Saurer is not only a leading global manufacturer of spinning and twisting solutions but is also on an innovative journey to make all its products and solutions highly sustainable. In this interaction with Textile Magazine, Pia Terasa, Marketing and Market Intelligence, Saurer Spinning Solutions, lays out the salient features of the company’s products and services
Performance 2021
We are very pleased with 2021. The most positive aspect is surely that the industry has gained pace and is investing in more sustainable machinery again. We were glad to see the rising number of projects in India after two years of fewer investments in spinning. . Last year, we observed a trend towards relocation of manufacturing capacities. Delivery bottlenecks during the beginning of the pandemic gave an impulse for increased investment activities in Asia, Turkey as well as in Latin America. We are glad to participate in these growing markets. At the same time, it was a difficult year due to unprecedented raw material shortages and logistics bottlenecks in the worldwide supply chain
Technology Leadership
The Saurer design philosophy E3 – energy, economics and ergonomics – has been complemented by intelligent technologies. Our machinery enables customers to produce more competitively, thus offering intelligent and flexible machinery solutions that prepare our customers for tomorrow’s market demands. Our process knowledge covers the value chain from pre-spinning up to twisting, enabling us to provide consulting services to customers in all project aspects.
Our rotor-spinning machines from the Autocoro and BD series are leading innovations in processing recycled fibres. The flexible ring-spinning portfolio offers intelligent solutions to spin virtually all staple fibre yarns. As Saurer has transformed itself from a machine provider to a solution provider for customers along the entire textile value chain, interconnectivity and digitalisation have become vital. Saurer’s offerings include digitalisation within the machine (DigiWinding, DigiPiecing, Optispeed), automation (Robot AGV) as well as digital services (Secos, Academy, remote service).
Our pre-spinning portfolio was enhanced by Autocard, which was developed to create further value in the fibre preparation chain. It enables higher productivity while carefully processing the fibres in the carding area. The seamless can changer ensures long-term uninterrupted carding processes resulting in constant sliver quality.
Automation, Digitalisation, Recycling
Currently, the main focus in the market is on automation, digitalisation and recycling. Digitalisation has revolutionised traditional services such as site visits, in-person training and machine troubleshooting. Automation within the single machine, between the machines and on complete mill level has become the new standard. Since the introduction of the air-spinning machine, Saurer now is the only textile machinery manufacturer to offer machinery for all five end-spinning applications: ring, compact, rotor, air and worsted spinning.
Twisting Solutions offers remote service to allow the experts to access a fully digital read-out of the error log, which allows them to identify any issues. The Saurer Academy offers a wide range of online and web training courses for machine operators. Customers can book classroom and live web-based training courses.
Aligned with Saurer’s vision as a solution provider, the Senses mill management system allows customers to connect all their Saurer and third-party machines in one system.
Automation and Industry 4.0
Senses, our mill management system, consolidates all digital information, enabling customers to carry out various analyses to control the productivity and quality within their mills remotely using any mobile device. Additionally, the system’s basic functionality can be extended with Senses Elements, including features to increase functionality. Examples include maintenance planning and operator management.
Saurer provides intelligent and individual automation solutions for twisting and spinning mills that increase the efficiency of machine loading and package transportation. We have offered our automation system from roving to ring since decades. Today, more than ever, intelligent material flow and automated processes are necessities to ensure efficiency and improved ergonomics in spinning mills. The Automation Solutions specialists of Saurer will customise mill automation to suit each customer’s individual requirements.
Sustainable Textile Manufacturing
Saurer is in an excellent position to process recycled fibres with the market leader Autocoro in the fully automated market segment and the BD product series in the semi-automated market segment. We already have a large number of customers worldwide in recycling and have deep inside knowledge in how to improve the processes. Our textile laboratory in Übach-Palenberg, Germany, is continuously proving consulting services to customers on how to improve efficiency and yarn quality for both ring and rotor-spinning processes when spinning recycled fibres. Our pre-spinning portfolio also offers solutions for recycled fibres.
With the E3 philosophy, Saurer ensures that each machine new generation uses less energy, supports customers to save resources and offers improved working conditions and optimised material flow. As an environmentally conscious company, we aim to make our products as energy-efficient as possible. Aside from decreasing our clients’ energy costs, this approach also allows our customers to position their offerings as sustainable – a necessity today given the climate challenges the world faces.
Expectations from 2022
Based on the investment activities throughout the textile value chain, we expect 2022 to develop positively for the whole textile industry. The trend in processing recycled fibres is growing worldwide. Currently, mechanical recycling is mainly profiting rotor spinning and once chemical recycling is established on an industrial level, it is expected that regenerated fibres will have similar characteristics to virgin fibres. We are waiting for the new EU Green Deal textile policy, which is likely to be published in the first half of 2022, and will probably further influence a large part of the industry. We hope that the easing pandemic situation will allow some of the large exhibitions to take place live in 2022, enabling more direct meetings again and to present our latest innovations at INDIA ITME 2022 in December.
Vision 2025
Our passion for textile machinery drives us to manufacture innovative products that add value to our clients’ businesses. Over the years Saurer has become a specialist in processing all kinds of fibres for the most diverse applications. From spinning the finest wool to fashionable fancy yarns, offering highest productivity in mass production, spinning recycled yarns to twisting technically advanced fibres, Saurer has gained knowledge that we develop into flexible textile machinery and intelligent technology for spinners and twisters. Today, the capability to adapt to the changing textile market environment is essential for our customers in order to stay competitive.
The demand for upgradable, automated, digitally enhanced and efficient yet flexible machinery is increasing and Saurer has a portfolio to match this. Whether the customer needs spare parts, automation, a twisting machine or a complete spinning mill, our experts can support with smart and fit-for-purpose solutions. Since Saurer is an environmentally conscious company, we ensure that our manufacturing processes are sustainable. This is a field that will become more and more important in the future. In addition, we support our customers in optimising their processes to meet the needs of a circular economy.