Why dye garments
Garment dyeing colors the item after it is sewn. A brand can stock white garments and dye to the color that sells this week. Batches are small and the lead time is short.
The machine dyes, then washes. Dewatering is done on a separate hydro extractor, and drying on a tumble dryer.
Paddle type and rotary drum type
A paddle machine has an open vat and a slow paddle that moves the garments through the liquor. It wears the garments less, but it uses more water. It is common for knitwear and delicate items.
A rotary drum machine turns the garments in a perforated drum inside a vat. It uses less water and handles a wide range of items. Atmospheric and high-temperature versions exist. A high-temperature drum machine can run to 140 °C for polyester garments.
Typical data for garment dyeing machines
| Item | Paddle type | Rotary drum type |
|---|---|---|
| Max. temperature | About 98 °C (atmospheric) | Atmospheric, or up to 140 °C for HT type |
| Heating rate | About 5 °C/min with steam at 6 kg/cm² | Depends on steam supply and vessel size |
| Liquor ratio | Higher | Lower; older toroid designs ran around 30:1 |
| Garment handling | Gentle, low abrasion | Good for most items; set drum speed for delicate ones |
| Typical items | Sweaters, T-shirts, delicate knits | T-shirts, jeans, socks, towels, underwear |
| Load capacity | Per model, on request | Per model, on request |
Typical ranges from published industry data. Load capacity and liquor ratio are set per model in the quotation.
How to choose
List the garment types you dye and the weight per piece. Load is counted in kilograms of dry garments, not in pieces.
Choose the temperature class by fiber. Cotton and viscose run atmospheric. Polyester garments need a high-temperature drum machine.
Check water use. On a rotary drum machine the liquor ratio shows how much water and steam each kilogram costs.
Ask about dosing and program control. Repeat shades on garments depend on a repeatable program.
Frequently asked questions
Can I dye jeans and T-shirts on the same machine?
Often yes, on a rotary drum machine. Washing and heavy-garment treatments such as stone wash are a different process; tell us if you need them.
Do garment dyeing machines also dewater?
Some machines have a spin step. The usual setup is a separate hydro extractor after dyeing.
What do I send for a quote?
Garment type, weight per piece, batch size in kg, fiber, dye class, heat source, and destination country.