Minister Neubauer gives green light for the establishment of textile factory version 7.0
**Textile Factory 7.0: A Collaborative Initiative Transforming the Textile Industry**
The Textile Factory 7.0 project, a groundbreaking initiative, is set to revolutionise the textile and clothing industry. This collaborative effort involves leading research institutions, industry partners, and local authorities, working together to create a sustainable and technologically advanced textile industry.
The University of Applied Sciences Niederrhein, under the leadership of Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Maike Rabe, is at the forefront of this project. The university, along with its partners, aims to contribute significantly to the regional structural change, ensuring the textile industry remains a key and internationally important location factor.
The project's partners include RWTH Aachen, WFMG - Economic Development Mönchengladbach GmbH, the Association of the Rhenish Textile and Clothing Industry, the Textile Academy NRW, and the Association of the North West German Textile and Clothing Industry. They have established a joint company, T7 Management GmbH, to oversee the project after the initial funding period, ensuring its sustainability.
Digitalisation plays a crucial role in Textile Factory 7.0. The project integrates various disciplines such as mechanical engineering, robotics, and energy management to enhance manufacturing processes and reduce environmental impacts. By leveraging digital technologies like maker spaces and collaborative research projects, students and industry partners can develop innovative solutions.
Sustainability is another key focus. The project aims to reduce environmental impact, promote sustainable employment, and integrate sustainable practices into the manufacturing processes. This aligns with broader industry goals and trains future generations of textile professionals in sustainable practices.
Textile and clothing companies can benefit from this project by utilising the advanced technology and know-how provided. This access to cutting-edge technology and expertise helps industry partners remain competitive while contributing to sustainable practices. The project also aims to strengthen existing companies in the Rhenish region, fostering economic growth and creating sustainable employment opportunities.
Construction of a technology centre in the Monforts Quarter in Mönchengladbach will begin on October 1. This centre will feature machinery and equipment for on-demand production, microfactories, smart textiles, and biological and textile technological laboratories. Students at the university will benefit from exciting research projects and maker spaces where they can implement their own ideas.
Mayor Felix Heinrichs emphasises Textile Factory 7.0 as one of the most important structural change projects for the entire region. The project is unique in its intended continuation without further state funding, making it a beacon of self-sustaining innovation.
The Textile Factory 7.0 project extends beyond the technology centre, aiming to stimulate the transformation process of the textile industry and establish a zero-emission park (T7 Park). The challenge of resilience in supply chains, skilled labor shortage, and secure energy supply are major issues in this transformation. However, the project is designed to be sustainable in every respect, addressing these challenges head-on.
In conclusion, Textile Factory 7.0 is a large-scale project bringing together research, business, and municipalities to address the challenges facing the textile industry. By promoting collaboration, digitalisation, and sustainability, it creates a more resilient and environmentally conscious industry that benefits both local communities and businesses across the region.
- The collaboration between the University of Applied Sciences Niederrhein and its partners, such as RWTH Aachen and T7 Management GmbH, aims to foster the Lower Rhine region's finance, business, and technology sectors within the textile and clothing industry.
- Education-and-self-development opportunities will be provided through the establishment of research projects, maker spaces, and live demonstrations at the Technology Centre in Mönchengladbach, helping to ensure a steady supply of skilled professionals for the industry.
- The Textile Factory 7.0 project, extending to the creation of a zero-emission park (T7 Park), aims to overcome challenges in supply chain resilience, skilled labor shortage, and secure energy supply, positioning the Lower Rhine as a model for technologically advanced, sustainable, and financially prosperous textile and clothing industries.
