The Nonwovens Innovation And Research Institute (NIRI), based in Leeds, UK, has shifted to new headquarters with a £1.2 million investment which is more than double the size of their facilities. It includes seven new laboratories with increased R&D capability to boost nonwoven and fiber product development.

The new facilities have been designed in collaboration with a strong team of textile engineers with combined experience of more than 400 years of textile science and industrial expertise. This new facility includes a range of cutting-edge equipment and latest technology. This setup is ideal to create the next generation nonwovens and fibers, ranging from lightweight fabrics to durable materials, tailor-made for specific client applications.

“We’ve invested in more equipment, more people, bigger and better-equipped labs. This move will help enable us to deliver our three-year strategy for growth, with the expansion of our functional chemistry, formulation, and polymer engineering capability; recruitment of 20 additional technical textile scientists; acquisition of complimentary operations, and the expansion of our US and EU presence. Having successfully proven our model we will soon be seeking the right investment partner to accelerate our growth and deliver positive impact to more organizations across the globe,” said Chris Fowler, NIRI Group founder.

The institute will continue to expand and work on ground-breaking scientific R&D. It will also collaborate with businesses and utilise cutting-edge technologies to accelerate client growth. It is also open to welcoming clients, partners, and industry stakeholders to visit the state-of-the-art facility and witness first-hand the breakthrough advancements being made in nonwoven and fiber research.