Lakshmi Automatic Loom Works (LALW) manufactures textile machinery like automatic looms, shuttleless weaving machines, knitting machines, and also grey and s g iron castings. The weaving machines are marketed under the Lakshmi trade mark. The company was promoted by G K Devarajulu of the Lakshmi group of South India. _x000D_ _x000D_ In Apr.'74, a ten-year technical collaboration was entered into with Ruti Machinery Works, Switzerland, to manufacture high-speed C type automatic looms. Commercial production started in Dec.'77. During 1987-88, it commenced commercial production of air jet weaving machines in collaboration with Sulzer, Switzerland. In the same year, LALW also undertook the manufacture of rapier conversion. The company entered into collaboration with Terrot Stickmaschinen, Germany, to manufacture high-speed circular knitting machines. _x000D_ _x000D_ In 1994-95, the company developed a prototype high-speed rapier weaving machine with a four-colour selector for which field trials are being carried out. In 1995-96, the company installed CNC machines for the improvement and the better quality of the product. _x000D_ _x000D_ In future the company has plan for the implementation of ISO 9001 quality system and introduction of total quality management to achieve international acceptance of the products._x000D_ _x000D_ Since the peak networth of the company has eroded more than 50%, the company has filled the form with BIFR on 16.11.1998. The company exported 7 Circular Knitting Machines valued at Rs.95.335 lakhs during the year 1999-2000._x000D_ _x000D_ The company is planning to implement ISO-9001 Quality system and introduce Total Quality Management (TQM) to achieve international acceptance of their products.It is also planning to introduce new models of Shuttleless Looms and Circular Knitting Machines._x000D_