nir-vana innovation network

Established in the 18th century, the family-owned UK company is a leading player in the design, manufacture and supply of woollen and worsted fabrics of the highest quality which are used in a wide variety of applications: from ceremonial and military uniforms to high fashion, and from interior fabrics for royal palaces, top hotels and homes to baize for pool and snooker tables. Its production draws upon a long heritage, utilising skills and craftsmanship learnt over 240 years, combined with modern design techniques and trends. The company is able to offer full vertical manufacturing on site, from the selection and blending of the fibres, right through to the dyeing and finishing of the cloth. It chooses only the best quality fleeces from Britain, Australia and New Zealand, matching the fleece and fibre qualities to the end use of the fabric, in order to ensure a finish of the highest quality. It also has an in-house research and testing laboratory, which is UKAS (UK Accreditation Service) accredited and carries out extensive testing and quality control. As well as the production of a range of uniform, protective and fashion products for which it is now world-renowned, the company has developed a range of innovative, wool-based products for use in industrial and commercial applications including: • Belts used in bakeries and biscuit factories, valued because of their durability, ability to withstand heat and natural, chemical-free composition; • Musical instruments, including pianos (their products are used by Steinway) and wind instruments; • Printing, the wool fabric acting as a blanket to absorb ink and maintain pressure when printing; • Chemical spillage prevention, the wool fabric wicking away spillages from machinery and reducing contamination or fire; • Games tables, in particular for snooker and pool tables, with the company producing the first ever printed cloth for pool tables. These products are sold in many countries world-wide. The flexibility, durability, quality and environmentally-friendly characteristics of the wool materials which the company is able to produce open them up to a wide range of uses and it is therefore keen to explore other opportunities, either in the sectors listed above or in other industrial areas where there are potential applications for materials of this kind. It therefore wishes to identify new manufacturing or industrial partners who have a need for natural and durable wool textile materials and would be willing to work with the UK firm on a long-term collaborative basis, under a manufacturing or any other form of lasting supply relationship. Partners would have the opportunity to work together with the UK company in order to obtain a product specific to their requirements or develop their own new products incorporating fabrics from the firm.