£1.75m 3D weaving loom at the centre of £4.4m university upgrade
A cutting-edge 3D weaving loom that is the only one of its kind in the UK is at the heart of a new £1.75m textiles innovation centre at the University of Leeds.
The centre, which will develop advanced prototypes for a wide range of sectors, from aerospace to healthcare, is part of a wider investment in facilities at the University’s School of Design.
As part of the £4.4m upgrade, new weaving, knitting, digital printing, coloration and colour communication facilities have enhanced the School’s research and development capabilities. The year-long programme has also provided new laboratories, exhibition areas and student spaces.
Many of the improvements have taken place in the School’s Clothworkers’ South Building, opened as the Man-Made Fibres Building in 1956, which has long been home to major innovations in fabrics, colour science and printing.
Dominic Dormeuil is president of luxury textiles firm Dormeuil, which is based in Paris but has a commercial base in Dewsbury and a long-term partnership with weavers in Yorkshire. Its fabrics have clothed the well-dressed and famous for decades – from The Beatles to James Bond, from politicians to royalty.
“I am a firm believer that strong cooperation between universities and companies is key to the successful research of new innovative processes and products,” he said.
“Dormeuil are now looking to work with the School in developing new products and introduce innovations in to the fabrics that will be world beaters and leaders to be showcased around the world.”
Professor Chris Carr, head of the School of Design, said: “The new equipment and facilities we are unveiling today are a key part of the University’s aim to invest in knowledge and opportunity – to provide the very best for our researchers and students and to enhance the excellent partnerships we have with the very best designers and industrialists across the region and indeed the world.
“Our investment will also help us continue to enhance productive relationships between design and technology.”
The 3D Weaving Innovation Centre is part-funded through a £881,191 grant from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Roger Marsh, chair of Leeds City Region LEP, said: “Innovation is part of the fabric of Leeds City Region and its textile industry, in particular, is central to our innovation pedigree.”
