RIVATEX 1

MOI UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL AND PRODUCTION ENGINEERING

TASK: RIVATEX INDUSTRIAL REPORT

NAME: ASHFORD MACHARIA

REG NO: MPE/29/19

SIGN: ----------------
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INTRODUCTION
Rivatex East Africa Limited Company

In June 1975, Kenya’s former president Daniel arap Moi, who was then the vice president,

officiated at the opening of Rift Valley Textiles (Rivatex). Built using loans from the Industrial

and Commercial Development Corporation, a government agency established to promote

projects that create wealth and jobs for Kenyans, Rivatex employed 400 people and was the first

Kenyan textile firm to install computerized mills imported from the US. It declared profits in its

first three years of operation.

Its dream of becoming one of the country’s nine major textile mills that would supply fabric and

clothing both locally and to the region started fading with mismanagement. On May 25, 1998,

Rivatex was placed under receivership. The receiver managers took charge three days later. The

firm eventually closed its doors in 2000.Operations resumed after the company was taken over

by the Moi University Research Centre from 2007, and changed its name to Rivatex East Africa.

The firm, which serves as a demonstration facility for students at the university also

manufactures and supplies textile products across East Africa.It receives government support

through budgetary allocations.

VISION.

to be a leader in textile technology, innovation and production for development, socio-economic

wellbeing.
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MISSION.
to satisfy customer needs through innovation development, design, manufacture and conversion
of textile products.
CORE VALUES.
 maintain efficiency in production and service delivery at all times.
 comply with all relevant legislation, legal requirements and set procedures.
 attach great importance to the contributions by all, build sustainable relationships and
share company’s success with stakeholders.
 encourage and reward achievement and innovation of staff.
 conform to high standards in respect to work performance, product requirements,
operational procedures, health and safety, environmental issues, governance and
ethics.

MANUFACTURING PROCESS

 Holding yard.
this a region where by when bales of cotton are imported, they are stored temporary
before the processing action takes off. the weight of the bails differs but at this stage the
cotton is still fresh from the farm hence its mixed up with very many impurities. the bails
can stay here for some time depending on the speed of the machines in the industry.
 Opening, blending and cleaning.
the bales are laid down in a row by a process referred to as laydown, opened and blended
through a range of machines. this is particularly done to ensure a consistent blended of
fibers is obtained. the blended fiber is the put through more machines to loosen the fiber
tuffs and to remove impurities associated with harvesting process such as leaf, sticks, boll
parts, bark and seed fragments.
 Carding.
next, the fibre is fed into a carding machine which is often referred to as “heart of the
spinning mill.” the carding mill individualizes, aligns and further performs cleaning on the
fibres before pulling them into single, continuous, loose rope called silver.

 Drawing.
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drawing is the process where the fibres are blended, straightened and number of fibres
reduced to achieve a desired density based on the requirements and the capacity and
modifications of the machine to handle. this also improves the even distribution of the silver
as a result of blending.

Drawing section
 Comping.
this process removes any final waste from the cotton and makes it finer, stronger,
smoother and more uniform compared to carded yarns. combed yarns are also more
expensive than carded yarns because there is an extra processing step and there’s more
waste.
 Roving.
in preparation for ring spinning, the silver is condensed into a finer strand known as
roving, before it can be spun into yarn. the roving frame draws out the silver to a
thickness of a few millimeters and inserts a small amount of twist to keep the fibres
together. this is then wound on to a bobbin in readiness for spinning yarn.

 Spinning.
there are three main spinning systems used commercially to produce cotton.
 ring spinning.
ring spinning draws out the roving and inserts a twist into the fibres by a rotating spindle
and winding the yarn onto a bobbin simultaneously. its comparatively expensive process
due to slower production speeds and additional processes.
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 rotor spinning.
silver is fed into machine and combed and individuals by the opening roller. the fibres are
then deposited into the rotor where air is current and centrifugal force deposits them
along the groove of the rotor where they are evenly distributed. the fibres are twisted
together by the spinning action of the rotor, and the yarn is continuously drawn from the
center of the rotor. the resultant yarn is cleared of any defects and wound on to packages.
 air-jet spinning.
silver is fed into the machine and is further drawn out of the final count and twist is
inserted by means of rotating vortex of high pressured air. the resultant yarn is cleared of
any defects and wound onto packages ready for use in fabric formation.

Spinning section

 Manufacturing fabrics.
after the cotton lint has been spun into yarn it is then woven or knitted into fabric. weaving is
the oldest method of making yarn into fabric. weaving is done on a machine called a loom.
before weaving starts the loom needs to be set up with warp yarn which runs up and down
the loom.
 knitted fabrics from cotton yarn is as simpler process than weaving. knitting involves
forming loops with one or more single continuous yarns and joining each loop to its
neighbours to form a fabric that’s stretchy, like t-shirt material.
fabric finishing
 most fabrics are finished to make them look and feel more attractive. this is the final
step in manufacturing process. cotton fabrics ,as they come from loom in their rough,
unfinished stages ,are known as greige goods .most undergo various finishing
processes to meet specific end-use requirements .some mills, in addition to spinning
and weaving ,also dye or print their fabrics and finish them .others sell greige goods
to converters who have the cloth finished in independent plants.finising of fabric
processes includes cleaning and preparing the cloth, dyeing or printing it and then
treating it to enhance performance characteristics.
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Looming section
Dyeing and printing
Dyeing and printing are processes employed in the conversion of raw textile fibres into finished
goods that add much to the appearance of textile fabrics.Most forms of textile materials can be
dyed at almost any stage. Quality woollen goods are frequently dyed in the form of loose fibre,
but top dyeing or cheese dyeing is favored in treating worsteds. Manufacturers prefer piece
dyeing, which allows stocking of white goods, reducing the risk of being overstocked with cloth
dyed in colours that have not been ordered.
The dye used depends on the type of material and the specific requirements to be met. For some
purposes, high lightfastness is essential; but for others it may be inconsequential. Factors
considered in dye selection include fastness to light, reaction to washing and rubbing (crocking),
and the cost of the dyeing process. Effective preparation of the material for dyeing is essential.
PRODUCTS
Khanga
The kanga (or khanga; from the old Bantu (Kiswahili) verb ku-kanga, to wrap or close), is a
colorful garment similar to kitenge, worn by women and occasionally by men throughout
the African region. It is a piece of printed cotton fabric, about 1.5 metre by 1 metre, often with a
borders along all four sides), and a central part which differs in design from the borders. The
khanga is culturally significant on Eastern coast of Africa, often given as a gift for birthdays or
other special occasions. They do include a proverb at the bottom border.
Bedsheets
Cotton is the most popular fabric used to make sheets and other bedding, and for good reason. 
It’s durable, breathable, soft, easy to care for, and generally quite affordable. Our bedsheets are
100%  cotton and are available in various sizes as follows;
4*6
5*6
6*6
They all come with pillow cases and are available in different colors. 
Table Mats
Are 100 percent cotton fabrics. Placed on the table.
Curtains
They are multi coloured fabrics and are 100 percent cotton.
Baby Flannels
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Flannel is cotton that’s been combed to fluff up the fibers.The result is very soft fabric with a nap
that traps body heat, thus giving flannel its snuggly-warm qualities.You’ll find the best selection
of flannel sheets and baby wraps
Suiting Fabric
Cotton Suiting Fabric is highly underestimated but it is  perfect for crisp  suits, Suiting
Fabric can also be used to create office separates that are easily mixed and matched.
To create the most casual expression of a suit, cotton suiting is your best choice to increase
breath ability, but still remain polished.
Kitenge Fabric
An East African cotton fabric printed in various colours and designs with distinctive
borders. Rivatex offers multiple choices for you, and also based on your preferences from
scartch.  
100% Cotton Machine Wash 40° C
Kitenge Shirting Fabric
An East African cotton fabric printed in various colours and designs with distinctive
borders. Rivatex offers multiple choices 
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References
Musau, E. G. (2018). Supply Chain Determinants of Organizational Performance among Textile
Manufacturing Firms in Kenya. The Moderating Effect of Background Characteristics (Doctoral
dissertation).
NGUGI, E. N. (2020). Effects of inventory management systems on performance of
manufacturing companies in Eldoret Town, Kenya (Doctoral dissertation, Kisii University).
Orina, R. A. (2018). Factors influencing the adoption of silk raw materials for sustainable
growth: a case of garment makers in Nairobi, Kenya (Doctoral dissertation, University of
Nairobi).
Mburu, A. W., Mwasiagi, J. I., & Muiruri, J. K. (2020). Influence of gin trash bacteria broth
treatment on cotton fibres. Research Journal of Textile and Apparel.