Alchemie’s Novara™ system significantly reduces the high costs

Novara™ system method offers outstanding performance even after 20 washes while conserving 46% energy and 52% water for polycotton durable water repellent (DWR) fabric finishing.

With their Novara™ textile finishing MACHINE, Alchemie Technology, the UK’s pioneer of waterless, low-energy, textile dyeing technology, has applied water and stain resistant to 280gsm polycotton twill workwear fabric, resulting in significant energy and water savings.

When HeiQ Barrier HM-C6 water and stain-resistant chemistry is applied using Alchemie’s NovaraTM single-sided digital finishing process, 52% less water and 46% less energy are used compared to the conventional padding technique of fabric finishing.

This innovation gives workwear makers a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative by permitting a lower wet add-on—31% as opposed to 65% for padding—and a greater concentration of chemicals.

When applied with the Alchemie Novara™ technique, HeiQ Barrier HM-C6 water and stain repellent exhibited outstanding functional performance even after 20 washes, according to independent laboratory testing.

With a more uniform application and superior quality, Alchemie’s Novara™ low energy, single sided digital application technology provides functional finishes at up to 20 times the concentration of conventional procedures, resulting in cost savings and increased efficiency.

It offers the extra benefit of keeping chemicals, like as insect repellent, on the outside of a garment, away from the wearer’s skin, as opposed to coating the entire fabric with functional finishes.

This is a crucial aspect for work clothing in fields like the military where permethrin-treated uniforms are required.

The Novara™ system’s energy reductions dramatically lower the high expenses associated with textile finishing, as well as CO2 emissions and pollutants.

Alchemie predicts that switching from a conventional textile finishing padder to a Novara™ machine will result in an annual cost savings of almost €1 million for the average European textile finisher.

Dr Alan Hudd, founder of Alchemie Technology, said that their objective is to reinvent workwear textile finishing to greatly minimize its climate change effect by significantly cutting the quantity of energy, water, chemicals, and chemical waste. The consumption of water and energy during the finishing process must be addressed because of the yearly increase in demand for workwear. They have the technology to significantly reduce energy, water, and cost for workwear producers. Despite being one of the world’s worst pollutants, the textile sector has the potential to make significant improvements quickly. They anticipate that more manufacturers will move to these more affordable and environmentally friendly textile options.

Mike Mordente, business unit head, Textiles at HeiQ, said that they’re happy to continue their relationship with Alchemie Technology to prove that the Novara™ technology works with their chemistry to achieve high-quality workwear finishes. Together, they can offer a finishing option that is more cost-effective and better for the environment.