The Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone (AMTZ) has commissioned a Medical Textiles Testing Laboratory at its campus in Visakhapatnam, with the facility inaugurated by Union Minister for Textiles Giriraj Singh. The laboratory is designed to provide advanced testing, validation and quality assurance services for a wide range of medical textile products.
During the visit, Giriraj Singh was received by Dr Jitendra Sharma, Managing Director and Founder CEO of AMTZ, who outlined the organisation’s initiatives aimed at supporting domestic medical technology manufacturing and healthcare innovation.
Officials presented the capabilities of the newly established laboratory, which will assess products including surgical gowns, masks, personal protective equipment (PPE), surgical drapes and wound-care materials. The facility is equipped to conduct testing related to barrier performance, microbial resistance, safety standards and product reliability to ensure compliance with quality requirements.
The laboratory is expected to provide manufacturers across the country with access to specialised testing infrastructure, reducing the need for overseas testing services and supporting faster product development.
As part of the visit, the Minister also toured several manufacturing facilities within the AMTZ ecosystem. At the IMEDS facility, he reviewed the production of surgical skin staplers, removers and sterile wound-closure products developed for surgical and wound management applications.
The visit also included a presentation at the Nanoshell facility, where officials highlighted ongoing work in advanced materials manufacturing. Plans related to the production of high-purity graphene were showcased, with applications spanning healthcare, textiles, electronics, energy storage and advanced composite manufacturing.
Demonstrations further covered ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene production, a high-performance polymer used in orthopedic implants and other medical applications due to its strength, durability and biocompatibility.
Addressing the gathering, Giriraj Singh praised AMTZ for its contribution to India’s self-reliance initiatives and highlighted its role in strengthening domestic manufacturing capabilities. He noted that the ecosystem represents a significant achievement in reducing dependence on imported medical technologies while fostering innovation and advanced manufacturing within the country.
The Minister also emphasized the importance of integrated industrial ecosystems that combine research, manufacturing and innovation under a single platform, describing AMTZ as a model that aligns closely with the national vision of building a developed and self-sufficient India by 2047.
Dr Jitendra Sharma stated that the Minister’s visit reinforces the growing recognition of India’s capabilities in medical technology and technical textiles. He highlighted AMTZ’s ongoing commitment to enabling innovation, supporting indigenous manufacturing and building globally competitive healthcare technology infrastructure.
The Medical Textiles Testing Laboratory is expected to contribute to quality assurance, product competitiveness and the continued development of India’s medical textiles manufacturing sector.