In 2014-2015, Garware-Wall Ropes Ltd. (GWRL) recorded its highest-ever turnover at Rs. 786.60 crores as against Rs. 688.79 crores the previous year. Domestic sales amounted to Rs. 401.06 crores and exports were Rs. 385.54 crores for the year ended March 31, 2015. Profit after tax shot up to Rs. 43.05 crores, 61.5 per cent higher than the figure recorded in 2013-14.
“This achievement was the outcome of a well-executed strategy based on our core foundations of values, innovation, quest for excellence and strong relationships”, said Mr. V.R. Garware, GWRL Chairman & Managing Director.
GWRL is one of India’s leading players in technical textiles with customers and end-users across the world. Deploying its expertise in engineering of polymers and its in-depth knowledge of customer needs, the company provides application-focused solutions for various sectors, including deep sea fishing, aquaculture, shipping, agriculture, sports, infrastructure, defence and transportation.
GWRL has three integrated manufacturing facilities, in Pune, Wai and Silvassa, where a range of products are turned out, including ropes, nets and aquaculture cages for capturing and breeding fish, nets for sports such as tennis and soccer, insect and shade nets for high-value agriculture, coated fabrics for covers, tarps, tents, etc., and products and solutions for water management, waste management and erosion-control applications.
Expansions and innovations
The company is continuously expanding its product offering as well thought-out response to current and emerging customer needs. Recent outputs of customer-oriented product development include high strength mooring ropes with low snap-back, high-tenacity yarn nets and cod ends that reduce twine and net size during fish trawling, anti-predator nettings for marine fish farms, aquaculture cages for organic fishing, ultra-strong and algae-resistant nylon netting and aquaculture tarps for protection against plankton and sea lice.
Stepping outside its core business areas, GWRL has offered solutions for high-potential business segments like sports accessories. It also contributes to the nation’s defence sector with specialized products like weather-proof enclosures to protect electronic equipment in extreme conditions and airborne platforms for military surveillance.
GWRL nourishes a culture of innovation that is spread across all aspects of its business operations from design of solutions to planning and execution, in challenging situations. Its creative acumen is demonstrated in its core areas of business, including segments such as geo-synthetics where it enjoys the rare position of a company that offers end-to-end solutions for infrastructure projects in a range of industries.
Innovative geo-synthetic solutions recently offered by the company include closure and capping of an industrial sludge pond, coastal protection using geo-containers, landfill capping in several remote locations, and installation of geo-textile tubes to create an embankment at a coastal village, to protect it from erosion. Each of the projects required out-of-the-box thinking at all stages, from the designing board in the head office to project locations in remote areas.
Manufacturing facilities
As one of the leading manufacturers of technical textiles, GWRL has expansive, state-of-the-art plants, run according to advanced process management practices.
The company has large manufacturing facilities in Wai, near Pune, spread over an area of over 1.40 lakh sq. metres. To meet increasing demand, the facilities have been expanded and upgraded in the last few years. A wide range of machinery is put to best use through deployment of sophisticated man-machine processes, including LEAN, Kaizen, Abnormality Management, SQDC, 5S, Visual Management, and Joshu Hozen culture. These ensure detailed planning with clear objectives and well-defined team processes, meticulous tracking of inputs and outputs, optimum use of inputs and reduced wastage, tight focus on targets, systematic action on customer feedback and speedy availability of resources for routine and non-routine market requirements.
The net outcome is consistent achievement of high quality standards which are industry benchmarks in both the domestic and export markets.
During the year, the company introduced the SAP enterprise solution, which facilitates greater focus on analytics, better and quick decision-making, accurate business information and enhanced and reliable financial reporting.
Its in-house R&D facilities are at Chinchwad and Wai plants, both recognised by the Department of Scientific and Industrials Research, Ministry of Science and Technology.
Leading player in domestic and export markets
Driven by the mission to provide innovative, application-focused solutions to enhance the value of customers globally, GWRL has earned the trust of its customers across all continents, in over 75 countries. End-users of the company’s products include fishermen, shipping companies, oil drillers, agriculturists, packers, transporters, construction companies, municipalities, government organizations, clubs, universities and manufacturing plants.
Marketing offices in the US, the UK, Russia and Canada improve customer responsiveness in respective time zones and ensure better understanding of local needs. Apart from being a leading player in the domestic market, GWRL has a dominant share of market in North America and parts of Europe and Australia for several products. With growing acceptance of its new products in the overseas aquaculture industry and in the domestic agriculture market, the company is on a growth trajectory. It has recorded good growth in the domestic market also, mainly in the fisheries and agriculture businesses.
Despite the persistent slowdown in the domestic infrastructure sector, the company expanded its geo-textile business also. Moreover, demand was good in some specific areas like erosion control and landfill lining.