Cia Hering tests the iMaster H2O

01 Sep '11

5 min read

Within just 3 months of taking delivery of Brazil's first iMaster H2O, Cia Hering is reporting a 44% saving in water use and more than 6% savings in dyestuffs and looks set to take more units. Recognised as Brazil's leading apparel producer, Cia Hering is constantly seeking new energy saving solutions in order to reduce production costs whilst, at the same time, offering improved quality.

Trialling the recently introduced iMaster H2O from German dyeing machinery specialist Thies Textilmaschinen, Hering Technical Director, Edgar de Oliveira Filho admitted that he was at first very sceptical with the claims made by Thies.

“However l have to say that they were right on every claim – it is by far the best dyeing machine l have seen.” he stated.

Cia Hering was founded in 1880 and today, the company remains deep rooted in its traditions and principles of its founders, Herman and Bruno Hering, reflecting the desire to produce quality products with originality, versatility and design and, at the same time, respect its employees, partners and customers alike. The company creates six collections a year delivering items at two to three weekly intervals for each of its brands marketed under Hering, Hering Kids, PUC and Dzarm.

“We are influenced by the global shows in Paris, London, Milan, New York and Tokyo but adapt our designs to suit the Brazilian market, said Hering's Group Communications Manager, Amélia Malheiros, adding, “keeping in tune with the latest fashions to epitomise Brazilianess”.

Last year Cia Hering posted net revenues of US$ 646 million- up 40% on 2009, selling jeans, blouses, knit shirts and children's wear through a chain of 347 Hering and 78 PUC brand stores and almost 15,900 multi-brand retail stores.

To meet the ever increasing demand for its products the company undertook an expansion strategy late last year to increase production by 40%. Currently working 22 days a month with three shifts the company is producing 270,000 pieces per day with a dyeing capacity of up to 65 t/day.

“I have to admit that at this stage we felt Thies would be unable to meet our plans on commercial grounds but in discussions relating to the new iMaster H2O, a special contract was prepared for trials,” said Edgar de Oliveira Filho.

He continued, “not only did it meet all its promised targets but also solved a number of difficult dyeing problems we had experienced in the past with, for example, body size fabrics.”

Thies has a long and established history with Hering dating back to 1989 when the company started dyeing operations using Brazilian machinery made under license from Thies.

Today Hering is fully vertically integrated with its operation at Blumenau undertaking dyeing, finishing and cutting before sending the fabrics on for sewing and make up at its plants in central and north east Brazil. With up to 40% of its production being 100% cotton, a wide range of cottonand viscose blends, mixed viscose and spandex and cotton with polyester are also produced. Hering has also recognised a trend towards viscous and spandex blends as the price of cotton continues to escalate. According to Edgar de Oliveir Filho working with lycra products has posed “no problems whatsoever with the new iMaster H2O.”

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