Functional Textiles

Fair transition for the fashion sector. Just Fashion drives the climate transition in the fashion industry, promoting circular, sustainable, inclusive and resilient business models. With the collaboration of several European regions and actors, the project prepares companies in the sector for the demands of the Green Deal, transforming their production methods, internal processes and end products towards more sustainable practices. The main objectives of the project are: Research and innovation: Generate practical and transferable knowledge through six pilots to accelerate the transformation of the fashion sector. Sustainability and circular economy: Promote sustainable and circular practices to [...]

Turning agri-food waste and biomass into sustainable polymers. The Polymers-5B project develops novel alternative biological polymers synthesized from biobased monomers sourced from underexploited second-generation feedstocks, such as agri/food waste and biomass, obeying the food first and cascading principle. Polymers-5B brings together cutting-edge technologies and knowledge to develop and drive innovation in biocatalysis and green chemistry processes, generating novel bio-based polymers like polyesters and polyamides with pendent functional groups (e.g. hydroxy, carboxylic, amine, epoxy, thiol, etc.), polyphenols and polyfurans, which mimic fossil-based polymers properties, targeting improved biodegradability. These new polymers will be blended to provide valuable bio-composites [...]

New approach to engineering soft structures. The SWAG project develops lower limb exosuits, specifically, soft wearable exoskeletal robots to empower the lower body and core. SWAG replaces the traditional rigid materials found in exoskeletons with high-strength inflatable fabrics and sensing films to create smart, human-assistive, soft and lightweight garments. These exosuits ensure user comfort and safety, while remaining virtually undetected, invisible under clothing thanks to their garment-like design. In addition, SWAG exosuits empower humans in activities from occupational assistance to daily mobility, fitness and immersive entertainment. Eurecat's Functional Textiles Unit participates in the SWAG project by [...]

Development, testing and validation of good practices in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). The TEACH4SD project mobilizes industry, research and innovation capacities and links them in new and innovative ways to the education and training sector. TEACH4SD fully integrates and expands certified approaches to ESD in vocational education and training (VET) and higher education institutions (HEIs) across Europe, in collaboration with key industrial partners. For successful transitions to sustainability, the guiding principle of TEACH4SD is to empower and educate teachers to take a leading role as agents of change and thus contribute to the European ambition [...]

Development of a new generation of eco-designed and automated circular knitting machines. The EcoTex project focuses on reducing the environmental impact in the production of circular knitting machines, implementing a sustainable design and optimizing the use of materials. EcoTex improves the ergonomics of the operator with a solution that contemplates the redesign of the machine in order  to reduce its environmental impact, the development of specific sensors, predictive maintenance, and improving the ergonomy throught automated needle feeding and loading systems. This initiative arises as a response to the urgent need to reduce the environmental impact in [...]

Study of advanced robotics solutions for the textile sector. The FASHIONAUT project aims to digitise and robotise potential manufacturing processes in the textile industry, opening the door to new automation solutions using the latest market innovations. The main innovations contributed by the project consist of the detection of materials through artificial vision with hyperspectral cameras, the development of an algorithm for the manipulation of flexible materials and the use of artificial vision for the measurement and classification of textile fabrics. The robotisation and automation of production processes in the textile industry, especially in SMEs, is the [...]

Design and development of a new generation of circular knitting machines with total and predictive quality control. The PRECATEX project implements an innovative total and predictive quality control system with the objective to allow the productivity of quality textiles and minimises defective production. This new system is achieved by using new techniques not currently implemented in the sector, such as new generation sensors and the integration of Predictive Quality Models. Eurecat, which participates in the project through its Applied Artificial Intelligence Unit, the New Manufacturing Processes Unit and the Functional Textiles Unit, is responsible for the [...]

Systemic and holistic approach towards the creation of a European Union market for locally-produced circular textiles and clothing made from bio-based waste. The HEREWEAR project has the objective to promote new materials solutions on the latest bio-based polyesters and cellulose developments. The Functional Textiles Unit of Eurecat participates in the project developing, at semi-industrial scale, emerging sustainable technologies for wet and melt spinning and their transformation into yarn and fabrics. On the other hand, the Unit of Waste, Energy and Environmental Impact (WEEI) of Eurecat participates in tasks related to the eco-friendly enzymatic treatment for finishing [...]

The Territorial Competitiveness Specialization Project (PECT in its acronym in Spanish) is the materialization of multiple strategies in Mataró city and Maresme region for the transformation of the territory through the construction of an intelligent, sustainable and inclusive economic growth model. The PECT of Mataró Maresme is aligned with two priority axes of the FEDER Catalonia Operative Programme 2014-2020, which respond, on the one hand, to promoting research, technological development and innovation, and, on the other hand, improving the competitiveness of SMEs. The PECT has two major sectorial actions: the textile, with the REIMAGINE TEXTILE project [...]

Development of fibre-based smart materials along with an integrated platform with the aim to manufacture new products with multi-sectoral applications in consumer electronics and lighting, among others. The project 1D-NEON explores ground breaking concepts that will provide cutting edge advances in the design, sustainable manufacturing, testing and integration of novel functionalized fibres into multi-functional devices. 1D-NEON shifts component manufacturing from 2D to 1D fibres, which opens up a field for a much broader range of free form factors made possible by weaving each element onto a multi-functional nano-fibre network. 1D-NEON is a 48 months Innovation Action [...]

The expansion of tropical diseases such as dengue, malaria, and more recently, Zika, is becoming a continuous growing global problem according to all the world health associations and departments. One of the main vectors in the transmission of these diseases on a worldwide scale are mosquito bites. The primary aim of the RETOS Microrep project is to develop intelligent microcapsules that include mosquito repellent and fragrances to prevent the spread of tropical diseases. These microcapsules are applied to fabrics, and emit controlled amounts which vary according to temperature changes. In addition to developing the microcapsules, research will be done [...]

The objective of NANOPATEX is the development of functional textiles aimed at thermal sensorisation and/or controlled release of substances into the skin for health and physical well-being purposes, based on the use of synthetic micro/nano-structured PA fibres through polymeric particles which contain the active ingredients and components. Consortium formed by: Nurel and Eurecat. General data Project Development of micro/nano-structured PA textiles with polymeric particles functionalised with active substances for health purposes (NANOPATEX). Project reference RTC-2014-2514-1 Programme and call for proposals The Collaboration-Challenges call for proposals of the State Programme for Research, Development and [...]