QC Guideline
StarTex is inspecting fabric based on a 4 point grading system. All dyed fabric and finished fabric are 100% inspected.
Physical data of fabric
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Usable width ISO 22198
Weight ISO 3801
Spray rating BS EN 24920
Tear Strength ISO 13937-1
Dimensional stability to washing DIN EN ISO 3759
Hydrostatic Head DIN EN 20811 / JIS L1092-B using mesh for elastic fabric
Breathability ASTM E96 BW / JIS L1099 B-1 for hydrophilic type and JIS L1099 A-1 for microporous type
Bonding Strength ISO 11339
Colorfastness EN ISO 105 C06
StarTex manufactures the salesman sample and bulk production fabric to these specifications.
Third Party Laboratory testing:
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It is up to the customer to ensure that the fabric meets with their requirements.
StarTex could send you prototype yardage from stock for this purpose before the fabric is selected.
StarTex could update the quotation and offer more information for its advantage and disadvantages during fabric selection.
Color Shade and Color Specification
a) Lab dips : StarTex does not offer a stock color service so all colors are dyed to an approved customer lab dip. Unless specified by the customer all color lab dips will be developed under the D65 light source.
b) Salesman sample and bulk production fabric will be checked by eye under the D65 light source prior to shipment.
c) If the lab dips colorfastness couldn’t meet customer’s requirement, StarTex will send 2 Lab dips for color and 1 Lab dip for improved fastness.
d) The light fastness indicated on the lab dips is only estimated, not tested. It has to be considered in critical cases to test the lab dips at an external laboratory.
e) In some cases special dyestuff for higher color fastness & color brightness could be requested with additional dyeing cost.
Customers which have additional colorfastness test methods requirements should carry out their own independent testing at the salesman sample stage and inform StarTex if they require a new lab dip and/or salesman sample batch to be produced. Salesman sample fabric will be checked by eye under the D65 light source prior to shipment and for boarder line decisions tested with a spectrophotometer, dE <1 is considered commercially acceptable.
f) Bulk Production: The colorfastness results based on StarTex’s colorfastness test methods will at least meet the results of the salesman sample fabric. Bulk production color shade will produce to match the approved customer lab dip unless the salesman sample fabric color shade is specified by the customer. Bulk production fabric will be checked by eye under the D65 light source prior to shipment and for boarder line decisions tested with a spectrophotometer, dE <1 is considered commercially acceptable.
Water repellent finishes
Water repellant finished will be tested under the ISO 4920 and washed under ISO 6330 4N machine wash 40°C with tumble dry normal. If customers request and compare to home laundry or need line dry, their specifications need to be checked upfront.
Shipping Quantity tolerances
Due to the variances which occur in textile manufacturing, StarTex’s tolerances for shipping quantity of fabric ordered by the customer are as follows:
3,000y/color and above : +/‐ 3%
1,000y/color and less than 1000y/color : +/- 5%
Inspection procedures
At dying stage
- Color shade
- Color continuity
- Color fastness
- Visual inspection
- Spray test
At finishing stage
- Water column
- MVP
- Bonding strength
- Visual backside inspection
Inside QC
- Visual inspection
- Visual backside inspection for no-lining fabric application
- Weight
- Cuttable width
- Color continuity
- Visual color inspection: left-center-right, on one piece randomly per roll
- Handfeel
- Spray test ( adding fabric slippage judgement if PFCs free WR is applied )
- Water column
- Color fastness
- Washing shrinkage
- Washing test
- Tearing Strength
4 point system inspection
- Machines are calibrated every month
- Comments on the report in Chinese can be translated into English
- Special instructions for delicate fabrics can be given.
- 3 inches or less: 1 point
- over 3 inches, but less than 6: 2 points
- over 6 inches, but less than 9: 3 points
- over 9 inches: 4 points
- 100% of the defects are marked with arrow mark on either edge of the fabric.
Inspection speed
Half-finished fabric inspection : hard level 30 yds/min medium level 40 yds/min easy level 50 yds/min
Finished fabric : 30 yards/min
Grading
A grade : less than 25 points
B grade : between 25-35 points
C grade : more than 35 points
Package
Packed with a P.E bag with a sticker inside and a P.P bag with a sticker outside