Raw material represents about 50-75% of the manufacturing cost of a short-staple yarn. This fact alone is sufficient to indicate the significance of the raw material for the yarn producer. The influence becomes still more apparent when the ease in processing one type of fiber material is compared with the difficulties, annoyance, additional effort, and the decline in productivity and quality associated with another similar material. But hardly any spinner can afford to use a problem-free raw material because it would normally be too expensive.
Adapting to the expected difficulties requires an intimate knowledge of the starting material and its behavior in processing and subsequent stages.
Optimal conditions can be obtained only through mastery of the raw material. Admittedly, however, the best theoretical knowledge will not help much if the material is already at the limits of spinnability or beyond. Excessive economy in relation to raw material usually does not reduce costs and often increases them owing to deterioration of processability in the spinning mill.
As an introduction to the subject of raw material, the following pages will sketch out several relationships which are important for the yarn producer.