“Our machines improve productivity, but skilled workers are still essential,” stated Gianluca Benassai, Chairman, Martin Group, a global leader in fusing technology for textiles and leather. Unlike competitors pushing for full automation, Gianluca believes human expertise remains invaluable in certain processes.
The company holds a 32-35 per cent market share in both India and Bangladesh, catering to a wide range of industry needs. Speaking about Bangladesh, Gianluca mentioned, “There have been challenges, particularly in financial transactions and banking procedures, which sometimes slow down business operations.” However, he remains optimistic, noting that the market is recovering and is set for strong growth over the next couple of years, especially if social and political stability support this progress.
In this exclusive interview with Apparel Resources, Gianluca discusses how Martin Group is addressing industry challenges, shifting customer demands and the company’s approach to energy efficiency, automation and customer retention in the evolving garment industry. Here are the edited excerpts.
AR: How do your products help the RMG industry work better, faster and smarter?
Gianluca: Our machines are making a real difference in the RMG industry by helping businesses save significantly on SMV (Standard Minute Value), manpower and overall costs. The idea is to enable manufacturers to work faster, smarter and more efficiently while maintaining top-notch quality. We are committed to helping the industry excel in producing specialised and engineered garments by seamlessly integrating advanced technology into their processes.
One of the innovations I’d like to highlight is our X Series fusion machine, which is specifically designed for outerwear, shirts, leather and even automotive applications. It’s available in multiple widths—600/1000/1400/1600/1800 mm—and comes with features that truly set it apart. It has seamless antistatic belts, carbon graphite scraper blades with memory form and a ‘No Stress’ system with pneumatic belt tension and alignment. What this means for the user is smoother operations, better precision and reduced maintenance hassles. The machine also has a large front-loading area with perimeter shelves, a 1150 mm heating area and four internal and external belt cleaning systems, making maintenance quick and easy. Plus, the output cooling belt helps operators recover work efficiently.
One of the biggest advantages of our X Series is its energy efficiency which is a top priority globally, and even more so in Bangladesh, where electricity costs are a significant concern. Our machines consume 30-40 per cent less power than competitors, which is a huge benefit in today’s market.
On top of that, the user-friendly touchscreen control panel allows operators to store fusing programs with customer names and product details, making the process smoother and more organised. The upper pressure system ensures perfect uniformity and pressure power, so the end product is always consistent in quality.
Similarly, our fusion machines like OLX-N-OT 600-1000 and OLX-SH 600-1000 are boosting productivity across the industry. We also pay close attention to workplace ergonomics because we know how important it is for operators to work in a comfortable environment. That’s why our fusing machines can be equipped with an FB cold feeding belt, which keeps the working position completely cool instead of warm, improving comfort for workers. The FB cold feeding belt can even be customised, divided into 2, 3 or 4 tracks as per customer needs and shaped like a pyramid to optimise load capacity.
| One of the biggest advantages of our X Series is its energy efficiency which is a top priority globally, and even more so in Bangladesh, where electricity costs are a significant concern. Our machines consume 30-40 per cent less power than competitors, which is a huge benefit in today’s market. |
AR: Bangladesh is a price-sensitive market. How do you keep prices low while making customers come back?
Gianluca: We introduce entry-level machines at accessible price points, allowing customers to test our products. Once they experience reliability, performance and durability, they continue upgrading with us, purchasing more advanced models over time. This has strengthened our long-term customer relationships. Besides, fusing is a simple process and even operators with limited technical expertise can handle our machines. The key is to keep operations user-friendly while ensuring high performance and longevity.
AR: How is automation reshaping garment factories?
Gianluca: Our strategy remains focused on serving both large and small factories. Unlike Bangladesh, where large-scale production dominates, many European-style factories are smaller. We cater to all customers, offering machines priced from € 5,000 to € 200,000 (US $ 5,202 to US $ 208,114). Some garment operations require minimal fusing, so investing in high-end equipment isn’t always necessary. We provide cost-effective solutions for such needs. However, we are noticing a gradual shift towards automation with some customers now investing in more advanced, automatic machines to enhance efficiency. For instance, Epyllion Group was the first Bangladeshi company to invest in our fusing machine with an automatic stacking system. Initially, it was considered an unusual choice since labour costs in Bangladesh are relatively low and most factories prefer to have workers handle such tasks manually. However, they soon recognised the long-term benefits, better efficiency, improved garment quality and reduced operational inconsistencies that our machines provide. This was a major achievement for both us and the customers.
AR: How has setting up a local office in Bangladesh improved support for your clients?
Gianluca: The decision to establish a local office in Mirpur DOHS was driven by our commitment to better customer service and stronger relationships. It enables us to offer direct technical training, product demonstrations and sales support, which was previously difficult since agents had to travel to Italy for training. Our office has two technicians and one salesperson and our Head of Sales stays in Dhaka for 40 days every two months to oversee operations.
AR: With Bangladesh’s growing focus on leather manufacturing, how do you plan to seize new opportunities in this sector?
Gianluca: While Bangladesh’s leather sector is still in its early growth phase, we’ve already seen strong demand in India, where we’ve been supplying leather-related machinery for years. Bangladesh is starting to show signs of interest and we expect this market to expand in the coming years. We are well-prepared with a diverse product range that can cater to these industries when the demand fully emerges.
(With exclusive inputs from Iffat Ara Munia)
