Nilit, a global leader in the production of nylon 6.6, has announced that it has recently completed the scale-up of its recycled yarns, a unique combination produced from polymer waste and other polymers. The company says that the development represents a breakthrough in yarn engineering and production.

Fabio Kahn, Director of Nilit's Fibers Division, says: “The development shows Nilit’s continued dedication to innovation in research and development of nylon yarns and our longstanding commitment to protecting the environment. Being aware of our impact on the environment and reducing that impact with a product this original is highly gratifying.”

Nilit has long recycled its yarn waste to produce polyamide chips through a re-melting process. The process reduces energy consumption compared to fibre spun from virgin polymers, which the company uses in compounds for plastic applications.

“With increasing demand for eco-friendly yarns and products, we decided to develop yarn spun primarily from this recycled polymer”, said Alon Weiser, Nilit’s Research Development and Technical Service Manager.

“We overcame the variability in efficiency and low dye affinity by mixing 90% of the recycled polymer with 10% of our deep dye polymer to achieve a rich colour. The yarns have excellent uniformity and colour depth, which makes them well suited for seamless apparel, legwear and for other textile end-uses.”

With this development, Nilit claims to have significantly shortened the technology chain, especially in high energy-consuming stages such as evaporation. Nilit says that the process does not require the use of autoclaves and also reduces pollution.

The new yarn represents another milestone for the Company in its ongoing commitment to protecting the environment. “At the corporate level, we have a zero waste policy”, Kahn states. “This development reinforces our company philosophy to respect and protect the environment. Over the years we have consistently looked for ways to conserve water, reduce emissions, recycle waste, and operate a cleaner enterprise.”

In addition to recycling its own yarn waste, Nilit captures and reuses energy from its facilities for use in its manufacturing processes. Company engineers have also designed systems to significantly reduce sulphur levels and low emission burners have replaced plant boilers. At Nilit corporate headquarters in Migdal Ha’Emek, Israel, employees are active in the National Manufacturer’s Association for the Environment.

About Nilit

Nilit Ltd,(www.nilit.com) produces nylon 6.6 and microfiber yarns in a broad selection of dtex and filament counts, luster levels, and types of cross-sections. Nilit’s yarns are used for both knitwear and spandex covering applications for the production of fashionable and functional legwear, bodywear, intimate apparel, and activewear. Nilit Ltd is a privately owned company with headquarters in Israel and works closely with its international customer base from offices in Italy, the United States, Germany, Spain, France, Latin America, Asia Pacific, and now in Suzhou, China.