Italian textile machinery manufacturers

The textile machinery industry requires great investments in research, deep know-how, long experience in textile, mechanic and electronic fields. Italy is today ranked as the second largest producer of textile machinery in the world and the technological level of its production is considered of the highest standard even by its competitors themselves. In 2008, the production of Italian textile machinery amounted to 2.0 billion Euro, 79% of which (worth 1.6 billion Euro) exported to about 130 countries. Asia (43%) is the main export area, followed by Europe (34%), South America (11%), Africa (7%) and North America (5%). Some of machinery manufacturers are highlighted here for the interest of our readers. Amina Baqai. Ed.

Since its establishment in 1974, Lafer has become one of the leading suppliers of surface finishing machines. Lafer is known mainly for its raising and shearing machines, but recently have developed new finishing areas, such as compacting, drying, etc with an objective of diversifying and expanding their business.

The present production program includes: raising and shearing machines, sueding machines with emery and brushes for woven and knitted fabrics, fringing and cutting machines for scarves and blankets, felt compactors for knitted fabrics in open or tubular form, vacuum dryers for woven fabrics.

UltraSoft: Maximum operating flexibility

The UltraSoft played a key role in creating the international fashion for brush sueded fabrics and is surely the most widely used machine of its kind in the world. The machine is very easy to use, when compared to other sueding machines and allows easy reproducibility of the sueding effects even by semi trained staff.

In case of Ultrasoft, the lengthwise fabric tension is automatically adjusted by various load cells controlled by the computer in order to ensure the sueding uniformity. This also allows to vary the sueding effect from the typical UltraSoft effect with very short and dense pile (not achievable on conventional machines) to a longer pile.

Another important feature of this machine is the ability to control all parameters in order to process any kind fabric. The wide range of adjustments are possible  such as drum speed, brush speed, drum rotation direction (pro or counter fabric), brush rotation (pile or counter pile) allow to reach the optimal sueding effect on any knit or woven fabric regardless of elasticity. The machine can be set to achieve new and diversified results even on the same type of fabric.

UltraSoft – L: For knitted fabrics

UltraSoft L developed for knitted fabrics offers more effective sueding dust removal. In order to enhance the sueding, dust elimination from both fabric and machine, a ventilation system in the sueding chamber creates an air flow that proactively moves dust particles towards the suction hood. Fabric cleaning unit (for knit fabrics) is made of a soft natural bristle brush, that acts on the sueded side of the fabric to remove the sueding dust. The unit is provided with a dust collector hood to be connected to the suction unit.

Ultrasoft for woven fabrics

Fabric cleaning unit (for woven fabrics) also has a same soft natural bristle brush that acts on the sueded side of the fabric to remove the sueding dust. A beater roller acts on the backside of the fabric. The unit is provided with a similar dust collector hood connected to the suction unit.

Abrasive brush unit at drum exit (Lafer SpA patent) is driven by an independent inverter controlled variable speed motor, the brush enhances the pile orientation and increases the sueding effect.