Datacolor, an integrated color management solutions company, has introduced Datacolor Textile Lab Manager, a data-driven lab workflow platform designed to help manufacturers achieve color accuracy on the first attempt, reducing correction rounds that consume time, chemicals and water. The platform connects color measurement, formulation and quality control with business systems into a single workflow, which the company describes as part of a shift toward Connected Color Intelligence.
The platform connects with Datacolor’s spectrophotometers and dispensing systems, including the newly introduced Autolab TFD dual-arm automated dispenser, as well as third-party dispensers for automated weighing and dispensing. It also integrates with ERP and MES platforms, linking color decisions directly to order management and cost planning. Matching and auxiliary recommendations draw on historical formulation data, aiming to deliver faster first-shot matches and fewer correction rounds. According to the company, Textile Lab Manager is designed to connect beyond the lab as Datacolor extends its offerings across the textile color chain.
The company said textile manufacturers are already seeing measurable results. Lianfa Textile, an integrated textile manufacturer, reported shortening development cycles by 30% and improving on-time completion by 15%. Yangzi Wool Spinning, a subsidiary of Südwolle Group, said it now hits target color within one or two tries, cutting yarn delivery times to under a week.
“The textile industry has largely made the shift to digital – that’s no longer the differentiator,” said Mathieu Bonenfant, director of product management at Datacolor. “What we are seeing now is that most labs have capable tools that still operate independently of each other. The real opportunity is in connecting them. That’s what Textile Lab Manager delivers, and the lab is just where we are starting.”
Existing Match Textile customers can migrate to the new platform with support from Datacolor’s global services team.
Designed for textile dye laboratories managing color development at any scale, Datacolor Textile Lab Manager brings together tools intended to help lab managers and dye technicians meet color accuracy targets efficiently and consistently. Working alongside Datacolor’s color measurement and quality control solutions, it is intended to create a connected environment for laboratory formulation and validation. The company said the result is fewer re-dyeing cycles, stronger right-first-time performance, and greater lab throughput without sacrificing color accuracy.
Textile Lab Manager is available now and is described as the first in a series of connected textile color solutions, with more planned to follow.
