“R&D is embedded in our members’ strategy, but for this ITMA they have secured more budgets than ever before. Ambitious goals—disrupting innovative technologies to give their customers the opportunity to develop and dispose of new products in a safe, economical and environmentally friendly way. Saving raw materials, energy and water are top priorities for our customers as it is the ultimate demand of the market and to cut costs. Digitization and artificial intelligence are essential tools to move in these directions. At ITMA, I am proud to meet a lot of clients, including quite a few French textile manufacturers as this is a great asset to have a dynamic domestic market. The statistics I just received show that French tourists are the fifth largest group.” Christian Guinet, Secretary General of UCMTFcited in a press release issued by the UCMTF.
At ITMA 2023 in Italy, UCMTF showcased innovative technologies designed to enhance sustainability and cost-effectiveness in the textile industry. Exhibitors, including NSC, Fil Control and Superba, showcased their latest machines, sensors and automation systems. The Hemp Act delegation received a lot of questions about blending hemp and cotton.
NSC, the global specialist in looms for the processing of long staple fibres, presents three machines from their 50 series. Its ERA50 comber has a new drive. Two machines were sold at the fair and others were purchased after the show.
The GC50 benefits from additional axes driven by servo motors, allowing for more settings on the main control screen. Contracts have been signed with European customers for this new generation of chain bearing. After nearly 20 years of absence, NSC has introduced the new airframe BM.
Leading textile sensor supplier Fil Control has demonstrated its expertise and innovations, cementing its position as the leading brand in the textile sensor industry. CEO Cedric Schlicher said, a notable highlight in ITMA is the signing of important contracts with two well-known European textile manufacturers. In addition, Fil Control has expanded its scope of activities by establishing a strategic partnership with Media CZ, a long-standing textile agent specializing in the Czech market.
One of the most gratifying things is the enthusiasm generated by Superba’s automation system, especially with the KR1 knotting module. As human operators are increasingly difficult to hire and jobs are changing, it allows one person to automate all the knots throughout the production process. In addition, labeling and palletizing is provided. Customers are attracted to the combination of quality control and data management options. It allows Superba to diversify into new markets such as tire cords, polyester DTY, artificial turf, technical textiles, etc.
Spoolex introduced the Calemard, Decoup+ and Roll Concept brands at ITMA.
Calemard, the conversion machinery division, exhibited slitting and rewinding/spooling, splicing or slitting bench projects. The fair also offers the opportunity to sign a new India representative contract with a renowned local expert in the textile and nonwovens market.
Decoup+, the ultrasonic division, has introduced an innovative and ultra-compact cutting device.
The Roll Concept, the technical roller division, has also done a great job with its latest patented development, the VLI. This drive and/or guide roller is the perfect combination of Alveotube and carbon tube profiles to reduce inertia and web stresses.
In lobby 3 of startup valley, the delegation from the Hemp Act received numerous requests for short hemp yarn to blend and spin with cotton from the cotton and denim industry, global fashion brands and dozens of spinners mainly from Turkiye, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. Hemp is expected to soon become a mainstream fiber, produced and processed all over the world. The Hemp Act aims to provide specialized solutions and the right equipment to help its customers participate in this change.
Alliance Machines Textiles has launched two brand new machines. The Jeta UF is a super versatile machine that is suitable for light to heavy fabrics. This is a small, fully automatic industrial machine with interchangeable nozzles (3” & 4”), perfectly suited for product and process development, as well as capsule production.
The Natura DS is a small industrial machine, roughly the size of a washing machine, dedicated to natural dyeing and extremely versatile. This machine has four different settings—fragment dyeing, rags dyeing, garment dyeing, and tinctorial infusion through interchangeable accessories.
Dollfus & Muller manufactures felts and straps for finishing textiles and nonwovens. The company’s spare parts products perform even better than textile products. ITMA has provided a great opportunity for the company to meet a lot of customers after the COVID-19 pandemic. Many important meetings took place with interested new dyers and finishers and valuable insights were shared. Dealers around the world, who were present at the fair, were also very active.
Textile digitization and digital tools are key development and integration strengths, resulting in better performance. The solutions proposed by Schaeffer Productique are based on digital evolution, enabling many innovations in industrial and commercial processes. Its software, SolinWAI, is based on the most advanced technologies—artificial intelligence and workflows. As a result of many demonstrations conducted, the advantages of the solution have won the approval of the customers.
Fiber2Fashion (NB) News Desk
