ITME 2012 highlights the importance of technical textiles

Mumbai hosted the 9th India ITME 2012 recently. The textile

machinery exhibition showcased latest textile technologies, machinery, accessories and witnessed a series of sessions educating visitors about how technical textiles can push the India growth story.

According to Professor Roshan Shishoo, Director of Shishoo Consulting, an eminent speaker at the seminar said, “India will invest one trillion dollars (Rs 54,26,000 crores) in infrastructure in the country over the next five years, to highlight the potential for technical textiles. India’s growing middle class, which is expected to increase tenfold to 583 million people or 41 per cent of the total population by 2025, will propel the country to become the world’s fifth largest consumer market”.

The main applications in technical textiles like geotextiles, agro-textiles, industrial textiles, protective textiles, medical and hygiene witnessed a huge growth at ITME 2012. Some major business developments and product launches took place during the event. For example, Oerlikon signed an agreement to divest the natural fibres and textile components business units from its textile segment to the Jinsheng Group of China. Kirloskar Toyata Textile Machinery (KTTM ) a Toyota joint venture company officially launched the new RX1240e Ring Spinning Frame, which is claimed to be India’s longest ring frame. ATE’s principal Karl Mayer launched a machine – Facnication Lace, which can produce a designer sari, specifically for the Indian market. Coimbatore-based Lakshmi Machine Works launched Card LC636 designed for higher production of up to 250 kg an hour.

Rajnikant Bachkaniwala, Chairman, ITME said, “I am happy to see that India ITME 2012 has kept up its tradition of very high footfall of serious business visitors. Visitors representing all segments of the manufacturing chain and almost all Asian textile manufacturing countries converged here.” With over 820 exhibitors from 51 countries, covering over 100,000 sq mtr of exhibition area, with 10 new country participation and many delegations from new textile markets, the event succeeded in fulfilling visitors’ as well as exhibitors’ expectations.