Dalton, Ga.-based Shaw Industries
Inc. has selected Belgium-based Barco NV’s Optitwist system for installation in all 32 twisters at
Plant 67 in La Fayette, Ga. The plant manufactures carpet yarn for the Shaw Commercial business
unit.
Optitwist enables increased production and improved yarn quality, according to Barco. The
system uses an optical sensor to monitor ends down and spindle speed at each position on the
twister, and immediately alerts the operator when a problem must be corrected. Performance and
efficiency data are stored in the Optitwist machine terminal, and can be downloaded to a
centralized system.
The installation will include Barco’s newest data collection terminal, which features a
touchscreen interface and standard OLE for process control (OPC) communication protocol.
June 2004