Symposium offers right mix of expertise and experience
The fourth edition of Techtextil India, the International Trade Fair for Technical Textiles and Nonwovens, closed its three-day run at the Bombay Exhibition Centre (BEC) on October 5, with 5,575 professional visitors in attendance. The event, registering a 40 per cent increase in the number of exhibiting companies at 182 (2011: 130) from 16 countries, showcased the latest products and innovations.
“Feedback from the industry, both exhibitors and visitors, was extremely encouraging. Techtextil India 2013 was an event packed with superlatives. With this year’s figures, the show has definitely established a firm position among the technical textile trade fairs in India,” commented Mr. Raj Manek, Managing Director, Messe Frankfurt Trade Fairs India Pvt. Ltd.
The exhibition accommodated five country pavilions with leading companies from Belgium, China, France, Italy and Germany focusing on new materials systems, integrated production technologies and innovations for 10 product groups and 12 application areas. With more internationality and a larger product range adding professional expertise and variety, Techtextil India 2013 featured the participation of visitors from 36 different countries.
“I’m really impressed by the size and the quality of Techtextil India as an international trade fair for technical textiles and nonwovens in India. All leading enterprises of the industry are represented here,” said Mr. Sushil Kapoor, President and CEO (TTB), SRF Ltd., India, Platinum Partners of Techtextil India 2013.
For exhibitors, the fair proved a gateway to the Indian technical textile industry. Feedback from the exhibitors resonated satisfaction and a fantastic customer response.
Mr. Tamer Pala, Vice Chairman, Istanbul Textile and Raw Materials Exporters’ Association (iTKiB), Turkey, said: “There are technical textile products manufactured exclusively by Turkish companies that are in high demand in India, like fabrics and yarns with camouflage properties and other para-military textiles. We met 
several buyers interested in these products and are glad we decided to participate in Techtextil India 2013. We hope to come back with a bigger space at the next edition.”
First time participant IIGM found Techtextil India 2013 to be a very interesting event. Mr. Sajith Kumar, Vice President – CAD/CAM & Automation, IIGM Pvt. Ltd., stated: “With our representation of 35 principals, including Global International and KSL Automation, we think that Techtextil India is the right platform for us. We enjoyed meeting new clients and the business generated at the exhibition has been phenomenal. We will definitely be part of the next edition of the show.”
Mr. Suresh Patel, Managing Director, Sidwin Fabric Pvt. Ltd., was really excited about his company’s participation in Techtextil India 2013. He exclaimed: “We take part in Techtextil India because the event is always well organised. There is no match for the enquiries generated and specific customers we find at the event. We have already closed some business deals successfully here!”
A broker for second-hand technical textile machinery, Mr. Lars Berlin, Chairman of Investkonsult Sweden AB, Sweden, termed the Indian market as ‘receptive’. He said: “There has been a vast improvement in India’s technical textile sector, from the quality of the products manufactured here to the quality of visitors at the trade fair. We have noticed that the market for sanitary textiles has mushroomed in India, which translates into added business opportunities for us.”
Visitors at Techtextil India 2013 were more than impressed. They had the chance to discover the latest machinery, technology and materials designed with properties such as elasticity, tenacity and thermal, mechanical UV and IR resistance. “In the process of starting a new venture in technical textiles and nonwovens, we were looking for a better understanding of the different players in the industry. Techtextil India as a platform establishes how vibrant the industry is and the pace at which it is growing. We have had massive exposure at the exhibition,” commented Mr. Ankul Goyal, Director, Bhagirath Fibres Pvt. Ltd.
Mr. Parvinder S. Rana, Manager – Marketing, Alpha Foam Ltd., noted: “Although we came here to source adult and baby sanitary products and face masks, we have been on the look-out for manufacturing companies to source final products for our consumers. So far we have managed to book appointments with some Chinese companies. This is a very important fair for us, because we meet the right clients here.”
His sentiment was reflected by Mr. Charles Robertson, Vice President, International Sales, Lakeland Industries Inc., visiting from the US. He commented: “Techtextil India has helped me find exactly what I was looking for! I have seen raw materials and fabrics that I never knew existed in India. The show has definitely introduced me to opportunities existent in this country.”
Mr. R. Ravi, General Manager, India United Mill No.5, India, observed: “Indian industries have only just started using technical textiles, and we have a long way ahead of us. A show like Techtextil India helps bridge the gaps in the Indian markets and builds more awareness about product categories and application areas. Techtextil India helps manufacturers like us source more and better quality materials.”
Techtextil India Symposium 2013
The symposium held on the occasion really proved the right mix of expertise and industry experience. Knowledge sharing is an essential strategy used by Messe Frankfurt to promote development of industry verticals. A representation of which, the Techtextil India Symposium 2013 was the right mix of expertise and experience. Focused on opportunities for India in the context of the key products, technologies and application areas, including medtech, protech, composites and filtration, the symposium hosted 30 speakers and 171 delegates. It also facilitated development of new and different ideologies in terms of market potential for various products across the entire spectrum of technical textile applications, from a local as well as international perspective.
Mr. Sakthivel Perumalsamy, Head of the Centre of Excellence for Medical Textiles, South India Textile Research Association (SITRA), expounded the intricacies of the medical textile market in India. He said: “Medical textiles as an industry has grown from $300 million in 2007-08 to an approximate value of $1.3 billion in 2012-13. Furthermore, the sector is projected to grow at a rate of 222 per cent to be worth $2.88 billion by 2022. With the support of Central and State Governments and a show like Techtextil India, the sector has tremendous potential in India.”
On the growing applications of technical textiles, especially composites, in India, Dr. A. Selvam, Executive Secretary, FRP Institute, stated: “Technical textiles have huge applications in wind farms, and the Indian Government has restored generation-based incentives for wind energy, which is why the market will see an upward trend in the near future. A platform like the Techtextil India Symposium 2013 helps gather professionals to highlight innovations and developments for all-round sector development.”
“The Techtextil India Symposium makes it possible to get a glimpse of new industry developments and innovations from all over the world. I was surprised to learn about the vast technical textile market in Russia. As a manufacturer of polymers and acrylic resins, I especially enjoyed the sessions on Medtech and Protech. The Symposium was very well organised,” claimed Mr. Vijay S. Patel, Executive – Technical Services, Indofil Industries Ltd., India.
Highly impressed with the exhibition and the Symposium, Mr. Yash Jaipuria, Executive Officer, Ginni Filaments Ltd., commented: “India’s hygiene textile market is growing by leaps and bounds, and has very interesting growth prospects. We definitely need a platform like this Symposium to ensure that India’s technical textile and nonwoven industry can compete at global levels.”
With its 10 product groups and 12 application areas, Techtextil India 2013 once again proved to be the right platform to source the latest products, and innovations and meet exactly the right contacts.
The next edition of the exhibition will be held during September 24-26, 2015.