THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3721, 27 October 1906, Page 2

THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

NEW BLEACHING PROCESS. Interview with Mr J. Border. ' Onr representative had an interview yesterday afternoon with Mr A. J. Border, electrical and chemical engineer, who conceived the idea of the new patent process of bleaching fibre, and who, in conjunction with Mr Jupp has secured the patent rights for same. Mr Border is comparatively a young man but has made marked progress in matters pertaining to electricity and chemical engineering. Pie was sent by his company some months ago to instal an electrical lighting plant at Mr Jupp’s mill. Pie became interested in the manufacture of fibre. lie watched the slow bleaching process of the fibre at present in vogue, and, aided by his wide knowledge of chemistry, began to work out an improved method. He consulted Mr Jupp and experimented, and gradually evolved the present patent process which will, as we have stated previously, revolutionise the bleaching process. After the flax leaves the stripper and is washed it is placed on a specially designed conveyer about 8 feet wide, which moves into the bleaching shed where the exhaust from the gas engine, consisting of a large percentage of carbon di-oxide, plays onto the fibre. It is so treated for about three hours, after which it is conveyed to a specially designed and patented drying shed, in which it is constantly moving for about six hours. It is then passed through the scutchers and, haled up. Mr Border stated that experimenting had been going on for about three months and the grading of the fibre treated by the new process had received a very much higher percentage of points than that treated by the old method, while for strength the maximum number of points had been allowed; .It will increase the value of the fibre to the miller about -£5 per ton; tbe fibre will take tar successfully—and this m itself is a great consideration in the manufacture' of rope for marine purposes; the fibre is of greater weight and less brittle; by the new . process the wet weather such as obtains On the West Coast of the other Island, will be overcome ; will do away with paddocking and carting; will minimise thte risk of fire owing to tlie fibre being scutched, baled and shipped within 24 hours. , j . We have secured two small hanks of the Same flax treated by •the two methods, that treated by the old process is a more brittle fibre and several shades darker in appearance than the new process, and in fact is a much inferior-look-ing fibre. ’ ; The hanks are open fot inspection at this office.