Surge in Textile Sector Fuels Demand Across Industries, Especially in Digital Printing Machinery

Surat – The textile industry across India is witnessing a surge in demand for various products such as sarees, suits, and garments. This increasing demand is driving growth in textile markets, transportation, dyeing-printing mills, chemical industries, knitting, weaving, embroidery, and machinery sectors. The bustling activity in textile markets is evident, with large volumes of parcels piling up in transport warehouses and being shipped to markets across the country. Even the machinery industry, which manufactures equipment for textile production, is experiencing a significant boost.

Umesh Solanki, from Orange Weaving Engineering located in Sachin GIDC, shared insights with Loktej about the growing demand for Direct-to-Fabric Digital Printing Machines and Sublimation Digital Printing Machines. The former is used for printing on cotton-based fabrics, while the latter is for polyester-based fabrics. These machines are particularly valued for producing high-quality textiles, including sarees, suits, and garments.

When asked about the range of machinery available, Solanki, who has been in the machinery industry since 2008, explained that their company manufactures digital printing machines ranging from INR 5.5 million to INR 100 million. These machines are highly sought after by major textile units not only in Surat but also in Mumbai, Amritsar, Ludhiana, and Delhi. The company now also produces 64-head machines, priced around INR 50 million, which are being installed in industrial units in Mumbai, Amritsar, and Surat.

Regarding demand compared to last year, Solanki mentioned that there was no significant demand for machines until March due to challenges faced by MSMEs. Even in April and May, the market remained sluggish, but from July onwards, the industry saw a rise in activity, which continues to date. There is now strong demand for both machines and machinery parts.

In terms of machine bookings, Solanki said that once a booking is made, the machines are manufactured and installed within a month. He emphasized that both the Direct-to-Fabric and Sublimation Digital Printing Machines are highly sought after in the textile sector for producing high-quality printed fabrics. 

Looking ahead, Solanki anticipates strong business demand through Diwali. However, after the festive season, there might be a slowdown in payments for about a month, although production units will resume operations within 10 days. It may take up to a month post-Diwali for the full payment cycle to normalize.