Robots to take over apparel making in future

That day isn’t not far away, when apparel factories across the world would have robots working in their production lines, and achieving higher precision and productivity.

Atlanta-based textile equipment manufacturer SoftWear Automation Inc has already started working in this direction, and plans to commercially launch automatic sewing machines and LOWRY, a lightweight robot used in fabric handling, pick and place operations, and direct sewing, by 2026.

Futuristic technology like installing robots in production lines emerged out of the recent trend of reducing manufacturer’s dependence on humans. With automation being incorporated in several sections of the production line, entrepreneurs are increasingly opting to reduce the posts for helpers in garment factories and introducing lean production systems, where sewing operators can also handle fabrics.

In this regard, SoftWear CEO KP Reddy said, “Because of the exodus of sewn product manufacturing jobs to lower income countries decades ago, American manufacturers lack access to skilled seamstresses with the ability to produce high-quality garments at affordable prices.” Interestingly, however, the same problem is now being faced by India, Central America and China.

To tackle these issues of rising wages and shortage of man power, garment makers are planning for this technology, so much so a Bangladeshi firm has already expressed interest in the firm’s technology.

However, Anwar-ul-Alam Chowdhury Parvez, former President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, has expressed concerns saying, “We will need workers, even if robots can produce more. Customers like eco-friendly and environment friendly fashions. We need more workers for such fashion. The robots would not be able to produce those fashions.”

Currently, 4.4 million people work in garment factories in Bangladesh, of which about 30 per cent work in the production cycle is done through automation. Henceforth, introducing robots might increase to 50 per cent, but still it will be an expensive affair for the garment makers.