ITMA ASIA + CITME show has always been the main showcase for textile machinery manufacturers in Asia, that absorbs more than 50 percent of global exports. Moreover China is the world’s largest market in the sector (the value of imported textile machinery in 2023 was around 2.6 billion euros).

For Italian manufacturers as well, the Chinese market is the top foreign destination. In 2023, Italian sales to China amounted to 222 million euros. In the first six months of this year, exports to China increased by 38 percent, while the performance of total Italian exports declined slightly in the same period.

“We hope that the recovery of the Chinese market, observed in this first half of the year, may be an early indication of a more general upturn in global demand for machinery,” said ACIMIT President Marco Salvadè.

Over the past few years, demand from Chinese companies has turned to technologies that combine savings in production costs and environmental friendliness, as also demanded by brands and end consumers.

“Today, Italian manufacturers can offer highly customized solutions that are particularly suited to making textile production more sustainable,” Salvadè confirmed. “The Chinese textile machinery market is rapidly evolving, and the level of innovation in the technology requested has risen due to the growing international competition that even Chinese companies face. In Shanghai, Italian manufacturers will display their latest innovations, essential for making textile production more efficient and sustainable.”

ACIMIT (Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers) represents an industrial sector that comprises roughly 300 manufacturers (employing around 13,000 people), which produce machinery for a turnover worth of around 2.3 billion euro, of which 86% are exported. Creativity, sustainable technology, reliability and quality are the hallmarks that have made Italian textile machinery worldwide leaders.

Posted: October 15, 2024

Source: ACIMIT — Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers

Thomas, who joined Uster Technologies in 1987, has led an impressive career that is rich with the numerous contributions he has made in the textiles field. Over his 37 years with Uster, Thomas has taught many of our market’s top minds about what it takes to make the best quality yarn in the world. His extensive product knowledge coupled with his warm and engaging demeanor were the perfect combination for his work as a trainer, mentor, coach, and friend to many in the industry. Using his Bachelor of Science in Textile Technology degree, which he earned from the outstanding program at North Carolina State University, Thomas has taught classes all over the globe, explaining our latest technological releases to lab managers, manufacturing leaders, engineers, and anyone else who wanted to know why yarn evenness is critical to making quality yarns. While he maintains his love for his alma mater, one of Thomas’ favorite ways to spend his time was teaching classes at Gaston College, where he could educate and guide their amazing students, who represent the future of the textiles industry.

For all his passion and dedication, Uster Technologies is proud to honor Thomas’s legacy by awarding a transfer scholarship at the Gaston College Textile Technology Center and N.C. State University Wilson College of Textiles. This scholarship marries his love for our industry, his alma mater, and his favorite place to teach.  We are proud to honor his spirit by ensuring our next generation shares his passion for an industry that touches every person on this vast planet.

Posted: October 14, 2024

Source:  Gaston College

In total, the German participation at the fair is the largest from outside China.

China is aiming at a green and low CO2 development of its textile industry. At a press conference on the first day of ITMA ASIA + CITME, Georg Stausberg, member of the board of VDMA Textile Machinery and CEO of the Oerlikon Polymer Processing Solutions Division said: “Topics, such as energy efficiency and the careful use of resources have become increasingly important for Asian customers in recent years, not least due to stricter legal framework conditions. VDMA members and their technologies are the right partners on the road to a greener and low CO2 textile production.”

Export performance
Already in 2023, the global textile machinery exports decreased by 18.6 percent compared to 2022. This was a challenge all major textile machinery producing countries had to face. However, the German exports remained relatively strong and only declined by 3.4 percent in 2023. 2024 did not see a change in the global textile industry and thus the German exports have now also dropped significantly. Between January and July 2024, German exports of textile machinery and accessories summed up to 1.2 billion euros (2023: 1.6 billion euros). The shipping to almost all major markets decreased between January and July: China: 242 million euros (2023: 384 million euros), Turkey: 140 million euros (2023: 180 million euros), USA: 118 million euros (2023: 152 million euros), India: 100 million euros (2023: 153 million euros).

Sales opportunities in Asia

An economic survey of VDMA in September, to which 20 textile machinery companies replied, reflects the global challenging situation. Around 36 percent assessed their current business situation as satisfactory, 54 percent said it was bad. Only very few companies expect the global situation to improve in the next six months.

However, looking at the sales opportunities by regions/countries in Asia, most of the responding companies expect a better business situation in the Asian markets except China in six months. The business situation is expected to be on a satisfactory level then. With regard to this, a presence at ITMA ASIA in Shanghai and next year in Singapore is important for VDMA members to continuously show their innovations and to keep contact with the customers in Asia.

The contribution of leading VDMA members and their technologies to a green textile production:

The presence of VDMA at this year’s ITMA ASIA + CITME is themed Smart technologies for green textile production.

Here are examples of exhibitors that stand for the entire industry:
Georg Stausberg, CEO of Oerlikon Polymer Processing Solutions Division stated:
“China continues to have enormous potential for us, even if it has not been able to match the previous times in terms of large new installations of manmade fiber plants and the associated expansion of production capacity for good two years. However, there is still a great need for renewal, especially in terms of sustainability. Shutting down old plants and replacing them with new and energy-efficient technologies is the path to a better and lower-emission future for us all. We have been contributing to sustainability with our technology solutions for decades. Be it by increasing energy efficiency with each new generation of machines or by processing new materials. Oerlikon is proud of the fact that we have been offering innovative solutions under the e-save sustainability label for 20 years and has saved over 15 million tons of CO2 thanks to the machines and systems developed and installed on the market during this time.”

Hailin Xu, CEO Saurer Group said: “Processing recycled and regenerated fibres is becoming increasingly important worldwide. Saurer is a key enabler of the transformation towards a more circular textile business. The product portfolio today includes energy efficient machinery for spinning and twisting yarns from recycled fibres. To enable customers to process extremely short fibres, we continue to develop special solutions, which are also available as retrofits for older machines. In addition, our machines have been developed to reduce energy consumption and maximise raw material utilisation. It’s all about saving resources”.

Dr. Axel Hannemann, head of business unit fiber and pellets, Gneuss Kunststofftechnik explained: “As sustainability becomes more important, fibre producers are shifting towards recycled PET materials, including post-consumer PET bottle flakes and manufacturing waste. However, the increasing demand for PET bottle flakes has led to a scarcity of affordable, high-quality flakes. One challenge in recycling polyester is moisture absorption, which can weaken the polymer during extrusion. Recycling PET fibres, particularly industrial waste, is also difficult due to low bulk density, residual moisture, and spin finish oils. Gneuss offers tailored solutions to address these challenges efficiently.”

On behalf of Karl Mayer Group, Christine Wolters, vice president corporate communications said: “At ITMA ASIA, we are showcasing solutions that support both sustainability and the profitability of our customers. A key focus is on energy consumption: In the warp knitting sector, we present an energy efficiency solution that reduces the power usage of our machines. In warp preparation, we have optimized drying processes for more efficient energy use. Energy, cost, and CO2 savings can be monitored live. Another highlight: Our digital products improve processes with positive impacts on both sustainability and costs”.

“Groz-Beckert’s innovative textile tools enhance energy efficiency in textile manufacturing, driving down production costs. A key development is the introduction of a ‘pay-per-use’ pricing model for tools, which allows companies to align expenses with actual tool usage. This enables manufacturers to better handle demand fluctuations, reduce investment risks, and improve resource management. By focusing not only on product innovation but also on service offerings, Groz-Beckert is advancing both efficiency and sustainability in textile production” stated Eric Schöller, member of the executive board, Groz-Beckert.

Dennis Behnken, managing director of the company Herzog, the most innovative developer and manufacturer of braiding and winding machinery noted: “At Herzog GmbH, we rely on smart technologies to make textile production more sustainable. By using digital solutions, intelligent automation and high production quality, we reduce resource consumption and minimize waste. In this way, we make our contribution to a greener future without compromising on the quality of our products.“

“Customer requirements are rising and skilled staff is becoming scarce. Technologies like sensors and control systems are increasingly important for efficient operation and quality assurance”, Kathrin Pleva, member of management of Pleva GmbH said and continued: “Our process control system PLEVATEC smart is designed to meet exactly those needs. It improves operation at stenters and other drying processes with sensor modules. It enables our customers easy operation to produce faster, save resources and improve product quality and reproducibility. Similarly, our weft-straightener SL smart is easy to operate and maintain while delivering perfect straightening results.”

Tallen Yang, Sales Director Erhardt + Leimer China stated: “Currently, many textile companies are facing challenging times. The lack of turnover, however, is giving room for improvements. How much money can be saved by a proper fabric guiding, that avoids stoppages due to insufficient pinning? How many tons of fabric can be saved by an intelligent, AI-based edge cutting? How much energy can be saved by an optimized stenter management? The time for all these questions is now. And the place for answers is the booth of E+L, leading in process optimization for more than 100 years.”

According to Clemens Kaplan, product manager at Mahlo, a German manufacturer of measuring, control and automation systems for the textile and finishing industry, today’s increasing quality standards require intelligent, AI-supported process and quality management systems. Kaplan said: “As always, Mahlo is ahead of the curve and has reinvented the concept of weft straightening for the second time. The latest straightening technology, Orthopac RXVMC-20, with an AI-supported feed-forward algorithm, paired with a modular process control system, Optipac, revolutionizes straightening from the ground up. Residual distortions and fluctuations in key parameters such as residual moisture, exhaust air humidity, thread density, fabric weight, fixation dwell time, fabric width, liquor pick-up, etc., are now definitively a thing of the past thanks to this new technology.”

For the company SETEX, provider of MES production management software and control systems for textile machines, CEO Oliver Schermuly stated: “Manufacturers need a single source of truth for production data. By integrating all KPIs — from costs to carbon footprint — we provide clarity and enable optimization of production processes. Our SETEX controllers ensure seamless machine communication, capturing robust real-time KPIs. This interaction allows fine-tuning, maximizing machine potential beyond standard MES functions into advanced manufacturing excellence. AI-powered smart recipes reduce waste and boost efficiency. Unified data enhances productivity, supports digital product passports, and drives digitalisation for smarter, more sustainable production. Together, we’re creating a single source of truth to build a better, greener world.”

Tobias Schurr, member of the management board of Weitmann & Konrad explained: “Textile producers getting more and more pressure from brands and retailers to optimize CO2 footprint and water consumption on their products without increasing their price level. From technology standpoint it could be mostly achieved only by integrating cost intensive, completely new machines with new, sometimes unknown technology. The total investment and running costs have to lead to a price increase which is not accepted in the actual market conditions. What if there is a possibility to upgrade your existing continuous dyeing or finishing line to reduce strongly your CO2 footprint, your water consumption and raise your productivity with a much smaller invest?“

No shortage of chances in China and other Asian markets

The VDMA team in Shanghai is staffed again with colleagues from the VDMA headquarters in Germany as well as from VDMA China. With these joined forces, the team is well prepared to support the exhibiting member companies on site.

Dr. Harald Weber, Managing Director VDMA Textile Machinery Association, summarised: “Although facing a difficult market situation, this year’s ITMA ASIA is an essential showcase for the member companies of the VDMA Textile Machinery Association. There is definitely no shortage of chances and opportunities in China and other Asian markets. The exhibiting members will demonstrate their smart technologies that can pave the way to a green textile production and are looking forward to welcoming numerous visitors from various countries to their booths in Shanghai.”

Posted: October 14, 2024

Source: The German Textile Machinery Association (VDMA)

For more than 75 years, O.R.V. Manufacturing, which is part of the Peruzzo Productions Group, has been producing nonwoven products for various applications, including clothing, furnishings, coating supports, filtration, thermal-acoustic insulations, and a variety of different products for the automotive sector. Their production sites in northern Italy are located in Carmignano di Brenta and Grantorto (PD), while the other non-woven companies of the group are active in southern Italy, Romania, Poland and Brazil. “With Trützschler Nonwovens and Texnology, we are pleased to have found two partners with whom we can realize this major project based on the shared values of a family-owned business,” said Gabriele Zanella, CEO of O.R.V. Manufacturing.

Charlotte Fontaine, member of the Shareholder’s Committee of the Trützschler Group, joined the celebrations at O.R.V. Manufacturing in Italy together with Nicola Olivo, Co-owner of Texnology, and Massimiliano Giacobbo Peruzzo and Cristina Giacobbo Peruzzo, both shareholders of the Peruzzo Productions Group.

She said: “This installation does not only represent a significant technological advancement, but also embodies the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship that characterizes our partnership. By building one of Europe’s biggest multi-purpose production lines together with Texnology and O.R.V. Manufacturing, we will set new industry standards.”

From a customer event to a major project

The journey began with an unforgettable customer event at the Nonwoven Customer and Technology Center (NCTC), where nonwovens ranging from 35 to 1,400 grams per square meter (gsm) were showcased. This event led to collaborative product development days that solidified the shared vision of the three companies. “T-SUPREMA serves a wide range of applications while achieving top-quality outputs and outstanding efficiency,” said Oliver Döring, director, Sales & Marketing Trützschler Nonwovens.

Trials convinced the customer

Initial customer trials in May at the NCTC in Egelsbach, Germany, convinced O.R.V. Manufacturing of the versatility of the high-performance line. “We build strong, lasting relationships with our customers to ensure consistent quality and performance. We strive to set new industry standards while implementing environmentally conscious solutions. Together, we leverage the unique strengths of each company and transform these values into high-quality products,” says Nicola Olivo, co-owner of Texnology.

Posted: October 11, 2024

Source Trützschler Group SE

The group has announced the launch of Valia Fashion, its new intelligent digital platform designed for the fashion industry. It combines the power of artificial intelligence and Lectra’s unique expertise in fashion.

Valia Fashion connects, automates and streamlines each stage of apparel production, from order processing to fabric cutting, while optimizing the use of materials. It revolutionizes the fashion ecosystem by breaking down the barriers between the various industrialization and production processes to better meet the requirements of brands, manufacturers and subcontractors.

Faced with the technological challenges posed by the transformation of a market constantly requiring more agility and cost control, the transition to Industry 4.0 is a key factor in the performance, profitability and sustainability of production processes. With Valia Fashion, brands, manufacturers and subcontractors in the fashion industry can adapt more easily and quickly, whatever their type of production (small, medium and large series, or on-demand production).

A major technological innovation based on artificial intelligence to meet the many changes occurring in the fashion market

With the rise of online shopping, the popularity of personalized products, the rapid evolution of trends, costly inventory management and an increased focus on price as well as environmental and social issues, consumers’ patterns are changing profoundly, impacting supply chains and clothing production. Many brands now favor the production of small series, along with and in addition to their usual seasonal collections.

Manufacturers and subcontractors must produce a larger number of smaller orders, limiting economies of scale. They must gain agility and control their production costs while addressing environmental issues. To successfully carry out this transformation, the different stakeholders involved in production must communicate and process information in real time. Digitalization thus becomes essential to collaborate effectively and preserve industry expertise.

“Valia Fashion represents a major technological breakthrough as, thanks to artificial intelligence, it truly brings fashion players into a new era, that of Industry 4.0. It will help them make a leap forward that goes beyond any advance made in recent decades. Valia Fashion has no equivalent on the market. It offers the whole fashion industry a totally new way to meet the challenges it faces during production,” explained Maximilien Abadie, chief strategy officer and chief product officer at Lectra.

“With Valia Fashion, our customers will be able to streamline and secure their production processes. They will benefit from a fully automated and connected workflow both internally and within their ecosystem. They will also be able to optimize the use of our fabric cutting equipment and their material consumption. We have combined our expertise in the fashion industry with the power of artificial intelligence to enable them, with Valia Fashion, to collaborate more efficiently, preserve their margins and boost their growth — while meeting the requirements of sustainable development, which are increasingly demanding in the fashion industry.”

Valia Fashion breaks down boundaries to meet the dual challenge of performance and sustainability

Thanks to an in-depth understanding of the various challenges faced by the fashion industry, Lectra provides, through Valia Fashion, solutions adapted to the specific needs of each type of player in the industry. The solution propels users into a new technological era, optimizing the resources used in the cutting room and improving profitability:

• Improved collaboration between all stakeholders in the value chain

Thanks to the power of the cloud, artificial intelligence and an industry-specific data model, Valia Fashion makes it possible to digitalize the entire fashion production flow, from order preparation to cutting.

Our digital platform allows all activities and players — both brands and subcontractors — to free themselves from geographical constraints and jointly optimize their operations. By connecting all processes, work organization becomes easier, manual work is reduced and resource allocation is optimized to ensure maximum efficiency.

• Each member of the ecosystem benefits from better visibility on current and future operations, as well as better estimation and traceability of the material used

Valia Fashion automatically analyzes and optimizes the performance of the cutting room and associated resources thanks to a complete, centralized, secure and shared overview of the process.

It measures the environmental impact of apparel production (precise estimation of the quantity of material used) based on real production constraints.

Thanks to the use of Industry 4.0 technologies and specifically artificial intelligence, Valia Fashion is able to process and interpret an unprecedented amount of data, thus optimizing production and making it easier to take informed decisions in real time. A new level of industrial performance and competitiveness has been reached.

Posted: October 10, 2024

Source Lectra

This gap was, until recently, partially filled by direct-to-textile printing. However, this method requires substantial initial investments in equipment and heavily relies on the time- and resource-consuming pre- and post-processing of fabrics to ensure colourfastness, color accuracy, and compatibility with different substrates. Consequently, a need arose for a more sustainable and cost-effective solution that could cater to a wider range of textiles.

Bridging the Gap: The Birth of TRAPIS

In response to this demand, Mimaki spent six years developing a breakthrough technology, TRAPIS, a simple two-step textile transfer printing solution, consisting of only an inkjet printer and a high-pressure calender. The design of choice is printed by the inkjet printer onto the company’s groundbreaking Texcol® pigment ink transfer paper. This is then transferred to the application via the calender.

Entirely removing the treatment stages means that printing on non-polyester materials has gone from an expensive and time-consuming task to one that is simple, cost-efficient and more sustainable.

Ideal for home textiles and soft signage which often require vibrant colors but varied materials, this technology gives printers the ability to print on a wide variety of materials, including natural fibers like cotton and silk without losing stretchability or colourfastness. All this can be done with just one type of ink, making the process flexible and adaptable to customer demands.

A Bright Future: The Environmental Benefits of TRAPIS

The pre-treatment and washing of the fabric is often needed in digital dye printing, producing a significant amount of wastewater in the process. TRAPIS eliminates those stages altogether and is almost entirely waterless, saving around 14.5 liters per square meter of water, an almost 90-percent decrease in comparison to digital dye printing.

Additionally, this eliminates the need for wastewater treatment facilities, which can be both expensive and constrictive when it comes to where the solution is installed.

When you consider that traditional dyeing processes generate a staggering approximately 2 billion tonnes of wastewater every day from pre- and post-dyeing processes worldwide.  The reductions TRAPIS can offer will make a significant contribution to reducing a print provider’s environmental impact. Furthermore, with its simplified printing workflow, the complex and CO2 emission-heavy overseas transportation of textile products is eliminated.

Mimaki’s bespoke Textile Pigment Ink that accompanies the solution has achieved the ZDHC MRSL Lv.3* certification and is bluesign® APPROVED, verifying not only its environmental friendliness but ensuring that it is safe for both workers and consumers

Offering a Simple Solution

TRAPIS’s simplicity and affordability also make it ideal for localized, short-run textile production. As the process only involves printing and transferring, it does not require specialized skills to operate when compared to the more complex seven- or eight-step system needed by most digital and analogue conventional printing. The lack of a fabric conveyor belt in the system further minimizes the need for time-intensive maintenance.

By simplifying the digital textile printing process and making it accessible to a wider range of textiles, the TRAPIS solution is an innovation helps to set the pace for a more sustainable practices in the textile industry, while offering an unmatched range of creative possibilities.

Posted: October 9, 2024

Source: Mimaki

The FabJet Pro is designed to meet the demands of ultra-wide format direct-to-fabric printing, accommodating widths of up to 3.2 meters. It delivers high productivity without compromising precision or print quality, seamlessly blending cutting-edge digital technology with high-performance industrial capabilities. Equipped with 32 Kyocera or 48 Konica Minolta Print heads and a sticky belt system, the FabJet Pro ensures unparalleled accuracy and clarity with every print.

Available in configurations offering 8 color options, the FabJet Pro delivers print speeds of up to 654 square meters per hour, enabling quick turnaround times even for ultra-wide applications. Its versatility makes it ideal for producing large textiles such as bed sheets, curtains, and more. The FabJet Pro offers vibrant, high-definition prints on a wide range of materials including cotton, viscose, silk, and wool, and is mainly suitable for the customized home furnishing textile segment, particularly for producers of home décor products like curtains, bed covers, and sofa covers,” the company said.

The printer’s innovative Sticky Belt Technology provides a superior grip on low GSM fabrics, allowing for a diverse array of fabric applications. Moreover, the FabJet Pro is designed with sustainability at its core, reducing water and energy usage, and supporting eco-friendly textile production.

“We are excited to introduce the FabJet Pro to the market,” said Arun Varshney, vice president and business head. “This innovative solution represents a significant leap forward for the textile printing industry, addressing two crucial needs: increased production capacity and sustainability. By offering exceptional print quality and speed, the FabJet Pro allows manufacturers to meet the growing demands of the market while maintaining the high standards that customers aspire to.

Join ColorJet at ITMA ASIA + CITME 2024 in Shanghai, where the FabJet Pro will make its grand debut. Witness firsthand how this iconic solution is poised to redefine the future of digital fabric printing.

Posted October 8, 2024

Source: ColorJet

KARL MAYER has further differentiated its range of double raschel machines and thus better tailored them to market requirements. The DM 6/2-6 EN is a new addition to the family of high-performance machines for the production of spacer fabrics. With a speed of 850 rpm, this newcomer offers the same working speed as its range neighbours, the RD 6/1-12 EN and RD 7/2-12 EN. However, thanks to its special technical focus on the production of lightweight 3D warp-knitted fabrics, it is significantly lower in price. The configuration on offer includes a trick plate distance of 2 to 6 mm and a working width of 138″ making the DM 6/2-6 EN ideal for the highly efficient production of spacer fabrics for the luggage and furniture sector. The flexible RD 6/1-12 EN is still the machine of choice for the production of technical spacer fabrics for home textiles and plush applications, while the RD 7/2-12 EN sets standards in the production of 3D articles with a wide range of designs for shoes and automotive applications.

If you want to see the performance of the DM 6/2-6 EN for yourself, you should visit the in-house show during the upcoming ITMA ASIA + CITME at KARL MAYER (CHINA) in Changzhou. This is where the new double raschel machine will celebrate its premiere.

The event begins on 13 October with the opening of the KARL MAYER GROUP’s new showroom and, in addition to the new double raschel machine, has six other machine highlights and numerous textile innovations in store for visitors.

Posted October 8, 2024

Source: Karl Mayer

Savio will display its latest product range solutions which testify Savio’s dedication to innovation technology and strong partnerships across the industry. We look forward to welcome you at Savio booth in Hall 8 booth C38 for discovering more about our winding, twisting and air jet spinning innovations.

NEXT DESTINATION: PROXIMA Smartconer®

The new winding machine Proxima Smartconer® is setting the benchmark in Savio automatic winding. We have combined the name Proxima with Smartconer: it stands for a high-tech winding machine, capable of perfectly adapting to demands of Connectivity, Industry 4.0 and Industrial Internet of Things. Thanks to the innovations, spinners will get a machine featuring high-tech capabilities, thanks to a design with a strong focus on the main benefits for customer’s competitive advantage: high productivity, low energy consumption, premium yarn quality, automation, and data connectivity.

Proxima Smartconer has been designed with the foremost attention to the customer’s needs in the optimal utilization of a winding machine.Investing in equipment that enables to work faster and reduces manual and repetitive tasks, can increase both efficiencies and overall productivity. The same applies to a new equipment that does more of what is needed, faster, safer, with better quality but with less waste, less maintenance, and less resource usage.

SAVIO’S LYBRA Smartspinner®: WE SPIN DIFFERENT

With Lybra Smartspinner®, we spin different with a versatile and smart machine. Savio’s air-jet spinning machine has been developed with an original spinning technology to serve our customers in specific applications of textile production: knitting, home textiles, sunshades. Air-jet spun yarn has a soft and smooth character, perfectly adapting to creating functional & fashionable fabrics.

With LYBRA Smartspinner, we want to offer our customer a versatile, flexible, cost saving and easy-to-use machine. Air-jet spinning offers to yarn manufacturers the opportunity to produce yarn at high production rates and low processing costs. The air-jet spinning technology use the same preparation of the conventional ring spinning. This processing works directly with slivers instead of roving, integrating three textile processes: roving, spinning & winding.

Space needs for air-jet spinning is 25- to 30-percent less than for ring-spinning equipment producing the same capacity, thereby reducing building costs. Also, a smaller area requires less climate control and reduced operating personnel. This results in further substantial savings, maximizing the return on investment.

Posted: October 4, 2024

Source: Savio Macchine Tessili S.p.A.

The company’s production plant has always had a requirement for corona treatment and, according to Head of Sales Stéphane Fernandez, it was Vetaphone’s technical expertise that persuaded the company to choose the Danish manufacturer.  “One of our customers installed a Cavitec machine with a Vetaphone corona treater, which was our first introduction to the brand — since then, Vetaphone has become our preferred supplier,” Fernandez said, mentioning that Vetaphone’s long history in surface treatment and global sales and service support network were key factors.

The Vetaphone units specified by Cavitec are models with web widths from 1,800-3,200 millimeters.  The company also has one of Vetaphone’s latest VE1A-M 410mm corona treaters in its Test Lab facility in Tobel, Switzerland.  Fitted with a 2kW transformer and blower fan, it allows new applications to be trialed prior to commercial production.

The hotmelt coating and lamination technology is a process used to apply adhesives with different coating technologies, such as gravure, rotary screen, spray and multi-roller, where several layers can be bonded without the need for solvents.  The process creates a strong and durable bond across a variety of films, membranes, nonwovens, and textiles offering both efficiency and environmental benefits.  Corona treatment is required to secure the bonding as the surface energy of the liquid (adhesive) and various substrates are different.  By applying corona discharge the surface energy of the substrate is raised to allow the adhesive to flow out and adhere securely.

The company’s 6,000-square-meter facility at Tobel currently employs 70 people, and its products range from active wear to car seats and interiors, and many items in between including home textiles, filters and protective clothing.

Speaking for Vetaphone, Area Sales manager for DACH Ahmed Türkmen, commented: “We are delighted to be working with such a prestigious manufacturer as Cavitec and look forward to developing our surface treatment technology to meet their specific requirements.  Vetaphone’s unique reserve of knowledge and knowhow is ideally suited for the variety of applications that Cavitec supports.”

Posted: October 3, 2024

Source: Cavitec — Part Of The Santex Rimar Group