CMI Machine drives modernisation in footwear manufacturing
LW Desk
Summary
CMI Machine Private Limited reports that market conditions have stabilized and both domestic and global buying capacity is strong, following early-2026 disruptions caused by U.S. tariffs and geopolitical tension.
The Chennai-headquartered firm is accelerating its focus on turn-key projects, delivering end-to-end setups, technical know-how, and CNC-advanced technology to footwear and leather manufacturers.
With over 600 clients, the 30-year-old enterprise continues to expand its international supply network across South Asia, the Middle East, and key African markets.
THE domestic and global leather and footwear manufacturing sectors are demonstrating robust growth and strong buying capacity, overcoming temporary setbacks caused by U.S. tariff challenges and geopolitical tensions at the start of 2026, according to S Sathish, Chief Executive Officer of CMI Machine Private Limited.
Detailed operational insights provided by the CEO reveal that the 30-year-old Chennai-based machinery enterprise is actively driving production upgrades across key industrial clusters by supplying imported CNC-advanced technologies, developing indigenous machinery, and executing comprehensive turn-key manufacturing projects.
"The year 2026 has seen some challenging times due to geopolitical tension, but the overall situation is okay as compared to the last fiscal year. We faced some issues at the start of the year because of the U.S. tariff issue. But now, both domestic and global market demand is doing good. People are having the buying capacity, and the industry is having a very good growth."— S Sathish, CEO, CMI Machine Private Limited
Outlining the core operations of the business, Sathish stated that CMI Machine Private Limited operates its corporate headquarters, central warehouse, and manufacturing factory out of Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Built on three decades of industry service, the firm maintains an extensive domestic presence with branches established in major Indian leather hubs, including Delhi, Kanpur, Kolkata, and Agra.
Sathish highlighted that the company supplies advanced machinery imported from leading global technology hubs, including Italy, Japan, Taiwan, and China. These automatic and semi-automatic systems, combined with CNC advanced technology-oriented machinery, are specifically deployed to assist shoe manufacturers in upgrading production capacity, enhancing operational productivity, and raising final product quality.
In tandem with its import portfolio, CMI Machine Private Limited manufactures a comprehensive range of indigenous machinery tailored for footwear producers as well as general leather goods manufacturers, supporting factory owners across various sub-sectors of the trade.
A key priority for the firm is the execution of complete turn-key projects. Sathish underlined that for entrepreneurs and manufacturers seeking to establish production facilities from the ground up to a complete operational line, the company provides end-to-end setup solutions, technical knowledge transfer, and operational support to client technical teams. To date, CMI Machine Private Limited has built a portfolio of more than 600 satisfied clients.
Expanding its commercial footprint beyond Indian borders, the company actively exports machinery across regional and international markets. Its export destinations include Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, and key African nations such as Kenya, Tanzania, and Ethiopia.
Commenting on trade policy disruptions and global market dynamics, Sathish noted that despite initial trade friction surrounding U.S. tariffs and wider geopolitical headwinds in early 2026, the overall sector trajectory remains positive, with consumer purchasing power and industrial capital investments continuing to drive expansion across both domestic and overseas leather manufacturing markets.
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