New Tumbler Dryer Technology Controls Energy & Quality

DRYCOM Tumble Dryer Controllers have been installed in the finishing departments of leading Scottish cashmere and fine wool knitters in Hawick. Benefits of the new system include energy savings with consistent product quality and the equipment can be easily retrofitted to existing driers.

The new Streat Tumble Dryer Controller measures the moisture in the exhaust duct of tumble dryers and automatically controls the temperature and cycle time.

Special tumble driers are used in the finishing of high quality cashmere and lambswool garments where a precisely controlled operating cycle is required to impart a gentle soft finish to the delicate fashion items.

DRYCOM Tumbler Dryer Controller at Peter Scott Knitwear, Hawick, Scotland

Streat, well known for the manufacture of moisture measurement and control systems in textiles have utilised a novel approach in the new controller, by incorporating a moisture sensor in the exhaust duct. Streat’s Drycom system which has become an industrial standard in wool dryers and scours internationally normally utilises a sensor which makes direct contact with the material to be measured. However, due to the very high quality and delicate nature of the cashmere knitwear produced in Hawick, Streat have developed a non-contact means of measuring moisture as the garments are being dried.

The system monitors the humidity of the air as it leaves the drier and tracks both temperature and moisture in the duct. When the drying conditions have reached the optimum pre-set level the system automatically switches from a drying cycle to cooling cycle and then controls the end of the cycle.

Previous systems involved a timing arrangement which relied solely on the machine operator. With the new Streat system, the drying cycle is automatically matched to the condition of the load. This means that cycle time is optimised which in turn results in significant energy savings as well as ensuring garments are not over dried.

The first systems were installed at John Laing of Hawick Ltd followed closely by Peter Scott Ltd with further installations being ordered by other leading knitters.

Malcolm Grant, Managing Director of John Laing commented;

“The incorporation of the new Streat Drycom system into our tumble dryers has given us a renewed confidence in being able to achieve a reliable quality result, time and time again. When working with luxury fibres such as Cashmere and Cashmere/Silk blends precise cycle times are critical, over drying can seriously affect the handle and finish of our product. We can now be sure we are producing a consistent result, with the saving in energy costs an additional benefit.”

The new controller is being locally installed and serviced by David Brown Electrical Services who have long standing service arrangements within the Hawick knitwear industry. David Brown reports:

“The new unit replaces obsolete controllers commonly found on these specialist machines and the system can be easily incorporated into existing dryers. The unit is easy to operate and very effective in controlling both energy and quality.”