Established way back in 1947, Ahmedabad Textile Industry’s Research Association (ATIRA), an autonomous non-profit association for textile research, has recently launched an incubation centre for technical textiles at its existing premises in Ahmedabad.
Considered to be a unique initiative by the Gujarat Government, the development centre will encompass state-of-the-art machineries from Germany and Switzerland to develop various high performance fabrics prepared from composite materials like carbon, glass, aramid yarns and is first of its kind to be launched in India. These light weight fabrics are essential for sectors like Aerospace, Marine, Defence, Railways, Auto, Civil, etc. which are of high national importance.
Some of the key machines at the centre include Belt Weaving Machine, Rigid Rapier 340 cm, Rigid Rapier 430 cm, Rope Weaving, Rigid Rapier Loom 190 cm among others. The incubation centre has witnessed investments worth Rs. 18.82 crore and is majorly financed by the Government of Gujarat and rest coming from ATIRA and the Industries of the State.
“It’s a great pleasure to be associated with such an esteemed project which will help the textile industry to expand its product portfolio thereby increasing the export potential of such highly sophisticated value-add products,” said Saurabhbhai Patel, Minister of State for Industry. To this, added Sanjay Lalbhai, Chairman of the Council of Administration at ATIRA, “With the launch of this Incubation Centre, we look forward to embark on the new emerging fields of Technical Textiles putting the nation on the global map.”
