Dimensional stability for wool and woollen blends is of vital importance in the finishing process. But it is the least understood, and for want of it many a good product falls far short of the perfect quality standards. A German company has proved with its simple solution -- decatising wrapper -- that touch & comfort values can be improved tremendously and final dimensional stability achieved in a fabric. 

Mr Christian Deutmeyer, sales & marketing manager of Friedrich Hocks Gmb minces no words when talking about technology. "Ours is a very old traditional, family-oriented company with good production facilities. With our decatising wrappers, the customer can finish his wool fabrics with a unique touch. The decatising wrappers are made out of many materials depending on the various applications. A customer can opt for shine, matt finish, soft touch or whatever he wants, and we specially recommend the decatising wrapper to suit his needs." Mr Deutmeyer lays down the USP of his company's product: "We can produce decatising wrappers without any folds and can produce up to a length of 1000 metres. The decatising wrapper can be used on both kier decatising machine and finish decatising machine." 

Explains Mr Deutmeyer: "The uniqueness of our wrappers is that there will be no folds inside them since folds can be transferred to the material to be decatised and the final finish will be ruined. This will give the customer the best value addition during finishing by way of a fault-free value addition. Besides, our decatising wrappers have 133 picks in weft, which is the highest and this scores over our competitor products." 

Talking about the market, Mr Deutmeyer says, "Hocks has been selling worldwide. But our biggest market is Italy. We sell wherever wool and wool blends need the final finishing to give value of fine touch and comfort to the fabrics. It is the last finishing process, but not the least. Especially for suitings and such fabrics, it lends a perfect touch by way of softness and good feel. Looks are also improved." 

"We have sold a huge capacity of production to Raymonds in India, which is making woollen suits in pure wool and blends", says Mr Deutmeyer. Hocks is located in Rhede area of Germany. It belongs to IBENA, a weaving company for technical textiles. It started producing the decatising wrappers in 1879. Shiltex Pvt Ltd, Mumbai, led by Dr Devdatt T Kapadia, represents Friedrich Hocks GmbH in India.