Spinnova, a Finnish sustainable textile fiber producer, has partnered with Tearfil, a leading Portuguese spinning mill, to operate Spinnova's R&D yarn-spinning line, which will be located at Tearfil's facilities in Guimarães, Portugal.

The yarn-spinning line will be used for the R&D of Spinnova's fiber in commercial-scale yarn production and to streamline development work with industry partners. Tearfil will manage the line's operations, with Spinnova using part of the capacity for product development. Technology delivery and installations are slated for fall 2023, aiming for full operation by year-end. Swiss-based Rieter would serve as the technology supplier for the spinning mill line.

Spinnova initially planned to establish an R&D yarn-spinning line in Jyväskylä, Finland, but later changed the location during feasibility planning, leading to reduced capital expenditures and operational expenses.

Analyst QuickTake: The partnership provides Spinnova with industry expertise and improved access to global textile markets. Last year, the company secured a EUR 1.6 (~USD 1.6 million) million grant for R&D projects, with a focus on developing new applications such as composites and non-wovens, as well as "dope-dye" technology to dye fibers prior to yarn production.