TECHNOLOGY CORNER
Itematech Meeting Technical Textiles Industry Requirements with the widest Weaving Portfolio in the Sector
In 2019 Itema launched Itematech, the company division exclusively dedicated to designing and producing weaving machines for technical fabrics and special applications.
Technical fabrics industry differs significantly from standard fabrics production, since it involves highly innovative man-made raw materials and yarns and addresses end markets characterized by particular trends.
As a historic partner and weaving machinery supplier to worldwide technical textile manufacturers, Itema knows well that a highly specialized sector like that of technical textiles deserves focus and specific resources and has therefore established Itematech to ensure its Customers cutting-edge technological innovations and customized solutions.
Moreover, the merger between Itema and PTMT (formerly Panter) led to a complete and never-before-seen product portfolio.
Moreover, from January 1, 2021, all the activities of Itematech have been transferred to Itema Spa following a merger. Itema will continue to operate Itematech’s businesses under the brand “Itematech”.
The establishment of Itematech proved to be a forward-looking choice in the light of the events that affected 2020 and not only due to the increased demand in weaving technology dedicated to producing technical fabrics for medical and protection purposes but especially for the support we have been capable to provide to our Customers. In fact, many companies in Europe decided during the COVID-19 emergency to switch their production to meet the increased request of protective wear and accessories. The Itematech versatile and flexible machines have been easily and quickly adapted to weave the new fabrics, also thanks to the professional support of the skilled Itematech team.
Nowadays, Itematech offers the most comprehensive machines portfolio to weave technical fabrics, ranging from negative and positive rapier, to monorapier and airjet and to the legendary projectile.
Itematech Rapier Machines
Negative Rapier Weaving Machine R95002
The Itema absolute best-seller, the rapier R9500, today on the market in its second generation, is worldwide renowned for its dynamic stability. The special machine’s structure, in fact, ensures the lowest vibrations of its range thus leading to outstanding reliability and reduced operating costs. The R95002 extraordinary resistance to stress enables the weaver to benefit from key advantages, such as reduced deterioration of moving mechanical parts and a very low energy loss. As testified by the Itema Customers, for equal performance the R95002 is economically more sustainable compared to other loom models on the market.
Along with superior textile performances and fabric quality, this aspect makes the R95002 as the ideal machine to weave prestigious and high-end technical fabrics.
Moreover, the R95002 —already renowned for its user-friendliness— has been further optimized to ensure the best user-experience ever, thanks to the brand-new machine console and the lowered front frame.
Dedicated devices have been developed to excel in the weaving of technical fabrics, adding to the already excellent R95002 base, through key reinforcements and core advancements, both sturdiness and flexibility according to the specific weaving needs.
Depending on the application, the R95002 can be equipped with optimized devices to get superior sensibility to weave even the most delicate weft and warp monofilament yarns, maximum sturdiness to easily handle the heaviest fabrics and best-in-class performances in terms of fabric quality and machine efficiency. The Itema R95002 offers two different weft transfer systems, SK with guided hooks and FPA – Free Positive Approach with no guiding elements in the shed, thus enabling to weave even the most demanding and delicate yarns. The continuous roll-out of customized special versions tailored for technical applications, including Fiberglass and Bolting Cloth, among others, the wide weaving width up to 5400mm, as well as devices designed to excel in each application make the R95002 by Itematech the perfect machine for the manufacture of the full range of technical textiles, including ones with the finest monofilament yarn, multifilament yarn with high tenacity, and multiple pick insertion fabrics.
Positive and Negative Rapier Weaving Machine Hercules
Born to be sturdy, Hercules rapier weaving machine has been designed to excel in the weaving of heavy technical textiles. Offering both negative and positive rapier transfer systems, Hercules represents the perfect combination of mechanical sturdiness and textile efficiency ensuring the greater profitability in the market.
Hercules is the ideal weaving machine to easily produce any kind of technical fabric thanks to its superior ease of use and flexibility. The sturdy yet flexible machine structure ensures maximum reliability leading to enhanced production capability.
One of a kind on the market, Hercules provides unbeatable textile flexibility thanks to its unique weft transfer system that enables the valuable possibility to easily and quickly switch from positive to negative rapiers, thus leading to unparalleled textile efficiency when handling the widest range of weft yarns counts, from 10 up to 48,000 dtex, in single or multiple weft insertions configurations.
Another key advantage of Hercules lies in the perfect warp yarns control. In fact, the back-rest roller perfectly couples sturdiness with responsiveness ensuring the perfect warp yarns compensation.
Moreover, the take-up system skillfully handles both extremely coarse and super light fabrics.
Hercules, available in weaving width up to 6200 mm, effectively weaves even the heaviest technical fabrics.
Mono-rapier Weaving Machine UniRap
UniRap embodies versatility and provides endless weaving possibilities. Combining the advantages of a positive rapier weft insertion with the gentle yarns treatment ensured by the free fight transfer system, UniRap enables complex and creative fabrics weaving with practically no limitations.
The absence of the weft exchange thanks to the positive rapier weft transfer featuring an open patented rapier system allows the weaver to process the widest range of weft yarns with maximum textile efficiency.
Ranging from refined lamé to high tenacity monofilament yarns, passing through bouclé yarns up to carbon, polyester and polypropylene tape, UniRap provides the possibility to weave sophisticated technical fabrics and innovative fashion styles. Based on reliable and user-friendly electronic and mechanical platforms and providing excellent ease-of-use, UniRap clearly provides valuable benefits in terms of versatility, performances and reliability guaranteeing to quickly penetrate new market opportunities. The insertion cycle is electronically driven, including the weft clamping settings and the flexible electronic architecture offers real-time management of the on-board automated devices.
Designed as an open platform, UniRap comes to the market in a variety of configurations enabling the weaver to create the perfect loom for his specific requirements, from standard versions with weft feeders up to 12 colors with Jacquard or dobby shedding machines for fancy apparel or furnishing to the single-color zero twist weft feeding for tape yarns up to 30 mm.
Projectile Weaving Machine P7300HP
For the projectile machine, the legendary and unique P7300HP, technical fabrics are its specialty due to the unparalleled versatility and reliability of its weft insertion system. The unmatchable uniqueness of the weft transfer consists in the single insertion driven by the projectile, which catches the weft and carries it directly with no exchanges.
The P7300HP continues to harness great interest from projectile weaving aficionados and represents an unbeaten and unbeatable benchmark for those looking to weave the very widest fabrics (over 6 meters) and high-specialty materials, such as agrotextile, geotextile and carpet backing fabrics. Still today, when it comes to weaving tape yarns, the Itema projectile weaving machine provides the highest performance and the longest life-span compared to all the other technologies in the market.
Airjet Weaving Machines A95002
The airjet A95002 inspires the curiosity and sparks the interest from real technology buffs, especially in demanding markets (USA, Russia and India to name just a few), and has already amassed important references, especially in medical, automotive and parachute applications.
The winning combination of two exclusive and unique Itema features – the shed geometry and the airjet weft insertion – makes the A95002 the airjet weaving machine which guarantees the highest fabric quality on the market, especially when the speed increases. Tested in real weaving environment during extensive Customers trials, the A95002 demonstrated in fact the capability to completely avoid the so called snarls.
When it comes to weaving very high-density fabrics dedicated devices ensure excellent results. The reinforced whip roller eliminates friction allowing an improved warp tension control and reducing warp stops.
Moreover, the longer dwell of the cam sley drive allows a longer weft insertion time, leading to a more efficient weft filling insertion and, when it comes to weaving the coarsest yarns, the Double Tandem Nozzles play a key role to effectively run at the highest speed.
As for the leno binding the A95002 offers multiple options. The Itema patented ELD – Electronic Leno Device, is the ideal solution on high speed machines guaranteeing a perfect leno binding whilst significantly reducing operational costs thanks to its innovative design. In case of specific synthetic yarns, the RLD – Rotary Leno Device answers to the most stringent weaving requirements.
Always attentive to its Customers needs, Itema set up Itematech with the aim to provide to technical fabrics producers a partner capable of satisfying their specific requirements by offering the most complete weaving solutions range available in the market and the most skilled technical textiles team in the industry.
Do you want to get in touch with an Itematech expert to evaluate your weaving needs? Send an email to contact@itemagroup.com
Itematech Applications:
| Agrotextiles | |
| Airbag Flat and OPW | |
| Para-Aramid Fabrics | |
| Awnings Fabrics | |
| Carbon Fibre and Tape | |
| Coating Fabrics, standard and heavy | |
| Conveyor Belts, standard and heavy | |
| Filter Fabrics, standard and heavy | |
| Bolting Cloths | |
| Geotextiles | |
| Fiberglass | |
| PP Bags and Big Bags (FIBC) | |
| Sailcloth and Parachute | |
| Canvas Fabrics | |
| Medical Fabrics | |
| Automotive Fabrics | |
| Leno Fabrics |