Report on “Industrial visit to Ahmedabad” 27.03.2017 – 31.03.2017

The IIS UNIVERSITY

Department of Fashion & Textile Technology

Report on “Industrial visit to Ahmedabad”

27.03.2017 – 31.03.2017

The Department of Fashion and Textile Technology organized an educational cum leisure trip for the students of the department from the 27th March 2017 to 31st March 2017 to Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Thirty three students and two faculty member from the department were enrolled for the trip with an aim:

  • To give the students an insight and exposure into the industry which they have not visited before
  • To reinforce and help students understand the production process
  • To give students an experience of traveling in a group which teaches them to be respectful of the locations they visit.

The students gathered at college premises on the 27th March for an overnight road journey by bus to Ahmedabad. On the arrival in Ahmedabad, the check in was at Cama Hotel and after a hearty breakfast departed for our first visit to National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad campus.

The National Institute of Design (NID) is a design school in Ahmedabad, India. The institute functions as an autonomous body under the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion. NID was established in 1961, and has been a centre for design education, practice and research since then. Students received a guided tour of the institute campus and checked out the entire department and could view the creative procut displayed at the institute designed by the students of different departments. The students visited the textile design department and saw creative shibori techniques as an inspiration for their own creative product design for their practical work. With a formal thank you and visit to the NID store, students boarded the bus for the hotel for lunch and much required rest after a very inspiring and creative tour.

After lunch students departed the hotel for our second industry visit to ATIRA, Ahmedabad. The Ahmedabad Textile Industry's Research Association (commonly known as ATIRA) is an autonomous non-profit association for textile research located in the Navarangpura area of Ahmedabad, India. It is the largest association for textile research & allied industries in India. Established on December 13, 1947 and started in 1949, it was later linked to the Ministry of Textiles. ATIRA aims at:

Consultancy: Consultancy in Technical and Managerial Areas in Spinning, weaving, Chemical Processing, Textile Chemistry, Instrumentation, Machine Design, Energy Conservation, Air-Conditioning, Work Study Pollution Control, Management services, Financial Analysis, Modernization Viability and Profitability Studies, Inter-Firm Comparisons, Business Environment Scanning.

Training: Covers different levels from workers to top management and is of three types (i) General (ii) tailor-made (iii) In-house.

Testing: Spans a wide spectrum, backed up by sophisticated Infrastructure and specialist staff, ensuring authenticity, accuracy and confidentiality.

Dissemination to Industry: Through ATIRA Publications - Research reports, Technical Leaflets, Papers in Journals, Own Periodicals (ACT and UPDATIRA), Booklets and Books.  Also through direct interactions at Seminars, Conferences, Workshops and Training Programs.

Students received a guided tour and were informed of the latest innovations in:

  • Development of Protective Textiles for Protection against Electromagnetic Radiations
  • Development of Nano-Fibre Based Textiles
  • Development of Extra Heavy Duty Industrial Belts/Webbings as per the Market requirement

After the guided visit to the facility ended students boarded the bus for their next visit to the famous Sabarmati Ashram (also known as Gandhi Ashram, Harijan Ashram, or Satyagraha Ashram) is located in the Sabarmati suburb of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, adjoining the Ashram Road, on the banks of the River Sabarmati. This was one of the residences of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, generally called Mahatma Gandhi, who lived there for about twelve years along with his wife, Kasturba Gandhi.

It was from his base here that Gandhi led the Dandi march also known as the Salt Satyagraha on 12 March 1930. In recognition of the significant influence that this march had on the Indian independence movement the Indian government has established the ashram as a national monument.

To lighten the day the students were taken to kankariya lake for a funfilled evening where they could enjoy the different rides and relax. From herewith we left for the hotel, had our dinner and ended the first day of the trip.

Day 2, after a night of rest and early breakfast started with visit to the famous Swaminarayan Akshardham in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. It is a large Hindu temple complex inspired by Pramukh Swami, the former spiritual head of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. Located in the capital of Gujarat, the complex was built over 13 years and is a tribute to Swaminarayan and his life and teachings. At the center of the 23-acre complex is the Akshardham mandir, which is built from 6,000 metric tons of pink sandstone from Rajasthan. The complex’s name refers to the divine abode of Swaminarayan in the BAPS philosophy; followers of Swaminarayan believe that the jiva or soul goes to Akshardham after attaining moksha, or liberation.

Students to roamed on the grounds of the temple and spend some time enjoying the beautiful architecture, paintings, history and landscape. After the visit to the temple the student headed for the hotel for lunch followed by an industry visit to Ankur Textile Mills Private Limited. It is a Private incorporated on 04 February 1983 and is classified as Non-govt Company and is registered at Registrar of Companies, Delhi. It is inolved in Manufacture of other textiles. Ankur mills spinning weaving, testing, processing and packaging department.

In the spinning section students saw the spinning process (The basic manufacturing process of spinning includes carding, combing, are successively formed into lap, sliver, roving and finally yarn) which was carried out in ring frames.

In the weaving section, students were shown pwer looms for the process of manufacturing their cotton fabrics. Total looms – 72, Production : 80 mts, 85mts and 90mts per machine per day.

Warping is the process to collect a pre-determined number of ends from cross wound package and from a sheet on the beam.

In the processing of Fabric department, student could see the different pre-treatments that a cotton fabric undergoes before being dyed and packed. At Ankur Mills processing involved the following activities:

GREY INSPECTION DEPARTMENT: In grey inspection department fabric are observed on light surface. By light, projecting yarns which are present on fabric in which both side are easily seen. Weaving faults like reed marks, knots, slub, parallel and single yarn faults, sludge etc. are removed from the grey fabric

DESIZING: The purpose of desizing is to remove size paste applied on the warp yarn before weaving process, this size paste remains on the fabric produced after weaving.

SCOURING: After desizing, the cloth still contains fats and waxes (both natural and added), due to its presence absorbency of the cloth is adversely affected. This leads to improper dyeing and finishing in the subsequent processes. These impurities are removed from the fabric in the ‘scouring’ processes.

BLEACHING: Removal of coloring matter. Increases whiteness.

SOURING: In this process neutralization of fabric is done by using dilute mineral acid after bleaching process and removes surface deposits from fabric, souring is carried out in dilute acid. This process is necessary after bleaching because by this process traces of oxidizing bleaching agent are also removed from the fabric. In this process concentration of acid and temperature should be controlled.

Packaging is an important unit in the Textile mill of Ankur Div. since it produces fabric both for Export and Local Market with maximum turnover in Export quality. Ankur Mills has two warehouses for packaging. The main warehouse is used for packing and storing of export quality fabrics which are exported to various foreign countries like Dubai, Switzerland, Mauritius etc. Packaging is carried out in Roll form and folded form. Proper care is taken for packing of Aroma finished fabrics which are cut into smaller units and packed in plastic bags. 

After the tour ended the students were excited to be taken to Law garden market. It is a very popular for traditional things as well as miscellaneous things for girls. It's very affordable and quality of items is also good. Law Garden is a public garden in the city of Ahmedabad, India. The market outside the garden is very famous for the handicraft goods sold by local people. The road at the side of the garden is filled with street hawkers selling all kinds of food items

After an hour of shopping students were rounded up to head back to the hotel, as a special night of fun and dance party was planned for them by the tour team. Students danced through the evening and night and later retired to their rooms reminiscing the past two days they spent at Ahmedabad which is regarded as the textile hub of India.

Day 3, The trip didn’t end there, next morning after breakfast we left for Udaipur city for a guided tour of the city palace after a lunch halt. The guide gave the students a brief history into the city of Udaipur, its royal heritage and walkthrough of the city palace. Students clicked pictures, enjoyed the scenic beauty at the Fatehsagar Lake and finally we left the city to return home to Jaipur.

No matter how much students learn during a Educational trip, their favorite memories may be based on their enjoyment of the day. Getting away from classroom for a day or even half a day is always exciting for students, and Educational trips are always highly anticipated. Students had fun with their friends and came to know about the culture and lifestyle of Ahmedabad and had an experience to interact with the people.

 Dr. Radha Kashyap                                                       Ms. Aditi Singh

 Head, Dept of Fashion & Textile Technology                        Ms. Preeti Singh

                                                                                   Teacher co-ordinator