The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi had received the patent for Fabric Feel Tester, a unique product, developed by the premier academic institute, which would eventually benefit the Indian textile industry, according to a fibre2fashion.com report.
This novel device, developed with the core technical expertise of Dr Apurba Das, Associate Professor, Department of Textile Technology, IIT Delhi, facilitates quality evaluation of the fabric on the industrial level, that too, at a much lower price, noted the report.
In order to evaluate the quality of the fabric the Indian textile industry was earlier using the Kawabata Evaluation System (KES). KES is not only tad bit expensive, but is also a highly technical device, became cumbersome for extensive use by the industry.
Speaking at the IIT Open House Programme, where the new Fabric Feel Tester was demonstrated, Das informed that the new device would only cost Rs 150,000, compared to the price of Rs 15 million for the KES system. What is more, the official said that the task of manufacturing this machine has been assigned to an Ahmedabad-based firm, which has already received orders for 15-20 devices.
The new technology will enable Indian textile companies to do business with companies all over the globe by just sending e-mails about the details of their fabric quality to the concerned client and get a swift feedback.
Das further added that once the Industrial Research and Development and Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer wings of IIT submitted a technological innovation as a patent, it would start receiving grants and funds from various industrial enterprises or government institutes. Till date, IITs across India have submitted 260 innovations for registration as patents, and 60 of them have already been awarded the status, added the report.
