The Indian technical textile industry market size is expected to reach Rs. US $ 31.708 bn by the year 2016-17 with a growth rate of 20% year-on-year as per a report by the subgroup on technical textile for 12th Five-Year Plan. Sensing a future, Technical Textile (TT) has now become a new way means and opportunity for the Indian textile industry to sustain the present growth and thrive. A background paper titled ‘Technical Textiles & Innovative Nonwovens: An Overview’ prepared by Department of Textile Technology, IIT Delhi and PHD Chamber was released recently by Zohra Chatterji, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India emphasising the growing importance of the segment.
The seminar which aimed basically at inviting more and more companies to venture into technical textiles, saw the Textile Secretary, promise all help to the industry in this regard. Keeping in view the need to create linkages between the raw material suppliers and manufacturers, Zohra Chatterji said, “Raw material suppliers should build linkages with manufacturers, and also that there could be better synergies between the manufacturers and different departments for giving a boost to this sector.” She added, “I urge the industry to avail of benefits offered by the Government, which includes Technology Mission for Technical Textiles, Technology Upgradation Scheme Fund and Integrated Textile Parks.”
Seeing the private sector as potential segment to penetrate into technical textiles, Zohra said, “I strongly believe that the private sector has a leading role in the development of technical textiles. Therefore, I think more and more firms should explore opportunities in this sector.”
Also present at the seminar was Sharad Jaipuria, Senior Vice President, PHD Chamber, who appreciated the efforts of the Government to develop the technical textile sector in India which includes Scheme for Growth and Development of Technical Textiles (SGDTT); Technology Mission on Technical Textiles (TMTT); Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS), Scheme for Integrated Textile Parks (SITP), Pilot Scheme for Promotion and Application of Geotextiles in the North East Region; Pilot Scheme for Promotion and Application of Agrotextiles in the North East Region; and FDI Promotion Incentives.
The PHD Chamber identified few important issues hindering the growth of the sector, the biggest being inadequate awareness about the benefits of technical textiles among end-users. Even lower scale of production is another factor attributing to slow growth of the sector. Another reason identified was absence of defined standards and regulations and lack of indigenous availability of specialized raw materials hampering cost competitiveness. The industry stalwarts also feel that there is lack of skilled manpower for new technologies in nonwovens along with dearth of technology/consultancy support to manufacturers. Last but not the least factor which was highlighted was lack of basic infrastructure, training and educational facilities.
New Entrants in Technical Textiles
Keeping its promise to promote the sector, last year the Finance Ministry allocated US $ 100 mn crore to start a pilot scheme in the 12th Five-Year Plan for promotion and application of geotextiles in the North East Region of India, it also exempted payment of customs duty on imports of Aramid yarn and fabric used for the manufacturing of bullet proof helmets. The ministry also announced setting up of a US $ 1 bn India Opportunities Venture Fund to help SMEs that account for 45% to India’s total manufacturing output and 40% of the country’s overall exports. It will allow entrepreneurs to venture into new risk areas for innovation in technology as well as help R&D. These incentives have seen many new ventures in technical textiles…
NTC to go for tie-ups in Technical Textiles
Seeing the incentives and boost given by the Finance Ministry, the National Textile Corporation Limited (NTC) decided to go for tie-ups in technical textiles and plans to invest around US $ 85 mn crore along with JV partners for setting up the infrastructure for manufacturing technical textiles. The corporation has since then formed JVs with Alok Industries, Pantaloon Retail India and Bhaskar Industries for setting up five garment manufacturing units in workwear and performance wear segment.
Fibertex Personal Care opens its office in India
Motivated with the Government encouragement and growth opportunities, Fibertex Personal Care opened its sales office in New Delhi in September 2012. The Denmark based spunbond nonwovens producer has hired Ajay Sahni as Country Manager for India. While talking to Apparel Online, Ajay who was working as Head Marketing for Finish Giant Ahlstrom prior to joining Fibertex says, “As a Country Manager my responsibility is to strengthen Fibertex Personal Care’s presence in the Indian market. The company has Danish origin, but a global vision. From facilities in Denmark and Malaysia, we manufacture and deliver nonwovens solutions to converters around the world.” Founded in 1968, Fibertex Personal Care supply nonwovens both spunbond and spunmelt nonwovens for different applications in diapers, feminine hygiene and incontinence care products.
Paramount Surgimed (India) forays into Adult Diapers and Sanitary Napkins
Paramount Surgimed (India) has launched adult diapers to expand in the hygiene segment. The company plans to launch sanitary napkins in the next 18 months. It is planning to improve its sales by more than 65% to nearly US $ 25 mn in the next two years through increased sales of its hygiene products. At present, Paramount has a manufacturing facility plant in Bhiwadi, Rajasthan that has a capacity to produce 2.5 million diapers a month. An amount of US $ 2.4 mn was recently invested in the plant by the firm. It is tying up with medical institutions and hospitals for adult diapers.
Precot Meridian enters Nonwovens Market
Precot Meridian Ltd., a leading manufacturer of yarn and fabrics with annual revenues of over US $ 120 mn ventured into technical textiles last year by setting up a nonwoven project to manufacture hygiene care products in partnership with VMI Holland BV, supplying innovative and high quality solutions for its project. VMI Holland BV, worldwide Dutch machinery supplier, develops solutions for cotton pad punching and packaging.
Precot Meridian has put up its nonwoven project in the Southern state of Karnataka in India. “This Greenfield project is an integrated plant, with processing, nonwoven line and finishing machines. The company started its trial production of cotton pads in January 2013. We look forward to a fruitful cooperation with VMI,” says Ashok Kulkarni, CEO of the division.
[bleft]The PHD Chamber identified few important issues hindering the growth of the Technical Textile sector, the biggest being inadequate awareness about the benefits of technical textiles among end-users. Even lower scale of production is another factor attributing to slow growth of the sector.[/bleft]
Gujarat Emerging hub for the Technical Textiles
Contributing over 25% at US $ 4 bn, Gujarat is quickly emerging as the hub for the technical textiles sector. With the US $ 15 bn sector expected to grow to over US $ 20 bn by the end of this year, the share of Gujarat is also set to propel in near future as per ASSOCHAM.
The German technical textiles industry is now seeking collaborations with Gujarat’s textile companies. Recently a delegation of four leading technical textile firms from Germany visited Ahmedabad to explore opportunities in technical textiles. The companies discussed the application of this innovative branch of the textile industry in various fields like automotive fabrics, medical textiles, sport textiles, agro textiles, and protective textiles.
With so much happening, there is no doubt that the technical textile segment is going to be the driver for growth for the Indian textile industry in the next decade.
Bharat Tex Special Report 2026 
