The definitive dyeing laboratory

With the demand for right‐first‐time production at the right price, the laboratory must be the nerve centre of the coloration operation. With the use of sophisticated equipment, it is perhaps surprising that little attention is paid to the laboratory that houses it. Developments in general laboratory design and layout are reviewed and the space requirements are discussed. The costs of building and furnishing laboratories are considered. The requirements for space and equipment for laboratories servicing both exhaust and continuous dyeing operations are discussed. The productivity of such laboratories is studied and the effect of this factor on the cost is calculated. Operating budgets for the two types of laboratory are given. Many dyehouse laboratories are run inefficiently and the costs per laboratory dyeing and for a satisfactorily completed colour match are high. This can be reduced by running machines at full loads, multi‐shift working, optimising the use of computer colour matching techniques, and attaining a high degree of accuracy and reproducibility in laboratory techniques.