Exclusive Interview by K. Gopalakrishnan
As the global textile industry undergoes rapid technological evolution, Aditya Birla Group has been actively leveraging its strength to build a unified presence in technical textiles domain.
In a conversation with The Textile Magazine, Mr. Kapil Agrawal, Business Head – Textiles, shares Group’s strategic focus, innovation roadmap, market priorities, and emerging opportunities across protective apparel, mobility solutions, industrial applications and more.
Bringing Group Capabilities Under One Strategic Platform
Over the past few years, the Aditya Birla Group has consciously moved towards a unified customer-facing approach for its technical textile offerings. With businesses spread across viscose FR fibre, nylon filament, spun yarn, and technical fabrics, customers increasingly seek solutions that span the complete value chain. Mr. Aggarwal explained that ABG is offering customers an experience of “one unified platform” representing the Group’s capabilities.
“Customers’ requirements often span from viscose FR fibre to nylon filament to spun yarn to fabric. We bring these strengths together and showcase what we can offer as a group,” he emphasized.
This cross-business synergy is now reflected in the Group’s participation across global Technical Textile trade fairs and exhibitions.
Diverse Product Leadership Across Technical Textiles
Protective Apparel: A Strong Global Footprint
A major area of focus for Aditya Birla Group is protective apparel, supported by a specialized technical yarns company, SPL, in Europe and a manufacturing base in Indonesia. The company supplies yarns used for flame-retardant and high-protection fabrics used in:
- Defense and military uniforms
- Fire-retardant workwear
Aditya Birla Yarns participates in global defense tenders and already supplies to leading armies, including NATO and the German military. In India, the company anticipates growing domestic demand as India upgrades its protective gear standards.
“India is slowly moving up the ladder in terms of protection, and global armies already use our products through various value-chain partnerships,” Mr. Aggarwal noted.
Mobility Solutions: A Core Segment of Strength
Mobility and automotive applications form one of the strongest verticals for the Group. Under MobilTech, the company supplies multiple advanced yarns and fibres, including:
- Tyre cord, primarily through Century Enka
- Yarns used behind clutch plates for leading European automotive brands
- Yarns for automotive upholstery and interior applications
- Inputs for industrial belts and conveyor applications (via the filament division)
Depending on the product and customer, the Group acts as both a tier supplier and an intermediary in the value chain.
“Mobility is a very strong segment for us, and we partner with several automotive ancillaries who supply to global OEM’s,” he shared.
Innovation and Sustainability: New Technologies Driving Growth
FR Viscose: A Significant Breakthrough
One of the Group’s recent technological milestones is its ability to produce Viscose FR (Fire Retardant) fibre—an important advancement for safety textiles and protective gear.
Circularity and Recycled Fibres
The Group has also expanded into recycled fibres, strengthening its commitment to sustainability and circular textile solutions.
Continuous Innovation Through Knowledge Centres
Each business under the Group operates an in-house R&D “Knowledge Centre”, where teams continuously develop new fibres, blend technologies, and functional yarns.
“Textiles demand constant reinvention. We keep experimenting with fibres and products—that is a continuous exercise,” Mr. Aggarwal noted.
Presence Across Technical Textile Segments
Among the 12 recognized technical textile segments in India, Aditya Birla Group has strong traction in:
- Mobile Tech (automotive applications)
- Pro Tech (protective textiles)
- Home Tech (home textile applications)
- Indu Tech (industrial applications)
Some products also find applications in Geo Tech.
Evaluating New Opportunities: Nylon for Athleisure & Performance Textiles
With India’s booming athleisure market driving demand for high-quality nylon, the Group is evaluating expansion in this direction. While Century Enka produces nylon, not all grades are suited for performance apparel, leading to heavy imports by Indian manufacturers.
“We are evaluating opportunities in this segment. There are certain products we don’t manufacture today, but the space is promising,” he shared.
Short- to medium-term plans include exploring new categories aligned with global textile trends.
Exports Continue to Dominate, Though India Holds Growing Promise
Aditya Birla Group has a strong global orientation, with protective apparel yarns and technical products enjoying significant demand in Europe and the US.
However, the Indian market—especially in protective apparel and technical textiles—is showing encouraging signs of evolution, driven by government initiatives and rising safety standards.
Investments and Future Growth Outlook
Technical textiles is expected to be a major growth frontier for the Group, especially as traditional commodities face margin pressures. The company is evaluating each technical textile segment for future investments based on technological readiness and growth potential.
Mr. Aggarwal is optimistic: “This is a fantastic business opportunity. With the Indian government pushing technical textiles, this is going to be a big market. We are gearing ourselves to be part of that growth.”
Indigenization and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives offer additional opportunity, particularly in defense, though cost competitiveness remains an important factor.
Aditya Birla Group is strategically positioning itself as a leading force in technical textiles globally. By focusing on high-value segments such as protective apparel, mobility solutions, and industrial applications—supported by strong R&D, sustainable innovation, and cross-business synergies—the company is preparing for the next phase of growth. The Group is not only strengthening its global footprint but also aligning itself with India’s long-term vision for advanced materials and technical textiles.
