Messe Frankfurt’s Techtextil India from 25-27 November 

According to Raj Manek, executive director and board member, Messe Frankfurt Asia Holdings, antimicrobial finishes propose a strong avenue for textile chemicals due to the increasing focus on health, safety and hygiene amid the pandemic. “The future of the textile chemical segment looks promising. Year-on-year the application of these chemicals has continued to evolve and expand into different textile sectors. The recent development in antimicrobials has played a key part in augmenting the durability of textiles, garments and providing stronger protection against contaminants,” he said. 

Apart from health and safety aspects, textiles treated with antimicrobial ingredients also increase the shelf life of products by preventing bacterial colonisation. From pre-treatment to finishing, chemicals are vital for fabricating textile materials in a wide range of applications. Home furnishing and apparel textiles, in particular, have been key contributors to demand textile chemicals in India over the years.

However, there has been a dynamic shift in the demand for textile chemicals due to the pandemic. “The demand for apparel and home furnishing has been hard hit recently. On the contrary, there has been a vertical rise in the demand for oil and water repellents and anti-viral coatings for producing PPE kits, face masks and for various medical textiles,” said Dr Sanket Valia, senior general manager business development, Sarex Chemicals. 

And thus, the Mumbai-based chemical manufacturing company Sarex has developed two antimicrobial agents, Saraguard-5700 and Saraguard-FL, which are applied on functional clothing like PPE kits as well as commonly used products such as surgical fabrics, drapes, bed linens to provide durability and protection from pathogens, viruses and bacteria. These products indicate the new business opportunities in the textile segment.

“Through Techtextil India, we will aid industry players to explore new business opportunities and further expand their potential,” said Manek.