LRT – Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence and Innovation
Lakshmi Ring Travellers (Coimbatore) Private Limited (LRT) has structured its operations into distinct business clusters, each equipped with dedicated facilities to ensure comprehensive market coverage and superior customer service. These clusters include the ring traveller division, engineering division, CNC profile cutting machine division, foundry division, surface coating division and agency division.
Globally renowned as the leading manufacturer of ring travellers, LRT serves over 4,500 spinning mills across more than 45 countries, supporting a staggering 70 million spindles worldwide.
Recognised for its commitment to excellence, LRT not only leads in product innovation but also sets industry standards with its comprehensive range of advantages: offering diverse traveller options, superior surface finishes for enhanced productivity, smooth operation, exceptional durability, and competitive pricing.
Backed by modern production facilities, stringent quality control measures, and ISO certifications, LRT ensures consistent quality across all its offerings.
At the core of LRT’s strategy lies a customer-centric approach, providing unparalleled support through a global sales and service network that guarantees prompt deliveries and efficient after-sales service. This dedication to customer satisfaction underscores LRT’s position as a trusted partner in the competitive textile industry, empowering clients to stay ahead in their markets.
As LRT continues to expand its global footprint and capitalise on emerging growth opportunities, Fibre2Fashion caught up with JM Balaji, Vice President at LRT, during the SIMA Texfair event to get a complete lowdown on the company’s comprehensive product offerings and strategies to leverage the growth opportunities, going forward.
Can you walk us through the evolution of Lakshmi Ring Travellers (Coimbatore) Private Limited over the years?
Lakshmi Ring Travellers (Coimbatore) Private Limited, often referred to as LRT, was established in 1974. This year marks a significant milestone as we celebrate our 50th anniversary, commemorating half a century of innovation, growth, and excellence in the industry. Over the decades, LRT has seen substantial expansion in its manufacturing capabilities and production units, reflecting our commitment to meeting the evolving needs of our customers and the market.
Currently, LRT operates two major manufacturing facilities, one located in Coimbatore and the other in Annamalai, near Pollachi. These state-of-the-art facilities are instrumental in enabling us to cater to a diverse and extensive customer base spanning 45 countries across the globe. With a remarkable production capacity that supports over 70 million spindles, LRT has firmly established itself as the world’s largest manufacturer of ring travellers.
Our journey from a single manufacturing unit to becoming a global leader in the ring traveller market underscores our dedication to quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction. As we celebrate our golden jubilee, we continue to look forward to the future, aiming to further expand our reach and enhance our product offerings to better serve the textile industry globally.
LRT has several independent business divisions. How do these divisions work together to drive growth?
LRT began its journey with the manufacturing of ring travellers. As time went by, we strategically diversified into various fields, creating distinct verticals within LRT.
Today, LRT’s structure is multifaceted, comprising a textile division where ring travellers continue to play a pivotal role. Apart from this, we have other verticals which include –Engineering, a steel foundry, surface coating and CNC profile cutting machines.
These diverse divisions collaborate synergistically, enhancing our ability to provide customised solutions. A prime example of this synergy is our production of customised surface coated machined castings, catering to a wide range of sectors.
This integrated approach while strengthening LRT’s market position also ensures that we deliver comprehensive and high-quality solutions to meet the varied demands of our global clientele.
What products are you displaying at SIMA Texfair 2024?
At SIMA Texfair 2024, we are presenting our complete lineup of ring travellers, highlighting a diverse array of finishes and profiles. Among our showcased products are enhanced versions of Sapphire Plus, Ruby, and Express Plus, each offering improved performance and quality.
Alongside these advancements, we are unveiling innovative application tools like the LRT ClipX, specifically engineered for the seamless removal and insertion of travellers.
What is the USP of LRT ClipX?
The LRT ClipX represents a straightforward yet effective solution for the insertion and removal of heavy travellers, a task often challenging when done manually.
Traditionally, operators resort to using threads or sharp implements to manage this process. This new tool addresses the challenges associated with handling heavy travellers, providing a user-friendly solution that enhances operational efficiency and precision in textile manufacturing processes.
Besides ring travellers, what other products/services do you provide for the textile industry?
In LRT group, we have two associate companies. Lakshmi Caipo, a joint venture between Pinta Caipo and LRT, focuses on the production of slub and core attachments, enhancing our product offerings within the textile industry.
Another company is Lakshmi Energy and Environment Division (LEED), which is dedicated to providing comprehensive environmental solutions. LEED specialises in addressing critical areas such as water treatment, wastewater management, and solid waste management.
What is the significance of sustainability for businesses in today’s landscape as per you?
Sustainability has increasingly become a pivotal aspect of business operations, particularly over the past 10-15 years. Initially, businesses focused on meeting statutory norms to ensure compliance. However, the landscape has shifted dramatically, making sustainability a critical factor for survival.
Government regulations, such as the mandates for Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD), require businesses to implement stringent environmental practices or face the risk of closure. This regulatory pressure is compounded by the growing demand from customers for environmentally sustainable practices, which has become a decisive factor in market competitiveness.
Larger corporations are leading the charge, with many prioritising carbon neutrality and embedding comprehensive sustainability goals within their operational strategies. These companies recognise that environmental stewardship is not just a regulatory requirement but a strategic imperative that aligns with customer expectations and long-term viability.
In contrast, smaller and mid-sized businesses may still be navigating the complexities of these changes. Despite the challenges, it is increasingly clear that investing in sustainability is not optional but essential. For businesses of all sizes, adopting sustainable practices is crucial for ensuring long-term success and resilience in a market that values environmental responsibility.
In what ways does LRT uphold its market leadership amidst a competitive landscape?
Our market leadership is upheld through a blend of exceptional product quality, punctual delivery, and providing excellent value for money. We stand significantly ahead of our nearest competitor on a global scale, with a size that is three times larger, highlighting the substantial value we bring to our customers.
This achievement is a testimony to our relentless commitment to delivering superior products that meet stringent quality standards, ensuring our customers receive dependable and high-performing solutions.
By consistently prioritising timely delivery and offering competitive pricing without compromising on quality, we continue to strengthen our position as a preferred choice in the marketplace.
Can you outline LRT’s global and domestic market shares, and elaborate on your strategies to capitalise on the emerging opportunities?
In India, LRT commands a dominant 75 per cent market share, while internationally we have a 44 per cent market share in volume terms. We export to over 45 countries and our products are used in over 70 million spindles globally. To fortify and expand our market leadership, we consistently enhance our product offerings.
Despite our robust market share in India, we perceive substantial growth potential that we aim to capitalise on through continuous innovation and customer-centric strategies.
On a global scale, the growth prospects are even more promising. LRT has strategically positioned itself with a network of agents across major textile spinning regions worldwide. Our agents are well-trained and capable of providing solutions equivalent to those offered by our team members. They not only handle ring travellers but also help mills improve productivity and yarn quality, enhancing the overall efficiency of the mills they serve.
We have established numerous stock points near our clientele. For instance, in China alone, we operate 18 stock points. This strategic proximity and extensive market coverage are pivotal in our approach to leveraging the global opportunities.
By maintaining strong customer relationships and a responsive supply chain infrastructure, LRT is well-positioned to sustain and increase its market presence globally.
How do you see the overall market for ring travellers evolving and which regions do you believe would be the primary growth drivers for LRT going forward?
Post-COVID, we have observed utilisation levels of around 65-80 per cent globally, with variations across different countries. We anticipate these levels to increase, a development that promises widespread benefits across the industry and is expected to drive considerable growth in our production volumes.
We have a strong presence in all major markets, including India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Vietnam, and China. We also have a significant presence in Türkiye, Central America, and South America.
China stands out as a pivotal focus area due to its significant share of global spindles. Recognising this, we have intensified our efforts to expand our footprint in this critical market.
Additionally, we are strategically targeting other key markets such as Bangladesh, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Türkiye, where we see substantial opportunities for expansion and market penetration.
Any future projects or innovations that you would like to talk about, and how does customer feedback contribute to your R&D initiatives?
At LRT, continuous innovation drives our commitment to developing new products. Recent enhancements in our product line, including Sapphire Plus, Ruby, and Express Plus, reflect our ongoing dedication to improving performance and meeting evolving industry standards.
Unlike waiting for exhibitions to unveil our innovations, we maintain a proactive approach to product development, ensuring that innovation remains a constant process for us.
Customer feedback holds a significant role in our research and development strategy. As a company deeply rooted in customer-centric practices, we actively seek and value customer input to stay ahead of market trends. This helps us to anticipate future demands, exemplified by our early development of travellers tailored for Compact and other specialised yarns.
By integrating customer feedback into our development processes, we ensure that our products offerings surpass customer expectations while helping to foster long-term partnerships and sustained growth in today’s competitive textile machinery market.
