Alchemie Technology, a specialist in waterless, digital on-demand smart dyeing technology, has partnered with textile innovation company HeiQ as it prepares the production rollout of its Novara digital multifunction finishing solution in the third quarter.
The partnership combines the expertise of the two innovators–HeiQ in creating some of the most sustainable high-performance textile technology in the market, with Alchemie’s digital textile printing technology that helps to transform the dyeing and finishing industry by reducing the environmental impact and costs of manufacturing with its waterless, low energy, low chemistry digital technology.
Novara can apply single-sided or simultaneous two-sided coating of multiple finishes to specific areas of textile, such as combining anti-odor and water repellence in one material. Novara enables high performance added value finishing at significantly lower cost using, on average, 50 percent less chemistry and energy, and providing a production cost saving up to 50 percent per meter.
Dr. Simon Kew, managing director of Alchemie Technology, said “extensive testing using HeiQ’s chemistry with our digital finishing technology has achieved exceptional finishing performance with half the chemistry required of traditional finishing methods.”
“For example, using Novara for single-sided finishing of HeiQ Viroblock required 52 percent less chemistry, 66 percent water reduction and 50 percent less energy, while achieving a 99.7 percent reduction in antimicrobial activity after 15 washes at 400 Celsius,” Kew said. “With the huge demand for high-performance antibacterial, antiviral finishing for face masks, medical apparel, gym wear, home furnishing, mattresses and textiles for high-risk, high traffic areas such as train and plane seats and more, our combined technology is critical for increasing protection and reducing environmental impact of these products.”
Related Stories
Novara also enables lifestyle product innovations at lower production cost for fashion, sportswear, technical clothing and upholstery such as combining skin care additives and fragrance finishing without impacting breathability, hand feel or wicking, he added. It is suitable for finishing all fabric types, including polyester, cotton and nylon.
“We’re delighted to partner with Alchemie Technology and their journey to transform the textile industry with solutions that reduce the environmental impact of dyeing and finishing,” Carlo Centonze, CEO of HeiQ Group, said. “With such compelling cost benefits, Alchemie’s technology delivers both for the textile industry and the environment.”
Alchemie’s Novara and Endeavour, which are enabled by digital fluid jetting technology, deliver a step-change in sustainability, the company said. Endeavour’s high throughput digital on-demand technology dramatically increases dye house productivity and requires a smaller factory footprint. One Endeavour dyeing machine can replace up to five traditional jet dye baths, resulting in zero wastewater pollution, 85 percent less energy consumption and 50 percent lower operating costs.