Col Kittinger has worked on all aspects of the programme for the past four years, from the design of the equipment to developing skydiving techniques with Mr Baumgartner.
Firms there have installed numerous Italian looms, as well as developingequipment of their own, but the finest cashmere clothes still come from Biella.
Another equipment manufacturer, Sinoma, acquired a 40 percent global share in the cement equipment market by helping developing countries to build their cement-production capability.