CETTEX (Le Centre Technique du Textile) offers a wide range of analysis for Tunisia textile and clothing manufacturers, saying the new labs will help the sector pivot towards a sustainable development framework, an important consideration for the key European market. CETTEX’s new facilities add choice to an industry that is already offered testing laboratories such as ICQ-MED sarl, in Les Berges du Lac, Tunis, a branch of international testing and verification major UL. Another option is the Tunisian-Belgian testing facilities of TTS Total Testing Service, in Menzel Harb, near Monastir.
CETTEX’s new laboratories, which are based in the capital, Tunis, were opened in May (2024) and are now fully operational. They are designed to meet international testing standards, being certified to comply with International Organization for Standardization quality management standards ISO 9000. They have been accredited by the Tunisian Accreditation Council (TUNAC). One will focus on chemical analysis and the second, physical and toxicological analysis. The government agency has been working with the Shenzhen, China-based Centre Testing International Ltd (CTI) to establish the new facilities, using €2m ($2.23m) investment from the Tunisian government, German development agency GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) and the German National Metrology Institute (PTB – Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt).
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CETTEX has worked with private-sector testing CTI since the two organisations signed a cooperation agreement in 2022, with CTI has assisting with business training, capacity building and business and marketing development. CETTEX is supervised by Tunisia’s ministry of industry, mines and energy, although, since its inauguration in 1992 the centre has offered testing to private companies, primarily the Tunisian textile and garment sector.
CETTEX responds to increased demand for Tunisia testing facilities
CETTEX director general Mohsen Massaoui told Just Style that these innovations are in response to calls from big apparel and textile brands for more testing facilities in Tunisia: “CETTEX now offers the full package. Our vision is to open up to the international market, for operators overseas as much as those based in Tunisia. For that reason, we have ensured the new service is 100% digital and we can accept payments online,” he said. Given Tunisia that has long lacked efficient online payments services, this is a big step forward in offering customers service functionality, he said, stressing the new labs have competitive prices in comparison to the private sector.
CETTEX’s new web platform sports integrated logistics with couriers such as DHL, added Massaoui, with customers able to log testing requests online, with testing usually taking around five days and delivering results via the online portal.
With Tunisia’s clothing and textile manufacturers already benefiting from being based on the Mediterranean, with easy reach to major European markets and brands, Massaoui said that CETTEX is an essential component of Tunisia’s value chain. He hopes the new laboratories’ ability to perform to international standards will encourage big brands to come to Tunisia and base production there, as well as sourcing from existing companies. Tunisia has long-established and high-quality production facilities and training centres, based mostly along the eastern coast and around the cities of Monastir and Sousse.
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By GlobalDataCETTEX now employs 100 people overall, including 23 laboratory staff. Its operations are also becoming more sustainable, with a new water treatment system being installed alongside solar energy panels. Massaouit said: “Our solar panels will be installed in November, so we should have pivoted to solar energy by the end of the year.”
CETTEX currently has over 200 clients, but now that the laboratories are in operation, an intensive marketing and awareness campaign of the revamped facility’s potential is planned. Massaoui said: “We have a communication programme focused on big brands and to participate in a number of international industry fairs.”
He added that CETTEX has been invited to participate in a UK workwear fair based in Birmingham run by the Professional Clothing Industry Association Worldwide (PCIAW) in November, adding: “It’s an opportunity for us to show suppliers the fabric of our competence in testing and analysis.”
