In this exclusive interaction with Clean India Journal, Varun Karthikeyan, Managing Director of Roots Multiclean Ltd, shares how the company’s roots in Coimbatore helped shape India’s cleaning technology landscape. Beyond manufacturing world-class cleaning machines, Roots played a pioneering role in developing a robust local supply chain that powers the country’s cleaning equipment segment.
Why did you choose Coimbatore to start your manufacturing in cleaning products?
A. 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?
A. Often called as 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 Root’s 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?
A. 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 specialized 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.
“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.”
We proudly serve over 30,000 customers across the country and export our products to more than 40 countries globally.
Our approach to growth prioritizes 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.
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.