Humans like exploiting color to enhance both our personal appearance and the world we live in. Dyed and printed textiles are a prime example, with a huge global coloration industry. However, the massive consumption of water and energy required by many finishing processes, as well as the toxicity of some chemicals, has increasingly caused grave concern to environmentalists and the wider public. Conversely, responding to these worries has been the catalyst for innovation among eco-responsible companies in the Swiss Textile Machinery Association.
Green-tech denim dyeing
Swiss finishing machinery companies have been actively developing and launching innovations with environmental friendliness as a prime requisite. An example is research into dyeing process which works without hazardous chemicals. Green technology denim dyeing became a reality with Sedo Engineering. The underlying breakthrough was the ability to industrialize the electrochemical process for reducing indigo, using only electricity. The dyestuff is produced by an electrochemical process, consuming considerably fewer resources than existing methods.
Ecological profitability – no contradiction
The finishing industry today demands machinery which meets ecological requirements at the same time as enabling mills to operate profitably. That was the motivation behind the development of ESC (Energy-Saving Chamber) under the Santex brand of Santex Rimar Group. ESC increases production capacity by 15 to 17% from the same amount of heating energy. Specialized open-width fabric surface treatment systems can offer energy-saving options for sustainable production and low CO2 values – along with the promise of a fast return on investment.
Two approaches to water savings
At Jakob Muller, top-quality technical parameters go hand-in-hand with the necessity for environmentally-friendly production in its innovative efforts. For example, it’s new washing module fulfils product and environmental needs, thanks to improved washing-off results with less energy and water consumption.
Open-width finishing equipment specialist Benninger tackles another important environmental issue by measuring pollution levels in the washing process. A sensor automatically gauges the level of pollutant, so that only the required amount of water is fed into the wash chamber, ensuring minimum use of both water and energy, and high reproducibility of the washing result.
Testing for sustainability
There is a need of effective testing of product sustainability, as a key element in customer satisfaction. Laboratory and testing instruments by Mathis offer a strong basis of expertise in the dyeing and coating sectors enabling quality assurance related to both performance and durability in applications.
Ready to invest for future generations
Textile dyeing and finishing is one of the most water- and chemically-intensive industries – a fact acknowledged by Swiss machinery manufacturers. Primary investments in resource management result in equipment offering valuable features to make this industry more sustainable. Solutions are customized, based on sophisticated technologies and showing high quality for a long lifespan. Targeting sustainability can be more than just lip service – but it has its price.
Sustainable finishing processes are the only way to save the planet. Companies can make sustainability real. Swiss technology is ready for change.
Solutions for the finishing industry provide also the following Swiss Textile Machinery members: Autefa, Drop Chemicals, Hannecard, Luwa, Uster Technologies, Xetma Vollenweider and Zeta Datatec.
