Lafer
Lafer SpA, founded in 1974 in Schio, Italy, designs and manufactures in-house textile surface finishing machines for sueding, raising, shearing, compacting, enzyme processing, waterless scouring, and liquid ammonia mercerizing, serving global knit and woven fabric manufacturers through 30+ authorized distributors across 34+ countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1974
- HeadquartersSchio, Italy
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Lafer does
Lafer SpA is an Italian manufacturer of textile fabric finishing machinery founded in 1974 and headquartered in Schio (Vicenza), Italy. The company designs and manufactures complete textile finishing machines and plants entirely in-house — from mechanics and hardware to software — specializing in fabric surface finishing technologies including sueding, raising, shearing, compacting, enzyme processing, waterless scouring, liquid ammonia mercerizing, and fringing/cutting systems. Its portfolio centers on patented product lines such as Ultrasoft (brush sueding), Microsand (diamond emery sueding), GRI series (double drum raising), CMI series (shearing), KA/KX/Booster/KGA (open-width compacting), KST500 (tubular compacting with Aliante expander), Permafix (liquid ammonia mercerizing), Aquasoft (enzyme processing), Dissolva (closed-loop waterless scouring), and FRV/SSM/SST 2000 (fringing and cutting for scarves and blankets). Several of these are first-of-kind introductions in the industry, including the first liquid ammonia plant purpose-built for knits and the first double drum raising machine.
The company generates revenue through one-time capital equipment sales (hardware_sales model) with no pricing publicly disclosed, selling exclusively through a global network of 30+ authorized independent representatives covering 34+ countries across Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. Customers are textile manufacturers producing knitted and woven fabrics for apparel, home textiles, and specialty products, with horizontal segmentation across knit versus woven and a smaller specialty segment for scarves, shawls, pashmina, and blankets. Quantifiable customer outcomes include zero water consumption and zero discharge in Dissolva, over 99% solvent recycling, fabric elongation compression beyond 20% in Booster, and up to 120 sets of fringes per hour in the FRV fringing machine. The company operates as a privately held Società per Azioni under Italian law with 101-250 employees, and on August 1, 2024 became the first company globally to join the ZDHC Signatory Textile Machinery Manufacturer category.
Lafer firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lafer
- Legal name
- Lafer SpA
- Website
- https://LAFERSPA.COM
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1974
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Lafer SpA, founded in 1974 in Schio, Italy, designs and manufactures in-house textile surface finishing machines for sueding, raising, shearing, compacting, enzyme processing, waterless scouring, and liquid ammonia mercerizing, serving global knit and woven fabric manufacturers through 30+ authorized distributors across 34+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lafer industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Textile Finishing Machinery
- NAICS
- Textile and Fabric Finishing and Fabric Coating Mills (3133)
- SIC
- Textile Mill Products (2200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Finishing & Dyeing Contract Services (Job Work/Toll Processing) (IMAOACAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Coating & Finishing Chemicals Application (Resins/Softening/Water-Repellent/FR/Antimicrobial) (IMAOACAD), Washing, Rinsing & After-Treatments (Soaping/Neutralizing/Enzyme Wash) (IMAOACAH)
Keywords
Where Lafer is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Schio
- HQ country
- Italy
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Lafer business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Textile Finishing Machines and Plants: Lafer manufactures and sells complete textile finishing machines and plants, including sueding, raising, shearing, compacting, enzyme processing, waterless scouring, liquid ammonia mercerizing, and fringing machines. Machines are completely designed and manufactured in-house, representing one-time capital equipment sales with no water consumption, no wastewater treatment, and reduced energy consumption.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Lafer product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lafer designs, manufactures, and sells complete textile fabric surface finishing machines and plants entirely in-house at its Schio, Italy facility. The portfolio covers sueding, raising, shearing, compacting, liquid ammonia mercerizing, open-width enzyme processing, waterless scouring/de-oiling, and fringing/cutting systems, sold as one-time capital equipment to textile manufacturers worldwide through an authorized representative network.
Product overview
Lafer SpA is an Italian manufacturer of textile fabric finishing machines founded in 1974, offering a comprehensive portfolio of specialized equipment for processing both knitted and woven fabrics. The product portfolio centers on surface finishing technologies including: Sueding machines (Ultrasoft brush sueding and Microsand diamond emery systems for 'peach skin' effects), Raising machines (double drum configuration for fabric brushing), Shearing machines (CMI series for precision cutting), and Compacting machines (multiple lines: KA/KX/Booster/KGA for open-width and KST500 for tubular fabrics). Sustainable finishing solutions include Permafix (liquid ammonia mercerizing), Aquasoft (open-width enzyme processing), and Dissolva (closed-loop waterless de-oiling/scouring). Specialty equipment for scarves and blankets includes the FRV fringing machine, SSM length cutting, and SST 2000 cross-cutting systems. All machines are designed and manufactured in-house at their Schio, Italy facility.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Ultrasoft Brush Sueding Machine
Quantifiable outcome
- Zero water consumption and zero discharge into air or water
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Lafer
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Lafer technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature8 records
Lafer partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
31 partnerships are on record, tiered regional.
- ILMAKUNNAS-ENGBLOM LTD.regionalAuthorized sales representative for Finland covering the Nordic region. Located at Pohjantie 2 A 97, FI-02100 ESPOO, Finland. Provides local sales and support for Lafer textile finishing machines.
- FORMAT-PAGEE SARLregionalAuthorized sales representative for France. Located at 22 rue du Petit Bois, 88400 XONRUPT-LONGEMER, France. Provides local sales and technical support for Lafer products.
- ELMATEX GmbHregionalAuthorized sales representative for Germany. Located at Uerdinger Str. 149, 47799 KREFELD, Germany. Provides local sales and technical support.
- APOSTOLOS ANEMOUDIS TEXTILE REPRESENTATIONSregionalAuthorized sales representative for Greece. Located at Via Victor Hugo 14, 54625 Thessaloniki, Greece. Provides local sales representation for Lafer machines.
- TC KOLOR TOMASZ CIESLAKregionalAuthorized sales representative for Poland. Located at ul. Wroblewskiego 19 B, 93-578 Lodz, Poland. Provides local sales and technical support.
- APRIGIO CUNHA GUIMARÃES - MÁQUINAS TÊXTEIS LDA.regionalAuthorized sales representative for Portugal. Located at R. José de Freitas Dias 2362, Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal. Provides local sales representation.
- A.MODIANO MUMESSILLIK VE DIS TIC LTD STIregionalAuthorized sales representative for Turkey. Located at Halit Ziya Turkkan Sokak Famas Plaza, B Blok kat 3, Okmeydanı - Şişli - İstanbul, Turkey. Provides local sales representation.
- AETM INC.regionalAuthorized sales representative for United States. Located at 145 BLACKBURN STREET, York, South Carolina 29745. Provides sales and technical support for North American customers.
- AZZANO S.R.L.regionalAuthorized sales representative for Argentina. Located at Profesor Simon Nº 1718 (1653) Villa Ballester, Buenos Aires. Provides local sales and technical support.
- TORMENA TEXTIL - MTXregionalAuthorized sales representative for Brazil with contacts including Tulio Tormena, Dirlei Pereira, and Marcelo Wilbert. Provides local sales and technical support.
- QUIMICOLOR LTDA.regionalAuthorized sales representative for Chile. Located at Perez Valenzuela 1490, Providencia-Santiago de Chile. Provides local sales and technical support.
- GH TEXTILESregionalAuthorized sales representative for Colombia. Located at Calle 17 #43 F 23, Medellin. Provides local sales representation.
- EALPE CIA. LTDA.regionalAuthorized sales representative for Ecuador. Located at AV. 12 de Octubre n. 18-42 and Patria, Edificio Guimissa 2do piso, 170403 Quito. Provides local sales support.
- REPRESENTACIONES INTEGRADAS S.A. (MAPRIMAQ)regionalAuthorized sales representative for El Salvador and Guatemala. Located at 25 avenida Sur, Condominio Cuscatlán, Local 211, San Salvador, El Salvador and Calzada Roosevelt 22-43 zona 11, Guatemala Ciudad. Provides regional sales support.
- LEONI MICHELE MOSEregionalAuthorized sales representative for Peru. Located at Av. Domingo Orue N°565 Dpto.202, Surquillo, Lima. Provides local sales representation.
- CHEMOTEX INTERNACIONAL, S.A.regionalAuthorized sales representative for Venezuela. Located at Av. San Felipe, Edificio COINASA, Piso 4, Oficina 46, Urb. La Castellana, Caracas. Provides local sales and technical support.
- S.E. LIMITEDregionalAuthorized sales representative for Bangladesh. Located at 67/9, Kakrail Eastern Mansion, 2nd Floor, Room No.-06, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh. Provides local sales representation.
- JEBTEC TRADING & DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD.regionalAuthorized sales representative for Guangzhou, China. Located at Rm810, G2 Building, 6 Xiongfeng Bei Road, Zhongcun Street, Panyu District, 511495, Guangzhou. Provides local sales support.
- SINOCA TRADING SHANGHAI LTD.regionalAuthorized sales representative for Shanghai, China. Located at Building 4 NO 69 Lane 1159 East Kang Qiao Road, PuDong New Area, Shanghai 201315. Provides local sales representation.
- MORECHEM CORPORATIONregionalAuthorized sales representative for Philippines. Located at G/F, 920 Banawe Street, Brgy. Manresa, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines 1115. Provides local sales support.
- SHINWA CO., LTD.regionalAuthorized sales representative for Japan. Located at 423-1. Tazono, Nakaku, Sakai, Osaka 599-8246, Japan. Provides local sales and technical support.
- COMTEX ENGG. (BOM) PVT. LTDregionalAuthorized sales representative for Western India. Located at 201, 2nd floor Nook CHS, S.V. Road, Santacruz (W), Mumbai-400054, India. Provides local sales and technical support.
- CORPORA CONSULTANTS PRIVATE LIMITEDregionalAuthorized sales representative for North, East, and South India. Located at Unit no 601, 6th Floor, Sector-47, ILD Trade Centre, Sohna Road, Near Shubhash Chowk, Gurgaon -122018, India. Provides regional sales support.
- PT. NUTEK KAWAN MASregionalAuthorized sales representative for Indonesia. Located at Wima Jaksa Tiga, 1st Floor, JI. Jaksa No.3, Kebon Sirih, Menteng, Jakarta Pusat 10340. Provides local sales representation.
- RAMSAY MCDONALD NZregionalAuthorized sales representative for New Zealand. Located at 15 Martyn Street, Waiuku 2123, Auckland. Provides local sales support.
- TEXSOL (PRIVATE) LIMITEDregionalAuthorized sales representative for Pakistan with offices in Lahore (416 J block, 5th Floor, D.H.A. Phase XII) and Karachi (Office#402, 4th Floor, Plot# 37 C, Zulfigar Commercial Street# 2, Phase VIII-A, D.H.A). Provides regional sales support.
- WOONAM TRADING CO., LTDregionalAuthorized sales representative for South Korea. Located at Rm.513, 43, Songpadaero 28 gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul. Provides local sales and technical support.
- CHIME TEX INTERNATIONAL (PVT) LTDregionalAuthorized sales representative for Sri Lanka. Located at No. 226/17, Temple Road, Hirana, Panadura. Provides local sales representation.
- SOLWELL ENTERPRISE CO. LTD.regionalAuthorized sales representative for Taiwan. Located at 28F-12A, No. 97, Sec. 1, Xintai 5th Rd., Xizhi Dist., New Taipei City 221416. Provides local sales support.
- RAMSAY MCDONALD VIETNAM CO., LTD.regionalAuthorized sales representative for Vietnam. Located at No.7 D2 Road, Saigon River Residential Complex, 92 Nguyen Huu Canh Street, Ward 22, Binh Thanh District, Hochiminh City 700000, Vietnam. Provides local sales support.
- MOHSEN EL SHAFEIregionalAuthorized sales representative for Egypt. Located at 15 Nadi El Seid St., Mohandessin - Giza, Cairo. Provides local sales and technical support.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Lafer competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Brückner: German maker of stenter frames and complete textile finishing lines for woven and knit fabrics. Directly comparable as a finishing line supplier serving overlapping mill customers.
- Mario Crosta: Italian textile machinery manufacturer specializing in raising and shearing machines for knit and woven fabrics. Direct overlap with Lafer's raising and shearing product lines.
- Sperotto Rimar: Italian manufacturer of textile finishing machinery including shearing, raising, sueding, and compacting equipment. Closest direct competitor to Lafer, with overlapping product portfolio in knit and woven fabric finishing.
- Biancalani: Italian-based maker of textile finishing machines for sueding, raising, and washing of knitted and woven fabrics. Directly comparable product categories and similar target customers as Lafer.
- Sedo Engineering: German-based textile finishing machinery specialist offering soft-flow and rope dyeing/finishing ranges. Comparable as a finishing-machinery peer serving knit fabric processors globally.
- Then (Then Maschinen GmbH): Austrian/German textile finishing machinery manufacturer with a long history in wet finishing and finishing ranges. Comparable as a textile finishing machinery supplier serving European and Asian mills.
- Küsters (Kusters): German manufacturer of calendering and textile finishing machinery with global reach. Comparable as a finishing-machinery peer serving similar knit/woven fabric mills, with broader calendering focus.
Broad incumbents
- Itema: Italian/Swiss manufacturer of weaving machines (formerly Sulzer Textil). Broad textile machinery incumbent with global footprint comparable in scale to Lafer's customer reach, but operating in weaving rather than finishing.
- Picanol: Belgian manufacturer of weaving machines serving global textile mills. Broad incumbent in textile machinery; not a direct finishing competitor but serves the same mill customers as Lafer.
- Jakob Müller: Swiss manufacturer of narrow fabric weaving and finishing machinery. Broader textile machinery incumbent serving the same textile mill customers as Lafer but focused on narrow fabrics rather than finishing.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Lafer social profiles
Digital presenceLafer compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Lafer financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lafer leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Lafer funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lafer 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 Lafer
What does Lafer do?
Lafer designs, manufactures, and sells complete textile fabric surface finishing machines and plants entirely in-house at its Schio, Italy facility. The portfolio covers sueding, raising, shearing, compacting, liquid ammonia mercerizing, open-width enzyme processing, waterless scouring/de-oiling, and fringing/cutting systems, sold as one-time capital equipment to textile manufacturers worldwide through an authorized representative network.
Is Lafer a public or private company?
Lafer is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Lafer founded?
Lafer was founded in 1974. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Lafer based?
Lafer is headquartered in Schio, Italy, in the Europe region.
How does Lafer make money?
One revenue line is on record: textile Finishing Machines and Plants.
Who are Lafer's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Brückner, Mario Crosta, Sperotto Rimar, Biancalani, Sedo Engineering, Then (Then Maschinen GmbH) and Küsters (Kusters). Broad incumbents are Itema, Picanol and Jakob Müller.
Does Lafer have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lafer.
What industry is Lafer in?
Lafer's product category is Textile Finishing Machinery. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAOACAL, Finishing & Dyeing Contract Services (Job Work/Toll Processing), with a secondary code of IMAOACAD, Coating & Finishing Chemicals Application (Resins/Softening/Water-Repellent/FR/Antimicrobial). Its NAICS code is 3133 and its SIC code is 2200.