India: Prospects And Opportunities

India ITME Review

By Deepti ChanderIndia: Prospects & Opportunities

India-ITME 2004 concluded with a positive outlook for the future.The seventh edition of the
India International Textile Machinery Exhibition (ITME), held in Mumbai last December, shone a
spotlight on India’s textile industry – one that has the manual expertise required to produce
quality manufactured articles and at the same time wishes to foster the technical and commercial
development aimed at competing in the global market. Moreover, the expansion of the show also
testifies to the steady growth of the Indian textile industry. At the inaugural event staged in
1980, the show occupied an area of 6,200 square meters and had 125 exhibitors, of whom only 18
companies were from outside of India. At the latest show, there were 310 overseas companies and 440
Indian companies.The show demonstrated that India, unlike China, is not a country that makes
lightning-swift leaps forward, but rather strengthens its growth year after year; yet this is not a
reason to underestimate its influence. The Indian entrepreneurial mentality certainly differs from
that of the Chinese, but the company nonetheless possesses all the credentials to play a first-rate
role in the global textile arena.On the eve of the elimination of international quotas, strong
optimism emerged from the exhibitors at ITME.Strength In FiberFirst of all, India is a significant
producer of textile raw materials, especially of cotton and silk. For the 2003 to 2004 season, it
ranked third globally in cotton fiber production with 2.8 million tons of hard cotton, following
China and the United States. In silk production, only China exceeds the Indian production capacity,
which holds a market share of 20 percent. India’s position has still to be strengthened in wool
production. Currently producing 28,000 tons of washed wool annually, it is ranked 10th on the
global scale. In synthetic fiber, India produces 2 million tonnes annually and it is ranked fifth
in the world, after China, the United States, Taiwan and Korea.These fibers partly satisfy the
domestic consumption, given that the textile production units operating in India are about 6,000.
It is an activity that has always been taken into consideration by the objectives set forth in the
government’s Five-Year Plans.

Shankarsingh Vaghela (fourth from left), India’s Union Minister of Textiels, at ITME’s
ribbon-cutting ceremony.It is no mystery that India is aiming to achieve a primary role in global
textile production. It signed a strategic partnership agreement with the European Union with a view
to strengthen the economic trade, which equals to about 27 billion euros, and to facilitate the
flow of European investments to India. The import-export balance relating to the textile machinery
industry already shows a growing dynamism. One-half of the Indian textile machine production, worth
roughly $800 million (almost 50 percent of which is concentrated in spinning frames), is
represented by imports, almost entirely coming from four leading countries: Italy, Germany, Japan
and Switzerland. In the first half of 2004, India purchased textile machines worth $45 million from
Italy, $59 million from Germany, $33 million from Japan, and $29 million from Switzerland. This
activeness in the textile machinery sector answers a specific purpose: to update a considerable but
obsolete machine capacity.Yarn ProductionAs a yarn producer with annual production of about 3.1
million tonnes, more than 39 million cotton spindles are installed (representing 22 percent of
worldwide installation), but only one-third is less than 10 years old. Likewise, only 19 percent of
1 million wool spindles in the country is less than 10 years old. In the open-end rotor field, the
situation is slightly better: among 470,000 units, about 70 percent is more than 10 years old.
Therefore, India ranks third in the world in terms of density of machinery intended for spinning,
but it must progressively update its machines if it wants to become a top-level competitor.The
Indian production capacity of woven fabrics reaches 32 billion meters. Manual looms are dominant,
with 4 million units compared to 1.5 million units of power shuttle looms (power shuttleless looms
are only at 17,000 units). Consequently, investment in the weaving machine sector can also be
expected in the future.

G.T. Dembla (left) ITME chairman, and C.V. Radhakrishnan, ITME executive director.Optimism
AboundIt goes without saying that machine upgrades are the first step taken to achieve a
state-of-the-art industry. Second is to set up sound in-house research and development plans aimed
at product diversification based on competitive technology and innovation.It can be said that the
intentions of the Five-Year Plan fully reflect the industry’s expectations. The government’s
objectives play on an entrepreneurial class that is confident and eager to rise to the worldwide
challenge. At present, the investments made by foreign countries in India represent one-tenth of
those made in China, but things might slowly change.G.T. Dembla, ITME chairman, identified a
clarity of sectorial objectives. He said: “ITME 2004 has emphasized the determined intention to
find more effective production systems, to improve technologies so as to have competitive
advantages at world level.”“This show is strategically organized to help also potential buyers to
cope with the changes occurred following the termination of [textile quotas], which surely puts us
in an advantageous position.”The same optimism is expressed by C.V. Radhakrishnan, ITME executive
director, for whom quota elimination has always represented a “watershed” event. “I believe that
the time is particularly favorable, and the data about the show add to the positive sensation
connected with this historical moment. This year, ITME hosted 25 exhibitors representing world
standard textile publications, sponsoring institutions, research organizations, which bears
testimony to the growing importance of the event. In addition, for the first time, this edition has
welcomed China as a country, on an area of 500 square meters, just like the other 26 nations of
origin of foreign producers who in the past granted their support,” he said.Good future prospects
are corroborated also by reassuring macroeconomic data: the Indian GDP has posted a substantial
increase compared to 2003. The per capita income has climbed to $557 compared to $454 in the year
2000. Moreover, the highly skilled, inexpensive Indian labor (labor cost averages $0.60 per hour –
even lower than that of the Chinese coastal area) remains a huge advantage.The overall vision is
therefore highly positive. Apart from the differences characterizing the individual companies,
which are only natural given the dispersion of the industry in this enormous country, the response
gauged at ITME was unanimous: this fair is considered one of the most important in Asia. Customers
were always present and it offered exhibitors the opportunity to draw up significant contracts and
make new contacts.

Dornier: New Technologies For the Indian MarketLindauer Dornier GmbH, Germany, used the
2004 ITME to highlight its drive in technological progress that covers the complete textile
machinery product range, including the new generation of type AS air-jet and type PS rapier weaving
machines, new ServoTerry¨ models for terry weaving, EasyLeno® leno weaving machines for technical
and decorative fabrics, EcoFix® heat setting machines for circular fabrics, and EcoCombine®
combined mercerizing and bleaching machines.The air-jet weaving machine on display had a new,
patented ServoControl® pressure-regulation system. It minimizes thread load and allows automatic,
reproducible pressure adjustments for every color, resulting in improved performance and fabric
quality. Combined with the new PWC Positive Weft Clamp device, weaving of grey denim with flame
filling on a 360-centimeter (cm)- wide machine at 600 revolutions per minute (rpm) is
feasible.Another system on display was a 170-cm-wide Jacquard machine with eight color combinations
and 5,120 hooks. It was shown weaving a typical Indian silk saree with tucked selvages on both
sides. The machine shown was fitted with the new, patented AirGuide® air cushion guide, which was
presented for the first time in India. Dornier said the linear movement of its rigid rapier rod is
ideal for this new system, providing a solution for contact-free, aerostatic support.

Dornier rapier weaving machine type PTS 8/jThe new ServoTerry® airjet terry weaving machine
was developed for the home textiles sector. The machine’s advantage over existing systems,
according to Dornier, is the direct drive of the terry movement using a servomotor while retaining
precise and gentle reed impact. This allows varying pile weave and infinitely adjustable pile
heights during running. Providing flexibility for technical textiles and home furnishing is the
EasyLeno® leno weaving system. It improves performance by up to 100 percent and opens up options
for completely new fabric design, said Dornier.

SMIT: Unique Solutions For The Region
SMIT S.p.A., Italy, took the opportunity
offered by ITME 2004 to present its latest developments to visitors from India, South Asia,
Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, who were looking for solutions to enhance fabric standards,
productivity rates and quality of investments. To boost versatility, flexibility and productivity,
SMIT developed the GS900, which, according to the company, can achieve top yield rates. Its
optimized textile parameters help minimize the stress on weft and warp. Through mechatronic
solutions, easy set-up and programming and effective cloth management are possible.

SMIT GS900The terry version G6300 F is characterized by electronic sley control and
programmable formation of the pile, ensuring superb quality in terry patterning. Moreover, pile
height changes in the weft direction allow unlimited possibilities to create unique waveform and
relief patterns, the company said.

Dilo: Technology For The Nonwovens Sector
With a broad range of new machinery and
technology developments, Dilo System Group, Germany, presented new offerings for the nonwovens
sector.The HYPERPUNCH technology allows companies to achieve higher production speeds as well as
quality improvements. The elliptical needle beam movement reduces lateral shrinkage during needling
to an absolute minimum, said the company, resulting in homogeneous and improved surface appearance
and superior physical properties. This advantage is significant in the production of most of the
flat needling applications, said Dilo.With its new DI-LOUR IV HYPERPUNCH machine, Dilo now offers
the advantages of the HYPERPUNCH technology to structured velour applications. Combined with its
ADVANCE technology, very fine pitch patterns and diamond and herringbone structures are possible.

Dilo coverstock lineThe Spinnbau high-production cards – HyperspeedCard and DeltaCard – prove
themselves to be similarly successful in the fast-growing spunlace segment. A factor for the
quality improvements in this technology is the fiber preparation area of these cards. Demands for
high production and manageable fiber orientation prior to consolidating the web in the spunlace
process make the carding machine the crucial component in the process.With the advanced design of
interactive mechanical elements, transfer rolls, condenser and random rolls, doffers and doffing
systems, Spinnbau offers a variety of possibilities to adapt the Spinnbau cards to the final
product.

Precision Rubber IndustriesPvt. Ltd. (Precitex)
Established in 1970, Precision
Rubber Industries Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, is the manufacturer of Precitex brand aprons, cots and
specialty products for spinning and texturizing machines.The company said its products are designed
and developed to suit various machine applications and they meet different machinery manufacturers’
specifications for draw frames, speed frames, ring frames, open-end spinning and texturizing
machinery. It offers cots with shore hardness ranging from 65 to 90 to meet various spinning needs.
Precitex cots are made from new-generation polymers and chemicals with good anti-static proper
ties, higher elasticity and excellent abrasion resistance.

Diven Dembla, managing director, Precision Rubber IndustriesThe company’s synthetic rubber
aprons are made from superior polymer to ensure consistent performance throughout their working
life, the company said.

Rossari Labtech
Rossari Labtech,Vikhroli, is Rossari Biotech India Pvt. Ltd’s new
venture set up for manufacturing laboratory machines and instruments for textile-related
industries. Rossary Labtech’s product offerings include:

  • testing machines for yarn;
  • testing machines for fabric;
  • testing machines for dyeing and finishing and for fastness testing.

The company said these products are designed and developed to meet the latest technological
requirements of the textile industry.

Suresh Puntambekar, vicepresident, Rossari LabtechOne of its recent product launches is
ROSBA, an optical whitening product applicable to the textile, paper and detergent industries.

Premier Evolvics Pvt. Ltd.
Premier Evolvics Pvt. Ltd. (formerly Premier Polytronics
Pvt. Ltd.), Coimbatore, a testing and monitoring products and services provider, launched its Xeni
detection system. According to the company, using optical sensors and cameras, Xeni can detect
white plastics and all types of colored contaminants, including jute, hair, paper, polypropylene,
feather, leaves, colored threads, etc., under both the visible spectrum and ultra violet. Xeni
offers flexible configurations to suit blow rooms of different production capacities, including a
version that can be connected to two blow room lines.In addition, on display were also the Milli
integrated data acquisition and management system and the texpert ERP solution, both of which were
first introduced at ITMA 2003 and were shown for the first time in India.

Premier’s Xenidetection systemPremier has a sales and service network spanning 42 countries.
It established a subsidiary, Premier (Jiangsu) Textile Electronic Instrument Co. Ltd., in China in
2004.

March/April 2005

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