Introduction to the Main Business of Textile Mills
March 17, 2025
Textile mills, as the core production units in the textile industry, play a crucial role in the national economy and daily life. Their business encompasses a series of complex and orderly production processes from raw material procurement to the delivery of final products, aiming to transform various textile raw materials into diverse textiles that meet different market demands.
I. Raw Material Processing
The primary task of a textile mill is to process various textile raw materials. These raw materials mainly include natural fibers such as cotton, wool, silk, and linen, as well as chemical fibers such as polyester, nylon, acrylic, and spandex. According to the characteristics of different raw materials, textile mills adopt corresponding pretreatment methods. For example, for cotton, processes such as opening, impurity removal, and carding are required to remove impurities and comb the fibers into a state suitable for spinning. Wool needs to go through processes such as wool washing and carbonization to remove the grease and plant impurities in the wool, ensuring the purity and spinnability of the wool. Before being put into production, chemical fibers also need to be pre-treated by drying and mixing to ensure their quality stability and meet the requirements of subsequent processing.
II. Spinning Process
Spinning is one of the key links in a textile mill. Its purpose is to process the pretreated fibers into yarns with certain strength, fineness, and twist. Common spinning methods include ring spinning, open-end spinning, and compact spinning. In the ring spinning process, the fiber sliver is drafted and twisted by the roving frame and then further drafted and twisted by the spinning frame to finally form the yarn that meets the requirements. Open-end spinning uses high-speed rotating air flow to condense and twist the fibers into yarns, which has the advantages of high production efficiency and uniform yarn quality. Compact spinning increases the gathering device on the basis of traditional ring spinning, making the fibers more closely arranged before twisting, thereby improving the strength, smoothness, and abrasion resistance of the yarn. Textile mills select appropriate spinning processes and equipment according to market demand and product positioning, and produce yarns of different specifications and uses, such as pure cotton yarns and polyester-cotton blended yarns for garment manufacturing, and wool yarns and linen yarns for home textile products.
III. Weaving Process
Weaving is the process of interweaving yarns into fabrics according to certain organizational rules. Textile mills are equipped with a variety of weaving equipment, such as rapier looms, air-jet looms, water-jet looms, and jacquard looms. Rapier looms can adapt to various complex fabric structures through the rapier weft insertion method and produce high-quality high-end fabrics. Air-jet looms use high-pressure air flow for weft insertion, which has the characteristics of high speed and high efficiency and is suitable for mass production of medium and low-grade fabrics. Water-jet looms use water as the weft insertion medium and are mainly used to produce hydrophobic fiber fabrics, such as chemical fiber fabrics. Jacquard looms can weave various exquisite patterns on the fabric surface and are widely used in home textiles, decorative fabrics, and other fields. Textile mills select appropriate looms and weaving processes according to customer orders, and produce fabrics with different structures such as plain weave, twill weave, and satin weave, as well as jacquard fabrics with various colors and patterns to meet the fabric needs of different markets such as clothing, home textiles, and industrial applications.
IV. Dyeing and Finishing Processing
Dyeing and finishing processing is an important link to endow fabrics with color, luster, handfeel, and special functions. The dyeing and finishing process includes several steps such as dyeing, printing, and finishing. Dyeing is the process of immersing the fabric in the dye solution and making the fabric obtain the desired color through the combination of the dye and the fiber. Textile mills adopt a variety of dyeing methods, such as dip dyeing, pad dyeing, and beam dyeing. According to the fiber type, fabric structure, and customer requirements for color, appropriate dyes and dyeing processes are selected to ensure uniform dyeing and high color fastness. Printing is the process of printing various patterns and colors on the fabric surface. Common printing methods include screen printing, rotary screen printing, and digital printing. Screen printing is suitable for small-batch and multi-variety printing production and can print fine patterns. Rotary screen printing has the characteristics of high production efficiency and good pattern continuity and is suitable for mass production. Digital printing uses a computer to control the nozzle to directly spray ink onto the fabric to achieve a personalized and high-precision printing effect. The finishing process includes physical finishing and chemical finishing. Physical finishing such as stenter setting, calendering, and raising is aimed at improving the appearance and handfeel of the fabric. Chemical finishing such as water-proof, oil-proof, antibacterial, and wrinkle-resistant finishing endows the fabric with special functions and improves its use performance and added value.
V. Product Inspection and Packaging
After the dyeing and finishing processing is completed, textile mills conduct strict quality inspections on the products. The inspection content includes the appearance quality of the fabric, such as whether there are defects, color differences, and color mottling, as well as the internal quality, such as the strength, shrinkage rate, and color fastness of the fabric. Through professional testing equipment and testing personnel, it is ensured that the products meet relevant national standards and customer requirements. For qualified products, textile mills classify and package them according to different specifications and varieties. The packaging method depends on the product characteristics and customer needs. Common packaging methods include roll packaging, piece packaging, and folding packaging. During the packaging process, textile mills will mark information such as product name, specification, composition, production date, and manufacturer on the product to facilitate product storage, transportation, and sales.
In conclusion, through a series of complex production processes, textile mills transform textile raw materials into a rich variety of textiles, providing important basic products for various fields such as clothing, home textiles, and industrial applications. The efficient development of their business not only promotes the development of the textile industry but also makes a positive contribution to meeting the growing material and cultural needs of people.