What's our research focus?

Technical Textiles

Technical textiles have many applications in our daily lives (filters, carpets, insulation, protective equipment, etc.). They are used in the automotive industry, in buildings and in industrial equipment and installations.

Smart textiles are also part of our developments and are of interest to many sectors.

In the field of medical textiles and devices, we are a key player in tissue engineering, from simple cell culture to the implementation of 3D carriers and biocompatible materials. We are active in numerous research projects at regional, national and international level.

Our team is dedicated to listening to your needs and delivering the best technical solutions to develop materials and processes that meet your requirements.

Composites

Our department is proud to have established a strong competence in the area of composites.

A composite is a multi-material, often composed of a resin matrix and a fibre reinforcement. The fibrous reinforcement, whether structured or unstructured, gives the composite material exceptional properties, making it a strong contender to replace metallic parts. The result is either a loss of weight for the same mechanical strength, or a gain in mechanical strength for the same weight.

Our team has the expertise to implement the multitude of existing materials, structures, processes and combinations.

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What's our goal?

We support the manufacturing industry in search of innovative materials through the acquisition of new knowledge, theory and techniques in order to develop a know-how for our industry for the production of new performing and durable materials and the maintenance of their competitiveness. 

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Labs & Platforms

We have specialized laboratories and a dedicated platform for prototyping structured reinforcements, as well as equipment for light RTM consolidation and vacuum infusion. We have a 3D printer that can make TP parts with continuous filament reinforcement in various materials.

Our R&D team

Our team is staffed by researchers and engineers with expertise in materials and processes for textiles and composites, mechanics and electronics.

Recent R&D projects

Banner_Tex4green

TEX4GREEN

Duration
01 / 06 / 2026 - 31 / 05 / 2030
biobased

TEX4GREEN is a Horizon Europe project that develops bio-based alternatives to hazardous textile chemicals. Through the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) approach, the project supports the transition to safer, more circular and sustainable textile products, validated in real-world industrial applications.

TEX4GREEN
SAFEADD-banner

SAFEADD

Duration
01 / 06 / 2026 - 31 / 05 / 2029
biobased

SAFEADD focuses on the development of bio-based, safe and sustainable additives for plastics and textiles. Across all developments, sustainability, safety and performance are central. 

SAFEADD
BIG-ALGAE_Header

BIG-ALGAE

Duration
01 / 05 / 2026 - 30 / 04 / 2030
biobased

Macroalgae could become a major sustainable resource for the bio‑based economy — but Europe still relies heavily on harvesting wild stocks. Demand is rising, quality must be consistent, and new cultivation solutions are urgently needed.

BIG-ALGAE
All projects
Publication

Centexbel INFO 2021-05 Technical Textiles

INFO2021-05-technical-textiles

Worldwide, about 60% of technical textile products are produced with fibres that have been developed within the last 50 years.

© 2021 Centexbel