The UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT) reports that companies in these regions are investing in automation, digital manufacturing systems and smarter business technologies, enabled by grants and expert guidance from the government-backed Industry 4.0 initiative.
According to UKFT, businesses ranging from branded workwear producers to fashion accessories makers, suppliers of solar shading textiles and manufacturers of marine covers are making use of the Made Smarter Adoption programme, which has been available since November 2018
The programme aims to assist small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in integrating digital tools to improve operations and address current business challenges. Invent Interior Solutions, a solar shading textiles designer and manufacturer based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, received a £20,000 ($26,603) Made Smarter grant towards a £65,000 digital Jacquard loom. The company expects the new equipment to facilitate the creation of more intricate bespoke designs and accelerate product development.
Invent Interior Solutions general manager Joe Roberts said: “The loom transforms what we can create and how we create it. Digital, thread-by-thread control means intricate, bespoke designs and rapid prototyping that were out of reach before. It’s a complete step change for our creative capability.