The LYCRA Company, a leading provider of fibre and technology solutions for the global apparel and personal care industries, announced it will officially open its new Advanced Textile Innovation Center (ATIC) in Nanhai, China on May 16. The new 4,500-sq-m R&D laboratory, which is the company’s fourth, represents a significant increase in the U.S.-based firm’s global R&D capabilities.
Scientists at the R&D centre will help mills, brands and retailers throughout Asia, as well as Western-based companies with local sourcing offices, create innovative fabrics and garments using The LYCRA Company’s branded textile solutions, which include LYCRA fibre, LYCRA HyFit ® fibre, COOLMAX ® fibre and THERMOLITE ® fibre. The research team will also engage with customers in opportunity identification, as well as the development and commercialisation of new polymer, fibre and textile technologies.
ATIC is fully equipped with commercial equipment to simulate real world manufacturing processes including knitting, weaving, dyeing and finishing. This will enable The LYCRA Company to deliver unmatched technical support to its customers, ensuring consistent product quality and helping to reduce risk. In addition, the lab has garment engineering, fabric certification and analytical testing tools to help customers achieve desired performance attributes for their fabrics or garments.