Welspun’s new tech to verify cotton origin

Welspun India has emerged as the first global textile entity to patent a fibre-tracking technology, turning adversity into opportunity. The Mumbai-based world’s second largest terry towel producer, developed the technology after a large customer terminated a contract following mislabelling of the provenance of fibre in certain consignments.

The technology enables it to verify the origin of cotton at each stage of the manufacturing process to ensure an authentic final product, Chief Executive Dipali Goenka said. Welspun had partnered with global forensic science company Oritain Global to develop the solution, Wel-Trak, using RFID and customised software. It involved an investment of around Rs 38.5 crore and more than six months of rigorous efforts.

Apart from deploying this solution in several cotton growing areas across the globe, Welspun India is now looking at helping cotton farmers grow better quality cotton and also encourage them to try organic cotton. “Adversities happen in the world of business. When we looked into it (the crisis with the large customer), felt that there were gaps. Today, we are proud to say we have Wel-Trak, the patented process, which helps us track the cotton to its source,” Goenka said.