Modification in spinning machines

Today about 10% of the fibres are converted into spun yarn for technical applications. Its growth potential offered has stimulated spun yarn machine manufacturers to focus their research and development efforts to meet the requirements of technical yarns. While the basic machine types are similar to those used for conventional applications, significant modifications have been made in the carding machines, drafting, etc to meet the standards required by the latest generation of fibres like aramid, carbon, ceramic, etc.

Conventional ring yarns are widely used in technical textiles because of ring frame's stability, flexibility of article changes and output quality. Spun yarns often make a good choice for filters because its free fibre ends make it easier for particles to be held. Car seats are also made of spun yarns due to its better aesthetics, while special performance fibres clothing for occupations like firefighters and racing drivers are another established use. Compact spinning technology, which provides functional characteristics e.g. abrasion resistance, low hairiness will open up markets in high density fabrics for use in water-proof cloth and filtration.

Friction spinning technology provides the yarn manufacturers with enormous flexibility in terms of fibres, yarns and products and its ability to respond quickly to shifts in the market. Today friction spun yarns are available in the range of 0.5 to 30 Nm production at a yarn delivery rate of 250 m/minute for the production of multi component, hybrid yarns for a specific range of high performance end-uses, including:

• High-tenacity, fire resistant protective clothing
• Cut protection fabrics
• Fire blockers
• Aircraft and contract carpeting
• Composites for aviation, automotive and engineering industries
• Canvas and tarpaulins for military and civil use.

Knitting

• The high degree of elasticity and appealing appearance are being used in automotive applications such as car seat covers, door paneling, and roof linings.
• Other application of circular weft knitting fabrics is medical textiles.
• A tube of fabric knitted on a circular weft knitting machine can be described as the simplest 3D preform that can be manufactured. During the Last two decades, there has been a technological revolution in a flat bed knitting machine. In order to knit 3D preform s on a flat bed machine, it is vital to have 01 high degree of precision on the needle movement and the control of the individual knitting loops and yarn delivery.
• Warp knitting machinery manufacturers have developed machines for the manufacture of 3D fabrics with chopping unit and multiaxial machines with weft insertion. On these machines it is possible to insert weft upto 6500 m/minute, with a low draw-off speed for the weft yarn of about 320 m/minute. As a result, soft or delicate material with extremely low tensile strengths can be used for the weft. The multiaxial weft inserted warp knitting machines differs from those used in looms because the threads are inserted at angles of +45, 90 and 45, with two 45 systems being infinitely variable between 90 and 45 to the machine direction and the yarns are absolutely straight.
• Woven, knitted or nonwoven susbstrates can also be incorporated in the composite under, above or between the yarn layers to achieve special characteristics in the composite or to provide bulk.

Customised weaving machine

The production of various technical textiles for filtration, conveyor belting, tarpaulins and other applications is almost as old as the mechanical weaving operation itself, and these end-uses continue to be importance today. What is new and extremely attractive to the makers of weaving machines is the growth of technical applications in sectors such as agriculture, construction, geotextiles, conveyor belts, papermaking felts, sail cloth, cinema and theatre screen, automotive (including airbags), protective apparel, and a continuing series of novel uses for woven fabrics.