At ITM 2026 Istanbul, Kohan Textile Journal spoke with Arvindkumar Prajapati, Sales & Marketing Business Head of Kusters Calico Group, about the company’s German engineering heritage, its comprehensive portfolio of textile wet processing machinery, and the growing importance of sustainable continuous processing technologies. In this exclusive interview, Mr. Prajapati also shares his views on the Turkish market, emerging investment opportunities in Africa and the Middle East, and how continuous processing can significantly reduce water, energy, and manpower consumption.
German Technology with Indian Manufacturing Expertise
Could you introduce Kusters Calico Group and its background?
Arvindkumar Prajapati: Kusters Calico is the result of a collaboration between the German company Küsters and Calico in India, which was established in 1996. Through this partnership, German textile machinery technology and engineering expertise were transferred to India, allowing us to manufacture high-quality textile machinery while maintaining the same engineering standards and quality parameters.
Quality has always been one of our highest priorities. We strictly follow the original German technology, engineering principles, and quality standards without compromise.
Today, Kusters Calico manufactures a complete range of textile wet processing machinery, serving customers around the world.
Complete Solutions for Continuous Wet Processing
What types of textile machinery does Kusters Calico manufacture?
Arvindkumar Prajapati: Our specialization is continuous textile wet processing.
We manufacture a comprehensive range of machines including:
- Singeing ranges
- Desizing ranges
- Scouring and bleaching ranges
- Mercerizing machines
- Pad-Batch systems
- Pad-Steam systems
- Continuous washing ranges
- Finishing ranges
Our objective is to provide complete continuous processing solutions that deliver higher productivity, better quality, and greater sustainability for textile manufacturers.
Türkiye Remains a Strategic Market
How important is the Turkish market for Kusters Calico?
Arvindkumar Prajapati: Türkiye is one of our strongest international markets.
We have supplied many continuous processing lines to leading Turkish textile companies, including Bestaş, Kimtex, Palmiye, and several manufacturers in Adana. We also work closely with our Turkish agent NKY, who supports our customers locally.
Traditionally, many Turkish textile mills have relied on exhaust dyeing processes, but we see increasing interest in continuous processing because it offers significant advantages in terms of productivity and sustainability.
Although global economic challenges, inflation, and geopolitical uncertainties have affected investment decisions worldwide, we continue to see strong long-term potential in Türkiye.
Continuous Processing Delivers Sustainability Benefits
How does Kusters Calico contribute to sustainable textile manufacturing?
Arvindkumar Prajapati: Sustainability is one of the main reasons customers choose continuous processing technologies.
Compared with conventional exhaust processes, continuous wet processing significantly reduces the consumption of natural resources, including:
- Water
- Energy
- Electricity
- Manpower
It also generates much less production waste while improving machine efficiency and overall product quality.
One of our key development priorities is low liquor ratio processing, which allows textile manufacturers to process fabrics using substantially less water.
In many applications, continuous processing consumes only about one-quarter of the water required by conventional exhaust dyeing systems, making it a highly sustainable solution for modern textile mills.
Read More: ITM 2026 Results Confirm Global Industry Confidence
Middle East and Africa Offer Strong Growth Opportunities
How do you see future market opportunities in the Middle East and Africa?
Arvindkumar Prajapati: We believe many textile investments are gradually shifting toward Russia, the Middle East, and African countries.
Africa, in particular, offers significant opportunities because labor costs remain relatively low, and many countries have access to reliable natural resources and growing manufacturing potential.
As more investors establish textile production facilities in these regions, demand for sustainable and efficient wet processing technologies will continue to grow.
For Kusters Calico, these markets represent an important part of our future international growth strategy.
What message would you like to share with textile manufacturers visiting ITM 2026?
Arvindkumar Prajapati: The future of textile manufacturing depends on combining productivity with sustainability.
Continuous wet processing enables manufacturers to reduce water consumption, lower energy costs, minimize waste, improve product quality, and operate more efficiently.
As environmental regulations become stricter and resource efficiency becomes increasingly important, we believe continuous processing technologies will play an even greater role in the future of the global textile industry.
