With growing acceptance of its new products in the overseas aquaculture industry as well as in the domestic agriculture market, Garware Wall Ropes Ltd. (GWRL) is poised to grow faster in the coming years. The company has grown at an average annual growth rate of eight per cent in the past five years and is estimated to have clocked a turnover of almost Rs. 700 crores in the year ended March 2014.
“We expect to grow 15-20 per cent annually over the next three years. Our goal is to reach Rs. 1,000+ crore turnover by FY17. Our focus on innovative products has started yielding results in each of the segments that we operate in,” says Mr. Vayu Garware, Chairman & Managing Director, Garware Wall Ropes Ltd., in an exclusive interview to Ganesh Kalidasan of The Textile Magazine. This optimism stems from the popularity of some of its recent launches and the increased distribution in both overseas and domestic markets.
GWRL, the largest Indian manufacturer and exporter of synthetic cordage, is one of the leading players in technical textiles. It makes use of threads, ropes and nets to produce coated fabrics for diverse applications like towing of ships, mechanised fishing, aquaculture, protected cultivation, sports nets, prevention of soil erosion, rock fall protection, etc.
He says: “Our company’s nets are used in major sporting events like tennis grand slam. A majority of the tennis nets used in the US are supplied by GWRL. Our high strength steel wire boulder nets can hold boulders of even 16 tonnes in weight. In India, in coastal and river protection works and in landfills we have a share of around 30 per cent. We have already done over 120 landfill projects as of now”.
The company’s nets and solutions supplied to the mechanised fishing and aquaculture industries together contribute half the company’s revenues. 
Similarly, GWRL had launched various specialised products aimed at domestic agriculture for protecting farm produce from elements like excessive sunlight or hailstorm as well as from birds.
GWRL has a strong customer base in over 75 countries covering end-users like fishermen, farmers, engineers, oil drillers, packers, transporters, construction companies, municipalities, government organisations, shipping companies, clubs, universities and manufacturing plants.
Almost 20 per cent of the company’s raw materials are imported. For instance, DSM Dyneema yarns, which are ultra-high molecular polyethylene, lightweight and stronger than steel, are imported since they are not available locally. Globally these yarns are used in fishing, aquaculture and in shipping.
“Team Garware mainly focuses on application understanding and innovation. Our R&D works in close co-ordination with the customers to understand their needs better and deliver products that add value to them,” adds the Chairman.
The key to maintaining end-user loyalty and support has been GWRL’s sustained focus on the company’s mission of providing innovative, application-focused solutions to customers globally. Keeping the customer at the forefront of its businesses has enabled the company to make deep inroads even in developed markets like Europe and North America.