Importance of Textile Testing Equipment in Apparel Business:
In textile production, testing can be said to be a process through which the properties of different kinds of substance are ascertained and assessed by using different types of textile testing equipment. Testing is an important segment of the textile industry that helps to detect defaults inherent in machines or textile materials in other to improve quality and enhance the standard.
Besides, textile testing needs to ensure compliance with changing governmental safety regulations and to meet increasing consumer demand for high-quality textiles and apparel. However, testing in textile is of two major types which are Routine Process Testing and Quality Record Testing.
Clearly, there are exceptions where performance is an over-riding consideration, as in protective clothing, even if only for leisure pursuit. That does not of course mean that performance is unimportant to them.
Premature breakdown, whether of fabric, seam, or simply a button falling off, may produce a customer complaint, and although the customer may not actually return the garment to the retailer, it may well result in an association in their mind of poor performance, which may influence their decision on another purchase. In other to forestall this loss of confidence in the quality of textile materials manufactured by a company, testing however becomes a matter of inevitability.
Objectives of Textile Testing:
Reasons for testing textiles in garment manufacturing however include:
1. Ascertaining Strength of Materials:
For a spinner, it’s fiber. For weaver, its yarn, and that of the finisher is cloth. One attribute common to most is their variation in quality. It is a sound policy to test the available raw materials to ensure the smooth running of production processes. Unsuitable material can be rejected or perhaps put to another use.
2. Monitoring Production:
This is also known as quality control. It involves testing of textile at various stages of production to assure quality processing and products. Quality-control testing aids the manufacturer in assuring that the expected level of quality is maintained.
3. Assessing the Final Product:
By its nature, this takes place after the material has been produced. It involves the testing of a sample of product produced or at times the whole to ascertain the level of quality and make corrections (where necessary) before its final delivery to the consumer.
4. Investigation of Faulty Material:
If faulty material is discovered either at the final inspection or through a customer complaint it is important that the cause is isolated. This enables urgent steps to be taken to eliminate faulty production in the future and so provide the quality end product.
5. Product Development and Research:
This is a developmental process evaluation that helps textiles scientists determine how to proceed at each stage of product development.
Mostly Used Textile Testing Equipments in Textile and Apparel Industry:
To carry out a successful and comprehensive textile test for innovative and quality performances, certain equipment is of great importance.
1. Permeability Tester:
This could be for air permeability or water permeability as the case may be. It helps to ascertain the extent of a fabric’s dryness and quality.
2. Abrasion Resistant Tester:
It is easily understood that the more is no. of abrasion cycle the more will be the wt. loss of fabric. It is simply a test for textile durability.
3. Bursting Strength Tester:
With this machine, you can test the strength of woven and non-woven fabrics. This is to ascertain the bursting strength of the material.
In apparel manufacturing, textile testing is important in other to ensure the quality of material, durability, innovation, and new product discovery. This will guarantee continuous satisfaction of the consumer market while at the same time meeting prescribed standard and international best practices.
