New lab to test cotton and yarn in southern India

The South India Textile Research Association (SITRA) will set up a laboratory on the Coimbatore premises of the South India Spinners’ Association (SISPA) to test cotton and yarn. N Murugesan, SISPA president of the Spinners’ Association, said its members needed testing facilities and had submitted a project to the union ministry of textiles.

After the ministry’s permission, SITRA has decided to set up the testing facility, which will be inaugurated on March 4.

The maintenance cost would be shared by both the organisations, according to a report in a English-language daily of south India.

SITRA and SISPA have entered into a five-year agreement for this programme. SITRA would install machinery and depute personnel to test cotton and yarn samples given by SISPA members, numbering nearly 450.

SITRA would also extend its training and awareness programmes to SISPA members, Murugesan said. Since SITRA’s testing results is recognised in other countries as well, this would help SISPA members.