MANTRA inaugurates state-of-the-art face mask and PPE kit testing laboratory in Surat

Textile entrepreneurs in the country’s largest Man-Made Fabric (MMF) industry in Surat grabbed the opportunity to manufacture face masks and PPE kits during the coronavirus pandemic following the huge demand from across the country. The face masks and PPE Kits manufactured in Surat were not only sold in India but were exported to other countries around the world.

However, the manufacturers of PPE kits and Face Masks had to depend on the TRA in Coimbatore in South India for the testing and certification.

Rajnikant Bachkaniwala, president of MANTRA said, “We faced a lot of difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic for setting up the laboratory due to the non-availability of the laboratory testing equipment. Now that the testing lab is fully functional at MANTRA, the manufacturers of face masks and PPE kits will not have to wait for long to get their samples tested and certified”

According to Bachkaniwala, MANTRA will soon apply for the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) certification. In the next couple of months, the exporters of face masks and PPE kits will be able to certify their products at MANTRA.

MANTRA has spent Rs 2.5 crore for setting up the state-of-the-art testing laboratory. The laboratory is equipped to carry out tests including bacteria filteration efficienty, particle filtration efficiency, synthetic blood penetration test, differential pressure, etc.

“The demand for face masks and PPE kit will not decrease in the coming years. In many industrial units including those connected with health, hospitality etc., face masks are mandatory. The demand of PPE kits is ever increasing due to various kinds of viruses including Monkeypox striking in some parts of the world” said Bachkaniwala.

MANTRA is one of the eight National Textile Research Associations (TRAs) and the leading TRA in man-made fibers, linked to the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, and recognised as a Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (SIRO) by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India.