Texprocess to demonstrate networked production of clothing

Texprocess will set up the micro factory in collaboration with the German Institutes for Textile and Fibre Research in Denkendorf and a number of well-known companies in the textile sector. Visitors at Texprocess will follow a signposted path through the various individual stages of manufacture in the micro factory and will be able to get information from experts at each stage.

“Especially when it comes to ‘fast fashion’, micro factories offer the opportunity to put ideas into practice immediately and to try out new business models, based on specific customer requirements. They facilitate a type of production that is responsive to the market and, as an additional bonus, ensure optimised use of material, so as to contribute to greater levels of sustainability in textile processing,” said Olaf Schmidt, vice president textiles and textile technologies at Messe Frankfurt.

The first stage in the micro factory is the CAD/Design area. With the help of computer-aided design (CAD) and the Vidya 3D-simulation software, creative designs are put into effect in a virtual reality and adapted. Our partner for the Design area is Assyst, a company in the Human Solutions Group.

The next stage (printing) demonstrates large-format inkjet printing, involving sublimation printing on polyester and pigment printing on cotton and mixed fibres. Our partners in the software and hardware business Ergosoft and Mimaki as well as Coldenhove and Monti Antonio are the ones ensuring optimum printing results at this station.

After this comes the cutting area. At this juncture in the production process, the individual orders need first to be identified without anyone touching them. Identification is made possible by automatically loading the appropriate data files for the cutting-out process. Our partner in this area is Zünd.

In the next section of the production process (assembling), the cut-out elements of the various orders are also identified in a context-specific manner and added to the garment. Our partner in this area is Dürkopp Adler.

In the last step (labeling) the garments will be provided with logos and graphic details that will be washable, can be ironed and are suitable for dryers. Partner of this area is Seripress.

Additional partners of the Digital Textile Micro factory at Texprocess are Eschler Textil and Schoeller Textil. Texprocess will be held from May 9-12 in Frankfurt, Germany. (KD)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India