Autex Leads The Industrial Re-Evolution With The Launch Of The Regenerative Autex Future Lab
Autex, market-leading producer of modern acoustic panels and insulation products, has unveiled its groundbreaking Autex Future Lab (AFL) - a new home for research and development (R&D) that provides a clear pathway to developing high-performance materials, products and solutions that respect and preserve our natural resources.
With a 58-year history in New Zealand, Autex now has a global presence, supplying a diverse and sophisticated range of products to the architecture, design, and building industries.
AFL will serve as a revolutionary new platform to progress the adaptation and innovation that have been hard-baked into Autex's culture from the very beginning. With firmly backed science and revolutionary new manufacturing and agriculture systems, Autex is leading an industrial re-evolution from the front.
Jonathan Mountfort, Creative Director at Autex, says, "From our inception, we've been driven by a commitment to leaving our planet better than we found it. Our PET products, which are staple in the market, already have carefully considered systems around them to close the technical loop and reduce waste – because at the end of the day, a material can't be sustainable on its own, it's the systems that surround it.
'That's why we're so excited to unveil AFL and apply this philosophy to natural fibres, creating the blueprint for how we work in partnership with the natural world to responsibly use both biological and technical resources – something that the industry has struggled to do for a long time.'
All innovations emerging from AFL strive to move beyond Carbon Zero and achieve NaturePositive+ Certification, by creating products that enrich biodiversity, and benefit the health of generations to come. They are walking the walk, with tangible metrics to reach these ambitious sustainability goals.
"NaturePositive+" is a world-first benchmark for environmental standards by the world's most trusted and widely recognised eco-label - Global GreenTag International.
Collaboration to drive industry-wide change
Autex is collaborating with scientists, primary producers, product designers, architects, advocacy groups, government and industry representatives to bring AFL to life. Making fundamental and transformational change takes committed collaboration, and this has the potential to push multiple industries forward while also enhancing New Zealand's reputation for leading-edge innovation.
AFL was officially launched at an event on Wednesday night where a room of key partners, industry representatives, designers, and architects heard about AFL's vision for the future.
Hon. Mark Patterson, Minister for Rural Communities and Associate Minister of Agriculture, spoke at the evening about how AFL can lead the way for a more sustainable Aotearoa.
'When it comes to our country's agriculture industry, we must set ambitious targets for the future to ensure future generations can thrive. It's encouraging to see companies like Autex pushing forward with innovative solutions that recognise the power of working together across industries to drive real change for our farming and manufacturing sectors.'
Wool product as the first proof point of AFL
The first innovation to emerge from AFL is Autex's very first wool-fibre product, Embrace – an architectural surface that combines tactile warmth with all the high-performance qualities Autex is known for.
In line with AFL's philosophy, Embrace considers every part of the closed loop system to ensure it's truly regenerative, and this includes the farming practices. This was conducted with the support of key collaborator, Rubisco.
Guy Wills, CEO of Rubisco, says 'We've been working in partnership with Autex for 4 years, delivering the New Zealand strong wool used in the Embrace product system from a single-source farm, we take the fleece from farm to yarn. We are incredibly proud of our accomplishments to date and have some exciting developments on the way. Rubisco is a next-generation natural fibre innovation company, and we believe deeply in natural materials done right. We see Autex Future Lab as an exciting step forward.'
And this is just the beginning. AFL is set to continue growing and paving the way for more innovations that enrich biodiversity, store carbon and provide other benefits crucial to the health of generations to come.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
10-05-2025
- Scoop
Floodway Infrastructure Investment Protects Edgecumbe
Associate Minister for Regional Development A new floodway infrastructure upgrade that provides flood protection and resilience for Edgecumbe was opened today by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. 'The completion of this multi-stage project is an impressive milestone that has been undertaken over 12 years and is one of the largest flood resilience projects completed in New Zealand in recent times. It will bring much needed flood protection for communities and will enable economic development opportunities in the Eastern Bay of Plenty,' Mr Patterson says. 'We only need to think back to the 2017 Edgecumbe floods to realise how critically important this project is to the region. The floods saw water pouring through this area after the Rangitāiki River burst its banks causing millions of dollars in damage, displacing many people, and disrupting the lives of many families for a considerable amount of time.' The Rangitāiki Floodway upgrade was a six-stage project designed to take pressure off the flood prone Rangitāiki River stopbanks by diverting some of its flow during significant weather events. The final stage included increasing the capacity of the floodway and the construction of an additional spillway to manage the water flows entering the floodway from the Rangitāiki River above Edgecumbe. Back in August 2024, this government committed $200m of the Regional Infrastructure Fund to flood resilience across New Zealand. The $50m floodway has been co-funded, with $14m government funding, and the balance of the project funded by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and local community. Upgrading the spillway and installing new floodgates allows the Bay of Plenty Regional Council to safely manage and control the release of flood waters,' says Mr Patterson. 'Projects like the Rangitāiki Floodway upgrade represent core, resilient infrastructure, crucial to the economic, social, cultural, and environmental wellbeing of our country. They help to protect lives and reduce the toll these events can have on communities, businesses, and infrastructure,' says Mr Patterson. 'This project has been a testament to the partnership between central and local government, Rangitāiki River communities, and local Iwi and industry to support community resilience and economic growth in the Eastern Bay. I look forward to seeing this newly protected land being utilised for future growth opportunities that benefit the local economy,' Mr Patterson says.
Scoop
05-05-2025
- Scoop
Autex Leads The Industrial Re-Evolution With The Launch Of The Regenerative Autex Future Lab
Press Release – Autex Future Lab With a 58-year history in New Zealand, Autex now has a global presence, supplying a diverse and sophisticated range of products to the architecture, design, and building industries. Autex, market-leading producer of modern acoustic panels and insulation products, has unveiled its groundbreaking Autex Future Lab (AFL) – a new home for research and development (R&D) that provides a clear pathway to developing high-performance materials, products and solutions that respect and preserve our natural resources. With a 58-year history in New Zealand, Autex now has a global presence, supplying a diverse and sophisticated range of products to the architecture, design, and building industries. AFL will serve as a revolutionary new platform to progress the adaptation and innovation that have been hard-baked into Autex's culture from the very beginning. With firmly backed science and revolutionary new manufacturing and agriculture systems, Autex is leading an industrial re-evolution from the front. Jonathan Mountfort, Creative Director at Autex, says, 'From our inception, we've been driven by a commitment to leaving our planet better than we found it. Our PET products, which are staple in the market, already have carefully considered systems around them to close the technical loop and reduce waste – because at the end of the day, a material can't be sustainable on its own, it's the systems that surround it. 'That's why we're so excited to unveil AFL and apply this philosophy to natural fibres, creating the blueprint for how we work in partnership with the natural world to responsibly use both biological and technical resources – something that the industry has struggled to do for a long time.' All innovations emerging from AFL strive to move beyond Carbon Zero and achieve NaturePositive+ Certification, by creating products that enrich biodiversity, and benefit the health of generations to come. They are walking the walk, with tangible metrics to reach these ambitious sustainability goals. 'NaturePositive+' is a world-first benchmark for environmental standards by the world's most trusted and widely recognised eco-label – Global GreenTag International. Collaboration to drive industry-wide change Autex is collaborating with scientists, primary producers, product designers, architects, advocacy groups, government and industry representatives to bring AFL to life. Making fundamental and transformational change takes committed collaboration, and this has the potential to push multiple industries forward while also enhancing New Zealand's reputation for leading-edge innovation. AFL was officially launched at an event on Wednesday night where a room of key partners, industry representatives, designers, and architects heard about AFL's vision for the future. Hon. Mark Patterson, Minister for Rural Communities and Associate Minister of Agriculture, spoke at the evening about how AFL can lead the way for a more sustainable Aotearoa. 'When it comes to our country's agriculture industry, we must set ambitious targets for the future to ensure future generations can thrive. It's encouraging to see companies like Autex pushing forward with innovative solutions that recognise the power of working together across industries to drive real change for our farming and manufacturing sectors.' Wool product as the first proof point of AFL The first innovation to emerge from AFL is Autex's very first wool-fibre product, Embrace – an architectural surface that combines tactile warmth with all the high-performance qualities Autex is known for. In line with AFL's philosophy, Embrace considers every part of the closed loop system to ensure it's truly regenerative, and this includes the farming practices. This was conducted with the support of key collaborator, Rubisco. Guy Wills, CEO of Rubisco, says 'We've been working in partnership with Autex for 4 years, delivering the New Zealand strong wool used in the Embrace product system from a single-source farm, we take the fleece from farm to yarn. We are incredibly proud of our accomplishments to date and have some exciting developments on the way. Rubisco is a next-generation natural fibre innovation company, and we believe deeply in natural materials done right. We see Autex Future Lab as an exciting step forward.' And this is just the beginning. AFL is set to continue growing and paving the way for more innovations that enrich biodiversity, store carbon and provide other benefits crucial to the health of generations to come.
Scoop
05-05-2025
- Scoop
Autex Leads The Industrial Re-Evolution With The Launch Of The Regenerative Autex Future Lab
Autex, market-leading producer of modern acoustic panels and insulation products, has unveiled its groundbreaking Autex Future Lab (AFL) - a new home for research and development (R&D) that provides a clear pathway to developing high-performance materials, products and solutions that respect and preserve our natural resources. With a 58-year history in New Zealand, Autex now has a global presence, supplying a diverse and sophisticated range of products to the architecture, design, and building industries. AFL will serve as a revolutionary new platform to progress the adaptation and innovation that have been hard-baked into Autex's culture from the very beginning. With firmly backed science and revolutionary new manufacturing and agriculture systems, Autex is leading an industrial re-evolution from the front. Jonathan Mountfort, Creative Director at Autex, says, "From our inception, we've been driven by a commitment to leaving our planet better than we found it. Our PET products, which are staple in the market, already have carefully considered systems around them to close the technical loop and reduce waste – because at the end of the day, a material can't be sustainable on its own, it's the systems that surround it. 'That's why we're so excited to unveil AFL and apply this philosophy to natural fibres, creating the blueprint for how we work in partnership with the natural world to responsibly use both biological and technical resources – something that the industry has struggled to do for a long time.' All innovations emerging from AFL strive to move beyond Carbon Zero and achieve NaturePositive+ Certification, by creating products that enrich biodiversity, and benefit the health of generations to come. They are walking the walk, with tangible metrics to reach these ambitious sustainability goals. "NaturePositive+" is a world-first benchmark for environmental standards by the world's most trusted and widely recognised eco-label - Global GreenTag International. Collaboration to drive industry-wide change Autex is collaborating with scientists, primary producers, product designers, architects, advocacy groups, government and industry representatives to bring AFL to life. Making fundamental and transformational change takes committed collaboration, and this has the potential to push multiple industries forward while also enhancing New Zealand's reputation for leading-edge innovation. AFL was officially launched at an event on Wednesday night where a room of key partners, industry representatives, designers, and architects heard about AFL's vision for the future. Hon. Mark Patterson, Minister for Rural Communities and Associate Minister of Agriculture, spoke at the evening about how AFL can lead the way for a more sustainable Aotearoa. 'When it comes to our country's agriculture industry, we must set ambitious targets for the future to ensure future generations can thrive. It's encouraging to see companies like Autex pushing forward with innovative solutions that recognise the power of working together across industries to drive real change for our farming and manufacturing sectors.' Wool product as the first proof point of AFL The first innovation to emerge from AFL is Autex's very first wool-fibre product, Embrace – an architectural surface that combines tactile warmth with all the high-performance qualities Autex is known for. In line with AFL's philosophy, Embrace considers every part of the closed loop system to ensure it's truly regenerative, and this includes the farming practices. This was conducted with the support of key collaborator, Rubisco. Guy Wills, CEO of Rubisco, says 'We've been working in partnership with Autex for 4 years, delivering the New Zealand strong wool used in the Embrace product system from a single-source farm, we take the fleece from farm to yarn. We are incredibly proud of our accomplishments to date and have some exciting developments on the way. Rubisco is a next-generation natural fibre innovation company, and we believe deeply in natural materials done right. We see Autex Future Lab as an exciting step forward.' And this is just the beginning. AFL is set to continue growing and paving the way for more innovations that enrich biodiversity, store carbon and provide other benefits crucial to the health of generations to come.
