Rubi Zippers
Rubi Zippers is a Spanish vertically integrated manufacturer of metal, nylon, and plastic zippers, buttons, and metal accessories, founded in 1926 in Rubí (Barcelona), selling directly to fashion apparel manufacturers worldwide — including Inditex, LVMH-aligned, and denim brands — through sales agents with a €500 minimum order.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1926
- HeadquartersRubí, Spain
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Rubi Zippers does
Rubí Industria de Cremalleras, S.L., operating commercially as Rubi Zippers, is a Spanish vertically integrated manufacturer of zippers, buttons, and metal accessories headquartered in a 16,000+ m² facility in Rubí (Barcelona). Founded in 1926, the company traces its lineage to the Azamon España / Lightning Zippers operation built for Imperial Metal Industries, transitioned through an employee buyout in 1987 to form Rubi Zippers, and was recapitalized in 2016 by two investment funds under its current legal name. The product portfolio spans four zipper lines — Metal Classic (brass, aluminum, copper, stainless steel), Metal Glow (diamond-polished, high-corrosion-resistance finish), Rubi Star (individually-mounted premium brass teeth with protective lacquer), and Nylon Coil (thermosetting polyester monofilament) — plus plastic/injected zippers, a comprehensive buttons and metal-accessories range (jeans buttons, buckles, snaps, rivets, eyelets), zamak/brass/plastic/leather pullers, decorative rubber tapes, and the eco-friendly Green Life line of recycled-tape products. Manufacturing is performed in-house, including proprietary dyeing, polishing, and finishing processes, with OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified output.
The business model is a B2B direct-to-manufacturer sale with a sales-led motion: commercial agents positioned near customers guide brands through creative and technical decisions, supported by multilingual website catalogs (Spanish, English, French, Italian), downloadable product catalogs, color cards, and active social channels. Pricing is unit-based with a €500 minimum order across the catalog, and customization (logo printing, color, size, finish, tape) is handled in-house. The customer base is concentrated in fashion and apparel manufacturers, spanning the Inditex group (Zara, Massimo Dutti, Stradivarius), LVMH-adjacent luxury (Gucci, Fendi, Carolina Herrera, Jean Paul Gaultier), Spanish (Mango, El Corte Inglés, Purificación García), French (Lacoste, Promod, Etam, Naf Naf, Pimkie, Caroll), and denim/sport-casual brands (Levi's, Esprit, Steve Madden, Aldo), as well as broader segments including technical workwear, military/fire-retardant, waterproof outerwear, bags and leather goods, and sportswear. Geographic distribution is global via direct sales in Europe combined with dedicated channel partnerships in Turkey and Asia. The company is privately held under the legal entity Rubí Industria de Cremalleras, S.L., has 51-100 employees, and holds no public financials.
Rubi Zippers firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Rubi Zippers
- Legal name
- Rubí Industria de Cremalleras, S.L.
- Website
- https://rubizippers.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1926
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Rubi Zippers is a Spanish vertically integrated manufacturer of metal, nylon, and plastic zippers, buttons, and metal accessories, founded in 1926 in Rubí (Barcelona), selling directly to fashion apparel manufacturers worldwide — including Inditex, LVMH-aligned, and denim brands — through sales agents with a €500 minimum order.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Rubi Zippers industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Zipper and metal accessories manufacturing
- NAICS
- Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing (31599)
- SIC
- Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fasteners & Closures (Zippers/Snaps/Hooks & Eyes/Hook-and-Loop) (IMAOALAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Buttons & Buckles Manufacturing (Buttons/Toggles/Buckles/Slides) (IMAOALAB), Elastic, Tapes & Webbing Manufacturing (Elastic Bands/Binding/Strapping/Webbing) (IMAOALAD)
Keywords
Where Rubi Zippers is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rubí
- HQ country
- Spain
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Rubi Zippers business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Zipper Manufacturing and Sales: Manufacturing and selling zippers (metal, nylon, plastic) directly to fashion brands and manufacturers. Products include Metal Classic, Metal Glow, Rubi Star, Nylon Coil, and Plastic Zippers. Also offers customization with logos, colors, sizes, and finishes.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Direct manufacturing sales with minimum order requirement |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Rubi Zippers product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Rubi Zippers manufactures and sells zippers (metal, nylon, and plastic), buttons, and metal accessories (buckles, snaps, hooks, rivets, sliders, pullers) directly to fashion brands and apparel, footwear, leather goods, and technical workwear manufacturers. The company offers customization in logos, colors, sizes, and finishes using its own dyeing facilities, with a minimum order of €500 and additional eco-friendly recycled-tape products under the Green Life line.
Product overview
Rubi Zippers is a manufacturer of zippers, buttons, and metal accessories operating since 1926. The product portfolio includes four main zipper lines: Rubi Star (premium luxury brass zippers), Metal Glow (high-corrosion-resistance metal zippers), Metal Classic (traditional metal zippers in various metals), and Nylon Coil (flexible spiral zippers), plus Plastic Zippers. The company also produces buttons and metal accessories (buckles, snaps, hooks, rivets), sliders and pullers in various materials, rubber tapes, and eco-friendly recycled tape products. These products serve diverse applications including jeans, sportswear, technical workwear, waterproof garments, and bags/handbags. The offerings are organized around the core zipper product lines with supporting accessories and components for customization.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Rubi Star Premium luxury zipper with high-quality brass teeth mounted and fixed on tape one by one with special polishing for a perfectly smooth chain pleasant to touch, finished with a protective lacquer. Available in sizes 3 (4.3mm), 5 (6mm), and 8 (8mm). Designed for leather goods, garments, shoes, accessories, and bags from fashion and luxury brands.
- Metal Glow High-quality metal zipper combining a luxurious appearance with smooth functionality. Teeth are finished with diamond polishing for a super-bright, corrosion-resistant surface while maintaining the same chain strength as standard metal zippers. Available in multiple chain finishes (Mirror, 24 wheels, 12 wheels, non-polished) for garments, jeans, footwear, and leather goods.
- Metal Classic Classic metal zipper suitable for garments, jackets, jeans, and footwear. Available in brass, aluminum, copper, stainless steel, nickel, and manganese, in sizes 3 (4.3mm), 5 (6mm), and 8 (8mm), with multiple end forms including closed end, open end, two-ways open end, trio, mono, X, bag, and continuous chain.
- Nylon Coil Flexible zipper made of thermosetting polyester monofilament sewn into tape, with excellent mechanical resistance. Used in clothing, sportswear, luggage, home textiles, and shoes. Available in 3mm and 7mm sizes, in both visible and inverted chain versions.
- Plastic Zippers Injected plastic zippers for various applications, including work equipment and high-visibility garments using fluor-injected variants.
- Buttons and Metal Accessories Metal accessories line including buttons, buckles, snaps, hooks, rivets, cord stoppers, plates, and eyelets. Includes jeans buttons, sewing buttons, and snaps/press buttons for footwear, apparel, and leather goods.
- Sliders and Pullers Custom zipper sliders and pullers in zamak, brass, plastic, and leather/synthetic leather materials, used to customize zippers with personalized styling.
- Rubber Tapes Decorative elastic bands (rubber tapes) offered in a range of designs including Dark Disco, Grey Matt Crack, Geometric, Zebra, Reflective, Glitter, Military, and Flag patterns, used as accessories and decorations on garments and bags.
- Green Life Recycled Zipper Tape Eco-friendly zipper tape made from 100% recycled polyester and other materials such as discarded fabrics, plastics, and fibers. Reduces environmental impact while increasing the eco-friendly value of customers' products.
Quantifiable outcome
- 99 years of manufacturing experience since 1926 serving major international fashion brands
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Rubi Zippers
Customer profileNamed customers20 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Rubi Zippers technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Rubi Zippers partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Turkey PartnershipscoreStrategic partnerships established in Turkey to serve the regional market and extend distribution capabilities in the Middle East and surrounding regions.
- Asia PartnershipscorePartnerships in Asia to extend manufacturing and distribution reach across Asian markets, complementing European production capabilities.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Rubi Zippers competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- YKK: The world's largest zipper and fastener manufacturer, headquartered in Japan, with global production and a product portfolio spanning metal, nylon, and plastic zippers plus buckles and snaps. YKK is the dominant incumbent in the same product category Rubi serves and the primary price-setter for the global zipper market.
- Coats Group: UK-listed industrial thread and components group that owns the Opti zipper brand plus a broader portfolio of apparel trims and fasteners. Coats is a broad incumbent competitor with overlapping zipper products plus adjacent categories where Rubi does not participate.
Direct peers
- Riri Group: Swiss-based premium zipper and metal accessory manufacturer serving luxury and high-end fashion brands. Riri is a direct competitor in the premium metal zipper segment (Rubi Star / Metal Glow equivalent) and shares Rubi's positioning with European luxury houses.
- SBS Zipper: Italian zipper manufacturer producing metal, nylon, and plastic zippers for apparel, leather goods, and footwear. SBS competes head-to-head with Rubi in the European B2B fashion market, particularly for Italian and Spanish apparel brands.
- Opti (Coats Opti): Italian-origin zipper brand now part of Coats Group, supplying metal, nylon, and plastic zippers to global apparel brands. Opti is a direct peer in the same zipper category, with historical ties to Rubi dating back to the original IMI/Opti ownership structure of the Rubí factory.
- Salmi: Italian manufacturer of metal accessories for fashion including buckles, buttons, rivets, and eyelets. Salmi directly overlaps with Rubi's buttons and metal accessories line and competes for the same European fashion and leather-goods customers.
- Morito: Japanese manufacturer and distributor of fasteners, snaps, and zippers for apparel and industrial applications. Morito is a direct peer serving global apparel brands with overlapping fastener product lines.
- Lampo Group: Italian zipper manufacturer (historically part of the Riri ecosystem) producing metal and nylon zippers for premium fashion and leather goods. Lampo directly competes with Rubi in the European premium zipper segment, particularly for leather goods and luxury apparel.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Rubi Zippers social profiles
Digital presenceRubi Zippers compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Rubi Zippers financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Rubi Zippers leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Rubi Zippers funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Rubi Zippers M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Rubi Zippers
What does Rubi Zippers do?
Rubi Zippers manufactures and sells zippers (metal, nylon, and plastic), buttons, and metal accessories (buckles, snaps, hooks, rivets, sliders, pullers) directly to fashion brands and apparel, footwear, leather goods, and technical workwear manufacturers. The company offers customization in logos, colors, sizes, and finishes using its own dyeing facilities, with a minimum order of €500 and additional eco-friendly recycled-tape products under the Green Life line.
Is Rubi Zippers a public or private company?
Rubi Zippers is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Rubi Zippers founded?
Rubi Zippers was founded in 1926. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Rubi Zippers based?
Rubi Zippers is headquartered in Rubí, Spain, in the Europe region.
How does Rubi Zippers make money?
One revenue line is on record: zipper Manufacturing and Sales.
Who are Rubi Zippers's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are YKK and Coats Group. Direct peers are Riri Group, SBS Zipper, Opti (Coats Opti), Salmi, Morito and Lampo Group.
Does Rubi Zippers have an API?
No public API is recorded for Rubi Zippers.
What industry is Rubi Zippers in?
Rubi Zippers's product category is Zipper and metal accessories manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAOALAA, Fasteners & Closures (Zippers/Snaps/Hooks & Eyes/Hook-and-Loop), with a secondary code of IMAOALAB, Buttons & Buckles Manufacturing (Buttons/Toggles/Buckles/Slides). Its NAICS code is 31599 and its SIC code is 2300.