Italy-based Santex Rimar Group has entered into a distribution agreement with Turkey-based Has Group, which it hopes will add new competencies, experience and value-added solutions to the Santex Rimar portfolio.
Stefano Gallucci (left), CEO, Santex Rimar Group, with Tamer Hasbay, president, Has Group
“Has Group is a manufacturing excellence with relevant know-how in textile finishing process and inter alia in stenter machines production,” said Stefano Gallucci, Santex Rimar Group CEO. “From today on it will globally leverage on Santex Rimar Group distribution network, sales and marketing expertise. With this agreement of premiere distribution, we will streamline our combined technical capabilities and expertise to build value-added
solutions for customers throughout the world.”
“We are pleased to announce the globalization of Has Group together with Santex Rimar Group,” said Tamer Hasbay, Has Group president, “Has Group will continue to take care of Turkey as well as in the neighboring countries but the new global structure will allow us to pursue profitable markets, build on our core strengths, accelerate our research and development activities and have a common quality platform for all our product lines.”
Klüber Lubrication has introduced Klübersynth FB 4 Series ultra-fine filtered spindle and hydraulic oils. According to the company, oils in the series — developed to lubricate the rolling bearings of high-speed machine tool spindles and to be used in hydraulic systems and components such as servo valves — can extend component life thereby reducing operating costs. The polyalphaolefin oils are of purity class 15/13/10 and meet the requirements of ISO 4406.
“The three oils in the Klübersynth FB 4 Series, ISO VG grades 32, 46 and 68, help reduce wear caused by fine dirt particles in the lubricant, and can lengthen component life due to a higher purity of the oil,” said Bill Watson, regional director of marketing and engineering for Klüber Lubrication NA LP. “A fully synthetic base oil also helps extend oil change intervals and improve total cost of ownership in a hydraulic system.”
Arkema’s technical polymers business, King of Prussia, Pa., has added Kynar® fluoropolymer powder coatings to its collection of technical polymer powders that includes
Rilsan® Fine Powders.
According to the company, the new Kynar PVDF powder coatings may be used to protect small metal chemical storage tanks, high purity manufacturing components, valves, pumps, ducts and other chemical handling or mining equipment that comes into contact with acids, halogenated chemicals, petrochemicals, continuous abrasion or continuous exposure to temperatures of up to 95°C. Kynar Flex® 2850 PC and Kynar ADX Flex 281 may be used in spray and dip coating options as well as in primerless applications when used with Arkema’s patented Kynar ADX technology.
“Until now, our flagship polyamide 11 powder coatings have enabled us to become the industry benchmark for heavy duty durability, impact resistance and flexibility,” said Adrien Lapeyre, global market manager for Arkema’s technical polymer powders. “We now add extreme chemical resistance and inertness to our list of features.”
The Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., will host the inaugural InPrint USA show.
The industrial print technology exhibition established in Europe hosts inaugural show in the United States.
TW Special Report
InPrint is an exhibition for industrial print technology for manufacturing that, according to the organizer — Mack Brooks Inc., a subsidiary of the England-based Mack Brooks Exhibition Group — has become a key marketplace in Europe for state-of-the-art functional, decorative and packaging printing in industrial production. The show has developed a reputation as a place to see unique, cutting-edge technologies, as well as product launches from leading brands in specialty, screen, digital inkjet and 3-D printing solutions.
Building on the success of the European edition and the current growth and interest in industrial and digital printing, organizers are bringing the event to the United States this year. The Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Fla., will host the inaugural InPrint USA show April 25-27, 2017. The exhibition aims to “provide access to technology that solves the complex problems facing the packaging, decorative, automotive, additive manufacturing and 3-D industries in the United States,” according to the organizer.
“Through our industry research and exhibitor focus groups, we found that there was an opportunity for a new platform in the U.S. highlighting the emerging technology happening in the industrial print sector,” said Melissa Magestro, executive vice president, Mack Brooks Exhibitions Inc. “There are several successful printing shows already happening in the U.S., but we are marketing to an entirely different audience. InPrint USA is a more specialized, focused show aimed at manufacturers who need complex, customized, cooperatively designed system solutions in order to generate new possibilities and revenue in industrial production.”
Defining Industrial Printing
Show organizers define industrial printing as “using print technologies within the process of manufacturing.” Industrial printing differs from conventional document or graphic printing — where the items mostly are used for promotional purposes — in that during the manufacturing process, ink or another substance is transferred onto a product for decorative or functional reasons. The applications and industries are broad — from electronic applications, to packaging and 3-D printing — and the fast-growing textile digital printing market is included in this mix. Digital textile printing technologies may offer manufacturers the ability to customize print runs with frequent design changes at a lower cost compared to traditional textile printing technologies.
According to branch experts at Boston-based IT Strategies, the industrial print market currently is valued at more than $100 billion; and the digital and inkjet market is predicted to grow a cumulative average of 36 percent by 2020.
Exhibitor, Visitor Profiles
InPrint USA 2017 exhibitors will present their innovative equipment and industrial printing solutions in five technology categories:
Specialty;
Screen;
Digital;
Inkjet; and
3-D.
Within these five categories, show attendees will find the following equipment, tools and services on display: machinery and printing systems; integrated and customized parts and systems; printheads, screens and other special parts; inks, fluids and chemicals; materials and substrates; hardware and software solutions; pre-press devices; equipment for processing and finishing including cutting, pressing and molding; services for the industrial sector; and research, consultants, trade associations and trade publications. The technologies will cover printing on metal, plastics, foils, textiles, glass, ceramics, wood and other substrates.
Similar to the 2016 edition of InPrint Milan, InPrint USA will offer networking opportunities to find the right partners for collaboration and problem solving.
Show organizers report most of the visitors come from the manufacturing sector including industrial print specialists, production managers, research and development heads, technical directors, and designers. Other attendees come from industrial print companies that produce decorative or functional print solutions for integration into a larger manufacturing process; from original equipment manufacturers, integrators, component manufacturers and developers searching for partners and technologies; and from traditional print companies such as commercial and graphic art print houses looking for new revenue streams.
According to Mack Brooks, InPrint USA is relevant for professionals from a wide variety of industries including: additive and advanced manufacturing; aeronautics and aerospace; appliance and equipment manufacturing; architectural; automotive; ceramics and glass; consumer products manufacturers; credit and gift cards; decals, labels and name plates; furnishing and interior décor; medical; packaging and containers; pharmaceutical goods; product finishing and quality control; surface imaging; and rapid and regular prototyping.
Educational Opportunities At InPrint USA 2017
InPrint USA’s educational sessions feature industry experts in three key printing areas — functional, decorative and packaging. The sessions comprise four main events — the Showcase Theater, IMI Inkjet Tech Talks, the TCM Decorative Surfaces Conference and the Global Industrial Inkjet Conference.
The Showcase Theater, hosted by exhibiting companies, will focus on innovations in inkjet technology and inks for industrial printing applications. The challenges of growth in the sector will be considered.
The IMI Inkjet Tech Talks are designed to complement the other content presented during InPrint USA and will cover key technology areas including inks, printheads and technology integration.
The TCM Decorative Surfaces Conference will focus on the use of digital printing for decorative materials such as wood paneling, laminate flooring and vinyl tiles.
The Global Industrial Inkjet Conference spans all three days of the show, and will offer attendees news and insights on the market opportunities and challenges in the industrial inkjet arena. Organizers hope the conference “will provide a bridge between opportunity and reality for any business — manufacturer, developer or integrator.
Collocated Event
InPrint USA 2017 will be collocated with ICE USA 2017 — the International Converting Exhibition targeting the paper, film, foil, nonwovens and other flexible web-materials segments. In its fourth edition, the trade show brings together attendees from around the globe to see the latest in machinery, technology and manufacturing solutions first-hand. Registered InPrint USA visitors also will gain free admission to ICE USA.
“InPrint USA is Collocated with the International Converting Exhibition — ICE USA — which already delivers an audience of packaging converters, but we are also actively identifying targets in textiles, printed electronics, and décor who are wanting to learn more about industrial print solutions,” said Magestro.
At InPrint Milan 2016, France-based Ardeje demonstrated the InfinityA1000R digital printing module that enables customized shoe decoration using ultraviolet ink.
Registration
InPrint USA 2017 is open to the trade only. Attendees who register before April 1 qualify for an early-bird discount and will pay $40 for an exhibit hall pass. After April 1, the fee increases to $60 including for on-site registration. The TCM Decorative Surfaces Conference, including a three-day exhibit hall pass, is $95; and the Global Industrial Inkjet Conference pass is $249, which also includes the exhibit hall pass for all three days.
The show floor is open Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and there will be a reception on the floor from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. both days. On Thursday, the show is open from 10:00 a.m. until 3 p.m.
“According to all research, inkjet for textile is growing at approximately 20-percent every year,” said Frazer Chesterman, co-founder of InPrint. “This is because there is strong demand from retailers and consumers for smaller batch production that has a high frequency of change. Added to this, new digital technology is maturing at a rate that can meet this demand from an engineering and a chemistry stand point, and once pigment ink is a proven option, then the options of being able to print onto different textiles will accelerate growth even further. InPrint is a show focused on development of technology for growing industrial print applications such as textiles and the only exhibition where visitors can learn of the latest technological options and meet experts that can advise and solve any problems a visitor may have.”
“Heidelberg supports the launch of the InPrint Show USA 2017 and we look forward to the impact and value it creates for industrial inkjet technology,” said Jason Oliver, senior vice president, digital print solutions, Germany-based Heidelberg. “At InPrint 2015 we showcased Heidelberg’s innovative direct to shape technology and generated a huge amount of attention and interest. We expect the same kind of response in the U.S. as the marketplace is significant both in its size and its innovative culture, and we believe that our innovative technology will suit the fast developing nature of the market. InPrint is an event that is needed in order for us to connect our technology and ideas to the right kind of people, those focused on industrial print.”
Make plans now to attend this inaugural event.
For more information about InPrint USA 2017, please visit inprintshow.com/usa/.
ExpoProducción 2017 returns to the World Trade Center in Mexico City in March.
TW Special Report
The fourth edition of ExpoProducción — co-organized by Atlanta-based Exposition Development Co. and Mexico-based E.J. Krause Mexico — will take place at the World Trade Center in Mexico City, March 29-31, 2017.
The show serves the complete supply chain in Mexico and Central America working in apparel, home and technical textiles’ production. Organizers promote the show as a professional platform for manufacturers, brands, retailers and suppliers to connect, network and learn about the newest trends, products and innovations impacting the textile industry.
Exhibitor, Visitor Profiles
Exhibitors will offer products and services from the fashion, home and technical textiles industries including: computer software and information technology; full package and private label contract manufacturing; cutting and sewing equipment; distributor and wholesaler; fabrics; fibers and yarns; findings and trims; nonwovens; research and development; services and logistics; supplies; textile machinery; and associations, academia and publications.
Job titles for attendees cover the gamut and include designers, engineers, educators, plant managers, purchasing managers, quality control managers, and research and development personnel. The visitors come from all facets of the textile industries including aerospace, automotive/ transportation interiors, garment manufacturing, government manufacturing, home textiles, leather and footwear, military and pet products.
New for 2017 is a Chinese Pavilion highlighting exhibitors from China. “This year, ExpoProduccion is hosting its first Chinese Pavilion, and an additional 10 Chinese companies that came in separately,” said Lorie Gross, show director for Exposition Development Co. “We are very excited about this addition to the show. We are also seeing a record number of attendee registrations and a greater presence from manufacturers here in Mexico that are involved in the automotive and aerospace industries. We feel this change is directly related to the growing market needs in this region, as well as our partnership with E. J. Krause Mexico that has a direct reach into those market segments.”
Organizers developed a comprehensive series of seminars that will run during the three-day show. The seminars start at noon each day (See Table 1). The exhibition show floor will be open from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. each day.
“Overall, we expect a broader range of exhibitors representing the complete supply chain, and more in-depth educational programs along with new elements introduced to the show floor that will enhance both the exhibitor and attendee experience,” said Gross.
“ExpoProduccion is a must for companies currently doing business in Mexico and Central America, as well as those who would like to expand their business into the region.”
Attendance is free of charge to qualified industry visitors. Preregister to save time during the event or register on site.
For more information about ExpoProducción, please visit expoproduccion.mx.
Canada-based technical textiles trade show celebrates its 15th year in 2017.
TW Special Report
Expo Hightex, a technical textiles trade show hosted in Montreal, is celebrating its 15th year in 2017. The show, organized by Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec-based CTT Group — a technology transfer center specializing in the research, development and testing of technical textiles, advanced textile-based materials and geosynthetics — and the Québec technical textiles industry, will be held April 4-5, 2017, at the Place Bonaventure, Montreal.
The organizing committee is comprised of the following people: Jacek Mlynarek, CTT Group; Estelle Vazquez, CTT Group; Danielle Jutras, CSMO Textile; Elif Belgen, Regitex Inc.; Francois Pépin, Soleno Textiles Techniques Inc.; Jean-Sébastian Brière, Textiles Monterey 1996 Inc.; Joannie Guy-Laberge, MESI; Jocelyn Lamarre, Accord Centre-du-Québec; Joel Renaud, Davey Textile Solutions Inc.; Myriam Simard, Texel; Sae Chang, Hando Corp.; and Randy Williams, Doubletex.
Expo Hightex’s theme for 2017 is climate change. According to organizers, the event will “explore the impact of new textile technologies on the climate and how our various sectors of activity can create cutting-edge solutions to help in the fight against the greatest challenge facing the world today.”
Expanded Reach
The show traditionally has been open only to Canadian companies, but to mark its 15th anniversary, organizers are inviting for the first time exhibitors from all over the American continent. In addition, interested exhibitors that are unable to have a physical presence at the show will be offered the chance to participate virtually. Companies may upload information, images, documents and videos to a specially created online space. A dedicated area at the show will display this information to interested visitors. The online space also offers a chat function so visitors may ask the virtual exhibitors live questions during the event.
The show floor is open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on April 4, and from 9:00 a.m. until 3 p.m. on April 5.
Conferences
On Tuesday, April 4, the conference kicks off at 9:00 a.m. with a World Tour speech from explorer Bernard Voyer. At 11:00 a.m., a session on Climate-proof Technical Clothing is scheduled, followed by a panel discussion on International Economic Development and Trade. A gala will be held at 6:00 p.m. in the exhibition hall following the conference events.
At 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 5, Neal Waters, president of the North American Uniform Manufacturers and Distributors, will present a session titled, “U.S./Worldwide Uniform Market and Its Opportunities.” The 11:00 a.m. session is titled, “Aerospace Business Opportunities,” which will be followed at 2:00 p.m. by a session called, “How to Get Into Worldwide Markets?”
Expo Hightex 2017 attendees are asked to register via Eventbrite. A link can be found at the show’s website.
For more information about Expo Hightex 2017, please visit expohightex.com
Triennial nonwovens exhibition returns to Geneva in April
TW Special Report
Belgium-based EDANA is the international association serving the nonwovens and related industries. Since its founding in 1971 as the European Disposables and Nonwovens Association, EDANA has grown and changed as times dictated and has become a voice for the nonwovens industry with a focus on Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Every three years, EDANA brings together the entire nonwovens industry at INDEX™ — an exhibition with a unique nonwovens focus and highly vertical format. The show is a focal point of the global nonwovens industry, according to the organizer, offering four intensive days of insights, networking and rewarding business activities unequalled in this industry.
INDEX 17 — the 12th consecutive edition of the triennial show to be held in Geneva, Switzerland — will take place April 4-7, 2017, at the Palexpo convention center. According to EDANA, Index provides a 360° overview of the latest developments in nonwovens gathering raw material producers, manufacturers, finishers and converters, companies involved in environmental protection, and measuring and testing equipment manufacturers.
In 2014, 586 exhibitors participated and more than 12,500 visitors from 100 countries attended Index. More than 600 exhibitors have committed to participate in the 2017 edition of the show, according to EDANA. Visitors from Western Europe account for approximately two-thirds of the attendance figures. Both exhibitors and attendees expressed high levels of satisfaction with the show in 2014 with 86 percent of the visitors saying they planned to return in 2017.
Education, Awards
In addition to an active exhibition floor, INDEX offers an education program comprised of seminars, tutorials and continental briefings.
The free-of-charge “Big Picture” seminar series will highlight key applications for nonwovens including medical, transportation and geotextiles end-uses. The free tutorials are designed to help visitors learn more about nonwovens, and will focus on nonwovens in medical, filtration and absorbent hygiene products. Each day, exhibitors also will be able to highlight their products to the nonwovens community during product presentations in the auditorium in Hall 1. Presentations will be organized into three categories — medical, transportation and renewable materials; geotextiles and filtration; and absorbent hygiene products.
In addition, the FILTREX™ conference and tabletop exhibition will be collocated with Index. This event will gather business managers and technical experts in the field of filtration.
EDANA will present awards at Index 17 to commend innovation, cooperation, creativity and sustainable achievements in the nonwovens sector. Any EDANA member company or Index exhibitor is eligible for an award. An awards ceremony will be held the morning of April 4 to honor all recipients.
The exhibition is open April 4-6 from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m., and on April 7 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.
For more information about INDEX 17 including details about the seminars and other events, please visit index17.org
Workers shouldn’t have to live in fear of workplace safety hazards. Safety concerns — the potential of an arc flash or flash fire for example — can be both distracting and off-putting, leaving workers focused more on the potential for disaster than the work at hand. Enter textile industry innovators.
“Americans couldn’t perform in their daily lives without the use of innovative, special-use textiles,” said Rich Lippert, director of business development, protective market at Glen Raven, N.C.-based Glen Raven Inc. “As an industry, we look for opportunities to produce items that push the current level of technology, giving industrial workers an end product that is functional, safe and comfortable.”
Prior to 1973, workers in the utilities, oil and gas, and manufacturing industries typically wore cotton or polycotton uniforms, leaving them vulnerable to hazards like energized electrical equipment, combustible dust and active hydrocarbon zones. Once flame-resistant (FR) garments entered the picture, and were later required as personal protection equipment (PPE), worker safety was dramatically improved.
“When FR garments were initially introduced, arc flash-rated workwear provided minimum level protection and was not comfortable or durable,” said Lippert. “Now, the industry is able to provide superior protection with lighter-weight, longer-lasting materials that can withstand a 10-12 hour workday. The apparel is comfortable, breathable and abrasion resistant.”
One such product is Glen Raven’s GlenGuard FR 5.3 oz., a lightweight alternative to bulky PPE. GlenGuard is made with solution-dyed meta-aramid fibers that are fade-resistant and can withstand multiple runs through an industrial washing machine. This innovative solution is the foundation of FR apparel by Workrite Uniform Co., a subsidiary of the leading workwear provider Williamson-Dickie.
“In addition to durability and practicality, workers asked for more comfortable, transitional clothing – adaptable apparel that makes working in high temperatures and in a variety of settings easier,” said Lippert. “We understand those end user requirements, and we’ve produced something that’s indistinguishable from what people wear everyday. The clothing feels the same as what they would wear to watch a football game or play golf.”
In spring 2015, workers in Eagle Ford Shale, Texas, tested GlenGuard uniforms during a rig move. The apparel’s protection, flexibility and breathability helped them set up oil platforms and move enormous cranes across numerous platforms in 85-degree heat.
Lippert believes GlenGuard is only the beginning. Through innovative research and collaboration with firms like Workrite Uniform, Glen Raven hopes to push the envelope, in turn creating a ripple effect throughout the industry.
“At the end of the day, creating products that ensure the safety of hardworking Americans is what it’s all about,” Lippert said. “If we can create a product that better protects our friends, family and neighbors from potential workplace disasters, we’re going to do it.
Protecting The Brave Abroad
Resiliency, ingenuity and trust: these are words that describe the long-standing, symbiotic relationship between the American textile industry and the U.S. armed forces.
In 2014, the U.S. military paid the textile industry $1.5 billion for 8,000-plus textile items. During more active engagement in Iraq and Afghanistan, spending increased to more than $2.2 billion. Textile companies across the country deliver a range of products from ballistic fabric body armor material to lightweight camouflage systems for tents, tanks and military structures.
“The industry is constantly working to strike a balance between what’s economical and what’s the best, safest product,” said Mia Hill, industrial business manager at Glen Raven. “Military products are far from an ordinary piece of fabric. They’re a protective system that has to be ready for any situation a soldier may face.”
Greenwood, S.C.-based Greenwood Mills, which recently celebrated 126 years of business, supplies fabrics to the U.S. military, protective clothing and specialty industrial markets. The brand strives to produce materials that protect soldiers from biological and chemical agents, as well as extreme weather.
“Investing in research and technology is imperative. R&D makes it possible for us to bring new, innovative, smart textiles to the ever-changing needs of the soldier,” said Jay Self, president of Greenwood Mills. “During the First Gulf War, soldiers found that sand cut through 100 percent cotton material; so, we devised a more durable nylon cotton blend that can withstand desert environments. The material is still used today.”
Additionally, the textile industry is evolving to meet military weight requests. Producers are cognizant of the many items a soldier has to carry in the battlefield — backpack, weapons system, bulletproof vest, helmet and more — and are working with top military researchers to create lighter-weight products that don’t compromise on integrity.
“More efficient equipment allows us as soldiers to focus not on ourselves, but rather the most important part of our work, the mission at hand,” said Philip Tonseth, West Point graduate and second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. “The Armed Forces operate in a multi-threat world, and any advantage that our equipment can provide is not only appreciated by the soldier, but is also necessary for success.”
Companies like Greenwood Mills and Glen Raven are doing just that – protecting committed soldiers from all kinds of threats. Greenwood Mills specifically engineers material for each branch of the military. For example, Marine uniforms are treated with insect repellent, and flame-resistant uniforms protect those facing the risk of IEDs. Glen Raven produces an ultra-lightweight camouflage system (ULCANS) that not only hides military structures from the naked eye, but also deflects plane radar systems.
“An immense amount of passion and ingenuity are poured into each and every military textile creation. The immediate post-9/11 years are a perfect example; during that time, textile workers labored 13 of every 14 days to ensure enough military fabric was available,” said Self. “The textile community expresses its admiration and support through production — it’s why we work tirelessly to provide our soldiers with the safest, most reliable, most advanced textiles on the market.”
Editor’s Note: This article appears in Textile World courtesy of the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) as part of the “American Textiles: We Make Amazing™” campaign. NCTO is a trade association representing U.S. textile manufacturing. Please visit ncto.org to learn more about NCTO, the industry and the campaign.
LUDWIGSHAFEN, Germany — February 21, 2017 — With immediate effect, or as existing contracts permit, BASF SE will increase its European selling prices for the following products:
Prices for all other concentrations of formic acid will be increased accordingly on a pro rata basis.
The major application of propionic acid is feed grain preservation. It is also widely used in the production of pharmaceuticals, crop protection agents, solvents, food preservatives and plastics.
Formic acid is a high-quality intermediate used in a broad range of applications. In animal nutrition, for example, it is used as a feed preservative. Potassium formate, a salt of formic acid, is an environmentally acceptable and highly efficient de-icing agent used on roads and airport runways. Both formic acid and potassium formate are also used in the oilfield industry as part of the drilling and completion process, as well as in shale gas exploration. Moreover, formic acid is a powerful descaling agent and disinfectant.
LEONBERG, Germany — February 21, 2017 — The origins of company Bernauer can be traced back as far as 1829. At that time already coloured yarn and woven fabric was produced in several factories. Since the early 1970s the company is active in the field of technical textiles and developed together with a leading tire producer a special woven release/separation liner for the tyire industry. This fabric serves as release liner/textile for the production of tires reducing on the long the process costs of the processing costs.
The BERATEX® fabric as such is woven of special polyethylene ribbons, made of a polyethylene film produced by the company itself. Depending on the quality it can be used up to more than 20 years without interruption. To increase the dimensional stability of this product, a heat-setting process is indispensable. For several years this had been made by different german commission finishers. Hanspeter Bernauer, owner of Textilwerke Todtnau Bernauer KG was always aware that the key of sustainable company success is the quality of the products itself. Aiming at a further control and optimization of the products it was for Bernauer a logical conclusion to integrate the final finishing of the fabric into the company. With the new heat-setting line made by Brückner the company reached now a 100-percent value creating chain: from the granulate to the woven high-quality polyethylene fabric and to the international marketing in more than 46 countries.
Textilwerke Todtnau Bernauer KG decided to buy a state-of-the-art Brückner stenter because only a line with the alternatingly arranged thermo zones, which is typical for Brückner machines, ensures the required temperature accuracy across the entire length and width of the dryer. Temperature differences of a few degrees celcius have an enormous influence on the heat-setting result and thus to the technical characteristics of the final product.
In the conceptual design of the line the project team TWT Bernauer & Brückner turned the highest possible attention on an accurate fabric flow of the rigid and thus delicate articles and an operation which is not interrupted by batch changes. Given the firmly installed unwinding unit with two positions a generously dimensioned fabric accumulator allows to connect the batch ends by sewing without interrupting the production process. An automatic width control of the entering fabric controls the centered entry into the tenter and protects the transport system from critical mechanical loads. The use of sensitive traction measurement systems for an accurate tension control between the individual draw rollers and a sophisticated tension control software prevent too high fabric tensions in each individual production step.
The tenter with a horizontal low-lubrication roller chain and a maintenance-free chain rail system has a direct gas heating system which allows to adjust the process temperatures exactly every 1.5 meters.
Another fabric accumulator with following two-position winder is located at the tenter exit and allows to change the batches without machine downtime. This optimized installation makes it in addition possible to operate the line with a minimum number of operators and increases thus the economic efficiency of the line. The service personnel which never before had worked with a tenter, was trained during the start-up period as machine operators. After two weeks already they were able to handle this complex machine and finish technically sophisticated fabric.
Already now Textilwerke Todtnau Bernauer KG made all arrangements to allow on short notice an integration of further finishing units, e.g. a coating unit or a calender in case the market requirements change.
Bernauer opted in this process for Brückner because of the following points:
Competent advice before submission of the offer;
Extensive test facilities and trials in Brückner’s Technology Center;
Training and education of the operators until the acceptance of the line; and
Intensive support service during the warranty period.
