ÜBACH-PALENBERG, Germany — March 2011 — The automation of ring spinning machines and package
winders is assuming growing importance in many regions. Even in those regions where labour costs
are still low, many spinning mills are turning increasingly to modern linked systems such as the
Autoconer X5, type V as a forward-looking solution.

Arguments in favor of automation — operator-independent, high-quality, efficient

The direct link between the ring spinning machine and the package winder already saves around
30-40% on staff costs (compared with RM) in practice, and this trend is rising. But apart from
economic efficiency, automation offers another convincing argument — quality. The bobbins are
transported contact-free, and therefore with the minimum impact on the yarn, from the ring spinning
machine to the package winder. The quality of the spun yarn is fully retained. In addition, in an
installation linked to the Autoconer X5 V, the yarn quality of each individual spinning unit on the
ring spinning machine can be checked and safeguarded at the optimum level by the optional online
spindle identification system SPID. The efficiency and safety of the material flow and process
sequence no longer depend on the operators. In automated linked systems, the bobbins are wound into
packages “just in time” by direct transfer to the winding machine. These “intact” bob-bins
facilitate higher efficiency ratings of the package winder on account of greater readying
reliability and better unwinding behaviour in the winding process. The production capacities of the
spinning and winding machine are coordinated to one another in the optimum manner for greater
efficiency, i.e. for more kilograms of yarn each day.

Figure 1: Autoconer X5, type V — direct link to the ring spinning machine

Autoconer X5, type V — the shortest route from the bobbin to the package:

In the new Autoconer X5, type V machine, the bobbins are supplied to the central readying
station once they have been transferred by the CTS to the Caddies of the Autoconer transport
system. The number of readying stations and the equipping of these with suit-able yarn detachment
device types are freely configurable according to the required cycle rates, materials and bobbin
structures. The yarn end is deposited securely on the tube tip as a tip bunch, so that it does not
get lost during transporting and the winding unit can fall back on it securely when winding on.

Figure 2: Automatic preparation of the bobbins for the winding process

The material flow to the winding units is demand-led, i.e. when the winding units place a
request, they are supplied with the bobbins. To ensure the optimum reliability of supply, 3 reserve
bobbins are always available for each winding unit.

The transport system has been designed to be extremely thrifty with power (compared with the
preceding model, up to 5% of energy costs can be saved). Long sections (bobbin feed, tube return)
are managed using a conveyor belt system. Within the winding units and in the central processing
centre, mechanical, positive conveying by means of driver plate is used. After the winding process,
final treatment is carried out in the processing centre. The tube inspector takes charge of
distribution: empty tubes are transferred via the CTS transfer station to the ring spinning
machine, tubes with cut-off pieces of yarn are optionally fed to the tube cleaning unit, tubes with
yarn remains that can be unwound are fed back into the material flow.

Figure 3: Proven and secure Autoconer Caddy transport system

To complement the energy-saving transport concept, the opportunity exists to utilize further
energy-saving potential. If the Autoconer X5, type V machine has wound all its bobbins and the ring
spinning machine is still engaged in production of the new take-up, the winding machine can switch
to energy saving mode. This means that all belts and units that are not required enter “sleep” mode
(e.g. reduction in the power take-up of the suction system). Everything is then reactivated in good
time for the transfer of the new bobbins.

The monitoring tasks of the operators are clearly organized and characterized by short
distances. The Informator is located directly on the machining centre right next to the CTS
transfer station, so the operator is only a couple of steps away from the operating terminal of the
ring spinning machine and can quickly survey the production sequences and data of both machines.



Plus points for the installation of a linked system with the Autoconer X5, type V

• Independence from the availability of trained staff and from labour cost increases
• Safeguarding of yarn quality due to gentle supply to winding machine
• No mixing-up of lots
• Optimum capacity coordination between spinning and winding machine
• Higher efficiency rating of the ring spinning machine (with SPID)
• Flexible configuration of the material flow units to satisfy the requirement
• High cycle rates, reliable process sequences
• Transparency of operation, Informator as central operating terminal close to the spinning
  machine
• Energy-saving mode
• Online quality monitoring with SPID (optional)
• PreciFX (option) — unique yarn traversing facility for individual package quality

Figure 4: Open design, clearly structured material flow for the Autoconer X5, type V

SPID for linked systems Autoconer X5, V — Quality assurance before it is too late

Trust is good, automated online control is better. Especially if it helps not only to
recognize potential sources of faults but also to eliminate them early on. SPID is the (optional)
online monitoring system of the Autoconer X5 for linked systems, which provides targeted monitoring
of the spinning quality at each individual spindle of the ring spinning machine. Spindles that
produce faulty bobbins or show a decline in quality can be identified at an early stage while in
operation and the cause of the fault can be eliminated in a targeted, preventive intervention.

The principle is simple: when transferring the bobbins from the ring spinning machine trays
to the Caddies on the Autoconer X5, type V, the built-in chip in the Caddy records the number of
the spindle from which the bobbin originates. The clearer in the winding unit assigns its measured
yarn quality and clearing data to this number. The operator receives the information about quality
data that is outside the set limits or is deteriorating directly for the spindle responsible
systematically from the Informator. Quality limits and clearing limits are entered centrally at the
Informator via the integrated clearer operation prior to the start of the lot. The effect is that
fault causes can be eliminated quickly and specifically. And because the trend of all quality data
is recorded continuously, preventive maintenance can even be instigated deliberately if the level
drops.

Figure 5: Online quality monitoring with the spindle identification system SPID

With SPID both the quality level and efficiency can be maintained at a significantly higher
level. The ring spinning machine now produces virtually fault-free yarn quality, which can be
processed smoothly, thus also maximizing the efficiency rating of the package winder and further
process stages. This offers an enormous advantage compared with the ra-dom sampling of the yarn
data in the laboratory that is otherwise the norm. Corrective intervention is then only possible
far too late, and the quality is already outside the limits. No specific allocation to the fault
source that is at the root of the problem is possible, as this is not known. A tedious search is
initiated, and quality declines further in the meantime.

Posted on May 26, 2011

Source: Oerlikon Schlafhorst

Israel-based nylon 6,6 and microfiber yarn manufacturer Nilit and Australia-based high-performance
yarn manufacturer LincSpun Yarns Pty Ltd. have partnered to develop LincSpun Trinomax AQ®, a
high-performance, moisture-managing yarn that combines merino wool and Nilit’s Aquarius high-speed
moisture-wicking yarn. Trinomax AQ is designed for use in thermoregulating activewear, dancewear,
socks and sportswear.

The new yarn features merino wool, textured Nilit nylon 6,6 and Nilit Aquarius yarns twisted
together using LincSpun’s proprietary TRINOMAX® spinning technology, by which components can be
modified to make a lightweight, engineered yarn that provides specific properties. Merino wool is
soft and provides thermoregulating properties; textured Nilit nylon 6,6 provides durability and
consistent quality; and Nilit Aquarius – an engineered fiber that features a special additive
integrated into the polymer and a triple-T cross section -provides intrinsic high-speed moisture
wicking properties.

“We chose to make Trinomax AQ out of Nilit nylon 6,6 yarns because of their high quality,”
said Jean-Michel Libeau, director, LincSpun. “With its natural softness and technologically
advanced moisture management properties, we are confident Trinomax AQ will greatly enhance our
offering of advanced yarns for sportswear, active wear and socks.”

May 24, 2011

Switzerland-based Rieter Machine Works Ltd. reports its C 70 1.5-meter-wide card offers a number of
improvements over the earlier-generation C 60 card.

According to the company, a redistribution of the carding zones in the flats area and
redesigned flats guiding enables the new card to increase production performance by up to 40
percent while maintaining or even improving sliver quality. The C 70 card features 32 operative
flats, providing a 45-percent-greater active flats area than the C 60, and a 60-percent-greater
area than conventional cards. Thanks to the new card’s precise flats guiding system and updated
design, a precise and reproducible minimum distance of 0.1 millimeters can be set between the
cylinder clothing and the flats. The company also has reorganized the flats cleaning function.

Other C 70 features include: an extraction knife with variable ejector distance located in
the pre- and post-carding area to optimize fiber utilization, plus quick exchange of the knife
without tools; a frequency converter that enables infinitely adjustable flats speed independent of
the cylinder speed; and 15-percent lower energy needs per kilogram of produced card sliver than the
C 60. Options include Rieter’s exclusive fully automatic integrated cylinder grinding system.

United Kingdom-based inkjet solutions provider Xennia Technology Ltd. has introduced Xeninx
Amethyst reactive dye ink for textile digital printing of cotton, silk, viscose and linen fabrics
for apparel, soft home furnishings and banners.

“Amethyst offers peerless colour vibrancy and intensity, with a wide range of colours
available to give a full colour gamut for high quality applications,” said Dr. Alfons Wegdam, head
of textiles, Xennia Technology. “It has outstanding durability, with excellent wash fastness,
perspiration resistance and dry and wet crock fastness.” Wegdam noted additional benefits including
“reduced production costs from efficient use of materials, excellent print quality and fast
response to customer demands, with economies at all print run lengths.”

The company reports the inks — available in cyan, magenta, yellow, black (CMYK), orange, red
and blue — are environmentally sustainable and can be used with Xennia printing systems, XenJet
inkjet modules and other industrial inkjet systems — including the Reggiani ReNOIR digital textile
printing system — that use Kyocera and other aqueous compatible piezo printheads.

May 24, 2011

Kansas City, Mo.-based GE Energy — a global supplier of power generation and energy delivery
technologies, and a division of General Electric Co. (GE) — has been awarded a contract to supply
its polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) eVent® protective membrane to Italy-based military garment
manufacturers Tessitura Majocchi S.r.l. and Lovers S.r.l., which will produce waterproof,
breathable outfits for soldiers.

Lovers has been awarded a contract for the fourth consecutive year to supply waterproof,
breathable camouflage jackets and pants and a windproof vest to the Italian army. The company
already has supplied 210,000 sets to the army and will deliver 57,600 more sets under the latest
contract. Tessitura Majocchi will provide lamination services under the contract.

GE has supplied its eVent fabrics line of waterproof, breathable PTFE membranes — including
the eVent protective category — to military garment makers worldwide.

“GE has a long, rich history supporting programs for ministries of defense and we’re proud to
continue that tradition with the Italian Army,” said Glenn Crowther, GE’s product line leader for
performance fabrics.

May 24, 2011

Germany-based chemical company BASF SE and Berlin-based designer Werner Aisslinger have created the
world’s first natural fiber monobloc chair, which will debut at Material Vision 2011, the trade
show showcasing materials for product development, design and architecture. The exhibition is
taking place in Frankfurt this week in conjunction with Techtextil 2011 and Texprocess 2011.

The Hemp Chair is manufactured using compression molding — a method commonly used in the
automobile industry to produce natural fiber composites used in lightweight components such as door
linings, shelves and other interior trim parts. Compression molding enables low-cost mass
production of 3D objects with high mechanical resistances and very low specific weight.

To produce the chair, renewable raw materials hemp and kenaf are compressed with BASF’s
water-based acrylic resin Acrodur® to form an eco-friendly composite that is strong but also
lightweight. Acrodur enables the use of more than 75 percent natural fibers to produce the chair;
and according to BASF, does not release organic substances such as phenol or formaldehde during the
cross-linking process as traditional resins do. Water is the only by-product of the curing
procedure.

“For us it was important to show the versatility of natural fibers in combination with our
binder,” said Dr. Michael Kalbe, technical marketing dispersions for fiber bonding, BASF. “Werner
Aisslinger’s creation combines eco-friendliness, functionality, form and optics.”

May 24, 2011

KILRISH, Ireland — May 24, 2011 — Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics has announced the launch of the
Coretech™ barrier membrane technology platform, which enables the engineering of versatile and
lightweight chemical- and biological-protective composites.

Coretech™ barrier membranes are highly innovative solutions that improve product performance
and cost-effectiveness. The technology has already been demonstrated in a range of applications
such as ONESuit® Pro hazmat suits which offer maximum protection against the permeation of chemical
and biological substances in both liquid and vapour form; Coretech™ ShelterGuard, which is a
lightweight, single-skin barrier fabric to reduce set-up and tear-down times for protective
shelters, military expedition tents and medical treatment units; Coretech™ HydroGuard, which is
used for CamelBak® chemically and biologically stable hydration solutions for potable water
supplies and, Coretech EnviroGuard™, which is used in protective containers and membranes for the
handling and storage of petro-chemicals.

Developed through Saint-Gobain’s expertise in fluoropolymer (PTFE) films and fabrics,
Coretech™ represents a range of new customised composite membranes to meet the toughest barrier
requirements. These barrier membranes are made by combining different polymers, elastomers and
woven and non-woven substrates to achieve unique combinations of properties which will reliably
deliver the required performance levels. Each Coretech™ barrier membrane has been engineered to
deliver key performance benefits such as permeation resistance to more than 100 chemicals including
biological and chemical warfare agents. Other benefits include durability and robustness,
non-combustibility and fire resistance, as well as flexible and lightweight structure for comfort
and portability. Suitable for use with a wide range of fabrication methods such as welding or
stitch and over-tape, Coretech™ membranes facilitate the development of engineered solutions to a
whole range of barrier and containment challenges.

“At Techtextil 2011, Saint-Gobain will showcase a range of materials developed using patented
Coretech™ technology that resist the permeation of a wide range of hazardous chemical, warfare, and
biological substances in both liquid and vapour form,” said Ian Hutcheson, Market Manager,
Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics. “The Coretech™ technology is key to the development of our range
of barrier and containment solutions and meeting our customers’ toughest requirements.”

The technology platform is being showcased at Techtextil 2011, in Frankfurt, Germany, 24-26
May 2011 at the Saint-Gobain booth D11, Hall 4.1.

Posted on May 24, 2011

Source: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics