Interview with Mr. Arpit Sidpura, Director, Maksteel Wire Healds Pvt. Ltd.
Maksteel was founded to bring world-class textile engineering to India beginning with wire healds and driven by innovation to integrate stainless steel manufacturing for global markets.
TexMart : What was the core vision behind establishing Maksteel, and what market need in the steel and metal sector motivated its foundation?
Arpit Sidpura : The vision behind establishing Maksteel (Maksteel Wire Healds in India) was to bring world-class quality textile engineering to India starting with wire healds, driven by a spirit of innovation, backward integrating into stainless steel production to serve broader global markets with high-quality steel products.
TM : How did your early experiences in steel processing and supply shape Maksteel’s focus on quality and reliability?
AS : Maksteel’s early focus on precision steel processing, evolving from handlooms to high-speed looms, and a commitment to “made in India” engineering excellence.
TM : From a technical standpoint, what initial production or material challenges pushed you to strengthen your in-house process know-how?
AS : Maksteel strengthened its in-house know-how due to core technical challenges in achieving consistent, high-quality products and to ensure product integrity and performance for demanding applications.
TM : Maksteel offers a wide range of steel products how do you maintain consistent quality across different grades, sizes and applications?
AS : Maksteel maintains consistent quality across its diverse steel products through a focus on backward integration, using premium raw materials, ensuring dimensional accuracy, mechanical strength and various applications from wires to industrial components.
TM : From an R&D perspective, what process improvements or material-testing practices help ensure strength, durability and performance of your steel products?
AS : From an R&D perspective, ensuring the strength, durability, and performance of steel products involves a combination of advanced process improvements and material testing practices
TM : How does your technical team evaluate new steel grades or processing techniques before introducing them to customers?
AS : Our Technical team likely evaluates new steel grades and processes through testing, performance simulation, and comparison against industry standards, using advanced techniques like Ultrasonic Testing(UT) for defects, before customer introduction, focusing on ensuring enhanced strength, durability, and consistent quality for specific applications like looms.
TM : With growing demand from infrastructure, fabrication and engineering sectors, how does Maksteel track market trends to align product development?
AS : Maksteel track trends through market research focusing on key growth areas, offering specialized steel angles, high-strength components, and sustainable solutions.
TM : What customer feedback has most influenced recent innovations or changes in your product or processing approach?
AS : Customer feedback has significantly influenced Maksteel’s innovations, leading to improvements in product durability for high-speed machinery, enhanced quality control and technical support, and greater focus on supply chain reliability.
TM : How do you identify opportunities for innovation in a traditionally cost-driven steel market while maintaining competitiveness?
AS : Maksteel identifies innovation opportunities while maintaining competitiveness by leveraging technology to optimize operational efficiency and costs, diversifying into value-added products like stainless steel.
TM : What operational experiences have helped you build long-term relationships with OEMs, fabricators and industrial clients?
AS : Maksteel builds long-term OEM & industrial client relationships through operational excellence focused on consistent quality, advanced technology adoption, ransparent communication, and value-added services.
TM : What role do modern testing methods, traceability systems and quality standards play in raising India’s steel industry credibility?
AS : Modern testing, traceability, and quality standards are crucial for India’s steel industry, building credibility by ensuring consistency, safety, and reliability through advanced NDT, unique identifiers, and BIS/ISO compliance.
TM : How is Maksteel preparing technologically and strategically to scale operations and meet this expected growth?
AS : Maksteel prepares for growth while focusing on operational excellence, innovation, and a strong logistics network to meet increasing customer demand, differentiate in the market, and ensure efficient delivery in the dynamic industrial sector.
TM : From an environmental viewpoint, how do you work toward minimizing material wastage and promoting efficient resource use?
AS : Maksteel (and the steel industry generally) minimizes waste and promotes resource efficiency through extensive scrap recycling all fostering a circular economy that reduces mining, conserves energy, and lowers emissions.
TM : Can you walk us through Maksteel’s key milestones and explain how each phase contributed to its growth and global leadership?
AS : Our Key Milestones:
2022 – Inauguration of Maksteel Unit II factory building at Vadodara for the exclusive production of harness cord, scaling up production to 30,000 kg/month, making Maksteel the world’s largest manufacturer of harness cord.
2021 – Increased production capacity into 2 times for Wirehealds and Harness Cord products.
2020 – Cooperation with Chinese market for exclusive supply of Wire Healds to China.
2019 – Installed high-tech thermosetting plant for braided cord
2018 – Acquired Italian company for production of Stainless Steel Wire.
2016 – Stainless Steel Jacquard Healds with Spring Assembly.
2016 – Collaboration with Bekaert for Stainless Steel Wire production.
2011 – Collaboration with France for manufacturing of Twin Wire and Heddles.
2008 – Production of Guiding Boards / Neck Boards for Jacquard machines.
2007 – Collaboration with Spain for manufacturing harness cord.
2005 – Production of comber boards for Jacquard machines.
2003 – Production of springs and injection molding for complete lower elements sets.
2000 – Production of Wire Healds for complete lowering elements sets for Jacquard machines.
1997 – Production of Wire Healds for Electronic Jacquards.
1991 – Production of Wire Healds for Plastic woven sack industries.
1986 – Production of Wire Healds for Mechanical Jacquard.
1980 – 83 – Production of Wire Healds for Handloom, Powerlooms.