ITAMMA Highlights Packaging & Innovation at 82nd AGM

Focus on “Packaging Aspects” and “Viksit Bharat 2047” Vision

At its 82nd Annual General Meeting held at the ITME Centre, Mumbai, ITAMMA spotlighted the vital role of packaging in the textile machinery industry and the vision for India’s textile engineering sector under ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’. The event also hosted the fifth edition of the B.K. Mehta Technology Networking Mission, promoting collaboration between academia and industry.

The Indian Textile Accessories & Machinery Manufacturers' Association (ITAMMA) organized its 82nd Annual General Meeting at the ITME Centre, Mumbai, focusing on the theme “Packaging Aspects for Textile Machinery” and India’s roadmap toward ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’.

Felicitation of Dr. Deepa V. Raisinghani, Lecturer (Selection Grade), Ex-Dean (Diploma), VJTI by Mr. Omprakash Mantry, President, ITAMMA

In his opening address, Mr. N.D. Mhatre, Director General (Technical), ITAMMA, emphasized that many members face product rejections due to inadequate packaging. He noted that as textile machinery integrates more digital and electronic components, effective packaging has become crucial to safeguard goods during transport. To address this issue, ITAMMA invited Dr. Babu Rao Guduri, Additional Director and Head of T&E and Laboratory Departments at the Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP), Mumbai, to share expert insights.

Mr. Omprakash Mantry, President, ITAMMA, highlighted that the textile machinery sector plays a vital role in India’s economy, with over 3,000 manufacturing units and a projected market size of USD 2.02 billion by 2033. He discussed packaging materials such as woven sacks, jute, synthetic bags, and FIBCs, and stressed the importance of transitioning to eco-friendly, biodegradable, and paper-based packaging solutions. He further underlined IIP’s role, established in 1966, in improving packaging standards across industries to support exports and infrastructure growth.

Felicitation of Dr. Ravindra D. Kale, Professor of Fibres & Textile Proc. Tech., ICT (UDCT), Mumbai by Mr. Omprakash Mantry, President, ITAMMA

The AGM also featured a keynote by Mr. Avinash Mayekar, Managing Director, Suvin Expo LLP, who spoke on “Expectations from the Indian Textile Engineering Industry to be Prepared for Viksit Bharat 2047.” He highlighted India’s vision to achieve USD 600 billion in textile exports, a USD 1.8 trillion domestic market, and USD 309 billion in technical textiles. He outlined key strategies such as import substitution, technology partnerships, supply chain development, and R&D-focused textile parks to realize this ambition.

Guest of Honour Dr. Babu Rao Guduri shared insights on IIP’s activities and presented case studies emphasizing the significance of packaging in global trade, along with emerging sustainable practices.

The AGM also saw Dr. Seema Srivastava, Executive Director of the India ITME Society, being felicitated for earning her Doctorate in Management Studies from the Indian Institute of Business Management and Studies.

The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Mr. Vishal Masand, Hon. Treasurer (2025–26), ITAMMA, acknowledging all speakers, guests, and participants.

Later that day, ITAMMA, in collaboration with the B.K. Mehta Endowment Fund, hosted the fifth edition of the “B.K. Mehta Technology Networking Mission–2030”, aimed at fostering innovation and industry-academia collaboration.

Mr. Mhatre explained that the mission engages academia, research bodies, government, and industry stakeholders to promote textile innovation through pilot projects and collaborative development. Mr. Mantry elaborated that over 10 textile research institutes have participated in the series so far, enabling students to present R&D projects with practical industrial relevance.

Industry experts including Dr. Ravindra Kale (ICT Mumbai), Dr. Deepa Raisinghani (VJTI Mumbai), and Dr. Prasanta Kumar Panda (BTRA Mumbai) evaluated the student projects and shared valuable feedback on sustainable innovation, circular economy, and market-driven research.

Outstanding student projects from institutions such as SVP Institute of Textiles (Coimbatore), PSG College of Technology, R.N.G. Patel Institute of Technology, and DKTE’s Textile and Engineering Institute were recognized with Certificates of Appreciation and Tokens of Encouragement.

The dual sessions—AGM and Networking Mission—reflected ITAMMA’s ongoing commitment to advancing technology, sustainability, and industry collaboration in India’s textile machinery ecosystem.