Taiwan Institue join hands with SITRA

The Taiwan Textile Research Institute (TTRI) yesterday joined forces with the South India Textile Research Association (SITRA) to combine the former's expertise in textile functionality with the latter's specialization in natural fibers. Because "most people are now more concerned about the environment than anything else...more and more people are looking for biodegradable natural fibers," said Arindam Basu, director of SITRA at the signing ceremony.

Basu explained that while many functional textiles developed with synthetic fiber are not environment-friendly, natural fibers that are good for the environment lack some of the properties which the man-made fibers have. "Jointly we want to achieve a product which has both features...to have a better product that does the same function but is equally environment-friendly," he said.

SITRA currently produces biodegradable fibers made from pineapple leaf, coconut, and jute, a 100 percent biodegradable vegetable fiber that can be spun into coarse, strong threads. According to Basu, India is the world's top producer of jute. Thomas Y.T. Huang, chairman of TTRI, remarked that in terms of apparel TTRI focuses on function, and has also moved on to home textiles as well as technical textiles, whereas SITRA still focuses on conventional apparel.

But Taiwan lacks natural fiber resources, which India has a lot of, Huang added. "Our disadvantage is your advantage, and your disadvantage is our advantage," he summed up. "India is moving towards functional textiles because we cannot compete...with countries such as China, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka," remarked Basu, adding that functional textiles are much more profitable and value-added.

Basu also said that both TTRI and SITRA would benefit from the exchange of scientists for the sharing of information and knowledge, as well as the mutual use of each other's facilities to cut down costs. Yao Shin-chuan, president of TTRI, agreed with Basu in the advantageous aspects of the collaboration, and emphasized the importance of utilizing biodegradable natural fibers for environment sustainability.

Yao also identified future joint research projects on medical textiles as well as testing and exchange of ideas to be of special interest. Located in Taipei County, TTRI, formerly known as China Textile Institute (CTI), is a government-funded independent research facility that focuses on product and process development, machinery design, scientific research and various services to the textile industry in Taiwan and East Asia.

SITRA is a government-sponsored autonomous scientific research organization located in Coimbatore offering a comprehensive range of services, including resources management, textile chemistry, textile physics, weaving and knitting, spinning, liaison and consultation, textile engineering and instrumentation, and training. SITRA's members include local as well as foreign mills in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Malaysia, and Thailand.

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