Long-established UK manufacturer of wool-based textiles for a variety of industrial purposes seeks technical expertise to help develop new applications and products, under a research cooperation agreement

Short summary This long-established UK textile manufacturer has particular expertise in the production of wool-based products for industrial and commercial applications. Examples to date include products for use in the production of musical instruments, bakery belts, printing blankets and chemical spillage absorption. It now seeks partners with technical expertise under a research cooperation agreement, in order to develop new products for other manufacturing applications.

Full description Established in the 18th century, the family-owned UK company is a leading player in the design, manufacture and supply of woollen and worsted fabrics of the highest quality which are used in a wide variety of applications: from ceremonial and military uniforms to high fashion, and from interior fabrics for royal palaces, top hotels and homes to baize for pool and snooker tables. Its production draws upon a long heritage, utilising skills and craftsmanship learnt over 240 years, combined with modern design techniques and trends. The company is able to offer full vertical manufacturing on site, from the selection and blending of the fibres, right through to the dyeing and finishing of the cloth. It chooses only the best quality fleeces from Britain, Australia and New Zealand, matching the fleece and fibre qualities to the end use of the fabric, in order to ensure a finish of the highest quality. It also has an in-house research and testing laboratory, which is UKAS (UK Accreditation Service) accredited and carries out extensive testing and quality control. As well as the production of a range of uniform, protective and fashion products for which it is now world-renowned, the company has developed a range of wool-based products for use in industrial and commercial applications including: • Belts used in bakeries and biscuit factories, valued because of their durability, ability to withstand heat and natural, chemical-free composition. • Musical instruments, including pianos (their products are used by Steinway) and wind instruments. • Printing, the wool fabric acting a blanket to absorb ink and maintain pressure when printing. • Chemical spillage prevention, the wool fabric wicking away spillages from machinery and reducing contamination or fire. • Games tables, in particular for snooker and pool tables, with the company producing the first ever printed cloth for pool tables. These products are sold in many countries world-wide. The flexibility, durability, quality and environmentally friendly characteristics of the wool materials which the company is able to produce open them up to a wide range of uses and, as a result, it is keen to explore other opportunities in these and other industrial areas where there are potential uses for materials of this kind. It therefore wishes to identify partners who have technical expertise in such areas as: food production machinery, sound proofing, sustainable construction, musical instrument production, automotive, paper making or any other areas where there is potential for the use of natural and durable wool textile materials. The partners are needed to bring in their technical knowledge and would be expected to work with the UK company’s R&D and technical teams in the joint development and testing of new products for these and other industrial sectors. It is hoped that by mutually sharing their expertise and knowledge, the UK company and the partners will be able to bring new ideas for the use of this traditional and sustainable material to market.

Advantages and innovations The UK company offers the following advantages to potential partners: • The opportunity to work with a long-established company which is not only able to draw on its long heritage of wool textile production but which has also demonstrated its ability to innovate and explore new markets for its products; • the experience and ability to find the best way to craft the cloth to make it perfect for its specific end use; • in-house vertical production covering: selection and blending of the fibres, carding, spinning, warping, weaving, dyeing, tentering and finishing; • an in-house and accredited research and testing laboratory, permitting the strictest of testing and quality control.

Technical Specification or Expertise Sought The UK company is open to collaboration with technical experts from a wide range of fields, wherever there is the potential to use wool-based textiles/felts. Sectors of particular interest could include: • food manufacturing machinery • soundproofing • paper industry • automotive, especially interiors • sustainable construction • musical instrument manufacture but the company is open to collaboration with experts from other sectors who believe that there are possible applications for woollen fabrics/felts

Contact / source: NEXT EEN Widgets (europa.eu)