The 2024 Digital Textile Manufacturing Technologies Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina was a whirlwind of innovation, sustainability talk, and bold visions for the future.
The event was opened by our partner, Alvin Keene, President of IMI, and expertly moderated by Kerry Maguire King, a Textile Professional from the Department of Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management at North Carolina State University. We were thrilled to participate in such a powerhouse gathering, where the textile industry's movers and shakers came together to tackle some of the field's thorniest challenges. With experts from across the globe sharing insights, it was clear that digital textile technology isn't just a flash in the pan, it's rapidly becoming the backbone of a more sustainable, efficient, and forward-thinking industry.
Alchemie Technology took the stage with our Founder, Dr Alan Hudd, and Lewis Ford our Product Manager, leading two compelling sessions that underscored our mission to bring digital dyeing technology stateside and demonstrate our commitment to reducing emissions in dyeing and finishing. But we weren't the only ones rolling up our sleeves to bring change. Here's a recap of some of the standout sessions that left an impression on us.
Bringing Digital Dyeing to the USA
Dr. Alan Hudd led an engaging session titled "Bringing Digital Textile Dyeing to the USA: A Sneak Peek", which captured the essence of our work at Alchemie. Dr. Hudd painted a clear picture of how Endeavour™ technology, a low-carbon digital dyeing system, can significantly reduce water, energy, and chemical use. Alchemie's mission is to empower the U.S. textile sector with a digital dyeing solution that does more with less—less water, less waste, and less energy. Alan’s message hit home: if we are serious about reining in emissions and waste in textiles, bringing game-changing technology like Endeavour™ to U.S. soil is the way forward.
Driving Sustainability Through Standards – AATCC’s Approach
Sustainability in textiles isn’t a one-person job, as Garry Atkinson from AATCC reminded us. In his talk, "Driving Sustainability through Standards," Garry underscored the importance of industry-wide standards to measure and achieve real sustainability. It was a wake-up call for the industry, reminding us all that without clear, universally accepted metrics, any efforts at sustainability could end up as little more than greenwashing. Standards will be the glue that binds sustainability to accountability, ensuring that our claims are backed by genuine data.
Investing in Fashion – At One Ventures
It was refreshing to see Danae Robert from At One Ventures tackling the financial side of sustainable fashion with her session, "Investing in Fashion." The textile industry needs investment to transform its processes and infrastructure. Danae spoke passionately about the role of venture capital in driving this shift and emphasised the importance of financing clean, green technologies. With investors like At One Ventures backing sustainable innovation, it’s clear that change isn’t just possible; it’s inevitable.
Digital Textile Printing: DTG vs. DTF – Dr. Dan Harrison
Digital textile printing is advancing at breakneck speed, and Dr. Dan Harrison’s presentation, "DTG vs. DTF," brought clarity to a complex topic. His deep dive into Direct-to-Garment (DTG) versus Direct-to-Film (DTF) methods showed just how quickly these technologies are evolving. Dr. Harrison’s comparisons revealed the nuances in quality, cost, and scalability of each method, making it clear that digital printing will continue to revolutionise textile manufacturing. It’s an exciting time for anyone involved in textile colouration, and digital printing is paving the way for cleaner and more efficient production.
Environmental Sustainability Analysis – North Carolina State University
A standout session came from Kerry Maguire King of North Carolina State University, who presented "Environmental Sustainability Analysis of Rotary-Screen Printing (RSP) vs Digital Textile Printing (DTP)." Kerry’s analysis revealed significant differences in resource consumption and waste between traditional rotary-screen printing and digital methods. She highlighted that digital printing typically requires much less water and energy, producing minimal waste. Her data-driven insights emphasised that embracing digital solutions isn’t just a trend; it’s a necessary shift toward sustainable practices in the textile industry.
New Technologies to Reduce Textile Dyeing & Finishing Global Emissions – Lewis Ford
Our own Lewis Ford closed out Alchemie’s contributions with his session, "New Technologies to Reduce Textile Dyeing & Finishing Global Emissions." Lewis laid out the concrete ways that our digital dyeing solutions can tackle the environmental impact of the traditional dyeing and finishing process. As he explained, every drop of water saved and every kilowatt of energy conserved matters when the goal is a global reduction in emissions. Alchemie’s work is part of a larger tapestry of innovation, but the Endeavour™ system’s potential to minimise carbon and chemical footprints brought real excitement to the room.
Showcasing Endeavour through Discovery Lab
A significant highlight for Alchemie Technology at the conference was the opportunity to showcase our cutting-edge technology through our Discovery Lab system. Led by Lewis Ford and assisted by Loic Delor, our Head of Sales, this interactive demonstration allowed attendees to see firsthand how our low-carbon digital dyeing production, Endeavour™, operates through Discovery. Lewis explained how Endeavour™ dramatically reduces water usage by up to 95%, slashes energy consumption by 85%, and minimises chemical use by 30%. This hands-on experience not only illustrated our commitment to sustainability but also opened up conversations about how our technology can revolutionise dyeing processes across the industry.
Wrapping It Up
The conference wasn’t just about technology; it was a call to action. From pushing the boundaries of textile production with robotics to investing in sustainability and setting high standards, this year’s Digital Textile Manufacturing Technologies Conference made one thing clear: the textile industry is on the cusp of a new era. Alchemie Technology was proud to be part of it, championing solutions that don’t just move the needle—they redraw the map. We came away inspired and more committed than ever to leading the charge for sustainable, digitally-driven solutions in textile manufacturing.