The SDC UK Coloration and Finishing Conference returned for its second successful year this October. Held at the Cedar Court in Bradford, the event brought more than 110 attendees together, including dyers, finishers, scientists, academics, researchers, and retailers. On the agenda: the pressing challenges faced by the coloration and textile industry, and pathways and processes to overcome them.
Award-winning fashion business journalist Eric Musgrave set the stage, with a warm welcome that extended not only a welcome to established voices in the room, but also to the vibrant young talents who continue to add all-important colour to our flourishing industry.
Our keynote speaker, Fra Butt, director of Shire Beds and chair of the West Yorkshire Mayor’s Manufacturing advisory board kicked off by emphasising the importance of regional collaboration to strengthen the industry, encouraging collaboration with neighbouring mayors, to represent the coloration industry both within our region and further afield.
Key themes from other expert speakers included:
Harnessing biotechnology to mimic natural processes
By producing dyes in ways that radically minimise chemical use, CHT’s Dietmar Hipp explored alternatives within the petrochemical landscape to reduce carbon footprints. Meanwhile, Qiaoyi Wang from Colorfix gave an insight into the company’s biotechnology used in dye production and application.
- Water scarcity in textile manufacturing
Lee Howarth, director of sustainability and global brand solutions at Achroma Textile Effects, painted a sobering picture of water scarcity and chemical waste plaguing the textile industry. Yet he also offered a vision of hope – an eight-point blueprint to drive change for the better – from closed-loop systems and automated processes, to consumer education and enacted legislation.
- Compliant climate action with the Environment Agency
Spence Seaman, senior advisor of textiles, paper, and pulp at the Environment Agency (EA) sharing the impact of future legislation on environmental issues in the UK. Presenting an overview of the new Best Available Technique (BAT) document that recently went through consultation – which included an increased focus on reducing chemical consumption, eliminating poorly degradable substances, and monitoring emissions to the air – he urged organisations to engage with the EA for full compliance.
The impact of in-process data on supply chains
Drawing the sessions on new applications and quality techniques to a close, Rob Rickets, shareholder at c-tex, explored the development of in-line colour measurement, the pitfalls and learning that has gone into bringing this technology to market, and how the system has developed since its introduction. With such transparency, it made for a thought-provoking session that truly evidenced the impact of c-tex’s offering on the wider supply chain.
- A peroxide-free approach to bleaching and dyeing
Showcasing FIBRE52’s transformative approach in bleaching and scouring cotton without peroxide, the company’s executive vice president Graham Stewart revealed not only environmental benefits, but also improvements in durability and efficiency. Referring to a trial case study at an Indian textile mill, he shared several results of the FIBRE52 process: time savings of 30%, water usage decreased by 41%, electricity consumption reduced by 30%, and 40% lower CO2 emissions.
- Technological advancements in colour assessments
The conference closed with a look towards the future, with Russell Thorpe and Stephen Tongue from colour assessment specialist VeriVide showcasing the company’s DigiEye system for effective non-physical colour communication and colour fastness grading. Attendees were introduced to the new VisionView LED lighting cabinet, that can replicate the consumer experience, shorten lead times, and reduce courier costs.
See you at the SDC UK Coloration and Finishing Conference 2025?
With overwhelming positive feedback from the event, the organising committee is currently discussing the 2025 conference and further details will be available soon. We would like to thank the Worshipful Company of Dyers for supporting the conference, in addition to the generous sponsors, exhibitors, and delegates who made it so memorable. Having supported educational provider members with travel bursaries, it was particularly encouraging to see so many students attend this conference, keen to help shape the future of education and professional development.
As we await more details, SDC invites you to revisit our sessions via our event recordings. This is priced at £20+VAT per recording for non-members, or free of charge for SDC members. If three or more events have piqued your interest in the coming calendar year, it’s well worth joining – not least because you can access our webinars too.
Source: SDC