At ITMA 2019 at Barcelona, A.T.E., together with its principals, made an overwhelming presence. With a series of product launches and display of the latest innovations, they jointly showcased the trend-setting technologies across the textile value chain.
Truetzschler, the market leader in spinning preparation, introduced a new high production Card TC 19i – the first intelligent card that automatically and permanently optimises the carding gap, which is very important for maintaining the yarn quality. The card has a new feature called T-GO, the gap optimiser, which ensures the ideal carding gap at all times. It has also features like the waste control WCT for maximum utilisation of raw material and nep sensor NCT, the online quality monitoring system.
They also displayed the new portable bale opener BO-P with a work-off width of 2.9 m or 3.5 m. The bale lay-down can have a maximum length of 60 m. With a working width of 3.5 m, up to 390 bales it can be laid down and can easily achieve production of up to 2500 kg/hr.
Truetzschler also presented a new auto leveller draw frame TD 10 with the latest drive technology, smart servo creel with individual sliver sensor and a large filter box. A notable feature is that the power consumption of the filter fan is only 0.4 kW/hr. The new TD 8 draw frame requires 20% less space and comes with the T-LED display. In addition, Truetzschler introduced digital solutions like ‘My Mill’ app, ‘My Production’ app, and ‘My Wire’ app.
Savio specialises in yarn finishing, being the leading supplier of winding, twisting and rotor spinning machines. Savio officially launched the new fully automatic rotor spinning machine HELIOS designed to meet the most diverse needs of the industry with more flexibility in the field of open-end spinning. The machine can be offered up to 520 spindles with piecer and doffer, with flexibility for manual piecing as well.
The other displays from SAVIO included the new EcoPulsarS PLUS with features like package nozzle with yarn end sensor that reduces up to 20% of hard waste, new disc type tensioner, a must for core spun yarn, RM spindles in link system to process ‘B’ grade bobbins separately and the double waxing device (for woollen), the multi-link technology where up to six ring frames can be linked to one winder, P.T.S. – Package Tracking System with an RFID tag inside the cone for uniquely identifying the product and track the processes and operations.
SAVIO also demonstrated the latest Industry 4.0 innovation with its ‘Smart Factory’ components at three different levels – ‘Basic Pack’, ‘Business Pack’, and ‘Executive Pack’.
Spinning accessories
TeraSpin, known for its precision spinning machinery components, exhibited its range of products and also introduced the TeraSpin Flexi weighting arms PK S 3000 series for short staple ring frames and TeraSpin Premium spindles.
Because of the obvious benefits of the mechanical (spring loaded) drafting over pneumatic drafting, mechanical drafting it is being increasingly preferred by the spinning industry globally. However, replacement of the complete drafting system (weighting arm, top rollers and cradles), along with other auxiliaries, is an expensive proposition.
TeraSpin PK S 3000 series Flexi weighting arms help to overcome such challenges as they allow the use of the existing drafting parts, compact systems and their fixing arrangements and derive long-term benefits of improved productivity and best yarn quality.
TeraSpin Premium spindles are designed for significant savings in energy over the standard spindles. In addition, the Premium spindles reduce spindle vibration and noise.
Truetzschler Card Clothing (TCC) presented the new metallic wires. The new materials of this superTip clothing series increase the service life and thus improve economic efficiency. With the new MT 52 another special flat clothing has been added to the MAGNOTOP series. MT 52 is used for fine yarns in ring and rotor spinning mills. Especially for high card production, this flat offers outstanding stability values.
TCC also introduced the new PRECISETOP flat clothing and My Wires app. The new flat clothing is essential for the intelligent self-optimisation of the settings between flat top and cylinder in TC 19i. My Wire app helps customers to manage all wire-related tasks easily with information on the status of clothings and service intervals, thus helping to plan for reorders of card wires. My Wires app, offered free of charge, can also be used for competitive products.
MAG Solvics, a leader in testing equipment, introduced the new HVT Genius 2 and AccuNeL instruments. HVT Genius 2 is a fully automatic cotton fibre testing instrument to test the length, strength, micronaire, maturity, colour, moisture and trash (both real trash content by weight by gravimetric method) and surface trash by an optical method. AccuNeL is a new testing equipment to check neps, length and trash properties of cotton fibres in raw cotton or card, combed, and draw frame slivers.
MAG also displayed spindle monitoring systems (SPinFO) with roving stop motion; the UH Expert 2020 evenness tester with auto cop changer; TensoMaster, a fully automatic single yarn strength tester; AccuTrash, a fully automatic trash separator to test real trash by gravimetric method; and UniStrech XE, a multi-strength system to test the strength of yarn and fabric.
Fabric forming
Karl Mayer, a world renowned market leader, showcased a range of innovative machines for warp knitting, warp preparation, technical textiles, and solutions for networking machines with the digital world. Also on display were an exciting array of fabrics with examples of applications and information on the market potential.
The following two machines with digital features were premiered at the show:
- Tricot machine HKS 3-M-ON which can be linked directly to the KM.ON cloud via the k.ey system. This enables the lapping data required to be loaded directly onto the machine.
- Raschel jacquard RSJ 4/1 ON using Karl Mayer’s high-tech connectivity system, k. innovation, to optimally support virtual textile development, which is much more than just a patterning software through KM.On concept.
In addition, the newly-configured RDPJ 6/2 EL was on display with its exceptional range of 4D-KNIT products. The textiles produced on this double-bar raschel machine feature a wide range of pronounced, three-dimensional designs on the outer side along with openwork patterns that give them an edge over circular weft-knitted products.
One of the highlights of the show was the demonstration of the warp-knitted textiles with well-thought-out designs, under the theme of “Future of Textiles”. For example, the complete suite, along with shirt made up of warp knitted fabric, showcased the possibilities of substituting woven fabrics with warp-knitted fabrics to minimise costs and environmental impacts. This caught the attention of many Indian visitors who felt that this could be a game-changer in textiles in India.
The other highlights included the display of the new innovative MULTI-MATIC®32 which requires less time and effort for yarn management, offering impressive cost-benefit advantages. The new LINK-MATIC® system allows for the automatic knotting of beams within a batch on the PRODYE-S indigo dyeing machine and the PROSIZE® sizing machine when changing the beams within a batch. This ensures lower operator and changeover times with increased productivity and less yarn wastage.
The performance of the PROWARP® sectional warping machine working at a site in Hausen was demonstrated live. This machine operates with the new PROACTIVE warping system, and the demo showed how this self-learning system can optimise the warp beam quality and consequently the weaving efficiency.
Karl Mayer also showcased its new GREENDYE technology under the slogan of SUSTAINABLE DENIM. This innovative system offers the advantages of indigo dyeing in a nitrogen atmosphere to achieve greater efficiency and sustainability in denim production.
In technical textiles, the new machine, SIM.PLY, attracted the attention of visitors. This innovation produces thermoplastic, unidirectional tapes using the fibre spreading technology.
In the carpet and synthetics segments, A.T.E.’s principals, Truetzschler, Power Heat Set, Zimmer, Matthys, Xetma and China Texma-tech were present at the show. Truetzschler displayed its latest development, Optima, a BCF yarn production line. Power Heat-Set displayed its latest developments like TwinAccu, the main equipment of its GVA 8+ model of carpet yarn heat setting machine. Matthys presented equipment required for cross sewing which operates on auto mode.
Zimmer displayed many attractive designs printed on carpets, mainly woven carpets, which attracted curious visitors.
Processing
A.T.E.’s principals Osthoff, Goller, Monforts, Monfongs, Fong’s, Color Service, Corino, Stalam, Zimmer, Mahlo, Texpa, Danti Paolo and Guarneri participated and displayed their machines at ITMA 2019.
A few of the principals showcased important innovations. Monforts displayed its new version of stenter designed to reduce the energy cost. It also introduced a new heat recovery system with air cleaning and warp sheet dyeing by using the E-control technology. The highlight of this process is that the warp sheet can be bleached by the E-control range, and without any intermediate wash the warp sheet can be taken for the dyeing process.
Monforts also displayed various warp sheet dyed samples, dyed with reactive, sulphur and indigo dyes. Almost, all the visitors were excited about this new technology and thought that it could make a big revolution in the textile processing industry.
Zimmer (rotary printing) showcased duplex printing in a rotary printing machine and also displayed the new feature of lifting the print head while printing operation is on. By using this technology the rotary machine also can be printed the repeat patterns which are printed by the flat-bed printing machine. Zimmer (digital printing) displayed its Colaris model machine for printing with pigment ink. It can offer up to 96 print heads.
Color Service presented a complete package for lab dispensing, which included dyes as well as chemicals.
During the event, A.T.E. entered into a tie-up with Match Point, Germany, which is a pioneer in supplying diamond-cut papers for peaching process. Match Point displayed its innovative peaching machine exclusively for the denim fabric.
A.T.E. HUBER Envirotech Private Ltd. (AHET) displayed models of the ZLD plant and solar sludge dryer. AHET’s well-proven technologies such as ‘AAA’, SUFRO, and sludge management generated keen interest among the visitors.
‘AAA’ is a proven solution for treatment textile wastewaters that enhances the biological treatment efficiency and minimises sludge generation. SUFRO enables wastewater recycle and ZLD for textile wastewater treatment. The solar sludge dryer SRT is an active solar dryer for drying the dewatered sludge up to 85-90% solids. Ideal for Indian climate, it offers very attractive payback when compared with the ever-rising sludge disposal costs.
Referring to the successful participation of the A.T.E. Group and its principals at ITMA 2019, Mr. G.V. Aras, Director, A.T.E. Enterprises Private Ltd., said: “Overall, the A.T.E. Group and our principals had a successful participation at ITMA. The number of Indian visitors was comparatively much higher. A.T.E.’s sales representatives attended to them explaining the innovations introduced during the show. In this edition of ITMA, many new technologies were launched by A.T.E. and its principals which were mainly focused on intelligent machines, automation, and sustainability. Once the investment cycle in India starts turning positive, A.T.E. expects the business to pick up for the new generation machinery and accessories introduced at ITMA 2019”.