The DKTE Society’s Textile and Engineering Institute, Ichalkaranji, stands as a distinguished pillar of education, research, and consultancy in India’s textile sector. Established in 1982 by leading industries to address the region’s pressing need for technically qualified professionals, DKTE has evolved into an autonomous institution accredited with elite distinctions—NAAC A+ and NBA certifications for all undergraduate programs. The institute’s reputation is further bolstered by national honors, such as the Best Industry-Linked Institute Awards (AICTE–CII, 2015 & 2017) and recognition as the Best Educational Institute for Textile Engineering by the Ministry of Textiles in 2013.

A hallmark of DKTE is its relentless pursuit of excellence. The institute combines highly qualified faculty, enriched curricula, robust research and development, and state- of-the-art facilities to nurture talent and support the vibrant textile industry. DKTE maintains deep-rooted collaborations with leading global universities, executing government-supported projects worth more than Rs. 60 crores. Among its standout initiatives is the prestigious Centre of Excellence in Nonwovens , established with the support of the Office of the Textile Commissioner, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.

Incubation and Infrastructure: World-Class Facilities for Nonwoven Innovation

The DKTE boasts pilot-scale manufacturing, prototyping, and  comprehensive  quality  evaluation  capabilities for an array of nonwoven products. Its infrastructure is engineered for innovation, featuring advanced machinery for needle punching, thermal bonding, hot calendaring, coating, and lamination. Facilities extend to precision calendar slitting and a variety of finishing techniques. The brings together textile technologists and experts from allied fields to provide technical guidance, training, incubation, and consultancy services, serving as an indispensable partner to India’s nonwoven and technical textiles industry. The center has supported many enterprises, helping manufacturers move from concept to market-ready nonwoven products.

Incubation Highlights:

• Needle Punch Nonwoven Line:

• Make: Teruetzschler Nonwovens, Germany

• Width: 2 meters (1.8 m Finished)

• Fiber Types: Polypropylene, Polyester, Viscose and blends

• Denier Range: 1-25

Thermal Bonding Nonwoven Line:

• Make: Teruetzschler Nonwovens (Germany), Yamuna (India)

• Width: 2 meters

• Fiber Types: Polypropylene, Polyester

• Denier Range: 1-60

Calender and Slitting, Coating, Lamination:

Slitting width: From 100 mm, up to 2 meters, with oil heating to 250°C and up to 8 simultaneous slits Coating machine (Taskar, Ahmedabad) with dip, knife, air, screen, and foam methods; lamination and embossing capabilities included.

Testing  Laboratory: Advancing Standards and Certification

DKTE ’s textile laboratory is equipped to conduct rigorous testing and evaluation, ensuring compliance with international benchmarks such as ASTM, ISO, AATCC, EN, and BIS. Highlights from the extensive list of specialized instruments include:

• Fiber Tenacity, Linear Density & Crimp analysis (Textechno, Germany)

• Water Transmitivity and Gradient Ratio testing (BT Technology, USA)

• Thermal Conductivity (Lasercomp, USA)

• Limiting Oxygen Index, Water Repellency (SDL Atlas, Hong Kong)

• Digital Tearing Strength, UV Accelerated Weathering, Air Permeability, Universal Tensile Testing, Bursting Strength, and more.

These facilities guarantee reliability and standardization for textile, nonwovens, and fabric products, supporting both industry innovation and academic research.

R&D and Application Development: Meeting India’s Emerging Needs

India’s rapid infrastructure growth, environmental regulations, and urban development have fueled demand for advanced filter textiles, acoustic textiles, and geotextiles. DKTE actively drives research and product development in these domains:

Filtration:

Development of innovative filter textiles that enhance efficiency, durability, and sustainability. Import-substitute products have also been launched to support domestic manufacturing.

Acoustics:

Creation of composite nonwoven materials for superior sound absorption and insulation. The emphasis remains on using sustainable, high-performance materials in technical engineering.

Agriculture:

Pioneering subsurface saline water drainage fabrics, which support sustainable agriculture by improving soil health and crop yield through efficient drainage solutions.

 Industry Impact and Outreach: Training, Incubation, and Awareness

DKTE has become the backbone for technical innovation, offering critical incubation support and consultancy to enterprises throughout India. The center has empowered more than 3,000 stakeholders by conducting awareness programs and technical training on nonwovens and technical textiles. These efforts nurture industry-academic synergies, develop talent, and accelerate adoption of new textile technologies.

Vision for the Future: Leading with Excellence

 Pioneering subsurface saline water drainage fabrics, which support sustainable agriculture by improving soil health and crop yield through efficient drainage solutions.

 As the textile sector pivots toward technical textiles, sustainability, and global competitiveness, DKTE’s Centre of Excellence in Nonwovens is advancing education, research, and industry partnership. Its legacy of fostering innovation, investing in infrastructure, and supporting enterprise progression ensures Ichalkaranji and India remain leaders in nonwoven technology for decades to come.