TAI & VJTI Organise Half-Day Seminar On INNOVATIONS @ ITMA

The Textile Association (India), Mumbai Unit & Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI) had jointly organised a half-day seminar on ‘INNOVATIONS @ ITMA MILAN 2023’ on July 7.

The seminar was inaugurated by the Chief Guest Mr Ketan Sanghvi, Hon. Treasurer, India ITME Society, and was attended by around 125 participants including students.

Mr Rajiv Ranjan, President, TAI, Mumbai Unit in his welcome address, mentioned that ITMA 2023, the Olympics of latest developments in textile machinery and accessories had been a resounding success.

“The focus on advanced materials, AI, digitalisation and automation, coupled with the focus on sustainability, augured well for the industry,” he said.

A revelation was the fifth largest presence of 181 exhibitors from India, out of a total of 1,709 exhibitors, and occupying 6 percent of total space, most of them MSMEs.

Mr Haresh Parekh, Convenor of the seminar while addressing said TAI and VJTI thought it prudent to highlight the innovative products displayed at the show for those who missed visiting the exhibition.

Dignitaries who attended ITMA 2023 were invited to give first hand information about the latest developments in international market.

Mr Parekh also showed an ‘ITMA Impressions’ video created by Mr GV Aras, Trustee of TAI, Mumbai Unit and Strategic Advisor who visited the ITMA 2023 show.

Dr Arvind Bhongade, Head, Department of Textile Engineering, VJTI briefed about the various activities of the institute. In his address, he said that the name of the department is changed from Textile Manufactures Department to Department of Textile Engineering with effect from 1st June 2023.

He also informed that the department is likely to change the title of PG Program from M. Tech. (Textile Technology) to M. Tech. (Technical Textiles) to participate in the National Technical Textile Mission Program, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.

He also added the institute is in process of revision of its undergraduate courses in compliance of NEP 2020 and its implementation from the coming academic semester. He appealed to all the Alumni, industry personals to share their ideas and views to design the academic curriculum for the Undergraduate students from the department in line with NEP2020.

Mr. Ketan Sanghvi while giving his inaugural address congratulated the TAI-Mumbai Unit and VJTI for organising such a unique event after ITMA 2023. He displayed country wise and segment wise participation statistics at the exhibition.

He said that the industry was going through a difficult phase with drop in order positions and a pessimistic short term outlook which was having a dampening effect on the machinery manufacturing industry.

“Digitalisation, automation, sustainability, circularity and artificial intelligence were the terms increasingly being heard from the global leaders and from the user industry. The spinning industry was increasing its focus on processing recycled and regenerated fibres, increasing use of AI and smart processing,” Mr Sanghvi informed.

Mr ND Mhatre, Director General (Tech.) at ITAMMA in his presentation briefed about the key trends observed during ITMA 2023 along with the statistical data. He talked about sustainability, digitalisation, circularity, smart factory, Industry 4.0 / 5.0.

He also gave the details about the various machines displayed at the show with their strengths and capacity.

Mr Navin Agrawal, Vice President, Textile Engg – Fabric Forming, A.T.E. Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. discussed about the advanced materials, automation and digital future, innovative technologies, and sustainability and circularity.

He also discussed about the Impact of Digitalisation and Automation on Sustainability, Textile Chemicals and a Circular World, Textile Recycling for a Circular Economy and transition towards a Circular Textile Industry.

He covered the developments in weaving and knit segments with detailed information about the various machines displayed by SMIT, Picanol, ITEMA, Tsudakoma, Toyota, Staubli, Groz-Beckert, Karl Mayer, Mayer & CIE, Santoni, Pailung, etc.

Dr. Ashok Athalye, Professor – Textile Chemistry, ICT, Mumbai, in his presentation highlighted the key take away points from ITMA 2023. He showed the complexity in textile processing and said that the developments on display at ITMA would help in reduction in cycle times and reduction in consumption of water, energy, dyes, chemicals and thus effluent load.

Mr RR Patil, Vice Chairman, TAI, Mumbai Unit proposed the Vote of Thanks.