Texturing Automation Accelerates: Barmag and Hitech Partner to Retrofit Installed Machines

Each texturing machine goes through tens of thousands of doffing cycles per year. Manual doffing not only drives up labor costs but also causes inconsistent package quality due to operator variability. This long-standing pain point in the texturing industry is now being addressed by a systematic automation solution.

Background

On June 9, 2026, Barmag (Suzhou) Technology Co., Ltd. and Hitech Automation Solutions PVT LTD. of Surat, India, announced an exclusive partnership to jointly market Hitech’s Doffmatic auto-doff system for Barmag’s existing manual eFK texturing machines.

This partnership targets the installed base, not new machine sales. Industry data shows tens of thousands of Barmag eFK manual-doff machines are in operation globally, concentrated in polyester texturing hubs such as Surat (India), Xiaoshan and Changle (China). These factories face rising labor shortages and costs, making the auto-doff retrofit a low-barrier upgrade path.

Industry Impact

For texturing mills, the value of auto-doffing lies in two dimensions. First, labor cost: a manual doffer costs about RMB 50,000–80,000 per year per machine (depending on region), and the payback period for an auto-doff system is typically 12–18 months. Second, quality consistency: mechanical doffing ensures stable tension and winding density, significantly reducing end-breakage rates in downstream weaving.

From a supply chain perspective, this partnership will accelerate automation in the texturing process, especially in India and China, the two largest polyester texturing markets. Surat alone has over 2,000 texturing units, most still relying on manual doffing. In China, mills in Xiaoshan and Changle began piloting auto-doff devices in 2024–2025; the Barmag-Hitech alliance will push this from trial to scale.

Notably, Hitech’s Doffmatic system is not brand-new, with existing installations in India. By partnering with Barmag, it gains access to a global sales and service network. For Barmag, this move extends its spare parts business while strengthening customer loyalty through retrofits, paving the way for automated options in future new machine sales.

Practical Recommendations

For Purchasers - Evaluate retrofit feasibility for existing eFK machines, focusing on machine age, control system compatibility, and downtime during installation. - Compare total lifecycle costs of auto-doff vs. manual doffing, including equipment investment, maintenance, energy, and training. - Request real-world performance data from suppliers, especially package quality yield and equipment failure rates.

For Texturing Mills - Develop a phased automation plan, starting with one machine or shift to gain operational experience before scaling. - Adjust workforce structure: retrain doffers for maintenance or quality control roles to avoid labor conflicts. - Check data interface compatibility between Doffmatic and existing MES/ERP systems for future digital workshop upgrades.