Kusumgar Corporates has carded a niche in speciality textile. The company has been manufacturing fabrics for various markets and applications, including military, aeronautical, industrial, work wear, outdoor, automotive and medical
Kusumgar Corporates is a brand synonymous with innovation. Right since its inception in 1970 the company has been researching, developing and offering specialty textiles in a wide spectrum of niche applications. “We are one of a kind company in India which is into the manufacturing of woven synthetic fabrics and catering to several industries worldwide. Our diversified product range makes us unique and marks our presence in almost all the verticals of technical textiles. Our focus has remained on product innovation and improvement which has helped us in creating a niche and building a brand name that shares industry goodwill not only in India but globally,” says Siddharth Kusumgar, Managing Director, Kusumgar Corporates.
Manufacturing Might
The company has been manufacturing fabrics for various markets and applications, including military, aeronautical, industrial, work wear, outdoor, automotive and medical. Throwing light on the company’s manufacturing infrastructure and production capacity, Kusumgar says, “We are equipped for a multitude of processes such as weaving, dyeing, finishing, printing, coating and lamination. We have a production capacity of over 30 million metres per annum and are further investing into doubling our capacities in the coming years.”
“Apart from fabrics, we have also invested in the manufacturing of parachute and stealth systems under the aegis of the self-reliance initiative of the government for our armed forces. We constantly work on technological advancement and innovation. We have been pioneers in many products including parachute fabrics, airbag fabrics and ballistics. We have recently taken TOT from DRDO for extreme cold weather clothing system. We have also developed the lightest woven fabric in the country of less than 20 GSM for parachute application,” he adds.
“We are also expanding our range into air holding and inflatable fabrics for critical lifesaving equipment,” he further states while elaborating about the company’s new products, innovation and technology advantage. When asked about the breakup of the company’s business from the domestic market and exports, he replies: “The Indian ministry of defence is one of our biggest customers. Our current domestic-to-export ratio is 60:40 which is targeted to be 50:50 by next year. We are exporting fabrics for parachutes, automotive and industrial applications to over 20 countries globally. Today, we are the largest manufacturer of parachute fabrics across the world.”
Competitive Edge
Listing out the key reasons that give it an edge over competitors, Kusumgar states, “The research DNA of the company has helped to develop all kinds of samples from bit loom size to a couple of hundred metres with desired finishing and coating, etc., as per customer requirements. We have a state-of-the-art testing laboratory where most of the physical, chemical and functional parameters can be tested in accordance with most of the international standards. We have a customer-centric approach with zero tolerance to failure. Being critical applications there are a lot of qualifications and approvals involved before the actual orders come.”
“There are very few companies globally who continuously work on product improvement and are willing to collaborate with customers on their pain points. We have been able to create a niche for ourselves,” he adds. As regards the workforce, Kusumgar says, “We are a team of over 650 people and provide equal opportunity to men and women. We have women working in all our departments including sales and marketing, administration, quality, research and development and production.” The company is a firm believer in sustainable manufacturing. Elaborating, Kusumgar shares, “We are committed to sustainable manufacturing and incorporate that not only in our products but in our day-to-day working as well.”
“We have recently installed rooftop solar panels for clean energy generation. We are also planning to install zero liquid discharge plant in our finishing facility. All our products are REACH-compliant and fluorine-free. We are also developing synthetic bio-degradable range of fabrics for various applications,” he adds. According to him, the company has been at the forefront of adopting automation and latest technologies in its manufacturing processes. “We focus on lean manufacturing with the aim to automate as many processes as possible. The whole company is integrated with the latest ERP system and we are in the process of fully automating our warehousing,” he states.
Future Vision
The company has well-defined future growth goals and vision for 2025 and beyond. Going into further details, Kusumgar reveals, “Our vision is to be a valuable material science company providing innovative solutions to our customers. As for growth plans, we are installing new capacities which will increase our production capacity by multiple times and reach fulfilment till 2025. This will not only be a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility but also environmentally conscious. Our vision is unlimited which allows us to grow wherever we see challenging problems that we can solve. We will continue to move forward and innovate, explore new technologies and develop our people to take the company to greater heights.”