Congregating the world’s best technology providers and the entire spectrum of Indian apparel manufacturers for long, Garment Technology Expo (GTE) has set the momentum for Indian apparel manufacturing industry year after year. Living up to its reputation, GTE 2016 proved its mettle in providing directions for the industry pan-India. Thronged by the exporters as well as domestic market manufacturers, and small-scale suppliers as well as representatives from big names of the industry, insights into market and technology dynamics were galore. StitchWorld connects the dots and brings a detailed analysis of the show…
Retrofit energy-efficient motor
Cost was the prohibiting factor during the mid-90s, resulting in manufacturers adopting machines with UBT as luxury. However, even though the price came down during the last decade, manufacturers were unable to upgrade the old working machines as retrofit solutions were not available. What was new at GTE ’16 was the influx of China-made servo motors, those that can be retrofitted with old sewing machine by replacing the clutch motor. With potential of energy saving, and at a surprisingly affordable price, it is to be seen how successfully the retrofit servo motor can change the industry’s infrastructure in coming years!
Digital printing solution: Assembled in India
Digital printing has come a long way, walking the isle of Mimaki and Texsoco. Buoyed by the proliferating domestic sports league and associated merchandise, there is a growing market for digitally printed sportswear in India. Luxury sarees and ladieswear are adding the extra bounty. As the market is maturing, the key performance parameters are being highlighted for successful implementation and customized solutions are aplenty now. Sadly no India-built digital printer is out in the market yet, but more and more India-assembled digital printers are now showing up.
Absence of automated workstations
Automated workstations were the signature display of key players attracting visitors during the past few years. However, similar display was missing this time. It should be kept in mind that most of the automats were for trouser manufacturing and there are multiple reasons for the same which includes the status quo of NCR as non-commodity producer, the Indian trouser manufacturers losing their competitiveness to Bangladesh and last the popularity/advantage of a private show demonstrating complete sewing line vis-à-vis general exhibitions. The show did not display any CNC cutter and spreader either!
Strategic absence of software solution providers
Software solutions like ERP and PDM were more or less absent from the fair barring SpeedStep and ThreadSol. A complex data-centric software solution is always customized during implementation as per organization’s demand post-procurement and mere PowerPoint presentations highlighting the features and advantages of a software actually does not answer most of the queries of visitors. The exhibitors and visitors have begun to realize that exhibition is not a great media/venue for understanding the functionality of a software. Although the ERP solutions providers consciously avoided putting up stalls, they were present as visitors and resorted to networking by meeting more people at the fair.
The partnership of Juki with H&H to offer stitchless fabric joining solution is one of most happening/interesting developments in the industry today.
Renewed interest in extra short tail by under-bed trimmer
The advantage between UBT and non-UBT machines and post-thread trimming requirement is an ongoing debate. Since these machines were introduced in India about a quarter century ago, nothing much has changed. Surprisingly there is a renewed interest on having extra short tail after thread being cut by UBT, and several brands have highlighted this feature. Can the industry finally get rid of the laborious and time-consuming thread trimming operations in finishing department…?
Visitors look for value
‘Be Lean and Green’ and catch the small but interesting developments was the focus of many export houses who visited the show. Sanjay Gulati, MD, Growel Impex, Noida exploring material handling/traceability systems at the event was of the opinion, “Further dollar depreciation and more systematic approach of Indian manufacturers should bring more orders to India in the coming days. To grab and successfully deliver these orders one should have to be lean and green.” Apart from few advanced models in machines and technology, there were some small but interesting developments at the show that attracted visitors. “I have found a Chinese vendor who manufactures trimmer-cum-scissors suited for thread trimming and is not as intimidating and dangerous as a full-size scissor when it comes to compliance,” shared Animesh Saxena, CEO, Neetee Clothing, Gurgaon. He was also looking for upgrading the washing infrastructure at his factory. Another visitor Rahul Malik, Senior VP, (Strategy & Product Development), CTA Apparels, Noida, along with his team was busy mainly exploring options in washing and value addition segment. The company has plans to invest in digital printing and processing technology.
Having a USB drive in all sewing machines, through which sewing operators can charge their mobile or phones run small fans during summer, is one of the most promising sewing machine feature for the future.
Few visitors exploring advanced technology were busy interacting with the technologist to understand the technology, like Sanjay Sethia, MD and Ravi Shanker, GM – Operations of Spectra Fashions, Kolkata, who spent a good amount of time at the booth of Turel Group. “We have plans to adopt some very innovative technologies in future and GTE is a good platform in this regard,” they said. On the other side, Suresh Dureja, Director of Manufacturing, Roots Canada Ltd., Toronto (Canada) was not too happy with the overall technology on display. “I was expecting a larger number of technology suppliers with specialized machines and machines for seam sealing. I have not seen any good machines for saddle stitch either. The exhibition should have more companies that offer really advanced machines,” he suggested. Roots Canada Ltd. is into manufacturing of leather jackets, bags and luggage.
Brijesh Kumar Singh, Production Manager and Saurabh Srivastava, IE & PPC Manager, Blackberrys, Gurgaon informed, “We saw stitching machines which have their in-built electric panel, and monitoring system which counts the number of stitches the operator has done. It is something good.” On the contrary, BP Trivedi, GM – Production and Devendar Kr. Upadhyay, Sr. Manager, Cantabil Retail India Ltd., were of the opinion that the fair was missing on packaging solutions, especially automatic folding.
Value Addition: Sublimation printing taking the lead
More than 50 visitors from Indore visited the show. Still dominating in kidswear segment, Indore is now moving towards sublimation printing as embroidery is on a downward trend. Mayank Maheshwari of Krishna Sales, Indore confirmed, “In last one year Indore has seen almost 10 installations of sublimation and this number is going to increase very soon.” Krishna Sales has also appointed service engineers for sublimation and other allied technologies. Similarly Sunil Agarwal of Shree Balaji Company, Kolkata offering more than one lakh pieces per month of ladies garments (Indo Western) informed, “There are 15 good fabricators in Kolkata doing sublimation printing and this number is going to increase further. Even we are getting our sublimation done on job work.” Value addition is a segment which always attracts visitors; laser cutting machines and advancement in multi-head embroidery follow suit.
The show also witnessed a good mix of visitation from various textile associations, faculty of fashion/textile colleges, NGOs working in garment sector, training institutes, few medium-level retailers planning to enter in manufacturing, consultants, Government officials, etc.
