When an issue like quality becomes integral to the product without which a buyer will not even consider any other requirements, there cannot be a casual approach to the concern. Today quality is the basic platform on which a vendor builds creditability with global players. In this scenario, investment in quality enhancing equipment is most critical. Presto Testing Instruments is one such company that is devoted to support the industry on quality, by manufacturing testing machines that meet the most stringent global quality standards.
Professional to the core, Vishal and Gaurav Malhotra, Directors, Presto discuss their efforts to incorporate quality assurance for more than a decade with Apparel Online.
No one can deny that quality is also a mindset and as the industry awakens to global realities, the concept of quality has also changed. “Earlier companies used to invest in testing equipment to impress their buyers, often they were never actually used. But the scenario is almost diagonally opposite today with labs being the hub of activities and in-house testing an internal need,” says Vishal. “People are no longer asking for just one or two machines but placing orders in large numbers for actual use,” adds Gaurav. Today companies are planning the lab even before the production set up is decided. Among the most basic of instruments are the colour matching, colourfastness and GSM testers.
With changing global norms the evolution of the industry has also kept pace with international standards and Presto, with a buyer driven R&D has striven to provide equipment that is the need of the hour. “Standards are changing all the time and we invest in a technical library that keeps us abreast with the most current norms. If the new regulations can be addressed with some adjustments to existing equipment, we provide the needed modifications to our users and if the standards are all together new, buy back facilities are introduced to support our clients,” says Vishal.
Sometimes customised solutions are needed for very specific requirements; the company is geared to provide the same.
To support R&D, Presto is working with a Japanese consulting company. “Textile testing instruments are the forte of the Europeans and the Americans, but technology is certainly the strength of Japan and we are learning skills in technology that is amazing,” says Gaurav. Manufacturing import substitutes the company ensures that each product is value for money, “without the technical frills” as Vishal says. In fact the machines made in India are almost 200-300 times more competitive that the western counterparts. “The share of imports in testing equipment is hardly 2-3% and even companies like Raymonds, Harry Collection, Siyaram, SGS, Texanlab, Bombay Dyeing are using our instruments,” avers Vishal.
While Presto scores on price and utility against imported machines, the competition from other indigenous manufacturers is on service. “We have introduced an application centre where the industry can see and test our key products, not only to buy but also to address technical problems. This is a first of its kind effort and the response has been very encouraging,” says Gaurav. Also, the company has done away with the dealer system and has offices in all the important textile centres for immediate solutions from installation to training to servicing. “Its all about providing a little extra within the same price, which gives the edge,” adds Vishal.
Among its hot selling products is the snap button pullout tester, specifically designed for baby wear manufacturers and which is fast becoming a ‘must approved’ by leading buying offices. Another key product is the Martin-Dale abrasion tester, which is essential to test pilling & abrasion in garments. In the future, Presto is looking to expand its range and upgrade products with more technology. “The focus till now was to provide dependable, repeatable results for perfect application to job in hand, but going forward more technology to help speed to market is the thrust like instruments that can send results directly to the buyer and save time on approvals, etc.,” concludes Vishal.
