The VTR23 for technical fabrics is a double rapier weaving machine inserting simultaneously two fillings. Pile yarns are used to connect the top and bottom fabric. Numerous technical fabrics are woven on the VTR23 i.e. distance weaves, multiple layer weaves, geotextiles, filter fabrics, etc.

Distance fabrics consist of a top and bottom woven fabric bonded together by vertical pile yarns. These pile yarns are woven into the top and bottom fabrics forming an integral sandwich structure.

Pic. 1: Resin impregnated distance fabric woven with glass yarns (a) used to produce light sandwich laminated wind mill wings (b)	Pic. 2: Flexible distance fabrics (a) of 500 mm for dyke reinforcement (b) with concrete filling or for thermal insulation (c) with polystyrene filling.

Distance fabrics woven with glass yarns are impregnated with thermoset resin. Due to the capillary forces, the distance fabric rises to the preset pile height. A strong and light sandwich laminate is formed. The excellent mechanical properties of this light sandwich has many applications in the composites industry: light partition walls and hardtops, double wall for storage tanks, light high speed crafts, bus panels and roofing, trucks side skirts, horse trailers, windmill wings. (picture 1)

With lancets and false picks, distance fabrics between 15 and 500 mm or even more can be woven. Typical applications for flexible distance fabrics are lifting bags, inflatable boats and shelters, reinforcement of dykes after filling with pebbles and concrete, thermal insulation after filling with polystyrene. (Picture 2)

Multiple layer weaves are also woven at higher production rates as two fillings are inserted simultaneously. (Picture 3). Heavy loaded fabrics i.e. for ballistic protection are woven in multiple layers.

Pic. 3: Multiple layer fabric (a) woven at high production rate with the double rapier weaving machine VTR23 for technical fabrics (b)	Pic. 4: Pile fabrics for vacuum cleaner brushes (a) and painting rollers (b) woven on VTR23 equipped with a cutting motion

A VTR23 for technical fabrics, equipped with a cutting motion weaves fabrics for painting rollers, fasteners with high binding strength, light lock pile fabric for the photographic industry, vacuum cleaner brushes. (picture 4). For more information on technical fabrics production, the visitors can see professionals from Van de Wiele at hall 3.1, booth H27.