Business

Lacom aims to double its installations in India over the next two years

Coated and laminated textiles are a growing segment within the Indian technical textile sector. Lacom, among the leading technology providers in this segment, is optimistic about the Indian market. In an interview with Textile Excellence, Jürgen Kiener, General Manager, Lacom talks about the latest innovations in this field.

How does Lacom find the Indian market for its technologies?

Laminated and coated products are today used in a wide range of applications. In India we see a growing demand in the hotmelt technology. More profitable and added value orientated applications and products are in the focus of the traditional textile producers. Further the shift from solvent and water based coatings to the hotmelt technology, due to environmental reasons in combination with lower energy and labour costs are effecting this trend.

How many installations do you have in the Indian market?

Lacom is active in the Indian market since 2004. First machines were already installed in 2006 for the production of interlining products. Currently four Lacom lines are installed in India, our clients are institutes and leading producers of apparel, technical and home textiles.

Our target is to double the number of installation in the next 24 months.

What according to you are the reasons for slow growth of the Indian technical textiles sector?

India is still known and realised as a market for home textiles and other non-functional products. In the last few years the transfer of the necessary technical and commercial knowledge into the region was not so intensive and structured like already realised in other countries like P.R. China. Also the promotion and sales of technical textiles is more complex and added value than price driven.

Many believe laminating and coating products market will be among the fast growing sectors of techtex in India. Do you see that happening?

We forecast an annual growth rate between 8 -12% for technical and functional textiles in India. The market for functional, technical and medical nonwovens is growing much faster compared to woven or knitted fabrics. This development is mainly determined by the high diversity of the materials and functions.

We are very optimistic that the Indian government and organisations like the Indian Technical Textile Association will support in an active role the further growth and development in this sector.

What kind of technologies does the Indian market demand - high end, or those in the low to medium range?

Because of the development of the BSP rate in the region, the end user is today more quality than price driven in the purchasing of consumer products. International test norms and production standards are today also for products which are foreseen for the local market are more and more important and valid. Also, the Indian society becomes more critical in regards of the process behind the product and the use of finishing and coating chemicals

All our customers in India purchased a Lacom line with the target to reach the very same quality profile of products made in Europe.

How is the global techtex market for Lacom? What kind of market share do you enjoy?

EIMEA and APAC are today our fastest growing markets. We have more than 150 Lacom lines in 25 different applications globally in operation, with a market share for hotmelt laminating and coating machines of around 50%

What kind of innovations are you bringing in coating and laminating technologies? What innovations are happening generally in this segment?

Lacom invests about 3.5% of annual turnover in research and development. This includes the design and production of prototypes, investigations and tests in our modern and high end equipped technology centre.

The close communication and cooperation with industrial partners, universities and institutes are an integral part of our strategy and our technology driven company culture. All our equipment and systems are designed according to valid regulations and international standards. We invest a high value and effort in the continuous optimisation and modification of our products.

State-of-the-art manufacturing methods, high trained employees in all sections of our organisation, ensure highest technical availability and life expectancy rates of our machines. For several years, Lacom has been focusing on the production of textile flooring and sports surfaces. The carpet back coating and lamination machine for Hotmelt MRC 4200/5200 sets a new standard in environmentally compatible and cost-efficient processing of textile flooring.

Tufted flooring, woven flooring, tiles or artificial turf - the line can handle a wide range of materials and qualities. With a working width up to 5.200 mm, cutting edge rollers or nozzles apply thermoplastic or reactive hotmelts.

These can be used as adhesive for laminating a second back, as a binding agent for pile bonding or as functional impregnation.

The line can handle application weights up to 3.000 g/m², which is an important factor for self-laying carpet tiles, while offering a working speed up to 20 m/min. The use of hotmelt technology offers solvent- and water free coating of flooring products. Since a drying channel is not necessary, the whole line needs up to 80% less space.

Next to the investment volume and operating costs, this process reduces the overall energy consumption, especially of electricity and gas, by approximately 30%, compared to conventional methods.

Filled formulations can be used as well as functional hotmelts, e.g. to create specific flammability properties by using flame-retardant additives. A wide range of hotmelts also allows the production of pure-grade finished products. Hundred percent latex-free lamination ensures that the flooring product can be recycled in accordance with current standards and regulations.

What new can we expect from Lacom in ITMA Asia 2014?

At this event we will display a Lacom MPBL 1800 Compact Version laminating and coating machine. The driving and feeding system of this laminator is designed for the treatment of very sensitive and elastic textile materials in combination with Nanomembrane technology.

The DUO function of the patented Lacom multipurpose coating head allows controlled application of pre-adjusted structures and shapes by the gravure roller system, besides the application of uniform full-cover films by working in the multiroller- modus. The thermoplastic or reactive hotmelt can have the function of an adhesion promoter or a barrier film in between the layers.

We are looking forward to meet and to exchange with our visitors about the latest development in the field of textile coating and lamination.