Karl Mayer Unveils Compact Size

Karl Mayer Textilmaschinenfabrik GmbH, Germany, reports its Compact Size machine economically
processes short warps while offering performance comparable to that provided by conventional sizing
machinery. Compact Size joins the Gir-O-Matic sample warping machine as part of Karl Mayer’s
warp-preparation solution for flexible, efficient production of short warps.

The machine features a take-off device, sizing system and beaming machine at floor level; and
an infrared (IR) air dryer, cylinder dryer and vertical sub-drying zone above. Capacity is 15
meters with the drying machine and 6 meters without it. Processing requires less sizing agent, and
stop marks and waste yarn are reduced.

Sizing may be applied to the warp yarn via either hot or cold size method, with separate
units available for each system.

Drying is optimized by combined air/IR drying and use of the contact cylinder dryers of the
residual dryer. A 240-kilowatt gas heater offers drying performance of 40 to 50 percent at
60-meters-per-minute processing speed. The system cools down quickly after it is turned off.

The residual dryer comprises a cylinder drying system, and each cylinder has its own motor
drive system. A steam jet pump is used to recirculate the cylinder steam, providing uniform
temperatures, constant temperature control and minimal cylinder condensate.

March/April 2011

Tatham Debuts TS System

Tatham Ltd., United Kingdom, has launched the TS System, a variable machinery drive system that
cuts energy consumption by up to 50 percent. The company reports the system eliminates current
spikes that occur during acceleration and torque surges, thereby reducing wear on system components
and stress on the drive mechanical transmission line.

TS variable speed drives can be installed in carding machines, crosslappers, needlelooms,
and spinning and twisting frames. The system range includes TS and TSe weight control technology
and crosslappers. The system can replace any mechatronic or standard DC drive, and specifications
can be tailored to meet customers’ requirements.

“The drives are completely synchronised and do not require feedback devices, allowing finite
control of the machine at all speeds,” said Jim Kelly, senior electrical engineer, Tatham. 

March/April 2011

Wanjie Orders PSF Spinning Plant From Oerlikon Neumag

Wanjie Group Co. Ltd., China, has placed a major order with Oerlikon Neumag, Germany, for a
complete polyester staple fiber (PSF) spinning plant. Oerlikon Neumag will provide engineering
services in addition to machinery. The plant will be built in Shandong Province at the end of 2011,
and production is expected to begin by mid-2012. According to Oerlikon Neumag, Wanjie Group holds
the largest market share of staple fiber production for textile applications in Shandong Province.

“The Chinese market is highly competitive especially for us as plant manufacturers,” said
Georg Stausberg, head of Oerlikon Neumag.

March/April 2011

Sinterama, Indorama Ventures To Acquire Trevira

A consortium comprising Thailand-based polyester polymer and fiber manufacturer Indorama Ventures
PCL and Italy-based dyed polyester yarn manufacturer Sinterama S.p.A. has agreed to acquire
polyester fiber and filament manufacturer Trevira GmbH, Germany. The transaction is expected to
close in the first quarter of 2011.

Trevira, which was re-established in January 2010 in the wake of its insolvency in 2009, has
manufacturing sites in Germany and Poland and employs some 1,350 workers. The company will become
part of Indorama’s and Sinterama’s global network under a new joint venture company, but will
continue to operate as an independent company.

March/April 2011

Under Armour Launches Charged Cotton™ Collection

Under Armour Inc., Baltimore, has launched Under Armour® Charged Cotton™, a collection of men’s and
women’s shirts and shorts and women’s capri tights. The garments contain alternating hydrophilic
and hydrophobic cotton yarns that transport perspiration from the body, spreading moisture across
the fabric’s surface to speed evaporation. Under Armour reports the fabric dries five times faster
than conventional cotton and offers good stretch and recovery.

“This is truly one of the most exciting product releases in the history of Under Armour, as
Charged Cotton is the ultimate marriage of innovation and performance,” said Kevin Plank, founder
and CEO, Under Armour.

March/April 2011

CRAiLAR® Flax Fiber Production Set To Begin

Naturally Advanced Technologies (NAT), Portland, Ore., and Vancouver, Canada, is set to provide
CRAiLAR® flax fiber to its development partners for processing into yarn and fabrics for downstream
applications. The company is processing the fiber in a facility in Kingstree, S.C., near 300 acres
of land used to cultivate fiber flax.

NAT recently completed spinning trials using Crailar flax fibers, and has teamed with
Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Hanesbrands Inc. to develop apparel products containing Crailar/ cotton
blends. NAT also has been conducting research in partnership with Hanesbrands and the U.S.
Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service to grow various flax strains and assess
their viability for use in Crailar technology. Potential applications for Crailar flax fiber
include denim, workwear, knitwear and home furnishings.

“We are fortunate to have flax fiber harvested from previous seasons available in our
warehouse, which allows us to begin production immediately,” said Ken Barker, CEO, NAT. He added
that 200 acres of flax were planted in the Kingstree area in winter 2010-11, with harvesting set
for this spring.

March/April 2011

Alexium Introduces Cleanshell™ Treatment

Alexium Inc., Greer, S.C., is launching Cleanshell™, an advanced process for water- and
oil-repellent treatment of textiles. Based on Reactive Surface Treatment (RST) technology, which
uses microwave technology to apply the treatment rapidly and energy-efficiently, the process
involves encapsulation of a fabric’s fibers with a nanoscopic coating to protect the entire fabric.
Alexium reports Cleanshell offers superior repellency against gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, cooking
oils, acids, solvents, oxidizers and water, without affecting the fabric’s breathability, hand and
drape; and is durable but very lightweight.

Cleanshell may be applied to man-made-fiber fabrics including polyester, nylon,
ballistic-protection and flame-retardant aramids; natural-fiber fabrics including cashmere, cotton
and wool; as well as blends. Alexium will license the treatment to commercial partners as well as
use it on its own Cleanshell product lines.

March/April 2011

Zschimmer & Schwartz Unveils Lertisan HD 50

Zschimmer & Schwarz, Germany, a manufacturer of spin finishes and additives for fiber and
nonwovens applications, reports its Lertisan HD 50 additive for the manufacture of durable
hydrophilic nonwovens offers superior characteristics compared to products currently used for such
applications.

According to the company, advantages include a simplified emulsion preparation and improved
emulsion stability, simplified application, and superior durable hydrophilic properties. Product
development involved intensive R&D work, and Zschimmer & Schwarz held discussions with
nonwoven producers, industry organizations and consumer goods producers to evaluate the
requirements for a new product in this field. “The bottom line in all these discussions was that a
new product should ‘have it all,'” the company said.

“The focus for the team working on this development was to come up with a product that is of
course fully [Food and Drug Administration] compliant and has an unrivaled safety background as
well as a superior technical performance,” Zschimmer & Schwarz explained. “The work started
with laboratory scale formulations of the finish itself, followed by small scale applications to
fabrics. The next step after this initial phase was the application of the new finish using the
nonwoven treatment pilot line at Zschimmer & Schwarz Centre of Fiber excellence in Lahnstein,
Germany.”

March/April 2011

DAK Americas Acquires Eastman’s PET, PTA Business

DAK Americas LLC, Charlotte, has acquired Kingsport, Tenn.-based Eastman Chemical Co.’s
polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and purified terephthalic acid (PTA) business and the related
Performance Polymers assets and technology.

The acquisition includes three plants in Columbia, S.C., with combined annual production
capacity of 1.275 million tons of PET and PTA, as well as the intellectual property for the
IntegRex™ PTA and PET technology and access to the business’s customer base. DAK Americas will
incorporate the plants into its PET and PTA business units. The company’s annual PET resin
production capacity will grow to more than 3.4 billion pounds.

March/April 2011

Shima Seiki Delivers 100,000th Machine

Flat knitting machinery producer Shima Seiki Manufacturing Ltd., Japan, recently shipped its
100,000th machine — a 7-gauge NSSG122-SV that is to be installed at a plant owned by a Hong
Kong-based knitter that has installed more than 3,000 Shima Seiki computerized knitting machines.

The compact NSSG122-SV has a 48-inch knitting width and an ultra-compact double-system
carriage. The machine features the R2CARRIAGE® Rapid Response Carriage system; WideGauge® knitting
capability, which enables knitting of a wide range of gauges; and Shima Seiki’s DSCS® Digital
Stitch Control System, a standard feature that ensures production quality and consistency,
according to Shima Seiki.

March/April 2011

1...2,1062,1072,108...2,629Page 2,107 of 2,629

Sponsors

Breaking News

Load more

Digital Issue

2026 Quarterly Issue Number I

View Latest Digital Issue

FEATURED ARTICLES

© Copyright 2017 Textile Industries Media Group, LLC.