The investors in the country are keen in the Technical Textiles segment

Indian technical textile association (ITTA) is in existence for the last 12 years. It is a very formidable association in the field of technical textiles with 450+ members from technical textile manufacturing companies. The members are from upstream, midstream and downstream industries in technical textiles. We indeed have a significant number of MSME members. Avinash Misar, Chairman, ITTA, in this interview with Divya Shetty,discusses the global performance of the Indian technical textiles industry and highlights the sector’s innovations aimed at maintaining its status as the fastest-growing industry.  

How is the Indian Technical Textiles Association supporting its member companies to strengthen the technical textiles sector in India?

ITTA is the ‘Voice of Industry’. We represent challenges faced by the members and the industry as a whole to the policy makers that is Ministry of Textiles, (MoT, GoI). Additionally we are also repository of knowledge in the field of technical textiles. We assist our members on the technology front and provide all due guidance in investments, machineries, processes and supply chain.

We disseminate all techno commercial information to our members. We assist them with HSN codes, Product Standards (ISO and BIS), Quality Control Orders (QCO), Export Benefits, Project Incentives from the govt. namely PLI, PM Mitra Scheme, Technical Textile Parks, Textile Upgradation Funds (TUF) and many other specific assistance in the field of GST, Import Duty Structures, Anti Dumping Duty (ADD) Issues and many important relevant areas.

ITTA also has a very good platform for day to day discussions wherein members connect in the groups and share information and assist each other in many technical and supply chain issues. ITTA groups are highly active and extremely popular.

Can you highlight any recent innovations in the technical textiles field that your member companies have introduced?

Technical Textiles is an immensely Innovative Industry. The growth of technical textile is entirely dependent on its capability to technologically advance customer support and incredible in developing processes and products aligned with customer needs. The current innovations which are going to radical changes in the society are;

• Carbon fibres: With the advent of carbon fibres, light weight and high strength products are fast being appreciated in the markets. There is lot of work which is happening in this segment with extreme focus on development of carbon fibres within the country. Application of these fibres in defense and allied area will be the game changer for our country. Indeed the usage of carbon fibres in our day to day products in use like furniture, bicycles, cars etc. will change the entire spectrum of our economy.

• Fabrics: E-fabrics and conductive fabrics are fast moving to bring in lot of meaningful performances in the clothes we wear. Connectivity of individuals through such fabrics with wonderful performance gadgets and application tools will enhance day to day life
• Phase change material: Again a turning point in the industry wherein fabrics would demonstrate comfort in radically opposite temperature scenarios of cold weather and as well as warm weather.

Multiple developments are happening in all the sectors like agritech, clothtech, buildtech, geotech, performance wear, sportswear, composites etc. all these certainly will bring in exciting times ahead.

Which sub-sectors within technical textiles are currently gaining the most prominence in India, and why?

India is flushed with technical prowess we have excellent institutions and educational systems which propels technical knowledge and creates wonderful technical minds.

Technical textiles is one area where the product has to confirm to the performance requirement of a non-textile industry like roads, dams, infrastructure, in geotech segment likewise in buildtech segment.

Similarly the applications of technical textiles is into defence, solar energy, wind energy, human protection, environmental protection etc. all the segments using Technical Textiles has very specific performance needs expected from the Technical Textile products.

Hence the growth of Technical Textiles is prominent in the sector of aviation, transportation, roads and railways, agriculture and industech. The industry is growing at an average CAGR of 12-14 per cent and hence the growth potential is significant in all the verticals of Technical Textiles.

Are there any areas within the technical textiles sector that you feel are lacking attention or development? If so, what steps are being taken to address these gaps?

Technical Textile as the word goes is primarily using Man Made Textiles/ Fibres. The Performances of the Technical Textile Fabric/ product is so significant that the input material has to be of highest standard. The usage of Technical Textiles is always in an area of application where reliability of the product is of utmost importance. Many a times, technical textiles are into lifesaving applications and products. This aspect makes it very critical that the input material is of high technical standards. Technical developments and application of mind to deliver a desired solution is highly impeded with want of superior and advance fibers and fabrics. This is primarily the biggest roadblock in Technical Textiles. The country today has very fine investments done in the area of advanced geotech, agritech, protech, mobiltech and as well in other verticals with debottlenecking the industry is sure to make waves in the international markets through the products developed by the midstream and downstream Technical textile industry in India.

What role is the Indian government playing in boosting the technical textiles sector? Are there any specific initiatives or policies that have had a significant impact?

The ecosystem developed for Technical Textiles by the Ministry of Textiles, GoI is incredible. It is really an impressive effort being put in in the last 10 years.

Today Technical Textiles is a subject specific mater of discussion by the policy makers with the focus to grow this from its current $23 billion business to $45 billion by 2030 and eventually to $100 billion.  The infrastructure development of Center of Excellences (CoE) all across the country is the very first step which consolidated Technical Textiles. This was further given an impetus by formation of National Technical Textile Mission (NTTM) a nodal agency to steer all the interventions needed for the growth of Technical Textiles in the country.

Invigorating the BIS our national quality standards agency to form Quality Control Orders (QCO) and BIS standards for all Technical Textile products is again an important step taken.

Formation of specific HSN codes and implementation of the same has focused efforts of Technical Textiles.

Rewarding schemes like TUF, PLI, PM Mitra, Technical Textile Parks, Dissemination of knowledge on Technical Textiles and many others activities have really supported this sunrise industry of Technical Textiles.

Could you discuss some of the major challenges faced by the technical textiles industry in India, and how your association is addressing these challenges?

Major nothing, but being an Industry we do have challenges with regards to some policy decisions which come in the way of Technical Textiles supply chain effectiveness. This is something which the industry is in constant engagement with the govt. officials and have been able to put across the challenges. We have few results with the policies being reworked in the interest of Technical Textiles. This we believe is a continuous process and have been immensely successful in our initiatives taken so far.

What opportunities do you see for growth and expansion in the Indian technical textiles sector over the next five years?

There is no industry which has a growth potential of 12-14 –per cent CAGR other than Technical Textiles. The investors in the country are keen in this segment and there is tremendous enquiries and discussions with ITTA to take their individual projects forward. The growth for next 5 years is inevitable because the markets are changing and getting immersed with Technical Textile Products and solutions. The world market growth in this segment is around 6-7 per cent CAGR.

How does the Indian Technical Textiles Association facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing among its members to foster innovation and industry growth?

The ITTA believes in collaboration with the international community. We have couple of MOUs signed up with European Countries namely Italy, UK and with Taiwan, Korea.

We are in close connects with all the international research and foundations and have knowledge sharing understanding forged with them. All our efforts is to be a knowledge repository on Technical textiles. We are also partners with CoEs and we engage and contribute in their technological pursuits.

ITTA organises conclaves and conferences to disseminate information on technical textile and to immerse the knowledge geographically in India. ITTA also conducts various Certified Training programs on most of the Technical Textile verticals.