A Ferrari supercar is obviously far more expensive than a Microsoft laptop but the two do share a common element.
Made by Alcantara, the luxury Italian materials manufacturer, the fabric used in numerous high-end vehicles is the same as that found on a Microsoft Surface laptop model.
“Alcantara is perceived as a lifestyle brand,” says company CEO, Andrea Boragno. “We have been endorsed by Microsoft for bringing a premium experience to their device.”
Alcantara’s growth an automotive supplier has been such that the company is embarking on a five-year, 300 million euro expansion program to double the company’s overall production capacity.
Alcantara’s net sales have tripled from 64.3 million euros in 2009 to 187.2 million euros last year. The U.S. currently accounts for 10 percent of Alcantara’s global sales. Europe’s share stands at more than 60 percent, while the Asia Pacific region along with other emerging markets accounts for nearly 30 percent.
Check out the interiors of cars from virtually every automaker selling vehicles in the US market and you will find Alcantara fabric used in the headliners, door, seat and dashboard trim. Luxury brands such as Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Bugatti, McLaren, Lamborghini, Porsche, Audi, Lexus, BMW, Maserati and Jaguar all make use of Alcantara, but the material has also been featured in more mainstream models from the likes of Dodge, Nissan and Subaru.
Alcantara is not inexpensive and among rival premium materials, leather is used far more widely. However Alcantara does have significant advantages over leather, including being up up to 50-percent lighter and more environmentally friendly. Alcantara is also superior in terms of durability, grip and breathability, claims Boragno, and the company stresses its commitment to sustainability in production. (See previous story on Alcantara: https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnmccormick/2016/11/16/do-americans-really-care-about-sustainability/#394ea42045ae)
“Alcantara’s use within the auto industry has grown by 15 percent or more in each of the past seven years, compared to a growth rate of just two percent for leather,” Boragno says.
Although the auto industry today accounts for about 80 percent of Alcantara’s business, Boragno sees a growing presence for the company within a variety of other sectors, including the fashion industry, home-interior design and especially in the field of consumer electronics.
“Adidas, Cappellini, Ligne Roset, Max-Mara, Microsoft, Sennheiser and Swarovski are among the many brands that have incorporated Alcantara into their product lines,” adds Boragno.
