In collaboration with Haelixa, Oerlikon Manmade Fibers Solutions is set to establish transparency and sustainability throughout the entire textile value chain, offering a solution for comprehensive product traceability in alignment with the European Green Deal.
A crucial component of this solution is the DNA marker technology developed by Haelixa, facilitating complete traceability of materials across all production stages. These markers persist through every step of the production process, ensuring that the final product remains identifiable.
Holly Berger, Marketing Director at Haelixa, explains, "This innovative technology utilizes unique DNA tailored for each project, establishing a distinct identity for the material. Once integrated into the material, the DNA becomes irremovable, impervious to falsification or alteration."
Application is straightforward, with the DNA marker introduced into the spinning process alongside the preparation oil, for example. The preparation system is adjusted accordingly, and additional feeding options are currently under development.
To achieve total transparency, the concept is complemented by atmos.io, Oerlikon's digital platform, which records and evaluates extensive production and process data during the yarn manufacturing
process. atmos.io assigns a digital identity to the yarn throughout its time on Oerlikon systems, from the melt to the packaged package.
Successfully utilized for monitoring the production process, atmos.io enables the identification and rectification of deviations in process parameters and yarn data, ensuring stable yarn quality and reducing waste rates.
The integration of both technologies ensures clear traceability of the produced yarn even in downstream process steps. This means that the components, qualities, manufacturing conditions, and origin of the yarn are unequivocally traced in the finished garment. Jochen Adler, CTO at Oerlikon Manmade Fibers, notes, "The unique DNA carries the ‘roots’ of the yarn digitally recorded in atmos.io into the everyday life of the end consumer."
The textile end products comply with the requirements of the EU's digital product passport, containing essential information for assessing life cycle and circularity. Initial long-term tests have demonstrated 100% traceability of yarns in the POY and FDY spinning process. Manufacturers opting for the atmos.io platform can easily adapt production systems to incorporate DNA markers.
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