Enhancing Textile Productivity with Smart Air and Cooling Technologies
October 01, 2026 | By Textile Sphere India
With over four decades of expertise in compressed air treatment and cooling technologies, K.P. Manoharan, Managing Director, Gem Equipments Private Limited, shares his perspectives with Textile Sphere India on energy-efficient utility management for textile mills. He highlights the importance of air quality, process reliability, sustainable technologies, and advanced cooling solutions in enhancing productivity while reducing power and water consumption.
Q. Gem Equipments has established itself as a leading manufacturer of compressed air treatment and cooling solutions. How do you view the evolving needs of the textile industry with respect to utility and energy management?
KM: Gem has a legacy of 42 years in the field and has the reputation of supplying our first dryer to the textile applications especially for auto conner and spinning areas. It continued for other air jet application as well. Currently Gem has models with IE5 permanent magnet motor refrigerated, inverter driven, air cooled dryers form 750 cfm to 4000 cfm which saves at least 25% power compared to conventional dryers at the same time maintaining consistent dew point which is exactly what the textile industry needs.
Q. India ITME 2026 is a premier platform for textile technology. What products and innovations will Gem Equipments be showcasing at the exhibition?
KM: We actually do not participate in ITME being a utility product and non-core area, but it is very critical for all the processes, specifically sustainable technology products and processes.
Q. Compressed air is often referred to as the fourth utility in textile manufacturing. How can mills improve efficiency and reduce operating costs through better compressed air management?
KM: The operational efficiency and process capability is very important in the textile machinery operation. The machine uses compressed air to a large extent and if air quality is not as per ISO8573-1, process stability and machinery operations are hampered resulting in product output quality and quantity. Hence the air quality standards should be mandatory requirement even at lower operating pressures and higher ambient and inlet temperatures.
Q. What are the key advantages of Gem’s compressed air dryers, filters, and air treatment systems for textile mills?
KM: These products help the Textile Industry to maintain the air quality standard to meet ISO 8573-1 standards in respect to the residual moisture content, oil carry over and dust particles to meet the process requirement.
Q. Cooling towers play a critical role in textile processing operations. How are your latest solutions helping customers enhance performance while conserving water and energy?
KM: Heat is generated at various processes and this heat is to be removed to maintain the process and product stability. The cooling towers work to reduce the heat generated in the machine. Some processes need lower than wet bulb temperatures like dye paders, RF dryers as well as some humification requirements. For such applications we also have inverter precision chillers for textile processing machines.
Q. Sustainability is becoming a major priority across the textile value chain. How is Gem Equipments supporting customers in achieving their environmental and energy-efficiency goals?
KM: By adopting the latest technology of using inverter drive refrigerated air dryers and using inverter precision chillers, we can ensure lesser power consumption, lesser water usage as well as consistent performance parameters for process reliability and get better quality as well as higher productivity minimizing break downs.
Q. What technological trends are currently shaping the future of compressed air treatment and industrial utility management?
KM: Lower water consumption cooling towers like adiabatic as well as invertor dryers and chillers are the latest trend.
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