ITAMMA Seminars On ‘Digital Tools’ at Solapur & Ichalkaranji

The Indian Textile Accessories & Machinery Manufacturers’ Association (ITAMMA) organised seminars at Ichalkaranji and Solapur titled ‘Digital Tools to Promote Capital Goods Sector’

These seminars were held under a series of events to be held Pan-India for the development of capital goods sector with support from the Ministry of Heavy Industry.

The seminar in Solapur was held on October 30, jointly with TDF & AT and at Ichalkaranji on November 1, jointly with DKTEs Textile and Engineering Institute.

At the Solapur seminar, ND Mhatre, Director General (Technical) at ITAMMA spoke on the various opportunities in product and process diversification for the Solapur textile industry by taking advantage of MHI schemes.

He gave suggestions on extending the production from blankets and towels to garments with multifunctional uses, while retaining the same manufacturing set-up or just by adding a coating or lamination process.

ND Mhatre also informed that the project or the facility expansion can be executed under the state government scheme for start-ups.

Neetii M, Director, Mercury Web spoke on the various applications of digital tools and its benefits to the Solapur towel and bedsheets industry.

She emphasised that there is a wide scope to market them globally via social media digital marketing, which has been adopted by many global home textiles brands and retailers.

Mhatre added that ITAMMA’s Business Enabler Digital Platform developed with Sambuq.com would be an ideal platform for Solapur entrepreneurs to market their products globally from Solapur itself.

He explained that an inherent component of this platform ‘Smart Data Clinic’ will enhance the value of the products uploaded on the platform, by highlighting their assets in comparison with others of similar nomenclature.

Dr Vijay Athavale, Principal, Walchand Institute of Technology, a special invitee informed about the infrastructure available at the institute for the development of Solapur textile industry.

He said these can be done through joint projects under the schemes of MHI and also invited ITAMMA along with industry entrepreneurs and TDF office bearers to explore synergies for development of Solapur textile sector.

A visit to Walchand Institute of Technology (WIT) was also arranged where the discussions to sign a tri-partite agreement between ITAMMA, the institute and TDF were held.

During the visit, representatives of the Solpaur textile sector mentioned breakdown maintenance as their burning problem.

According to them, when machines stop due to the Electronic Cards installed in the machines, they have to either rely on the foreign supplier or local technicians, which are resulting in a very high maintenance cost.

ND Mhatre informed representatives of Solapur textile sector that through the Government scheme – PMKVY-4.0., ITAMMA along with WIT & CGSSC can organise up-skilling/re-skilling trainings in the field of electronics.

The representatives were also informed that a thorough study of the maintenance cost of these electronic cards can be conducted by the WIT which will help the industry to know the expected life and the maintenance cost of electronic cards/circuits/components.

Also a checklist can be prepared by WIT of the aspects needed to be monitored in the department itself for avoiding the damage to these components apart from the fluctuations of electricity.

It was also suggested to develop a tool which will stop the machine immediately if electricity fluctuates beyond the safety limits.

At Ichalkaranji, ND Mhatre in his presentation on product and process diversification for the Ichalkaranji textile industry informed that presently in Ichalkaranji the business is mainly based on job work pattern, and so entrepreneurs feels safe in continuing this pattern.

Lamp Lighting

He noted that at present the fabric produced at Ichalkaranji is sent to dyeing and printing facilities in other cities.

However, there is a need for strengthening the backward integration of the business by developing the spinning industry and also encouraging forward integration by setting up dyeing or printing facilities.

He also suggested adding lamination or coating facilities, thereby adding value to the products and processes which will help penetrate emerging segments of technical textiles.

He added that such projects can be established taking advantage of MHI schemes.

Here too, Neetii M. informed about the various aspects of digital marketing tools and shared information on its benefits to the Ichalkaranji textile sector.

She also suggested that once dyeing and printing facilities are set up in Ichalkaranji itself, these value added products can be branded and marketed through social media digital marketing.

As at Solapur, ND Mhatre also mentioned about ITAMMA’s Business Enabler Digital Platform which will smartly display and showcase the strengths and assets of the entrepreneurs and their products globally.

He also informed that that the new projects or special facility expansions can be executed under the state government scheme for start-ups.