Italy’s Comez has developed a range of knitting machinery that can be used for the production of technical fabrics for the industrial and domestic cleaning sectors. According to Comez, the ongoing request for better and more advanced multi-purpose hygiene products has led to the use of special technical fibres and weaves (micro and ultra-micro fibres) in creating high performance cleaning fabrics.
In recent years, the demand of knitting machinery for these technical uses has considerably increased. Therefore, Comez portfolio has been widened with numerous machines configurations, both mechanical and electronic, for the production of cleaning fabrics and cloths in cotton, microfibre, double-sided, with a terry effect and with fringes.
Applications include fabrics and ribbons in nylon, microfibre and polyester, with a terry effect; tapes and fabrics with fringes for professional and household cleaning; polyester and cotton bands used on brooms (with and without terry effect); and tapes and fabrics with fringes for professional and household cleaning.
The most suitable Comez models for cleaning markets are the 609/B8, a high-speed crochet machine, and the crochet knitting machines with compound needles, such as the models 610/ACO and 800/ACO up to the electronic ACOTRONIC.
The 609/B8 is described as a highly efficiency crochet knitting machine which can also be used for the production of a wide range of laces, bands and ribbons featuring elaborate patterns for lingerie and undergarments, sportswear and accessories. According to Comez, the machine is built and designed using a modular system that allows for the easy application of a great many devices offered exclusively by Comez, completing the basic machine and increasing the versatility. The Comez 609/B8 comes in several gauges, with a 600 mm working width and is equipped with 8 weft bars.
The Acotronic 8B/600 is a high-efficiency, electronic crochet knitting machine that employs compound needles for the production of a wide range of ribbons, technical and medical textiles, both elastic and non-elastic. Compound needles make the machine highly versatile, as in addition to classic synthetic yarns (polyester, polyamide) they allow the processing of natural yarns (cotton, wool) and special fibres (Kevlar, fibre glass, carbon, basalt) in the warp.
A key new feature of this machine is a special embroidery device, which allows the user to sew weft yarns into a ground fabric. This device requires the use of piercing-compound needles while a huge number of yarns can now be processed including synthetic and natural yarns as well as high-performance fibres (e.g. Kevlar, fibre glass, carbon, basalt). For warp yarns in particular, it is possible to use beams that require little space and ensure the starting steadiness of the yarns. Beam supports are available for positioning on the machine base or at a distance.
Acotronic 8B/600 comes in several gauges, from E10 to E20, has a 600 mm working width and is fitted with eight weft bars with electronic control, which can effect weft movements of up to 34 mm. A supplementary warp tube bar with electronic drive (BPO/STR-600) can be supplied on request. This has an electronic drive that allows the creation of various knit constructions in the warp (open lock-stitch, closed lock-stitch, etc.) that lend the fabric a lock-stitch character.
More complex knit constructions (e.g. double lock-stitch) are also possible using the BPO/STR-600 together with the standard warp bar, which is driven by special cams (TRICOT/S). The machine is supplied with one feeder for elastic threads, one feeder for non-elastic threads, one feeder for warp threads and electronically controlled finished product take-off. On request, additional feeders fitted with electronic controls can be mounted on the machine for elastic or non-elastic threads. The electronic drive applied to the feeders and the finished product take-off provides the possibility of varying stitch density values (stitches/cm) in a single product, as well as different values for weft/warp feeding and elasticity.
The Comez Acotronic 8B/600 is fitted with the colour touch screen Data Control Controller, which manages all essential machine functions, monitors production data and enables the realization of lengthy pattern repeats. In fact, the number of lines available for each pattern is said to be virtually unlimited. Exclusive PC textile software completes the patterning and programming.
“Comez guarantees consultancy and innovative solutions for the development of every narrow fabric product, with machine customization, research & development of special devices and accessories,” the company says. “Our global sales service network includes the supply of spare parts, a training center, an international help-desk, a machinery exhibition showroom with testing facility.”
