French textile tech takes centre stage at ITMA 2023

“R&D is embedded in our members’ strategy, but for this ITMA they have secured more budgets than ever. The objectives are ambitious—breaking innovative technologies to offer their customers the opportunity to develop new products and process them in a secure, economical, and environment friendly way. Raw materials, energy, and water savings are top priorities for our customers both because it is an end-market demand and to cut costs. Digitalisation and artificial intelligence are essential tools to move into these directions. At ITMA, I was proud to meet so many customers including quite a number of French textile manufacturers as it is a great asset to get an active domestic market. The statistics I just received show that the French visitors were the fifth largest group,” Christian Guinet, UCMTF’s secretary general, was quoted as saying in a press release issued by the UCMTF.

NSC, global specialists in textile machines for processing long staple fibres, exhibited three machines from their 50 series. Its ERA50 combing machine featured a new drive. Two machines were sold at the fair and additional machines were purchased after the show.

The GC50 benefits from additional axes driven by servomotors, which allow more settings on the main control screen. Contracts have been signed with European customers for this new generation of chain gills. After nearly 20 years of absence, the NSC has presented a new flyer frame BM.

Leading textile sensor provider Fil Control showcased its expertise and innovations, solidifying its position as a leading brand in the textile sensor industry. CEO Cedric Schlicher said that a noteworthy highlight during ITMA was the signing of a significant contract with two prominent European textile manufacturers. Additionally, Fil Control expanded its reach by establishing a strategic partnership with Media CZ, a well-established textile agent specialising in the Czech Republic market.

One of the biggest satisfactions has been the enthusiasm generated by Superba’s automation system, especially with the KR1 knotting module. As human operators are increasingly difficult to recruit, and jobs are changing, it enables one to automate all bobbin knotting stages throughout production. In addition, labelling and palletising were offered. The customers were attracted by the combination with quality control options and data management. It enables Superba to diversify in new markets such as tyre cords, polyester DTY, artificial turf, technical textiles, and more.

Spoolex presented its Calemard, Decoup+, and Roll Concept brands at ITMA.

Calemard, the converting machinery division, exhibited its slitting and rewinding/spooling, splicing or slitting bench projects. The expo also offered an opportunity to sign a new Indian representative contract with a local well-introduced expert in textile and nonwovens markets.

Decoup+, the ultrasonic division, presented an innovative and ultra-compact cutting device.

Roll Concept, the technical rollers division, also did well in particular with its latest patented development, the VLI. This driven and/or guide roller is the perfect combination of Alveotube profile and carbon tube for even less inertia and stress on the web.

At the start-up valley Hall 3, the delegation from Hemp Act was overwhelmed with requests for short hemp fibres to blend and spin with cotton from denim and cotton industries, global fashion brands, and dozens of spinners mainly from Turkiye, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh. Hemp is expected to very soon become a mainstream fibre, produced and processed worldwide. Hemp Act aims to offer dedicated solutions and tailored equipment to help its clients to be part of this change.

Alliance Machines Textiles launched two brand new machines. The Jeta UF is an ultra-flexible machine, which is suitable for light-weight fabrics to heavy fabrics. It is a small, fully automated, industrial machine with interchangeable jets (3” & 4”), perfectly adapted for product and process development, as well as capsule production.

Natura DS is a small industrial machine, roughly the size of a washing machine, specifically dedicated to natural dyeing, and is extremely versatile. This machine has four different types of settings—piece dyeing, hank dyeing, garment dyeing, and tinctorial infusion through different interchangeable accessories.

Dollfus & Muller manufactures felts and belts for textile finishing and nonwovens. The company’s spare part products are doing even better than its textile offerings. ITMA offered a great opportunity for the company to meet so many customers post the COVID-19 pandemic. Many important meetings took place with new interested dyers and finishers and valuable insights were shared. The worldwide agents, who were present at the expo, were very positive too.

Textile digitalisation and numerical tools are major integration and development strengths, offering better performances. The solutions suggested by Schaeffer Productique are based on numerical evolution, allowing many improvements in the industrial and commercial process. Its software, SolinWAI, is based on the latest cutting-edge technologies—artificial intelligence and workflows. As a result of the many demonstrations conducted, the solution’s advantages have won the approval of the customers.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (NB)