Eton Systems  is taking part in the new Microfactories System Innovation project which is working on the development of a fully automated workflow for second hand garments. Jan Molin – the company’s CEO – states that volumes are now so large that handling must be automated. He continues: “The new EU regulations requiring separate collection of textiles are having an impact, but we are also seeing an increasingly positive attitude towards reuse and greater awareness of the textile industry’s environmental impact.”

As part of the project, a test facility is being established at Science Park Borås. Here, garments are being placed on custom product carriers within an Eton Systems conveyor system and transported through a series of stations. The garments are inspected by a vision system, after which AI is used to categorise them based on parameters such as manufacturer, model and size. Damage is also being analysed and the system provides recommendations for possible repairs.

According to the ThredUp (an online consignment and thrift store where you can buy and sell high-quality second-hand clothes) 2025 Resale Report, the value of the global second-hand apparel market is growing at 10% annually to reach a value of $367 billion by 2029.