German-Indian joint venture Benecore Pvt Ltd is investing over ₹200 crore in a new manufacturing facility in Bhopal to produce nonwoven fabric for baby diapers and sanitary napkins. According to reports from Mint, the company expects the first phase of the plant to generate about ₹300 crore in revenue. The facility, which began commercial production in October, features two production lines using Air Through Bond (ATB) technology, making it the first Indian manufacturer to offer this ultra-soft nonwoven material capability. As reported by Mint, the material is a thin, fabric-like sheet made by bonding fibres together rather than weaving them, used in hygiene products to help hold and distribute liquid, making diapers and sanitary napkins more effective.
The investment addresses India's heavy reliance on imports, particularly from China, for nonwoven fabric used in hygiene products. Rudra Chatterjee, chairman of Benecore and the Obeetee Group, told Mint that much of the material currently used by Indian diaper and sanitary napkin makers is imported, though cheaper locally made alternatives are available but lack the same liquid-holding capacity. "What's interesting is that we are making this product domestically, where it has been an imported product," Chatterjee said. Benecore plans to double the facility's capacity by 2029, taking its revenue potential to about ₹600 crore. The company expects the plant to reach full capacity utilization next year.
The factory has already begun working with global customers, including major diaper and sanitary napkin brands in India, though specific buyers were not identified. According to Mint, these relationships were carried over from its German partner TWE Group, which previously supplied the material to Indian manufacturers from its plants in Germany and China. Chatterjee confirmed that the ambit will cover most brands, though he did not identify individual buyers. The company expects the plant to employ around 150 people, primarily in technical and engineering roles, as the manufacturing process is largely automated. While local production could save on transportation and import-related costs, Chatterjee did not commit to a reduction in prices for diaper and sanitary napkin manufacturers, saying pricing would depend on volumes and individual customer agreements.
Benecore, previously known as TWE OBT Pvt Ltd, was set up in 2023, when Germany's TWE Group GmbH formed a 50:50 joint venture in India with Obeetee Textiles. Obeetee, founded in 1920 in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, is one of the country's oldest manufacturers and exporters of handmade carpets and rugs, specializing in luxury hand-knotted, hand-tufted and flat-woven carpets and working with more than 25,000 independent artisans. The company sees India as its main market, though it has already started exports and is looking at opportunities in neighbouring countries, West Asia and Africa. Benecore is exploring opportunities beyond hygiene products, including filtration materials for cement factories and air-conditioners, as well as automotive components, with its manufacturing facility in Rudrapur, Uttarakhand, making materials used in car interiors.
