The bi-annual signature event of the textile industry, the 18th International Exhibition on Textile Industry (ShanghaiTex 2017) was grandly held on 27-30 November. Exhibitors showcased their latest technologies and products to visitors, demonstrating how the technology trends are shaping the industry. 

Biancalani

The Italian company introduced the Airo24, which is a dryer for continuous and open-width tumbling treatments of woven, nonwoven and knitted fabrics.

Airo24 was introduced to the market in 2005 and users have been able to reduce the use of softener to achieve a good hand-feel with the machine, hence protecting the environment. The latest model on display is one equipped with a new system especially suitable for treating terry towel.

The machine features, among others, modulate mechanical action, with the patented Smart-Switch technology – a device which intelligently controls and optimizes the change of direction of air and fabric. From lightweight materials to heavier ones made of delicate yarn, every type of fabric will benefit from the technology, with a considerable increase in drying capacity and productivity.

Mr. Rossano Biancalani, President of Biancalani explained: “We add new feature to the Airo24 each year to stay ahead of competitors. We make sure that our machine is always the newest you can find in the market.”

Mr. Giuseppe Capaccioli, Area Manager, added that the system added in the machine enables the terry towel treated to be soft to feel and at the same time there will be no pilling of the fabric.

Bianco

Bianco, also based in Italy, introduced its new open-width compacting unit – Bianco B-Kompact 600 Felt Compactor, which features good shrinkage, improving the dimensional stability of knitted fabrics and ensures good handle.

“The market has been growing continuously for our company since 2010, and the fast growth of the digital printing sector has contributed to our development,” Mr. Stefano Borromeo, CEO of Bianco, said.

As introduced, the latest compactor is for digital printing. It is new to the China market but a number of units have already been sold.

“On future trend, the industry is moving toward zero-water production. It is a trend all over the world, including China,” Mr. Stefano Borromeo commented. He also unveiled that the Bianco is working with a company from Europe to set up a plant in Vietnam that will not use water in the textile finishing process.

Since over 40 years, Bianco has designed and manufactured machinery with advanced technology for textile finishing for the technical textile industry and, more recently, for the fast-growing non-woven fabric industry.

Datacolor

Datacolor, the renowned color measurement solutions provider, is going to announce its new breakthrough in auto color separation solutions for printing around April in next year. According to Mr. David Dai, Director Sales & Support Greater China, more details about the new technology will be unveiled later.

“The textile industry has slowed since 2010. Even though it’s cyclical change, it would be difficult to see a boom like we had before the downturn,” he commented. “It is due to a number of factors, including tougher environmental regulations, rising labor cost and material prices.”

Mr. David Dai believes the way out for the industry is to compete on product quality.

“The industry is now doing better than before in terms of color stability, color fastness, value addition and functionality. We provide color management solutions to the industry and help to establish a unified color standard. With higher efficiency using our software and products, the customers also save labor cost,” he said.

Savio

The exhibit highlight of Savio at ShanghaiTex 2017 was Polar Evolution, the fully automatic machine for bobbin feeding.

The machine features greater productivity, power and compressed air savings, minimum yarn waste and flexible production planning, among others.

Mr. Fulvio Galetto, Regional Sales Vice President of Savio said: “The model may one day be produced in the company’s factory in China as demands for automation and connectivity for close monitoring of machines are on the rise.”

“Three years ago, the demand for automation in China was about 50%, but it’s risen to 70% to 80%,” he added.

The trend of moving to cheaper production bases outside China is still going on due to rising labour cost in China. With automation technology, customers can have much fewer workers to look after the machines.

“We have got a customer who has one worker to ride on a bicycle around the factory to monitor 20 machines. So this is very good,” said Mr. Fulvio Galetto.

He also mentioned that the textile market is still in its low season, but there are signs showing things are picking up again.

SDL Atlas

SDL Atlas displayed its stat-of -the art equipment at the company booth, including the Bean Bag Snag Tester and Universal Wear Tester (UWT), DryRate Tester – Heated Plate Method, Vortex M6: AATCC Monograph Instrument, etc.

The DryRate Tester - Heated Plate Method is one of the latest test instruments provided by SDL Atlas. It can fully automatically determine the drying rate of a fabric, exposed to a prescribed volume of water, while in contact with a heated plate set at 37°C (99° C), the skin temperature at which the human body starts to perspire.

Accurate water volume is dispensed by a built-in precision water dispensing pump. Testing conditions are monitored by the built-in anemometer (wind speed sensor), and infrared thermocouple probes. In addition, the instrument comes equipped with 7-inch capacitive touch screen controller for setting parameters and monitoring test status.

The Vortex M6: AATCC Monograph Instrument is a commercial-grade washing machine that satisfies the AATCC Monograph M6 requirements as specified in the AATCC Technical Manual. It was also designed to be able to achieve programmable precision (bath temperature, water fill, agitation, spin) and save custom programs.

The machine has robust commercial-grade design. It is capable of tuning and maintaining ISO 9000 and I7025 calibration.

Setex

At ShanghaiTex 2017, Setex launched for the first time the SECOM 727CE – a Windows embedded CE controller for discontinuous dyeing processes with integrated program logic system.

The controller is maintenance-free due to its fanless technology and suitable for a long term industrial operation.

According to Mr. Oliver Schermuly, Managing Director of Setex, the controller has improved connectivity to facilitate customers to operate their smart factories. The data collected by the controller can be consolidated in a central system (a separate product).

“We are testing the market now in China. A lot of local machine manufacturers have shown interest in the device,” he remarked.