Japanese textile machinery has always held an important position in the global textile industry, and many products have strong market competitiveness. During the ITMA 2023 period, numerous textile machinery product technologies from Japan received widespread attention.
Innovative Technology of Automatic Winder
New Technologies for False Twisting Processing
In the field of spinning equipment, Murata’s innovative automatic winding machine “FLcone” has received attention. This is the first time that Murata Company has demonstrated a new generation of technology as it holds the first market share of automatic winding machines. The concept of the new model is “Non Stop”. Even if defective yarn is detected during coiling, the yarn barrel will not stop, but will remain rotating. Its yarn cleaner can automatically handle the problem, and the equipment can complete it in 4 seconds. Due to continuous operation, the equipment can prevent the flying in of thread ends and poor forming, achieving high-quality yarn production.
As an innovative spinning method after ring spinning, air jet spinning machines have a strong sense of sensitivity. Since the ITMA 2019 debut of “VORTEX 870EX”, Murata has been performing very well. Although demand in China has recently slowed down, sales in other Asian countries and Central, South, and United States have grown smoothly. The equipment is in line with the trend of sustainable development, and can complete the three processes of roving, spinning, and winding with one machine. It has been praised for its shortened process and energy-saving characteristics.
Japanese chemical fiber machinery has also demonstrated new technologies. As an iterative product of the TMT mechanical high-speed ammunition dispenser “ATF-1500″, the company introduced the concept model “ATF-G1″ through video. The “ATF-1500″ has received praise for its high efficiency and labor saving features such as multi spindle and automatic doffing. The “ATF-G1″ increased the number of ingots taken from 384 (4 stages) to 480 (5 stages), further improving production efficiency. At the same time, new heaters and other energy-saving features are also very obvious. The Chinese market will become a key sales area for this equipment.
For markets with high demand for special yarns such as Europe, TMT Machinery Company showcased the false twist processing machine “ATF-21N/M” equipped with Nip Twister. It is a type of machine used for producing special yarns for home textile purposes.
Aiji RIOTECH Company has launched the Cut Slub Unit C-type, which is suitable for the production or development of multiple varieties of small batch yarns. The equipment roller and other components are independently driven, and replacing the components can facilitate the change of the yarn variety produced.
Japanese enterprises in the field of textile machinery components have also demonstrated new technologies. Abbo Spinning Company strives to improve the performance of jet nozzles. The new product “AF-1″ for network nozzles has improved performance by 20% by changing the shape of the wire guide, with a thickness of less than 4mm, achieving compactness. The launch of the “TA-2″ pre network nozzle has improved its networking performance by 20% compared to previous products, and has received praise as a technology that can achieve high efficiency and energy conservation.
Shanqing Industrial Company is exhibiting for the first time. The company started its business by making flying shuttles and now produces and sells friction discs for fake twisting machines as well as rubber components for fake twisting machines. There are more sales to China in overseas markets.
Tangxian Hidao Industrial Company, which produces wire guides, is exhibiting at the agent’s ASCOTEX booth. Introduce products for spinning, coiling, and thread processing purposes. The new type of anti twist device used in the false twisting process and the embedded spinning nozzle that can replace the thread section have attracted much attention.
Pursuing High Production Efficiency of Air Jet Looms
Toyota showcased the latest model of the jet loom, the “JAT910″. Compared with previous models, it has achieved about 10% energy savings, and in addition, digital technology has been utilized to improve operational convenience and efficiency. Equipped with an “I-SENSOR” that can detect the flight status of the weft yarn within the fabric, it can more accurately grasp the weft insertion situation. The loom can calculate the most suitable conditions for weft insertion, suppressing excess air pressure and air consumption. The factory management system corresponding to “JAT910″ has also evolved, relying on “FACT plus” to achieve more efficient production. By measuring pressure through sensors installed on the machine, the pressure setting of the compressor can be automatically controlled and managed. In addition, it can also indicate the next working machine to the staff, achieving overall efficiency of the factory. Among the three “JAT910″ exhibited, the model equipped with an electronic opening device “E-shed” uses nylon and spandex for double-layer weaving at a speed of 1000 revolutions, while the speed of a conventional water jet loom can only reach 700-800 revolutions.
The latest model “ZAX001neo” from Jintianju Industrial Company saves about 20% energy compared to previous models, achieving stable high-speed operation. The company achieved a demonstration speed of 2300 revolutions at the ITME exhibition held in India in 2022. The actual production can achieve stable operation of over 1000 revolutions. In addition, in response to the production of wide products using rapier looms in the past, the company’s air jet loom demonstrated weaving a 390cm wide sunshade fabric at a speed of 820 revolutions.
Gaoshan Reed Company, which produces steel reeds, has demonstrated a reed that can freely change the density of each reed tooth. The product can be adjusted in areas prone to malfunctions or used in combination with warp yarns of different thicknesses.
The steel reeds that can easily pass through the Tying Machine centerline knot have also received attention. The wire knot can easily pass through the upper part of the reshaped reed, and has been praised as a product that can reduce the labor intensity of workers. The company also showcased large steel reeds for filter fabrics.
Yoshida Machinery Company showcased narrow width looms at the MEI booth in Italy. Currently, the company accounts for about 60% of its total exports, with a focus on providing targeted solutions for its products.
A knitting machine capable of producing new fabrics
Japanese knitting equipment companies have exhibited knitting machines that can increase the added value of fabrics or achieve energy-saving, labor-saving, and high-efficiency. Fuyuan Industrial Trading Company, a circular knitting machine enterprise, is committed to promoting electronic jacquard high needle pitch machines and high production efficiency models. High needle pitch models that can produce a woven fabric like appearance can expand market applications in fields such as mattresses and clothing applications. High needle pitch models include electronic jacquard double-sided knitted 36 needle pitch and single sided 40 needle pitch models. The double-sided needle selection machine used for mattresses adopts a new needle selection mechanism, which not only saves energy but also improves work convenience.
Island Precision Machinery Manufacturing Co., Ltd. has conducted new product technology demonstrations in the fields of “Wholegament” (WG) flat knitting machines, fully formed equipment, and glove machines. WG flat knitting machine has developed new technologies such as automatic detection of defective needles, high quality and efficiency, and automation of thread processing. It has also showcased the new model “SWG-XR”. The fully formed equipment “SES-R” can weave a variety of three-dimensional patterns, while the new model of the glove machine “SFG-R” greatly expands the variety of patterns.
In terms of warp knitting machines, the Crochet warp knitting machine developed by Mayer Company in Japan, which can handle 100% cotton yarn, has received attention. It also showcased fabrics and sewn products with a style similar to that of a flat knitting machine, with a production efficiency of 50-60 times that of a flat knitting machine.
The trend of digital printing transitioning to pigments is accelerating
Before this exhibition, there were many single channel solutions that focused on high production efficiency for digital printing machines, and the trend towards using pigment models became evident. Pigment printing does not require the necessary post-processing such as steaming and washing, and the pre-treatment process is integrated into the equipment to reduce the number of processes. The increasing attention to sustainable development and the improvement of pigment weaknesses such as friction color fastness have also driven the growth of pigment printing.
Kyocera has a good performance in the field of printing inkjet heads, and now it will also carry out the production of inkjet printing machine hosts. The inkjet printing machine “FOREARTH” exhibited by the company has independently developed pigment inks, pre-treatment agents, and post-treatment agents. At the same time, it adopts an integrated printing method of spraying these additives onto the fabric at the same time, achieving a combination of soft style and high color fastness printing. This equipment can reduce water consumption by 99% compared to general printing.
Seiko Epson is committed to providing solutions that make digital printing more user-friendly. The company has launched software that utilizes digital technology for color matching and operation. In addition, the company’s integrated pigment digital printing machine “Mona Lisa 13000″, which does not require pre-treatment, not only has bright color rendering performance, but also has high color fastness and has received widespread attention.
Mimaki Engineering’s sublimation transfer printing machine “Tiger600-1800TS” has updated high-speed driven printing heads and other components, which can achieve printing of 550 square meters per hour, approximately 1.5 times the processing speed of previous equipment. At the same time, it is also the first time to showcase transfer printing products that use pigments, without the need for pre-treatment, making it easy for even first-time users to use.
The dye based inkjet printing machine exhibited by Konica Minolta company has shortened the process and reduced the environmental burden. It is understood that the company has announced that it will enter the sublimation transfer and pigment printing machine market. The dye ink inkjet printing machine “Nassenger” has launched a new model that integrates pre-treatment into the production line, reducing the environmental burden by shortening the process. In addition, the company’s pigment ink “ViROBE” can achieve bright colors and soft styles. In the future, the company will also develop pigment printing machines.
In addition, many exhibition companies in Japan have showcased new technologies.
Kaji Manufacturing Company, which participated in the exhibition for the first time, showcased an automatic fabric inspection machine using AI and cameras, using nylon fabric for demonstration. Able to detect weaving defects such as dirt and wrinkles from images, capable of inspecting up to 30 meters per minute. Based on the data of inspection results, the equipment is judged and defects are discovered by AI. The combination of defect identification based on pre established rules and AI judgment improves the inspection speed and accuracy. This technology is not only used for fabric inspection machines, but can also be extended to other equipment such as looms.
Daoxia Iron Industry Company, which manufactures tufting carpet machines, also participated in the exhibition for the first time. The company introduced high-speed tufting carpet machines using magnetic levitation motors through videos and other means. The equipment can achieve twice the production efficiency of previous products, and the company obtained a patent for the jacquard device using a magnetic levitation motor in 2019.
JUKI Company showcased the “JEUX7510″ laminating machine that uses ultrasound and heat to make the fabric fit. The equipment has gained increasing demand in the fields of swimwear and pressure clothing, and has attracted attention from fabric manufacturers and dyeing factories.
Post time: Sep-12-2023