Monforts sets out dyeing advances in time for ITMA
Germany-based textiles machinery maker Monforts will outline its latest dyeing technology advances the International Textile Machinery Association (ITMA) show in Italy this summer.
Monforts textile technologies engineer Jonas Beisel explained the focus of the industry is very much on cleaner processes to meet brands’ sustainability commitments and with further regulations anticipated.
“This is calling for investments that enable a significant reduction in resource consumption to be achieved, but that are easy to integrate into existing production systems,” he said.
More than 900 Monforts Thermex hotflue dyeing systems are operational in textile producing countries such as Bangladesh, Brazil, China, India, Mexico, Pakistan and Turkey, with around 150 of them using the Econtrol and EcontrolT-CA processes.
Econtrol is a continuous process for the dyeing of woven cotton and cellulosic fabrics in which reactive dyestuffs are fixed into the fabric in a one-step dyeing and drying process with a controlled combination of steam and air. The pad-dry process takes just two-to-three minutes at a temperature of between 120-130°C and a relative humidity volume of 25-30%.
“Econtrol ensures excellent reproducibility of all colours, improved dye penetration on difficult fabrics and no risk of the browning of the fibres due to the low fixation temperature,” Mr Beisel explained. “As such, it is the ideal process for fast change technology and operational savings.”
In addition, no salt is used and no steamer is required for a separate fixation step. The process is urea-free and no smoke or deposits are generated. Direct feedback of the dyeing results eliminates batching time to guarantee good reproducibility from the lab to bulk production and an immediate wash off is also unnecessary, allowing for flexible production planning, he added.
ITMA takes place in Milan from June 8 to 14.
Image: A Thermex line for customer production trials at the Monforts Advanced Technology Centre in Germany. Credit: Monforts
