Textile start-up to develop cotton nonwoven filters

Cotton and textile sectors have an opportunity to create start-ups to
enhance demand and create jobs. Seshadri Ramkumar, Professor, Texas Tech
University, USA and a technical advisor at WellGrow United collaborated with
Jayalakshmi Textiles to develop cotton based nonwoven filters and oil absorbent
wipes.

An international collaboration involving this scribe has resulted in the
creation of a start-up, WellGro United in Chennai, India to market cotton
industrial products. Cotton processing expertise of Jayalakshmi Textiles has
played a crucial role in transferring this idea to marketplace.

The importance of entrepreneurship and the need to infuse start-up
culture was stressed by India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, in his December
2020 “Mann Ki Baat” address to the nation.

 â€œYarn prices have hiked about
30-40 per cent in 3-months,” stated Velmurugan
Shanmugam, General Manager, Aruppukottai, India-based Jayalakshmi Textiles.
Yarn demand is high due to lack of fabric stocks and hence processors are in
urgent need of yarns, added Velmurugan Shanmugam.

While cotton and textiles sectors are witnessing growing demand, it is
also important to focus on new developments. “In the mid to long term basis,
development of value-added products is important,” stated Shanmugam.

“Jayalakshmi Textiles, with 70,000 ring spindles produces cotton yarns
ranging from 60s Ne to 140s Ne, with an average count of 67s Ne. I had the
opportunity to collaborate with Jayalakshmi Textiles to develop cotton based
nonwoven filters and oil absorbent wipes. The collaboration has led to the
translation of my idea to useful cotton-based value-added products,” said Seshadri Ramkumar.

WellGro United has been marketing products that enhance human lives and
protect the environment. Recently, India’s oil exploration company, Oil and
Natural Gas Corporation,  has been using
cotton-based oil absorbent to counter oil spills in its Rajahmundry site on the
banks of India’s second largest river, Godavari.

Jayalakshmi Textiles, which is a major cotton yarn spinner is taking
little steps to develop novel cotton products which have found inroads in the
oil sector. Cotton-based mats are being exported to Nigeria and Poland for
evaluation by industrial sectors.

With the increasing trend in demand and prices for cotton and textile
products, there is optimism among cotton textile sectors to look for
opportunities beyond commodity products.

Demand enhancement by developing functional and industrial products will
be the next phase of the cotton textiles sector.