Technical books on various topics are published in Tamil, which is very useful for the power loom sector.

Consultancy

• Product diversification.
• Technology upgradation and modernisation of looms.
• Improving quality and productivity.
• Minimising waste.
• Maintenance of machinery to prevent break downs.
• Attaching mechanisms like drill, satin, dobby, jacquard, dropbox, terry etc., to produce variety of fabrics.
• Guidance for exporters.

DVD’s and Video cassette

Good work practices have been prepared in both Video Cassette and Compact Disc (CD) for the benefit of powerloom weavers.

Exhibitions / Study tours

Study tours to other major centres of powerlooms as well as machinery exhibitions to assist diversification and transfer of technology are being organised.

Liaison visits

To identify various technical problems of the industry and to find measures to overcome the same, liaison visits are made to the power loom units.

Library and Internet

The PSCs provide technical information by way of keeping various textbooks, journals, newspapers etc and also assisting collection of information through the Internet. A fabric library is also being established.

Project preparation

Bankable projects for technology upgradation and modernisation of looms are prepared.

Seminars

Seminars and workshops are organised periodically on the following topics:

• Entrepreneur development programme
• Quality control
• TUF scheme
• Export procedures
• Process control in sizing
• WTO and its implications
• Eco friendly textiles
• Technical textiles

Testing

a) Analysis of cloth

Cloth samples are analysed for design and construction and the technical know-how for bulk production is given to the Entrepreneurs. The requirement of warp and weft is also calculated. Creative designs are also developed and assistance is given for manufacturing the same.

b) Sample warping in the automatic sectional warping machine
(this facility is available at selected centres only)

As the high-speed weaving machines require a good quality warp and the small weavers cannot have a sectional warping machine due to high cost and space problems good quality sectional wrapper beams are produced on a job work basis and supplied. Short lengths of samples are also produced.

c) Sample weaving in the shuttleless looms
(this facility is available at selected centres only)

Fabric samples can be woven, on request, in shuttleless looms on a job work basis.

d) Physical testing

Yarn

• Count
• Lea strength and CSP
• Single yarn strength
• Twists per inch
• Length of yarn (Hank/Cone)

Fabric

• Warp and weft count
• Ends and picks per inch
• Fabric thickness
• Crease recovery
• Tearing strength
• Tensile strength
• Bursting strength
• Pilling

e) Chemical testing

• Fibre identification and blend analysis
• Size pick up %
• Water hardness analysis
• Colour fastness to
• Washing (40s/60s C)
• Rubbing (wet & dry)
• Bleaching
• Perspiration
• Light (at selected centres only)
• Shrinkage to washing
• Dye identification
• Sample dyeing
• pH value
• Wettability test for wetting oil

Training

The following training programs are conducted for upgrading the skills of power loom owners, weavers and jobbers:

• Powerloom mechanism
• Dropbox mechanism
• Dobby mechanism
• Weaving calculations
• Fabric designs
• Eco-friendly dyeing of reactive colours
• Dyeing of vat colours