Basford based manufacturer of technical and industrial textiles Capatex has hooked a new source of finance from the Nottingham Technology Grant Fund, known as N'Tech, to help fuel its expansion plans.

Gabriel Strauss, the managing director of Capatex, said: “Having the N'Tech grant is a fantastic opportunity for us to identify areas where capital investment is most needed to achieve growth and to satisfy increasing customer demand.”

“The investment will ensure the security of supply of certain products where the supply chain is most vulnerable and allow us to become self-sufficient producers, allowing us to stand out among competitors as being an increasingly vertically-integrated manufacturer.”

Capatex

Set up in 1995, the Northgate company makes a mix of specialist textile products and medical devices. It currently has a 24-strong team but says it will recruit an additional five full-time staff after securing a £64,000 grant from a fund that has been set up to help city technology companies to grow. It is the second time the business has secured grants to drive growth – an innovation grant last year helped it launch a new division making products for the medical market.

The company has a number of separate divisions manufacturing specialist industrial textiles and other products. They include agro and geo-textiles used to protect crops and ground, industrial textiles, which can be used for cords, straps and webbing, and its hook-and-loop fasteners.

The medical devices it makes include the Bradford Sling. It was designed by the surgeon who treated victims of the Bradford City stadium blaze in 1985. The company was chosen by Bradford University to make the sling because of its expertise in working with foams, textiles and hook-and-loop fasteners – which effectively stick fabrics together.

N'Tech grant

The N'Tech grant fund was set up by Nottingham City Council after it secured the money from the government's regional growth fund. It has so far agreed 60 grants worth £7 million to businesses based in the city, and is currently looking at a further 25 applications for £2.5 million of backing.

Councillor Nick McDonald said it was good to see money going to an industry which the city was famous for: “Nottingham is internationally known as an industrial centre for textiles, so to see this industry still operating today, in such advanced technological fields, is fantastic.”

“Through innovation and by diversifying their offer, Capatex has built-up a remarkable specialism. It's very much a business we'd like to see grow, and the fact they can use the N'Tech grant to expand operations and take on staff is great for the city.”

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