The Rupp Report: ITMA Preview – Jakob Müller AG

The Switzerland-based company is a global leader in machinery for all kinds of woven and knitted tapes and webbing, ropes, labels and technical textiles, printed narrow fabrics, dyeing, make-up, and winding machinery. New equipment and existing equipment will be shown at the ITMA.
 
Label Productions Systems
For the first time in Europe the MÜJET MBJL6 – air-jet label weaving machine will be seen. It is said to represent the latest generation of MÜJET air jet technology and was “specially developed to provide high productivity and flexibility in combination with proven top quality label weaving.” The new machine has a working width of 120 centimeters (cm) and a constant production speed of 950 revolutions per minute (rpms), which the company reports results in a 20-percent increase in output. Further features include:
 

  • Optimized weft insertion system, stable and gentle;
  • Compressed air in the left and right relay nozzle sections individually adjustable;
  • Retention air that can be separately switched on and off in order to reduce air consumption;
  • C-Series MÜDATA touch screen machine control for machine speed, weft thickness, warp tension and weft insertion, equipped with LAN and USB interfaces; and
  • 120 newly developed TC2 cutting elements for smooth and uniform cut quality. 

The new label weaving machine represents the newest generation of the MÜGRIP machine series. These rapier looms are exclusively developed and manufactured for label weaving and the Müller claims that this is “the world’s most frequently used machine in this field.” It is equipped with an additional sixth repeat, which increases the rated working width of the machine to 120 cm. A spatial crank gearing provides that “the rapier drive and its speed are transferred gently to the weft yarn to be inserted. The speed of the five-repeat machine is retained, but output is 20-percent higher. Shedding takes place via an SPE jacquard machine with 1,536 hooks and the machine has 1,152 jacquard functions. The machine is available in 4, 6, 8 and 12 weft color versions and suitable for a great range of yarn qualities beginning with 22 dtex.
 
(New) Textile Printing Systems
Müller will present its new MÜPRINT MDP3 E ink-jet machine for the direct printing of narrow fabrics and belts, which as far as productivity and reliability is concerned, claims to be a major addition to the existing product program. This printing system says to employ a high-precision printing head, which has been specially designed for the use of sublimation inks and is considered to be a significant improvement in printer reliability.
 
Depending on the required print resolution, the new system with a printing width of 2 x 410 millimeters (mm) and new printing head “facilitates an increase in production output from approximately 8 square meters per hour or even more.” At the same time, the maximum printing resolution has again been doubled to 1440 x 720 dpi. Textile tapes in the CMYK color range can be printed beside one another with differing designs in a parallel process. An integrated and easy to refill 1.5l ink system allows uninterrupted production sequences with minimum maintenance times. Thanks to its reliability and productivity the system is claimed to be ideal for the printing of medium-sized production batches and thus expands the market for the direct printing process. Fields of application include lanyards, barrier tapes, vertical blinds, decorative ribbons, zipper chains and elastic tapes. In particular, crochet tapes with asymmetric structure and uneven surfaces are also possible to produce on this machine.
 
New Technical Textiles Make-Up
The UV60-RS automatic cutting and winding device is designed to be “a flexible and fully automatic winding system for a variety of applications.” In particular, technical textile winders often require special design adaptation due to issues such as the level of winding tension, thickened edges, asymmetric selvedges, adhesive properties, the friction properties of the material surface and cutting options. The flexibility of the device is reported “to match the respective winding requirements to perfection.” It also covers a wide range of winding dimensions up to roll/bobbin diameters of 500 mm. The main features are said to be:
 

  • Possibility of a wide variety of different winding formats;
  • Roll winding between side discs in a fully automatic mode for the uniform distribution of winding tension across the winding diameter and even tape tension control;
  • Tapes with thicker or asymmetric edges can be wound onto flat rolls between the side discs;
  • Deformation and the pushing out of the roll centre can be avoided;
  • Precise bobbin winding up to the bobbin winding point using a tape guide with precise traverse control and automatic height adjustment;
  • Fully automatic winding operation, including the supply of empty tubes/bobbins up to the stacking of wound-up rolls and spools;
  • Wide and flexible applications for rolls and bobbins up to an outside winding diameter of 50 cm, and a maximum bobbin width of 27 cm; and
  • High levels of process stability, maximum flexibility and short set-up times through the extensive use of stepper motor technology, and recipe management. 

Based on long-term experience in the design of winding, cutting and make-up machines, the device offers “high levels of process reliability and avoids typical textile problems such as knots, roll/bobbin deformation, tension variations, loops and distortion.”
 
New Narrow Textiles Dyeing System
The new MFR1.5 50/100 dyeing machine claims to combine the compact design of a spiral concept with the advantages of a straight through fixation chamber. In the combination chamber (steamer/oven) and the drying oven the tape runs twice straight through the chamber. This principle has several advantages:
 

  • More security in color evenness;
  • Easy handling (The tape runs twice straight through the machine, the thread up is much easier than with a spiral system);
  • Designed/suitable for large and smaller dye lots; and
  • No accumulation of tension (each control zone is driven by an individual motor). 

The remaining modules of the complete machine are 150 cm wide and are built very compact and user friendly. The width allows for smaller tanks resulting in lower energy and water consumption. The use of lightweight pneumatic dancers through the whole machine enhances the reproducibility of all tension related settings.
 
Narrow Fabric Weaving Systems
The NH2 53 6/27 S2 SNO2B – electronically controlled narrow fabric weaving machine is suitable to produce elastic and non-elastic narrow fabrics. Electronically controlled shedding takes place via linear motors mounted directly on the harness frames. These replace pattern chains and cam drums and permit both unlimited repeat lengths and pattern changes in minimum time. The weft and auxiliary thread transport, as well as the narrow fabric take-off and main drive are also all electronically controlled and infinitely adjustable. As compared to conventional needle looms, the NH2 53 is fitted with considerably fewer mechanical parts, which results in less wear and a reduction in energy consumption of around 35 percent, or maximum 1 kilowatt.
 
The machine on display is used for the production of “Easy Bow” ribbon. This is a gift ribbon with a woven-in cord that is also manufactured on an NH2 53. Weft exchange technology (SNO2B) facilitates the simultaneous processing of two different weft colors. In addition, the ribbon is pushed evenly along the cord thus automatically forming a loop.
 
The NHJM2 53 6/42 Z4 — electronically controlled narrow fabric loom is based on the successful NH2 53 and is fitted with an electronically controlled SPE3 384 jacquard machine. It is said to be ideal for the production of elastic and non-elastic tapes with woven, warp effect motifs such as names, logos and fashionable decorative elements. The main drive unit consists of a brushless servomotor, which is located directly on the jacquard machine and powers both this and the loom via a toothed belt.
 
Warp Crochet Knitting Systems
Also exhibited is the COMEZ ACOTRONIC 8B/600 — an electronic crochet knitting machine using compound needles is a high-efficiency, electronic crochet knitting machine that employs compound needles for the production of a wide range of ribbons, lace, technical and medical textiles, both elastic and non-elastic.
 
Furthermore to be seen is the COMEZ TESTRONIC 1600/EL — an electronic crochet knitting machine for the production of fabrics for outerwear and technical uses. The versatility of this machine is said “to create enormous long pattern repeat capacity using yarns of all types and counts.”
 
At ITMA, Jakob Müller AG can be found in Hall 3, Booth D110.

October 27, 2015

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