New technologies, coupled with increasing environmental concerns, are opening up major opportunities for companies that can create lighter, stronger or advanced materials that do not harm the global environment.

The Textile Laser Innovation Programme is being introduced to Scotland over the next 6-8 months through a unique partnership between Scottish Enterprise and the Textile Centre for Excellence in Huddersfield.

The programme will investigate if and how plasma/laser treatments can be applied to the textile industry in Scotland on a commercial level to achieve energy savings, waste reduction and superior fabrics.

Current projects underway in Yorkshire have identified examples of cost savings in the dyeing process such as a reduction of 30% on heating costs, £22,000 reduction of chemical/effluent costs and an increase in selling price due to enhanced fabric performance.

Some of the results to date

In all cases, the application of this new, innovative process impacts on the following elements without prohibitively increasing production cost:

• Low temperature dyeing and enhanced dyeing capability
• Improved fabric/fibre surface characteristics
• Reduced process energies and reduced use of natural resources (water etc)
• Reduced effluent and treatment waste - no water, no chemicals

Getting involved

Scottish Enterprise Textile team are now looking for a maximum of 10 textile companies across the textile manufacturing sector to take part in the initial feasibility study of the effects of the process on Scotland’s textile products across the supply chain (e.g. dyeing, finishing, spinning, weaving, knitting, technical and leather).

Visit the Textile Centre of Excellence for further information about textile projects underway in England. If you are interested in receiving further information about the project in Scotland then please contact Hazel.brodie@scotent.co.uk