The inspirations and blessings of a few woolen industrialists in the 1960's gave the initiation and launched research & development concepts in wool, which further got concrete shape with the setting up of the "Wool Research Association" (WRA) in October, 1963. The testing services for the physical and chemical testing of wool was the initial service offered by the WRA. Later it was expanded to include computer colour matching, computer aided textile designing, carpet designing, weaving and training, pilot plant for woollen spinning, textile technology and engineering division, spinning of speciality fibres on modern spinning, natural dyeing / vegetable dyeing and eco-testing, all in its own premises at Kolshet Road, Thane, covering an area of 75,000 sq. yards.