Overall Achievements In R&d And Transfer Of Technology

Though India is an important producer of coarse quality wool, there was no reliable data base of Indian wool and its classification. After establishment of WRA, it undertook a scientific study on “Evaluation of the characteristics, processing, performance and end-use suitability of various Indian Wools” under the sponsorship of US Dept. of Agricultural Science (PL-480). This helped in road mapping of over 30 well defined breeds of Indian Sheep for their location and gross-dimensional properties for the first time in the country.
The study also included study of pure breeds alongwith related aspects like sheep population, production of wool, breeds rearing practices, marketing and grading of Indian wool etc. The R&D inputs on such characterization are still taken as authentic to form the basis of further action by various quarters on Indian wool.
 

As a follow up to the above, WRA further carried out R&D projects sponsored by ICAR on “Canary coloration of Indian Wools” and “Physical, Mechano –chemical and Morphological characteristics of various Indian Carpet wools with a view to evaluate their performance characteristics”. The R&D inputs helped significantly the Indian Carpet industry.
 

• Wool Research Association did the pioneering work for computer colour matching for textiles including wool, cotton, polyester, nylon, acrylic and blends.
• WRA developed software for dye house management is the inventory control, colour measurement batch pass/fail, quality control and process control and personnel.
• The services were given to the textile mills, members and non-members of WRA.
• It was observed that 15% saving was observed in the cost of the dyes and in the dyeing process in the textile industry.
• The technology was extended to paint Industry where all the leading paint manufacturers were covered for the services and training of the technology.
• 10% saving was observed for paints.
• UV stabilized film was produced in the project which could get the American patent and has been widely used all over the world

 

• WRA was the first organization in India to initiate and to implement the technology of the Computer Aided Designing for textiles in the application of woven and printed designs.
• The software was further extended for printing designs for sarees, dress material, furnishing etc. and for jacquard designs.
• The technology was developed on Indian Computer and was given for marketing to the Indian Manufacturer of Computers.
• Courses were conducted for training and designers from various mills in this respect and the activities were continued for the students from different universities also.

Industrial and fundamental research in the field of textiles in general, and Wool Technology in particular, to help the Indian Woollen Industry was carried out over the period. New product & process development was achieved as a result of R & D effort of the Association. Besides, research findings were of immense help to the decentralized sector, tiny units engaged in production of woollen textiles. Pashmina, Eri silk/wool blends, machinery development, evaluation etc.

Some of the R & D achievement are as under.
1. Carpet washing – New method
2. Vegetable dyes – Development of carpet range shades for industry
3. Enzyme treatments & development – New process
4. Wool/Jute blankets – New Product
5. Technical Textiles – New Product
6. Furnishing fabric – New Product
7. SIRO Fast method of fabric quality assurance – New Technique
8. Pashmina Scouring and carding machinery – New Process
9. 40” Carding machine for Gadwala under MOT – New Product
10. Angora Card developers – New Product
11. Wool:Eri silk blend product and machinery for cocoon reeling
– New product
12. Carding machines for processing eri silk
13. Handlooms – New Technique
14. Development of Moth proofing agent from Neem – New process
 

i. Filter Cartridges yarn
ii. Brake Liners
iii. FR automotive wool rich textiles
iv. Belting fabrics
v. Eri silk/Wool blended yarn & fabric
vi. WR carpet backing
vii. Thermal fabrics
viii. Feeding devise for metallic core in friction yarn
ix. Spinning and weaving of Deccani wool
x. Natural Dyes for carpet industry
xi. Carbonisation process (Eco friendly)
xii. New CAD design for plush fabrics
xiii. Elastomeric knitwears
xiv. New generation moth proofing chemicals

· Belt liner yarn -Khosla Profiles, Mumbai
· Filter Cartridges yarn - Zenith Fibres, Gujarat
· Ceramic heat- Shah Enterprises
· Resistant yarn - Gujarat
· Wool/Silk yarn (for Apparels) - Bangalore, Mumbai
· Waste mop fabric - For market trials
· Formulation of a dye-fixing agent cum dye bath buffering agent for pH in Wool
  Dyeing with special reference to chrome dyes – Sulphuric Acid.
· Natural dyes for wool – Carpet industry in Jaipur & Bhadoi