Minister-President Jan Jambon visits Luxilon and Ethnicraft – Their capacity for innovation is one of the strongest assets of our textile and furniture producers

Antwerp, 15 November 2023 – This morning, the Minister-President of the Government of Flanders made a visit to Luxilon and Ethnicraft, two innovative Antwerp-based companies in the textile and furniture sectors. The visit took place in response to an invitation from the Belgian Federation of the Textile, Woodworking and Furniture Industries. The purpose of the visit was to provide the Minister-President with an opportunity to gain a more detailed insight into the sector and the challenges it is facing, such as innovation support, international competition and the importance of having a genuine industrial policy.

Luxilon is a family-owned company that has been in business in Wijnegem for over 60 years, and has been producing high-tech plastic filaments for three generations. The company is a specialist manufacturer serving three markets – the sports, industrial and medical applications sectors.

When it comes to servicing the needs of the industrial or the medical sector, Luxilon not only offers standard products, but also tailored products that fulfil the exacting demands of its customers. Whatever the sector, Luxilon's entire product range is innovative and provides considerable added value. Research and development therefore play a key role in the company's success. For example, Luxilon is advancing the production of offshore cables by supplying products that reduce friction and the production of bulletproof vests by preventing them from getting warm, but the company is probably best known for its activities in the world of sport. In recent years, the company has developed and has become a vital player – over 50% of the ATP top 100 and the World Tennis Association (WTA) top 100 use tennis strings from Luxilon. “Innovation forms part of our DNA. Collaborating with the customer and ensuring innovation, high quality and R&D have enabled us to continue manufacturing our products in Belgium. This year, we actually launched LUXILON ECO POWER, the first tennis string to be manufactured from recyclable raw materials,” says General Manager of Luxilon, Nico Van Malderen.

Ethnicraft, which was set up in 1996 by two friends in Boom, specialises in the design and production of wooden furniture. What makes the company special are its cool designs and its use of sustainable materials. In 2020, Ethnicraft launched a new, circular business model, which consists of renting out and renovating furniture via its spin-off, Live Light. Live Light is making a significant step forwards in order to achieve a more sustainable and circular economy. This means that furniture and accessories are used (and re-used) and will be renovated where necessary, before ultimately being recycled in order to produce new designs.

"At Ethnicraft, we are embracing new business models and sustainable designs. We believe that innovation is not restricted to the creation of new products, but also applies to the restoration and repurposing of existing pieces. To that end and alongside our activities via ‘Live Light’, our second-life concept known as 'Re-Loved' provides design lovers with sustainable options in return for a more modest budget," explains Benoit Loos, CEO of Ethnicraft.