Manufacturing

We choose low-impact manufacturing technologies

In search of production technologies with a low impact on the environment, Arapaha is working with a number of key technologies. We likewise love to work with companies who have social inclusion on the agenda.

• Textile dyeing is one of the most polluting steps in the fashion industry. Therefore we have worked hard to use water free dyeing processes. Together with DyeCoo Textile Systems we have developed and patented the use of supercritical CO₂ dyeing of biopolymers such as PLA, even for dark colors and with good colour fastness. This technology can be used to dye yarns, non-wovens and textiles. Supercritical CO₂ is used instead of water and chemicals. It is a technology that ensures that no toxic substances are released into the environment.
• The best way to reduce our impact is to use less material. We are now investigating if it is possible to skip the use of sewing threads in textile applications and to replace them with ultrasonic welding. No material is added and bio-based materials like PLA can be welded well. This improves the recycling of products and creates fewer residual flows that have to be treated separately. This technology will be applied in Arapaha products.
• “Yarn to apparel” is a technology in which a tailor-made garment is directly produced on the basis of yarn. This skips the steps of weaving, knitting, pattern cutting and sewing. This leads to less production waste and less energy consumption. Well-known technologies come from Stoll & Shima Seiki.
• Arapaha has also developed a fully bio-based hotmelt to realize flexible adhesive glues or coatings. This hot melt is used, for example, in carpets and as a coating to develop waterproof textiles. This makes it possible to realize complex products based on mono-materials. This is done to optimize the recycling of products.

Arapaha will continue to search for production technologies that protect the environment and thus make the European and Dutch climate targets possible.