In a new boost to the technical textile manufacturing industry, Kolkata-based Times Fiberfill Private Limited has recently commissioned the first state-of-the-art non-woven needle-punched technical textile manufacturing plant in eastern India at Maheshtala in South 24 Parganas in West Bengal.
The current market size of technical textile in India is estimated to be Rs 70,000 crore and is expected to grow by 11% on yearly basis. The company has imported advanced needle-punch line from respective manufacturers, who are global leaders in the area of technical textile machinery to cater to the domestic filter fabric, insulation and geotextile sectors, which are mostly dependent on imports. According to Sanjay Mall, managing director of Times Fiberfill Private Limited, “The installed capacity in this new manufacturing plant is 1000 tonnes per annum with an option to expand to 3000 tonnes.” In view of this new development, R Venkatesan, director of Auto Yarn, a mid-sized spring manufacturing firm in Bengaluru, said, “The domestic technical textile has a lot of potential and it is important that it is tapped. There are many small and medium players in the textile manufacturing or machinery/equipment sector who can look to focus on technical textile manufacturing.” Background Times Fiberfill, set up around a decade ago in the year 2001, manufactures thermo-bonded, chemical/adhesive bonded technical textiles up to 1.6m width and needle punched performance textiles with various different finishing operations up to 2.4m width and variable run-length, using all types of fibers like polyester, polypropylene, aramids and other hi-tech fibers. The company has tie ups with premier testing and research laboratories for certified quality testing and product development. Times Fiberfill has initiated preliminary tie-up with a Japan-based manufacturing company for high-end products. With companies like Times Fiberfill Private Limited setting up technical textile plants, future prospects of this burgeoning segment look bright. Prasenjit Das