The pandemic, alongwith escalating cost of global transportation and growth in online retailing has once again reinforced the benefits of nearshoring in the textile industry. The pandemic has exposed vulnerabilities of countries to shortage of essential items like PPE during national lockdowns and long periods of restricted travel, thus reemphasizing the need for nearshoring operations
TMAS members focus on nearhsoring technologies
In this background, upcoming editions of Texprocess, Techtextil and Heimtextil shows – to be held in Frankfurt from June 21-24 – will showcase a solutions aligning with growing nearhsoring trend from the Swedish Textile Machinery Association (TMAS). Members of TMAS constantly reinvent their technologies, says Therese Premier Andersson, Secretary General. They continue to test new automated solutions and digital technologies at a rapid speed to avoid being impacted by COVID-19 restrictions. They plan to showcase these technologies at the upcoming exhibitions.
Nearshoring to secure supply chain
Eton Systems plans to launch latest ingenious software solution that enhances the company’s Opta Unit Production System (UPS) at Texprocess. The technology has helped enhance productivity of many garment manufacturers, explains Jeker Krabbe, Manager Director. The systems reduce producers’ manual tasks and increase their efficiency. This equalizes production in high and low-cost countries, making reshoring an attractive option. Having a few production facilities closer to home also helps manufacturers ensure safe product supply, says Krabbe.
The newly installed first industrial scale dyeing system by Imogo in Sweden can reduce fresh water, energy and chemicals use by almost 90 per cent compared to conventional jet dyeing systems. It facilitates a wide range of fabric pre-treatments and finishing processes to help make production more flexible.
Robotics a highlight at Hemitextil
A specialist in automation solutions for filled products such as quilts, pillows and mattresses and live demonstrations of robotics, will once again attract visitors to ACG Kinna Automatic at Heimtextil this year. The company will use robotics to handle soft materials such as textiles this year, informs Christian Moore, Managing Director. ACG Kinna Automatic focuses on eliminating obstacles to increase product flows. It built a new nonwovens fabric converting and single-use garment making plant during the pandemic to supply medical gowns to Swedish authorities.
Automation for increasing efficiency
Svegea will promote its latest EC 300 collarette cutting machine at Texprocess 2022. Used by garment manufacturers to produce tubular apparel components such as waistbands, cuff and neck tapes and other seam reinforcements. The machine produces around 20,000 metres of apparel components per hour. Automation has made the company’s machines more efficient, says Hakan Steene, Managing Director. The garment components manufactured by them can be integrated into manufacturing operations, says Steene.
Making operations more flexible
Sweden-based Eltex has introduced advanced yarn tension monitoring technologies to repair defects in weaving, tufting and composite reinforcement operations. The machines create correct tension between warp and weft threads, affirms Anoop Sharma, Global Marketing and Sales Manager. Constant monitoring and automatic control of the thread’s stiffness helps simplify operations, Sharma explains.
