Cut panel laundry (CPL) process is used in knits garment manufacturing. Mostly, locally processed (wet process, dyeing process) fabrics are not set correctly in its dimension. As a result when a garment is stitched without setting shrinkage completely, garment gets twisted, shrinkage occur in length and width of the garment after washing. To get rid of such issues factory needs to improve dimensional stability of fabric. Cut panel laundry process is one way to add pre-shrinkage to jersey, ribs and fleece fabrics.
The CPL process that typical garment manufacturing factory follow is below.
Step#1: Find length wise fabric shrinkage% using standard shrinkage testing method. If you have in-house testing lab get fabric shrinkage test done by the Lab. In case you don’t have testing lab read shrinkage testing method here. Assume fabric shrinkage 5%.
Step#2: Determine marker length using CAD marker or Manual marker.
For example, final marker length for a particular style is 4 meters. After adding shrinkage of 5% resultant marker length will be 4.2 meters.
If you get fabrics in tubular form, open it into single width to get better result after CPL process.
Step#3: Cut couple of panels after adding shrinkage to it (i.e. 4.2 meters as per above example) and wash fabric panels and tumble dry for testing. This sample test is important to determine final panel length to eliminate chance of mistake and unnecessary fabric waste. Measure the length of the washed panel whether after wash panel length is as per required marker length. (Washing does not required any detergent or softener, just dip fabrics into water for few hours and wash)
Step#4. If you get washed panels are right in length then go for bulk cutting of panels with approved markers length. Send cut panels to washing department with correct instruction.
Now your fabric is ready for production layering.
This question was asked by Janaka.
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