Griffith Textile Machines
Griffith Textile Machines designs and manufactures specialized technical textile machinery — including the world's only Rapier hand loom — for Harris Tweed weavers, carpet manufacturers, and industrial composites customers, and operates a bespoke Axminster carpet weaving facility as a subsidiary of Ulster Carpets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersEngland, Germany
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Griffith Textile Machines does
Griffith Textile Machines Ltd. (formerly Bonas Griffith) is a UK-based designer and manufacturer of technical textile machinery, founded in 1984 and operating from Washington, Tyne and Wear with an additional carpet-weaving plant in Sunderland. The firm was acquired by Ulster Carpets Ltd. in 2015 and now operates as a subsidiary within the Ulster Carpets group, retaining its operational identity under Managing Director Dave Watson. Headcount is reported in the 51–100 range.
The company's core technical offering centres on proprietary weaving machinery, most notably the Rapier Hand Loom — described as the world's only pedal-driven, carbon-neutral Rapier hand loom, invented by Griffith in 1987 and used by the majority of the ~140 Harris Tweed weavers in the Outer Hebrides. The broader portfolio includes the Fast Ax 2 high-speed Axminster loom, an Electronic Jacquard Conversion system (upgrading mechanical jacquards to electronic control with up to 16 colours and CAD file input), servo upgrades, and a special-purpose machine development service focused on 3D weaving, composites, and non-wovens. Capabilities extend into precision CNC machining (vertical/horizontal machining, EDM wire erosion, surface grinding, and CMM inspection up to 2250mm × 1250mm × 800mm).
Commercially, Griffith monetises through four streams: sale of new textile machinery, bespoke Axminster carpet manufacturing for hotels, museums, casinos, restaurants and golf courses (capacity exceeding 250,000 sq metres per annum), recurring spare-parts supply as the exclusive manufacturer of genuine parts for Bonas Griffith Rapier Looms, and contract special-purpose machine development for industrial customers including automotive (C&J Antich, £3.9m funded 3D weaving project) and wind-turbine component applications. Go-to-market is direct enterprise sales supported by trade-exhibition presence at ITMA Barcelona, Tecnotextil Brazil, and Knitting and Stitching shows, plus a three-channel spare-parts distribution network spanning direct-to-weaver, Harris Tweed Authority (Stornoway), and Harris Tweed Hebrides Mill (Shawbost).
Griffith Textile Machines firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Griffith Textile Machines
- Legal name
- Griffith Textile Machines Ltd.
- Website
- https://www.gtm-ltd.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Griffith Textile Machines designs and manufactures specialized technical textile machinery — including the world's only Rapier hand loom — for Harris Tweed weavers, carpet manufacturers, and industrial composites customers, and operates a bespoke Axminster carpet weaving facility as a subsidiary of Ulster Carpets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Griffith Textile Machines industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Textile Machinery
- NAICS
- Narrow Fabric Mills and Schiffli Machine Embroidery (31322)
- SIC
- Textile Mill Products (2200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Technical Fabric Mills (Performance/Protective/Medical Substrates) (IMAOABAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Narrow Fabrics & Webbings (Tapes/Ribbons/Straps) (IMAOABAD)
Keywords
Where Griffith Textile Machines is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- England
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Griffith Textile Machines business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Textile Machinery Sales: Sale of specialized textile machinery including Rapier looms, Fast Ax 2 weaving looms, servo upgrades, and electronic jacquard conversion systems to textile manufacturers.
- Spare Parts: Sale of original quality spare parts for Griffith machines. Exclusive manufacturer of genuine spares for Bonas Griffith Rapier Loom (Harris Tweed Loom). Stock all parts with same-day shipment capability.
- Bespoke Carpet Manufacturing: Design, manufacture, and installation of premium quality Axminster carpets for prestigious hotels, museums, casinos, restaurants, and golf courses. Capacity in excess of 250,000 sq metres per annum.
- Special Purpose Machine Development: Custom machine design and manufacturing services for unique products and applications in technical textiles, pump manufacturers, and wind turbine industry.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels3 records
Griffith Textile Machines product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Griffith Textile Machines designs, manufactures, and supplies specialized technical textile machinery — including the Rapier Hand Loom (Harris Tweed Loom), Fast Ax 2 weaving loom, and Electronic Jacquard Conversion systems — and provides bespoke Axminster carpet weaving services, special purpose machine development for 3D weaving and composites, and CNC precision machining. The company supplies the Harris Tweed industry, carpet manufacturers, technical textile producers, and industrial manufacturers with weaving machinery, spare parts, and custom-engineered equipment.
Product overview
Griffith Textile Machines is a leading innovator of technical textile machinery founded in 1984 (formerly Bonas Griffith), now part of Ulster Carpets group. Their core product portfolio includes the Rapier Loom/Harris Tweed Loom (the world's only pedal-driven, carbon neutral rapier hand loom) and the Fast Ax 2 weaving loom. They offer add-on modules including Electronic Jacquard Conversion (upgrading looms to electronic control with up to 16 colors and unlimited design lengths) and Servo Upgrades. Beyond machinery, Griffith provides bespoke Axminster carpet weaving services with capacity exceeding 250,000 sq metres per annum, Original Quality Spare Parts for their looms, Special Purpose Machines for 3D weaving and composites, and precision CNC machining services. Their extensive experience spans special purpose machine fields of 3D weaving, composites, and non-wovens.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Serving 140 Harris Tweed weavers in Outer Hebrides - majority of the industry
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Griffith Textile Machines
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Griffith Textile Machines technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Griffith Textile Machines partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Harris Tweed AuthoritycoreGriffith supplies original spare parts for Bonas Griffith Rapier Looms through the Harris Tweed Authority in Stornoway, complementing direct supply and Shawbost Mill distribution.
- Harris Tweed Hebrides Mill (Shawbost)coreGriffith supplies original spare parts for Bonas Griffith Rapier Looms through Harris Tweed Hebrides Mill at Shawbost, providing frontline supply to the Harris Tweed industry for 20 years.
- The Textile Centre of Excellence (Huddersfield)minorGriffith collaborated with The Textile Centre of Excellence to build a prototype loom capable of weaving carbon fibre in three dimensions, featured in The Engineer magazine.
- C&J AntichminorGriffith designed, built and installed a revolutionary 3D weaving system for C&J Antich, a Huddersfield textile firm that secured £3.9m funding for the 3D weaving project to create car components.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Griffith Textile Machines competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Picanol: Picanol is a leading global manufacturer of weaving machines (rapier, projectile, air-jet) headquartered in Belgium. Directly comparable to GTM's weaving loom business but operating at much greater scale across the full weaving machinery market.
- Itema Group: Itema is a major Italian manufacturer of weaving machinery including rapier, air-jet, and projectile looms. Comparable to GTM's rapier loom technology but operates globally with a much broader product portfolio serving mass-market weavers.
- Lindauer Dornier: Lindauer Dornier is a German manufacturer of weaving machines, technical textiles equipment, and jet weaving systems. Comparable to GTM's technical textile machinery focus, with strong presence in specialty and technical weaving applications.
- Sulzer (Textile Machinery): Sulzer's textile machinery division historically manufactured projectile weaving machines. Comparable to GTM as a textile machinery manufacturer with a long heritage, though operating as part of a much larger diversified industrial group.
- Karl Mayer: Karl Mayer is a German manufacturer of warp knitting, warp preparation, and technical textile machinery. Comparable to GTM in technical textile machinery focus, particularly for composite and industrial fabric applications.
- Vandewiele: Vandewiele is a Belgian group offering weaving machinery, carpet weaving systems, and textile finishing equipment. Comparable to GTM's carpet weaving and technical textile machinery businesses with much larger scale.
- Stäubli (Textile Division): Stäubli's textile division manufactures jacquard machines, dobbies, and weaving preparation systems. Comparable to GTM's Electronic Jacquard Conversion product offering for the weaving industry.
Direct peers
- Bonas Machine Company: Bonas is a UK-based manufacturer of electronic jacquard machines for the weaving industry and was historically the parent company of GTM (formerly Bonas Griffith). Directly comparable as a jacquard/weaving machinery specialist with historical connection.
- Ulster Carpets: Ulster Carpets is GTM's parent company and a leading UK/Irish manufacturer of Axminster carpets and woven floor coverings. Directly comparable as a premium carpet manufacturer sharing GTM's manufacturing base and customer segments in prestigious hospitality venues.
Others
- Groz-Beckert: Groz-Beckert is a German manufacturer of textile components including needles, warp elements, and weaving accessories. Adjacent peer to GTM as an enabler in the textile machinery ecosystem, though focused on components rather than full machines.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Griffith Textile Machines social profiles
Digital presenceGriffith Textile Machines financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Griffith Textile Machines leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Griffith Textile Machines funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Griffith Textile Machines 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 Griffith Textile Machines
What does Griffith Textile Machines do?
Griffith Textile Machines designs, manufactures, and supplies specialized technical textile machinery — including the Rapier Hand Loom (Harris Tweed Loom), Fast Ax 2 weaving loom, and Electronic Jacquard Conversion systems — and provides bespoke Axminster carpet weaving services, special purpose machine development for 3D weaving and composites, and CNC precision machining. The company supplies the Harris Tweed industry, carpet manufacturers, technical textile producers, and industrial manufacturers with weaving machinery, spare parts, and custom-engineered equipment.
Is Griffith Textile Machines a public or private company?
Griffith Textile Machines is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Griffith Textile Machines founded?
Griffith Textile Machines was founded in 1984. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Griffith Textile Machines based?
Griffith Textile Machines is headquartered in England, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Griffith Textile Machines make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Textile Machinery Sales are the primary driver. The others are spare Parts, bespoke Carpet Manufacturing and special Purpose Machine Development.
Who are Griffith Textile Machines's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Picanol, Itema Group, Lindauer Dornier, Sulzer (Textile Machinery), Karl Mayer, Vandewiele and Stäubli (Textile Division). Direct peers are Bonas Machine Company and Ulster Carpets. Groz-Beckert is listed as an others.
Does Griffith Textile Machines have an API?
No public API is recorded for Griffith Textile Machines.
What industry is Griffith Textile Machines in?
Griffith Textile Machines's product category is Industrial Textile Machinery. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAOABAH, Technical Fabric Mills (Performance/Protective/Medical Substrates), with a secondary code of IMAOABAD, Narrow Fabrics & Webbings (Tapes/Ribbons/Straps). Its NAICS code is 31322 and its SIC code is 2200.