Spinnova and Portuguese Tearfil agree on an R&D yarn-spinning line
PRESS RELEASE | 13.06.2023
Spinnova has entered into a yarn development cooperation agreement with the Portuguese company Tearfil, where Tearfil will operate Spinnova’s R&D yarn-spinning line. Tearfil is a visionary spinning mill, recognized for their key role in the textile sector. The yarn-spinning line is intended for product development and will be located in Guimarães, Portugal at Tearfil's facilities.
The rationale behind the yarn-spinning line is for research and development into using Spinnova's fibre in commercial scale yarn production and to streamline development work with industry partners.
Spinnova has decided to locate the line in Guimarães in Portugal, at Tearfil’s facilities. Spinnova will benefit from the extensive industry know-how of a strong partner and from the proximity of Europe’s most significant textile industry hub in Portugal. This will improve Spinnova’s access to global textile markets.
Spinnova’s yarn-spinning line will be installed at Tearfil's premises. The technology delivery and installations are expected to take place in the fall of 2023, and the spinning line is intended to be operational by the end of the year. Tearfil is responsible for the yarn-spinning line's operations, and Spinnova will use a part of the line capacity for its product development.
In 2021, Spinnova announced that it would establish an R&D yarn-spinning line in Jyväskylä, Finland. The decision to change the location was made during the feasibility planning and discussions with potential partners. This change in location and operational model will slightly decrease the capital expenditure and will lead to lower operational expenses.
"We are very pleased to have agreed a cooperation model with Tearfil where we are able to benefit from Tearfil's decades of experience and expertise in yarn-spinning. The location in Portugal speeds up our product development work and gives us the opportunity to cooperate on development with key players in the industry," says Spinnova interim CEO Ben Selby.
"We look forward to starting cooperation and working together with Spinnova's best-in-class R&D team to further develop innovative textile materials. We are very proud and confident that this collaboration will scale up our impact further," adds Maria de Belém Machado, CEO at Tearfil.
The technology supplier for Spinnova's new spinning mill line is the Swiss-based company Rieter. Rieter is the world’s leading supplier of systems for manufacturing yarn from staple fibers in spinning mills. The company develops and manufactures machinery, systems and components used to convert natural and man-made fibers and their blends into yarns in the most cost-efficient manner. Cutting-edge spinning technology from Rieter contributes to sustainability in the textile value chain by minimizing the use of resources. Rieter has a significant contribution in yarn development for Spinnova blends and spinning with various spinning techniques.
“Sustainable innovation is in the DNA of Rieter and Spinnova. We test and learn passionately to ensure that our operations and products create the biggest possible positive impact,” says Franziska Häfeli, Head Sales and Marketing at Rieter.
More information
Ben Selby, Spinnova CEO (Interim) and CFO, tel. +358 20 703 2430, comms@spinnova.com
SPINNOVA – Sustainable textile materials, naturally
Spinnova transforms the way textiles are manufactured globally. Based in Finland, Spinnova has developed breakthrough patented technology for making textile fibre out of wood or waste, such as leather, textile or agricultural waste, without harmful chemicals. The SPINNOVA® fibre creates zero waste and side streams or microplastics, and its CO2 emissions and water use are minimal. SPINNOVA® materials are quickly biodegradable and circular.
Spinnova is committed to using only sustainable raw materials such as FSC certified wood and waste. SPINNOVA® fibre is produced without harmful or complex chemical processes and has the touch and feel of natural fibres such as cotton and linen. Spinnova has received awards from Fast Company, ISPO, Scandinavian Outdoor, ANDAM, Monocle and Marie Claire UK.
Spinnova’s shares (SPINN) are listed on the Nasdaq First North Growth Market Finland.
SPINNOVA® home: www.spinnova.com
Corporate & IR site: www.spinnovagroup.com
Tearfil
Tearfil is a visionary spinning mill, rooted in Portugal since 1973. Recognizing their key role in the textile sector, they are committed to building a more connected, honest and responsible industry. Blending their solid know-how, with best fibre ingredients and their customers’ progressive ideas, Tearfil mission is to create the smartest, cleanest, most sustainable yarn solutions yet.
Tearfil offers a rich portfolio of yarn compositions and types. Their advanced spinning facilities produce ring spun, compact, open end, siro spun, vortex / air jet, injected, multi colored, melange, flamé and jaspé yarns.
Rieter
Rieter is the world’s leading supplier of systems for manufacturing yarn from staple fibers in spinning mills. Based in Winterthur (Switzerland), the company develops and manufactures machinery, systems and components used to convert natural and man-made fibers and their blends into yarns in the most cost-efficient manner. Cutting-edge spinning technology from Rieter contributes to sustainability in the textile value chain by minimizing the use of resources. Rieter has been in business for more than 225 years, has 18 production locations in ten countries and employs a global workforce of around 5 630, about 16.4% of whom are based in Switzerland. Rieter is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange under ticker symbol RIEN.