Suresh Patel
Managing Director
Sidwin Fabric
TT: It is almost five years since Sidwin entered the nonwoven industry. How do you assess the development?
We have seen tremendous growth. We have reputed clients in the industry in the domestic market as well as abroad. We offer high quality with new developments in products.
TT: What applications are you focusing on? What are the new technologies?
We began with the packaging industry. For the last three years, we have diversified into medical disposable fabric, hygiene, functional nonwoven fabric like anti-static, fire retardant, hydrophilic nonwoven fabric and industrial use fabric as well as agrotextiles.
TT: Which countries give Sidwin group a major chunk of the business? Which market is evolving fastest?
Our presence is mostly in the Gulf countries, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and North America. In our experience, the United States of America and Canada are the biggest markets for nonwoven industries with converted products for the construction as well as agriculture industry.
TT: How has your business grown in the last two years? What is your target for the next two?
The technical textile industry has made remarkable progress in the last three years, thanks to the efforts of both the Government of India and industry leaders. Without referring to growth in numbers or statistics, it would suffice to say that the technical textile industry can only move in one direction, and that is upwards. This is partly because the base is still low. Growth may be uneven across different segments of technical textile, but overall growth is anticipated to be good. Certain sectors like protective textiles, packing and agrotextiles should grow because of large potential. Sectors like medical textiles need more awareness from users and decision makers.
TT: What percentage of profits do you earmark for R&D annually?
We spare sufficient budget for new development and market awareness programmes, specifically in the agriculture sector as well new developments in industrial products in nonwoven fabric.
TT: Which are your sourcing hubs for raw materials?
We source raw material mostly from the domestic market.
TT: What new applications do you foresee for nonwoven and converting sectors?
Nonwoven manufacturers should look at high-end, value-added products rather than low-margin, volume-based markets. Coated nonwoven, hygiene application fabric like baby diapers, sanitary napkins, construction textiles and functional nonwoven fabric like anti-static and fire retardant fabrics can witness growth in the near future.
TT: How do you expect the nonwoven market to develop in Asian countries?
Growth in Asian countries will continue but due to high volatile price factor in polymers and currency, the industries may be affected. Only with favourable efforts from the government can the Indian export industry compete with players in China and the Gulf.
TT: Out of all applications for nonwovens, medical and hygiene applications are growing at a faster pace. What are the probable factors contributing towards this?
We are working towards use of nonwoven in agrotextiles and hygiene products in India. For agrotextiles, we are working with different farmers for trials in the western as well as northern parts of India. As far as hygiene products are concerned, our focus is mainly on sanitary napkins and baby diapers.
TT: Apart from medical and hygiene applications, in which fields do you foresee more use of nonwovens?
The agrotextiles sector has huge potential in India so nonwoven manufacturers need to concentrate on this sector by providing products with high quality standards.
Published on: 04/06/2016
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