TECHNICAL TEXTILESA VISION OF FUTURE

INTRODUCTION

Technical Textiles (TT) offers new ways, means and opportunity to the Indian textile industry to sustain the present growth and thrive in near future. It would offer not only an opportunity for augment the growth, but also a new direction for advancement of the industry.

The field of technical textiles had not receive adequate importance in Indian context so far, however, it is a potential area where the textile industry can excel.

Traditional textiles today are unable to cope with cost of production for various reasons like fast technological obsolescence, high cost of modernization, power, etc.

Present product mix of traditional textiles are not remunerative enough and therefore, more and more ideas of value-addition to textile products is gaining momentum.

Technical textiles, in this context, are just perfect.

DEFINITION

The technical textiles is defined as textile material and product manufactured primarily for their technical performance and functional properties rather than their aesthetic or decorative characteristics.

OR A Technical textile is a textile product

manufactured for non-aesthetic purposes, where function is the primary criterion.

It is a large and growing sector and supports a vast array of other industries.

 

HISTORY Technical textile touched its peak as soon as the manmade

fibre was discovered in1900 AD , before that the only source was the natural fibres & it was treated with chemicals to make the same.

Simultaneously new technology such as special weaving process, nonwoven technique etc was developed to manufacture the technical textile.

In the last three hundred years, world has observed a fast growth in fiber production which has a very distinguished characteristics such as

High resistance to temperature Stable under stress and strain Strong enough to absorb impact of highly reactive chemicals

etc. Textile industry has created various products by using such

fibres. The result of these efforts have enhanced the growth of industrial and technical textiles.

INDUSTRIAL OR TECHNICAL TEXTILES

Non-conventional textiles encompassing a wide spectrum of end-applications raised a debate as to whether the term industrial textiles used so far is appropriate to be continued, or it is time now that "industrial textiles" having specific meaning should include those products used as part of industrial processes or which are incorporated in some way into industrial products.

Textiles used for medicine, defence, agriculture, fishing, etc. do not attach any specific meaning to "industry" but for the age-old practice of using the term "industrial textiles".

Today, the term Technical Textiles has emerged as the most widely acceptable term for this expanding field of textile applications.

INDIAN SCENARIO

A systematic survey had been undertaken by Ministry of Textiles (MOT) to assess the progress of technical textiles in India. With this study, it is established that India is yet to find a significant place in the global scenario in this area.

Traditionally, Indian textile industry is composed of four sectors, viz., composite mill sector, decentralised powerloom , hosiery and handloom sectors. Indian textile industry was dominated by the composite mill sector in the post-independence period.

Technical textiles did never find a place of priority in this sector, though a few mills produced a limited range of industrial textiles in their product mix.

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However, facing stiff competition from the powerloom sector, gradually the composite mill sector suffered various set backs. Even in their revival effort, technical textiles did not find a strategic place as it deserved.

They still focused their priority in modernisation in conventional apparel and home textile products, yarn manufacturing etc.

So far, the contribution of Indian textile industry towards technical textiles was restricted to a few low technology and less sophisticated items like tarpaulin, industrial filter cloth, bolting cloth, textiles for luggage, tyre cords, belting etc.

PRESENT SCENARIO OF TECHNICAL TEXTILES

India is the world second largest producer of textile and garments. The textile industry in India contributes 14 % towards the GDP of USD 1.18 billion. This market itself being so big, there is tremendous potential for technical textiles as well.

Currently the consumption of technical textiles in India forms only 3 % of the total world consumption; however, it is growing at a rate higher than most developed countries.

The reasons for low penetration in this market are several, such as scattered production structure, inadequate research and development (R&D), lack of skilled personnel.

Another major contributing factor is that there is lack of awareness about the benefits of using technical textile

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• India still has to make its presence felt in the world technical textiles market, which earns that a highly unexploited market is waiting to be explored.

MARKET SIZE OF INDIAN TECHNICAL TEXTILE INDUSTRY

Indian Technical Textile industry is estimated at Rs 41,756 Crore (2007-08), with domestic consumption of Rs. 38,835 Crore.

The Industry has witnessed a significant growth of 16% from 2001-02 to 2009-10 and, is expected to grow at a rate of 11% year-on-year and reach a market size of Rs. 70,151Crore by the year (2012-13), with domestic consumption of Rs. 65,722 by the year 2012-13.

Currently, approximately US $120 billion worth of Technical Textiles is consumed world over and in India it is just $6 billion.

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India is emerging as a significant player in technical textiles. The fast-paced economic growth leading to infrastructure creation as well as higher disposable income has made India a key market for the technical textile products.

Moreover, the country has developed a foothold in the production of technical textiles owing to its skilled and technical manpower as well as abundant availability of raw-material.

GROWTH RATES FOR CONSUMPTION OF TECHNICAL TEXTILE

This is expected growth rates and from the graph we can easily view out that India is having 12% of growth rate consumption, which is higher than other developed countries .

TARGET IN NEXT 10 YEARS

Strategy should be to fix up a target of 10% - 12% of global market in next 10 years. Accordingly, the planning should be made to ensure the inputs and to offer a congenial environment, both regulatory and fiscal, to achieve the target of almost about US $ 6-8 billion share in the global technical textile market in next 10 years or so.

To fulfil the social objectives of providing cheaper and efficient products like shelters, protective clothing etc. to the masses in the event of disasters like flood, draught, earthquake etc. Logistically, it will also be easier and convenient to position such products more speedily than conventional material.

APPLICATION AREAS

To identify application areas with a strong potential in the domestic market, and which will in the long run, help exports.

Initially such items should be selected for which there exists know-how, production facilities, raw material etc. Such products may be on the lower end of technology but should have a big impact in terms of volume, value addition, etc.

It will create a favourable psychological impact and climate for future investment in more demanding products.

Indigenisation of value added products of relatively easier technology capable of quick assimilation should be aimed at the beginning. To develop technical textiles in high tech application of aerospace, defence, etc.

RAW MATERIAL

Attempts should be made to use indigeneously available fibres - both natural and man made, for the technical textile products. However, it is not a deterrent to import of high performance fibres for specific products where volume is less.

To exploit the traditional eco-friendly natural fibres like cotton, jute, coir, hemp etc. by product diversification with value addition for medical textiles, agro textiles etc.

APPLICATION AREAS

WORLD WIDE CONSUMPTION OF TECHNICAL TEXTILES STATS

HERE ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLES

GEOTECH

LOTS OF TECHNICAL FABRICS IN SPORTSWEAR

Gore-Tex – water repellent and windproof: used in cycle jackets, outdoor wear

Nomex - fire retardant used in Formula 1 (& also oven gloves)

Coolmax® wicks moisture to the surface of the fabric, to keep you dry & comfortable.

SMART TEXTILES

Smart textiles can sense, react & adapt to the conditions around them.

For example, they can react to:

• Hot or cold temperature

• Light

• Pressure

• Moisture

• Time

Uses

Novelty clothing

Protective clothing

Safety equipment

Medical textiles

Military uses

Anti-allergen products

Baby productsSome smart materials meet a real need & have been developed for

specific functions. Others are more of a novelty design feature.

INTERACTIVE OR ELECTRONIC TEXTILES

An interactive fabric incorporates electronics that are activated by a power source. They are still Smart fabrics, they just require a power source.

REFRENCES

Man made textiles in India, may, 1997, p- 199-204. Hand book of industrial textiles ,ed. 1985, p-6. Indian textile journal , aug, 2006, p-72- 75. Man made textiles in India, july 2001. Seminar on technical textiles, SASMIRA, june 2001. Man made textiles in India, may, 1997, no.5 . Textile association of India, jan, 1998. Seminar on Geo-synthetics – emerging opportunities

in India, july, 2000. Man made textiles in India, march, 1998, p- 126-

129. Indian textile journal, october, 1994, p- 82-86.