Shima Seiki has made strong contributions to the field of technical textiles. The leading Japanese knitting machine manufacturer is showcasing its latest offerings at the onging Techtextil North America exhibition (June 2-4, 2015) being hosted in Houston, Texas. On display is SRY123LP, Shima Seiki’s latest computerised knitting machine with loop presser beds mounted atop conventional needle beds, providing improved control over press down of individual loops. This presents unprecedented capability especially with partial knitting patterns and inlay patterns. Inlay fabric is produced by inserting yarn into existing knit fabric in a weave fashion, opening opportunities for expansion into markets for wovens. Inlay also suppresses typical stretch characteristics of knitted fabrics, and since new materials such as metallic and monofilament yarns can be used for inlay structures, new applications in industrial textiles are realized.

Known for its pioneering whole garment knitting technology wherein a knitted item is produced in its entirety without seams, Shima Seiki has also introduced the SWG061N2 compact whole garment knitting machine that features the company’s original SlideNeedle. Capable of producing small knitted items from safety gloves and compression socks to more sophisticated industrial applications such as tubular shields and harnesses, the SWG061N2 can knit all of these items in 3D without seams.

Another offering is the new yarn unwinding option. Normally when knitting with stiff materials, such as metallic and monofilament yarns, the yarn has a tendency to kink, making it practically impossible to feed smoothly into the knitting machine. A motorized bobbin actively unwinds yarn to provide smooth and stable yarn feed with careful control over feed amount and tension.

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