The company has now diversified into the area of scientific cotton seed processing by setting up a first-of-its-kind gossypol-free cotton seed protein meal plant along with an integrated cotton oil refinery. Gimatex Industries has thrived using values of innovation, quality and ethical practices as its pillars of growth
Gimatex Industries (P) Ltd., established in the year 1993, was set up with the vision to provide premium quality textile products to its customers using the latest in textile technology. The company continuously invests in upgraded technology, people and infrastructure. Run by a highly dynamic and experienced management and supported by a strong skilled workforce of 5,000 people, the group has become a strong player in the market and a name to reckon with. “Today, Gimatex Industries is a completely integrated textile facility with ginning, spinning, weaving, processing and garmenting units under its fold,” informs Managing Director Prashant Mohota.
Its plants are located in the heart of the cotton-growing belt of India which ensures shorter lead times and quality selection of raw materials. It is also part of the first integrated textile park project of Vidarbha under the centre’s SITP scheme. Also, the company has diversified into the area of scientific cotton seed processing by setting up a first-of-its-kind gossypol-free cotton seed protein meal plant along with an integrated cotton oil refinery. Gimatex Industries has thrived using values of innovation, quality and ethical practices as its pillars of growth.
Recent investments by the company include:
• 32,000 spindles for viscose and cotton compact yarns at Bela unit.
• Open end unit for making PC and cotton coarse count yarns (7-20 ne) at Wani unit.
• Soft flow machines for processing of viscose-based fabrics at processing unit at Dholka in Ahmedabad.
• Upgrading of ETP to ZLD (zero liquid discharge) set-up along with MEE and sludge dryer.
• Upcoming expansion plans include 32,000 new spindles, 120 new air jet looms and weaving preparatory.
New Products
According to Mohota, new products include GRS products in cotton (20%) and polyester as well as spandex yarns and fabrics, organic fabric and specialised finishes in processed fabrics. The company has manufactured tencel, lycra and viscose lycra fabrics and successfully delivered bulk quantities to top brands. Cotton seed and soy bean oil and cotton seed and soy bean DOC are good examples for other innovative products from the company. “An innovative and first-of-its-kind trouser with stretchable waistband is our latest product. It makes the user very comfortable and was designed by our development centre at Ahmedabad. The product is the result of using an integrated approach for making super-fine quality of 100% cotton products using Vidarbha premium quality cotton,” Mohota informs.
This product was launched under the brand name ‘Minus One’. Completing its vision to serve textiles with a ‘farm to fashion’ approach, Gimatex Industries launched the ‘Gimaq’ brand of in-house clothing having 200+ SKUs in its product range. Speaking about the technology advantage offered by the company, Mohota elaborates: “An integrated plant gives better quality feedback from the user angle. Also, continuous upgrades in latest technology machines give better quality control and efficient production systems.” The company has also launched an Industry 4.0 in-house app called ‘GIMA’for employees and an app for customers under the name ‘G-FORCE’ for direct production recording from production machines.
According to Mohota, while export sales contributed 25.28%, to the overall revenue, domestic sales contributed 74.72% in FY 2020-21. The company’s key Indian customers include Siyaram, Asahi Kasei Corporation, D’Decor and Shahi Export (P) Ltd. When asked about the advantages the company offers as compared to its competitors, Mohota states, “The primary advantage would be in terms of the basket of products that comes from the house of Gimatex Industries. Our product portfolio encompasses basic cotton, polyester and viscose yarn along with a lot of value-added products plus we also manufacture a range of fabric and process fabric made of varieties of yarns. This integration helps in getting better quality products in shorter lead times.”
Sustainability Initiatives
The company is a strong believer in sustainability. Sharing details, Mohota states: “Sustainability, I believe, is the key differentiator now as every buyer prefers to deal with companies having good sustainability factors. Our sustainability journey starts from using sustainable fibres for our yarn and fabric productions like organic cotton, GOTS, BCI cotton, Ecovero viscose, Liva Eco, FSC viscose, recycled polyester (GRS), tencel, lyocell, bamboo and dyed yarns in black or melange.”
Automation Initiatives
With respect to adopting automation, Mohota remarks, “Today, technology has improved tremendously with huge digitalisation on its way. All the new facilities that are getting set up come with machines with state-of-the-art technology in terms of how these machines deliver their key information to computers or hand-held devices. Even the existing facilities have been integrated with our ERP system to directly compile information. All this information is recorded at the source itself which improves the quality of data significantly. Many apps have been developed for in-house use where all this information is presented for better decision making.”
Future Plans
Sharing the company’s vision for 2025 and beyond, Mohota notes, “We plan to grow both vertically and horizontally. Capacities will mostly by doubled by 2025 in our existing facilities and we will add the B2C segment by launching our own brand in garments. We plan to enter the knit segment as well. We want to enter the digital space with D2C connect through our own garment brand, which will stand out as innovative and provide the next level of comfort to all users. With our presence across the value chain, we can use direct consumer feedback to provide better quality products to the consumer.” The company’s workforce comprises 789 men and 29 women in the staff category and 3,597 men and 679 women in the worker category. The total strength is 5,094 employees.