TECHNOLOGY CORNER

ITEMA R9500: THE MOST POSITIVE NEGATIVE RAPIER MACHINE IN THE HISTORY OF WEAVING – COUPLING SUPERIOR PERFORMANCES WITH UNPARALLELED VERSATILITY.

Ever since the introduction of the first rapier automatic shuttleless weaving machine by Somet exactly 50 years ago, the rapier weft transfer has been widely associated with versatility—an undeniable advantage over other weft insertion systems when it comes to weaving a multitude of patterns and yarns.
Weaving technology has evolved over time to achieve significant improvements in performance and production speed, in particular in the case of the negative rapier weft transfer system known to guarantee excellent machine efficiency and higher productivity.

The Itema R9500—the most successful rapier machine in recent history—represents the perfect synthesis of versatility and productivity.
Looking back at nearly 5 years since its launch in October 2012 and an impressive installed base around the globe, we can attribute the main success factor of the R9500 loom to absolute best-in-class textile performances in the market, as confirmed also by repeat orders and Customer trial results.

Itema succeeded in building on the best technical know-how, inherited from the fusion of weaving giants Somet, Sulzer and Vamatex, with massive and continuous R&D investments, which resulted in today’s R9500 success story. The Itema R9500 embodies the top aspects of positive and negative rapier weft insertion systems offering the best balance between efficiency and versatility for the exclusive benefit of Itema Customers.

The Itema R9500 guarantees all the inherent advantages of the negative rapier technology, namely higher production speed and less maintenance due to the reduced number of mechanical parts. In addition, the R9500 ensures excellent efficiency and the best textile versatility in the market, hence our definition of the Itema R9500 as “the most Positive, Negative rapier machine in the market.”

The Itema rapiers have been customized to meet the demanding requirements of weavers, for example by widening the rapiers, which feature more open angles to allow even the most coarse weft yarns to be inserted.

The Itema R9500 can actually be equipped with two different rapier weft insertion systems:

• the SK Weft Transfer, engineered for speed, provides high performances and superior fabric quality. With guided rapiers and hooks, it’s the ideal solution in case of fabrics such as denim and cotton apparel
• the FPA—Free Positive Approach—Weft Transfer combines the versatility of a positive rapier system with higher performances and efficiency, enabling to weave with endless creative possibilities even the most sophisticated fabrics, which require delicate and special yarns such as chenille, lurex and bouclé. Featuring a race board with no guiding elements in the shed, the FPA Weft Transfer ensures a gentle and effective treatment of even the most delicate warp yarns. The FPA is the most suitable rapier system to weave highly complex styles for furnishing, upholstery, silk and technical fabrics, providing the versatility of a positive system without sacrificing the performances ensured by the negative rapier insertion.

The positive approach of R9500, which makes the Itema rapier loom the undisputed market leader in furnishing and technical applications, is furthermore assured by specific devices, namely the Motorized Weft Cutter, the Weft Yarn Selector and the ISD—Independent Selvedge Device.

The Motorized Weft Cutter, developed by Itema and introduced on the market in 2001, is driven by an independent motor allowing for different cutting times for each weft/color. Thanks to the Motorized Weft Cutter, the weaver avoids the time-consuming exercise of meticulously finding the best possible compromise to set one single cutting time for different types of weft yarns. The end results guaranteed by the Itema Motorized Weft Cutter are much-improved efficiency and no weft stops due to incorrect settings. Further benefits include weft waste optimization and a perfect weft insertion.

Considering that the weft insertion is a fully-integrated process, which involves, besides the rapiers, also other strategic tools, it is worthwhile to mention the Itema Weft Yarn Selector—the most compact in its category, which provides an easy handling of weft and warp yarns thanks to an optimized work area for the operator.

Last but not least, the ISD—Independent Selvedge Device—provides an independent setting of the auxiliary selvedges crossing and basic shedding patterns, thus leading to superior fabric quality due to the fabric behavior which remains tense.

With Itema, the weaver can benefit from the advantages of both negative and positive rapier system: be positive, weave negative, choose Itema.