INTERNATIONAL
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In a unique alliance that aims to build on the growing composites and technical textiles sector, Ahmedabad University and Ahmedabad Textile Industry’s Research Association (ATIRA) have joined hands to advance education, research and development, and provide services to the industries in these domains. This cooperation builds on an ongoing collaboration where a Composites Centre of Excellence was established in the year 2022. One of the biggest drivers of this collaboration will be a one-of-its-kind two-year Master of Technology and a PhD Programme in Composites offered at the School of Engineering and Applied Science, Ahmedabad University. Through the technical expertise and facilities of both institutions, the MTech in Composites Programme will provide a strong foundation in advanced mechanics, design, manufacturing, and testing related to composite components and structures. These courses will be followed by a year-long industry-based thesis on an allied topic of real-world interest. Industry perspectives and best-in-class practices will be integrated into the curriculum to make the graduates industry-ready. The PhD Programme is aimed to prepare the next generation of researchers in composites and new materials. “This collaboration will strengthen academics at Ahmedabad University, and with faculty and students participating at ATIRA a robust support system for research, development, and outreach will be created. Ahmedabad University’s incubator, VentureStudio, will facilitate the incubation of composites and technical textiles-based start-ups. The collaboration will also address the need to strengthen workforce skilling for these areas,” says Professor Sunil Kale, Dean, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Ahmedabad University. Sunrise Industries: Technical Textiles and Composites Besides composites, which are relevant for aerospace, defence, transportation, and industrial applications, technical textiles encompass 12 different segments classified as Agrotech, Oekotech, Buildtech, Meditech, Geotech, Clothtech, Mobiltech, Hometech, Sportstech, Indutech, Protech, and Packtech based on their functions. Applications include wearable electronics, filters and masks, batteries and fuel cells, extreme weather clothing, and geotextiles, among others. Environmental aspects and recycling and sustainability are also important aspects in these sectors. In 2020, the Ministry of Textiles launched the National Technical Textiles Mission to position India as a global leader in this domain. Within this segment, composites are showing immense potential. According to a recent report by the FRP Institute, the consumption of the Indian industry will increase from 5,11,900 tonnes of composite materials in 2021 to 7,68,200 tonnes by 2027. The technical textiles and composites industry stands at an exciting growth phase globally and in India. With the global technical textiles market expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.2 per cent to reach USD 274 billion by 2027. The Indian technical textiles market is advancing formidably, being the fifth largest in the world and expected to grow at 8 to 10 per cent per annum over the last five years. Government Impetus The major growth drivers for the composites industry will be from sectors like electric vehicles, renewable energy, transportation and construction industries, consumer and white goods, and defence. Government projects like smart cities, hydrocarbon, freshwater transportation, and sewage treatment systems will also aid the growth of composite materials consumption. Pragnesh Shah, Director, ATIRA, says, “The government is looking at a significant expansion of the technical textiles industry in the country. They are placing a premium on market research, industry experts, and high-quality engineering schools that can manage the requirements of this industry. We need to prepare a skilled workforce to meet this demand. ATIRA, with its unwavering commitment to drive innovation as well as support to the industry in adopting these innovative technologies would bring in crucial Industry connect to academic research at Ahmedabad University. This is the first-of-its-kind partnership in India around composites.” Joint Research and Development ATIRA and Ahmedabad University have also initiated joint research and development projects and have ambitious plans to set up state-of-the-art facilities for designing, analysing, manufacturing, and testing composite components and structures, among others. These facilities will supplement the PhD Programme in Composites and Technical Textiles at Ahmedabad University and support internships. The joint teams will also provide technical support to industry and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), work on new product development, and incubate start-ups and innovators. Such facilities will become the basis for offering skill development programmes, and for spreading awareness of technical textiles, in general, and composites, in particular. About Ahmedabad University Ahmedabad University is a leading private, non-profit research university offering students a liberal education focused on interdisciplinary learning, practice orientation, and research thinking. The University has been • Recognised by the Government of Gujarat as a Centre of Excellence. • Accredited with 'A' grade by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). • Awarded a 5-star rating, the highest awarded in the Gujarat State Institutional Rating Framework (GSIRF) for 2021-22 by the Knowledge Consortium of Gujarat (KCG), Department of Education, Government of Gujarat. • Recognised by the UGC under section 12(B) of the UGC Act, becoming one of the very few private research universities to have been awarded this recognition for select research universities. • Recognised as a Highly Commended University for Teaching and Learning Strategy of the Year in the Times Higher Education (THE) Awards Asia 2023. • Awarded the AACSB’s Innovations That Inspire Award 2023 for its Foundation Programme. • Awarded Gold Rating by the Indian Green Building Council for achieving the Green Building Standards at our University Centre. The University, established in 2009, is rooted in the vision of one of India’s finest educational foundations, the Ahmedabad Education Society, which was founded in 1935 by nationalist leaders. Programmes at the University range from bachelors to doctoral levels in humanities and social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, and management through its 11 Schools and Centres: Amrut Mody School of Management | School of Arts and Sciences | School of Engineering and Applied Science | School of Public Health | Centre for Heritage Management | International Centre for Space and Cosmology | VentureStudio | Centre for Learning Futures | Global Centre for Environment and Energy | Centre for Inter-Asian Research | Ahmedabad Design Lab An urban university, Ahmedabad promotes independent-mindedness and diversity across all dimensions of its activity and helps students mature into critical thinkers who are analytically equipped, practically oriented, and contextually aware global citizens. The University provides a contemporary educational framework that brings liberal arts, sciences, and the professions to engage together in creating new knowledge for addressing complex challenges of the society and in offering majors that merge the boundaries of disciplines to prepare students for the new economy.
Source: The Week
The India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations are currently underway in New Delhi, marking a significant development in the economic relations between these two nations. The anticipated four-day visit by the British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, to New Delhi hinges on the resolution of several pending issues within the trade agreement. Both India and the United Kingdom are optimistic that this pact will yield mutual benefits, with hopes of doubling bilateral trade to an impressive US$100 billion by 2030. Sources, speaking to Financial Express Online on the late evening of October 16, 2023, have confirmed the existence of several complex issues that remain unresolved in the trade agreement. Among these challenges, the Rules of Origin (ROO) issue stands out as a major sticking point that requires careful resolution. Additionally, the inclusion of a Social Security agreement is another intricate matter on the negotiating table. The United Kingdom seeks flexibility in the criteria for determining the national source of a product through ROO. They believe that India’s proposed rules are stringent, and therefore, India’s agreement to implement product-specific rules for ROOs represents a significant development. This approach involves distinct rules for different products, taking into account factors like value addition and changes in tariff headings. The extent of transformation required to meet these rules remains a crucial point of contention.Rules of Origin (ROO) are instrumental in determining the level of processing and value addition that must occur in an FTA country to qualify for duty benefits. The UK is concerned that India’s ROO requirements could restrict access for several British goods, particularly automobiles, to the Indian markets.
Is the visit later this month confirmed? While reports suggest that the India-UK FTA deal may be concluded before the end of the month, there has been no official confirmation from either the Indian or British sides regarding the British Prime Minister’s visit later this month. The complexity of these negotiations is underscored by the fact that inter-company work visas, tariffs, services, and investment are still subjects of negotiation. A senior officer stated that they have not encountered such complex issues in previous FTAs with other countries. Certain crucial matters, such as duty cuts for Scotch whisky and automobiles, as well as the liberalization of visas for professionals in the UK, are still being ironed out. This underscores the gravity of the negotiations and the significance of finding equitable solutions.
India is second largest investor in the UK India’s status as the second-largest investor in the UK is a testament to the substantial economic ties between the two nations. In 2019-20, India established 120 new projects in the UK, creating 5,429 new jobs. Over 800 Indian companies operating in the UK generate consolidated revenues of £41 billion and employ nearly 110,000 people. This substantial contribution to the UK economy demonstrates the potential for further investment opportunities between these Commonwealth partners. Additionally, the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) reports that there are hundreds of thousands of Indian employees on secondment to the UK, further enhancing the economic collaboration between the two nations. One of the priorities for India in this FTA negotiation is the inclusion of a social security agreement. This agreement aims to protect the interests of Indians working in the UK on short-term assignments by ensuring they do not lose money in social security contributions that they cannot eventually benefit from. The social security agreement may include a crucial ‘export of benefits’ clause, allowing the UK authorities to remit any state pension entitlement accrued in the UK directly to India for Indian employees upon their return.
Expected interinary of British PM Rishi Sunak’s visit to India is expected to encompass Delhi and Mumbai, with the possibility of Chennai being included in his itinerary if time permits. This flexible itinerary underlines the importance of this trade agreement and the commitment of both nations to finding common ground for their mutual benefit.
Source: Financial Express
India needs to be wary of the United Kingdom’s (UK) proposed carbon tax and insert a suitable text in the free trade agreement (FTA) chapters to deal with the impact, according to a report by a New Delhi-based think tank. Both sides are trying to resolve the remaining pending issues with an aim to sign the trade deal by the end of this month. Once the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is launched, UK products will continue to enter India at zero duties. However, Indian products may pay 20-35 per cent tariff equivalent to CBAM charges, impacting the tariffs on Indian products, the report prepared by think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said. After the European Union (EU), the UK had launched a consultation to address carbon leakage risks. It plans to introduce emissions reporting in 2025 and a phased implementation of the measures in 2026. While the FTA promises modest gains for India, it must carefully navigate the potential ‘burdensome obligations’ on non-trade issues, such as labour, environment, gender, and digital trade, the report said. “The FTA’s sustainability aspect, notably its potential impact on India’s garment industry, holds particular significance, as it could lead to non-tariff barriers aimed at promoting sustainability. Moreover, India must consider the potential introduction of a CBAM by the UK and address this in the FTA’s provisions,” the report said
Source: Business-Standard
P. Sivakumar assumed office as the new Member Secretary, Central Silk Board, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, at Bengaluru, on Monday (Oct. 16). He succeeds Rajit Ranjan Okhandiar. Mr. Sivakumar will hold the office for five years. A 2000 batch of the Indian Forest Service Officer of the Assam-Meghalaya Cadre, Mr. Sivakumar has been instrumental in revitalizing the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve in Assam. A post-graduate in forestry, he is an alumnus of the Forest College and Research Institute, Mettupalayam, under Tamil Nadu Agriculture University, said Central Silk Board in a release.
Source: The Hindu
INTERNATIONAL
Global fabric and home fashions manufacturer Home Furnishing International is planning major expansion in several product categories, including bed pillows and utility bedding as well as chair pads and accessories. To spearhead this growth, HFI is adding two well-known home fashions sales and marketing veterans to its management team: Bally Faudar joins as Senior Vice President Sales; and Erin GallagherBrinskele joins as Vice President Kitchen Textiles. Both report to Amy Bell, Executive Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer. “We have been enjoying double-digit growth for 2023, due to our dedicated team of merchandising experts led by Amy Bell, as well as our 1 million- square-foot modern manufacturing facilities in South Carolina,” asserts David Li, chairman and CEO of Home Furnishing International, a privately held firm with annual sales estimated in excess of $200 million. “We have been in a growth mode for the past two years, and now we are bringing on strong leadership to continue our expansion in several product categories that are closely related to our existing businesses.” Bed pillows and mattress toppers are two areas targeted for substantialgrowth, following HFI’s major penetration into the mattress and foundationcategory since 2021. “We have added the capacity to produce 100,000 bedpillows a day in South Carolina, and we felt we needed a real leader toleverage our growth in utility bedding,” Li explains. “Bally has theknowledge, expertise and retail relationships to take us to the next level in the basic bedding category.” Faudar has been in the home fashions industry for more than 30 years, serving in sales and merchandising positions at industry leaders including Newport-Layton Home Fashions, Jay Franco & Sons, Excell Home Fashions and Bess Manufacturing. Bed pillows represent a potentially-explosive growth category for the company: in 2022, worldwide sales of bed pillows were valued at an estimated $17.1 billion and are expected to reach or exceed $18.1 billion in 2024, according to a global data and business intelligence platform Statista. Mattress toppers are another growth area, with worldwide sales estimated at $919 million in 2022 and a projected compound annual growth rate of 7.2% through 2031, according to qualitative insights firm Transparency Market Research. “As consumers become more aware of the role of high-quality bedding in producing a better night’s sleep, we see a huge and growing demand for our utility bedding products,” Bell points out. “We are making the investments in personnel and manufacturing that we believe are necessary to support this untapped segment of our business.” Li adds that the bedding industry is intensely competitive, and therefore the company wants to provide its retail customers with a one-stop-shopping experience. “Our goal has always been – and continues to be – to provide our retail customers with superior service, rapid delivery, enhanced fashion and exceptional performance at competitive prices,” he notes. Faudar calls his new position, “a great opportunity,” and notes, “I am excited by David’s vision and the overall strength of the company, especially with HFI’s proven ability to develop products that serve the needs of our retail customers; the penetration they already have in the bedding and home fashions market, and the company’s vertical manufacturing capabilities.” He will work out of the New York showroom and his home office, covering all categories with select accounts with an emphasis on bed pillows, mattress toppers, and mattresses. Chair pads and kitchen accessories are another major growth opportunity, according to Li. “We have enjoyed incredible success in the outdoor chair pad and cushion category, as well as consistent growth in the fashion decorative pillow area,” he says. “Indoor kitchen and dining chair pads are therefore the next logical step in our product line growth and evolution, taking advantage of our vertical manufacturing capacity in memory foam and conventional foam, as well as our extensive library of innovative and proprietary fabrics and designs.” The creation of a new executive position specifically targeting the chair pad category demonstrates the company’s commitment, according to Li. “We have always prided ourselves on our personal relationships with our customers, and Erin is really a category specialist,” he comments. “She is well-known and respected throughout the industry and will be a valuable addition to our team.” Gallagher-Brinskele served as vice president of sales for 11 years at chair pad specialty supplier Klear Vu Corp., and also previously worked for the manufacturing group formed by Glenoit Mills, Excell Home Fashions and Croscill Home Fashions, focusing on the kitchen rugs, kitchen textiles and table linens categories. “I’m looking forward to growing the indoor seat cushion business by using HFI’s impressive collection of fabrics and innovative manufacturing capabilities both in Gaffney and overseas,” Gallagher-Brinskele asserts. “I’m excited to join HFI’s team and have the opportunity to drive sales and develop products in the chair pad category. I also look forward to identifying and developing new market opportunities for such a powerhouse company.” She will work out of the New York showroom and her home office, responsible for indoor chair pads and accessories for all accounts. Bell points out, “Both Bally and Erin have very strong reputations in the industry and wellestablished relationships with many of our major retail customers. I believe they will bring us valuable insights and help us create and market products that will appeal to the ultimate consumer, thereby positioning us to continue our steady growth trajectory.” HFI also is targeting the pet bed category for expansion in the future, and is currently seeking a qualified executive to manage and guide the business. “We see pet beds as a logical extension of our existing categories, given our vertical manufacturing capabilities, including our substantial selection of proprietary fabrics and our capacity for pouring customized foam formulations and generating performance fiberfill stuffing, all of which are unique advantages in the growing pet bed market,” Li explains. “We are searching for a talented team player with knowledge and expertise to help drive our pet bed increases.” In 2023, the size of the global pet bed market was valued at $4.32 billion and is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6.6% over the next decade, reaching a value of $8.19 billion by 2033, according to data and research firm Future Market Insights. Li believes that both Faudar and Gallagher-Brinskele can help propel HFI into new categories of business. “We see a huge amount of untapped potential in these markets,” he explains. “We believe that our vertical, global fabric and furnishings manufacturing model, our innovative product development and design, and our speed to market make us a much more valuable partner to our retail customers. Additionally, we are one of the few companies today that is continuing to invest substantially in new U.S. manufacturing capabilities.” Home Furnishing International has invested close to $50 million in its U.S. manufacturing and distribution facilities over the past three years. The company also is a leading vertical global fabric and home furnishings supplier with superior manufacturing capabilities in China, operating more than 3 million square feet of manufacturing facilities in Rugao, Jinjiang and Hangzhou. The company’s Chinese factories currently produce more than 300 million yards of fabric every year.
Source: Textile world
Globally, the thrust on sustainable textile is growing. The sustainable fabrics market is estimated to grow by US $ 22.32 billion from 2022 to 2027, growing at a CAGR of 7.78 per cent. A report from Technavio Research says that high demand for sustainable fabrics in medical textiles is an impactful driver for the growth of the segment and robust demand for biodegradable and natural fibers is a key trend. The sustainable fabrics market is fragmented owing to the presence of many global and regional companies. It also says that Asia–Pacific (APAC) accounts for 41 per cent of the growth of the global market during the forecast period and this region has the largest fashion and apparel industry in the world. There is a growing market for sustainable fabrics in the region as consumers seek environmentally friendly and ethical clothing options. Furthermore, factors including increasing sales of clothing on online platforms, growing disposable income, and the development of innovative fabrics drive the market growth in APAC during the forecast period. The report highlights that the market share of the man-made/regenerated segment is significant during the forecast period. These fibres are uniform, soft, and infinitely recyclable. In addition, innovations, including mechanical recycling, chemical recycling, and upcycling, are increasing the availability of regenerated sustainable fabrics, fuelling the growth of this segment, which in turn will drive the market growth during the forecast period.
Source: Apparel resources
The new network connects the multiple clouds businesses use for their applications and data with users, such as customers and employees, and will allow them to take advantage of the new wave of digital automation and AI. The new network, know as Global Fabric, will run on a network as a service commercial and technical model. This means it will be flexible, scalable and resilient both in the quality of connectivity and the convenience of pay-as-you-use. “Organisations realise that the network is a critical foundation for their digital-first and cloud-centric strategies,” said Jan Hein Bakkers, senior research director at International Data Corporation (IDC), a market intelligence firm. IDC research shows that organisations should adopt a secure and sustainable platform that provides the flexibility, manageability, scalability, and cost effectiveness that can support the right end-user experience for each application. “Communications service providers that can deliver performant connectivity solutions with these attributes will be well placed to succeed,” A key feature of the new network will be the users ability to choose the right type of connectivity for their applications and workloads and proactively manage the routes these take as they move across the network. With this control, BT said its customers can achieve the best applications performance, manage costs and address growing regulatory requirements for data in transit. “Global Fabric will future proof customers’ connectivity by providing flexibility to ensure they’re always connected so they can always be productive. They’re facing a new wave of digital revolution with AI, IoT and automation driving demand for simplicity and better multi-cloud connectivity,” said Bas Burger, CEO Business at BT. “Customers can achieve better total costs, boost app performance and user experience, all while complying with regulations and mitigating cyber threats. Global Fabric means multi-cloud works better on BT,” Burger said. “Global Fabric is a great example of how service providers should be innovating,” said Chris Sharp, CTO at Digital Realty, a data centre provider that is part of the network. “By building a cloud-centric network and locating its PoPs inside our world-leading carrier neutral facilities (CNFs), BT will be able to offer its customers terrific speeds with low latency while helping them minimise their environmental impact,” Sharp said. BT estimates that when fully rolled out, Global Fabric will use 79%less electricity than its current global networks. Using the Greenhouse Gas Protocol ICT Sector Guidance by Gesi, BT has estimated global fabric will use consume 8,326 MWh/year versus its existing international networks at 39,890 MWh/year. At a device level, BT estimates the average power consumption of Global Fabric will be 787 Watts per device, versus 2,201 Watts per device for its existing international networks. The new network’s digital orchestration and e-commerce-like interface enable customers to “shop” for connectivity. It will be pre-integrated with more than 630 digital service providers and over 700 data centres. This covers the world’s largest public cloud providers, private clouds, network, software-as-a-service (SaaS), and secure access service edge (SASE) solutions.
Source: The Capacity Media
