Dutch textile firms eye ‘Factory of the Future’
The Dutch province of Overijssel has granted a €1.5 million development subsidy to a consortium headed by TenCate for a €6 million innovation centre called The Factory of the Future.
The objective is to make the production of TenCate materials, such as protective fabrics, more efficient, sustainable and ‘smart’.
One of the main focuses is to integrate Osiris technology digital inkjet technology into TenCate’s production. It can lead to higher production speeds and is a sustainable finishing technology for technical textiles, it says.
"Innovation is the key focus area in strengthening the competitiveness of our country,” said Theo Rietkerk, a member of the Provincial Executive of Overijssel for Economy, Energy and Innovation.
“This project is also of great importance for the regional economy, the SMEs that supply it and the growth of regional employment, both direct and indirect. It also acts as a pull factor on other companies, including multinationals."
TenCate has set up a pilot scheme at its Nijverdal facility so that other companies can conduct tests with the new digital technology, and it will be operational by the end of the year. It is expected to generate 50 to 100 direct jobs in the region within the next five years.
