Roots Multiclean on CIJ Connect

On a two-day exploration of this industrious city, Mohana M, Editor of Clean India Journal, captures Coimbatore's progressive transformation — its innovative mindset, global collaborations, collective harmony and purposeful drive toward manufacturing excellence. This Focus feature presents insights and perspectives from key industry players, including Roots Multiclean Ltd, Kärcher India, Senvac Extraction Systems Pvt Ltd, Dima Engineering Pvt Ltd, Radiant Enterprises, Aviva Brushes and Suvid Solutions — all of whom are shaping the city's reputation as the country's new powerhouse for cleaning technology.

Why Coimbatore works

Few Indian cities embody industrial resilience and reinvention quite like Coimbatore. Once renowned as the "Manchester of South India" for its flourishing textile mills and motor manufacturing, the city has seamlessly transitioned into a modern industrial hub. Today, its strength lies in its diverse network of small and medium enterprises that support large-scale engineering and manufacturing operations with speed, precision and cost efficiency.

The availability of ancillary industries — from casting and sheet metal fabrication to injection moulding, powder coating and machining — ensures that manufacturers rarely have to look beyond the city limits for components. More than 25,000 MSMEs form the foundation of Coimbatore's industrial ecosystem, driving an agile and collaborative production environment. "Here, a man who makes parts for milking machines can also make a vacuum component," said Indrabanu T, Founder and CEO of Radiant Enterprises, a long-time manufacturer. "Every corner has someone who can innovate — that is Coimbatore for you."

The city's rich talent base further strengthens this ecosystem. Premier institutions like PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore Institute of Technology (CIT) and Kumaraguru College of Technology produce thousands of skilled engineers each year, many of whom stay back to join family enterprises or start their own ventures. "Coimbatore has everything — the knowledge, the technical ecosystem, the workmanship," Indrabanu added. "The only challenge is fragmentation. Every workshop does something unique, but they often work in silos. Even so, you will not find such diversity anywhere else."

Strategic location adds another layer of advantage. Proximity to Coimbatore International Airport and major industrial belts like Tirupur, Erode and Salem provides strong logistical connectivity. Easy access to both Chennai and Cochin ports enables smooth movement of goods for export-oriented manufacturers. The cost of operations — from real estate to labour and utilities — remains significantly lower than in metros, giving Coimbatore-based industries a decisive edge.

Supported by government-backed industrial estates such as SIDCO, L&T and ELGi, and bolstered by the collaborative spirit of associations like CODISSIA, the city has built an ecosystem where innovation, skill and efficiency converge. For cleaning equipment manufacturers, this combination of legacy engineering expertise and forward-looking enterprise has turned Coimbatore into an unmatched base for building world-class technology — right from concept to completion.

A city reinvented

Coimbatore's long association with engineering excellence continues to define its industrial journey. The city that once built India's textile machinery and motor industry has now turned its focus to developing cleaning and maintenance equipment. What began as a few early efforts has today grown into a steady ecosystem of manufacturers producing high-performance cleaning machines for industrial, commercial and municipal use.

"Textiles are getting replaced with cleaning equipment," said N Venkatesh, Proprietor, Aviva Brushes, a local entrepreneur. "If we had a port here, exports would have been phenomenal. But with Cochin so close, the advantage is still strong."

The shift shows how Coimbatore's traditional engineering strength is supporting the next wave of manufacturing. Companies here are not just assembling parts but developing components, systems and complete product ranges too. From precision machining to fabrication, most requirements are met locally, creating shorter supply chains and better control over quality.

As India's first mechanised cleaning equipment manufacturer, Roots Multiclean Ltd helped set the base for this transformation. "We established the technological and industrial foundation for this sector," said Varun Karthikeyan, Managing Director. "Over time, we have trained technicians, developed local vendors and inspired ancillary manufacturers to grow with us."

German company Kärcher, which began local manufacturing in Coimbatore in 2015, further strengthened the city's position on the global map. "Apart from the excellent ecosystem, the city offers complete infrastructure and a skilled workforce for businesses to thrive," said Prashanth Srirangam, Senior Director, Kärcher India. "Local manufacturing supports the government's Make in India and Swachh Bharat initiatives and enables us to contribute to the country's drive for cleanliness and sustainability."

For newer entrants like Senvac Extraction Systems Pvt Ltd and Suvid Solutions, the city provides both a base and an advantage. "The region's engineering talent, strong supply chain and manufacturing infrastructure make Coimbatore an ideal base for building world-class equipment," said Sengamuttu Ditto, Managing Director of Senvac.

Vidhyasekar K, Director – Business Development, Suvid Solutions, added: "Compared to cities like Mumbai or Chennai, the cost of operations is far lower here. And the best part — you can source almost all components locally. This kind of support network is rare."

The road ahead

Coimbatore's strength lies in its diversity — in the hundreds of small and medium workshops that quietly contribute to larger manufacturing goals. Every unit adds value, whether in casting, machining, fabrication or finishing. Together, they form a living network of collaboration, sometimes unorganised yet remarkably efficient.

"Coimbatore has everything — the knowledge, the technical ecosystem, the workmanship," said Indrabanu, who has been associated with the region's industrial growth for decades. "The challenge is that it is fragmented. Every shop does something unique, but they work in silos. You will not find such diversity even in Ludhiana."

This unspoken interdependence forms both the city's strength and its limitation. The close-knit network ensures flexibility, local sourcing and quick turnaround, but the absence of consolidated platforms and specialised tooling units can slow down innovation. "We do not have high-precision tool manufacturers for certain parts like rotors. For those, we still depend on imports," he adds. "If someone invests seriously, Coimbatore can easily become a global hub for cleaning machinery."

The possibilities are immense. The cleaning and hygiene sector is expanding rapidly across industrial, institutional and infrastructure segments, and Coimbatore's manufacturers are already supplying not just to domestic markets but to international buyers.

With continued investment in research and development, technology upgradation and greater collaboration among local manufacturers, the city is well placed to lead the next phase of India's manufacturing story — where 'Made in Coimbatore' becomes a mark of quality, innovation and engineering pride.

Why did you choose Coimbatore to start your manufacturing in cleaning products?

Our family has been rooted in Coimbatore for over five generations. My father, K Ramasamy, began his entrepreneurial journey here more than 50 years ago by founding Roots Industries Ltd. When he expanded into cleaning equipment manufacturing in 1992 by establishing Roots Multiclean Ltd, Coimbatore's established engineering culture and industrious environment supported that vision.

What does this city have to offer for the cleaning industry?

Often called the 'Manchester of South India', Coimbatore is known for its manufacturing heritage, a reliable supply chain, and a skilled workforce. The city's ecosystem — supported by strong ancillary industries, reputable technical institutions, and a stable climate for manufacturing — provided a good foundation for Roots' growth. Over the years, we have expanded our various group operations in and around Coimbatore, leveraging the city's entrepreneurial spirit and industrial infrastructure to create products competitive at both domestic and international levels.

How did this city evolve to support manufacturing, and what has been Roots' contribution?

Coimbatore has steadily grown as a significant manufacturing centre over the years. What began as a hub for textiles and pumps evolved into a diversified centre for automotive components, machine tools, and now, cleaning technology. Roots has played a vital role in this transition. As India's first mechanised cleaning equipment manufacturer, we helped establish the technological and industrial foundation for this sector. We have been instrumental in building an entire ecosystem — training skilled technicians, developing local vendors, and inspiring ancillary manufacturers to grow with us.

How has Roots expanded its manufacturing for the domestic and international markets, from Coimbatore?

Roots began with simple cleaning machines like basic push sweepers and steadily grew its product line over the years to include a diverse array of industrial cleaning solutions such as scrubbers, sweepers, high-pressure washers, industrial and commercial vacuum cleaners, carpet cleaners, city sweepers, and even specialised equipment like runway sweepers. This broadening portfolio is driven by continuous investment in research and development to meet evolving customer needs across sectors including manufacturing, healthcare, hospitality, railways, defence and more.

We proudly serve over 30,000 customers across the country and export our products to more than 40 countries globally.

Our approach to growth prioritises quality, durability, and reliability backed by strong after-sales service rather than rapid or aggressive expansion. This focus on sustained quality and service excellence has won us customer trust and helped build long-term relationships in both the domestic and international markets.

"'Make in India' has encouraged localisation and technology integration, but the ecosystem for advanced components and technical knowhow still needs time to mature. Nevertheless, India's growing focus on hygiene, urban sanitation, and infrastructure is steadily strengthening domestic demand."
— Varun Karthikeyan

What future do you foresee for India as the next manufacturing hub for cleaning products?

India's cleaning equipment manufacturing sector has made steady progress, though it continues to face a mix of opportunities and challenges. The country's emphasis on self-reliance under initiatives such as 'Make in India' encouraged manufacturers to localise production and improve technology integration. However, the industry is still evolving, as several core components and high-end technologies are still imported. Also, the availability of an extensive vendor base and technical knowhow takes time to mature. That said, India's growing emphasis on hygiene, urban sanitation and public infrastructure is gradually strengthening domestic demand for cleaning solutions.