Textile dyeing technician

Textile dyeing technicians perform operations related to setting up dyeing processes.

Textile dyeing technician typically do the following:

• develop chemical ‘recipes’ to produce different colours and dyes
• work out the correct temperatures to suit different dyeing methods
• test sample dyes
• mix batches of dye for use in textiles manufacturing
• recommend special finishes or treatments
• keep records of the dye development process and its results

The following job titles also refer to textile dyeing technician:

fabric dyeing technician
dye textile supervisor
dyeing textile technician
dye textile machine operator

An associate’s degree in chemical engineering, textile technology or chemistry is generally required to work as a textile dyeing technician. An apprenticeship or vocational education in fashion and textiles can also lead to this role if the courses cover manufacturing processes.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Textile dyeing technician is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to textile dyeing technician.

finishing textile technician
printing textile technician
textile dyer
textile finishing machine operator
textile printer

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of textile dyeing technician. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of textile dyeing technician with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

textile chemical quality technician
textile quality technician
textile operations manager
textile sourcing merchandiser
textile process controller

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of textile dyeing technician.

• Health and safety in the textile industry: The requirements, rules and applications of health and safety measures in the textile industry.
• Dyeing technology: Processes involved in textile dyeing using different dyeing technologies. Also, addition of colours to textile materials using dye stuffs.
• Textile chemistry: Chemical processing of textiles such as the reactions of textiles to chemicals.
• Properties of fabrics: The influence of chemical composition and molecular arrangement of yarn and fibre properties and fabric structure on the physical properties of textile fabrics; the different fibre types, their physical and chemical characteristics and different material characteristics; the materials used in different processes and the effect on materials as they are processed. 
• Textile printing technology: Addition of colour partially, according to the designed pattern, onto textile based materials. Processes for adding coloured patterns onto textile materials using printing machines and techniques (rotary of flat bed screen printing or others, heat transfer, inkjet, etc.).
• Textile finishing technology: Processes used for changing the properties of textile materials. This includes operating, monitoring and maintaining textile finishing machines.

These skills are necessary for the role of textile dyeing technician.

• Maintain work standards: Maintaining standards of work in order to improve and acquire new skills and work methods.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of textile dyeing technician. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Knitting machine technology: Manufacturing technologies which use loop forming techniques to convert yarns into fabrics in order to form knitted fabrics.
• Textile technologies: Textile technologies to design, manufacture and evaluate the properties of textiles.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of textile dyeing technician. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Prepare equipment for textile printing: Manufacture screens and prepare printing paste. Use tools and equipment associated with screen printing. Select screen types and mesh for appropriate substrates. Develop, dry and finish screen image. Prepare screens, test screens and printed quality.
• Test physical properties of textiles: Evaluate the physical properties of textiles by using testing methods, normally in accordance with a standard. It includes fibre identification and trouble shooting.
• Develop textile colouring recipes: Developing recipes for dyeing and printing processes of textiles.

8154 – Bleaching, dyeing and fabric cleaning machine operators

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References

1. Textile dyeing technician – ESCO
2. Textile dyeing technician – Explore careers – National Careers Service
3. Textile dyeing technician – career guide and latest jobs – Sort Your Future
4. featured image: Photo by Teona Swift from Pexels