BTMA - British Textile Machinery Association

Advanced Dyeing Solutions was established in 2000, initially to provide technical support and spare parts for the hundreds of users of Longclose package dyeing machines worldwide, in addition to a similar service for many dyeing machines, including those manufactured by Thies, Pegg, Obermaier, Then, Schlavos, ATYC, Bellini etc.

Two years ago, however, the company considerably expanded by acquiring the well-known Roaches International range of laboratory dyeing and textile testing solutions. For over 35 years, Roaches International machines have set the pace in testing performance to BS, ISO, AATCC, ASTM, DIN and JIS standards, with equipment exported from the UK to more than 100 countries. The Roaches range can be divided into five separate categories, for sample dyeing, semi continuous/continuous dyeing, sample pilot units, quality control and digital grading.

Sample Dyeing

This range includes infra red heated machines for HTHP applications, processing yarn, fabrics and loose fibres in beaker sizes from 100-8000ml, with an adchem option for the dosing of chemicals and a choice of, one, two or three-bath models. Oil or water heated machines with water cooling, HTHP operation are supplied with similar capacities and fully digital time and temperature control.

Package dyeing systems capable of processing, yarn package, fabric beam, and loose fibre have a vessel capacity 1, 200ml, with fully automated control, option for pH measurement, dosing pump and spectrophotometer link. Other units for Dk and leather dyeing are also supplied and the range of controllers for use across the Roaches range, features Windows-style functionality, 100-program capacity and full help screens options, available in multiple languages.

Semi-Continuous/Continuous Dyeing

Roaches supplies a range of bench mounted and floor standing padders, available in widths of 350mm or 500mm wide, and vertical, horizontal or vertical and horizontal (swivel) options The Sky Pad is designed for indigo and sulphur dyes where an oxidation time is required. system allows multidip and Sky Oxidation

For the laboratory scale application of pastes and similar media, a Roaches coating units is designed to complement the TFO range of manually operated ovens and steamers. Ovens and steamers for Thermosol up to 240℃ and/or steaming processes at 102-106℃ are available in 350mm or 500mm widths for pin frame only or pinframe and roll-to-roll (continuous) operation. The Mini Thermo is a bench mounted thermofixation oven up to 240℃ and the AO Steamer processes fabrics samples approximately 840 x 1200 mm in size under saturated steam conditions at temperatures up to 104℃. Other units in this range include a calendar designed to simulate production machines, a Flash Ager pad steam unit designed for the fixation of dyes onto printed fabrics and a two-bay stenter with individual temperature control to each chamber, to simulate production stentering conditions.

Sample Pilot Units

The Roaches Atmospheric Jig dyeing machine is for dyeing up to 35 metres of fabric and available in 350mm or 500mm widths, with automatic time and temperature and fabric reversal controls. A range of Atmospheric sample winches are available with capacities of between 50 and 100 litres with the options of steam or electric heating, full automation and dosing pump. The M10 Jet high temperature jet dyeing machine, is capable of processing up to 20 metres of fabic with full automatic control, while Colorpac is a Sample Package dyeing machine with a capacity of up to 4 kg. The Rotohose is an atmospheric drum dyeing machine with a capacity of from 50 to 800 litres suitable for garment / hosiery dyeing and enzyme washing and the Roaches MP Processor can be used to perform wet processing and washing trials. It features a small scale winch which can accommodate up to nine litres of liquor and can also be employed for washing small samples of fabric after pad steam or pad Thermosol processing.

Quality Control

The extensive Roaches International range of quality control instruments includes:

• The Martindale abrasion and pilling tester.
• The Crockmeter for crocking testing.
• The Perspirometer perspiration and water tester.
• The DPA FOR testing dusting of dyestuffs or other powders.
• Contact Heat which performs stability to heat and dye sublimation testing.
• Zip Tester for zip fasteners.
• Durawash, for print and fabric durability testing to Marks and Spencer and other leading retailer standards. more
• The Opti range of equipment for testing light fastness, fabric stability (tumble dry) and spray rating, in addition to security of attachment testing for buttons and zips.
• ICI Pilling/M&S Pilling testers.
• The Wascator 71 CLS washing machine for performing stability to washing tests.
• The Rotair laboratory-scale drying and tumbling unit designed to simulate conditions in production aerodynamic systems for fabrics such as Tencel.
• Circular Sample Cutters
• Crease Recovery to determine the recovery characteristics of fabrics when creased in a loading device for a predetermined time
• Tensile Machine for Measuring Tear Strength , Seam Slippage, burst strength of fabrics, also testing of yarns. Various capacities of machine available to meet all requirements. more
• Consumables - a wide range for washing, pilling, abrasion and all other major testing groups to meet ISO, ASTM, AATCC and other national and retailer specifications.
• Elmendorf Tear Tester To determine the ballistic tearing strength of textiles, paper or board.