MASSEBEUF Textiles launches the ORATEX platform

MASSEBEUF Textiles launches the ORATEX platform to structure the textile industry in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

MASSEBEUF Textiles, a major player in milling in the Drôme-Ardèche region, announces the launch of the “ORATEX: from molecule to transformed yarn” platform. This ambitious project, in partnership with the Institut Français du Textile et de l'Habillement (IFTH) and TECHTERA, the textile industry's dedicated competitiveness cluster, aims to strengthen the textile industry in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region and consolidate its position on national and international markets.

ORATEX, accredited by the POLYMERIS cluster, is financed by the Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and the French government as part of the France2030 plan.

Background and challenges

Spinning is a missing link in the French textile value chain.
Since the mid-20th century, the development of synthetic continuous filament yarns has disrupted the milling activity, historically well established in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region for silk processing. At the end of the century, industrial spinning activity in France declined sharply due to competition from Asia and the withdrawal of major chemical groups, forcing millers to adapt their activities.
This spinning deficit creates several challenges for the value chain: increased dependence on foreign yarn producers, a lack of flexibility in production volumes, and the impossibility of innovating with raw materials and yarn functionalities. What's more, the need to source from abroad has a negative impact on the environmental balance sheet, limits France's industrial sovereignty, and hinders the development of more sustainable production models.

MASSEBEUF Textiles, at the head of the ORATEX project

MASSEBEUF Textiles is actively involved in developing a solution to these challenges, drawing on its know-how. Specializing in the transformation of yarns through processes such as texturing, covering, assembling, twisting or chemical surface functionalization (coating, impregnation), the company stands out for its know-how and ability to innovate in response to market demands. Thanks to this expertise, MASSEBEUF Textiles is positioned as a key player in meeting the challenges of the French textile value chain.

ORATEX: meeting the needs of the regional textile industry

The ORATEX platform launched by MASSEBEUF Textiles, located on a 500 m² site in Livron-sur-Drôme, is equipped with a melt-spinning multifilament line with polymer additive capabilities. It is designed to produce small and medium-sized batches under industrial conditions, with a production target of 70 tonnes per year.
Thanks to this platform, which is open to projects from players in the industry, MASSEBEUF Textiles will be able to process a wide range of materials, from polyamide and polyester to biosourced or recycled materials, while meeting growing demands in terms of sustainability and respect for the environment. This short-circuit, low-carbon-footprint production will help to structure and energize the regional textile industry, while strengthening local independence and innovation.