KK Nonwovens was founded in 2004 by Anurag Kalra, who identified a significant unmet demand for domestically produced nonwovens in India. At a time when spunbond nonwovens were entirely imported in India, KK Nonwovens became one of the country’s earliest manufacturers, establishing its first plant in Kala Amb, Himachal Pradesh. The facility operated two 1.6-meter single-beam spunbond lines with a combined capacity of 300 tons per month. Within three years, over 10 similar factories emerged within a seven kilometer radius.

As spunbond production became increasingly commoditized, KK Nonwovens made a strategic pivot toward a niche and technically demanding category: nonwoven fusible interlinings, which were fully imported into India at the time. In 2010, the company commissioned its first two meter chemical-bonded nonwoven line along with a two meter scatter-coating line. These operations have since expanded to three chemical-bond and coating lines.  

With demand growing for more advanced interlining technologies, the company expanded again in 2014 with the establishment of a second manufacturing unit in Bhiwadi, Rajasthan. This facility focuses on thermal-bonded interlinings with double-dot/microdot coating and has grown to include three production lines.  

In addition to its two manufacturing facilities in Kala Amb and Bhiwadi, India, the company is supported by a head office in Okhla Industrial Area, New Delhi, and a branch office and warehouse in Surat, Gujarat.

As the next phase of its growth strategy, the company is planning an expansion with the development of its third manufacturing site in Surat, Gujarat. It is in the process of land acquisition and construction planning for this unit, which will house new chemical bonding and thermal bonding nonwoven lines, advanced coating machines, forward-integrated and value-added converting technologies. The Surat site will be designed to incorporate the latest-generation machinery, significantly improving product precision, reducing variability and enabling the production of finer, higher-performance nonwovens. This will allow KK Nonwovens to enter more advanced technical markets such as hygiene, food packaging and high-spec industrial applications.

The company operates through two business divisions. KNOVA Technical Textiles focuses on industrial and technical nonwovens for applications such as cable wrapping, surgical tapes, liquid filtration media, heat-sealable pouches, fryer-oil filters and decorative bouquet-wrapping sheets. 

Fusepro Interlinings manufactures specialty double-dot interlinings using PET and nylon substrates with PA, PES and low-melt coatings. Fusepro supplies garment manufacturers through a nationwide distributor network of over 400 partners.

According to Aman Kalra, co-founder and executive partner, both the interlining and industrial nonwoven segments are experiencing strong growth, driven by India’s expanding economy, rising domestic consumption and increased demand for technical textiles. “While competition and occasional shifts in international trade policies present challenges, KK Nonwovens’ ability to innovate rapidly and consistently move toward higher-value, niche and superior-quality products keeps the company ahead of the curve,” he says.

Kalra believes the nonwovens industry continues to offer tremendous scope and relevance, largely because nonwovens are embedded into daily life in ways most people never notice. “From the mattress we wake up on, to the car we drive, the coffee machine we use, the air conditioners around us, none of these products function without nonwovens. They are invisible yet essential components,” he says.

Rishi Dhaul, co-founder and executive director, adds, “Because of this universal integration, the industry remains vast and full of opportunity, with new applications emerging every year. It is absolutely the right time to be in nonwovens, provided companies stay committed to quality, innovation and responsibility. As the industry expands, it becomes even more important to develop materials that perform well while also respecting environmental needs. At KK Nonwovens, we believe the future of this industry lies in creating smarter, cleaner and more sustainable nonwovens, and we are fully aligned with that direction.”