India lags behind in developing efficient technologies for weaving and finishing
The Global Textile Technology & Engineering Show (GTTES) organised by India ITME Society offers sourcing solutions for weaving, knitting, printing, garmenting, embroidery and technical textiles. The trade fair takes place once every four years. Ahead of the next GTTES edition to be held in January 2019 in Mumbai, India ITME Society Chairman Harishankar gives us a sneak peek into the fair.
How has the fair evolved over the years? What has changed, and what remains the same?
The fair focuses more on the conventional textiles industry and lays emphasis on advancement in technological parameters to get higher productivity and lower operating costs. Majority textile machinery manufacturers are upgrading their technology continuously. ITME Society through GTTES & ITME, provides them a platform every two years to showcase their products and an opportunity to interact with potential buyers. At GTTES, our major focus area is on all textile machinery and allied products, except spinning.
What about sustainability? Do you spell out any requirements for exhibitors, or have a section dedicated to it?
We have a chapter on machinery related to engineering products in which we are covering renewable energy resources such as solar energy as well as sustainability through rainwater harvesting, care towards environment by using appropriate wastewater treatment plants, effluent treatment plants with zero liquid discharge, etc.
Please give us a break-up of weaving, knitting, printing, garmenting, embroidery and technical textiles machines and ancillaries displayed at the fair.
As given below:
What changes do you wish to bring to the fair under your chairmanship?
Our focus area in this edition will be a diversified product range, and emphasis would be on actual business between buyers and sellers. We would opt for newly-developed technology apps for this show along with digital media campaigns. India ITME Society has been acknowledged and awarded jointly by a leading pink daily and the Indian Exhibition Industry Association as one of India's Top 10 exhibition organisers; India ITME has also been ranked first runner-up among top B2B exhibitions in the country. The award function was held at HITEX exhibition centre on May 10 this year. This is the third consecutive award that India ITME Society has won, the earlier ones including the Mega Quality Award at Exhibition Excellence Awards for its role in promoting the textiles and textile engineering industry. As chairman, I would strive for higher quality and exemplary service to this industry.
Why has the show been advanced from February to January 2019?
GTTES 2015 was held from January 20 to 22. Similar dates were preferred for GTTES 2019 too. However, once NECSO venue dates became available, we made the changes (in dates).
Where is India lagging behind in terms of textile technology when compared to its rivals?
Indian textile technology has left its footprint on the global scenario in manufacturing machines for spinning and partly for weaving preparatory and fabric processing. However, it lacks in developing good and efficient technology for weaving and finishing equipment.
How successful have you been in being a catalyst to the growth of the textile engineering sector?
Forty years back, when India ITME Society was conceptualised, the Indian textiles industry was heavily dependent on handloom and Europe for textile technology. Today, India has become the second largest textiles industry in the world and competing in production and quality in the global market. Availability of modern machinery has helped this journey from traditional to modern. Also, many machinery manufacturers have set up manufacturing units in India providing cost-competitive technology to the Indian textiles industry. India ITME Society, in the past 40 years, has facilitated these influencing factors in the textile & textile engineering industry. India ITME Society events have a significant role to play in this progress.
What are the expectations from GTTES '19?
We expect multiple growth in investments in the Indian textiles industry in line with that of the ministry of textiles. Our focus would also be on follow-ups after the show to boost the industry.
Digital printing and related auxiliary machinery & accessories;
Garment machinery & other machinery for made-up industry, related auxiliary machinery & accessories, lab equipment;
Knitting and hosiery machinery, embroidery machinery, braiding machinery, related auxiliary machinery & accessories, lab equipment;
Machinery related to technical textiles, nonwoven, related auxiliary machinery & accessories, lab equipment;
Dyestuffs and chemical products for the textiles industry;
Machinery related to engineering products, related auxiliary machinery and accessories;
Integrated textile parks;
Software for design, data monitoring and processing (cad / cam / cim) and integrated production;
Technical information services, educational & research institutes;
Associated goods and services for the textiles industry;
Spare parts for spinning machinery.
What is the amount of textile machines and ancillaries annually imported by India?
See the table below:
What amount of business was conducted at the last edition? What percentage growth are you expecting?
GTTES 2015 concluded successfully with participation of 285 exhibitors from 12 countries and visitor footfalls of 29,000 from 32 countries. Africa generated substantial business for exhibitors.
What are your thoughts on Industry 4.0? In which segments is the integration rate higher?
Industry 4.0 is the fourth industrial revolution characterised by digitalisation of the manufacturing sector. It introduced a concept called "Smart Factory" wherein which technology monitors physical systems and processes and makes decentralised decisions. The increasing need for implementing Textile 4.0 is being driven by several factors including the need for quick responses in the supply chain, dynamic demand, seamless communication and decision-making, rising factors of cost challenges, etc.
The increasing connectivity of functions across the value chain and smart connected products and data services promise increase in productivity, cutting maintenance costs, as well as reducing the "time-to-market". The implementation of digital operations across the complete value chain of spinning, weaving, finishing and garmenting is the next logical step in maintaining and strengthening the textiles industry. Most of the textile entrepreneurs belong to the new generation, and they have started adopting 4.0 concepts in their respective plants. We would be having a separate chapter to emphasise on this.
What is the percentage of India and other major countries (specialising in textile engineering) at the fair?
At GTTES 2015, 62 per cent of India's machinery suppliers had exhibited. Twenty-four states of India were represented and the majority of exhibitors and visitors were from Maharashtra and Gujarat followed by Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, etc. The China pavilion included 67 companies and attracted many visitors.
Published on: 24/05/2018
DISCLAIMER: All views and opinions expressed in this column are solely of the interviewee, and they do not reflect in any way the opinion of Fibre2Fashion.com.
20230103183907.png)
