British Textile Machinery Association Targets Stronger India Partnerships at India ITME 2026

UK-India Free Trade Agreement and the newly formed Textile Machinery Coalition create fresh opportunities for technology exchange, industrial cooperation and export growth.

The British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA) is preparing to use India ITME 2026 as a platform to strengthen industrial partnerships and expand trade between the UK and India. The initiative follows the introduction of the UK-India Free Trade Agreement and the formation of the UK-India Textile Machinery Coalition (UKITMC).

Scheduled from 4 to 9 December 2026 at the India Exposition Mart in Greater Noida, India ITME 2026 is expected to bring together more than 1,800 exhibitors and 150,000 visitors, highlighting India's position as one of the world's largest textile manufacturing markets.

UK-India Trade Agreement Opens New Opportunities

The exhibition comes at an important stage in trade relations between the two countries. The Free Trade Agreement, which entered into force in July 2026, is expected to improve market access and competitiveness for British engineering and technology suppliers while supporting the continued growth of India's textile and apparel industries.

BTMA has also established the UKITMC to promote cooperation between machinery manufacturers in both countries. The coalition aims to encourage technology exchange and create new commercial opportunities.

BTMA CEO Jason Kent said:

“India represents an enormous opportunity for British textile machinery manufacturers, particularly as its textile industry moves towards higher levels of automation, quality assurance and sustainable production. The combination of the Free Trade Agreement and our new coalition provides a much stronger framework for long-term collaboration. Our members have specialist technologies that can make a real difference to the efficiency and competitiveness of Indian textile manufacturers, and India ITME provides an ideal platform for developing those relationships.”

British Machinery Innovations to Be Showcased

Recent product developments from BTMA members reflect the range of British engineering capabilities, with several innovations set to be presented in India for the first time.

• Shelton Vision: The company has further developed its WebSpector technology for detecting defects in complex patterned, printed and coated fabrics. The system can also identify printing faults directly on production lines.
• Roaches International: The company has completed its largest integrated laboratory equipment order to date, supplying 18 testing machines to Indonesia. It is also introducing further automation through its Martindale AXYZ abrasion and pilling tester and Sentire fabric handle measurement system.
• VeriVide: Addressing the growing importance of colour consistency across international textile supply chains, VeriVide is advancing LED-based assessment through its UltraView light booth and associated digital colour management technologies.

Commenting on the developments, Jason Kent added:

“Such ongoing developments demonstrate the strength of British engineering across the textile manufacturing value chain, from advanced fibre production to automated inspection and testing. We see India as a long-term partner in innovation and industrial development, and the opportunities for cooperation have rarely been greater.”

BTMA Members at India ITME 2026

The following BTMA members and the UK-India Textile Machinery Coalition will participate at the exhibition: