Steiger, the industrial SME specialising in professional knitting solutions, recently laid the foundation stone for its future research and development centre in Vionnaz. An ambitious project resulting from the collaboration between Switzerland and China, that should create around 50 jobs and strengthen the technological leadership on a global scale.
The future two-story building that will be constructed behind the actual factory is a major investment for Steiger. Half of the surface will be occupied by an innovation centre dedicated to smart textiles and their technical application, particularly in robotic. The other half will house a demonstration and prototyping centre for Cixing, the Chinese flat-knitting giant and owner of Steiger since 2010.
According to Pierre-Yves Bonvin, CEO of Steiger, this project largely surpasses the simple building construction. “It embodies the trust, common vision and ambition that unite Steiger and Ningbo Cixing CO., Ltd. Since 2010.”
A Sino-Swiss partnership of service to innovation
The ceremony that laid the foundation stone took place in presence of the vice-president of the municipality of Vionnaz, as well as Frank Sun, president of Cixing group, and James Li, vice-president. A delegation that proves the strategic importance of this project for both partners.
This collaboration between Switzerland and China – that has been going on for over fifteen years – already enabled Steiger to reinforce its expertise in specialised domains. “Thanks to this collaboration, Steiger could enhance its expertise in the fields of medical knitting, composite fibers and smart technical knitting, while developing innovating solutions such as the Model Plus 2.0, now about to become a reference in our industry”, Pierre-Yves Bonvin underlines.
For its part, Cixing, employing around 5,000 people in China and in Vietnam, aims to use this new Valais-based site to develop its activities and Europe and receive big sporting brand designers.
A strong signal for Valais
Apart from the technological challenge it presents, this work site is good news for the local economy. Around 50 jobs could eventually be created on site in Vionnaz. Steiger also aims to gather all of its activities in this new building, and this would be the occasion to renovate its historical factory, built in 1963.
“This project is a strong signal: a signal of trust towards our teams, our know-how and towards the expertise developed on Vionnaz’ site. This new development centre will enable us to strengthen durably our innovation capacity in Switzerland and to reinforce the technological leadership of the group on the global market of flat-knitting devices”, Pierre-Yves Bonvin concludes.
Source: Steiger’s press release
Photo: Steiger
