ITMA ASIA + CITME 2018 – Technology Preview

Chinese manufacturers take the largest area, followed by Germany, Italy, Japan and Switzerland. Sector-wise, spinning machinery forms the largest sector. This is followed by finishing and dyeing, knitting, weaving and nonwovens. The enthusiastic response for the exhibition is the result of China’s ongoing strategic push for innovation to enhance the global competitiveness of Chinese textile and other industry sectors under the government’s 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016 – 2020).

“We are looking forward to welcoming large numbers of visitors from both inside and outside of China to the combined show, and we would like to encourage our visitors to plan their trip early and purchase their badge online now to beat the onsite queues. Registering ahead of time on the show website provides visitors with useful information for preparing their trip and finding out the details on the exhibitors,” said Fritz P Mayer, President of CEMATEX.

Added Wang Shutian, President of China Textile Machinery Association (CTMA), “Interest in the combined show remains extremely strong, especially from Chinese textile machinery manufacturers. As China’s textile industry continues its transformation, the demand for advanced machinery and technology is on the rise.”

Additional space booked to meet demand

Due to an overwhelming response, the joint owners of the ITMA ASIA + CITME 2018 exhibition have now booked additional space at the North Hall (NH) at National Exhibition and Convention Centre (NECC). With the additional space, the sector allocation plan has been revised to accommodate more exhibitors.

According to Wang Shutian, “The strong demand for space attests to the effectiveness and popularity of the combined show. We had a long waiting list for space by the deadline for applications. Therefore, we made the decision to book the additional space available in the venue.”

ITMA ASIA + CITME will be held at the National Exhibition and Convention Centre (NECC) in Shanghai from 15 to 19 October 2018. The combined show is owned by CEMATEX and its Chinese partners – the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT (CCPIT-Tex), China Textile Machinery Association (CTMA) and China Exhibition Centre Group Corporation (CIEC). It is organised by Beijing Textile Machinery International Exhibition Co Ltd and co-organised by ITMA Services. The Japan Textile Machinery Association (JTMA) is a special partner of the show.

In the next few pages we are highlighting some of the latest technologies to be displayed during the show…

Flat knitting technology, software solutions by Stoll

New flat knitting technology, software solutions and enhanced customer service will all play key roles on the Stoll booth at this year’s exhibition. According to the Reutlingenbased firm, visitors to Hall 4, booth C06 can look forward to a number of new developments including the latest highlight of the steadily growing Stoll Software Solutions division. Occupying a prominent space on the booth will be knitelligence, the modular system that combines all of Stoll’s software solutions under one platform covering the entire value chain of flat knit production.

From design to production, knitelligence can be easily integrated into existing customer processes. At the show, visitors will be able to see demonstrations of how the system can bring significant benefits to Stoll customers. “A key focus will be the topic, ‘networking and digitization of processes’ which is intended to ‘cast a spell’ over the visitors of the Stoll exhibition stand,” the company said. “In order to best illustrate the new software solutions, there will be live demonstrations for the visitors. On display will be the easy-to-learn GKS (Grading for Knitting System) tool, Stoll-auto create – enabling full automation of the pattern generation processes – and the new Adobe Photoshop plug-in Stoll-artwork.”

On the machine front, Stoll will also present, for the first time, the new ADF 830-24 W knit & wear gauge E7.2. This machine is described as “the answer to the most complex technical requirements for large knits, oversized knits, and unusual cuts in the knit & wear range.” At the exhibition, the machine will be producing a knit & wear sweater with plating technology. Other machines on show will include the CMS 830 HP knit & wear, the CMS 330 HP W TT sport, the CMS 502HP + Bc and the ADF 530-24.Stoll will also present new innovations from the Fashion & Technology and the Technical Textiles sectors.

Groz-Beckert to present new glass insights

Groz-Beckert will be displaying their latest technology falling under all six product areas at its booth in Hall 4, Booth D25.The Knitting product area will be presenting its portfolio for circular knitting, flat knitting, leg wear and warp knitting at ITMA Asia. The division will be placing a particular focus on a system-oriented approach: Thanks to extremely tight production tolerances, needles and system parts from a single source guarantee precisely coordinated tools for smooth interaction.

This year, the display will include a new acrylic exhibit of a sock machine rounds off the glass insights into the different knitting technologies. The exhibit demonstrates a wide range of Groz- Beckert products in different gauges – with needles and system parts for ten different models from the fields of socks and seamless hosiery. The Knitting division is also planning a wide range of promotions for visitors to the booth.

Whether cleaning, drawing-in, tying or weaving: As a system provider, Groz-Beckert offers a unique product variety with its Weaving division. Visitors can experience some of these products at ITMA Asia. The high-performance tying machine Knot Master will be presented in the field of weaving preparation. It is characterized by a wide variety of functions, ranging from single and double knots and short knot ends, through to four knotting types and thread breakage monitoring.

Heald frames and healds, as well as warp stop motions, drop wires and the Posi Leno® leno system will be available for customers to experience in action in the Weaving Loom, a replica weaving machine made from acrylic glass. Four fabric strips will also be presented, highlighting the different applications, from leno to jacquard fabric. Illustrative hand samples of the weaving accessories harness frames and healds complete the Weaving exhibition.

As a development partner, Groz-Beckert has expanded its range for application advice with is own staple fibre needle punch line in the field of Felting (nonwovens) in the Textile and Development Center (TDC) in Albstadt, Germany. The system is available to customers and partners for tests and joint projects. Experience the staple fibre needle punch line live – this opportunity is now also available in Asia at the Groz- Beckert booth: The 3D-printed model in 1:18 scale impresses with its wealth of detail.

The division will also be presenting its patented GEBECON® Felting Needle, which offers improved surface quality and optimal bending resistance. The EcoStar® Felting Needle is a real highlight for all applications with the highest demands for surface quality. It is characterized by its special working part crosssection, which has been reduced by 13 per cent compared with the standard needle. The geometry of the EcoStar® thus creates a narrower contact angle of the fibres in the barb and thus achieves a higher fibre retention capacity.

For spun lace customers, Groz-Beckert will be presenting the innovative HyTec® jet strip. The significantly higher hardness and the spring-hard properties have a positive impact on all mechanical properties. Customers benefit from the significantly improved handling properties, optimal service life and high scratch resistance to damage when changing jet strips.

As a system provider, Groz-Beckert also offers all tool components – consisting of tufting needles, loopers, reed fingers and tufting knives, in the field of Tufting – all from a single source. The Gauge Part System from Groz-Beckert impresses with its controlled and coordinated selection of materials and adherence to the narrowest tolerances. The precise dimension coordination between all individual tools used forms the basis for a smooth interplay between the various components within the system. The Groz-Beckert gauge part system thus fulfills all requirements of rug and artificial lawn manufacturers for functionality, reliability and durability, delivering a remarkable cost-saving result.

A perfectly coordinated interplay between the clothings in the field of Carding achieves an optimal carding result both in the revolving flat card and in the roller card. The use of special clothing geometries in the nonwovens industry, like the worker and doffer wires SiroLock® and EvoStep® leads to better fibre control and a more even web. The SiroLock® card clothing also impresses with increased performance of the roller card, while EvoStep® card clothing focuses on saving raw material.

For the spinning industry, Groz-Beckert offers metallic card clothings, flat top and stationary flat clothings, as well as flexible strips. For processing synthetic fibres in particular, the company offers a special card clothing with a curved tooth profile: The synthetic doffer wire D40-30-52C CBF. This achieves a better fibre transfer from the cylinder to the doffer, thus creating an improved yarn quality and higher efficiency of the revolving flat card.

The Sewing product area will be showing how the different stitch formation types work in detail. The individual stitch types differ in the number and geometrical arrangement of the threads and are divided into six basic types (classes 100 to 600). There will be an opportunity to experience the stitch type 605 (cover chain stitch) at the trade fair. It consists of three needle threads, one looper thread and a covering thread and is used for sewing bindings and fancy seams onto items of clothing made from knitted fabric. The acrylic replica of a sewing machine and an impressive animation bring the interaction between the machine, needle and threads to life at the Groz-Beckert booth.

Mayer & Cie. focusing entirely on electronic machines

Mayer &a Cie. (MCT) will be presenting three machines – the Spinit 3.0 E, the OVJA1.6 EE 3/2 WT and the OVJA 2.4 EC – come in this category. It will be the first time the Spinit spinning and knitting machine and the OVJA1.6 EE 3/2 WT, designed specially for knitting shoe uppers, have been exhibited in China. And it will be the first time ever that the OVJA 2.4 EC has been on show. It is an electronic jacquard machine that Mayer & Cie. China (MCN) has added to its product line.

OVJA 2.4 EC: Mayer & Cie. China’s first electronic machine

“We have noticed for some time an increase in demand in the high-end machine segment in China,” says Rudolf Crass, Mayer & Cie.’s Regional Sales Manager with responsibility for China. “High-output circular knitting machines are trending too.” The new OVJA 2.4 EC that Mayer & Cie. China will present to trade visitors for the first time at ITMA Asia is just such a machine. With its 2.4 systems per inch it is a full jacquard machine that outperforms Chinese manufacturers’ conventional models in productivity. Thanks to its three-way-technology, the OVJA 2.4 EC offers great variety in design patterns. It is aimed at discerning Chinese customers who produce fabrics for outer garments, sports and leisurewear.

Its design is borrowed from that of the successful OVJA 2.4 SE mini-jacquard machine and its functionality is based on that of the OVJA 2.4 E full jacquard machine. The most important difference between it and the two machines on which it is modeled is the implementation of the needle selection. The OVJA 2.4 E relies on electronic individual needle selection on one track via control board and the Chinese model uses 16 athermal electromagnetic actuators on eight tracks. “That has advantages in terms of user friendliness because gauge changes are faster and easier,” Crass explains. “It is also more attractive in terms of pricing combined with high productivity. Not to mention easy spare parts availability for it being domestic system.”

The OVJA 2.4 EC is the first electronic machine to be finally assembled at Mayer & Cie. China. During the past years, the Chinese works have continually expanded their portfolio. The most successful – and first – Chinese model is the MSC 3.2 II single jersey machine and its double jersey counterpart the MDC 2.2. Since the end of 2017, a Relanit 3.2 SC with Mayer & Cie.’s tried and trusted relative technology has completed the portfolio for the domestic market. All four machines come with a knitting head made in Germany. Different frame and control panel components are manufactured in Shanghai for final assembly.

Spinit 3.0 E: making the potential of spinning and knitting tangible

“We are delighted to be able to present our Spinit 3.0 E spinning and knitting machine ‘in the flesh’ at this year’s ITMA Asia,” says Michael A. Tuschak, Mayer & Cie.’s Spinit systems Marketing and Sales Manager. “The technology, how it works and above all the result are always demonstrated the most impressively on the machine itself.” Tuschak anticipates visitors to the Mayer & Cie. stand at ITMA Asia with a strong interest in the spinning and knitting technology. Experience, he says, has shown that the technology is mainly of relevance in established textile markets. Larger companies, such as full-service enterprises or spinning mills with forward integration, are constantly looking for ways in which to set themselves apart from the competition.

“With spinit systems we can give our customers something new,” Tuschak says. By that he means, for one, the product the machine makes. Spinit Fancy Jersey with its characteristic pattern variations can only be made on the Mayer & Cie. machine. For another, the Spinit 3.0 E offers benefits in the manufacturing process. To produce single jersey it requires much less energy, time and space than the conventional process, and that recently won Spinit systems the German Environment Ministry’s Innovation Prize for the Climate and the Environment (IKU).

OVJA 1.6 EE 3/2 WT: A shoe upper fabric specialist

“The OVJA 1.6 EE 3/2 WT is our first ‘real’ shoe machine,” says Hardy Bühler, Mayer & Cie.’s Key Account Manager Brands. He is keenly concerned with the requirements of the shoe upper fabric growth market. The new machine uses three-way technology in the cylinder and two-way technology in the rib dial. That ensures a very wide range of patterns for the multicolour jacquard machine, which can at the same time produce a whole structure look by means of multiple tuck loops. It also produces plain and multi-coloured spacer fabrics up to 5 mm thick, which Bühler says is very much in demand for shoe uppers. Producing spacer fabrics on a circular knitting machine makes sense for several reasons. For one, set-up times are much shorter than when using other means of production.

A circular knitter also uses much less yarn to make multi-coloured spacer fabrics. That above all, Bühler says, makes manufacturing small batches of spacer on a circular knitting machine a winner. In addition to the OVJA 1.6 EE 3/2 WT, the Mayer & Cie. portfolio includes several machines that are suitable for making shoe upper fabric, especially OVJA machines. The Technit D3, in contrast, is a spacer specialist. It knits with three threads on the cylinder side and produces spacer structures with four needle tracks.

Future opportunities for Digitalisation and sustainability with Karl Mayer

Karl Mayer is using its latest developments to tackle the changes taking place in the world today. “The mega trends of digitalisation and sustainability are changing the world as we know it. As an innovative global market leader, we see these changes as an opportunity for our customers. At show this year, we will be showing our visitors how Karl Mayer is implementing these strategic themes, digitalisation and sustainability by delivering integrated solutions offering a wide range of advantages,” says Karl Mayer’s Managing Director, Arno Gärtner.

Karl Mayer can be found in the Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai on stand B 11, hall 4, where a new umbrella brand will be launched, and offering innovative digital solutions known as the Karl Mayer Digital Factory, which was introduced last year. A look at Karl Mayer’s Cleaner. Productions will also be on the cards. Other highlights include a performance show of the latest generation of machines, a fashion show showcasing decorative, trendsetting fabrics, and a presentation of the Technical Textiles centre of excellence. An in-house show at Karl Mayer (China) in Changzhzou will also be held at the same time as the fair, scheduled for 15 to 18 October.

Development of the best digital solutions

As a pioneer in textile machinery building, Karl Mayer is following a broad digitisation strategy. An important element of this strategy is to support its customers with new digital solutions at a market leader level. The initiatives for this strategy are being coordinated by Antonia Gottschalk, the Head of Digitisation. The expertise for doing this is based on an efficient network. Since March 2018, Karl Mayer has been part of ADAMOS, an alliance made up of industrial and software companies. At the end of 2017, Karl Mayer also set up its own start-up company in Frankfurt, known as the Digital Factory, for developing new, innovative digital business models, products and services. In future, these will be combined under a new umbrella brand, which is being launched at ITMA ASIA + CITMA. “Management is focusing on the KM Digital Factory. Together with our involvement in ADAMOS, the new company will enable us to quickly make the best digital solutions available for delivering maximum benefit to our customers,” says Arno Gärtner.

Networked machines

Knowing what is going on and being informed at all times, regardless of where we are – mobile digital solutions have been making inroads into out daily life for many years now and, have changed our perception of what is current. For the first time, Karl Mayer will present its own solution for networking its machines. This digital solution will provide its customers with transparency in real time regarding the performance of their machines, and can be used in the company’s own network with very little modification.

Integrated sustainability

“We care about your future” is what Karl Mayer is all about. Its philosophy is to take responsibility also for future generations. What Karl Mayer is doing to promote sustainability will be on show at the fair and on the internet at www.cleaner.productions. The environmental aspects of this include the LEO® Low Energy Option, which should enable energy consumption during machine operation to be reduced by between 9.5 and 13 per cent, depending on the type of machine. Costs and CO2 emissions should be reduced at the same time.

Intelligent, end-use-applicable concepts should also reduce environmental loads, as a technology transfer project being carried out by the central government and regional authorities in Wujiang Shengze, China, is demonstrating. One of the aims of this project is to replace the environmentally harmful looms in this industrial area with Karl Mayer’s warp knitting machines offering a comparable product portfolio. The TM 3, with its broad product portfolio, is a particularly good alternative. This tricot machine will be shown in operation at the exhibition, together with examples of its uses.

Karl Mayer will be showing the Terry. Eco concept for the environmentally friendly production of terry goods, the core element of which is the TM 4 TS-EL machine. Depending on the type of product being produced, this cotton terry warp knitting machine can produce up to 250 per cent more fabric and consumes approximately 87 per cent less energy per kg of textile than air-jet looms. Sizing can be dispensed with, which reduces energy, water and effluent loads. The TM 4 TS-EL will be on show at Karl Mayer’s in-house show in Changhzou.

With its PROSIZE® sizing machine, the company is offering weaving companies involved in the production of terry goods a sizing machine based on the concept of sustainability. With this machine, the sizing agent is applied by a highly efficient, intelligent process. Compared to conventional methods, this reduces the consumption of sizing agents by up to 10 per cent and reduces bath volumes. A reduced size consumption also means less energy consumption when preparing the chemicals and for desizing. Also, less effluent is produced. The core element of the PROSIZE® system, the VSB Size Box, will be on show in Shanghai.

The latest generation of machines

For the first time, the widest high-speed tricot machine in the world, the HKS 3-M, 280″, will be demonstrated to the public in operation at the exhibition. This new machine delivers maximum flexibility for the usual product repertoire. Unlike previously, articles of different widths and also more fabric webs can be produced simultaneously on just one machine. The unique performance of this machine will be demonstrated as it produces a velour fabric in a gauge of E 32.

The first TM model with KAMCOS® 2 facility is also being showcased. Its TM 3, 186″, equipped with the next generation of the Karl Mayer Command System, retains the tried-and-tested features of the HKS version. These include an operator interface with functions based on smartphone technology and an integrated laser stop system as well as data access via mobile devices using the Karl Mayer Connect app. In Shanghai, this efficient, flexible production machine will be producing a tough fabric in a gauge of E 32 with ecological benefits. This textile can be used as a substitute for fabrics produced by water-jet weaving, with its high effluent loads.

For the warp preparation sector, Karl Mayer will also be showing the innovative VSB Size Box at the fair. Instead of the usual immersion and bath application process, the Prosize® operates with three, highly turbulent, homogeneous application zones, spray bar technology and a subsequent application/squeeze roller system. This reduces the volume of the size bath and sizing additives, thus decreasing the environmental loads. Other benefits include an extremely uniform size film and less fibre dust – guaranteeing maximum weaving efficiency – and a 20 per cent larger yarn coating zone. Karl Mayer will also be showcasing the ISODIRECT direct warping machine – a world first with a unique cost: benefit ratio. This all-round machine can process every type of staple-fibre yarn and produces high-quality beams at warping speeds of up to 1,000 m/min-1.

Textiles with trendsetting features

This demonstration of Karl Mayer’s technology and strategies will be complemented by a presentation of the wide range of applications of warp-knitted fabrics. Seductive lace, high-performance fabrics for sportswear, original creations for athleisure wear, and apparel fabrics with a certain pizzazz – Karl Mayer’s textile innovations show the wide variety of warp-knitted textiles available and are setting the trend in every sector.

Building on textiles

Karl Mayer has the right technology and expertise to cater for a wide range of applications in the technical textiles sector. The company’s weft-insertion, biaxial and multiaxial warp knitting machines can be found in the plants of manufacturers of inlays, tarpaulins and advertising substrates, as well as in those of producers of geogrids, composites and automotive fabrics. The focus of the exhibition at ITMA ASIA + CITME will be on textiles for the construction sector. The Chinese construction sector is one of the growth areas in the country but, unlike the construction industries in Europe and America, for example, the Chinese building industry focuses on conventional materials. Textiles can offer the construction sector many advantages, especially when used in concrete components. By replacing conventional steel reinforcements with carbonor glass-fibre textiles, the amount of concrete used can be reduced by up to 70 per cent. Other promising applications for warp-knitted structures are in tear-resistant plaster grids for increasing the tear resistance within the plaster, selfadhesive tape for repairing holes and cracks in walls, costeffective, flexible roof canopies and bitumen roofing materials with excellent mechanical properties. Examples of these types of textiles will be used to illustrate the advantages of warp-knitted building textiles during the exhibition.

CHTC Fong’s Smart Dyeing & Finishing Innovations

CHTC Fong’s has been committed to the development and manufacturing of dyeing and finishing equipment for more than 50 years. In the past decades, CHTC Fong’s devoted to the development of energy-saving and emission reduction machines and now it becomes the basic conditions for dyeing factories. Today, we live in a digital era, though in the traditional textile industry, CHTC Fong’s has been with the times. Together with its well-known brands: Fong’s, Monforts Fong’s, Xorella, Then, Goller, FWT and Monforts, CHTC Fong’s dedicated in the development of Smart Dyeing & Finishing and join with the customers to build the intelligent dyeing factory.

The CHTC Fong’s Group will be presenting the “one-stop” sustainable solution in dyeing and finishing range of “pretreatment, dyeing, post-treatment and waste water treatment” in Hall 6, D05 and yarn conditioning and heat setting in Hall 2, E04. The company will exhibit a full line of the most advanced and innovative products and technology including its new product- FONG’S TECWIN High Temperature Dyeing Machine, THEN AIRJETWINA erodynamic High Temperature Dyeing Machine, Goller Dyepadder ECONOMICA Nip-in-Trough, Monforts Fong’s Montex6500 Stenter Frame Range, Monforts Fong’s Montex 6500 Air Filtration Omni Stenter Frame and Monforts Fong’s Monfongs STRAHM HiPer Shrink Astra. In addition, the company will also demonstrate the innovative smart dyeing and finishing at the booth.

FONG’S TECWIN

High Temperature Dyeing Machine

FONG’S Tecwin is designed to adopt the ever-changing textile market nowadays. The reliability and versatility is further improved from the last generation. TECWIN is equipped with several patented designs:

Combined Air & Front Spray Nozzle: Front spray nozzle improves the degree of dye liquor interchange before the fabrics entering the main nozzle. The colour balance and quality of fabric can then be enhanced. If optional blower is equipped, blower will provide high pressure aerodynamic flow in spray nozzle, in order to effectively increase the degree of dye liquor interchange. It is specifically designed for dyeing fabrics that demand high quality.

Automatic Adjustable Nozzle: Adjustment of nozzle setting is automatically done by means of motor drive system, and hence manual adjustment of nozzle is not required.

Liquid Dispersion Storage Chamber: Special designed stainless steel bottom sieve facilitates the liquid dispersion process giving the best results ever.

Upper and Lower Overflow: Innovative use of upper and lower overflow rinsing systems can deal with various kinds of fabrics. Lower Overflow Rinsing is to maintain a pumping operation with low water level and to improve dye liquor separation. Upper Overflow Rinsing is adopted for conventional overflow rinsing function.

Furthermore, the Dye Liquor Separation Design allows body size fabrics to stack in a much organised way which maximizing the loading capacity, providing smoother operation and lowering the liquor ratio. Equipped with the adjustable loading chamber with optimized chamber design to resolve the separation difficulties occurred when running double rope fabrics.

Thies to present iCone yarn dyeing machine

Thies will show its successful iCone yarn dyeing machine. Thies is Germany’s leading company in the field of fabrication of high quality machines for yarn and piece dyeing and bleaching and drying equipment. The machine consolidates highest ecological standards with technological intelligence to achieve tremendous savings in water and electrical consumption. The 2018 version incorporates various new detail improvements, many of them developed in response to suggestions from customers and users, the company said.

The construction of the iCone is based upon the worldwide established eco-bloc series of Thies, but involves innovative new technologies. Its newly designed ‘pump bloc’ system allows dyeing with an ultra-short liquor ration. Depending on the carry-over of the material, liquor rations of 1:3,6 in partially flooded vessels are performable in practice. Improved rinsing functions allow the reduction of the aftertreatment times. Moreover, the new flow converter design enables the adjustment of the flow reversal, namely from inside to outside and from outside to inside. ICone has been specifically developed to meet the requirements of stringent international and local environmental protection regulations with simultaneous consideration of its economic efficiency.

Maximising profit with Shima Seiki’s Total Fashion System

Leading flat knitting machinery manufacturer Shima Seiki, of Wakayama, Japan, will show its innovative technology this month. Taking centre stage will be the company’s SDS-ONE APEX3 3D design system. At the core of Shima Seiki’s Total Fashion System concept, ultra-realistic simulation capability on APEX3 allows virtual sampling to minimise the impact that the sample-making process has on current manufacturing in terms of time and cost.

“With this new manufacturing model, the production cycle can be shortened to such an extent that on-demand production is possible without being limited to seasonal cycles. This allows the product planning stage to be extended to allow more accurate analysis of consumer demand,” the company explains.

“Recent consumer trends, such as increased online shopping activity have changed supply chain requirements in China, with growing interest in on-demand production both in terms of timecompression and mass-customisation. The combination of Shima Seiki’s pioneering WHOLEGARMENT knitting technology that allows a garment to be produced in its entirety without the need for linking or sewing afterward, along with the SDS-ONE APEX3 3D design system yields revolutionary game-changing flexibility in the knit supply chain to support such trends.”

Maximising profit

Moreover, virtual samples can be used at the retail level to gauge consumer acceptance of upcoming products, data for which can be used for forecasting demand. Such feedback can be used to adjust production and optimise inventory in order to prevent leftover stock that would otherwise go to waste. If stock runs out mid-season, on-demand production capability of Wholegarment knitting can furthermore replenish inventory to prevent lost opportunity.

In such a way, the Total Fashion System maximises profit while achieving zero inventory loss, zero leftover stock, zero lost sales opportunity and most importantly zero waste through smart, speedy and sustainable production. Further details will be revealed through Shima Seiki’s main demonstration to be held at its ITMA Asia booth.

Knitting machines

Representing the production aspect of the Total Fashion System at ITMA Asia are four computerised flat knitting machines, each with distinct solutions to current and future needs of the Chinese and Asian markets. Wholegarment knitting technology will be represented by three machines. Featuring Shima Seiki’s original Slide Needle on four needle beds, as well as the patented springtype sinker system, MACH2XS is designed to offer great flexibility for knitting beautiful and sophisticated, high-quality Wholegarment products in all needles, with a seemingly endless variety of knit patterns at very high speed and efficiency. MACH2XS will be shown in gauge 15L at ITMA Asia.

MACH2S is a versatile V-bed machine that supports production ranging from conventional shaped knitting in all needles to Wholegarment knitting using every other needle. At ITMA Asia MACH2S is shown in 8 gauge for coarse gauge applications. The SWG061N2 compact WHOLEGARMENT knitting machine is capable of producing a wide variety of knit accessory items for fashion as well as technical textile applications. The Mini WHOLEGARMENT machine will be producing novel 3D shoes in 15G.

For more conventional solutions, Shima Seiki’s SVR series resets the industry benchmark for shaped knitting, with the SVR123SP featuring a special loop presser bed that can produce hybrid inlay fabrics with both knit and weave characteristics.

“Demand for such unique fabrics are very high across a wide range of applications, from fashion apparel to sports and medical applications, as well as wearable technology and technical textiles. SVR123SP will be displayed in 14G and will feature the i- Plating option for expanded capability in inverse plating technique whereby complex jacquard-like patterns can be knit in plain jersey stitch,” the company adds.

High-quality output of digital textile printing with SPGPrints

At the SPGPrints stand, you’ll be able to see the Best LEN Direct Laser Engraving system. This system is especially developed for printers wanting to take their engraving department to new performance heights. The company will also present its digital textile printer live in action. The JAVELIN scanning digital textile printer will be in full production during the live demonstrations at various time slots at the SPGprints stand.

The JAVELIN printer offers unsurpassed quality and value to textile printers who are taking the first step into digital production and are looking for ease, reliability, and productivity. Experience yourself how the JAVELIN can help you make short-run, fastturnaround jobs affordable for customers, since it eliminates screen preparation time and frees up time for printing full production runs. See, touch and inspect the high-quality fabric coming out of the JAVELIN and evaluate the output of the scanning digital textile printer yourself.

Digital printing inks

Textile printers are always looking for ways to improve the quality of their designs and fabrics. An essential element of design quality is the type of ink used for printing. Therefore, at ITMA Asia, there will be an important focus on digital printing inks. When you demand nothing less than outstanding results, the ink you use should meet your high standards. For that reason, SPGPrints will showcase its full digital ink portfolio optimized for all major industrial print heads, including the Kyocera print heads. Since all its inks are developed and produced in-house, it can offer unrivaled quality and runnability at competitive prices.

ColorJet shows Fabjet Grand on pigment inks

ColorJet India Ltd, the largest Indian manufacturer of wide format digital printers is showcasing the Finest Textile Solutions. Looking at the growth of Digital Textile Printing Industry and Pigment Inks Printing, this year Colorjet is displaying the latest technology Textile products Metro and Fabjet Grand on Pigment Inks.

Wider variety, higher durability and a simpler post-treatment process made pigmented ink the main ink used in textile digital printing nowadays. The pigment inks exhibit the highest degree of durability in colour and light fastness. It is suitable for a wide range of fabrics including mixed and blended fabrics and for the first time Colorjet offers a true solution The Fabjet Grand for digital textile printing on short-run applications.

As we all know, the pigment printing process does not need the complex steaming and washing steps. Since the pigment ink is printed only on the top layer of the fabric without any chemical bonding, the textile fabric has to be condensed at 150-170°C for a few minutes to fix the pigments. Consequently, the pigment printing process requires significantly less water due to the omitted washing step and this is exactly what the Colorjet’s Fabjet Grand is specialised for.

The Fabjet Grand is a 3.2 MTR Direct to fabric printer. It is ideal to direct-to-fabric printing solution for creating large customised patterns for the home furnishings business. Heavy duty design with rigid structure makes the machine suitable for rigorous shop floor operating conditions.

The use of Fabjet Grand on pigment inks has shown remarkable benefits to users. Fabjet Grand has shown a reliable printing performance, an easy handling and cleaning, an outstanding Color and Light-fastness to users. The entire process of Fabjet Grand printing on pigment inks is very quick and easy as compare to another printer’s printing.

Keeping China’s 12th Five-Year Technical Progress Outline in mind, Colorjet meets the mandatory standards in energy saving and effluent reduction by enabling large-scale implementation of clean production. It also establishes lowcarbon, green and cyclic economy system which would require while accomplishing energy-saving and effluent-reducing tasks specified by State Government of China.

The company has assiduously pursued excellence in digital printing since 2004. A world recognised brand, Colorjet is the largest manufacturer of wide format digital inkjet printing machines in India and over 4,000 machines are in operation around the world, across India, Middle East, Australia & Europe. Today, ColorJet maintains its No.1 position in India as per latest IDC 2018 Q1 Super wide report. Customers can visit ColorJet’s booth at Hall No-5, Booth-A20.