AITEX, a research and innovation center, offers high value-added services to companies through applied research projects, technological innovation, and certification of products and materials. It also provides technical training for businesses. AITEX aims to boost R&D and strengthen the competitiveness of organizations, developing new projects every year to deliver practical, real-world solutions for companies in the Valencia Community and across the nation.
R&D is organized around four major thematic areas. The first focuses on new high-performance and functionalized materials, with the goal of creating products that offer distinctive technical and economic value. The second area centers on circular economy and sustainability, emphasizing recycling techniques and the performance of works in terms of biodegradability, compostability, and carbon footprint, along with eco-design and more resource-efficient processes that save energy, water, and chemicals. The third area addresses advanced manufacturing, smart textiles, and digitalisation, designed to meet the technology challenges of digitalization and to develop production processes that are far more efficient through data capture and management. The fourth field concentrates on high value-added solutions for strategic markets, spanning home textiles, cosmetics, automotive, construction, defense, PPE, fashion, health, sports, and detergents, and includes sector-specific project applications.
environmental design
One thematic line runs across projects to advance sustainability, ecodesign. This approach describes decisions that shape a product or service while considering environmental impact at every stage of its life cycle. It also weighs the environmental profile, material variety, energy requirements, durability, and recycling methods used. These techniques have been tested in research projects through pilot applications under initiatives such as Thinking Green or Up Circular, funded by the Valencian Institute of Business Competitiveness. The status includes studies on second recyclability of materials that were previously valued.
The work also evaluates the environmental footprint and resource use, guiding processes toward more sustainable outcomes. Thinking Green or Up Circular explores how innovations can extend product lifespans and reduce waste, aligning with regional support programs and ongoing ecological assessments.
State of the art knitting machine
AITEX specializes in weft knitting technology with a versatile flat knitting machine. This state-of-the-art equipment can process a wide range of textile materials and can integrate conventional fibers with high performance technical fibers, high-strength fibers, elastic fibers, and thermal or conductive fibers. It enables full-surface or targeted-area applications, expanding potential use cases across industries.
Applications include furniture design for new flooring and decorative elements, orthopedic and sports products that benefit from compacting features, and smart textiles with integrated sensors. The footwear sector is exploring highly breathable textiles suitable for work shoes. Projects such as TPTEX 2.0 and TEX4FOOT, supported by IVACE and with backing from the Conselleria d’Economia Sostenible, Sectors Productius, Generalitat Valenciana Comerç i Treball, illustrate the collaborative funding and governance involved.
Main advantages include rapid prototyping, enabling the weaving of goods or garments without molds, significant material savings, reduced textile waste, and full customization of textiles.
new center
The new AITEX headquarters in Alcoy is designed to accommodate expanded infrastructures and consolidate all laboratories and test facilities into a single building. The project plans a built area of thirty thousand square meters, including laboratories, experimental facilities, offices, training rooms, leisure areas, research spaces, and parking. The design emphasizes functionality, sustainability, accessibility, visual appeal, and flexibility to ensure high energy efficiency.
The expansion reflects a commitment to centralized, state-of-the-art capability, enabling integrated workflows across research, development, and testing activities.