WETZIKON, Switzerland —  Loepfe Brothers Ltd. presented a comprehensive portfolio of quality control solutions for the textile industry at ITMA in Milan, which was held November 12-19, 2015. The company, which celebrates its 60^th anniversary this year, always played an important role over the past six decades as a technology innovator for yarn quality control in spinning and weaving mills.

Presented at ITMA for the first time, the brand new LabMaster series sets a new standard for laboratory measurements. The testing devices integrate the most important measurements into one system. LabMaster consists of the two measurement devices FiberMap and YarnMap as well as LabMaster Top. The integration of all fiber-related parameters into one instrument delivers the complete fiber profile throughout the whole preparation process of the spinning mill, from bale to finisher sliver. FiberMap provides data of standard HVI measurements and also neps, seed coat neps, trash and stickiness. The efficiency of yarn testing is increased considerably by synchronized measurement of the most relevant yarn properties, like count, evenness, hairiness, and strength. In addition, all preparation products can be checked for mass evenness at the same time as the yarn. User-friendly and intuitive operation of the instrument increases the efficiency even further. LabMaster Top delivers value-added reports directly on the management’s desk.

The new yarn clearer generation YarnMaster Zenit+ utilizes state-of-the-art technology, fastest processors, and measuring technology. This extremely reliable tool safely detects even the finest yarn irregularities. Just one sensing head covers the range of yarn counts from Nec 2.4 to Nec 320. The YarnMaster Zenit+ allows even more precise yarn clearing then ever before and delivers a multi-layered evaluation of the measuring results. The new yarn clearers have additional features like nep cluster channel, off-standard bobbin detection, and improved foreign matter detection. They enable a 100 % online quality control in the spinning mill. Many of expensive and lengthy laboratory measurements are incorporated in the yarn clearer. The easy to service and easy to operate central unit LZE-V provides a clearly structured user interface. When needed, Loepfe technicians have the possibility to remote control the system, to check the status of the central unit and to update the software. The result is an increased reliability.

For open-end spinning applications Loepfe offers YarnMaster 3N1. The yarn clearer combines three sensors: an optical sensor for diameter measurement, a F-sensor for detection of foreign matter, and a P-sensor for detection of synthetic foreign matter like polypropylene. In addition YarnMaster 1N1 is available, which has one sensor for diameter measurement. Both yarn clearers can communicate with the machine control of the open-end spinning machine. The graphical user interface provides comfortable access to all functions and reports. The user activates the yarn clearing by setting classes within the clearer matrix using the touch screen. The length and deviation limits of the classes can be set individually within certain limits. Repetitive quality stops or longer faults can be blocked for particular rotors. The YarnMaster 3N1/1N1 covers the range of yarn counts from Nec 3 to Nec 60 with maximum spinning speeds up to 400 m/min. The desired quality can be achieved with the maximum possible machine efficiency.

For weaving mill applications the new WeftMaster Falcon-i optical yarn defects sensor contributes to the quality of the end product. The sensor is able to detect and eliminate smallest knots, fluff or even filamentation from the weft yarn. A wide range from 20 to 3,000 dtex and yarn speeds of up to 30 m/s is possible. The WeftMaster Falcon-i can work with monofilament or multifilament yarns and is insensitive for yarn color. It is also suitable for high performance yarns such as glass fiber, aramid, carbon etc.

The new online data management system MillMaster TOP is able to monitor and analyse the quality data from Loepfe yarn clearers. The modern software can collect, visualise and analyse quality data from up to 7,200 spindles in real-time. The data management system has a comprehensive functionality. The shop mill floor view gives an overview of all winding machines. Traffic light colours indicate the performance of the different machines or yarn production lots. Setting-up MillMaster TOP is very easy, because all connected machines are recognised automatically. With its modern client server architecture the system is the ideal solution for winding machines. The data is not only available on the server, but can also be displayed on a handheld device, e.g. a tablet computer. MillMaster TOP can be customized with various options, which are installed automatically via Loepfe´s cloud service.

Posted January 18, 2016

Source: IFF Media /Loepfe Brothers Ltd. 

NEUMÜNSTER, Germany — November 2015 — For the production of bicomponent fibers, high take-up speeds are necessary in order to achieve homogenous filament formation. Previously, this was only possible with a two-step staple fiber process. With the Staple FORCE S 1000 from Oerlikon Neumag, bicomponent fibers can now also be produced in the compact spinning process.

Oerlikon Neumag has many years of experience in the production of bicomponent fibers in the two- step process. This competence has been successfully transferred to the Staple FORCE S 1000. It is a small, compact staple fiber line that works according to the one-step process. Spinning and defined drawing take place in direct succession without intermediate storage of the spun tow in cans. Compared to conventional one-step processes, which work with take-up speeds of approx. 80 meters per minute, the Staple FORCE S 1000 achieves a take-up speed of approx. 1000 meters per minute and is thus also suitable for the production of bicomponent fibers. For example, the production of core/sheath bonding fibers made of PET/CoPET is now possible in the compact spinning process.

Cost-effective, flexible and compact

With a throughput of up to 15 tons per day, its compact construction, easy handling and energy efficient operation, the Staple FORCE S 1000 is not only attractive for fiber manufacturers focusing on special applications and on ‘on-demand’ deliveries, it also enables nonwoven producers to efficiently integrate fiber manufacturing into their own production operations.

By means of virtual reality, interested parties at the ITMA in Milan can see the advantages of the system for themselves: the fact that installation is possible on a standard industrial floor minimizes investment costs. Energy and water savings through a dry drawing process lead to a reduction in operating cost and protect the environment. “Cost-effective, flexible and compact — this appeals to our customers and opens up diverse new market potential for them,” concludes Mathias Gröner- Rothermel, Senior Manager Business Development Plant Engineering from Oerlikon Neumag.

Posted January 18, 2016

Source: Oerlikon 

PFÄFFIKON, Switzerland — November 2015 — With the new WinFors reversing winder, Switzerland-based Oerlikon Barmag is expanding its family of winders to include a further member. The specialist for especially delicate yarns reveals its potential in particular when winding materials such as micro-filaments, mother yarn, airbag yarns and seat belt yarns. Deployable in the POY, FDY, industrial yarn and BCF processes, WinFors can be used as standard for polyamide, polyester and polypropylene polymers, while other polymers — such as PVA, for example — are also not a problem.

In concrete terms, the WinFors offers a considerably larger process window for seatbelt yarn applications than alternative winders. For manufacturers of airbag yarns, the longer chuck — measuring 1200 mm in length — is a more efficient solution for producing yarn. And the new development from the R&D departments in Chemnitz and Remscheid promises a more stable process for the manufacture of mother yarn. Successful endurance tests for all processes — POY, FDY, IDY and BCF — have confirmed that the WinFors is ready for the market. “With this, WinFors is more versatile than any other winder on the market”, states Peter Steinke, Head of Development at the Chemnitz site.

Reversing Shaft Ensures Gentle Yarn Treatment

The winder — which will be exhibited at the ITMA in Milan — is based on the WINGS and ACW platform, but relies on the reversing shaft in terms of its traverse system. With this, the yarn is laid in a particularly gentle manner, albeit not at the speeds common in birotor traverse systems. Nevertheless, speeds of between 2500 and 4000 m/min are possible depending on the process.

Flexible And Versatile

A further benefit of the new WinFors winder is its flexibility: to this end, it can be converted from a 4- end to an 8-end winder without much effort by simply exchanging the traverse system. “This is particularly relevant for spinning polypropylene. Here, the systems are usually smaller with mostly just four spinning positions. To nevertheless be able to flexibly react to customer requirements, manufacturers must be able to cover the broadest-possible titer range with their system. However, to ensure that the package size is nonetheless the right fit for downstream processes, easy conversion from 8 packages for fine titers to 4 packages for coarser titers makes the system considerably more cost-efficient”, explains Peter Steinke.

But its flexibility not only makes the WinFors interesting to investors in new systems and equipment: this all-rounder is also perfect as a retrofit solution. 4-, 6- and 8-end and equipped with a 1200-mm chuck, WinFors can be fitted under virtually every older spinning system. Its huge process window and its versatility with regards to polymer processing and spinning processes make it the prudent solution for system modernization. As in the case of all Oerlikon Barmag winders, the WinFors is controlled by the multiply tried-and-tested Guide system as well as the current Siemens electrical system for the required ribbon breaking methods.

Posted January 18, 2016

Source: Oerlikon

USTER, Switzerland — November 24, 2015 — The new USTER® TESTER 6 has quality at its heart and soul — and now it also drives spinning mill productivity and profitability. It is the pulse of a new generation in testing, with the brainpower to deliver precise quality across the entire yarn manufacturing process. At ITMA 2015, USTER® TESTER 6 will set new standards, signaling the future of mill management.

The new USTER® TESTER 6 represents everything USTER customers would expect – and much more besides. It is the latest advance in a technology family that has always been a key driver of quality in the textile laboratories of the world. The USTER® TESTER 6 simply takes every single quality aspect to a new level.

Today, all previous standards are surpassed. The latest sensor technology, highest accuracy and new measurement options create the ultimate yarn testing system and the gateway to Total Testing. The USTER® TESTER 6 covers all spinning mill processes, and is the essential step forward in guiding customers towards ‘managing a spinning mill with quality in mind’. It has become a unique business tool, transforming data into practical choices for quality yarns and profitable production.

The Total Testing Center

USTER® TESTER 6 incorporates the USTER® QUALITY EXPERT, an essential tool for quality management, creating the brand-new Total Testing Center. Accurate laboratory test results from the USTER® TESTER 6 are the starting point for Total Testing. This data is combined with real-time information from yarn clearers monitoring 100% of mill production.

Practical analysis and interpretation of this combined data is the specialty of USTER® QUALITY EXPERT. It goes beyond mere data collection, guiding spinners towards targeted improvements in each aspect of yarn production, throughout the mill. Vital parameters are automatically presented from lab tests and yarn clearer data. Quality and processing options are then compared, allowing mill managements to make the crucial decisions on the basis of all the relevant facts. Forecasts for customer satisfaction are even provided. This includes predicting weaving performance and giving vital previews of fabric quality. Numerous additional benefits are possible as further USTER® instruments are connected to the system.

To make the management tasks even easier and faster, the Total Testing Center comes with its own knowledgeable support at hand: Assistant Q – a clever support which may be likened to acquiring a new staff member with 65 years’ USTER know-how. Assistant Q provides guidance to complex questions, freeing managers from repetitive tasks, so they can focus on the wider goals.

Sensor innovations

Pure innovation is at the core of the USTER® TESTER 6: the new digital CS capacitive sensor measures with more accuracy and reliability than ever, and is ready for even greater future requirements. All data – including the famous `USTER value´, CVm – is presented in easy-reference graphs. Quality issues with periodic faults are highlighted, avoiding customer complaints and claims. The new Product Consistency Alert flags up potential problems in advance when indicating any apparent abnormalities. Spinners are alerted to potential issues caused by significant changes in raw material, yarn structure or yarn count.

USTER® TESTER 6 also features the new Sensor HL, for hairiness length classification. Complete evaluation of the vital hairiness parameter is now possible at a speed of 800 m/min. In combination with the established hairiness Sensor OH, users now have the total picture of hairiness, for the first time. The USTER® TESTER 6 now provides the definitive hairiness solution, giving mills full confidence in controlling this key quality issue.

People-friendly, throughout the mill

Laboratory staff especially will appreciate novel features of the USTER® TESTER 6. For example, its designed-in ergonomics and superb touchscreen interface make it intuitive and user-friendly. Managers will also welcome the powerful quality package for fiber-to-yarn engineering, backed by built-in USTER knowledge for better and faster identification of issues. With the USTER® TESTER 6, the laboratory staff and management benefit from its defenses against potentially costly claims and damaged reputation.

Quality testing will never be same again, as USTER® TESTER 6 sets the pulse of the future today – bringing predictable profits and long-term business sustainability.

Posted January 18, 2016

Source: Uster Technologies

ALBSTADT, Germany — November 2015 —  From 12 to 19 November 2015 the 17th International Exhibition of Textile Machinery (ITMA) took place in Milan, Italy. It is still the world’s most important textile machinery exhibition where about 123,000 visitors from 147 countries were welcomed. Groz-Beckert had more than 10,000 guests from 85 countries on its booth. Most of the visitors on the booth came from Italy (11.5%), India (10.2%), Turkey (10.1%) and Germany (9.5%).
The ITMA 2015 set its focus on innovative solutions that enable sustainable development. Groz-Beckert presented itself under the motto “Living in a Textile World” and took the visitors on a journey through the textile worlds of the company. Groz-Beckert demonstrated with exhibits and video clips, that it is possible to save resources and to have an improvement in productivity at the same time by choosing and using intelligent products. The focus was on the customer benefits.
Alongside video clips Groz-Beckert chose realistic seeming textile machinery made of acrylic glass for product presentation for the fields of Knitting, Weaving, Felting, Tufting, Carding and Sewing. For each product area acrylic glass machines and exhibits were prepared and equipped with the company’s products. This made the area of application visible, for example the knitting machine needles and system parts and their perfectly matched interaction.

In this context, the first presentation of the knitting needle LightSpeed® Plus was one of the highlights. By using this needle type it is possible to reduce the energy consumption up to 20% compared to conventional needles. Another novelty was the presentation of the new product range Carding, who was first represented on a booth of Groz-Beckert.

Weaving presented their comprehensive offer for the weaving industry. The area of Felting focused in its presentation on product solutions for filtration and the Tufting sector showed the enhanced Gauge Part System, consisting of tufting needle, grippers, reed fingers and cutter.

In addition to numerous product innovations and new developments Groz-Beckert presented at ITMA 2015, a completely new booth concept and a new corporate design.

Posted January 18, 2016

Source: Groz-Beckert 

At ITMA 2015 in Milan, Singapore-based DyStar introduced eliot™ their newly developed, internet based tool for product selection and process optimization in the dyeing process. The tool was developed during the last year by consolidating different expert systems and information databases into one comprehensive function for DyStar’s customers.

With a well-structured user interface, eliot is very intuitive and can easily be used. The responsive design offers the flexibility to use eliot on any computer or tablet and with various browsers. eliot currently consists of four modules and will be extended in the near future. Currently, eliot offers the following modules:

• Green Selection
• Product Finder
• Optidye®
• Information

The Green Selection module contains the DyStar ‘Positive Lists’ for some leading Brands & Retailers or eco standards. The ‘Positive Lists’ are a selection of recommended DyStar products that are compliant to the Brands & Retailers’ Restricted Substances Lists or the selected eco standard. eliot allows the user to filter or sort products and save product selections as favorites. These favorites can also be used in the other modules.

All modules offer a link to directly open the technical data sheets of the individual products, which contain product details such as suitability for certain dyeing and printing processes, dye characteristics, appearance under different light sources, build-up, etc.

The Product Finder module allows the user to search for technical properties of DyStar products by fastness criteria and dyeing or application performance. The selection can be a combination of both fastness and dyeing properties and the result can be exported to Excel.

Optidye programs offer recipe or process optimization that help to shorten the dyeing cycle and reduce the effluent load. Optidye programs increase the reliability of the dyeing process for better right-first-time processing and improved quality of finished products.

GRASSOBBIO, Italy — November 2015 — ERCA S.p.A. has been an active part of the successful ITMA 2015 in Milan that registered well over 100,000 visitors, introducing the most innovative, performing, efficient and sustainable Made in Italy solutions, through the development & manufacturing of its chemical specialties and intermediates for the textile industry.

During the fair, ERCA has been able to share its unique innovations to quite a wide and interested international audience who is now having direct development conversation with Erca expert staff.

LEINFELDEN-ECHTERDINGEN, Germany — November 2015 —  based WEKO Weitmann & Konrad GmbH & Co. KG convinced the denim manufacturers at the ITMA Show in Milan of a new finishing process. The process is based on the proven non-contact minimum application system WFA (WEKO-Fluid-Application-System), which — in addition to an important process speed-up — offers optimal quality results also standing up to the critical look and the hand feel analysis for softness of the international denim manufacturers. Particularly the benefits of WFA can be combined to the “WEKO-Triple-C-Effect”: contact-free, chemical savings, cost reduction.

Jointly with Lilienweiß GmbH and Textilchemie Dr. Petry GmbH, WEKO has been tinkering with a new denim finishing process over the past months with which to replace the padding methods, often requiring much energy, time and thereby cost, by a new process. They have now succeeded! Marcel Konrad, Managing Director of Sales and Marketing at WEKO reveals: “The feedback has exceeded our expectations. Queues sometimes lined up at our booth because the interested and curious parties were willing to wait for detailed consultation. We are very happy that saving chemicals (up to 60%) and energy (up to 70%) has been met with large interest also on the international level. After all, this is what drives us in the end to invest into new methods. And in addition, our sustainable approach provides our customers with cost effective and high-performance solutions to meet the challenges of their unique markets. Our trade fair team was engaged in technical discussions with interested parties from India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, China and – amazing to us – even from Brazil.”

The non-contact application system WFA offers the same bandwidth of denim finishing like padding, regardless whether resin or flat finish, fixation of indigo and sulphur dyes, tinting and over-dyeing, softness, lustre or brilliance. Even base coating for leather and glossy finishes is not only possible with the WEKO system but can be achieved more efficiently in term of economics.

Posted January 18,2016

Source: WEKO/Weitmann & Konrad GmbH & Co. KG

HORGEN, Switzerland — November 2015 — SSM reports that ITMA Milan yielded a total of almost 123,000 visitors from 147 economies joined this year’s edition of the ITMA. SSM and SSM GIUDICI showed eight new product launches and a total of fourteen applications on their booth. The new XENO-platform attracted an extraordinary number of visitors.

The Swiss based SSM Schärer Schweiter Mettler AG, the inventor of the electronic yarn traverse system, continued their tradition of trend-setting with the presentation of breakthrough technologies. SSM showed new solutions for cost effective winding and yarn processing. Thanks to the new introduced DIGICONE® 2 winding algorithm, an increase of up to 20% on dye package density with unchanged dye-recipes is possible. Six new product launches in the Winding & Doubling segments and two in False-Twist & Air-Texturing were showed for the first time.

Machines for the following applications were on display:

• Dye Package Winding/Rewinding *
• Assembly Winding (doubling)*
• Air Texturing*
• False Twist Texturing*
• Sewing Thread Finish Winding
• Conventional Covering

(* New Introductions )

SSM was overwhelmed by the number of high quality visitors. Many interesting discussions concerning open projects or about the latest SSM-equipment were reported. In the end, several orders had been concluded during ITMA. Once more the excellent reputation of SSM, as the market leader in the above mentioned fields, was acknowledged and with their worldwide service network, SSM is able to provide the maximum return on customer’s investments.

The machines and the booth layout at the show were adapted to the event and a good choice; overall, the impression of the booth was well received by the customers. Extremely strong interest was recorded for the new XENO-platform (XENO-YW, -BW & -FW for winding and XENO-YD, -BD & -FD for assembly winding) as well as for the SSM GIUDICI TG2-AT & -FT with individual automatic frontal doffer. The DURO-TW & -TD for technical yarns as well as the TK2-20 CT & KTE for sewing thread inspired the crowd as well. With the NOVA-CS, SSM GIUDICI took the advantage of the disappearance, respectively difficulties of European CCY machine producers to become niche leaders in the high-end segment.

Besides of the presented applications, SSM introduced the new X-Series (PSX-W/D, PWX-W and TWX-W/D which will be shown at ITMA Asia 2016) for Dye Package Winding/Rewinding and Assembly Winding as well as the well-known machines for Air Covering, Draw Winding and Yarn Singeing.

Thanks To All Visitors

Furthermore, SSM would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody that visited their booth, whether it was for discussions concerning imminent projects or just for checking out the latest equipment.

Posted January 18,2016

Source: Schärer Schweiter Mettler AG

WATWILL, Switzerland — November 2015 — Saurer Group reports Saurer Schlafhorst’s Rotor Spinning product line is highly satisfied with how ITMA 2015 in Milan went. The new Autocoro 9 and the innovations on the BD 6 met with a good response from the industry, which currently attaches a high priority to maximum energy efficiency. The new E³ strategy with triple added value in the spheres of energy, economics and ergonomics proved convincing straight away.

With energy savings of up to 25 percent, the Autocoro 9 set a new standard for economic efficiency. The new Autocoro 9 proved that the individual spinning position drive is currently the only future-ready rotor spinning technology. The machine’s extraordinarily high energy efficiency, demonstrated by the integral Energy Monitoring, is now acknowledged even by third parties. DigiWinding FX, the new benchmark for winding, also met with great interest, as did the wider range of possibilities in automation opened up by SynchroPiecing 24, for example. Even on long machines, this shortens run-up times to less than 15 minutes and makes the processing of raw materials with added recycled materials much more efficient.

The BD 6 in a new machine design was the focus of attention on all the show days. Thanks to DigiPiecing it achieves a piecing quality hitherto unachievable in the semi-automatic sector. The BD 6 produces packages in Autocoro format and quality at delivery speeds of up to 230 m/min and is thus in a class of its own.

Full Order Books

The exhibition teams have returned with full order books. As early as the second day of ITMA, the Autocoro 9 was ordered by an Indian customer. The Indian textile company T. C. Spinners Private Limited from Chandigarh has been familiar with the advantages of the Autocoro 8 for years. With the new Autocoro 9, the family firm can position itself even more successfully in relation to its competitors.

The 1000th Autocoro with individual spinning position drive is being supplied to Turkey. This milestone comes only four years after the market introduction of the innovative rotor spinning technology and marks a sensational success. The 1000th machine, a brand new Autocoro 9, will ensure high-performance productivity beyond the bounds of conventional rotor spinning machines at the Turkish textile company Emateks in future. Yarn production is a relatively recent business field for Emateks. The company backs innovation and is thus opting for the Autocoro 9, a guarantee of success.

The recycling specialist PT Mitra Saruta Indonesia is also producing on two BD 6 rotor spinning machines. At ITMA, Mitra ordered a further 13 BD 6 rotor spinning machines of the latest generation. The company was won over in extensive testing by the incomparable quality of the yarns and the superb running properties of the packages.

Other agreements are set to be concluded, as many visitors signaled a firm interest in purchasing. The German textile machinery manufacturer goes into next year with a highly optimistic outlook, therefore.

Posted January 18, 2016

Source: Saurer Group