Roaches International Delivers Record Textile Testing Laboratory Order to Indonesia
The British textile machinery manufacturer has supplied 19 testing machines weighing more than two tonnes to Alia Digital Printex, supporting the Indonesian company's fabric quality and performance testing requirements.
Roaches International, a member of the British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA), has dispatched its largest integrated order for textile laboratory equipment to date. Delivered over the summer, the order comprises 19 testing machines weighing more than two tonnes for a new laboratory being established by Indonesia's Alia Digital Printex.
The project demonstrates Roaches International's ability to supply complete textile testing facilities rather than individual instruments, combining equipment supply with project coordination and engineering support.
Supporting Indonesia's Digital Textile Printing Operations
Established in Jakarta in 2017, Alia Digital Printex specialises in digital textile printing and fabric production, particularly for scarves, hijabs, prayer garments and apparel.
The company employs more than 500 people and has a printing capacity of 18,000 metres of fabric per day. It serves fashion brands in Indonesia and international markets.
The new laboratory will support Alia Digital Printex's expanding manufacturing activities and its requirements for consistent fabric quality and performance.
Working with its Indonesian partner, PT. Kawan Era Baru, Roaches coordinated the project from laboratory design and equipment specification through manufacturing and dispatch to on-site engineering support.
Integrated Testing for Future Quality Control
The order highlights the potential benefits of sourcing a complete textile testing laboratory from a single supplier as manufacturers move towards more digitally integrated quality control operations.
Artificial intelligence is expected to accelerate this transition by enabling data from previously independent testing instruments to be combined and analysed. This could help identify relationships between fabric properties, processing conditions and finished-product quality.
Sourcing equipment from one supplier can also support equipment standardisation, operator training, maintenance and technical support, while providing a more consistent foundation for future data integration.
Roaches Highlights Digital Laboratory Technologies
Roaches marketing executive Seth Seagraves said:
“This is a particularly significant project for Roaches, not simply because of its scale, but because it demonstrates the advantages of working with a single supplier to establish a complete textile testing laboratory,”
He added:
“As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly important in textile manufacturing, we believe laboratories will need to move beyond treating individual testing machines as isolated pieces of equipment. The real opportunity is to connect the information they generate, enabling manufacturers to build a much more comprehensive picture of fabric quality and performance.
“Having equipment supplied and supported by one specialist partner provides a strong foundation for that transition. At the same time, we are continuing to develop technologies such as our Martindale AXYZ and Sentire systems, which demonstrate how digital control and objective measurement can improve laboratory operations.”
BTMA Recognises International Business Growth
BTMA CEO Jason Kent said:
“This substantial order is another excellent example of the international reputation British textile technology companies have built through innovation, engineering expertise and customer support,”
He added:
“Roaches International is demonstrating how established testing technologies can evolve to meet the demands of an increasingly digital textile industry, while continuing to win significant business in highly competitive overseas markets. It’s exactly the kind of success we work to support our members achieving.”
The project reflects the role of integrated laboratory equipment and digital technologies in supporting textile manufacturers' quality control requirements as production operations expand.