PT TÜV SÜD PSB, an internationally recognized testing body, in collaboration with PT Qualis Indonesia and Nissenken has begun providing testing and certification facility for international standards to the Indonesian textile and clothing manufacturers.
Speaking to fibre2fashion, general manager of PT TÜV SÜD PSB, Ms. Ema Damayanty said, “Our partnership with PT Qualis Indonesia and Nissenken will provide greater accessibility, time and cost efficiencies for textile manufacturers of Indonesia.”
“The new facility will offer comprehensive test services, including chemical, performance and regulatory testing, to support softlines (textiles and apparels) manufacturers in complying with international quality and safety requirements for their products,” she adds.
When asked about the benefits of the new facility to the Indonesian textile and apparel producers, Ms. Damayanty says, “Softlines manufacturers in Indonesia can now test and certify their textiles and clothing to international standards through an independent third party testing, inspection and certification body.”
Asked about the need for introducing testing and certification services in Indonesia, she said, “We see a huge potential in the textile industry in Indonesia and enabling businesses achieve higher standards or gain quicker access to foreign markets would result in economic growth on a local, regional and global scale.”
Testing of textile occurs at every stage from the design to sourcing, manufacturing and finally to the retail stage. There are numerous tests that a textile item needs to go through including physical, chemical, performance, ecological and regulatory testing.
In terms of certification, there are also many international standards that apply to textiles & clothing manufacturers, specific to social compliance such as SA8000 and BSCI. Factory and supplier audits are also necessary to ensure that quality is maintained at the sourcing and manufacturing stages.
“When it comes to textiles and clothing, consumers have high expectations for consistency, quality and safety. By working with an independent third party testing and certification body, textile manufacturers can be assured of end-to-end quality assurance,” Ms. Damayanty opines.
According to the Indonesian Textile Association (API), Indonesian textile manufacturers will likely see their exports rising by six percent to US$ 13.4 billion in 2013 and the Indonesian textile sector is expected to attract investment of about US$ 155 million this year.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Industry Ministry has also pledged to raise the competitiveness of the country’s textiles and apparels through the refurbishment of machinery and equipment.
