A consortium formed by Portuguese textile companies Calvelex, Mundifios, Paulo de Oliveira and Riopele, in partnership with the Chinese group Kingdom Holdings, one of the world’s leading producers of flax and hemp yarn, is moving ahead with the establishment of Portugal’s first wet-spinning plant for these fibres.

The investment amounts to around €30 million and is expected to create approximately 250 jobs. The initiative forms part of the Lusitano Project, a mobilising agenda supported by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR).

The new facility, named Nafilux by Nau Verde, is located in Rebordões, Santo Tirso, and has already entered an initial phase of operations. Recruitment of factory operators is also under way.

Dedicated to spinning natural fibres, the facility occupies a former industrial building associated with Filatex. The building has around 15,000 square metres of covered floor space and has been refurbished and equipped to accommodate production.

The project aims to bring to Portugal and Europe a stage in the textile industry’s value chain currently concentrated mainly in Asia, while also strengthening the sector’s production capacity in Portugal.

(Source: Fashion Network, 25 August)