Our service portfolio
The Smart Textiles Hub is your competent partner for all development issues related to Smart & Technical Textiles. As a central contact point in this area, we are available to you with our services:
- Advice and development of solutions for the desired application scenario
- Development of technical concepts
- Implementation of prototypes and demonstrators with different textile manufacturing processes
- Transfer of the prototypes to production readiness
- Training courses on smart textiles and flat knitting technology
Our technology portfolio
Patterndesign/
development
Go to the section Knitting
Technology
Go to the section Processing of conductive yarns
Go to the section Textile electrodes
manufacturing
Go to the section Textile
manufacturing
Go to the section Electrical
manufacturing
Go to the section 3D-CAD/
Additive Manufacturing
Go to the section Embroidery
Go to the sectionPatterndesign & development
The possibility of producing parts in the flat knitting technique that are true to shape requires that the pattern development be included in the complete development process. For this reason, we think about the cut from the design and concept phase onwards and continue to optimise it during product development. 2D and 3D CAD software is used for this purpose.
Knitting technology
Our basic textile technology is knitting, especially flat knitting. The reasons for this are extensive. In addition to the high patterning variety, the technology provides all the prerequisites for prototyping that is as simple and flexible as possible.
The ability to process different materials in a wide variety of structures enables us to fully influence the textile properties. The use of elastic materials together with the high structural elongation of classic knitted fabrics favours the production of compression textiles. In addition, the elasticity can be adjusted as desired by adapting the weave and material, so that almost inelastic textiles can also be produced.
Another advantage is that yarn can be inserted and integrated with needle precision. In the field of smart textiles, this allows us to integrate electrically conductive elements directly into the textile surface formation process in a targeted manner.
Processing of conductive yarns
Electrically conductive yarns are an important component of smart textiles. The advantages lie in their textile properties. Thus, problems can be eliminated that arise from the use of comparatively rigid copper conductors or similar types of cables. These interfere with the textile properties due to their low stretchability and limited flexibility. Conductive yarns are used by us in both flat knitting and embroidery techniques and offer us maximum flexibility in terms of adjustability of textile and electrical properties.
Textile electrodes manufacturing
One of our special technologies is the production of textile electrical electrodes. These are integrated into the textile and only slightly reduce the textile properties in the respective area. Textile electrodes are mainly used in the field of EMS technology, electronic muscle stimulation. Our electrodes can be used as dry electrodes, which makes them easy to handle and clean. Furthermore, the electrodes are machine-washable, so that we can offer a long-lasting solution for your product.
Textile manufacturing
In addition to textile surface formation, we also produce the corresponding ready-made garments in-house. For this purpose, we have the appropriate sewing machines as well as linking machines at our disposal, which enable the high-quality finishing of knitted fabrics.
Electrical manufacturing
We understand electrical assembly technology as the joining and connecting of electronics and textiles. We also include the assembly of small to medium-sized electronic systems during all development phases as well as in the production of smart textiles.
2D/3D design & additive manufacturing
To expand our prototyping idea, we use the advantages of additive plastic manufacturing in addition to textile manufacturing processes. The use of 3D printing technology allows us to develop special solutions. Especially the connection points between textile and electronics always require new solutions. In the area of development, we use the FDM process with which we can present a highly flexible as well as cost-effective prototyping process. The transfer to 3D printed parts suitable for series production (e.g. in the SLS process) or injection moulded parts is easy to implement after defining and testing the geometries in the FDM process.
Embroidery
In order to exploit the greatest possible flexibility of the textile process chain, we use technical embroidery. This offers us further possibilities to integrate electronic components on the textile surface and to contact printed circuit boards with textile and electrical conductors.
