BTT Technical Articles October 2009

http://www.textiletoday.com.bd/magazine/october2009/techni...

Potential of Technical Textiles in Bangladesh

Abrar Ahmed Apu, M.Sc. Faculty member of Textile Engineering Department Daffodil International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Abstract: Technical Textiles have got momentum globally because of their functionalities and performance. Increasing speed of civilization in the Least Developing Countries (LDCs) and Developing Countries is the main reason behind vast uses of TT. People all over the world have become more conscious on health, safety and hygienic issues (medical & protective textiles), trends in high-rise buildings (engineering textiles), roads and transport construction (geo-textiles, automobiles), industrialization (industrial textiles), environment issues (eco-textiles), electronics (e-textiles, intelligent/smart textiles), and etc. have contributed in the rise of TT markets globally. Though Bangladesh has strong potentiality in the applications of TT, the country lags behind due to numerous known and unknown reasons. To take full advantages of TT at present and in future, the government of Bangladesh, investors, industrialists, researchers, and related institutes must work together. Keywords: Technical Textiles, Consumer-driven, Conventional Textiles, WTO-TRIPS, Frankfurt Messe, Products. 1. Introduction: In our daily life we use Technical Textiles (TT) along with conventional textiles. Many of us may not be aware how extensively we have been using TT in our daily life and that is why it is sometimes referred to as Invisible Textiles. We use TT as decoration or and functional elements in homes, ofces, hospitals, hotels, cars, and buses, etc. Hording, signboard, banners and more what we see alone the roadsides are TT. TT are also known as Industrial, functional, performance, engineering, hi-tech textiles and many more terms. TT are known for their technical performance and functionality. They are so called because they combine both technical properties like functionality-performance and typical textile properties such as exibility, tensile strength and handle. The basic difference between TT and conventional textiles is that the conventional textiles are used to protect our body from adverse environment; adorn us, show status and cover our shame along with physiological and physiological comfort while TT for technical purposes only. TT are consumer-driven customized products as they are created in a close relationship between the producer and the consumer so as to ensure tailor-made solution to specic users purposes. If we plot technology against value we nd four categories of textile products where TT products take place in the 4th quarter (high technology and high value). Technical textiles are considered the fastest growing sector in textile world. The reasons are one or more among them- functionality, performance, safety, cost effectiveness, durability, high strength, lightweight, versatility, customization, user friendly and eco-friendliness, logistical conveniences,hydrophilicity,hydrophobicity and biocompatibility, etc. It accounts about 20% of the total global textiles and clothing market. The present global market of TT is about US$125 billion and the growth percentage is around 4% in a year. Developed countries are the main producers and users of TT. They have vast areas of applications. Vehicles and transportation industry is the principal user of technical textiles (29%), followed by furniture/home furnishing (14%) and construction/civil engineering (11%). Application Fields of TT: End-use wise TT products are numerous (more than150 end-use products) and diverse. Messe Frankfurt, Germany, which is the organizer of largest technical textiles exhibition in the world Techtextil has grouped those end-uses into 12 broad following segments.

Situation of TT in Bangladesh:

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BTT Technical Articles October 2009

http://www.textiletoday.com.bd/magazine/october2009/techni...

Basically, Bangladesh is well known for its basic textile and clothing items around the world. Though the T&C sector is the backbone of our export economy, our country lags behind in TT products. Many reasons can be identied which directly contributing in lags behind in TT in Bangladesh. Neither the government nor the textile industry has made any serious efforts towards TT. Our academias lack of interest to conduct research and innovation for TT, lack of consumer awareness, absence of technology and no investment are some facts that has kept us away from technical textiles production, uses and innovation. As competition continues to increase in the general and consumer textile industry, the low-value-added product manufacturers in near future face the question of how to survive in a truly global market. Realizing the importance China and India are progressing steadily with their government helps. It is difcult to nd TT producer in Bangladesh. However, Bangladesh is advancing steadily in technology and its buying potential is increasing. As the economy is growing as well as growing consumers awareness, the demand of TT is coming out as a big opportunity in Bangladesh. TT have been identied as a great potential area in developing countries like Bangladesh but industrialized countries already enjoying the supremacy in TT production, innovation, uses and exports. Though the traditional textile industry is considered a traditional sector, TT industry becomes one of the main test-beds regarding new business strategies. Reasons for Considering TT in Bangladesh: Globally TT overall growth rate is more than 4% which much higher than conventional textiles. Bangladesh is showing satisfactory performance in conventional textile manufacturing and clothing export. Bangladeshi T&C satisfactory performance is principally due to international supports from importing countries (GSP and quotas supports from EU and USA), and World Trade Organization (WTO) provides exemption in WTO-TRIPS (Trade Related Intellectual Properties Right System) till 2016 for Least Developing Countries (LDCs). A part from this, local cheap labor force and governments support in different forms, like cash intensive, are contributing in T&C export performance. Due to global nancial meltdown, conventional T&C importing nations have been started to follow protectionism for different imported items. It symbolizes that in near future we may loose our competitiveness if such supports will be withdrawn. If so happens, where will we employ such huge human resources, investors, technology and technologist? Therefore, we need to invest more time, money, technology and technologists to initiate, create and develop TT production elds. It is true that Bangladesh is naturally lack behind raw materials for TT. But, with available bast bers; namely jute bers; and some man-made bers along with imported raw materials, the country could start to take a step ahead in TT production to initially serve countrys need in TT. Future Growth Areas of TT in Bangladesh: As the buying potential of the consumers are increasing, they are becoming very conscious in healthcare, environment protection and safety protection. Construction industry is getting speedy gear; as for the vast population the land area is very limited. Potential elds in TT sector in Bangladesh could be identify as medical, hygiene and healthcare; environmental protection, ltration and cleaning; safety protection; civil engineering, building and construction; transportation; and sports. As house interior is getting priority TT for furniture and decoration will increase. Digital printed posters; banners, billboards, placards, hoardings, signage and etc. applications are increasing due to advertising, marketing and promotional purposes. Technical fabrics for digital printing are increasing and future applications of these fabrics will certainly increase due to rising competitions among rivals. Food safety issue and safe food legislation is creating application of TT for food handling in our country. Ways to Create TT Market Potentials: At rst, the government should effort to create awareness about the economic value of TT. The industries with governments support should synergize effort to nd out opportunities of production, uses and application elds. To doing so, they need to establish Research and Development (R&D) centers. Technical education (B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Textile Technology) should introduce TT specic course in their technical curriculum. Seminar and workshop on TT should be conducted regular basis where producers, researchers, consumers, designers and distributors of TT contribute signicantly. Brainstorming among them certainly shows us new and innovative aspects regarding TT. Natural disasters like cyclone, draught, ood, earthquake, re etc., are frequent events in our country every year. From the point of logistics TT in the form of shelter, protection, transportation etc. are most suitable to save them. A part from this, the government or interested organizations can offer nance for new and innovative ideas/projects on productions and applications of TT locally and globally. Some renowned public universities are offering Ph.D in Textile Technology. Ph.D students of Textile Technology can take their subjects of interest TT with regard of local issues. Conclusion: TT is knowledge and continuous improvement technology-based sector. As a result the role of TT is becoming eminent while the role of conventional textiles is decreasing. Now a countrys performance in textile sector is being determined by its innovation, production, applications and exports of TT. The government should give special care on TT while reviewing and amendment textile and clothing policies. To doing so, the government could set-up technical team. The team should consist of textile technical experts, academia, researchers and policy makers. The potential in TT branch of textile sector are in creating huge job opportunities, generating export earning, and improving technological expertise of our human resources. References: Handbook of Technical Textiles by S.C. Anand and A.R. Horrocks Wellington Sears Handbook of Industrial Textiles by Sabit Adanur Polymer Enhancement of Technical Textiles by R.W. Buckley ATA Textile (www.adsaleata.com) Fiber to Fashion (www.bre2fashion.com)

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