Huge economic benefits are being reported for the Resilio squeezing roll from Richard Hough Ltd. (RHL) of the UK. Massive savings in energy costs – typically 30,000 Euros per year – are being achieved, according to feedback from major customers in the textile finishing industry worldwide.
RHL says the Resilio is attracting worldwide attention, with its unrivalled performance advantages and fast return on investment. Repeat orders from the existing customers as well as new business from both finishing companies and equipment manufacturers are flooding in as users realise the extent of Resilio’s impact on profitability.
Already this year reports from recent installations in Germany, Turkey, Morocco and Slovenia are underlining the real savings being enjoyed. New customers in China and the US are forecasting similar results.
Said RHL Managing Director Anthony Ashton: “These are exciting times for us and for our customers, with hard evidence coming in to underline the enormous savings being made.”
The revolutionary technology behind the Resilio roll is also available as a re-covering option, or as part of a new finishing line from leading OEMs such as Benninger and Kuesters.
An ideal demonstration of Resilio’s value comes from interlinings producer Weidmann of Suessen, Germany. This company was among the first customers in 2009, and has recently ordered its fifth Resilio cover for its Menzel Optimax foulards, commenting that the rolls “outperform any other squeezing roll by a considerable margin.”
Weidmann sent its original rubber roll to RHL for re-covering with Resilio – an outlay of less than Eur. 5,000 – to give an annual energy saving of around Eur. 30,000.
Benninger collaboration
Similar success has been experienced by another of Hough’s oldest Resilio customers, Inplet of Slovenia. This was a joint venture with machinery manufacturer Benninger, with two Resilio rolls put into the final squeeze of a Benninger Trikoflex washing range. The goal was to reduce the residual moisture of Inplet’s Tülle fabric from 120 per cent to 50 per cent, without the need to install a vacuum extractor, with the associated purchase and running costs.
The Inplet Manager, Ms. Helena Zidaric, stated: “The rolls are performing well. It means that the Benninger washing machine is operating according to our expectations, and the squeezing effects are reached to the level that we can lead this Tülle material further to the stenter frame.”
The 50 per cent residual moisture target was met, no vacuum extractor was required, and the same two Resilio rolls have now been successfully running for more than three years, with Inplet making energy savings of around Eur. 30,000 per year.
Tubular knits success
Turkish customer Kasar+Dual has a pair of Resilio anti-deflection rolls in its Kromsan Balloon Padder for tubular knits. These rolls have now been running for three years without problems, achieving a reduction of around 30 per cent in residual moisture and consequent energy savings of Eur. 30,000 per year, for an initial outlay of Eur. 6,000 each for the new anti-deflection rolls.
Major customers conducting important trials this year include Fruit of the Loom, Morocco, which has just taken delivery of two Resilio rolls for its Strahm Tubular Knit Double Padders. The firm reports immediately reduced residual moisture from 90 per cent to 65 per cent, an improvement of 28 per cent. On this performance increase, Fruit of the Loom was able to increase dryer speeds by 30 per cent and its forecasting annual savings of around Eur. 30,000 for each of its two lines, after an initial outlay of only Eur. 3,000 per re-cover.
Chinese shirt manufacturer Esquel has recently installed Resilio rolls in two of its 26 squeezing lines. RHL is eagerly awaiting the results of initial trials, while North American machine maker Navis Global has just taken delivery of its first Resilio roll for a tubular knit squeezer machine located in North Carolina.
The world famous Swimming Roll concept from German machinery manufacturer Kuesters is also to be partnered with the Resilio in a potentially ground-breaking combination for accurate and energy-efficient dewatering. Kuesters has put in its first order for a Resilio cover on a swimming roll, and initial trial results are expected shortly.
A unique feature of the Resilio roll is the fact that it does not require regrinding, unlike conventional rubber rolls. This is because of the special Resilio construction, in which the squeeze is effected by the hard lower layer which is protected at all times by a soft upper layer. The soft upper layer is designed to press into the contours and interspaces of the fabric, so its surface condition does not have to be perfect to carry out efficient squeezing.
RHL does recommend re-covering of only the thin upper layer every two years, minimising cost to the user. An important point for Resilio retrofits to open-width knit lines is that a de-curling device is needed to avoid possible overloading at the edges.
Anthony Ashton says RHL is gratified at the increasing acknowledgement throughout the industry of Resilio’s advantages: “It is especially pleasing to have clear and compelling proof from customers of the huge energy-saving and cost-saving benefits of fitting Resilio into the existing lines and into new machines from OEMs. They are seeing the results where it matters, on the bottom line…”