Waterless Solutions Transforming the Textile Industry
Alchemie Technology has unveiled equipment designed to clean up the textile industry's dye and treatment processes, which are being rolled out commercially this year.
Dr Alan Hudd
Who are the creators?
Alchemie Technology is a Cambridge-based disruptor transforming the textile industry with clean-tech digital manufacturing solutions that eliminate the environmental impact of these polluting processes.
Why do we need these machines?
The wet methods traditionally used involve massive water consumption and high carbon emissions to apply the dyes and finishes. Endeavour’s digital dyeing technology, cuts energy use by a much needed 85% and water by 95%, while Novara machines focus on the treatment element.
How do the machines work?
Endeavour
Alchemie’s Endeavour machines use high performance jetting technology. Thousands of nozzles fire out nano-droplets of the dyes onto materials with to create patterns as well as block colours. Infrared light, potentially using a green energy source such as solar, then physically fixes them.
Alchemie’s Endeavour
Novara
Similarly, Novara is powered with applications precisely targeted to wherever needed. For example the machines enable waterproofing on one side while the other receives an anti-odour treatment.
These efficient processes contrast with conventional practices which generate huge amounts of toxic wastewater due to their reliance on high energy rinsing and mass chemical immersion baths.
Alchemie’s Novara
What does this mean for manufacturers?
Large manufacturers will need multiple machines, which cost £1.5 million each and are similar in size to traditional printing presses. Alchemie aims to be producing at least 200 annually by 2024.
How is Alchemie planning to scale sustainably?
Alchemie has received backing from investors including US economic sustainability specialist At One Ventures, with a £12million investment overall so far, alongside global fashion brand H&M. Alchemie plans to raise a further £10 million this autumn and to double its 40-strong team.
The equipment is in place for the textile industry to take the steps required towards reducing the colossal impact the industry has on the environment, now the challenge is to encourage manufacturers to adopt these new methods of production.
