Thorite puts DP Dyers in Complete Control 

Huddersfield-based DP Dyers is proud to be one of the world's leading commission piece dyers of natural and synthetic fibres and recently turned to Thorite to carry out complete modernisation of their dye batching system, which offered poor flexibility for production improvements and additions, had unreliable back-up functions and no facility for data transfer. 

Thorite, the UK's biggest distributor of pneumatic products and process systems, designed and installeda new dye batching control system using bar code technology to measure and batch fabric dye recipes and ingredients. Each dye recipe comprises of a list of dry and liquid ingredients which are mixed in the dyeing machine prior to the fabric dyeing process. 

Dry dye powders are manually weighed in the powder room and the relevant bar codes are entered into the system using the bar code reader, to record the recipe progress and for inventory control. Transfer of the dry ingredients to the dye machine is done by hand. 

Liquid ingredients are stored in barrels for safety in a chemical bund area. These include acids, alkalis, bleach, dispersing agents, stabilisers and auxiliaries such as softeners and conditioners. When the recipe bar code is entered via the bar code reader the system automatically measures and batches the correct chemical volumes to fulfil the recipe using specialist flow metres. Finally, soft Pennine mains water is supplied through the chemical bund pipework and the system stops the supply when the liquid ingredients of the recipe are complete and the dyeing process can commence. 

The new control system and associated software enables all the existing dye machines to be retained, but ensures totally accurate dye colours to be reproduced whenever required. The DP Dyers installation also included a new full specification server in the Main Office control room plus 2 pc's fully programmed with Ignition SCADA software This is supported by a 19" panel- mounted PC in the Powder Weighing Room with bar code data entry with associated SCADA touchscreen, 2 operator panels, a pneumatic process manifold operating 20 process valves, 24 barrel level monitoring system and 2 flow metres & electronics in the Production Hall. 

There has been a dye house in the current location since 1796 and a piece dye house there since 1928. DP Dyers is now outstandingly equipped to maintain the highest quality of dyed fabric production for the foreseeable future. 

Further Information:

Ross Gowler - Thorite Marketing and Engineering Services Director

Tel: 01274 663471.

Email:ross.gowler@thorite.co.uk

Web:www.thorite.co.uk 

Note to Editors
 A family owned business since its foundation in 1850, Thorite has grown to become theUK's largestdistributor of pneumatic products and process systems. From its head office in Bradford, which also houses the company's state of the art National Distribution Centre, showroom and trade sales centre, Thorite has expanded to create a regional network of pneumatics Sales and Service Centres in Blackburn, Bolton, Doncaster, Huddersfield, Leeds, Rochdale, Sheffield, North Shields and the West Midlands. 

Thorite, Thorite House, Laisterdyke, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD4 8BZ.