Description

This report profiles seven UK companies which are at the forefront of innovation in smart fabrics and intelligent textiles, namely: Auxetix, d3o lab, Eleksen, Engineered Fibre Structures, EXO², Fibretronic and Peratech. Some of these companies have developed and commercialised functional fabric-based products incorporating integrated electronics. Such products are capable of interfacing with or accommodating iPods, mobile phones and laptop computers, and include sports jackets, bags, business suits and fabric keyboards. Eleksen, Fibretronic and Peratech are among a number of UK-based companies leading this field. At the same time, other smart materials offering new performance features for a varied range of end uses have emerged. Many are based on the results of academic research, and some have been created by modifying existing textile manufacturing technology. Such materials include: blast curtains and self-locking sticking threads from Auxetix; protective equipment for high performance sports applications from d3o lab; a glove which can be used to control games consoles and other electronic devices from Engineered Fibre Structures; and heat conducting clothing technology from EXO².

Table of Contents

SUMMARY INTRODUCTION AUXETIX D3O LAB Product technologies Product development Products d3o Flex d3o Armour Financing future growth ELEKSEN The technology Brand partners and their products Ermenegildo Zegna Bagir G-Tech Belkin Finance Future products ENGINEERED FIBRE STRUCTURES EXO² FIBRETRONIC PERATECH/SOFTSWITCH List of tables Table 1: Eleksen: financial summary, 2005-07 List of figures Figure 1: Auxetic materials Figure 2: d3o materials Figure 3: Eleksen bag Figure 4: Eleksen coat Figure 5: Eleksen flexible keyboard Figure 6: Eleksen double-sided fabric keyboard Figure 7: Engineered Fibre Structures control-glove Figure 8: StomRider heated vest Figure 9: Fibretronic Fiddler Joystick Controller IP30-J Figure 10: Fibretronic Keypad controller IP-30K