Date:20/06/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/06/20/stories/2006062002861900.htm

Back Belgium company to supply 200 looms to Palladam hitech weaving park

G. Gurumurthy

Deal estimated to cost Rs 56 crore under a special package recently finalised

Looming large
Of the total 726 looms to be installed in the PHWP project area at Palladam about 300 looms are expected to be commissioned in phase I.
Picanol looms have a width of 340 cm and run at 650 rpm and are capable of producing 200-500 m of fabric a day in plainweave, satin etc.

Coimbatore , June 19

Picanol NV Belgium, a European weaving machinery company, will supply the first set of 200 airjetlooms (Omniplus 800 model) to the Palladam Hitech Weaving Park (PHWP) project in Tamil Nadu this year.

The deal to buy the new weaving machines, estimated to cost Rs 56 crore under a special package, was recently finalised by both the Picanol and PHWP promoters, according to Mr Era Velusamy, one of the directors of PHWP, the special purpose company.

Picanol will start supplying the machinery by October-end or early November and the European machinery company would assist the investors in the park in commissioning the new plants fitted with Picanol machines before November-end, Mr Velusamy told Business Line.

Of the total 726 looms to be installed in the PHWP project area at Palladam, which is being promoted under the private-public partnership initiative of the Government scheme of integrated textile parks (SITP), about 300 looms are expected to be commissioned in phase I.

The Picanol airjet looms, which have a width of 340 cm and run at 650 rpm, are capable of producing 200-500 m of fabric a day in plainweave, satin, reverse satin, twill, and drill varieties. According to Mr Kumarasamy, another director of the PHWP, the first batch of Picanol looms would be allocated to 67 of 95 units participating in the PHWP project who had opted for them.

Consortium banks figuring in term lending for the promoters of the PHWP will be financing the import of these looms.

This apart, some of the units in the park have opted for investing in used weaving machines of projectile and rapier technologies.

They have either firmed up orders or are in the process of finalising buying of 226 projectile/rapier imported used looms.

To facilitate the upkeep and maintenance of the loom sheds, the investors in the park have floated within PHWP a sub-division called Palladam Park Airjet Association, which would act as a service provider for the airjet loom owners.

The association would help in areas of providing common facilities like running the air distribution system, supply of accessories and arranging trained manpower for shed maintenance, Mr Velusamy said.