“Bablu is a true representation of Indian fishermen. He owns two small trawlers and takes care of his crew as a part of an extended family. Bablu is currently building a new 60 ft. boat with a 440 hp engine and has already specified Plateena ropes for the vessel.”
As a leading cordage manufacturer, Garware-Wall Ropes Ltd. (GWRL) shares a close bond with Indian fishermen for the last three decades. The company’s new find, the Plateena rope, is made with Dyneema, a highly advanced range of products based on an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). The innovative product is one of the most-sought-after product ranges in the international market along with the Sapphire, Maxima and Maxiflex from GWRL.
These ropes have the same strength and diameter as a steel wire rope with only one-seventh of the steel ropes weight. They are soft, do not snap, need no oiling or greasing, avoid down time and do not contaminate the sea water. Plateena ropes, which have found widespread acceptance in the shipping industry for towing, berthing and mooring, are also used for installing cables on power transmission towers in very difficult terrains.
Also, since these ropes are stronger than steel, they are widely used in bullet-proof applications for defence purposes. Plateena products have received good response from customers in Alaska, New Zealand, the Indian Navy and shipping companies, for their critical applications.
GWRL is one of India’s leading players in technical textiles. The company uses an extensive range of polymers to provide application focused solutions for use in diverse business segments ranging from fishing, mooring, sports, habitat, infrastructure, geo-synthetics, agriculture, defence, manufacturing plants, construction companies and transportation sectors.
GWRL makes ropes, nets and aquaculture cages for capturing and growing fish, nets for sports like tennis and soccer, nets for protected cultivation for high-value agriculture, coated fabrics for hanger covers, awnings, exhibition covers, etc., and soil management products and solutions for infrastructure, waste management, water management and erosion control projects. The inherent strength of the company’s products has been enhanced by its presence in new business areas like high-value agriculture and coated fabrics.
Specialised products
The company’s agriculture business has expanded with the addition of new geographies and deeper penetration into the existing markets. Next-gen insect net developed by GWRL for high-value agriculture enables lower usage of pesticides by the farmer. GWRL’s coated fabrics have found a number of customers across different sectors, ranging from road transport to sports, tourism and construction.
GARSAFE nets ensure safety of workers in high raised construction sites. Predator control products developed by the company for salmon aquaculture are environment-friendly, and have been highly appreciated in Canada. GWRL’s STAR aquaculture cages manufactured from specialised fibres can be used without antifouling coating and are easy to clean.
The Plateena rope technology also finds its application in creation of sport-spectator protection nets, trawl winch lines, heavy-duty strops for mining, emergency towing-ropes, and fall-protection devices for lifeboats. All these products, along with successfully launched new products like Garware Rocky, Star Belly and Star Codend, are expected to provide significant growth in revenues in the near future.
As for infrastructure, the Geo-synthetic Division of GWRL has been able to provide unique solutions for erosion control and waste management. In FY 2012-13, the company successfully executed orders for woven geo-textile bags to Singapore and recently secured its first order from the UK for composite geo-textile tubes. An established and well-known player in North America and Europe, the company increased its footprint in South Asia, the Far East, South America and Australia also.
GWRL’s products are serviced through branches, depots, dealers, associates and partners located in strategically relevant and in even extremely remote places across the globe. Supply of products and services is done from its three large integrated manufacturing facilities in Pune (Chinchwad), Wai and Silvassa. The company utilizes its unique network of rural homemakers in the surrounding villages around Wai for fabrication of net and rope articles. This provides home-based employment to around 1,000 underprivileged families.
Growth strategy
Several strategic initiatives have been taken by the management to ensure that the company remains firmly on the growth path despite adverse economic conditions. Concerted efforts are being made to address critical concerns of customers, located in over 75 countries across the globe, through superior technology solutions. Some of these solutions involve in-house research for finding alternative materials that improve functionality and enable better usage of products. GWRL has earned recognition from the Sports Goods Export Promotion Council (SGEPC), for being the top sports goods exporter from India, across all product categories.
Sales turnover
The company registered total revenue of Rs. 605.08 crores for 2012-13, which was an increase of four per cent over the previous year’s revenue of Rs. 580.82 crores. Apart from being a dominant player in the Indian market, the company has its major role in overseas markets too.
The export revenue of GWRL amounted to Rs. 262.99 crores which was 43.5 per cent of the total revenue. Its domestic sales increased by 4.6 per cent to Rs. 340.06 crores. Profit after tax for the period was Rs. 24.67 crores, registering a nominal increase of 2.8 per cent over the previous year.