AURO DEL ALCOY, Spain —The Aquaclean Group is reaping the benefits of a branded strategy for easy clean fabrics developed by Rafael Pascual, Jr., the President and second generation owner.

He has a business degree from Bernard Baruch College in New York City where he completed his education and recognized the need to innovate a branded strategy for his company in the face of a highly competitive upholstery market.

“Aquaclean® fabrics have been sold for the past eight years to more than two million families in more than 70 countries,” Rafa says. He tries to partner with a key furniture manufacturer offering the Aquaclean brand in each country of the world.

Total turnover in 2013 surpassed US $80 million (€60 million) according to Pascual. Javier Miro, export department and Rafael Pascual, General Manager, AquaClean

Antecuir and Interfabrics are the best known companies of the Aquaclean Group, a vertical textile conglomerate. “Aquaclean Group is the largest textile employer in the Valencia Region with around 320 people in six companies,” Rafa points out.  

 Manufacturing activities were initiated by Rafael’s father and founder, Rafael Pascual Sr. in 1962  and now include yarn warping, weaving, flocking, dying, printing and finishing.  

“The main focus for us is on manufacturing and marketing cleanable and durable upholstery fabrics. Aquaclean fabrics, which account for 85 per cent of our sales today are protected by proprietary formulas and manufacturing processes all developed and produced in our factories, in Spain,” Rafa says.

“The key is giving fabrics not only liquid repellency but also the capacity to release tough stains using simply water.  We have a large selection of  plains and features with more than 1.000 sku’s in stock.  All fabrics comply with the highest product health and environmental requirements (Ökotex, Made in Green, ISO14000) and are engineered to withstand private or public use, so clients can enjoy a large variety of applications.”

“We consider ourselves value providers.  Our aim is to build each market together with our client so we can all protect value and enhance the world of fabrics and upholstered furniture.  We are not afraid to become the main supplier of every single client we deal with.  This approach demands a high level of responsibility to deliver top product and service performance to our clients.”