Milind Hardikar, director-Corporate Strategic Initiatives, has taken charge of Welspun India’s Advanced Textiles Business. Hardikar initiated the Advanced Textiles business at Welspun in 2012 and set it up through 2014. He was later assigned to another group level task.

Welspun started its new venture for Advanced Textiles in 2012 and within a short span of three years, doubled its capacities and earned the reputation of being an innovative player in the nonwovens industry. Within the last year, Welspun has launched spunlace brands like Welicate and 3DSwipe, and these brands currently make up 40% of the company’s volume. Welspun has two nonwoven technologies – customized and high capability spunlace technology from Flessiner and a high-loft thermobond line from NSC, France. Continuing its growth path, Welspun has invested approximately $15 million in its latest needlepunch line from Andritz, a high end European maker of nonwoven finishing technologies such as dyeing, printing, coating and lamination. Welspun’s plan is to develop innovative products for filtration, automotive, protective and hygiene applications.

Welspun’s Advanced Textiles Business is a part of the $3 billion Welspun Group – a multinational company whose core industries are steel and textiles. Welspun is one of India’s fastest growing conglomerates, doing business in over 50 countries with 25,000 employees and over 100,000 shareholders. Its clients include companies operating in oil and gas, retailers, converters and brands such as Chevron, ExxonMobil, J C Penney, TESCO, IKEA, Macy’s, Walmart, Medtronic, TZMO, Nice-Pak, Rockline, and Reckitt Benckiser.