Proper ambient humidity control in textile applications can increase productivity significantly. At a stable 65-70% relative humidity (RH) level, the fabric fibres are stronger and more elastic, reducing the need for labour-intensive manual interventions when the fibres break.

A number of concerns about humidity affect the textile industry:

Lower regain results from excessively low humidity, leading to reduced quality and productivity. Appropriate regain makes materials easier to handle and more uniform and reduces breakage, heating and friction problems.
Dry fabric yarns tend to be thin, weak and brittle, with a greater susceptibility to friction and lowered elasticity.
Dry air can cause difficult handling and lower production speeds because of increased static electricity loads. Static electricity charges can cause thread sticking and make the material frustrating to handle.
Low air moisture causes fabric to shrink, making processing more difficult. Stable and adequate humidity makes cutting and fitting processes for clothes production more consistent and ensures that specifications regarding dimension are kept to.
Textile weights are lower below the standard weighting humidity of 60% RH, leading to reduced profits.
Properly humidified air has a lower fly dust and micro-dust content. This makes the working environment more comfortable and reduces the need to clean air filters.
Humidity control systems that use evaporation to increase humidity also have the advantage of cooling the environment. While different materials and processes have different ideal humidity and temperature levels, the temperature in general should be within the range 20-27°C and the RH should be kept within 50-80% at the widest.

For our dehumidifier products, see www.dampcontrol.co.za