UK-based company Xeros Technology launched a new machine at the recently held Garment Technology Expo. “Our products enable us to improve water usage significantly,” states Mark Nichols, CEO of the company. For its future expansion into the South Asian market, the brand has collaborated with Ramsons. It further plans to foray into Africa and East Asia markets in collaboration with the company. “We are negotiating with the company for our foray into the Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India markets,” adds Nichols.
Recently, the cost of Xeros machines increased significantly. However, these costs are offset by the multifold use that these machines have. “Our machines can be used for desizing, stone washing, bleaching, cleaving of denims in one continuous cycle. You don’t have to take garments in and out of machines repeatedly. This reduces lead times considerably and customers can get more products out of the machine,” views Nichols.
A technology licensing company, Xeros follows a different business model for the apparel industry. “We have a license agreement with Sea Lion in China, according to which IFT will launch our machines into India. These machines will help our customers prevent their clothes from being damaged during the washing process. They will also improve the outcome of these clothes during the cleaning process,” claims Nichols.
According to Nichols, Ramsons will sell hundreds of Xeros machines in a year. “We plan use spray technologies for this,” notes Nichols. The company has invested a huge amount in developing this technology in collaboration with the CNA Group. “CNA embellishes our designs, while we provide engineering solutions come from our end. Our Indian partners are creative and fast. The level of cooperation between us is fantastic,” he adds.
Xeros also offers small commercial washing machines. “These reduce maintenance costs. In the beginning, our technologies met with ample resistance and we had to push really hard for their use,” Nichols avers.
India has taken to sustainability in a big way. Not only has it introduced new regulations to enforce sustainability but has also launched zero discharge rules. According to Xeros, adoption of such new technologies will help make the world sustainable. “We need to phase fossil fuel-based technologies besides revamping our consumers’ behavior. We also need to launch washing machines that identify and remove micro particles. Consumers don’t pay more though they say they will. Brands and retailers want everything at a lower cost,” adds Nichols.
