In 1959, H.K. Razdan started a small trading business in India, dealing in bicycle parts and raw materials. There was no grand factory, no sprawling network — just a sharp understanding of what Indian manufacturers needed and a relentless drive to deliver it.
More than six decades later, that business has become Harman Group — one of India’s most trusted names in footwear manufacturing machinery solutions, leather goods and accessories manufacturing solutions and various other industries. But the path from there to here is anything but ordinary.
Building a Business on Relationships, Not Just Transactions
Harman’s early years were defined by a principle that still drives the company today: understand what the customer actually needs, then go find the best way to deliver it.
That philosophy led to a pivotal decision — forging direct trade relationships with Italian manufacturers, at a time when most Indian companies had limited access to advanced international technology. Italy was, and remains, a global leader in precision machinery and manufacturing innovation. Getting a foot in that door changed everything.
The partnership didn’t just expand Harman’s product catalogue. It earned the company a gold medal for excellence in foreign trade — early recognition that this was a business doing things differently.
The Move That Defined the Company
The 1980s brought a turning point. India’s leather and footwear industry was growing rapidly, but the machinery available domestically couldn’t keep pace with demand or quality expectations. Harman saw the gap.
The company began importing advanced Italian machinery — clicker presses, cutting systems, and finishing equipment — directly into the Indian market. For many manufacturers, this was their first access to technology that could match international production standards.
It wasn’t just about selling machines. Harman helped factories understand what the equipment could do, how to integrate it into existing workflows, and how to get the most out of every investment. That advisory approach turned first-time buyers into long-term partners.
A Nationwide Presence, Built on Local Understanding
As demand grew, so did Harman’s footprint. Today, the company operates through branches across Noida, Mumbai, Chennai, Noida, Kanpur, Agra, Kolkata, and Calicut — covering every major industrial hub in the country.
But each location isn’t just a sales office. These branches serve as service and support centres, staffed by teams who understand the specific needs of their region’s manufacturers. A leather goods workshop in Kanpur has different requirements from an automotive parts facility in Chennai. Harman’s local presence means those differences are understood, not overlooked.
From Machinery Supplier to Complete Solutions Provider
Over the years, Harman Group has evolved well beyond importing and distributing machines. The company now operates specialised divisions that address the full spectrum of manufacturing needs.
Cutting Dies Manufacturing is one of the company’s core strengths. Harman manufactures high-precision steel cutting dies used across the leather, footwear, automotive, and non-metallic materials industries. These dies are engineered for accuracy, durability, and clean cuts — critical for any production line where consistency matters.
Alongside traditional die cutting, Harman offers the Die-Less Cutting Machine — a system that eliminates the need for physical dies altogether. For manufacturers running short production cycles or working with frequently changing designs, the die-less cutting machine dramatically reduces setup time and material waste. It’s the kind of innovation that doesn’t just improve a process; it changes the economics of production.
The company also provides swing-arm clicker machines, finishing systems, and complete turnkey factory solutions — from initial setup and machinery selection through to production line optimisation. Whether a business is setting up its first unit or scaling an existing operation, Harman handles the complexity.
The Numbers Behind the Name
Sixty-five years of sustained growth produces results that speak for themselves:
- 65+ years in the Indian manufacturing industry
- Over 1 million machines delivered to factories across the country
- 30+ global brand partnerships, connecting Indian manufacturers with world-class technology
- A pan-India service network ensuring support is never far away
These aren’t vanity metrics. Each machine delivered represents a factory that runs better, a production line that cuts more precisely, and a business that competes more effectively.
What Hasn’t Changed
Industries evolve. Technologies advance. Markets shift. Through all of it, what hasn’t changed at Harman Group is the principle H.K. Razdan built the company on — find out what the customer needs, then deliver the best solution available.
Today, that means continuing to strengthen global partnerships, bringing emerging technologies like die-less cutting to the Indian market, and maintaining the hands-on, relationship-first approach that has defined the company since 1959.
From a small trading business to an industry leader — the Harman Group story is still being written. And for the manufacturers who depend on it, that’s exactly the point.
Harman Group is a leading supplier of steel cutting dies, clicker machines, die-less cutting systems, and turnkey manufacturing solutions to India’s leather, footwear, automotive, and industrial sectors. To learn more, visit harmanleather.com.
