Centexbel Brings European Testing Expertise To India’s Textile Industry

At Bharat Tex 2026, Centexbel highlighted its growing engagement with the Indian textile industry, from technical textile testing and OEKO-TEX certification to PFAS testing and European compliance requirements.

The quality of conversations, rather than just the volume of visitors, stood out for Centexbel at Bharat Tex 2026.

“The footfall was really good, not only on the first day, but throughout the four days,” says Tejas Edvankar, Area Business Development Manager, Centexbel. “The quality of the participants and the discussions we had was amazing.”

The visitors represented textile clusters from across India, creating a genuinely pan-India platform for the Belgium-based research and testing organisation.

Centexbel had participated in the exhibition as a visitor the previous year. Its decision to return with a booth this time was driven by a desire to strengthen its presence and better understand the Indian market. “We are already working in India since 2007, but our main aim was to establish our presence. That was certainly accomplished,” says Edvankar.

Research, testing and certification
Based in Belgium, Centexbel is a non-profit research institute supporting companies across a wide range of textile and material-related challenges.

“We are actually a research institute, performing lots of testing for companies who challenge us with very complicated questions,” says Jolien De Lepeleire, Ph.D., Product Certifier OEKO-TEX, Centexbel.

Its capabilities cover recycled materials, coatings, bio-based polymers and a wide range of textile applications. The organisation also has specialists covering areas such as dyeing, printing and floor coverings, alongside testing and certification services.

Centexbel provides services covering technical textiles, PPE testing, CE-related certification, carpet and tent testing, leather and other specialised applications. Its laboratories in Belgium and Slovakia are CE notified laboratories, providing testing and certification services to European standards.

The organisation is also an active member of the OEKO-TEX Association and offers the complete OEKO-TEX service portfolio including (Standard 100, STeP/MiG, Eco-Passport, Recycled, Organic etc.) certification to customers in India and the wider South Asian region.

Growing demand for specialised testing
One area that attracted particular interest at Bharat Tex was PFAS testing. “PFAS testing is quite exclusive. Not everyone can do such elaborate PFAS testing, and this was picked up by the companies,” says De Lepeleire.

The growing focus on chemical management and environmental compliance is creating increased demand for specialised testing and certification services, particularly among companies supplying to international markets.

De Lepeleire also observed a strong interest in sustainability among several companies at the exhibition. “I found some companies that are quite busy with sustainability. I was surprised by how elaborate their work was, and I was really fond of that,” she says.

Connecting Indian manufacturers to global markets
For Centexbel, its India presence also represents a bridge between Indian manufacturers and international markets.

With India increasingly targeting European and other high-value export markets, compliance with international standards is becoming an important part of the supply chain. “India has a big market that also likes to explore Europe, and I think we can offer this gateway to Europe,” says De Lepeleire.

Centexbel works with six representatives in different regions of India covering North, South, West and East, through which companies can initiate the certification process. The process involves gathering application documents, company visits and file assessment, followed by testing at the organisation’s accredited laboratories.

De Lepeleire acknowledges that the growing number of European regulations can be challenging for companies. “There are a lot of regulations going on, and I think it is also a bit exhausting for companies to meet all these regulations,” she says.

A positive Bharat Tex experience
For Centexbel, the exhibition successfully delivered on its core objective of strengthening its presence in India and understanding the requirements of the market.

The organisation now sees significant potential in India’s growing technical textile sector, increasing sustainability focus and expanding engagement with global markets. “We look forward to serving the industry to the best of our abilities,” says Tejas Edvankar.

With its combination of research, testing, certification and European market expertise, Centexbel is positioning itself as a partner for Indian textile companies seeking to meet increasingly complex global standards.

Its Bharat Tex experience suggests that the demand for such expertise is only set to grow.