The world's largest spinner of pure wool and wool blend worsted yarns for circular and flat knitting sectors, Südwolle Group, has developed a new, environment-friendly treatment technology that promises excellent quality yarn. The company says, the new technology delivers fibres with the same strength, the same or better pilling performance, and improved ability to absorb moisture, than conventionally processed yarns. This alternative, Naturetexx Plasma is supposed to be a sustainable alternative to current industry standard super wash, chlorine-hercosett process.

The Südwolle Group purchased the Richter F+A dye house and treatment facility in Stadtallendorf, Germany last year. The facility possesses the technology, and the group has since refined the process for producing the plasma treated yarns. Talking about how the technology works, Hamish Allan, Marketing Manager, Südwolle Group said that process used electricity and air, and is a huge environmental leap forward. It also sets a new standard for wool processing, he added.

Plasma is created by controlled discharge of an electric voltage across a non-conducting gas. The gas is ionised by the voltage into a more reactive fundamental state. When the wool top passes through the plasma field, the surface of the fibre reacts with energised gas, modifying the cuticle scales and removing the wool felting effect.

Naturetexx Plasma, claims the Südwolle Group, is being developed as a genuine alternative to Superwash, rather than just a specialty organic niche treatment.