What an overflow machine does
The cloth is sewn into a loop and sits in the machine in rope form. A pump circulates the dye liquor, and the flow lifts the cloth through a tube and lets it fall back. The cloth is never pulled hard, so it suits knits and delicate fabric.
The price is a higher liquor ratio than a jigger. The HT overflow machine listed here runs at 1:6 to 1:12.
Overflow, jet and soft-flow
Makers use these names loosely. As a rule, overflow and soft-flow move the cloth gently with liquor flow. A jet machine uses a fast nozzle and pulls harder. Compare machines by liquor ratio, cloth tension and the fabric you run, not only by the name.
Technical data (HT overflow machine)
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Horizontal |
| Liquor ratio | 1:6 to 1:12 |
| Capacity per tube | Up to 250 kg (varies with process and fabric) |
| Max. working temperature | 145 °C |
| Max. working pressure | 0.4 MPa |
| Fabric speed | Up to 600 m/min |
| Nozzle | Overflow jet, adjustable gap; sizes 60, 75, 90 mm |
| Main materials | 1Cr18Ni9Ti, 321 or 316L stainless steel |
| Control | Manual or program control |
| Fabric weight | 50 to 800 g/m² |
Figures are the published data of the Runda HT overflow machine. The number of tubes and options are set per order.
Fabrics and uses
Polyester, nylon, polyester-cotton blends, microfiber and elastic yarn fabrics. The machine also does scouring, bleaching, pre-shrinking and alkali reduction.
Wide, heavy woven fabric in open width is better on a jigger. A jigger uses less water for those cloths.
How to choose
Work out your batch size in kilograms and divide by the capacity per tube. That gives the number of tubes.
Check the liquor ratio against your water and steam cost. A lower ratio costs less to run, but the cloth moves with less liquor and creases more easily.
Choose the liquor-contact material by your dyes and chemicals. 316L is the safer option for acid and salt baths.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between overflow and jet dyeing machines?
Overflow moves the cloth by liquor flow and is gentle. A jet machine drives the cloth with a high-speed nozzle. Overflow suits delicate and stretch fabric.
Is an overflow machine good for woven fabric?
It dyes some woven fabric, such as microfiber and synthetic cloth. Wide cotton woven fabric is normally dyed on a jigger.
What do I send for a quote?
Fabric type and weight, batch size in kg, dye class, steam pressure, and destination country.
