Germany-based A. Monforts Textilmaschinen GmbH & Co. KG reports its customer Kipas, Turkey, was chosen as the sole denim manufacturing partner in the New Cotton Project — a 6.7 million euro ($8.1 million) European Union project aiming to show that circular, sustainable fashion is achievable.
The brands adidas and H&M both are involved in the New Cotton Project along with a consortium of suppliers, innovators and research institutes. Over the next three years in relation to the project, Kipas will produce denim fabrics made using cellulose- based fibers from Finland-based Infinited Fiber Co., consortium’s leader.
Currently, Kipas is installing its third Monforts Montex tenter and third Monfortex compressive shrinking system in a configuration designed for denim production. The tenter is a 12-chamber unit; while the Monfortex unit features a double rubber configuration with two compressive shrinkage units and two felt calenders for simultaneous elastane heat setting and residual denim shrinkage. Both units have a working width of 2 meters.
“Around 90 to 95 percent of denim fabric production now contains elastane fibers and the Monforts system has allowed us to simultaneously increase our production and quality in this respect,” said Ahmet Öksüz, vice chairman of the board, Kipas.
November/December 2020