Joakim Staberg, innovator and founder of Coloreel, a Swedish technology innovation company, which developed a unique machine for digital thread colouring, has won this year’s SKAPA prize, the prestigious innovation award.

This places Coloreel as one of the most innovative companies in the world since Sweden is ranked as the second most innovative country in the world according to 2018 Bloomberg Innovation Index.

Joakim Staberg received this year’s award of 500 000 SEK from the Foundation SKAPAs chairman Minoo Akhtarzand and one of Sweden’s most well-known innovator, Håkan Lans. The award was handed out at the SKAPA innovation gala, which was held in Stockholm last week. The SKAPA award is established in memory of the famous inventor Alfred Nobel.

“This year's prize winner shows great innovation spirit and that the Swedish textile industry is at the forefront. Coloreel, as the innovation is called, revolutionises the technological possibilities for industrial embroidery. The innovation shortens production times and allows for embroidery in the precise colours you want. Also, for the first time, it is now possible to produce gradients in the embroidery,” said Minoo Akhtarzand, Chairman for the foundation SKAPA.

Coloreel has put in more than nine years of hard work and dedication in developing its heavily patented technology. “It feels inspiring that we can now call ourselves Swedish champions of innovation after so many years of hard work. It is strong proof that the whole Coloreel team has accomplished something beyond the ordinary. We are now in the middle of a strong expansion and are fully focused on bringing our first thread colouring product to the market,” commented Joakim Staberg, innovator and founder of Coloreel.

In September, Coloreel launched its first thread colouring unit at the Avantex Paris fair, which focuses on innovations for the textiles and fashion industry. The market response is very strong, and the company says it has a large number of business inquiries from well-known companies ranging from the sports and lifestyle segments to exclusive fashion and haute couture. The first thread colouring units will be delivered to the first customers early 2019.

“Today's thread dyeing plants can only colour thread in a single solid colour. With the Coloreel technology, you can get a fast and high-quality colouring of a textile thread while using the thread in production. The first product based on this technology is a ground-breaking thread colouring attachment that will be used in existing embroidery machines,” said the jury.

“By colouring a white thread during embroidery production, Coloreel gives you complete freedom to create unique embroideries without any limitations in the use of colors. This technique not only contributes to increased efficiency, but also in an innovative way to the efficiency of the Global textile industry, development and growth.”

www.coloreel.com

Further reading

Successful product launch of Coloreel unit