Archroma Unveils CYCLANON® XC-W e, a Breakthrough Washing-Off Auxiliary for Outstanding Color Fastness and Resource Efficiency in Reactive Dyeing
Pratteln, Switzerland, July 14, 2025 – Archroma, a global leader in sustainable specialty chemicals, has launched CYCLANON® XC-W e, a next-generation washing-off auxiliary engineered to enhance performance in cellulosic reactive dyeing — especially under challenging high-electrolyte and hard water conditions. The new solution improves productivity, enhances wet fastness, and significantly reduces resource consumption, aligning with Archroma’s commitment to sustainability without increasing costs for manufacturers.
“With CYCLANON® XC-W e, we are building on our proven trio-polymer platform to give mills a way to meet rising brand expectations for durable, high-quality casual wear with a lower environmental footprint – all at a cost profile comparable to conventional washing-off agents,” said Dhirendra Gautam, VP Global Marketing and Strategy, Archroma.
The Trio-Polymer Edge in Reactive Dyeing
Conventional washing-off agents based on polyacrylate or copolymer technology often fall short in removing residual unfixed dyes from fabrics, especially after salt-heavy dye baths or when hard water is present. This shortcoming can lead to inefficient rinsing, increased backstaining, and uneven color shades, resulting in production rework and quality issues.
The innovative trio-polymer technology behind CYCLANON® XC-W e tackles these challenges directly. The auxiliary works by reducing dye substantivity, which means it limits the attraction of unfixed dye to the fiber. This enables faster and more complete removal of residual dye, delivering improved color fastness even on dark and deep shades.
Proven Benefits: Saving Water, Energy, Time & Chemicals
With CYCLANON® XC-W e, mills can achieve:
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Up to 15% shorter process time due to faster washing-off
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Up to 20% water savings in the washing-off stage
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Up to 20% lower CO₂ emissions through reduced energy use
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Up to 20% fewer chemicals needed per process
These improvements translate into substantial productivity gains, offering a clear competitive advantage.
Boosting Productivity Without Expanding Equipment
By enabling more efficient cycles and fewer reworks, CYCLANON® XC-W e can help mills maximize throughput using their current setups. For instance, a knit fabric plant producing 10 metric tons per day could raise output by 1 MT per day, simply by removing two washing baths and minimizing dye-related defects.
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Up to 15% increase in daily throughput possible with no extra equipment investment.
Part of Archroma’s SUPER SYSTEMS+ Portfolio
CYCLANON® XC-W e is part of Archroma’s SUPER SYSTEMS+, a comprehensive solutions portfolio designed for resource optimization and performance excellence. When combined with Blue Magic pretreatment and NOVACRON® EC/S reactive dyes, it offers an end-to-end high-efficiency system for 100% cotton fabric dyeing.
As an IMPACT+ solution within the SUPER SYSTEMS+ Impact Matrix, CYCLANON® XC-W e delivers maximum resource savings, high wash durability, and incorporates beyond-compliance chemistry, outperforming standard FOUNDATION processes that meet ZDHC Gateway MRSL Level 3 requirements.
Regulatory Compliance and Future-Ready Chemistry
CYCLANON® XC-W e is designed to meet current and future brand expectations, including stringent MRSL and RSL requirements. It is currently under registration for:
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bluesign®
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ZDHC Level 3
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GOTS 7.0
This ensures the product not only performs exceptionally but is also safe, sustainable, and ready for global compliance standards.
