Reimagining the golden fibre: A gift to the future of jute industry

The jute industry occupies an important place in the national economy of India. It is one of the major industries in the eastern region, particularly in West Bengal. Jute, the ‘golden fibre’, being a natural, renewable, biodegradable and eco-friendly phenomenon, has braved many challenges over the past decades.

Amidst these continuous challenges have been the spirited and visionary efforts of the industry intellect and leadership which continues to aspire with dedication and patience. Speaking to Bizz Buzz, Abhishek Kankaria, Director, Kankaria Group, one of the jute barons of Kolkata, narrates a fascinating journey of foresight and dedication, which has brought the group and the entire jute industry, at the cusp of a historic transformation through an innovative technology breakthrough in jute weaving by the Kankaria Group.

Parallel to machine innovation, the Kankaria Group is actively engaged in developing new applications of jute products, diversifying the fibre’s usage beyond traditional bags and sacking. From sustainable lifestyle products to advanced composites, the group envisions jute as a material of the future – eco-friendly, versatile, and globally relevant

Some say jute is a sunset industry, while some others think it is futuristic as well, if proper technology is implemented and right product can be developed. So what is this new technology that you have developed and that promises to be a gamechanger?

The Kolkata-headquartered Kankaria Group Mills, which owns Ambica and Ludlow – have successfully developed a breakthrough technology after three years of rigorous research and development. This innovation promises to revolutionise the global jute industry, bringing new life, efficiency and relevance to one of the world’s most sustainable natural fibres.

Our innovation, in brief, is almost a continuous running machine! With the new continuous running machine technology, stoppages are reduced to just a couple of seconds after a weft breakage, which is a remarkable achievement compared to the current long downtimes.

What was the trigger behind working on this technology and how does it propose to overcome some key bottlenecks?

Traditionally, one of the major hurdles in jute manufacturing has been the loss in productivity due to frequent stoppages. For making sacking bags fabric from jute, S4 looms are the mostly commonly used in all the jute industry since they are more efficient than conventional looms.

However, the main issue with these machines have been operational stoppages weft and warp breakages. Attending these breakages and restarting the machine manually have been major bottleneck in productivity and quality.

So what are the direct benefits that jute industry is expected to get following the use of this technology?

This pathbreaking advancement has the following direct benefits:

♦ Ease for operators: Reduced interruptions make handling smoother, reducing operator fatigue and stress.

♦ Substantial productivity gains: Continuous running ensures far higher output per machine, per shift, creating a new benchmark for efficiency across the sector.

♦ Benefits across selections of raw jute: The benefits of this technology is not limited to the higher grades of Jute. It is equally effective at lower grades which makes it a panacea across the industry spectrum.

The achievement, in turn, is transformative, paving the way for higher global competitiveness for Indian jute mills.

How did you reach the finalisation of the technology and how long did it take to develop this?

The journey to this milestone has not been easy. The Kankaria Group’s Research and Development team has worked tirelessly for the past three years, refining concepts, testing prototypes, and overcoming technical barriers. During this journey the leadership style has been hands-on, innovative, and persistent – qualities that were essential in achieving such a pathbreaking result in an industry where technological changes are rare.

Is it for your group companies or for the entire jute industry? How do you see this? What is your vision like?

Our commitment goes beyond organisational interest. The project was conceived as a contribution to the entire jute industry. By pushing the boundaries of possibility, the group is ensuring that all stakeholders in the sector, from workers to global buyers, benefit from higher quality, consistency and efficiency. This breakthrough is a testament to a simple belief:

To honour the legacy of the golden fibre, we must weave it with the threads of the future. It is a belief I have personally championed, and one that defines us at the Kankaria Group, where 'innovation is a way of life.'

Under my father's (Awanti Kankaria) guidance and along with the relentless dedication of our entire team, we have transformed this principle into reality. This isn't just an innovation; it is our gift to the entire jute industry and a promise of a more sustainable, competitive, and brighter future for all.

So can one expect a 'New Era for the ‘golden fibre'?

This milestone is only the beginning. The Kankaria Group’s dedication to continuous R&D ensures that more such innovations are on the horizon. By combining tradition with technology, Ambica and Ludlow mills are writing a new chapter in the history of the jute industry.

The “golden fibre” is poised to shine brighter than ever before, carrying forward India’s legacy while meeting the demands of a sustainable global future. With this milestone, Ambica and Ludlow Mills have raised the bar for themselves. The breakthrough by the Kankaria Group is a moment of pride and progress for the entire jute industry.

What are the larger impacts of this innovation on the jute industry that you are expecting?

The impact of this breakthrough cannot be overstated:

♦ Global Competitiveness: By reducing downtime, mills can now match global productivity standards.

Operator-friendly work environment: Simpler, smoother machine operation improves working conditions.

♦ Revival of golden fibre: With better efficiency and broader applications, jute will regain its stature as a fibre of the future. Mills achieve higher productivity and efficiency while the industry benefits from global competitiveness and renewed relevance.

♦ The environment gains as jute finds more applications as an eco-friendly fibre.