Innovation and development laboratory for textile solutions: weaving, knitting and finishing from concept to industrialization.
LAB1887 – Jakob Müller's Innovation and Development LAB
Frick, Aargau (Schulstrasse 19, 5070)New on Amplifa
About LAB1887
LAB1887 is the innovation and development laboratory of the Jakob Müller Group in Frick (Aargau), which opened in 2025. The laboratory supports customers in implementing textile innovations from the first concept through prototyping to industrialization. Manufactured and developed are narrow woven tapes (Narrow Fabric Weaving up to 310 mm web width), wide fabrics up to 1346 mm working width with up to 12 weft colors and Jacquard options, as well as multidirectionally woven structures using the patented MDW® technology (Multi Directional Weaving), in which effect threads are inserted in warp and weft directions. The portfolio is complemented by narrow textile knitting for complex warp-knit structures as well as dyeing and finishing of narrow textiles. Synthetic, natural and technical fibers are processed. Application areas include smart textiles, medical and healthcare textiles, drone and tether applications as well as sports and ergonomics – such as a flame-retardant woven cable jacket (tether sleeve) for drones developed jointly with ETH Zurich, or textile sensor surfaces for sleep and gait analysis. The laboratory is part of the Jakob Müller Group, founded in 1887 and family-owned, with over 130 years of textile machinery engineering, five generations of family ownership, more than 700 employees worldwide and machines in over 50 countries.
- Site
- Frick, Aargau, Switzerland
- Processes
- Narrow Fabric Weaving (needle loom weaving, narrow woven tapes), Wide Fabric Weaving (wide fabric weaving), MDW® Multi Directional Weaving (multidirectional weaving with insertion of effect threads in warp, Narrow Fabric Knitting (narrow textile knitting / warp-knit structures), Finishing / dyeing of narrow textiles (narrow fabric dyeing and finishing), Textile innovation and development from concept to industrialization, Prototyping with MDW® Multi Directional Weaving technology, Narrow Fabric Weaving
- Materials
- Synthetic fibers, Natural fibers, Technical fibers, Narrow Fabric Weaving, Wide Fabric Weaving, MDW® Multi Directional Weaving, Narrow Fabric Knitting, Dyeing & Finishing
- Founded
- 2025
- Employees
- 2–10
- Industries
- Textile machinery engineering, Narrow textiles, Technical textiles, Smart textiles, Medical/healthcare textiles, Drone/tether applications
- 01
Concept development
- 02
Prototyping
- 03
Narrow Fabric Weaving
- 04
Wide Fabric Weaving
- 05
MDW® Multi Directional Weaving
- 06
Narrow Fabric Knitting
- 07
Dyeing and finishing
- 08
Testing
- 09
Industrialization
Fibers & Processes
Narrow Fabric Weaving
Needle looms for versatile tape production up to 310 mm web width, multiple weft colors and unlimited pattern repeat lengths, MDW®-compatible.
Wide Fabric Weaving
Wide fabric weaving up to 1346 mm working width with up to 12 weft colors and Jacquard options for complex designs.
MDW® Multi Directional Weaving
Patented technology for multidirectional weaving with insertion of effect threads in warp and weft directions for functional, smart and fashion textiles.
Narrow Fabric Knitting
Versatile knitting machines for narrow textiles and complex warp-knit structures with synthetic, natural and technical fibers.
Dyeing & Finishing
Dyeing and functional finishing of narrow textiles in market-ready quality with resource-conserving use.
Locations
Frick
CHInnovation and development laboratory (headquarters)
- Lot size
- Prototypes to small series
- Materials
- Synthetic, natural and technical fibers
- Needle loom (up to 310 mm web width)
- Wide fabric weaving machine (up to 1346 mm, up to 12 weft colors, Jacquard)
- MDW® Multi Directional Weaving machine
- Narrow fabric knitting machine
- Dyeing and finishing system for narrow textiles
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Narrow Fabric Weaving (needle loom weaving, narrow woven tapes)Textile processing | – | 310 mm web width | – | – | synthetic fibers, natural fibers, technical fibers |
| Wide Fabric Weaving (wide fabric weaving)Textile processing | – | 1346 mm working width | – | – | synthetic fibers, natural fibers, technical fibers |
| MDW® Multi Directional Weaving (multidirectional weaving with insertion of effect threads in warpTextile processing | – | – | – | – | various materials in warp and weft directions, synthetic fibers, natural fibers, technical fibers |
| Narrow Fabric Knitting (narrow textile knitting / warp-knit structures)Textile processing | – | – | – | – | synthetic fibers, natural fibers, technical fibers |
| Finishing / dyeing of narrow textiles (narrow fabric dyeing and finishing)Surface | – | – | – | – | narrow textiles |
5 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Needle loom (Narrow Fabric Weaving Machine) | Jakob Müller Group | – | Web width up to 310 mm, unlimited pattern repeat lengths | – | Frick, Aargau |
| Wide fabric weaving machine (Wide Fabric Weaving Machine) | Jakob Müller Group | – | Working width up to 1346 mm, up to 12 weft colors, Jacquard options | – | Frick, Aargau |
| MDW® Multi Directional Weaving machine | Jakob Müller Group MDW® | – | – | – | Frick, Aargau |
| Narrow fabric knitting machine (Narrow Fabric Knitting Machine) | Jakob Müller Group | – | – | – | Frick, Aargau |
| Dyeing and finishing system for narrow textiles | Jakob Müller Group | – | – | – | Frick, Aargau |
Additional services
Reference customers
History
- 1887
Founding of the parent company Jakob Müller in a Swiss workshop; over 130 years of textile machinery engineering, five generations of family ownership.
- 2025
Opening of LAB1887, the innovation and development laboratory of the Jakob Müller Group in Frick (launch on 30.10.2025, opening news on 3.11.2025).
- 2025/2026
Development of the Tether Sleeve (woven cable jacket for drones) jointly with ETH Zurich (CORD project by Tom Moos).
- 2026
Presentation "LAB1887 – Where textile innovation becomes reality" by Boyd Higgins at the 18th Narrow Textile Conference in Hof.