Report
Teaser, summary, work performed and final results
Periodic Reporting for period 1 - HIPER-YARN (High performance yarn for public transport, home textiles and protective wear)
Teaser
HIPER-YARNs are advanced composite textile materials that resulted from the research and development activities carried out in-house by EGARFIL driven by the market need for high performance yarns with cut-proof capabilities for anti-vandal applications in public...
Summary
HIPER-YARNs are advanced composite textile materials that resulted from the research and development activities carried out in-house by EGARFIL driven by the market need for high performance yarns with cut-proof capabilities for anti-vandal applications in public transportation seating upholstery (MOBILTECH sector) and other sectors interested in such properties such as home textiles’ sector (HOMETECH) for upholstery and carpets or protective garments for safety wear (safety gloves and clothing - PROTECH). A key driver is regulation update of 89/686/EEC to EU 2016/425 regulation which entered in effect on April 2018 and the updated CEN-TS 45545-2. This new regulation is more stringent in the performance required for several products in automotive and safety wear sectors.
EGARFIL is a long-fiber worsted yarns’ manufacturer immersed in the conversion from conventional yarn production for traditional applications to technical yarn production for added-value textiles. The present project represents a breakthrough innovation for the company as it aims to introduce to the market this new product, which represents a technological advance in the field, not comparable with state-of-the-art solutions.
The overall goal of the feasibility study was:
1. Determine the technical viability for the adaptation of current manufacturing equipment to produce the new yarn and optimize the production process.
2. Identify and analyse the market: segmentation, distribution channels and regulations to define the capabilities profile and competitive advantages.
3. Identify and select key industrial partners for product distribution and stakeholders for technical certifications and testing agreements.
4. Analyse the IP position, freedom to operate and protection options of EGARFIL’s new yarn.
5. Define a business plan and the business strategy for commercialization of the new yarn including production capabilities (current and needed), marketing strategy (distribution, pricing and promotion), financial plan (costs to be incurred, margin and investments needed) and definition of the roadmap for the implementation of the next stages.
Work performed
EGARFIL assessed the different strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats summarized in the following SWOT analysis of the current EGARFIL position with HIPER-YARN
In total EGARFIL meet with potential customer representatives several times during the SME Instrument Phase 1 period in order to assess and gather feedback from the initial prototypes of the HIPER-YARNs.
After the firsts tests with the HIPER-YARN prototypes, one of the demonstration customers validated the vandal-proof properties with high cut resistance. The feedback was extremely valuable as a customer validated the main feature of HIPER-YARNs, but some further improvements are needed. EGARFIL has already started to draft and to adjust the yarn composition. A preliminary test was performed in the yarn spinning company in EGARFIL group to test the new formulation where several aspects for improvement were identified that needs further investment to address during phase 2
The market analysis started from the beginning of the period with intense screening of the different customers EGARFIL has had during the past years with whom a relationship is already envisaged. Also, as part of the regular commercial activity, the commercial director highlighted the main characteristics of HIPER-YARN under development to a selected group of customers on different markets with positive interest from the different stakeholders.
EGARFIL has benefited from the EEN coaching for the IP position assessment with an expert in the field. The coaching experience has been extremely useful in order to define the current IPR status and next steps.
Final results
EGARFIL started to estimate the volumes for each of those potential customers for HIPER-YARNs based on the current demands for different products and their volume. We identified that with a mere group of 12 early users, EGARFIL has a potential to reach over 51 tons of HIPER-YARN product per year.
In order to implement the business plan, EGARFIL will continue on SME Instrument phase 2 for further investment to scale up.
EGARFIL expects to create several FTE jobs during scaling up of the HIPER-YARN Project commercially.
Website & more info
More info: http://www.egarfil.com.