festooning machine in India.
 In last few years Prashant group has achieved tremendous growth. The Group turnover has increased by 100% and it is still on the path of continuous progress.
ITJ: Has there been any new machinery introduced recently? If so, give some details about its technology and relevance.
AS: Innovation is a continuous process in Prashant Group. Prashant Gamatex has developed its new machine called Sectional Sizing Machine in 2005.
This machine is a combination of sectional warper and sizing machine. It is a very innovative solution for shirting samples. Normally for sampling one needs sample warper and single end sizing, while this machine serves the purpose of both and at the same time it is very suitable even for short length regular batches. Any length from 10 metres up to 1000 metres can be run on this machine.
New development of Prashant Texmach is the continuous dyeing and finishing machine for narrow fabrics. Its compact design with ease of operation is suitable for dyeing lightweight and thin rigid and elastic nylon and polyester tape. It can also dye cotton and viscose rayon tape.
Continuous dyeing and finishing machine (for nylon & polyester tapes) is composed of the following units: Disentangling Unit with Positive Feeder; Set of Padding Mangles (Two roller having 350 mm width); Pre Dryer (10 metres tape content); Steaming Chamber (40 metres tape content); Five station washing device (with provision of hot water in two tank); Drying & Finishing Chamber.
ITJ: Please explain with some details your participation at ITMA Munich, with special reference to the showcase you have planned there.
AS: Prashant group has been regularly participating in ITMA. The main product to be showcased in ITMA Munich would be the top mounting jacquard with needle looms and warp beam-handling system with harness mounting device.
Top mounting jacquard Model PBN 4/45-64 with Piezo Technology is suitable for needle looms and name writer for suiting looms.
Needle loom's features are: proven & practical open design; capstan weft feeding system; double take off system for slip proof take-off; electro magnetic brake fitted on loom main shaft; weaving head with individual weaving system; quick conversion among the different models; electric stop motion for warp, weft & fabric anti wrap; one adjustable motor pulley; weft knitting and catch thread knitting.
Top mounting jacquard's features are: piezo technology (Patented Bi-Morph-Actuator); no hooks, no solenoid hence no heat; innovative close module design for defect-free production; module itself is separated into 2 parts, ie: actuator and gear, for easy maintenance without effecting harness; simple & user friendly touch screen controller; knot & loop-free harness with spring pull down; slow motion weaving facility is for perfect tape setting and jacquard weaving.
The warp beam trolley with harness mounting device model AFLHM-10 is suitable for loading and unloading beams and harness from the loom.
Its features are: extremely stable & smooth running; effort needed to pull the trolley is almost half than any conventional design; the wheels are designed such that the yarn will not accumulate on the bearing etc during the operation, which will assure smooth running all the time; the trolley can be steered from both the sides by independent steering bars; on both sides the front wheels are steered from either side. This helps to manoeuvre the trolley very effectively. So while loading the beam on the loom this allows very easy positioning of the trolley in front of the loom; loading and unloading of the beam by efficient hydraulic operation; harness mechanism is designed such that the harness bar moves perpendicular to the trolley by parallel guiding arms ensuring even tension in the warps; easy insertion of harness in the loom by proper positioning of the loom and by user-friendly hydraulic controls.
ITJ: How will you rate your performance in the domestic as well as export markets in the last 5 years. Give some details of the new markets/countires you have opened for your products.
AS: In the last five years the number of installations has increased drastically. As far as the sectional warping machine is concerned, five years back we used to make five machines per month. Currently we have a capacity to make 14 machines a month. Today with more than 50% domestic market share Prashant Gamatex is still going ahead. Considering the immediate need for the technology upgradation in the decentralised sector, we introduced our economy model MP-108, which is "high on technology, low on price" and has captured markets such as in Bhilwara, Bhiwandi, Surat, etc.
By offering our "Top of the Line" Simpletronic model at a globally competitive price, our export has also increased in the last five years. New countries from Europe, Africa, South America and Asia have been added.
ITJ: How do you see the Indian textile industry's progress in the global market and what role will your company be playing in future developments?
AS: India and China both are considered the largest economy of the world for textile. After abolition of quota system, Indian export to EU and US has increased. Because of the current government policy and the extension of TUF, we are sure that the Indian textile industry will flourish in the near future.
Our company being the major player in textile machinery manufacturing has been providing import substitute products and will continue to provide world-class products at appropriate price to Indian weavers. Our state-of-the-art manufacturing set-up is fully geared up to support the weavers to seize the opportunities opened up in this post-MFA scenario.
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