MAY-JUNE 2021
SEPT 1 – 3, 2021 Bombay Exhibition Center, Mumbai Hybrid Edition
International trade fair for technical textiles, nonwovens and composites
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MFI
Editorial
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The key of the Italian Textile Machinery success lies in the right mix of tradition and innovation.
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At Biancalani we are sure that technologies capable to deliver consistent results will be the key to any future development
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Oerlikon signs agreement to acquire INglass, a global leader in high precision polymer flow control equipment, to accelerate expansion strategy in polymer processing market
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International Textile Industry Statistics
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ITMF Annual Conference in Davos, Switzerland postponed to April10-12,2022
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Monforts says goodbye to Klaus Heinrichs
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A radical leap in fabric inspection
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RIETER at ITMA Asia 2021
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We offer the textile producers state-of-the- art technologies
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Polyester filtration Visco+ –innovative vacuum filter for IV setting
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A breakthrough for break drafts
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Major innovations ready to go live
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Savio at ITMA ASIA+CITME exhibition: solutions-oriented portfolio to maximize machinery return on investment
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Experience Groz-Beckert in person and virtually at ITMA Asia 2021
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Stäubli at ITMA Asia 2021
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A.T.E. joins hands with SMIT S.r.l., Italy to promote rapier looms
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AEPC appeals for uninterrupted manufacturing at factories Ÿ Wants essential service sector tag for apparel export industry Ÿ Willing to follow stricter safety measures to prevent infection Ÿ Says lockdowns will waste year-long efforts to revive industry
Concerned over possible imposition of lockdowns due to a resurgence in coronavirus infections, Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) has urged the government to keep factories free from lockdowns and requested for essential service sector tag for the labour-intensive apparel export industry. For ensuring uninterrupted manufacturing at factories, the Council has written letters to Hon'ble Home Minister Shri Amit Shah, Hon'ble Health Minister Shri Harsh Vardhan, Hon'ble Textiles Minister Smt Smriti Zubin Irani, Hon'ble Commerce and Industry Minister Shri Piyush Goyal, their Secretaries, and Chief Ministers of some states including Tamil Nadu.
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“The industry, which supports over 13 million workers directly and many more indirectly, in rural and backward areas and largely comprises MSMEs, will be severely impacted by the disruption, if the lockdown is again imposed in the factories,” AEPC Chairman Dr A Sakthivel wrote in his letters to the government. “Being one of the most labour intensive industries, while we are concerned about the health and safety of the workers, we are also concerned about their livelihoods,” he said while thanking the government for undertaking one of the largest vaccination drives in the world for protecting the people of the country. All factories have been taking stringent measures and following strict health protocols, as per the MHA guidelines and other advisories. The regular tests and check-ups are also being done, he said. The apparel exporters are willing to follow even more strict safety measures but would want to avoid even partial lockdowns. "It is requested that the work at the factories are not disrupted by lockdown and we also request for exempting the apparel export industry as an essential service sector,” the Chairman said, adding that such lockdowns create widespread disruption and impact not just in the short term but also the long term health of the industry. Dr Sakthivel said that the apparel export industry recently got back on track, migrant labourers were back, orders have started stabilizing and exports are looking up. “The lockdown, at this point, will disrupt the last one year of hard work put in by the industry in getting back on the global map and on the survival path,” he said.
India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Srilanka, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, China, HongKong, USA, Germany, Spain, Italy, U.K. & France
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May-June 2021
ITALIAN TEXTILE MACHINERY The key of the Italian Textile Machinery success lies in the right mix of tradition and innovation
Mr. Alessandro Zucchi President ACIMIT Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers Via Tevere 1, 20123 Milano (ITALY) 1. What are the strengths of the Italian Textile Machinery Industry? Reliability, versatility and an excellent quality/price ratio are the features that have always distinguished Italian textile machinery. M oreover, the environmental and economic sustainability of the technological solutions offered by Italian manufacturers is the key to success for their customers. 2. What are the reasons for successful international position of Italian Textile Machinery Industry? The key of the Italian success lies in the right mix of tradition and innovation. The skills of our workers derive from the textile and mechanical tradition that belongs to Italy. Process and product innovation is the driver that has allowed Italian manufacturers to remain world leaders in recent decades. R&D activity has 15
always been the flagship of the Italian textile machinery industry. 3. How International Textile Industry can benefits from Italian Textile Technology? Sustainability and digitalization of production processes are necessary for the entire global textile industry in order to remain competitive. And for years Italian manufacturers have been committed to developing these issues. Let me remind here the ACIMIT Green Label project, which testifies the commitment of Italian textile machinery sector to provide solutions that are less polluting and with reduced consumption of water, energy and raw materials. Or, on the digitalization side, the recent ACIMIT project aimed at defining a digital certification, which can be used by Italian builders to certify the ease of integration of their machinery into the production systems of their textile customers. 4. Which Textile Technologies are likely to become more important in future? It is difficult to make a ranking of which technologies will be more disruptive in the future. Currently we can say that digital printing, where the Italian supply excels, represents one of the most advanced technologies and appreciated by the market. I believe that in the future the textile technologies that will allow their users to reach the final market faster, with sustainable and recyclable products while ensuring low production costs, will be successful. 5. Which are the most promising present and future markets? Asia remains the main production hub for the textile and apparel sector. In addition to the well-established markets, China, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan, other well-known markets for the global textile machinery industry will emerge, including Vietnam and Uzbekistan. However, the Covid-19 pandemic has given rise to a reflection on the need to make supply chains shorter. This will provide an opportunity in the future for production hubs closer to the end markets. As a result, demand for textile machinery from Western Countries, exploited by many brands for their proximity to large consumer markets, will grow.
ITALIAN TEXTILE MACHINERY At Biancalani we are sure that technologies capable to deliver consistent results will be the key to any future development Mr. Michele Gabarra. Marketing Manager & Senior Sales.
4] Which Textile Technologies are likely to become more important in the future? Fabric finishing has always been continuously developing and increasing in importance, and this trend is likely not changing at any time. The international community finally realized how important is to respect our environment, and the attention to sustainability in fabric finishing is becoming more relevant day by day. At Biancalani we are sure that technologies capable to deliver consistent results in an efficient and sustainable way (both environmentally and economically) will be the key to 2] What are the reasons for the successful any future development. international position of your company? We all want to leave something good to our offspring: What our customers often say about us is that they have this is the only planet we have, after all. been offered a partnership and not just a “product”. Maybe this is one of the reasons. Surely, the constant 5] Which are the most promising Present and investment in R&D, together with the important effort future markets? in localizing our resources providing qualified pre- Biancalani is actively present in all textile markets, and post-sales support in so many areas of the world, and it is difficult to give one or the other a first place. provided its contribution as well. Besides those countries which play an important role mainly for their dimension, some others are relevant 3] How International Textile Industry can benefit because they are often characterizing new trends. from your Textile Technology? What is particularly interesting, and what in Biancalani is always offering new and innovative Biancalani we consider really promising, are those solutions. From entirely new processes (for instance, markets which have already an important dimension the AIRO® treatment, patented by Biancalani in the and are always investing in new technologies, with 80s, where fabric is softened mechanically through the capability to grow further in size and in diversification speed of air), to new methods of performing certain of products thanks to a blend of entrepreneurship and treatments, which can offer a huge increase in quality creativity. And India is surely among the most of the final product together with a considerable saving prominent and representative. in production costs. Just one example: the application to terry fabric of our AIRO®24 open-width continuous tumbler has become standard treatment. 1] What are the strengths of your company? At Biancalani we always considered customers our main strength: our goal is to offer the highest level of attention, at any stage, and build long-term and mutually beneficial relationships. Having our origins as a “family company”, at Biancalani we maintained a set of core values which are based on personal relations, mutual respect and trust. This is the approach we always have with all our stakeholders: customers, suppliers, collaborators and employees.
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May-June 2021
TECHNOLOGY Creating a new growth platform
Oerlikon signs agreement to acquire INglass, a global leader in high precision polymer flow control equipment, to accelerate expansion strategy in polymer processing market ▪ INglass and its HRSflow Division is a market leader “With INglass, we are acquiring a leader in polymer specialized in hot runner systems flow control solutions with proven success in many ▪ Technology is highly complementary to Oerlikon’s markets,” added Georg Stausberg, CEO of the existing capabilities in polymer flow control and will Oerlikon Polymer Processing Solutions Division. “Our combined know-how and expertise in polymer expand Oerlikon’s market access processing and melt distribution engineering, our ▪ Acquisition accelerates Oerlikon’s strategy in global market presence and our well-established diversifying its manmade fibers business to expand brands make a winning formula and will advance our into the high-growth polymer processing solution goal to become a leading supplier for polymer processing in an attractive and growing component market solutions market.” ▪ Oerlikon renames ‘Manmade Fibers’ Division to The completion of the transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing ‘Polymer Processing Solutions’ conditions, and expected to take place in the second ▪ Acquisition is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2021. quarter of 2021 INglass is a leader in automotive and expanding in Oerlikon, a leading provider of surface engineering, other sectors polymer processing and additive manufacturing, INglass S.p.A. is an internationally operating announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire successful company established in 1987. Its product Italy heaquartered INglass S.p.A. and its innovative portfolio includes hot runners as well as engineering hot runner systems technology operating under its and consultancy services for the advanced development of polymer processing products. market-leading HRSflow business. INglass’ HRSflow hot runner systems are applied in “The acquisition of INglass accelerates our strategy to multiple industries from automotive, consumer goods expand into markets with strong growth potential. It and household appliances to packaging, waste will broaden our OEM customer base in other management, construction and transportation. INglass industries and put our polymer processing business on is headquartered in San Polo di Piave, Italy, near an entirely new growth trajectory,” said Dr. Roland Venice. 2020 revenues of INglass were approximately Fischer, Oerlikon Group CEO. “Additionally, we CHF 135 million and the acquisition is expected to be expect this aquisistion to create further synergies immediately accretive to Oerlikon’s margins and cash between our Polymer Processing and Surface flows. INglass has more than 1 000 employees and 55 sites worldwide, including prodution plants in Italy, Solutions Divisions.”
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TECHNOLOGY
China and the US. HRSflow directly serves OEM advanced materials, improve and maximize customers in the automotive and other industries. performance, function, design and sustainability of its customers’ New business unit with strong growth potential products and manufacturing processes in key Oerlikon has a high precision flow control components industries. Pioneering technology for decades, business that currently offers a large selection of gear everything the company invents and does is guided by metering pumps for the textile and other industries, its passion to support its customers’ goals and foster a including the automotive, chemical and paint markets. sustainable world. Headquartered in Pfäffikon, HRSflow will be integrated into this existing business Switzerland, the Group operates its business in two to form the Oerlikon Flow Control Solutions divisions – Surface Solutions and Polymer Processing BusinessUnit, which is part of the Oerlikon Polymer Solutions. It has a global footprint of more than 10 600 Processing Solutions Division. employees at 179 locations in 37 countries and generated sales of CHF 2.3 billion in 2020. “We firmly believe that within the Oerlikon Group we can further exploit the potential of our hot runner About Inglass systems technology and, when combined with the Inglass S.p.A. is an internationally operating capabilities of Oerlikon gear metering pumps and their successful company established in 1987. Its product melt distribution engineering competence, will portfolio includes hot runners as well as engineering position our business as one of the leading precision and consultancy services for the advanced flow control specialists for multiple applications in a development of polymer processing products. global growth market”, said Antonio Bortuzzo, CEO INglass’ HRSflow hot runner systems are applied in of INglass S.p.A. multiple industries from automotive, consumer goods and household appliances to packaging, waste Financing of the acquisition is ensured by existing management, construction and transportation. INglass credit facilities of OC Oerlikon. is headquartered in San Polo di Piave, Italy, near Venice. 2020 revenues of INglass were approximately CHF 135 million. INglass has more than 1 000 About Oerlikon Oerlikon (SIX: OERL) is a global innovation employees and 55 sites worldwide, including powerhouse for surface engineering, polymer production plants in Italy, China and the US. HRSflow processing and additive manufacturing. Its solutions directly serves OEM customers in the automotive and comprehensive services, together with its business and other industries. www.inglass.it
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May-June 2021
TECHNOLOGY International Textile Industry Statistics n°62/2019 Decrease in global short-staple and rotor capacities
ITMF (International Textile Manufacturer Federation ( www.itmf.org ) has published its report on International Textile Industry Statistics (ITIS) on productive capacity and raw materials consumption in the short-staple organized (spinning mill-) sector in virtually all textile-producing countries in the world.
installed air-jet spindles is increasing worldwide, mainly in Asian countries and Turkey. The substitution between shuttle and shuttle-less looms continues but the growth in shuttle-less looms capacities has slowed down (see Fig. 2). The number of installed shuttle-less looms increased by 1% in 2019 and reached 1.7 million units. Total raw material consumption in the short-staple organized sector has stagnated in 2019 (see Fig. 3). Consumption of cellulosic short-staple fiber increased by 9% to 5.4 million tons and consumption of synthetic short-staple fibers decreased by -4% to 14.2 million tons. The consumption of cotton has stabilized at 26 mill tones.
The 2019 data shows a decrease in short-staple spindles and open-end rotors capacities around the world (see Fig. 1). The number of installed short-staple spindles went down from 230 million. in 2018 to 223 million in 2019. The number of installed open-end rotors decreased from 8.2 million in 2018 to 7.4 million in 2019. These changes are mainly driven by scraping of outdated machinery in China. The trends observed in other regions are stable. The number of Find more on itmf.org.
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BUSINESS NEWSLINE ITMF Annual Conference in Davos, Switzerland postponed to April 10-12, 2022 Due to the uncertain and unpredictable situation with regard to travel and event restrictions caused by the Corona-pandemic, the Board of the ITMF together with the two co-hosts – Swiss Textiles and Swiss Textile Machinery – have decided to postpone the ITMF Annual Conference in Davos, Switzerland from September 26-28, 2021 to April 10-12, 2022. Regular updates on the next ITMF Annual Conference can be found at: ITMF Annual
Conference in Davos, Switzerland ITMF is an international forum for the world's textile and related industries founded in 1904. ITMF members are associations and companies covering the entire textile value chain – producers of fibres, textile machinery, chemicals, textiles, apparel, and home textiles. The membership is from more than 40 countries representing around 90% of global production.
Monforts says goodbye to Klaus Heinrichs administration and exports in his uniquely calm and quietlyspoken style.” “He has always been a guarantor of successful product launches for Monforts technical and technological highlights such as the TwinAir principle of independent airflow regulation, the Hercules LTM stenter chain, the Econtrol® dyeing technology or the Montex®Coat device - to mention only a few.” Klaus has also been active on the VDMA's Exhibition and Marketing Committee since 1993, which he chaired from 2005 to 2008. “Klaus always enriched the industry discussions with practical and future-oriented proposals and thus also advanced ITMA,” said Thomas Waldmann, Managing Director of the VDMA Textile Machinery Association. “We sincerely thank him and wish him all the best for this new chapter of his life.”
After almost 30 years with the company, Monforts VicePresident Klaus Heinrichs is to retire at the end of May. A very well-known and respected figure in the industry, Klaus began working in marketing for the company in 1992.
“We will miss Klaus as a colleague and as a manager because of his skills, character and his engagement,” added Monforts Managing Director Stefan Flöth. “He truly represents the Monforts commitment to our customers to be helpful, accurate, fast and reliable, and we keep him as a friend. I'm sure the many friends he made throughout the world during his career with the company will join us in wishing him all the best for his next phase of life together with his family.”
“From the very beginning until today Klaus used his great flair and networking skills to secure and improve the company's international presence and public relations, especially at seven successive ITMA textile machinery exhibitions, beginning with the show in Milan in 1995,” said * Econtrol is a registered trademark of Dystar Colours Monforts Marketing Manager Nicole Croonenbroek. Distribution GmbH. “Later, he also took care of customer service, sales
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May-June 2021
FABRIC INSPECTION A radical leap in fabric inspection Uster Q-Bar 2 becomes the unique formation monitoring system
The best way to avoid off-quality is simply not to make it. Uster Q-Bar 2 introduces a radical leap in fabric inspection. It monitors the fabric additionally at the earliest point – the critical stage in fabric formation – with automatic, in-line inspection. Identifying problems here brings enormous benefits, preventing defects and enabling weavers to deliver constant quality and stay competitive in the market. Q-Bar 2 is best described as a formation monitoring system, because of its ingenious positioning directly at the interface of warp and weft threads. That allows rapid response as soon as a defect appears, avoiding long-running or repeating faults. Alarm and stop signals alert the operator to correct problems immediately – and early detection reduces second quality and material loss, as well as minimizing the need for post-production checks. For weavers, these advantages represent genuine and long-awaited innovations with a positive impact on both productivity and quality. Formation monitoring Weaving defects can have various root causes, so Uster Q-Bar 2 provides different algorithms to identify specific defects and their causes. This inbuilt knowledge can prevent defects within the weft insertion cycle. 21
Its enhanced detection position in the fabric formation zone means the warp is monitored even before it is traversed by the weft – a truly unique benefit. It allows detection of incorrect warp positions, missing warp, loose warp ends and even pattern irregularities. Another important innovation is the control of weft irregularities. By monitoring each inserted weft in the formation area, Q-Bar 2 primes users to react to weft irregularities at the earliest possible stage. At this point, it can detect weft-related defects such as double picks, broken weft or slubs and loops. “Formation monitoring is the answer to market requests. Weavers demand zero defect standards, increased sustainability by waste reduction and they want to produce the fabric meeting specific quality requirements,” says Michelle Salg, Product Manager Fabric Inspection at Uster. Total supervision Defects that become visible only in the woven fabric are the nastiest threat. Often, it's too late when defects such as reed marks, dirty yarns or floats are spotted – but it can't happen with Uster Q-Bar 2. Its fabric inspection algorithms detect even 'invisible' defects in the fabric. It's the simple solution to improving fabric yield by automated formation monitoring. Q-Bar 2 also monitors critical machine units in the formation zone. If there is a problem here, the system makes it easy to identify and eliminate it, preventing
FABRIC INSPECTION further defects and again maximizing fabric yield. Another element of the total supervision provided by the formation monitoring system is its special focus on the selvedge area. This is not only critical for an efficient weaving process, it is also important in further process steps. Specific algorithms detect irregularities in the selvedge, as well as broken leno – but also identify any pattern defects. Continuous pattern monitoring flags up incorrect patterns at the earliest stage, so the loom can be stopped and the problem fixed before many meters of fabric are wasted. Last but not least, the system has a permanent eye on the fabric width, an essential factor for further processing. For this reason, Q-Bar 2 provides continuous width measurement of the woven fabric, from loom setup to full roll. Designed for users The technology in this new formation monitoring system is impressive, but Q-Bar 2 is highly developed in many other aspects too. Its attractive industrial design is also ergonomic, so users have easy access to all important parts. Weavers appreciate its simple installation on existing weaving machines. And operators like the integrated LEDs used by Q-Bar 2: system status is indicated and the positions of detected defects shown by red lights. The improved hardware platform is capable of handling high loom speeds and is ready for future innovations. First-quality production, to customer specifications, is
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the overall goal. That is especially important in demanding applications such as industrial and safety textiles. In apparel and home textiles too, it is vital to avoid seconds and minimize waste fabric. “Independent of the fabric application, Uster Q-Bar 2 is a game-changer. For the first time, weavers can actually prevent weaving defects instead of only reacting to them,” says Salg.
About Uster Technologies Uster is the world's leading provider of quality management solutions from fiber to fabric. Uster Technologies offers high-technology instruments, systems and services for quality control, prediction, certification and optimization in the textile industry. This includes systems for quality management, laboratory testing and in-line process control for fibers, staple and filament yarns, fabric inspection as well as value-added services. Uster provides the globally-acknowledged Uster Statistics benchmarks for trading, textile know-how training, consulting and worldwide after-sales services – always aspiring to fulfill the textile market's needs, to drive innovation forward with 'quality in mind'. Uster Technologies AG is headquartered in Uster, Switzerland and operates worldwide. It has sales and service subsidiaries in the major textile markets and Technology Centers in Uster (Switzerland), Knoxville (USA), Suzhou (China) and Caesarea (Israel).
May-June 2021
SPINNING
Rieter at ITMA Asia 2021 Rieter – Ensuring Competitiveness Through Technology • Ring spinning with G 38 and ROBOspin sets new standards in automation • COMPACTapron takes yarn strength to new heights • ESSENTIAL offers new features with smarter insights for better decisions • ROBOdoff automates doffing to save time and money • SSM’s new winder NEO-YW delivers more efficiency and sustainability • Graf’s new cylinder wire and flats enhance lifetime and quality Rieter has doubled down on its R&D efforts since the onset of the pandemic to accelerate the development of its suite of intelligent and automated machines and systems so customers can manufacture yarns more profitably, efficiently and sustainably. This also empowers mill owners to respond flexibly to fast-changing markets.
side of the machine so that the spinning process can continue seamlessly. ROBOdoff significantly helps to save time and money. New Spinning Rotor and CHANNELinsert Boost Production The new rotor 31-XT-BD and the CHANNELinsert 28 can boost rotor yarn production by up to 6% for both knitted and woven applications. It is even possible to use lower quality raw materials while achieving constant production output.
SSM’s New Winder NEO-YW Delivers More Efficiency and Sustainability The NEO-YW offers clear benefits for dye package winding and rewinding of filament yarns and features the brand-new online backpressure system for low and high package densities. Together with the firmly established thread laying system fastflex and tension control technology digitens it guarantees the best dyeing results Ring Spinning with G 38 and ROBOspin Sets New and unwinding properties. Standards in Automation Rieter’s proven ring spinning machine G 38 with up to 1 Graf’s New Cylinder Wire and Flats Enhance 824 spindles, equipped with the fully electronic drafting Lifetime and Quality system and the industry’s first fully automated piecing The latest innovations from Graf include the new card robot ROBOspin sets new standards in terms of cylinder wire P-1940S and the flexible card flat resist-Oautomation and flexibility. This powerful combination top C-60. The cylinder wire delivers consistent sliver makes it easy to produce standard, special, and compact quality irrespective of the incoming cotton fibers’ trash yarns thanks to the best-in-class compacting devices content and extends the lifetime by more than 10% thanks COMPACTdrum and COMPACTeasy. COMPACTapron to the robust design with increased blade width. In completes Rieter’s family of compacting devices, taking addition, the flexible flat resist-O-top C-60 reduces yarn strengths to new heights thanks to its unique 3D imperfections by up to 15% for fine count yarn spinners. technology that guides the fibers smartly through the Rieter’s family of components which spans Bräcker, Graf, Novibra, and Suessen,helps extend service life compacting zone. while enhancing quality and consistency. Novibra’s HPS 22 spindle, which is available for ring and compact spinning, offers the best price performance Technology Competence – Supporting the Industry’s across all applications with spindle speeds reaching up to Circularity Journey 22 000 rpm. It caters to a pressing need on the Chinese With a mere 1% of used garments being recycled and 73% going to landfill, the textile industry faces mounting and other markets. pressure to become more circular. Rieter is leveraging its ESSENTIAL Offers New Features with Smarter expertise to support the industry’s ambitions, with a Insights for Better Decisions recent study showing it is possible to spin not only rotor Rieter’s ESSENTIALmonitor, one of the modules of its but also ring yarns of varying quality out of recycled all-in-one digital monitoring system, has new features clothes on a Rieter system. The semi-automated rotor that offer smarter insights into the mill’s operations so spinning machine R 37 for example delivers promising yarn qualities thanks to improved waste extraction, owners can fully unlock the mill’s potential. closing the loop faster. ROBOdoff Automates Doffing to Save Time and Money Visit us at ITMA Asia + CITME 2021 National Manual doffing is cumbersome, time consuming and Exhibition and Convention Center, costly. Available on the rotor spinning machine R 37 as an Shanghai, China, from June 12 to 16 in hall 8 at booth option and on R 35 and R 36 as an upgrade, ROBOdoff C07. Experience our virtual automates the changing of packages, replacing full booth from anywhere, anytime via www.rieter.com on packages with an empty tube that is prepared along each June 11, 2021. 23
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Christian Guinet, Secretary General, French Textile Equipment Manufacturers’ Association
1 EN E E MA NE Y The French textile equipment manufacturers are particularly strong in long fibre spinning (wool, acrylic …), yarn twisting and control (including technical yarns), space-dyeing, heat setting for carpet yarns, carpet systems, dyeing and finishing, felts and belts for finishing processes, nonwovens, air conditioning of textile plants, and recycling processes of textile materials. As the association grouping them, our main goal is to promote them worldwide. We are introducing a new website which will be a very easy portal to visit them: www.ucmtf.com We are also designing a virtual show which will be a very useful complement to the major equipment shows. May I give you a breaking news: this virtual show will include 3D demonstrations of equipments.
Innovation, Innovation and innovation! Innovation and partnerships with our customers! The textile equipment manufacturers have to be innovation geeks. In France it is embedded in our DNA. Remember Jacquard, the most famous textile equipment inventor, he was French! Since then, the French equipment manufacturers have devoted a lot of time and money to their R and D. They do it differently than the biggest manufacturers because they are SMEs. Their R&D is not developed it in some ivory towers. Thanks to our size, the information can flow very rapidly between the commercial, technical and research departments. This is how it should work and it does. It allows to go much further than purely commercial relationships with the customers. Then we can offer them hardware, software and services which are the solutions they need.
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May-June 2021
TECHNOLOGY technologies. We design many special equipments to be our customers’ partners and help them introduce new products on their markets. We do not sell off the shelves equipments only but made to order equipments. More and more, we go beyond individual machines as we can design, with other equipment manufacturers, full lines which are optimized to produce a specific product our customers have developed or want to develop. 4]Which Technologies are likely to become more important in the future? Innovation is multi-face. Innovations can materialize in equipment, service, communication channels with our partners. Right now, there are major themes for innovations which go beyond the usual ones: Ÿ Eco-responsibility and recycling Ÿ Industry 4.0 All our companies are promoting sustainability and textile intelligence. May I give you one example of industry 4.0 integration which is really a disruptive innovation. SUPERBA is expanding its area of applications. The new SUPERBA B403 automatic winder marks a real technological breakthrough. With its individual spindle motorization drive, combined with a single tension sensor per position, it enables a constant tension winding process, a very accurate bobbin length measuring as well as a unique quality control for each yarn position. It opens up new opportunities in terms of winding quality. Connected through cloud computing to the new VANDEWIELE TEXCONNECT supervision system, the B403 is part of the Factory 4.0 concept. It provides readilyavailable data on yarn tension to supply the predictive maintenance and reduce yarn waste, allowing carpet manufacturers to make the highest quality carpets at the most economic prices. The textile producers who will integrate this concept starting from one or a few equipments and, in a second phase, to their all-production process and even to the flow of information between themselves and their suppliers and customers will gain a real competitive advantage. About sustainability, it is quite the same. To save 25
energy, water and raw materials, you have to start from each equipment and in a second phase to the whole production process. The ideas are quite simple but the execution requires the full involvement of the management. 5] Which are the most promising Present and future markets? Due to the pandemic, the year 2020 was unlike any other year. Our companies, started 2020 with very good order backlogs and many new projects were being studied with our customers. Then came the Corona virus. In many countries, our customers’ factories have been closed or partially closed for around two months. Ours too were partially closed. During this global turmoil, demand for services and sales of spare parts came nearly to a halt and many projects were postponed. Our priorities were, of course, to protect our own employees and to give our customers the few but often urgent services they needed. We executed quite well these priorities. Now, thanks to the dedication of our teams, our worldwide organizations, our equipment lines and more than anything else, thanks to our partnerships with our customers, we look to the future very positively. In your own country, India, investments decisions have been slower that we had imagined despite the need to modernize your textile industry. Then, investments remain to be made. We believe India is a very promising market for us. Our companies are ready to offer the perfect services needed to be your reliable partners. China has been investing heavily and their exports have shown it was the right way to export worldwide. Other Asian markets are active and the investment mood is positive in many markets like Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam or South Korea. Turkey is of course both a present and future promising market. In Iran, the textile industry is in the starting blocks as the machinery is outdated. The US economy is clearly growing and Europe is trying to revitalize its industry. That’s why we look to the future positively.
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Polyester filtration Under vacuum, the new BB Engineering large-area filter produces a homogeneous, pure melt with a targeted IV setting –for instance, for return-ing polyester production waste to the melt flow, but also for achieving a homogeneous viscosity in the case of virgin material.
BB Engineering has expanded its melt filter portfolio to include a patented large-area vacuum filter designed especially for processing polyester waste. The socalled Visco+filter is already known as the key component of the BB Engineering VacuFil recycling system. Now, it is also available as a separate and easily-integratable upgrade component for existing systems. Within this context, the uses of the Visco+ are by no means limited to just decontamination. Here, the Visco+ offers the following solutions: ▪ IV homogenization: if an existing production system is struggling with IV fluctuations, the Visco+is able to actively intervene and balance out any irregularities; ▪ IV increase: if the final viscosity is insufficient when processing recycled materials, the Visco+ can increase the IV without the negative impact of long residence times. In this way, the Visco+ enables fast and flexiblycontrollable viscosity build-up and reliable viscosity monitoring of the polyester melt using a to-date unique, patented process. Depending on the intended end use, the melt can be adjusted to the further processing procedure in a targeted manner. The requisite melt properties – above all the intrinsic viscosity, but also the purity and homogeneity – are achieved in a reliable and reproducible manner and can also be adjusted during ongoing operation.
The BB Engineering process is both completely new and super-efficient. As a melt filter, the Visco+ operates like a liquid-state polycondensation unit. A maintenance-intensive reactor or a deposit-prone stirring unit are not required. Moisture is removed from the PET in the filter, which – in conjunction with an adjustable residence time – results in the desired IV increase in the vacuum. This enables a controlled IV build-up of up to 30%. The intrinsic viscosity is the central quality figure in PET recycling and rPET processing. It determines the melt performance in the downstream production process and the properties of the end products. The intrinsic viscosity is continually monitored by means of an integrated viscosity measurement unit and reliably adjusted in the event of deviations (caused by disparate input qualities, for example). At the same time, the filter provides an enormous material surface compared to the volume and continuously renews this. To this end, contami nation can be removed particularly effectively from the starting material by means of automaticallyregulated high-performance vacuum (1-30 mbar). The result is a pure, homogeneous melt with controllable IV values and consistent quality. For this reason, the Visco+is particularly suitable for recycling PET waste that is to be reused for high-end products.
SPINNING
A breakthrough for break drafts Modern draw frame machines offer a fantastic range of settings that can be adjusted to meet each spinners' unique needs. But adjusting the break draft has still been difficult, unpredictable and very slow. The AUTO DRAFT function from Truetzschler, which is part of our successful autoleveller draw frame TD 10, uses an innovative measuring method to automatically optimize the break draft during production conditions. And it takes less than two minutes.
For many decades, spinners have been wrestling with the awkward problem of how to adjust the break draft on the draw frame. This is partly because adjusting the break draft involves changing a wide range of settings on the draw frame – and each setting needs to be adapted in line with every other setting. As a result, many spinners simply leave their break draft settings untouched because they don't have time to interrupt their busy production schedule. On top of this, there is currently no laboratory test or measured variable that provides clear information about the optimal break draft settings. Even fiber and draw frame manufacturers are only able to provide rough guidelines, which means spinners can only tell if
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their break draft settings are suitable when they inspect the finished yarn. Many spinners try to adjust the break draft using the Coefficient of Variation (CV) value. But while low break drafts often improve sliver evenness, this approach can open up additional problems (as shown in the graphic below). Setting the break draft too low can reduce yarn strength and elongation. And it can also increase the number of imperfections and have a negative effect on the running behavior and efficiency of the machines operating at later stages in the spinning process. This means optimization is only possible in the very long term, if at all.
SPINNING Faster and better than anything else on the market Our innovative AUTO DRAFT function provides a high-impact solution to this awkward problem in the production of carded ring yarns, including polyester. It uses a state-of-the-art measuring method to calculate the best possible break draft setting automatically – within real production conditions. The method considers all fiber and sliver parameters, as well as the settings on the specific model of draw frame and the relevant external boundary conditions. The user can
then choose whether to apply the recommended setting in the software of their machine. AUTO DRAFT is able to identify the optimal break draft setting in less than two minutes. This accelerates the process of adjusting the break draft and creates meaningful clarity about how to optimize those adjustments. Put very simply: It is faster and better than everything else that is currently available on the market.
An unbeatable combination: The TD 10 with AUTO DRAFT and provides a better, more uniform sliver quality. • Reduction of costs related to quality control. Our customers across the textile industry around the • Easy monitoring and adjustment of the machine world are already benefitting from AUTO DRAFT, a settings when the quality of the raw material changes. feature in our autoleveller draw frame TD 10. The • And improvements at later stages in the production process. major advantages include: • Optimal adjustment of the break draft – including selecting the best possible settings for new materials at How it works the first attempt. When activated, the AUTO DRAFT function continuously changes the break draft from 1.00 to • Correct drafting distribution in the drafting system. 1.95, and then measures the draft forces within the • Less adjustment and shorter process times. • Better basic settings for the machine – which reduces drafting system. the negative effects of sub-optimal machine setting
A massive range of attractive benefits
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May-June 2021
SPINNING
1) AUTO DRAFT begins calculating the break draft. 2) It measures the break draft force over the entire draft zone. 3)And it displays the results of the automatic break draft calculation process.
Conclusion The AUTO DRAFT function is a truly game-changing technology for break draft optimization. It makes it possible to adjust the break draft quickly and easily, using an innovative and automatic method that operates within real production conditions – and that 29
takes all relevant factors into consideration. In this way, it is enabling spinners to save time and money, while improving quality and making their processes more efficient. It’s a major breakthrough for the break draft. And it’s empowering Truetzschler’s customers worldwide to grab a valuable competitive advantage.
TECHNOLOGY
Major innovations ready to go live Shanghai exhibition will see Uster product launches The Uster 2021 product launch season is well under way: the new Quantum 4.0 yarn clearer introduced in March, followed in April by the Q-Bar 2. Alongside these innovations came new Quality Expert software, with the latest Mill Dashboard feature. Now, these major developments are ready to go live for the first time at ITMA Asia + CITME 2021 in Shanghai.
First, Uster took decisive steps to remove any uncertainties over event timings by releasing news of the Mill Dashboard through its official LinkedIn account on 5 th of March, along with a promise of more innovations to come. The launch season continued, with the new yarn clearer and the innovative formation monitoring system being presented online, ahead of the upcoming ITMA Asia + CITME exhibition in China. Capacitive and optical sensors in one The brand-new Uster Quantum 4.0 yarn clearer offers the best of both sensor technologies –capacitive and optical – for intelligent yarn quality control and optimized profitability. Mills can now focus on meeting the fast-moving market challenges, instead of pondering technical options. Spinners can now access full security in quality control, ensuring the best clearing mode is applied. The Quantum 4.0 generation enables this through a simple capacitive/optical switch. This allows greater flexibility in the yarn types which can be produced, while also dealing with factors such as humidity variations. 30
Using its unique Smart Duo technology, the Quantum 4.0 operates both sensor channels intelligently in tandem, through an innovation known as Cross Clearing. This locates and eliminates hidden defects by means of a double check, in which the main sensor’s signal is supported by the assistance sensor. This deals with issues such as unnoticed fluff events, which might otherwise cause breaks downstream. Today’s market trends show strong demand for compact yarns. Here, spinners can trust Quantum 4.0 to tap this potential and deal with any quality issues. The density feature, for example, protects mills from substandard cops caused by ring spinning malfunctions such as blocked compacting zones, or twist problems. The Smart Duo has the advantage of monitoring yarn density continuously and afterevery splice. As well as identifying issues at winding, defect prevention at source is now possible – a massive advantage provided by the clearer’s new Quantum Expert, included in the product offering. Thanks to many extra intelligent analytical features, the Uster Quantum Expert enhances process control and prevention of defects, through Total Contamination May-June 2021
TECHNOLOGY
Control, Ring Spinning Optimization and the RSO 3D Key people, key data Value Module. The introduction of the latest Mill Dashboard might seem like just another of many new features with Uster Fabric inspection: the right position Q-Bar 2 is best described as a formation monitoring Quality Expert. But this one can bring significant system, because of its ingenious positioning on the changes for operators in spinning mills. The new loom, directly at the interface of warp and weft version of the Mill Dashboard presents key data directly to key individuals in the spinning mill, so threads. The impact on weaving is amazing: monitoring at the earliest possible stage allows rapid they can react rapidly to any quality deviations. It also response as soon as a defect appears, avoiding long- ensures greater transparency on the shop floor. running or repeating faults. Alarm and stop signals alert the operator to correct problems immediately. The latest release of Uster Quality Expert is available Early detection reduces second quality and material for connection – and all key quality parameters from loss, as well as minimizing the need for post- laboratory and in-line instruments can be displayed, targeted to individual needs and preferences. production checks. Weaving defects can have various root causes, so Uster Q-Bar 2 provides different algorithms to identify specific defects and their causes. This inbuilt knowledge can prevent defects within the weft insertion cycle. The detection position in the fabric formation zone means the warp is monitored even before it is traversed by the weft – a truly unique benefit. It allows detection of incorrect warp positions, missing warp, loose warp ends and even pattern irregularities. Another important innovation is the control of weft irregularities. By monitoring each inserted weft in the formation area, Q-Bar 2 primes users to react to weft irregularities at the earliest possible stage. At this point, it can detect weft-related defects such as double picks, broken weft or slubs and loops.
Real and virtual worlds In keeping with current trends and pandemic restrictions, Uster has also developed an effective home in the virtual world, with an online showroom to enhance in-person exhibition attendance. First of all, he new virtual showroom is exclusively open to customers who are advised to get in touch with their sales contact. Ready to host visitors to ITMA Asia + CITME 2021, Uster will present a showcase of the latest innovations. The Quantum 4.0 is sure to be an attention-grabber: a demonstration of Quantum Expert will illustrate how customers can benefit from Quantum 4.0 and its related systems. The stylish design and the defect catalogue will trigger initial interest for Q-Bar 2 – what’s likely to be even more memorable is the demonstration of how well the smart indicator lights work to show up the positions of detected defects. Also on view will be a Mill Dashboard screen, along with the Value Modules and other features of Uster Quality Expert. Clever animations will provide a deep understanding of databased quality during yarn production.
First-quality production, to customer specifications, is the overall goal. That is especially important indemanding applications such as industrial and safety textiles. In apparel and home textiles too, it is vital to avoid seconds and minimize waste fabric. Independent of the fabric application, Uster Q-Bar 2 is a gamechanger. For the first time, weavers can actually prevent weaving defects instead of only reacting to Final insider tip: the twist measurement feature of Uster Tester 6 will be shown for the first time in Asia. them. 31
SPINNING Savio at ITMA ASIA+CITME exhibition: solutions-oriented portfolio to maximize machinery return on investment Savio will be attending “ITMA ASIA+CITME 2020” exhibition, taking place in Shanghai/China, from 12 to 16 June 2021. HALL H8, BOOTH C22
It is very important be back to physical events in the biggest textile market like China and meet in person our customers again. Savio is soon exhibiting in Shanghai solutionsoriented portfolio to maximize machinery return on investment, both for machinery and for technical service. Savio will have on display at ITMA ASIA the winding solutions especially studied for processing cotton/spandex, modal and lyocell yarns. Savio offers numerous machinery solutions to support the quality of the final yarn product: winding, winding for continuous shrinkage, bulking and heat setting; TFO twisting; Open-End rotor spinning. Another main exhibit is the “Savio 4.0” digital solutions for data exchange in manufacturing technologies. The new possibilities offered by the connection of the machines translates into the different levels of Savio Industrial IoT, with the possibility of progressive sophistication. Different option levels, each corresponding to a different dose of Industry 4.0 applied to Savio textile winding machinery, from simple connectivity and machinery data downloading, to remote machine setup, to operator real-time interactivity. Automation and digital solutions have been two big drives for Savio in the last years. The requirement for 32
integrated automation in the spinning process is increasing, because of yarn quality and productivity advantages that such solution offers. This integrated automation drive has led Savio to offercustomers new bespoke solutions, to increase flexibility to/fro winder. The latest automated solution from Savio is the MultiLink, that connects multiple ring spinning frames (RSF) to one Savio winder, becoming a tailor-made circuit to link up to four RSFs to one winding machine. This solution optimizes space, reduces energyconsumption and production costs. This automatic bobbin transport shortens servicing paths for the operators and allows an ergonomic material flow. The costs for production, space and energy are reduced, while keeping the quality consistent even with long and multi-connected machines. Savio After-Sales service has also a new and innovative Augmented Reality tool to fast trouble shoot, improve processes and increase machine utilization time. Due to the current travel restrictions, in order to ensure machinery effectiveness, Savio is offering remote assistance powered by TeamViewer Pilot, an application that allows interaction in augmented reality. Thanks to this application, Savio experts from their Italian headquarters can support field technicians at the customer site, in real time, through video sessions for faster troubleshooting. May-June 2021
TECHNOLOGY Experience Groz-Beckert in person and virtually at ITMA Asia 2021 The 7th ITMA Asia + CITME takes place from 12–16 June 2021 in Shanghai, China. Groz-Beckert presents the new products from all six product areas. The products are presented both physically as exhibits and in extended form via augmented reality. Groz-Beckert welcomes guests on-site at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Hall 4, Booth C31. In addition to the face-to-face event, the company is inviting industry visitors to its virtual booth.
The 7th ITMA Asia + CITME takes place from 12–16 June 2021 in of the Felting product area, which can be viewed in detail thanks to Shanghai, China. Groz-Beckert presents the new products from all augmented reality. It offers an improved surface quality and optimized bending resistance. Know-how protection and six product areas. improved needle logistics are just two of the numerous advantages In 2021, around 1,650 exhibitors from 24 countries are expected at of the customer product that the area will be highlighting for the 7th edition of ITMA Asia + CITME. Groz-Beckert is offering all customers at the booth. visitors who cannot travel to the trade fair the opportunity to visit their virtual booth. It matches the original booth and has a three- Visitors to the Tufting product area, will discover the measurable dimensional design. The company has developed the digital advantages achieved during the production of tufted floor service especially for the trade fair. Visitors can move through the coverings using the Groz-Beckert Tufting Gauge Part Systems. virtual space alone or together with a Groz-Beckert employee and Coordinated combination of materials and the functional view all exhibits in 3D. Free registration is required to attend the interaction of all tools ensure the quality and economic results of digital trade fair, which is possible approximately two weeks the tufting process. before the start of the trade fair. Further information can be found The Carding product area will be presenting its further on the Groz-Beckert website and in the newsletter. developments for the spinning industry. These include the new The Knitting product area will be presenting several product stationary flat series, the TV56 revolving top and the cylinder card innovations at ITMA Asia: The SANTM SF staple fiber needle and clothing with special tooth geometry. The new stationary flat series the SNK SF staple fiber sinker, which is specially designed for use is distinguished by an innovative tooth geometry and a new kind of on large diameter circular knitting machines. The durTM needle, tooth distribution. The new TV56 revolving top features a new which is particularly suitable for high loads on sock machines setting pattern and 560 points per square inch, making it thanks to its optimized geometries. The SANTM TT for application- particularly easy to clean. The improved cylinder card clothing specific use in the field of technical textiles for flat knitting impresses with its special and patented tooth shape, which has a machines and a needle that enables new dimensions of fineness to positive effect on maintenance. This makes it particularly well be achieved in the flat knitting area. Groz-Beckert will also be suited for quality-oriented cotton spinning companies that produce demonstrating its relevance as a system provider in the area of high-quality yarns. warp knitting at ITMA Asia. The warp knitting machine needles and system parts from Groz-Beckert are precisely matched to each In the Sewing exhibition area, the focus is on technical textiles – other and achieve an even and error-free warp knitting process. especially in the manufacture of car seats. The SAN® 5.2 special Augmented reality provides deeper insights into the interaction of application needle from Groz-Beckert is the answer to high demands when sewing car seats. The special geometry gives it the individual system components. sufficient stability. The double groove in the point area improves With the new WarpMasterPlus, the Weaving product area will be thread guidance and leads to an even seam pattern, especially in presenting an optimal solution for every weaving mill. All multi-directional sewing processes. The scarf chamfers on both properties of the proven WarpMaster concept are illustrated in sides of the needle prevent skipped stitches and optimize loop detail using a 3D model and augmented reality. The miniature formation. The GEBEDUR® titanium nitride coating increases weaving mill illustrates the interaction of all products in the area: wear protection. The Sewing customer portal is another digital from cleaning machines and weaving accessories to the service on offer. The specialist area is presenting its functions and KnotMaster. content. The patented GEBECON® felting needle is one of the highlights 33
WEAVING
TECHNOLOGY
Stäubli at ITMA Asia 2021 At ITMA Asia 2021 Stäubli will present its wide range of machinery equipped with state-of-the-art, highend technologies and software solutions that offer new and expanded benefits to textile mills. The trade fair will be taking place from June 12 to 16 at the National Exhibition and Convention Centre (NECC) in Shanghai. Visitors to the Stäubli booth at C21 in Hall 3 will learn how Stäubli solutions can boost weaving or sock-knitting performance and their overall mill efficiency. The optimal course of a weaving process depends on many various prerequisites resulting as well from upstream processes, including yarn processing and warp preparation. With its SAFIR series of drawing-in systems, Stäubli offers unique advantages, such as the preparation of top-quality warps with perfectly aligned yarns. The secret is AWC (Active Warp Control), Stäubli's exclusive yarn sorting technology, which handles both single and multiple yarn types. Visitors to the Stäubli booth will experience how the precision and ingenious technology of the SAFIR S40 automatic drawing-in machine leads to more firstquality output and supports on-time delivery. Frame weaving – new Stäubli developments expand the range of solutions Thanks to its continual R&D activities, Stäubli delivers machinery that perfectly meets evolving market demands and the associated customer requirements. Stäubli frame-weaving solutions are renowned for reliable high-speed weaving and adaptability to any kind of plain or patterned fabric and any kind of weaving machine. Robustness and high quality have made the broad range of 1600/1700 series of cam motions and the S3000/S3200 series of electronic rotary dobbies well known as extremely reliable workhorses with a very long service life. These machines form a perfect system in combination with dedicated maintenance-free Stäubli transmissions, which are built to the highest quality standards. Jacquard weaving – Stäubli covers the spectrum From large-format machines (up to 25,600 hooks) to name selvedge Jacquard machines, weavers can choose from a wide range of Stäubli electronic Jacquard weaving solutions. The LXM Jacquard machine will be presented at ITMA Asia. It is available in two formats (2,688 and 5,376 hooks) and thus meets the requirements of a wide range of applications and assures reliable operation at high 34
weaving speeds. Stäubli's convincing answer to the growing need to protect premium proprietary fabrics with brand-name selvedges is the N4L name Jacquard machine, which is being shown for the first time in Asia at ITMA. This machine boasts easy handling, high availability, and reduced maintenance needs. It stands for quality brand-name weaving. Carpet weaving – ALPHA 500 series of Schönherr carpet systems Area rugs or wall-to-wall carpeting. Low pile, lightweight loops, flat, cut pile, or high density – whatever the next carpet-weaving challenge may be, the ALPHA 500 carpet weaving system adds immense flexibility to any carpet-weaving mill. It weaves the highest-quality applications and enables swift response to rapidly changing market demands. Sock knitting – D4S toe-closing device increases productivity Sock manufacturers face tough challenges. They must be able to rapidly adjust to market demands and meet tight delivery schedules. In sock knitting, toe closing is the critical step. It is very time consuming and helps determine the quality. This is where the D4S toeclosing device comes into play. Installed directly on the circular knitting machine, it closes one sock whilst the machine is already knitting the next one. Visitors to the Stäubli booth will see the impressive efficiency of this device in action. Besides offering many decisive functional advantages, Stäubli machines promise a very long lifespan, especially when original replacement parts are used. Stäubli keeps these in stock for many years after the sale. This is in keeping with the company's mission: offering advantages and benefits to customers and providing genuine partnership for successful and sustainable business.
May-June 2021
WEAVING
TECHNOLOGY
SAFIR S40 automatic drawing-in machine Featuring Active Warp Control technology for yarn sorting
LXM electronic Jacquard machine Available in formats up to 5,376 hooks
D4S toe-closing device Automated knitting solution by Stäubli
N4L name selvedge Jacquard machine Available in formats of 80 and 128 hooks
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TECHNOLOGY
A.T.E. joins hands with SMIT S.r.l., Italy to promote rapier looms
In a development that will provide momentum to the modernisation of the Indian textile industry, A.T.E. and SMIT S.r.l. have entered an exclusive partnership for the promotion of SMIT's advanced rapier looms in India. SMIT, a weaving machine manufacturer based in Italy since 1938, is globally renowned for its advanced rapier looms. A.T.E. is a leader and a one window solution provider in textile engineering across the textile value chain, with 80+ years of experience. SMIT rapier looms are reputed for their versatility, high productivity, superior quality fabric production, and capability to handle a wide range of weft material and yarn counts. Other notable features of SMIT weaving machines include the custom made selfretaining grippers which are easily adjustable and remain stable while weaving. SMIT rapier looms include rapier weft insertion optimised for home textiles, garments, terry towels, and customised solutions to produce special technical fabrics. 2FAST FAST stands for Flexible Advanced Shuttleless Technology. SMIT's high speed weaving machine 2FAST can handle diverse fabric applications such as apparels, home textiles, and technical textiles. 2FAST unleashes the full potential of free flight of the rapier and helps achieve the best fabric construction at the highest speed with the lowest stress for yarn – thanks to the longest beating time among machines of this kind! 2FAST is the most compact loom in the market today, with simple and low, strain-free access to the front of the loom. Additionally, the 'robust design' 36
methodology employed by SMIT guarantees the longest machine life and the lowest spare parts consumption. A.T.E. is committed to provide the latest technology solutions to the Indian textile mills and its partnership with SMIT is yet another step in this direction. “This partnership fills a major product gap of looms in our portfolio. With our deep domain knowledge and our excellent relationship with customers, I am confident that we will be able to strengthen SMIT's presence in India. We are excited to present SMIT to the Indian market from May 1”, said Mr Navin Agrawal, Business Head, Fabric Forming Division. Mr Agarwal further added that A.T.E. also plans to offer comprehensive services for SMIT machines that include after-sales service support, an electronic centre, stock and supply of spare parts, and training. “We are very proud to announce the partnership between SMIT and A.T.E. Enterprises Private Limited. A.T.E.'s decades of industry expertise, undisputed market leadership, and professional team of specialists will empower SMIT and SANTEX RIMAR GROUP to rise to new challenges and together reach new heights in the textile landscape. Looking forward to a fruitful and long-lasting partnership, we are sure that with A.T.E., we will take full advantage of the restart of the Indian and global economies after the pandemic challenge.” commented Enrico Valsecchi, Sales Director of Smit.
May-June 2021