Oerlikon, manmade fibers solutions and Swiss company Haelixa have collaborated to establish a transparent and sustainable value chain for textile end products, addressing the demands of the European Green Deal.
The key component of their solution is Haelixa’s DNA marker technology, ensuring complete traceability of materials throughout the production process.
Each project receives a unique DNA identity, integrated into the material during the spinning process, making it resistant to tampering or forgery.
Holly Berger, marketing director at Haelixa said, “This innovative technology employs distinct DNA tailored for each project, establishing a unique identity for the material. Once the DNA is integrated into the material, it becomes irremovable, impervious to falsification or alteration.”
Handling is straightforward—the DNA marker is fed into the spinning process with the preparation oil, for example. The preparation system is modified accordingly. Further feeding options are currently being developed.
The collaboration incorporates Oerlikon’s digital platform, atmos.io, which records and analyzes production and process data during yarn manufacturing, providing a digital identity to the yarn from melt to packaging.
This integration allows for clear traceability of yarn components, qualities, manufacturing conditions, and origin in the final garment.
Jochen Adler, CTO at Oerlikon Manmade Fibers said, “The unique DNA carries the ‘roots’ of the yarn digitally recorded in atmos.io into the everyday life of the end consumer.”
Initial tests have demonstrated 100% traceability in the POY and FDY spinning process, and manufacturers using the atmos.io platform can easily adapt production systems to incorporate DNA markers.
