GERETSRIED, Germany — September 13, 2023 — Rudolf GmbH, a leading provider of chemicals to the textile industry, can now offer side-by-side performance tests of the age-old “dip and squeeze” pad versus precision spray finishing with the delivery of Baldwin Technology Inc.’s TexCoat ™ G4 lab-scale unit
Baldwin’s non-contact precision spray technology helps textile finishers up their game by enabling consistent, high-quality finishing, with zero chemistry waste and drastically minimized water and energy consumption.
Rudolf, founded more than 100 years ago and based in Geretsried, Bavaria, offers a wide portfolio of chemical solutions and services that increase innovation and sustainability along the entire textile value chain, from fiber to finish.
“The commissioning of Baldwin’s lab scale TexCoat in Rudolf’s Customer Solution Center further strengthens the partnership of our two companies and provides the technical expertise to the textile industry in transitioning from pad to TexCoat G4 precision spray finishing,” said Rick Stanford, Baldwin’s VP of Global Business Development, Textiles.
The new TexCoat lab-scale unit at Rudolf’s Geretsried, Germany-based Customer Solution Center, tests the sprayability of chemicals on fabrics as an additional tool to help the market transition to precision spray with confidence in the performance and sustainability of the end result.
With Baldwin’s innovative system, the chemistry is precisely distributed across the textile surface and is applied only where it is required, on one or both sides of the fabric. The non-contact technology eliminates chemistry dilution in wet-on-wet processes, allowing full control of maintaining consistent chemistry coverage rates.
Plus, pad bath contamination is eliminated, and changeovers are only required when there is a change of finish chemistry. On wet-on-dry processes, the finish is applied with 50% of the amount of water required for pad finishing. Dryer fabric entering the stenter means less water to evaporate resulting in less energy and higher production speeds.
More specifically, with Baldwin’s TexCoat G4, textile finishers can expect unprecedented tracking and control of the finishing process for consistent quality. Changeovers are easily and quickly performed thanks to recipe management, including automated chemistry and coverage selection. Furthermore, the system takes speed information from the drying process to insure exact coverage regardless of any change in speed. TexCoat G4 measures every drop of chemical usage ensuring that the amount of chemical add-on is precise.
In addition, the TexCoat G4 system can process a wide range of low-viscosity water-based chemicals, such as durable water-repellants including PFAS-free, softeners, anti-microbials, easy care resins, flame retardants and more. Baldwin’s innovative technology utilizes the same chemicals used in the traditional pad bath, with no special auxiliaries required.
For a list of Rudolf-approved chemicals, click here.
“We are excited to introduce the TexCoat™ G4 lab-scale unit to the textile industry in collaboration with Baldwin Technology Inc.,” said Norbert Haberer, Rudolf Director of Finishing Chemicals. “This innovative precision spray technology revolutionizes finishing processes, delivering consistent quality while minimizing waste and resource consumption. At Rudolf GmbH, we remain committed to driving sustainability and innovation across the textile value chain and offer a new service in our in-house application labs”
ABOUT BALDWIN TECHNOLOGY COMPANY INC.
Baldwin Technology Company Inc. is a leading global manufacturer and supplier of innovative process-automation equipment, parts, service and consumables for the printing, packaging, textile, plastic film extrusion and corrugated industries. As a total solutions provider, Baldwin offers our customers a broad range of market-leading technologies, with a focus on improving the economic and environmental efficiency of production processes. Through a global footprint of 21 company-owned locations and an extensive network of partners, our customers are supported globally, regionally and locally by dedicated sales and service team members who add value by forming long-term relationships. Baldwin is privately owned by BW Forsyth Partners, a Barry-Wehmiller company. For more, visit baldwintech.com.
ABOUT BW FORSYTH PARTNERS
BW Forsyth Partners is the investment arm of multibillion-dollar global manufacturing and engineering consulting firm Barry-Wehmiller. Established in 2009, BW Forsyth Partners blends Barry-Wehmiller’s unparalleled legacy of value creation and people-centric culture development with keen investing experience to help companies realize their true potential. With a focus limited to areas known well, BW Forsyth Partners seeks to partner with leadership teams to acquire small- to middle-market companies in the capital and component equipment, and professional services sectors. In each of our operating companies, BW Forsyth Partners deploys operational improvements and strategy development without compromising the autonomy, strategic vision and entrepreneurial spirit of their leadership teams. For more information, visit bwforsyth.com.
About RUDOLF
RUDOLF, with headquarters in Geretsried, Bavaria, was founded by Reinhold Rudolf in Northern Bohemia in 1922. The company excels in innovative and high-quality textile auxiliaries, solutions for textile care and construction chemicals. 1.987 employees in 45 countries around the world ensure logistical and technical services. The combination of backwards integration, scientific knowledge, development know-how, market insights and thorough application expertise make RUDOLF GmbH an experienced and competent partner for the customers of the textile finishing industry, co-producers and many other industries. RUDOLF offers products that comply with the OEKO-TEX® and GOTS standards, is committed to ZDHC and is a bluesign® system partner. RUDOLF is a founding member of the Transformer Foundation and lives by the philosophy of the Responsible Care initiative, which stands for responsible action in the fields of environment, safety and health. For more information, visit rudolf.com.
