Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore   

Textile entrepreneurs urged to tap opportunities in technical textiles

Photo: K. Ananthan

the highlight: Chairman of South India Mills’ Association K.V. Srinivasan (centre) releasing a souvenir at the International Workshop on Marketing and Technology of Technical Textiles in Coimbatore on Thursday. The first copy is being received by the Executive Director of Sri Sakthi Textiles, T. Rajkumar (second right). Seshadri Ramkumar (second left) of Texas Tech University is in the picture. —

COIMBATORE: The textile industry in this region, which has showcased its abilities in several segments of the sector, should tap the opportunities in technical textiles, according to chairman of the Southern India Mills’ Association K.V. Srinivasan.

Inaugurating a two-day workshop on technical textiles, organised by TecniTex Nonwovens, here on Friday, he said, “with the background that we have in textiles, we can get into technical textiles.”

Entrepreneurs should have an open mind and look at all segments, from fibre to finished goods. This was the right time for the industries to tap the potential in this segment.

The government should support this endeavour and it had indicated to do so.

The South India Textile Research Association had been identified as one of the centres of excellence for technical textiles. Certain fibres, dyes and chemicals suffered high import duty and these should be brought under a liberal duty structure. Technical textile products were not only for the large-scale units. Some of these could be made by the small and medium-scale units too.

During the last two years, the industry was affected by global and domestic problems. However, the industry was used to such ups and downs.

This time external factors too were affecting the sector and it looked forward to the Government for its support. China and Pakistan had been pro-active with several export incentives for their textile units, he said.

Executive Director of Sri Sakthi Textiles T. Raj Kumar said venturing into technical textiles required courage, determination and innovation.

The market for technical textiles had just started growing in the country.

During the last few years, awareness on technical textiles had gone up among academicians, next generation workforce and entrepreneurs.

Those who ventured into it would have sizeable domestic and export market. Single use, disposable products had a huge potential.

The Government should reduce the import duty on raw materials so that the technical textiles sector in the country could be competitive.

Seshadri Ramkumar from Texas Tech University and Co-Chair of the INDA-India Committee said technical textiles was not restricted to woven fabrics and non-woven materials. It was a broad-based industry and encompassed fibre to finished goods.

Most of these were fully finished products such as packaged wipes, finished diapers, geo textiles and functional apparel materials.

“Conversion of fabrics and yarn to high technology products is the gateway for the next phase of the textile industry here,” he said. According to the U.S.-based Industrial Fabrics Association International, the world market for industrial textiles in 2010 was estimated to be $ 120 billion. China contributed 46 per cent of the U.S. import market in industrial fabric and Pakistan eight per cent. India’s share was only seven per cent. There were a lot of opportunities in speciality fabrics.

Research and Development should be on public private partnership.

“It is important to think of next generation technical textiles industry so that India has a lead over China and other competing countries,” he said. It was essential to develop additional raw material base that would meet the demands of the technical textiles sector.

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