Seamless fabric bonding technology
Cut, fit, sew -- that's how clothes are traditionally made. This approach, tried and tested, has spawned a huge industry in China. As a result, China has been one of the world's largest clothing producers for more than a decade. China, Asia's largest economy, accounts for more than half of global textile and garment production.
However, the garment industry is a very competitive one and Chinese manufacturers are by no means sitting still. Apparel manufacturers are looking to improve innovation, sustainability and flexibility in these key areas to improve their competitiveness.
Savvy manufacturers are well aware that when tailoring a fabric to a customer's specifications, it is not only about quality, but also about maximising cost effectiveness. Therefore, fabric waste needs to be continuously monitored. As an innovative product, adhesives are born and comprehensively improve the performance, efficiency and productivity of the garment industry.
The traditional sewing process has many processing steps, low production efficiency, and requires a lot of manual operation. Sometimes stitching mistakes are inevitable, which leads to piles of clothes being returned. Advances in adhesives made in clothing mean that instead of stitching fabrics together, it is now possible to use adhesives to hold clothing together. At the same time, less seam allowance is required, which means less fabric is required. This is particularly evident in the underwear industry. Given the sheer size of the industry, even just the savings? Inch fabric, the effect is also amazing. According to the research report of China's women's underwear industry in March 2022, the market size of China's women's underwear industry is 123.9 billion yuan in 2020 and is expected to reach 174.6 billion yuan in 2026.
Since the birth of seamless technology, manufacturers have been exploring and trying various uses of the technology, especially as the field continues to develop, more and more manufacturers are starting to use seamless technology. Automatic adhesive dispensing allows for more accurate sizing, with an efficiency far greater than that of traditional sewing machines or even adhesive tape. This can not only increase productivity, but also lead to greater profit margins.
More and more garment manufacturers are incorporating seamless technology into their factories. Good bond strength and washing resistance not only mean more excellent performance and more excellent durability, but also because of the high elasticity provided by adhesives, clothing has a wider appeal.
However, the garment industry is a very competitive one and Chinese manufacturers are by no means sitting still. Apparel manufacturers are looking to improve innovation, sustainability and flexibility in these key areas to improve their competitiveness.
As we become more aware of the impact of consumption on human society, manufacturers are becoming more concerned about the impact of their manufacturing processes, which has led to a very positive attitude towards seamless technology. The use of adhesives in clothing production not only reduces the amount of chemicals and water used, but also reduces the amount of energy used and the amount of clothing waste.
Therefore, the use of high performance hot melt polyurethane adhesive solutions in garment manufacturing is clearly moving towards higher yield, more effective, more efficient and more sustainable. Fabrics can be bonded using tape, where the thermal bonding film uses high temperature and high pressure to achieve effective bonding of fabrics. On the other hand, hot melt adhesive pattern dispensing is dispensed by automatic dispensing machine at a lower temperature and pressure. Its operation efficiency is higher, dispensing pattern design is more flexible, and better air permeability. Hopes are high for further improvements in the dispensing technology, as its highly automated nature helps improve design flexibility.
As an innovation leader in adhesive solutions, Bostik prides itself on exploring and advancing adhesive technology. Bostik's latest innovative product, SG6160, is a polyurethane hot melt adhesive developed specifically for seamless clothing. This product has a short opening time (25-30 seconds), low dispensing temperature, good dispensing stability, low activation temperature (50-55℃), high bonding strength, and excellent water resistance. SG6160 has lower viscosity, lower dispensing temperature, better stability and lower activation temperature, making it ideal for use in underwear, functional clothing and sportswear.
Technological advances in the apparel industry augur an exciting future for the industry. As seamless technology opens up the possibility of more innovative design solutions, and manufacturers work to replace sewing and tape technologies with seamless technology in more textile products, the industry is bound to enjoy a brighter future.