Ahmedabad-based Sanrhea Technical Textiles Ltd. is in talks with DuPont for setting up a kevlar fabric processing unit in Gujarat for industrial hose pipes. Once commissioned, it will be first such plant in India for the para-aramid synthetic fiber for industrial use.
“Kevlar has a high strength-to-weight ratio and as a fabric is manufactured by Japanese company Teijin. While DuPont uses the fabric for various operations across the world, usage of kevlar is yet get familiarised in India. Since we already run a high quality rubber fabric processing plant in Kalol near Ahmedabad, DuPont intends to bring its kevlar processing technology to India for which we are in talks with the company," said Tushar Patel, managing director of Sanrhea Technical Textiles Ltd.
DuPont markets trademark products like bullet proof, umbilical cords in oil drilling, high pressure pumps and industrial hose pipes using kevlar. To begin with, Sanrhea is planning to process 100 tonnes of kevlar per month for industrial hose pipes use. “The project may require an investment of anywhere between Rs 15 crore and Rs 20 crore. Once commissioned, this will be the first such plant in the country using kevlar fabric for industrial hose pipes,” added Patel.
Meanwhile, Sanrhea is also expanding its own rubber fabric processing capacity from 70 tonnes per month to 120 tonnes per month at an investment of around Rs 15 crore. The company is in talks with several financial institutions for financing its expansion plans.
Rubber fabric processed by Sanrhea are used in tyre, conveyor belt, and diaphragm by automobile industry. The company boasts of a clientele that includes MRF Ltd., Garware Wall-Ropes Ltd. and Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL).
A part of a 50 year old Ahmedabad-based textile group, Sanrhea ventured into technical textile segment by setting up rubber fabric manufacturing facility in Kalol. The company also exports its products in countries like Canada, the UK and United Arab Emirates.
