Technical Textile Value Chain took an Exclusive Interview of Mr K.K. Mishra, Director of WRA
Brief about WRA
Ministry Of Textiles, Government of India has designated WRA as a Centre of Excellence in Wool and Centre of Excellence for Sportech in Technical Textiles. Our aim and mission, here is to excel in the Sportech area, as a Centre of Excellence in three areas of Sportech, broadly known as Sports Wear, Sports Gear and Sports Accessories. In this regard, WRA is already having vast range of facilities and clientele for the ‘Sports Wear’ segment. WRA also issues Comfort Certificate for the sports sector Wear group. WRA also have some unique and one of its own kind of facilities available in India, such as, Sweating Thermal Mannequin, through which comfort properties of the garment can be ascertained under different environmental conditions from -20°C to +50°C, based on various parameters of testing.
WRA one stop solution for testing & Incubation facilities
WRA renders services to Industries with its vast infrastructure in Testing & Evaluation facilities. WRA has 11 nos. of labs catering to different Segments being covered under Testing, Technical Analysis, Incubation Activities & Consultancy:
• Comfort Evaluation Laboratory for Sportswear & Work wear
• Heat and Flame Testing Laboratory
• Physical (Mechanical) Testing Laboratory
• Wool Testing Laboratory
• Textile Wet Processing Laboratory
• Ecological Laboratory
• Chemical Laboratory
• Computer Colour Matching Laboratory
• Nano Fibre Processing Laboratory
• Polymer Characterization & Heavy Metal Detection Laboratory
• Technical Textile Prototype & Product Development Laboratory
• PPE-coverall Testing Laboratory
WRA has Complete setup of Thermo-physiological comfort analysis lab using:
• Sweating Thermal Manikin,
• Guarded Plates (Dry guarded & Sweating Guarded)
• Tactile comfort analysis by KAWABATTA – All Modules
• Moisture Management Properties (MMT)
• Drying rate Tester
WRA is the only TRA which has got the maximum NABL parameter, which are 630+ to be precise. WRA have got machines related to Testing & Evaluation for all spheres of Textiles services to Industries including all three (03) Armed Forces i.e. Indian Army, Navy & Airforce, para-military and DRDO, state police of Gujarat and Maharashtra as well. WRA has played a pivotal role in development of an indigenous Extreme Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCs) as a Technical Lab Partner through assessment & evaluation of quality parameters in association with DIPAS (DRDO establishment). WRA is also closely associated with the Sports Authority of India, for its all range of Khelo India programs, right from the parameter selection & approval till the production. All their production is only undertaken after testing and analysis by the WRA.
With regards to Gear segment of Sportech, we have setup sports composite facilities at WRA, to make Light weight sporting gears for hockey, badminton, etc. Soon, we will be starting our prototype gear at WRA. We have an incubation Centre under COE- Sportech, where WRA has Warp & weft knitting fabric manufacturing facilities for various applications that is working for around 18 hours a day, all year-round.
WRA also has a lamination Cum Coating machine, wherein the lamination & coating part is carried out. We have machines that are used for sheeting and also in applications of Sportech.
Sportech Demonstration Centre at WRA
WRA is poised to setup a demonstration centre in their premises, which shall demonstrate all the fibres that are being used in R&D for the SportTech. For example, a particular wear is being researched on in our research centre, then it will be demonstrated in our demonstration centre and will be available for applications in the SportTech in our WRA premises.
The most common sports accessory required these days is the artificial turfs. In India there is no manufacturer for artificial turf for sports complying with the International Sports Accreditation & norms. WRA will be the first in India to have an incubation centre for Artificial grass for prototype production of artificial turfs for the industry, wherein the industries can be trained by exchanging the technical know-how with the prototype production on development aspect of Artificial grass with end application in sports. This activity will promote the Indigenous manufacturing of Artificial grass under the ‘Make in India’ campaign as an Import substitute. In this regard, WRA would be able to provide draft proposal by next month, As far as the sporting grounds installed with Artificial grass are concerned, various tie-ups are underway with FIFA and other Sport’s Apex bodies worldwide to make this as one of the appropriate demonstrations Centre for Sportech.
As a part of the Sports accessories, WRA are working on the Knotless Nets. Sports companies like Adidas, Skechers, Decathlon, etc. are already associated with us. We are working together to elevate the Sports Sector in India, which is a rising segment out of the Technical Textiles segments in India.
The proposed Demonstration Centre will be a centre of collection of all Sportech products. All the products can be tried and tested with all quality parameters, so that the quality that desired actually can be seen on the actual grounds. We are working on it currently and will be giving our drafts to the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, soon!
WRA COE Funds allocation
Under TECHNOLOGY MISSION ON TECHNICAL TEXTILES (TMTT), WRA had setup COE- SPORTECH with financial assistance of Ministry Of Textiles, GOI , under which WRA procured the specialized Instruments such as Thermal Manikin, Guarded Hot Plates, Kawabatta Evaluation Systems (all Modules), Nike Approved Drying rate tester, Moisture Management Tester and many other equipments and machines required for SportTech, today and tomorrow. WRA is a portal and platform to promote a product via industry in the market.
Consultation for implementation of project
Many start-ups have already approached WRA for consultations. In our day to day activities for making new products, while abiding by desired procedures. We suggest the raw materials and machines etc., to such startups to commence their operation.
With the help of Ministry of Textiles, we have the required machinery with us and can proceed with the manufacturing sooner for any new products too wherein we will need only the raw materials and consumables from our clients to make the prototype, here at our centre.
We are surging ahead in Sports Textile market for making a Global Presence and also in tandem with Indian Sports Textile market poised to Increase with a CAGR of 13.14% in 2022-27, as part of WRA’s action plan. WRA is committed and getting prepared for achieving this target.
Events Participation
WRA’s COE-Sportech organized National Conclave on Sportech in collaboration with Indian Technical Textile Association (ITTA) during June, 2023 at New Delhi comprising of an Exhibition Theme. The Conclave was participated by all leading /Esteemed Sports Industry/ Stakeholders.
WRA will also be participating in Techno-Tex 2024 at Lucknow. We will also be participating in the Mega Textile event planned at Delhi during end of February, 2024. We wish to participate in some international events also in near future.
WRA into Skill Development
WRA is also undertaking skill development under different program on PAN India basis, e.g. In Chandrapur, WRA is imparting Hand Made Carpet Weaving training to rural area women at Four (04) villages/taluka in order to provide a Supplementing Income to Empower Rural Area Women By Arranging Alternate Occupation For Economic Upliftment & To Prevent Migration from villages to Cities. WRA is also planning to venture into the academics. WRA has signed an MOU with SNDT University recently to design their courses, NIFT faculties on PAN India come here for faculty orientation programme in Academic courses in Sportech. WRA is also resolute to work for rural development. Our courses are flexible, customizable and online.