TEXTILES.ORG
In what seems to be a surprising reversal of a trend, some engineers are switching from information technology to the manufacturing sector.
Over the past two decades, India has gained a reputation as an IT giant, with its skilled IT engineers spread across the globe. Now two IT engineers have combined skills and place to create Wellgro Tech. Chennai, India, known for its automotive and IT sectors, is the home base for Wellgro, which is aiming to market domestically manufactured high-end nonwoven and technical textiles to domestic and export markets.
Wellgro Tech’s co-directors, R. Prabakaran and R. Venkatakrishnan, each spent 20 years in IT before entering the technical textiles field. The directors recently stated that although the IT sector has employment opportunities, the industry is very competitive. Because of this competition, Wellgro is venturing into technical textiles.
The directors’ research indicates a need in India for high-quality, cost-effective adult incontinence products, in particular. Within a short span of time, Wellgro Tech has acquired clients who want domestically made hygiene products. Wellgro Tech’s goal is to manufacture and supply technical textiles that meet stringent quality standards that cater to the hygiene, automotive and chemical sectors.
Seshadri Ramkumar, Ph.D., is a professor in the Nonwovens & Advanced Materials Laboratory at Texas Tech University.