R&D&I

This unprecedented technology owned by aquaclean group can be applied to fabrics and enables consumers to clean away stains using water only. A whole series of Group brands use the aquaclean treatment in their products to achieve outstanding results, in both efficiency and sales.

This technology, also owned by aquaclean group, is intended to combat the presence of mites and bacteria in upholstery products, preventing the onset of allergies and other associated problems.

This is a fabric protection system for liquids and stains. It is based on in-house technology developed to provide a waterproof barrier for fabrics while preserving their breathability.

“Development of a new fire-resistant upholstery material with vandal-proof effect”Project funded by ERDF Funds for the purpose of: Developing a fabric with high flame retardation and vandal-proof effect. Conclusions: Obtaining a fabric with fire behaviour superior to the English CRIB 7 standard and anti-vandal properties for use in public transport.

The “Loom Replacement” project, with file number E4IN12/2015/114, is a project which has been created with the support of the Institute for Small and Medium Industries of the Valencian Regional Government (IVACE) under the Programme for Savings and Energy Efficiency in Industry, subsidised 50% by the European Union within the ERDF Operational Programme of the Valencia Region 2014-2020 through Axis 4. Under this project, started up in July 2015 and concluded in May 2016, the company replaced two Jacquard Somet Thema 11 looms and their corresponding Jacquard Bonas machines, with two new flat PICANOL NV looms model OPTIMAX-8-R, which are technologically superior looms providing greater energy efficiency and increased production.

ENERGY IMPROVEMENT FOR COMPANY LIGHTING

"Energy Improvement for Company Lighting" with file number E4IN12/2016/122 is a project carried out with the help of the Valencian Institute of Business Competitiveness (IVACE) under the Energy Savings and Efficiency Programme in Industry, co-financed 50% by the European Union, within the ERDF Operational Programme of the Valencian Community 2014-2020 through Axis 4. For this project, from March to November 2016, the company replaced its old lighting with new LED lighting, as well as installing presence and movement detectors, in view of the multiple advantages that these measures provide to companies. LED lighting offers significantly lower power consumption and helps to reduce electricity bills.

Antecuir participated in the MOOD 2017 Homes Textiles trade event held in Brussels, with the support of ICEX, as well as co-financing from European FEDER funds, contributing their share to the economic growth of this company, its region and Spain as a whole.

Interfabrics participated in the MOOD 2017 Homes Textiles trade event held in Brussels, with the support of ICEX, as well as co-financing from European FEDER funds, contributing their share to the economic growth of this company, its region and Spain as a whole.

INCORPORATING NEW TECHNOLOGY WITH THE LATEST ADVANCES IN TEXTURIZING WITHIN COMPANIES

The incorporation of a new high performance air texturing machine was part of this CDTI project. This innovation project from August to October 2017 incorporated the purchase of a texturizer allowing for greater volume and opacity, among other properties, to the yarns processed at INTERFABRICS, in order to multiply thread processing possibilities (colours, thickness, knots, opacity, etc.). Thanks to the acquisition of this new machine we were able to expand our internal services, with which we can now develop and manufacture high quality yarns internally, and with new innovations, since we lacked an internal spinning process. We can now obtain multiple options, possibilities and effects in terms of colour combinations, variations in thickness, different number of knots, etc., offering the quality standards in end fabrics which are expected of a company like ours. This new machine enables us to implement internal development of new R&D initiatives. Thanks to this project, we have now been able to differentiate ourselves from the competition, as this type of machine is totally innovative, and there is no other national competitor to date with facilities like ours. The in-servicing of this new machine was strategically important for the future of our company, since it allows us to continue positioning ourselves in the market and rank as a leading company in our field of activity. The result was a resounding success, since the company has innovated and expanded its technology and processes, and put new processes in gear, without having to resort to the external purchase of innovative yarns, obtaining fabrics with high added value.

Lack of workplace experience and skills and competencies is one of the contributing factors to the skills gap in the European Union today. While 5.6 million young people in the EU suffer from the consequences of unemployment, 36% of companies admit that it is difficult to find candidates with the skills they need. Something is clearly wrong. The need to identify, adapt and adopt practices that can address this skills gap is urgent. This lack is highly noticeable in the textile sector, where companies require more technical staff with up-to-date skills and knowledge, allowing them to use and handle hi-tech machines and equipment in textile manufacturing processes.

In view of this imbalance in the labor market, five institutions from Austria (BEST), Spain (AITEX, ANTECUIR and UPV) and Portugal (CITEVE) have launched the LEARNINGTEX Project. Following an evaluation of the textile sector in the different countries of the consortium and an analysis of results, the companies identified two weak aspects: fabrics themselves, and new quality control processes. European textile companies can only compete on the world market if they offer quality and generate value-added products. Competing in price against third countries is impossible. The only way to compete is in quality and design against low cost and low quality products manufactured in emerging countries outside Europe.

The LEARNINGTEX project, financed by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Commission, is in its second and final year. The project in which ANTECUIR participates intends to develop a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) based on OERs (Open Educational Resources) covering advanced technologies for quality control of fabrics, not only to upgrade textile employee skills, but also for inexperienced workers who have just finished their studies. The course is aimed at textile employees and students interested in learning about fabrics, machinery, and the application of new technologies to improve quality control processes and reduce costs.

The various educational contents for the MOOC are currently being developed and will shortly be validated by ANTECUIR and the other partners.

INCORPORATION OF A NEW STENTER FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A NEW LINE IN INNOVATIVE FINISHES

The incorporation of a new stenter and its auxiliary equipment was another CDTI project This innovation project beginning February 2017 and ending in March 2018, consisted of the implementation of a stenter and its auxiliary equipment to facilitate the application of new properties and innovations to fabrics and provide them with the highest quality with the ultimate goal of becoming a vertical company that no longer depends on the group's external processes. This favours company competitiveness, in terms of improved service and improvements in end quality, by being able to control the finishes to be applied. Thanks to this investment in new equipment and process that were unavailable at the company until now, INTERFABRICS will experience significant technical and commercial advances, since it will no longer have to resort to other group companies, but will instead be capable of innovating finishes that are of high quality, and control each of the variables involved. One of the motivations that led to this new investment was the diversification of its products towards new fabrics with more innovative finishes, which in turn favours the value chain in the textile sector. The in-servicing of this new machine was strategically important for the future of our company, since it allows us to continue positioning ourselves in the market and rank as a leading company in our field of activity.

The result was a resounding success, since the company has innovated and expanded its technology and processes, and put new processes in gear, without having to resort to the group companies to obtain fabrics with high added value.

ANTECUIR is participating in the LEARNINGTEX project, whose MOOC will be presented in October as an open online course on textile quality control. After completing the creation of digital contents, the LEARNINGTEX project is focusing its efforts on the validation and completion of the OER (Open Educational Resources) that will shape the MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) on textile quality control through the use of advanced technologies.

In recent months, the OERs have been presented to different audiences and target groups in the various countries in which the consortium is operating. The participants have had the opportunity to collaborate in the project and evaluate the acquisition of knowledge in the area through first-hand viewing of the resources created.

During the months of July and August, the OERs are set to be finalized and will be hosted on the MOOC platform to be presented to the public in September and October, and be readily available to all interested parties.

The first presentation will take place in Alcoy, Spain, on the Campus of the Polytechnic University of Valencia, followed by other presentations in the other countries of the consortium.

This project was funded with the support of the European Commission. This publication (communication) is the sole responsibility of its author. The Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information published here.

INTERFABRICS SL participated in the COLOMBIATEX 2019 Home Textiles Sector Fair held in Medellín, wiht the support of ICEX, as well as co-financing from European FEDER funds, contributing their share to the economic growth of this company, its region and Spain as a whole

The company INTERFABRICS S.L. has completed the project “DEVELOPMENT OF SELF-DISINFECTING CLOTHING ITEMS BASED ON TITANIUM DIOXIDE FOR THE PROTECTION OF HEALTHCARE PERSONNEL (1/2)”, under the acronym TITANTEX, thanks to the help of the Centre for Technological Development and Innovation (CDTI) of the Spanish Ministry of Industry, Economy and Competitiveness, co-financed by the European Union (FEDER Funds) through the Intelligent Growth Operational programme (2014-2020).

This project began in December 2020 when R&D staff, in their research efforts, set themselves the goal of creating a new textile technology with self-disinfecting properties for the development of work clothes that provide healthcare personnel with extra protection against pathogenic microorganism infections in a continuous and uninterrupted way. This was a strategic leap forward in expanding their product range.

After 23 months of work at the Alcoy plant, and with a CDTI contribution of €283,636.50, the company has successfully answered this new technological challenge.