Technical textiles is one of the fastest growing sectors in India but yet, the potential of technical textile in India

is still unexploited. Technical textiles represents a multi-disciplinary field with numerous end use applications. The production of different items of technical textile industry has been slowly but steadily increasing in the country. However there is lack of information regarding the status of the technical textile industry. The awareness on technical textiles among prospective entrepreneurs and consumers is very less.

Various fields, in which technical textiles are used, are as follows: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. Agro-tech, Build-tech, Geo-tech, Cloth-tech, Indu-tech, Medi-tech, Mobil-tech, Oeko-tech or Eco-tech, Pack-tech, Pro-tech, Sport-tech.

a) Agro-tech: Agro-tech includes technical textile products used in agriculture, horticulture (incl. floriculture), fisheries and forestry. Applications for technical textiles in agriculture include all activities concerned with the growing and harvesting of crops and animals. Agro textiles are beneficial in terms of increase in yield, lesser crop diseases, soil borne pathogens control, water saving, weed control, etc. It improves the quality of the crops. The growth of the plants is accelerated and they are protected from adverse weather conditions and pests.

The technical textile products covered under Agro-tech are given below: Shade-nets

Mulch-mats

Crop-covers

Bird protection nets

Fishing nets

2. Build-tech: Build-tech segment comprises of textiles or composite materials used in the construction of permanent and temporary buildings as well as structures. Textiles are used in construction for concrete reinforcement, interior construction, insulations, proofing materials, air conditioning, noise prevention, protection, visual protection, protection against the sun and building safety. Build-tech products offer characteristics such as lightness, strength and resilience as well as resistance to many factors such as defamation, creep, degradation by chemicals and pollutants in the air, rain or other construction material as well as the effects of sunlight & acid.

The products covered under Build-tech are given below: Architectural membranes:

Hoardings & signage:

Cotton and HDPE tarpaulins

Awnings & canopies

Scaffolding nets

Floor & wall coverings:

3. Cloth-tech: Cloth-tech segment of technical textiles mainly comprises of textile components used for specific functional applications in garments and shoes. These components are largely hidden e.g. interlinings in shirts / coats, sewing threads, shoe laces, labels, hook and loop fasteners (Velcro), etc. Fabrics like umbrella cloth are also classified under the Cloth-tech segment. Cloth-tech products are important part of the garment that ensures accurate fit and optimum wearer comfort. These are used for providing stretchability, shrink resistance, Durability to regular wash & soft feel properties to the Garments.

The technical textile products covered under Clothtech are as given below: Shoe laces

Interlinings

Zip fasteners

Elastic narrow fabrics (Tapes)

Velcro

Cloth Labels

Umbrella cloth

Sewing threads

4. Home-tech: Home-tech segment of technical textiles comprises of the textile components used in the domestic environment-interior decoration and furniture, carpeting, protection against the sun, cushion materials, fireproofing, floor and wall coverings, textile reinforced structures/fittings, filter products for vacuum cleaners. They are made of both natural and synthetic fibers. These products can create comfortable, practical, hygienic and beautiful solutions for modern living. Recent developments in the home furnishings industry include the creation of nonwovens that kill dust bugs in bedding, repel dirt, and contain antimicrobial qualities.

The technical textile products covered under Home-tech are as given below: Fiberfill in pillows, cushions etc.:

Mattress and pillow components Carpet backing cloth (Jute & Synthetic):

Stuff toys:

Blinds:

HVAC filters & filter cloth for vacuum cleaners:

Nonwoven wipes :

Mosquito nets:

Mattress and pillow components:

5. Indu-tech: Indu-tech includes technical textile products used in the manufacturing sector. The technical textile products covered under Indutech are given below: Conveyor belts (TT component)

Drive belts (TT component)

Cigarette filter rods

Bolting cloth

Ropes & cordages

Printed circuit boards (TT component):

Computer printer ribbon:

6. Medi-tech: Meditech products include textile materials used in hygiene, health and personal care as well as surgical applications. The Meditech products are available in woven, knitted and non-woven forms based on the area of application. Their use is based on a number of typical basic textile properties like softness and lightness, flexibility, absorption, filtering etc. Increasingly, synthetic fibre is being used in the production of these products. Meditech products will prevent hospital acquired infection, cross-infection, and provide savings in overall healthcare costs due to reduced cross-infections. Improved Meditech products will provide comfort and quicker healing.

The technical textile products covered under Meditech are as given below: Baby diapers

Surgical sutures:

Disposables

Surgical dressing:

Contact lens:

7. Mobil-tech: Mobil-tech segment of technical textiles is used in the construction of automobiles, railways, ships, aircraft and space craft. The Mobil-tech products can be broadly classified into two categories Visible components and Concealed components. The visible components include seat upholstery, carpets, seat belts, headliners, air-bags,etc. The concealed components include Noise Vibration and Harness (NVH) components, tyre cords, liners, etc. It provides good performance and safety, reduce the weight of the car, enhance the comfort and aesthetics and provide advanced insulation, fire resistance to water, fuels, extremes of temperature and abrasion.

The technical textile products covered under Mobil-tech are as given below: Seat belt webbing

Airbags

Car body covers:

Seat upholstery/fabric:

Automotive carpets

Headliners

Sunvisors / sunblinds

Helmets

Airline disposables

Aircraft upholstery

Railways seating fabrics

8. Pack-tech: Pack-tech includes several flexible packaging materials used for industrial, agricultural, consumer and other goods. It ranges from synthetic bags used for industrial packaging to jute sacks used for packing food grains. It provides Innovative packing solutions such as oxygen scavenging, packaging for foodstuffs and antistatic packaging for computer equipment. With the advantage of moisture proof quality they are used for packing moisture sensitive goods.

The technical textile products covered under Packtech are as given below: Polyolefin woven sacks

FIBC bags:

Leno bags

Wrapping fabric

Jute hessian and sacks (including Food grade jute bags)

Soft luggage products (TT component)

Tea-bags:

9. Pro-tech: Pro-tech is an ensemble of textile products and related material used in the manufacture of various protective clothing for personnel working in hazardous environment. The protective clothing includes garments and related paraphernalia for protection from harmful chemical environment, extreme temperature environments, low visibility, ballistic protection, etc.

Protective Textiles are used for protection from harmful chemical environment, extreme temperature environments, low visibility, ballistic protection, etc. The technical textile products covered under Pro-tech are as given below: Ballistic protective clothing Bullet-proof jackets

Fire retardant apparels

Fire retardant fabrics (for furnishings)

Radiation protection textile/NBC suits

High visibility clothing/Foul weather clothing

Chemical protection clothing

Industrial gloves/Cut. Slash protection

High altitude clothing

10. Sport-tech: Sport-tech segment comprises of technical textile products used in sports and leisure such as shoes, sports equipment, flying and sailing sports, climbing, angling, cycling, winter and summer sports and indoor sports. The technical textile products covered under Sport-tech are as given below: Sports composites

Artificial turf

Parachute fabrics

Ballooning fabrics

Sail cloth

Sleeping bags

Sport nets

Sport shoes components

Tents

Swimwear