Swedish Textile Machinery Association (TMAS) has demonstrated the potential of highly automated technologies in enabling textile companies in high-wage countries to compete in previously closed markets.

In a recent project, TMAS collaborated with its member companies, Automatex and Coloreel, to develop a fully automated machine that produces unique tote bags, providing companies with tools to differentiate in highly competitive fields.

The machine, developed by Automatex, is a fully automatic tote/consumer bag sewing unit that can produce fully finished bags in various sizes. The machine carries out all the necessary automated operations, including hemming, handle insertion, cutting, labelling, bag forming, and gusset forming, which previously had to be carried out manually.

The bags produced are still plain and uniform at this point, and with products that are intended to be used for as long as possible, personalization is the key.

To add decorative appeal, Coloreel's technology enables the high-quality and instant dyeing of a textile thread while it is being used in embroidery production. Additionally, the technology makes it possible to produce gradients in an embroidery design

TMAS Secretary General Therese Premler-Andersson believes that this collaboration emphasizes the positive potential of the latest Swedish digital textile technologies, which are enabling companies to generate new revenue streams wherever they happen to be located.