NTX has announced the production-readiness of its NTX Cooltrans waterless dyeing technology and a first major customer in adidas.

NTX Cooltrans merges innovations in chemistry and machinery to deliver precise and accurate colorisation of nearly any fabric without heat and an up to 90% reduction in water use and 40% less dyes, while retaining uncompromising colour fastness, hand feel and functional performance.

The results of the first production runs using the technology by adidas will be appearing in its Autumn and Winter 2022 collections.

In March 2021, the sportswear brand announced its Own the Game strategy and commitment to decarbonization, identifying waterless technologies as a key enabler in achieving its ambitious goals and selecting NTX Cooltrans as the first such technology to be integrated at scale into the adidas supply chain.

“For decades now, our industry has been chasing the elusive goal of reducing the startling amount of water and energy required in the dyeing process of textiles and with the launch of NTX Cooltrans, we’ve finally turned the corner,” said Kalvin Chong, chairman and co-founder of NTX. “The really exciting thing is the cost-competitive aspect of implementing NTX Cooltrans into the value chain for our brand partners. The savings associated with lower energy requirements and water usage allow us to bring this game-changing innovation to ecology conscious consumers around the globe without impacting the manufacturing costs of the final products.”

The introduction of NTX Cooltrans completely transforms the way dyeing works and opens up a whole new spectrum of materials for fashion brands to work with, according to its developer, which operates from Singapore with an R&D centre in Shanghai. The coloration process no longer resembles the centuries-old hot temperature dye baths that require mixing of cloth to achieve the desired output. NTX Cooltrans eliminates the tension and strain put on the materials and is therefore perfectly suitable to use with finer, lighter and more delicate materials.

The new dyeing environment also brings a welcome change to on-the-ground personnel involved in the coloration process and the surrounding community. New NTX Cooltrans technology-ready plants are compliant or exceed the rigorous guidelines restricting substances in chemical formulations which are used in the raw material and product manufacturing processes. The difference in facilities is night and day compared to the traditional dyeing plants. Plants utilizing NTX Cooltrans technology are quieter, require less energy and eliminate the need for dangerous chemicals, making the facilities much safer and more comfortable places to work in.

Existing NTX Cooltrans production capacity in China, operational since December 2020, and Cambodia, operational since November 2021, will now be expanded with the addition of a plant in Indonesia and several Vietnam facilities in 2022.

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