#Smart Textiles

2020-07-09

Liquid Wire closes $10 Million Series A to bring stretchable electronics technologies to the medical wearables industry

Liquid Wire Inc. (http://liquidwire.com) announced today that it has successfully closed a $10 million Series A financing round to expand its stretchable electronics technologies into the medical wearables market. The financing was led by Deerfield Management Company.

Liquid Wire was founded in 2016 in Portland, Oregon, and has established itself as the global leader in the emerging field of liquid metal circuitry. The Company produces conformal and pliable electronic circuits using a patented class of non-toxic printable liquid metals printed on plastic and textile substrates.

By more closely matching the material properties of human skin, Liquid Wire circuitry allows comfortable, long-term contact of sophisticated sensors and data transmission electronics for on-body, remote monitoring. Liquid Wire's mission to produce electronics that can coexist naturally while embedded directly in functional materials also addresses safety wear performance sports apparel, automotive, and aerospace markets.

Liquid Wire plans to expand its Portland-based pilot manufacturing line and make key hires to address the medical patch market with the proceeds of the Series A round.

Mark Ronay, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Liquid Wire stated, "We are excited to have such a highly regarded organization invest in our future and appreciate the continued support of our existing investors and customers. With this funding, we are well-positioned to continue to provide our global customers with new leading-edge stretchable circuits that enable electronics everywhere, especially new opportunities in the medical wearables market."

"We are pleased to support the funding of Liquid Wire and their innovative enabling technology that can overcome the current design limitations of wearable devices. Their platform has broad potential to expand the form and function of new digital solutions that are key to advancing remote clinical monitoring and management," said Deerfield Partner Steven Hochberg.

“Production is a product”

From technical textiles and AI-driven robotics to the limitations of textile circularity: Professor Dr Thomas Gries looks back on more than two decades of development at ITA Aachen. In the interview, he explains why production technology remains a decisive success factor, discusses international collaborations and innovation ecosystems, and shares his views on the transformation of production landscapes and the challenges facing an increasingly regulated industry.

“We need to move away from the price trap and return to a value-driven mindset.”

With its new Textile Innovation Center, KARL MAYER is sending a strong signal for innovation, collaboration, and the future of textile applications. In this interview, Karl Josef Mayer discusses new opportunities in warp knitting, the processing of staple fibres, recycling, the changing role of machinery manufacturers, and why the textile industry must once again focus more strongly on the value of textiles. by Oliver Schmidt

“Innovation, resilience and international experience remain the great strengths of the Swiss textile machinery industry”

Geopolitical uncertainty, growing competitive pressure from China, new free trade agreements and the shift towards a circular economy are currently reshaping the global textile industry. In this interview, Cornelia Buchwalder discusses the current mood within the Swiss textile machinery sector, the industry’s distinctive innovative strength, new market opportunities in India and Asia, and the technological trends that could shape the upcoming trade fair cycle leading up to ITMA 2027.

Covestro, FILK Freiberg, and OUT e.V. develop flexible, conductive polymer smart textile system

As the smart textiles market continues to grow across healthcare, personal protection, sportswear, and automotive applications, developers are seeking new ways to integrate electronic functionality directly into textiles, without the rigidity and complexity of conventional wiring. To address this challenge, FILK Freiberg Institute, an independent research institution with expertise in polymer coatings for textile applications, collaborated with Optotransmitter-Umweltschutz-Technologie (OUT) e.V. The joint project, funded under the German Industrielle Gemeinschaftsforschung (IGF) program of the Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie (BMWE), focused on developing flexible, conductive polymer surfaces for next-generation smart textiles.

Catching heart disease early with AI-based sensor system

It slips on like a normal vest: Fraunhofer IZM has created a smart sensor system in cooperation with the Charité and the Technical University of Berlin. The vest records a vast array of cardiovascular parameters, which an AI-based system uses to support medical diagnostics and spot potentially dangerous developments.

Intelligent textiles for construction, architecture and mobility: Smart Textiles User Forum in Stuttgart

When textiles are equipped with electronic components, conductive yarns and textile sensors, the application possibilities are almost unlimited. These high-tech textiles are a global growth market. In Stuttgart, manufacturers, users and researchers presented amazing examples of applications in construction, architecture and mobility. The appropriate standards ensure quality and safety.

TM WEFT, 270" – More width, more design freedom for the fashion world

KARL MAYER is expanding its successful TM WEFT series with an innovative model that opens up new possibilities, particularly in the fashion & apparel sectors. With a working width of 270", this new machine with weft-insertion not only offers significantly higher output than its narrower counterparts but is also specifically tailored to the demands of dynamic clothing market – particularly in China and Türkiye. A well-thought-out upgrade also ensures even greater design versatility.

YKK invests USD 150 million in new manufacturing facility in India

YKK Corporation has announced plans to construct a new manufacturing facility in India, reinforcing its long-term commitment to one of the world's fastest-growing textile and apparel production hubs. The new factory will be built at Origins by Mahindra in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, and will become the third manufacturing site of YKK India Private Limited. The facility is expected to be completed by February 2028 and represents an investment of approximately USD 150 million, covering land, buildings, machinery and equipment.