Aditya Birla Group, India's largest textile conglomerate

A US $48.3 billion corporation, the Aditya Birla Group is in the League of Fortune 500. Anchored by an extraordinary force of over 120,000 employees belonging to 42 nationalities, the Group is built on a strong foundation of stakeholder value creation. With over seven decades of responsible business practices, the group’s businesses have grown into global powerhouses in a wide range of sectors – metals, pulp and fibre, chemicals, textiles, carbon black, telecom and cement. Today, over 50% of Group revenues flow from overseas operations that span 36 countries in North and South America, Africa and Asia.

Textile constitutes and important part of the Group’s business lead by Grasim Industries and Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail.

The Group’s flagship company, Grasim Industries’ Viscose business recorded another year of exceptional performance in 2019 contributed by viscose staple fibre (VSF) as well as viscose filament yarn (VFY). The company’s strong thrust on sustainability is demonstrated by the substantial investments committed towards the same.

The tremendous success of the company brand LIVA can be attributed to Grasim’s relentless focus on customer centricity over the years. LIVA, predominantly a women’s apparel brand, has been extended to the home textile space-furnishing, bed linen and carpets.

The capacity expansion at the Vilayat plant is progressing well. Post expansion (FY21) it will be the single largest location plant of VSF in Asia (ex-China). The total VSF capacity will get enhanced to 788 KTPA from 566 KTPA. In FY19, Viscose net revenue grew by 23% YoY to Rs. 10,325 crores.

Production efficiency and improved customer experience are prime focus areas for innovations in VSF production facilities. One key initiative has been expanding the gradual implementation of technologies that reduce in-process material consumption. Process developments reducing the usage of energy and water are also reducing costs, while enhancing sustainability.

Grasim’s work to improve its customers’ experience includes specific technologies to improve non-woven spunlacing process performance, dope-dyed fibre uniformity leading to higher efficiency yarn spinning and quality, and improved spinning performance for greige fibres. In addition, the company’s higher effort for differentiated products has resulted in several new offerings at different stages of commercialisation.