View source for History of Mohan Spintex India Limited

{{Short description|History of the company from 2005 to the present}}
[[File:MSIL manufacturing campus, aerial view.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.3|Aerial view of an MSIL manufacturing campus]]
The '''history of [[Mohan Spintex India Limited]]''' (MSIL) spans two decades, from a single spinning mill that began production in 2006 to a [[wikipedia:Vertical integration|vertically integrated]] textile group with spinning, weaving, processing and home-textile operations across several sites in [[wikipedia:Krishna district|Krishna district]], [[wikipedia:Andhra Pradesh|Andhra Pradesh]].

== Founding (2005–2006) ==
The company was founded by [[V. Sudhakar Chowdary]], who until then had run his family's fertiliser distribution business.<ref name="tm2017">{{Ref tm2017}}</ref> In 2005 he and a colleague were planning a steel venture when a meeting with a friend already in the textile industry led them to consider spinning instead. Government policy at the time, including the abolition of excise duty, favoured textiles. They met in March 2005, decided to proceed before the end of that month, and Chowdary dates the start of Mohan Spintex to 7 April 2005.<ref name="tm2017" /> The company was incorporated on 11 May 2005 as a public limited company registered in [[wikipedia:Vijayawada|Vijayawada]].<ref name="zauba">{{Ref zauba}}</ref>

Commercial production began in October 2006 at [[Manufacturing units of Mohan Spintex#Unit 1, Vattigudipadu|Unit 1 in Vattigudipadu]], with 14,400 [[wikipedia:Spindle (textiles)|spindles]] – twelve ring frames of 1,200 spindles each.<ref name="tm2017" /><ref name="suessen2017">{{Ref suessen2017}}</ref> Lakshmi Machine Works (LMW) supplied the spinning machinery, from blowroom to ring frames, and went on to equip all three of the company's spinning projects.<ref name="lmw2017">{{Ref lmw2017}}</ref>

== Expansion of spinning (2007–2013) ==
=== Unit 1, second phase ===
A foundation ceremony (''bhoomi puja'') for a second phase at Unit 1 was held in 2007,<ref name="a225">{{Cite archive |album=Phase II Bhoomi Puja, Unit 1, 2007 |album_id=225 |access-date=16 September 2026}}</ref> the year in which [[wikipedia:Murata Machinery|Murata Machinery]] began supplying the company.<ref name="murata2017">{{Ref murata2017}}</ref> The phase added 15,600 spindles and was completed by April 2008, taking Unit 1 to 30,000 spindles. All 30,000 spindles were then converted to [[Glossary of textile manufacturing terms#Compact spinning|compact spinning]] within two years.<ref name="tm2017" />

=== Unit 2 ===
In August 2009 the company proposed a 40,000-spindle unit to its bankers, who approved it in October 2009;<ref name="tm2017" /> a foundation ceremony was held the same year.<ref name="a201">{{Cite archive |album=Bhoomi Puja, Unit 2, 2009 |album_id=201 |access-date=16 September 2026}}</ref> Advised that projects of ₹100 crore and above qualified for a two-year moratorium under the government's "mega project" scheme, the company enlarged the plan with [[Glossary of textile manufacturing terms#TFO|TFO]] twisting, [[wikipedia:Open-end spinning|open-end spinning]] and cotton [[wikipedia:Cotton gin|ginning]] sections, and secured approval under that scheme. Civil work began in February 2010.<ref name="tm2017" />

CARE Ratings dates the start of commercial operations at Unit 2 to March 2011.<ref name="care2023">{{Ref care2023}}</ref> By January 2012 [[Manufacturing units of Mohan Spintex#Unit 2, Remalle|Unit 2 at Remalle]] was ready, with 44,064 combed spindles, 4,576 open-end rotors, 1,920 TFO drums and 36 gins;<ref name="tm2017" /> it was inaugurated that year,<ref name="a223">{{Cite archive |album=Inauguration of Unit 2, 2012 |album_id=223 |access-date=16 September 2026}}</ref> and operations were stabilised during 2012–13.<ref name="tm2017" />

=== Third project ===
In 2013 the company submitted a proposal for a further project to be built in two phases, of ₹181 crore and ₹95 crore. It was planned to include about 47,424 compact spindles, 156 looms, about 1,696 rotors, 2,880 TFO drums and an [[wikipedia:Uster Technologies|Uster]] testing laboratory.<ref name="tm2017" /> The foundation for [[Manufacturing units of Mohan Spintex#Unit 3, Remalle|Unit 3]], also at Remalle, was laid the same year; its first phase (38,304 spindles and 90 air-jet looms) began commercial operations in April 2015 and its second (9,120 spindles, 1,696 rotors, 2,880 TFO drums and 66 air-jet looms) in October 2016.<ref name="care2023" /><ref name="a242">{{Cite archive |album=Bhoomi Puja, Unit 3, 2013 |album_id=242 |access-date=16 September 2026}}</ref> The looms marked the company's entry into weaving; Chowdary said that without reaching the finished product "your total system is not complete".<ref name="tm2017" />

In 2014 a machine inauguration ceremony was held for new spinning equipment.<ref name="a181">{{Cite archive |album=Spinning: Machine Inauguration Puja, 2014 |album_id=181 |access-date=16 September 2026}}</ref>

== Integration and growth (2014–2022) ==
[[File:MSIL air-jet weaving hall.jpg|thumb|left|Air-jet weaving hall]]
Over this period MSIL extended from yarn into [[Weaving division|weaving]], [[Processing division|fabric processing]] and [[Home textiles division|finished home textiles]], completing its integration from fibre to finished product.<ref name="msilabout">{{Ref msilabout}}</ref> By early 2017 the company had grown to more than 125,000 spindles, over 6,000 rotors and over 125 air-jet looms, and employed about 2,800 people. It exported close to half of its output, to countries including [[wikipedia:Bangladesh|Bangladesh]], [[wikipedia:Pakistan|Pakistan]], [[wikipedia:China|China]] and Europe, and was planning a fabric processing unit and a move into home textiles.<ref name="tm2017" /><ref name="suessen2017" /> [[Manufacturing units of Mohan Spintex#Unit 4, Mallavalli|Unit 4 at Mallavalli]] was inaugurated in 2019, and its investment programme was completed in March 2020, adding fabric processing of 1,00,000 metres a day, raising weaving capacity to 90,000 metres a day and cut, make and trim capacity to 4,00,000 sets a month.<ref name="care2023" /> The home-textile brand [[Astara (brand)|Astara]] was launched in 2020.<ref name="astarafranchise">{{Ref astarafranchise}}</ref><ref name="a144">{{Cite archive |album=Mallavalli Inauguration, 2019 |album_id=144 |access-date=16 September 2026}}</ref>

The company invested ₹400 [[wikipedia:Crore|crore]] between 2018 and 2020 and reported sales above ₹1,000 crore for the 2021–22 financial year, 80% domestic and 20% exported.<ref name="tm2022">{{Ref tm2022}}</ref> Revenue rose 58% to ₹1,072.81 crore in 2021–22, and the company set a target of ₹2,000 crore by 2025 with a planned stock-market listing.<ref name="care2023" /><ref name="tm2022jan">{{Ref tm2022jan}}</ref> In 2022 a 10.8&nbsp;MW rooftop solar plant began generating power at Remalle in July<ref name="infomerics2024">{{Ref infomerics2024}}</ref> and a solar power project was inaugurated at Unit 2,<ref name="a249">{{Cite archive |album=Solar Power Project Inauguration, Unit 2, 2022 |album_id=249 |access-date=16 September 2026}}</ref> and the company hosted an audit by [[wikipedia:IKEA|IKEA]] and a plant visit from the Italian linen maker [[wikipedia:Frette|Frette]].<ref name="a135">{{Cite archive |album=IKEA Audit, 2022 |album_id=135 |access-date=16 September 2026}}</ref><ref name="a228">{{Cite archive |album=Plant Visit: Frette, Italy, 2022 |album_id=228 |access-date=16 September 2026}}</ref>
{{clear}}

== Recent developments (2023–present) ==
[[File:LEAD Programme 2026 participants.jpg|thumb|right|Participants in the LEAD leadership programme, April 2026]]
In 2023 an IKEA team visited the company's facilities. Revenue fell to ₹905.30 crore in 2023–24, while profit after tax rose to ₹40.93 crore.<ref name="care2025">{{Ref care2025}}</ref><ref name="a134">{{Cite archive |album=IKEA Team Visit, 2023 |album_id=134 |access-date=16 September 2026}}</ref> In 2025 the company opened Mohan's Sri Vijnana Vihara School,<ref name="a216">{{Cite archive |album=Mohan's Sri Vijnana Vihara School: Opening Ceremony, 2025 |album_id=216 |access-date=16 September 2026}}</ref> and in September 2025 founder V. Sudhakar Chowdary was elected Chairman of [[wikipedia:Krishak Bharati Cooperative|KRIBHCO]].<ref name="ruralvoice">{{Ref ruralvoice}}</ref>

In 2026 a foundation ceremony was held for a new corporate office;<ref name="a256">{{Cite archive |album=MSIL Corporate Office Bhoomi Puja, 2026 |album_id=256 |access-date=16 September 2026}}</ref> the company ran its LEAD (Leadership Excellence & Development) programme;<ref name="a257">{{Cite archive |album=LEAD Program 2026 – Leadership Excellence & Development |album_id=257 |access-date=16 September 2026}}</ref> and Union Textiles Minister [[wikipedia:Giriraj Singh|Giriraj Singh]] visited the Mallavalli unit.<ref name="a281">{{Cite archive |album=Union Textiles Minister Shri Giriraj Singh Visit to Mallavalli Unit, 2026 |album_id=281 |access-date=16 September 2026}}</ref> That January ''The Textile Magazine'' profiled the company in its [[wikipedia:Heimtextil|Heimtextil]] 2026 special edition, reporting a workforce of over 5,500 and the involvement of the founder's children, V. Suhruth Chowdary and Keyura, as the next generation of leadership.<ref name="tmlegacy">{{Ref tmlegacy}}</ref>
{{clear}}

== Timeline ==
{| class="wikitable"
! Year !! Event
|-
| 2005 || Decision to enter textiles (March); company founded (7 April) and incorporated (11 May)
|-
| 2006 || Commercial production begins at Unit 1, Vattigudipadu, with 14,400 spindles (October)
|-
| 2007 || Foundation laid for Phase II at Unit 1; association with Murata Machinery begins
|-
| 2008 || Phase II complete; Unit 1 reaches 30,000 spindles (April)
|-
| 2009 || 40,000-spindle Unit 2 proposed (August) and approved by bankers (October); foundation laid
|-
| 2010 || Civil work begins on Unit 2 (February)
|-
| 2011 || Unit 2 begins commercial operations (March)
|-
| 2012 || Unit 2, Remalle, ready (January) and inaugurated, with 44,064 spindles, 4,576 rotors, 1,920 TFO drums and 36 gins
|-
| 2013 || Two-phase project of ₹181 crore and ₹95 crore proposed, including the first looms; foundation laid for Unit 3
|-
| 2015 || Unit 3, Remalle, phase 1 begins commercial operations, with the first air-jet looms (April)
|-
| 2016 || Unit 3 phase 2 begins commercial operations (October)
|-
| 2017 || Over 125,000 spindles and 125 air-jet looms; about 2,800 employees; cover story in ''The Textile Magazine''
|-
| 2019 || Unit 4, Mallavalli, inaugurated
|-
| 2020 || Unit 4 investment complete, adding processing and expanded cut, make and trim (March); Astara brand launched
|-
| 2022 || Solar power project inaugurated at Unit 2; sales above ₹1,000 crore (FY 2021–22)
|-
| 2025 || Mohan's Sri Vijnana Vihara School opens; founder elected Chairman of KRIBHCO
|-
| 2026 || Foundation laid for new corporate office; LEAD leadership programme; Union Textiles Minister visits Mallavalli
|}

{{Needs confirmation|the Managing Director's office|section=article|date=September 2026}}
Several dates above are taken from the titles of albums in the MSIL Digital Archive, and figures for 2005–2017 are as reported by the Managing Director to ''The Textile Magazine'' in 2017. Exact dates of commissioning, and the years in which weaving, processing and home-textile production began, should be confirmed from company records.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Mohan Spintex}}

[[Category:Mohan Spintex India Limited]]
[[Category:History of Mohan Spintex India Limited]]
[[te:మోహన్ స్పింటెక్స్ చరిత్ర]]