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| Issue date:01/04/2008 |
| ATA Journal for Asia on Textile & Apparel - Apr 2008 Issue |
| Source:Journal for Asia on Textile & Apparel |
| by Staff Reporters |
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| There are currently five major textile technologies in the international market and four of them are for weaving, namely computerization in process control, mechatronics, innovative systems combining different textile applications and new systems for high value textile products. Among others, the new-generation shuttleless loom exemplifies the technological convergence for users to meet challenges in today's environment. |
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In the realm of weaving machinery, researchers have developed various shuttleless technologies on a rapier loom, projectile loom, airjet loom, waterjet loom, multiphase loom and magnetic-controlled loom.
A positive rapier looms is a highly versatile weaving machine and often intended for specialized textile production of high quality. Negative rapier machines, on the other hand, are usually less versatile but more productive than a positive rapier.
An airjet loom is often featured with high-speed performance, high efficiency, low material consumption and high productivity, making it suitable for production of high-quality, multi-fancy, low-count and high-density fabrics. They have extensive applications in cotton textiles, jeans, yarn-dyed fabrics, elastic fabrics and towels.
A projectile loom offers such advantages as a high adaptability, good product quality, high operational efficiency with a single machine, low energy consumption; and compact size; however, it required a larger initial investment. Hence, it is not yet widely used in developing countries.
In China, so far, no more than 10,000 units of projectile looms are used and some of them are second-hand machinery, due to the limited production of very top-tier products in the country that command for a projectile loom. Nonetheless, a projectile loom is able to weave special industrial textiles and extra-wide fabrics exceeding 4.6m in web width.
The quest for methods that allow continuous insertion of one thread or insertion of multiple threads led to multiphase looms, representing the latest development in weaving machine technology. They have a high productivity at a relatively high running cost at lower manning levels. They are designed for use in a limited number of applications at the moment.
Worldwide shipments of weaving machines in 2006 (Source: IMTF) |
Shuttleless and airjet looms get popular
The textile machinery statistics announced by the International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) last fall show that exports of shuttleless looms in the world rose by 25% in 2006 from the previous year and their destinations are often China (+63%), India (+8%), Bangladesh (+6%), Turkey (+4%), Pakistan (+3.5%) and Italy (+2%).
In these years, airjet looms have gained popularity in the weaving machinery sector, mainly due to their high level of speed and versatility. In addition to extensive applications in cotton weaving, they are also increasingly used in production of yarn-dyed fabrics and jacquard fabrics. Known players in the sector include Toyota, Picanol, Somet and Lindauer Dornier.
Toyota's JAT710 airjet loom |
Rapier looms, on the other hand, provide advantages in the areas of production adaptability, product diversity and fiber types.
Western players in the rapier loom market include those from Italy, Switzerland, Belgium and Germany such as ITEMA Weaving, Smit, Panter, Picanol and Lindauer Dornier, in addition to some Asian players from Japan, Taiwan and South Korea.
Technically, advanced rapier looms are characterized by a high level of speed, intelligence and automation, as well as by offering a wide range of applicability and a relatively compact modular design. Other improvements are seen in the areas of weft insertion, filling insertion rate, web width, end product range and energy consumption.
More than a weaving machine importer, China builds its own shuttleless looms with an annual production capacity exceeding 30,000-40,000 units. Some of these units are exported to Southeast Asia, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
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| Copyright © Adsale Publishing Limited. Any party needs to reprint any part of the content should get the written approval from Adsale Publishing Ltd and quote the source "ATA Journal for Asia on Textile & Apparel", Adsale Textile English Website - www.AdsaleATA.com. We reserve the right to take legal action against any party who reprints any part of this article without acknowledgement. For enquiry, please contact Editorial Department. |
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| Copyright © Adsale Publishing Limited. Any party needs to reprint any part of the content should get the written approval from Adsale Publishing Ltd and quote the source "ATA Journal for Asia on Textile & Apparel", Adsale Textile English Website - www.AdsaleATA.com. We reserve the right to take legal action against any party who reprints any part of this article without acknowledgement. For enquiry, please contact Editorial Department. |
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