Commercial Interiors UK accredited member Toray Textiles Europe Ltd welcomed Mayor of the East Midlands Claire Ward to its Mansfield site, shining a spotlight on the region’s advanced manufacturing strength and the vital role of British textile production in supporting resilient UK supply chains.
From its Mansfield base, Toray Textiles Europe produces high-performance fabrics for defence, medical and industrial applications. The visit offered an opportunity to demonstrate the scale, expertise and technical capability already embedded within the East Midlands, while reinforcing the importance of backing British manufacturers and supporting skilled employment across the region.
During the visit, Mayor Claire Ward toured the Mansfield factory, learning more about Toray Textiles Europe’s advanced production processes, specialist machinery and the breadth of products manufactured on site.
Mayor Claire Ward said: “Growing Toray Textiles Europe is a strategic opportunity for the East Midlands to secure more high-value jobs, attract further investment, and strengthen Britain’s ability to make more of what it needs here in the UK. We must ensure we put British business at the forefront of opportunities where possible.
“With the recent £20 million investment from Toray Textiles in advanced looms and process machinery, Mansfield’s Toray site is well placed to meet future demand.”
Toray Textiles Europe is a major employer in Mansfield and forms an important part of the East Midlands’ advanced manufacturing base. Its site is described as Europe’s largest and most integrated synthetic technical textile production facility, employing more than 180 people, producing up to 9 million metres of fabric each year, with capacity for up to 20 million metres, and operating more than 200 looms on site.
Paul Daynes, Sales Manager at Toray Textiles Europe, said: “At TTEL we operate at a scale capable of delivering national programmes and manufacture a superior, UK-made product.
“We encourage the Government to engage with us to create a resilient domestic supply chain within the scope of textile manufacturing, dedicated to supporting our Armed Forces.”
Since 2014, Toray Textiles Europe has invested more than £20 million in new equipment and continues to supply technical textiles to more than 30 countries, underlining the scale of its contribution to jobs, innovation and UK manufacturing capability.
For Commercial Interiors UK, the visit highlights the strength and importance of its accredited membership across the UK’s commercial interiors and contract furnishing supply chain. Toray Textiles Europe’s manufacturing capability reflects the depth of expertise within the sector, particularly where technical innovation, durability, performance and specialist production are essential.
The Mayor’s visit also sends a clear message about the East Midlands’ role in the next chapter of Britain’s industrial growth. Supporting manufacturers such as Toray Textiles Europe helps to build national supply chain resilience, keep investment in the UK, and create secure, skilled work for local communities.
The visit forms part of Mayor Claire Ward’s wider engagement with major employers across the region, as she seeks to understand how existing industrial strengths can be supported to grow, innovate and create long-term, high-quality employment.
As part of the wider drive for growth, Mayor Claire Ward and Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, are mobilising businesses across the region to seize new defence industry opportunities as the Government increases national security spending.
They have launched the Midlands Defence and Security Industry Council, co-chaired by Mayor Claire Ward, to champion Midlands manufacturers and innovators, supporting national security while also driving economic growth and well-paid jobs for local people.
The Council forms part of the Defence and Security Blueprint for the Midlands, which sets out to strengthen the defence capabilities of advanced manufacturing, engineering and digital firms.
For the defence sector, Toray Textiles Europe produces approximately 2 million metres of fabric each year, including:
- Lamination for foul weather combat uniforms, single colour and camouflage, for European military applications
- High tenacity nylon fabric for rucksacks used by European military customers
- Flame retardant textiles for military accommodation, supplied to the MoD
- Flame retardant curtain drapes and wash bags for naval vessels, supplied to the MoD
- Technical textiles for military covers, battlefield use and storage applications
Commercial Interiors UK is proud to represent accredited members whose work demonstrates the strength, innovation and global relevance of British manufacturing. Toray Textiles Europe’s Mansfield operation is a powerful example of the specialist knowledge, investment and production capability that continues to drive the UK’s commercial interiors and technical textiles sectors forward.