WEAVING PERFECTION

The latest innovative production techniques

The experience and knowledge of our highly motivated workforce, many of whom have spent a lifetime in the industry, is a real asset to the manufacturing process at Stanley Mills. We constantly seek out the latest innovative production techniques, investing in technology and the latest equipment to produce cloth renowned around the world.

Yarn

Our yarn store has a wide range of yarns in stock in a wide range of compositions and counts that are carefully stored and barcoded to ensure every kilo is accounted for. We have strong relationships with a selection of yarn suppliers over the world who are committed to meeting our standards

Most of the cloth that we weave uses wool and mohair as there are great properties in the fibres that lend itself to suits and jacketing. However, we do also use a variety of other fibres including silk, cashmere and cotton.

As the world changes we are also changing and developing, being RWS and RMS certified allows us to be assured the yarn has come from farms with a progressive approach to land management and they respect animal welfare.

Warping

The skill of our warpers is only enhanced by investment in the latest technology. Our Karl Meyer GOM24 single end warping machine offers outstanding performance creating warps as small as 7 metres up to lengths of 600 metres. This sits alongside our more traditional Hattersley section warping machines, with these machines we have the flexibility we need to meet our customer’s expectations through our manufacturing process.

Weaving

Once the warp is prepared it is put into loom, our 19 state-of-the-art Dornier looms have the capacity to weave 10,000 metres a week. A programme of continual investment in looms forms the backbone of our business plan to ensure we have the technology and efficiency to compete in the global market. Recently we have installed 4 faster looms taking our total of fast looms to 9. Our weavers are fully trained in our in-house development programme to the highest standard.

We also have a pattern loom that can produce colour blankets and sampling quickly to keep up to the demands of our customers.

Mending and finishing

Once the pieces have come off the loom they go into our mending department, where any slight imperfection from weaving or impurity from the yarn is corrected. The expertise of our mending department is exceptional, it is a skilled craft that takes years to learn. We have new talent coming through who are being trained by fellow menders that have been mastering their skill for decades.

We work with several trusted partners to finish our cloths. Dependent on the customers’ requirements will determine the complexity of finishing whether it’s just a wash or more extensive finishing processes such as scouring, milling or raising to transform the cloth to its luxurious finished touch and appearance.

Quality control and inspection

At every stage of the manufacturing process rigorous quality controls are applied, starting with the yarn right through to warping and weaving. Ensuring that the pieces stand up to customer expectations they are perched once they come back from finish, at this stage each piece is inspected against an approved standard for design, shade and handle. The pieces are then ready to be dispatched, on average we dispatch 10,000 metres a week to customers all over the world.