Laboratory Colourist

Laboratory Colourist

Position: Laboratory Colourist

Location: North West

Salary: Excellent

Job Reference No: T004

Recruiting Consultant: Olivia

Consultant Tel:  0161 511 0655

Email:  olivia@dwrecruitment.co.uk

Details

Laboratory Colourist Overview

We are partnered with a market leading Textiles Manufacturer who are looking for a Laboratory Colourist to fill a critical role in their team.

The Laboratory Colourist will support the R&D and Product Quality teams to ensure accuracy and consistency throughout the full product range.

The Laboratory Colourist will have excellent technical knowledge of colour theory and pigment systems, with previous experience in practical laboratory testing.

Laboratory Colourist Responsibilities:

• Liquor Assessment & Shade Consistency – Evaluate dye liquors, match shades, and make necessary adjustments to align with approved colour standards.
• Work Order Coordination – Generate and manage work orders, keeping the tracking spreadsheet up to date for clear progress monitoring.
• Fabric Analysis – Conduct laboratory testing on both coated and uncoated textiles to assess attributes such as colour fastness, light and UV resistance, wash durability, and blackout effectiveness.
• Quality Control – Validate production batches against reference standards, ensuring colour variation remains within acceptable ΔE limits and that all specifications are met.
• Raw Material Verification – Inspect incoming raw materials, including chemicals, to confirm they meet quality and usability standards.
• Recordkeeping & Reporting – Log test outcomes and maintain accurate documentation, including shade cards, lab databases, swatch collections, filing systems, and technical archives.
• Laboratory Supplies Management – Monitor and replenish laboratory inventory such as chemicals, consumables, and swatches, maintaining an organised and well-kept workspace.
• Swatch Handling – Prepare fabric swatches required for shade evaluation and approvals.
• Colour Formulation – Develop and match colours for a range of substrates including polyester, coated textiles, foams, and more, in line with product specifications.
• Production Support – Offer technical guidance to production teams in pigment blending and coating processes.
• Issue Resolution – Analyse discrepancies in shade or batch consistency and collaborate with production and quality departments to implement corrective measures.
• Cross-Department Collaboration – Partner with design, R&D, and manufacturing teams to support new product development through effective colour solutions.
• Additional Support – Assist the pigment mixing area as needed, facilitating the transition of lab formulations into full-scale production.

Additional Information

The Laboratory Colourist must have previous experience in a similar role with sound technical knowledge and be highly organised with excellent time management and attention to detail.