28/06/2019 – Karl Mayer — auf Deutsch lesen
Eco-friendly indigo dyeing technology
Karl Mayer remains on a growth path with its Denim Excellence Center at Karl Mayer Rotal and a wide-ranging product portfolio.
On the way to an evergreen with ecological: Samples from a warp beam which had been dyed with Greendye. © Karl Mayer
The motto of the continuing success story is: providing the complete technology for an efficient indigo dyeing process from a single source. With its Prody-S unit, this manufacturer is already a leader in the fashion market, its Prodye-R is increasingly accepted by the Genuine Denim segment.
Dyeing in nitrogen atmosphere
The nitrogen technology ensures less environmental impact and more efficiency during indigo dyeing. With its high concentration in the dye bath and under nitrogen atmosphere, the dye diffuses and migrates more intensely into the fibre than in case of conventional comparable procedures. The yarn can absorb three times more dye in a dye vat. In this way, it is possible to reduce the number and length of vats, with positive effects for the environment. The chemical consumption can be reduced considerably, a minus of 50% is possible when using hydrosulphite and caustic soda, and there is also less yarn waste. Moreover, due to the good fixation of the dyestuff on the fibre, considerably less water is required during the washing process.
Production with reproducible parameters
Karl Mayer took over the patents for the innovative indigo dyeing technology from Master in 2018. There followed extensive works for the further development and fine tuning. One of the milestones in this context was the putting into operation of a pilot machine at the Denim Competence Center in Mezzolombardo, Italy, at the beginning of this year. The dyeing system maps the industrial production process at a scale of 1:10 and it has already supplied the first warp beams. These beams were processed by an Italian partner from the weaving industry, the result being highly promising jeans samples.
Enzo Paoli, Managing Director of Karl Mayer Rotal, wants now use these fabrics in order to gain the interest of denim manufacturers in the innovative Greendye technology: “Only with samples produced under realistic fix running parameters we can convince on the market. Our contact partners are textile manufacturers, who want something to touch.”
