Institute of Chemical Technology gets Rs24 crore to study sports fabric

The Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Matunga will become the first institute in the country to conduct research on sports fabrics.

The Central Ministry of Textiles has sanctioned ICT’s National Centre of Excellence in Sportech a grant of Rs24.5 crore for researching sports-related apparel and goods like footwear, parachute fabrics, sleeping bags, sail cloth, sports net, artificial turf and balloon fabrics.

The research project comes under the Department of Fibers and Textile Processing Technology, one of the departments that was started when the institute began in the year 1934.

“This project on sports fabrics is challenging because the market of the sports related fabrics is growing fast. We still do not have the facility to manufacture the fabrics and have to import it. Our research will help the country to produce the fabric in India and curtail its imports,” said G D Yadav, ICT’s vice chancellor.

“Through this project we will create advanced testing laboratories, training facilities and incubation centres. Apart from this, we will acquire a NABL accreditation for Sportech. We are also organising a workshop and conference for people in the industry,” said Dr Ravi Adivarekar, head of the department of fibers and textile processing technology.

Apart from Adivarekar, faculty members SR Shukla, MD Teli, Dr Usha Sayed, Sujata Parity and RD Kale will be working on this project which will start in two months.