Invista Introduces COOLMAX® EcoMade Technology For Denim At Kingpins New York Show, Nov. 2-3

NEW YORK CITY — October 31, 2016 — INVISTA, one of the world’s largest integrated producers of polymers and fibers, will present its latest innovations for denim at the upcoming Kingpins tradeshow in New York City.  With a focus on the spring 2018 selling season, Invista will showcase a variety of COOLMAX® branded concepts, including Coolmax EcoMade technology. Leveraging recent consumer insights for the denim category, this innovation brings both sustainability and cool comfort to jeans.

A recent Invista study of 1,500 men and women across three countries revealed 75 percent of participants desired a jean that would help keep them cool in warm weather. And, among ingredient brands in the cooling space, the Coolmax brand was found to generate the most interest in purchasing a summer jean.*

Denim made with Coolmax EcoMade technology is breathable and moves moisture away from the skin, helping the wearer stay cool, dry and comfortable. As with all Coolmax branded products, these performance characteristics are permanent and don’t wash out. An added benefit of fibers with Coolmax EcoMade technology is that they are made from 97 percent recycled resources. Plastic bottles are diverted away from landfills and recycled, which reduces their environmental impact on the planet. Through a six-step process, this plastic is transformed into fiber that is suitable for apparel use.

“Research shows that increasingly consumers are looking for added benefits such as cool comfort in their jeans,” said Jean Hegedus, Invista’s global denim segment director. “Denim with Coolmax EcoMade technology provides both the performance benefits consumers are seeking and reduced environmental impact. So, for the consumer, it’s really a win-win proposition.”

In addition to Coolmax technologies, denim with LYCRA® branded innovations will also be featured in the Invista booth. Stop by to see the latest concepts made with Lycra BEAUTY fiber which is designed to sculpt a woman’s curves while still allowing her to be comfortable.  Peruse new styles made with Lycra dualFX®technology, which provides added flexibility and resilience so jeans keep their shape, wash after wash and wear after wear.

Posted October 24, 2016

Source: Invista

ITMA ASIA + CITME 2016: Italian Machinery Manufacturers

SHANGHAI — October 21, 2016 — At ITMA ASIA + CITME 2016, Italian textile technology will showcase a high level of innovation and sustainability features, confirming its leadership once again.

About 130 Italian exhibitors are on hand at ITMA ASIA + CITME 2016 (Shanghai, 21-25 October 2016), occupying an overall exhibition space of more than 5,400 so. meters. 60 Italian companies are presenting their products as part of the National Sector Group, organized by ACIMIT (the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers) and ICE-Italian Trade Agency. The four Italian clusters are in the spinning and winding (Hall 1), nonwovens (Hall 2), digital printing (Hall 5) and finishing machinery areas (Hall 6). The total surface area occupied by Italian National Sector Group amounts to roughly 1,600 qs. meters.

The high number of Italian exhibitors testifies a positive outlook on the future of Asian markets, and Chinese one in particular. Asia, on the whole, is a constant benchmark for Italian textile machinery manufacturers, absorbing 45% of their sales abroad. “The high number of Italian exhibitors in Shanghai”, Raffaella Carabelli, President of ACIMIT, says, “shows that our companies are confident in a further growth of the Asian markets, and China in particular. Compared to the last edition of ITMA ASIA, the space booked by Italian exhibitors has grown by 13%.”

The Chinese market is the primary destination for Italian exports. In the first half of 2016, the value of Italian machinery exported to China totaled 152 million euros (+11% over the previous year), around 17% of Italian total exports. The other main destinations of the area for Italian companies are India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.

The demand for machinery in Asia focuses mainly on machines capable of combining savings in production costs with respect to environmental issues. “Visitors at ITMA ASIA + CITME will once again be able to ascertain in person the extremely high quality and uniquely innovative character of Italian technology on display”, states Raffaella Carabelli. “Less than a year from ITMA Milan, Italian machinery manufacturers will be present in Shanghai with further new proposals, aimed at providing rigorous production standards while cutting costs for energy, water, chemical products and other raw materials.”

Around 40 Italian machinery manufacturers have signed up to ACIMIT’s “Sustainable technologies” project, committing themselves to supplying increasingly sustainable machinery, both from an economic and environmental standpoint. The project is an initiative supported by the Ministry of Economic Development and by the ICE-Italian Trade Agency and is documented on the new website www.green-label.it presented during the ACIMIT press conference at ITMA ASIA. “a website is an additional tool made available to textile operators,” comments ACIMIT’s President, “aimed at providing a better understanding of what we want to achieve in terms of sustainability.”

In addition to the 40 companies which already participate in the “Sustainable technologies” project, other Italian exhibitors at ITMA ASIA are prepared to display the progress made by their technology concerning cost reduction and production resource savings to the visitors of the most important show in the sector in Asia, confirming Italian industry at the top for the supply of sustainable processes.

As far as relevant the Asian market, ACIMIT that brings together the majority of Italian textile machinery companies (which account for 80% of Italian turnover), has been realizing an active promotional program in Asia, in order to support the associated companies in their sales efforts. This program is realized in cooperation with ICE-Italian Trade Agency.

Italy, with its high-tech and eco-friendly manufacturers, is one of the most important player in the textile machinery industry. Italian high-quality machines will foster China textile industry’s quality and will provide environmental conservation – explain Claudio Pasqualucci, Italian Trade Commissioner in Shanghai. China is implementing policies for the reduction of carbon emissions. The new measures for low carbon economy which is low energy consumption, low material consumption low-emission and low-pollution, one of the future choices in the economic development. For that reason, we think Italian textile machines eco-friendly technology, should be appropriate with Chinese policies. In Easter China, that is the area of competence of ICE Shanghai, there are the top three Provinces for textile and garment industry: Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Fujian, that along with the Provinces Guangdong and Shandong reach around 80% of the industry’s production capability –– and Italy remains one of the leading suppliers of textile machinery in China: it’s strong in machines for preparing especially textile fibers and yarns, machines for cleaning, dyeing and finishing machines, knitting, stitch-bond, lace and auxiliary machinery”.

ACIMIT is present at ITMA ASIA + CITME. Details on the “Sustainable technologies” project and other initiatives about the Italian textiles machinery sector can be obtained by visiting the ACIMIT booth at the INDUSTRY INFORMATION HUB – Association Village (Hall 1, Stand F92).

Posted October 21, 2016

Source: ACIMIT

New INDA Report Benchmarks South American Nonwovens Supply, Demand And Trade 2015-2020

CARY, N.C. — October 21, 2016 —­­­­ INDA, the Association of the Nonwovens Fabrics Industry, has published the fourth study of the South American region with the “South American Nonwovens Industry Outlook, 2015 – 2020” for nonwoven producers and suppliers, converters, manufacturers, brand owners, analysts, and raw materials and machinery suppliers and it is now available.

The report builds on South American, Central American and Caribbean economic and demographic trends to provide detailed supply and demand data, in addition to regional trade flows and forecasts. Written by industry consultant, Rick Jezzi, Principal, A.D. Jezzi & Associates, LLC, and Brad Kalil, Director of Market Research and Statistics, INDA, the 180-page report offers 96 figures and 51 tables defining where the industry has been (2010-2015) and the forecast of where it is heading (2015-2020).

“No forward looking company interested in the South American nonwovens industry should go without this important new report. The historical data from 2010 and 2015, in addition to the forecasts for 2020 fulfills our mission to provide credible, actionable data to the industry as a basis for important market and investment decisions,” said Dave Rousse, INDA President.

The report covers:

  • Macro-Drivers: Trends impacting the nonwovens industry including economic, population, gender, age group, and geographic data
  • Nonwoven Supply: Production data by process including spunmelt, drylaid, wetlaid, and airlaid processes from 2010 and 2015, with a forecast for 2020
  • Nonwoven Demand: End-use production data in twelve end-use categories including absorbent hygiene, home & office furnishings, geosynthetics, apparel, and transportation from 2010 and 2015, with a forecast for 2020
  • Trade Flows: Intra-region, inter-region, and overall South American trade flows

“Even though the region’s growth rate has been reduced in several key countries due to an economic slowdown, they are expected to eventually rebound and continue their growth.  The region has moved from an emerging to a developing market and will see, at the end of the forecast period, several countries in the mature market status. This slowdown which has impacted the larger economies have provided silver linings in other countries, and highlighted them as potential areas for current investment and growth,” said Rick Jezzi, Report Co-author.

Posted October 21, 2016

Source: INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry

 

German Textile Technology To Cut Energy Consumption And Costs

SHANGHAI/FRANKFURT — October 21, 2016 — ITMA ASIA + CITME 2016, Asia’s foremost trade fair dedicated to textile machinery, is once again marked by a significant presence of German companies both in their number and in the quality of their technology. German technology can indeed play a major role in China’s and other countries efforts to make the environment cleaner and to increase the energy efficiency of the textile industry. Furthermore, with their products and services the VDMA member companies have already taken steps towards Industrie 4.0, in China called intelligent manufacturing.

Visitors to the event will have an opportunity to appreciate the high level of technology being proposed by more than 100 German machinery manufacturers exhibiting at the fair. They cover nearly all different machinery chapters with a focus on spinning, nonwoven, weaving, knitting, warp knitting and finishing. The overall exhibition space occupied by German machinery manufacturers is more than 7.000 square meters, confirming Germany’s leading position among exhibiting foreign countries.

The commitment of VDMA members to sustainability

On the occasion of the VDMA press conference on the opening day of ITMA ASIA, Fritz P. Mayer, chairman of VDMA Textile Machinery and Associate of Karl Mayer Textilmaschinenfabrik emphasised that German technology can play a major role in efforts to make the environment cleaner, to increase the energy efficiency and so the competitiveness of textile producers. “For some time now, VDMA member companies have been focusing on the issue of sustainability for their products, in order to satisfy the demand for efficient technology solutions that effectively cut back on consumption, and consequently on production costs” explained Mayer. New technology is the number one key to better products and competitive production. And, technology is one precondition for resource and energy saving, he explained. Professionally investing customers are happy to pay for sustainable technologies and improved energy efficiency. VDMA calls this “Sustainability meets profit“, Mayer concluded.

Energy savings of up to 30 percent

VDMA started its sustainability initiative Blue Competence, to which over 40 textile machinery companies have adhered, already back in 2011. Instead of scientific certification experiments and theoretical approaches, VDMA always focused on best practice examples. First to mention is an analysis by VDMA experts that examined the energy saving effects over the entire production chain of five textile products: A cotton T-Shirt, a functional T-Shirt a textile billboard, an architectural textile and a hygienic nonwoven. The result of this in-depth analysis is impressive: In the production of these products up to 30 percent energy can be saved with German technology of today compared to the one available 10 years ago. Details of this analysis are available as a brochure at the VDMA booth.

Steps towards Industrie 4.0

The future of the textile industry is more and more determined by Industrie 4.0. This interconnection of information technology and manufacturing processes is on track. Thomas Waldmann, Managing Director, VDMA Textile Machinery: “Leading customers are increasingly interested in condition monitoring and predictive maintenance, including remote services.” Other hot topics according to him are virtual machines, traceability, remote control data exchange, self-optimising, intelligent user interfaces or individualisation. Generally speaking, smart machine controllers will correct process parameters automatically according to the sensors report. Or, if delivery deadlines are not met, downstream production processes will be adjusted immediately. Without discussing the potential of new business models, immediate advantages of Industrie 4.0 are improved plant efficiency, more economical production processes, energy savings, more flexible production, just to name a few.

Chinese textile industry – Germany biggest foreign supplier

Between January and May this year, the Chinese textile industry imported machinery worth 1.04 billion Dollar, with an increased focus on advanced technology. With a market share of 35 percent, Germany is the biggest supplier. Against the trend of decreasing imports, the deliveries of spinning machinery increased by 20 percent from January to May, from Germany by 25 percent.

Posted October 21, 2016

Source: VDMA

CORDURA® Brand Brings Diverse Portfolio Of Soldier System Fabric Solutions To Future Forces Prague 2016

WICHITA, Kan. — October 13, 2016 — A leading fabric brand for militaries across the globe, INVISTA’s CORDURA® brand will share its latest fabric innovations for military gear and apparel at Future Forces 2016 – Oct. 19 to 21 in Prague, Czech Republic.

“We know life in the military or with a tactical unit can be grueling. This means that soldiers need to be equipped to outperform any opponent or situation they may encounter on the battlefield,” said J.D. Long, global CORDURA® brand innovation manager.

The range of new hardwearing and versatile soldier systems fabric technologies on display at the CORDURA® brand booth – Hall 3A, Stand 306 – include Solution Dyed Nylon (SDN) technologies with built-in NIR/SWIR reflectance capabilities, lightweight comfort CORDURA® NYCO Tactical uniform fabrics and FR (flame retardant)-coated CORDURA® brand polyamides for protective vests.

“We are constantly evolving our technologies to address the unmet needs of future soldier programs around the world,” said Anthony Green, global CORDURA® brand business director. “Ultimately, our goal is to develop reliable, innovative fabric solutions that help equip soldiers to meet the battlefield challenges of today and tomorrow.”

CORDURA® Brand Solution Dyed Nylon (SDN) Technologies

For nearly 50 years, the CORDURA® brand has been driving military textile innovation with performance solutions featured in both fabrics and webbings used extensively in combat gear, such as CORDURA® brand SDN yarn technology. These solutions are suitable for use in load carriage equipment, boots, body armor covers, knee/elbow pads and other similar tactical gear.

Available in a palette of six military colors that meet both lot-to-lot shade and IR (infrared) requirements, these textiles have built-in NIR/SWIR reflectance capability as well as resistance to sunlight UV fade and strength degradation. Through the brand’s Life Cycle Analysis (LCA)*, 1000d SDN CORDURA® fabrics also have proven sustainability benefits related to energy, water and CO2 emissions versus equivalent weight conventional piece dyed nylon 6,6 alternatives.

CORDURA® NYCO Tactical Uniform Fabrics

Focusing on lightweight comfort, CORDURA® NYCO Tactical fabric is the latest innovation in a long line of CORDURA® brand solutions for Future Force Warrior uniform programs, such as BDU, DCU, ACO, FRACU and SPS. This optimized fabric is a comfort blend of INVISTA T420 fiber and cotton. It’s engineered to help provide security and protection for warfighters and their vital equipment through US Mil-Spec performance at a lighter weight and exceptional durability.

FR-Coated CORDURA® Brand Polyamides

The newest FR-coated CORDURA® nylon 6,6 fabrics are designed to be the soldier’s first line of defense in protective/ballistic vests. These fabrics are tested to meet DIN EN ISO standards for protection against heat, flame and thermal propagation in protective apparel and footwear.

Legacy CORDURA® Fabrics

Durable, comfortable, next-of-skin fabric solutions including No Melt, No Drip CORDURA® Baselayer for combat shirts and fleeces, as well as CORDURA® Combat Wool? designed for enhanced thermoregulation, will also be on display to round out the brand?s performance apparel technologies.

The broad portfolio of CORDURA® fabric solutions will be showcased in a variety of international camouflage patterns.

Posted October 21, 2016

Source: INVISTA’s CORDURA® brand

Hyosung Partners With Prosperity Textile To Promote New TRANS-FORM™ Collection With Creora® Fit2 At Denim Première Vision, Paris, November 2 & 3, 2016

SEOUL — October 19, 2016 — HYOSUNG, the largest global elastane producer with the creora® brand, has partnered with Prosperity Textile to introduce TRANS-FORM™, the next generation fit and comfort collection of denim fabrics featuring  creora® Fit2 technology at Denim Première Vision on 2nd & 3rd November in Paris, France.

Prosperity Textile is an industry-leading denim fabric manufacturer, providing R&D, design and manufacturing services to global brands and retailers. The mission is to provide innovation, rapid response and a wide range of products.

“We know that flattering fit continues to be the most important consumer need in denim. As new technologies emerge, standards for fit are evolving. We developed this new TRANS-FORM™ collection as our next generation offering for more sculpted and streamlined looks.” said Bart Van de Woestyne, Creative Director, Prosperity Textile.

creora® Fit2 technology was developed to meet consumer demand for second skin fit with 360 degree comfort. The technology capitalizes on superior setting performance of creora® elastane for 4-way stretch development with reduced shrinkage and better recovery. Bi-stretch denim with creora® Fit2 technology offers more comfortable wear and a perfect silhouette.

Come and see creora at Denim PREMIERE VISION, stand no: C24. Prosperity Textiles, stand no: C21 — November 2-3, Paris Event Center, Porte de la Vilette.

Posted October 19, 2016

Source: HYOSUNG

High Quality Knitwear Made In Bangladesh – A Vision Comes True

LEONBURG, Germany — October 2016 — The Knit Concern Group, founded in 1990, specializes in the production of high-quality warp-knitted and knitted fabric. In the beginning, Knit Concern had about 500 workers. In the meantime the company has grown and is one of the biggest textile producers in Bangladesh. Among other things Knit Concern produces T-shirts, polo shirts, sweat shirts and nightwear for well-known labels such as H&M, Camaieu, Obaibi, Okaidi, We, Mas Intimates and others.

Currently almost 200,000 pieces of clothing are produced each day which means about 35 tons of knitted articles. Knit Concern will enlarge in the near future their production so that they will produce daily 100 tons of textiles. The company aims at becoming the leading producer and exporter of knitted fabric in Bangladesh.

In 2005 Knit Concern bought their first BRÜCKNER stenter. Since that time the company has been continuously growing and the number of Brückner machines in their production grows with it. During the last ten years Knit Concern invested in another ten Brückner lines, among them several tenters, a sanforizing line, a felt calender, a compactor and a relaxation dryer.

The Brückner relaxation dryer is designed particularly for the finishing of open-width fabric, but if required the line can also be used for tubular fabric. Mainly articles made of natural fibers for example cotton or viscose are dryed, relaxed and shrunk on this 2.60-meter- wide dryer. Two padders are arranged in front of the dryer. The first one dewaters the fabric and provides a uniform fabric moisture. The second padder serves mainly for the impregnation of the fabric with plasticizer. Before the fabric passes through the dryer, it is transported through an inclined pre-tentering zone and is overstretched in wet condition. Given a corresponding overfeed of 80 to 100 percent and a width overstretching between 30 and 50 percent the lengthwise distortions resulting from the previous wet processes (washing, dyeing, padding) are reduced. The complete process on the pre-tentering zone serves to pre-relax the fabric which can be shrunk considerably better in the subsequent drying process and which reaches thus minimum residual shrinkage values. Within the dryer the fabric first passes an air-through zone where it is pre-heated. In the following two passages the drying and shrinking process as such begins which takes place by means of a tumble-like fabric movement.

Pre-heating the fabric in the air-through zone has several benefits. On the one hand, this zone is heated up exclusively by the exhaust air of the two drying passages arranged below. This means no additional energy is required. On the other hand the fabric heats faster and requires thus less dwell time in the subsequent drying process. The fabric can pass this dryer faster than other dryers. Another benefit is the reduced exhaust air temperature. This air-through principle developed by Brückner allows energy savings of up to 15 % with a simultaneous increase of production of up to 20 percent, depending on the type of fabric and the machine configuration.

This highly sophisticated Brückner relaxation dryer can be very easily integrated into an existing line concept. Due to the fact that the drying passages are arranged one above the other this line is saving space. Knit Concern understood and estimated the advantages of this machine concept and benefits of the very good and stable residual shrinkage, the high efficiency and the drying performance. About 12 tons of knitted fabric are finished on this line every day.

In addition Knit Concern uses the advantages of the good Brückner service in Bangladesh. A local service team which is trained regularly in Germany or by German technicians and technologists on site supports their customers in Bangladesh during the installation and commissioning of their lines and is at anytime available and arrives if required very rapidly on site. BRÜCKNER has in addition a service station in Dhaka with a large spare parts and lubricants stock. The most important parts are thus very fast available.

“Our vision is to be the country leader in producing and exporting knitted fabric in the export market“, says Joynal Abedin Mollah, MD of Knit Concern Ltd. “Quality Assurance & Product Safety is one of Knit Concern’s main focuses. Therefore we need to have also high-quality machinery in our production and that is one reason for buying Brückner machines. In addition, we have a long-term and strong relationship with Pacific Associates Ltd., Brückner’s agent in Bangladesh. The support and service is always excellent and we can count on the expertise by their technicians at any time.”

Posted October 19, 2016

Source: Brückner

New DuPont™ Entira™ EP Technology And Portfolio Of Compatibilizer Are Revolutionizing The Recycling Industry

GENEVA — October 18, 2016 — Up until now, recycling of waste streams based on mixed plastics has often proved to be unfeasible from a performance and overall cost-benefit perspective. DuPont brings a new solution to this important challenge, with its new series of Entira™ EP copolymers. These high performance compatibilizers, based on ethylene copolymers, are able to boost the performance of recycled polyolefins to a similar level as virgin resins.
Mixed streams containing polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) are often difficult to separate due to the similarities in densities. If a waste stream of one of these two polymers is contaminated by the other one, the resulting mechanical properties are often very low. This can make it difficult or impossible to process such feedstock using standard polymer extrusion or injection technologies.

Adding Entira™ EP compatibilizer (typically 3-7 wt%) bridges the PE contaminant to the PP matrix (or vice-versa) and creates a homogeneous recycled resin.  It leads to increased performance and surface properties for items manufactured with such ‘upgraded’ recycled resin. In addition to its use for production of bulky items (flower pots, outdoor furniture), such recycled resins will be suitable for use in higher value applications, as in thin films and membranes for the construction industry.

The Entira™ EP technology is experiencing success in the marketplace with key players in the recycling market, for example at Regeplastic in France. “Incompatible plastics mixtures are very common in waste streams. As a consequence, it is expensive and often non profitable for recyclers to collect, clean, sort, grind and melt process the streams. Our Entira™ EP technology can help solve this challenge, enabling recyclers to use less expensive plastic waste feedstock while producing recycled pellets with good properties, and to reach profitability in return,” said Loic Rolland (R&D Fellow) and Lucie Charbonnel (Marketing Specialist), DuPont Performance Materials.

Beside recycling of polypropylene-polyethylene blends, Entira™ EP is already being used for compatibilization of polypropylene (PP) with polyvinylbutyral (PVB) in commercial applications. For example, Hainaut-Plast, a French leader in recycling of PVB, is using it in diverse end-use applications such as sound deadening parts for automotive. The unique process used to recover PVB from waste glass shields, combined with the addition of Entira™ EP, makes for a more economical and efficient recycling process.

“This market-driven collaboration with DuPont was essential to enable production of a recycled material for high performance applications. The new Entira™ EP technology allows us to achieve a more distinct recycled product whilst simultaneously optimizing our production,” said Bruno Gautier (Development Manager) Hainaut-Plast.

Entira™ EP, as well as DuPont’s broad portfolio of compatibilizers, are revolutionizing the recycling industry, by helping companies meet the demands for high performance recycled materials.

Posted October 19, 2016

Source: DuPont Performance Materials

New James Heal Touchscreen Technology Lights Up ITMA Asia

Halifax, United Kingdom — October 17, 2016 — James Heal, a leading manufacturer of premium quality Textile Testing Instruments and Consumables worldwide, is set to showcase for the first time its innovative new touchscreen-based user interface at the ITMA Asia Exhibition in Shanghai (21st-25th October 2016).

The revolutionary new Touchscreen User Interface (TUI), currently being rolled out across the complete James Heal core Testing Instrument range, has been designed to dramatically improve the efficiency and productivity of Textile Testing Laboratories by delivering the best in user-intuitive design and functionality.

James Heal will be showcasing three Testing Instruments with the new touchscreen-based user interface at ITMA Asia, including its flagship Martindale Abrasion and Pilling Tester, the Impulse Random Tumble Pilling Tester and the GyroWash Colour Fastness Tester. The instruments will be accompanied by several touchscreen demonstration units for visitors to familiarise themselves with the software and experience for themselves how simple and intuitive it really is.

Commenting on the new touchscreen user interface, Andrew Hemingway, Commercial Director said: “Working closely with our in-house team of textile technology experts, and collaborating with some of the most influential Textile Testing Laboratories across the world to understand the critical challenges that they face, the James Heal Design and Innovation team has been able to come up with a touchscreen controller that not only dramatically enhances the overall user experience but, even more importantly, supports Laboratory Managers in maximising productivity. With intuitive, simple and clear navigation, and a ‘homescreen’ that displays all the key information a user would need, we believe that this latest James Heal innovation will make a dramatic difference to the way laboratories use textile testing equipment.”

Housed inside a robust, damage-resistant and water-resistant cover glass display, the software can also be set to nine different languages including English, Chinese, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Hindi, Bengali and Turkish, adding further appeal to many of the world’s leading textile testing markets.

In preparation for the official launch at ITMA Asia, the Touchscreen User Interface has been undergoing months of rigorous reliability testing, pushing the software and hardware to its limits to ensure that it stands up to even the most demanding of laboratory environments. This process included issuing instruments fitted with the touchscreen user interface to five of the highest-profile and most demanding UK textile testing laboratories for beta testing. The technology performed flawlessly throughout, easily exceeding reliability and beta testing requirements and delivering outstanding feedback from the beta test sites for its performance and reliability.

“At James Heal we are continuously looking at ways to provide value-add to our customers by providing innovative solutions that not only help to solve their most critical challenges but also enhance the user experience. The new Touchscreen User Interface typifies this philosophy perfectly. We are delighted to be presenting it to the industry for the first time at ITMA Asia and look forward to giving visitors the opportunity to experience first-hand just how impressive this latest innovation is”, adds Hemingway.

Visitors to ITMA Asia are invited to visit the James Heal stand (Hall 5, Stand F16) to see and experience the new Touchscreen User Interface and consult with our team of experts at the exhibition stand.

Posted October 18, 2016

Source: James Heal

At Saurer, E3 Means Zero Waste

ÜBACH-PALENBERG, Germany — September 30, 2016 — Energy, raw materials and personnel – each of these resources costs money, is in short supply and therefore needs to be used economically and efficiently. The desire to minimise resource consumption has caused all sectors to rethink their priorities. Sustainability is in demand and the new target in the textile industry and elsewhere is: zero waste. With its E3 strategy, Saurer has been moving consistently in this direction for some years:

The target of zero waste in the winding process is realised by the Autoconer 6 more effectively than any other automatic winding machine. It consumes up to 20 % less energy than its predecessor, reduces yarn waste and saves on compressed air. The Autoconer 6 is the result of a development philosophy that began with the Autoconer 338 – the systematic reduction of resource consumption in each new model.

With its E3 concept, Schlafhorst consistently exploits potentials to achieve feasible savings. The key variables on the route to zero waste are: volume of yarn waste, energy consumption, compressed air consumption and personnel input. The E3 development philosophy of Saurer also has the aim of saving resources in downstream processes.

Zero yarn waste

Operating cycles in winding processes cause waste, which is particularly annoying as the waste material consists of valuable yarn. Schlafhorst has therefore reduced the number of cycles through a reliable yarn pick-up system, avoidance of tension breaks and economical yarn clearing that concentrates on the clearer cuts that are absolutely necessary. The suction nozzle of the new Autoconer 6 has been optimised to improve the yarn pick-up. In addition to the Autotense FX, each Autoconer now also has a TensionControl system to prevent tension breaks in the basic machine version. Separate, independent search of the upper and lower yarn end as well as the innovative SmartCycle system have made the cycle sequences much more intelligent and frugal. Thanks to the precision of the upper yarn sensor, which was first introduced in the Autoconer 338, cycle times are much shorter. The sensor ensures that the length of yarn removed is as short as possible, thereby reducing waste by up to 40 %. Over the roughly 20 years since its market launch, that adds up to several tonnes of yarn waste saved.

The second way of preventing yarn waste is to increase the precision of the length measurements. The Ecopack FX guarantees a length deviation of significantly less than ±0.5 %. It is no longer necessary to wind on reserve lengths. This means there are no longer any residual packages in downstream processes.

Residual bobbins in the winding process can be avoided with the Autotense FX yarn tension control system, which prevents yarn breaks and ensures that the yarn is efficiently unwound right down to the last metre of yarn.

The zero waste concept would not be complete without having the possibility of reusing valuable yarn residues, which can therefore be collected separately from dust in the Autoconer.

Schlafhorst always considers the complete textile process chain and has succeeded in preventing waste in downstream processing. With its FX technologies, in particular PreciFX, the Autoconer is able to produce packages that are optimally prepared for downstream processes. This does away with rewinding processes, e.g. during dyeing, that cause yarn loss.

Zero energy waste

When it comes to energy consumption, it is the drive system that offers the greatest potential for making savings. Schlafhorst has for years been a pioneer in the use of state-of-the-art motor and drive technologies and has continually improved the efficiency of the Autoconer. The direct drum drive of the Autoconer 338 and the introduction of single drives on the Autoconer 5 were important milestones on this path. In the new Autoconer 6, maximum performance efficiency is ensured thanks to the Eco-Drum-Drive system, high-slide energy-saving bearings and motors that meet the IE3 standard.

Vacuum production is another important factor in the energy budget of a winding machine. In the earlier Autoconer 338, the sensor control system reduced energy consumption. Thanks to SmartCycle, SmartJet and the intelligent “Power on Demand” principle, the Autoconer 6 works with a significantly lower vacuum requirement than other automatic winding machines, while maintaining maximum process stability.

Progressively shorter cycle times have reduced the energy consumption of successive Autoconer generations.

The most effective way of achieving savings, though, is to eliminate energy consumption entirely by doing away with complete process steps. Thanks to the process-optimised package design enabled by PreciFX, there is no longer any need for rounding-off before the dyeing process or for the rewinding of hard packages to dye packages and vice-versa. Finally, with optimally structured packages the energy-intensive dyeing process itself becomes more efficient through an optimised liquor ratio and maximum capacity utilisation of the dyeing equipment.

Zero wastage of compressed air

Compressed air is mainly used for cleaning the machine. With an open design, in which all areas are easily accessible, Schlafhorst has succeeded in significantly reducing the cleaning requirements. The amount of energy used in removing dust from the bobbins has been greatly reduced in the Autoconer. Modern control systems now offer further savings. When cleaning the winding positions, the new MultiJet regulates the frequency and strength of the blowing pulses according to the level of contamination. This has led in practice to a 10-15 % saving in compressed air depending on the settings.

Since the splicing system also requires large volumes of compressed air, it needs to be optimally configured. Schlafhorst supports this objective with an extremely flexible system, although the quality of the splicing always takes priority over the compressed air savings.

The Autoconer 6 also helps to make compressed air savings in downstream processes. Thanks to the optimised unwinding behaviour of Autoconer packages, compressed air consumption on AirJet weaving machines has been reduced by around 3 % in a model practical application.

Sensitising personnel to the idea of zero waste

Zero waste cannot, however, be achieved by technical means alone. It is vital to sensitise personnel to the idea of zero waste since numerous production parameters have an influence on resource consumption. The new Energy Monitoring system of the Autoconer 6 supports personnel in the task of ensuring efficient operation. It measures and displays energy and compressed air consumption online during operation. This direct feedback helps personnel to specifically optimise consumption.

Zero waste – sustainability and efficiency

The Autoconer 6 offers an array of technological solutions that bring the industry a step closer to the target of zero waste. And Schlafhorst continues to work intensively on this issue since the various aspects of resource consumption are increasingly significant factors in purchasing decisions and have immense importance for the day-to-day use of textile machinery.

Posted October 18, 2016

Source: Saurer

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