The Handicrafts & Handloom (H&H) Department of Kashmir has recently upgraded its testing and authentication procedures for pashmina and other fibres by purchasing a cutting-edge Optical Fibre Diameter Analyzer (OFDA) 4000 piece of equipment.
The OFDA 4000 can test over 40,000 fibres in under a minute and can measure fibre properties like micron, length, and crimp. According to Indian media sources citing the official statement of the H&H Department of Kashmir, it can also test pashmina fibre, yarn, and fabric, which improves the efficiency and accuracy of the testing process.
The textile industry uses the OFDA 4000 to rate the fineness and quality of fibres, which is essential for figuring out the cost and grading of pashmina goods. It makes use of an optical equipment and software for image analysis. to measure fibre diameter accurately and rapidly, providing a non-destructive and reliable method for testing pashmina fibres.