Definition of Textile Engineering and Its Importance in Textile Industry

The textile industry has great importance worldwide. The fact that this industry is so important has made all kinds of applications and developments in this field important like textile engineering. Textile engineers are involved in fabric creation and improvement effectively in many different areas. Textile engineering is an increasingly popular area in this context. It is possible to see the traces of this engineering field, from daily clothing to biomedical textile products. This area, which has an extensive scope, is also vital. For this reason, it is necessary to learn what engineering in textiles is, its importance and the fields of application are well learned.

What Is Textile Engineering?

Textile engineering is a type of engineering that covers a very comprehensive area. It is an area that examines and designs and improvements of textile products such as fiber, yarn, and fabric and develops different production techniques. These textile products also include important products such as the design of heat-resistant clothing. A textile engineer works at many different points in this area, from research and development to the sales of the product.

What Does a Textile Engineer Do?

Textile engineering is a very large area, so an engineer can play important roles in different stages of production. It is possible to see this engineering in roles such as developing ways to obtain the fibers required by production or diversifying the technique of prints on finished textile products. This area focuses on the production of different products for various needs. That’s why it focuses on the features of the product as well as the aesthetic appearance. In addition to these, a textile engineer can work during quality control and sales stages. They play an active role at the point of whether the product meets the quality standards or at the marketing point to better describe the characteristics of the product.

How to Become a Textile Engineer

To become a textile engineer, it is necessary to complete an undergraduate program. It is necessary to have completed basic engineering education in disciplines such as chemistry, textiles, or industrial engineering. Although education is very important, internships are also very important to see the knowledge gained in theory to its practical counterpart. It is very important to make the gains obtained both during the undergraduate education and after the end of the internships become more practical. At this stage, people are expected to find their own predisposition by experiencing different roles. Then, the qualifications required to work for a textile company are provided. However, some positions in textile engineering may require a higher-level diploma. At this stage, the master’s degree comes into play. Having a postgraduate degree is also expected for some companies and some roles.

Sectors of Textile Engineering

Some sectors where textile engineering is needed are as follows.

1. Spinning

Spinning is the name given to the process of producing fibers and yarns. This engineering is very important in the spinning sector because engineering in textiles contributed to the development of this sector. These operations, which were mostly done with arm strength in the past, are carried out through machines today and engineering in textiles leads these developments. Textile engineers contribute to the development of this process by developing techniques to speed up the production process.

2. Knitting or Weaving

Knitting or weaving is required for it to become a fabric after obtaining a yarn. Textile engineers have contributed to all kinds of developments in this field as well as in the spinning sector. There are many machines and techniques used to achieve fabric in this way. The share of this engineering is large in the production and development of all these machines.

3. Wet Processing or Dyeing

Another important sector in this engineering is wet processing and dyeing. It is the process in which the fabric is colored or different prints are processed on the fabric. At this stage, a wide variety of chemicals and different machines are used. The paint and coloring process to be used according to the structure of the fabrics differ. At this stage, textile engineers come into play and improve the development of production.

Applications of Textile Engineering

It is possible to see this engineering applications in many different sectors, especially in the clothing industry. This engineering field comes to the fore in the production of biomedical textiles and protective equipment. The production of surgical masks, surgical clothing, and medical health equipment falls within the scope of this engineering. In addition, textile sensor applications can be used in the field of health. The sensor is activated with variables such as pulse, or body temperature. In addition, it is possible to be the applications of this engineering to producing heat-resistant clothing for some occupations and home textiles. All designs have a huge importance, so engineering in textiles is a very important and necessary field.

Importance and Scope of Textile Engineering

Textile engineering is very effective in meeting industrial textile needs. Engineering in textiles has an extensive scope and touches many important points. For example, the textile industry is of great importance in making economic contributions, so the engineering field also contributes to the growth and development of this industry. Engineering in textiles can be active in many areas, from clothing to technical applications. Therefore, it is an area that contributes to innovation with the development of technical applications. The benefits of technical and medical textile products are also of undeniable importance. For example, biomedical and heat-resistant clothing is vital for safety and protection. Also, this engineering field in textiles comes to the fore in making production processes more environmentally friendly. Engineers can plan their production stages to be more environmentally friendly and make the necessary improvements in this direction. Thus, by making sustainable choices, engineers have the power to alleviate the damage caused by the textile industry to the environment.

Skills For Textile Engineers

The most important thing about working in engineering in textiles is that there is a bachelor’s degree in the relevant field. No matter how essential engineering knowledge is to this profession, other skills are also needed. One of these skills is creativity. Creative thinking skills are needed to develop new fabrics and patterns. In addition, being willing to research is an important detail. Collecting information about different types of fabrics and constantly controlling the methods used and developed in the world provides a great advantage to textile engineers. All this research is needed when developing a new fabric. Therefore, an engineer willing to research is a very ideal candidate for this profession. One of the skills required in textile engineering is critical thinking. This skill is especially necessary to find effective solutions when faced with possible problems. Finally, being a detailer is a feature that works well in this profession. Details are very important at every stage of production, so a detailer can succeed in this profession.