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.

Technological innovations of the finishing plants designed by MAT are appreciated all over the world for the high quality level, for their reliability, efficiency and punctual delivery. They offer perfect machines for surface and handle improvement of all kinds of fabrics.

Rotormat: Rapid scouring softening and drying machine

“Rotormat” highlights the forty-year experience of MAT, developed in fabrics wet finishing processing, as it is possible to obtain different kinds of soft and look effects in fabrics of pure and blended wool and on cellulosic materials, like linen, cotton and their blends with synthetic (PE-PA) and artificial fibres. These fabrics are dry treated at a speed of 800/900 m./min. With a special device placed inside the driving roller, in the upper side, an atomized solution of water and steam is smoothly injected. Another possibility is the mechanical/chemical softening process. Firstly the fabric is soaked with softener into a 3 cylinder foulard and then dried with the Rotormat machine at a temperature that can be adjusted from 90° to 105°C.

The following treatments can be achieved:

• Physical, mechanical and chemical softening (SOFTPOP effect).
• Enzyme treatments for designer look effects.
• Chemical bleaching.
• Sand Washing and other Telluric effects.
• PES Caustic Soda Treatment at 98°C with silk effect.
• Washed out effects on cotton fabrics.
• Softening of synthetics in knitted materials.
• Bleached Indigo effect with enzymes and/or chemicals
• With the use of enzymes, it is possible to etch indigo colour and give denim  fabrics a vintage look.
• Wool and wool/ polyester blends: The following effects can easily be achieved.
• Light milling (upto 5%) with tri-dimensional effects, combined to a high degree of softness.
• Tumbler effects on knitted fabrics.
• Stretch wool comfort treatment on wool and wool/pes fabrics, with extraordinarily soft effects and a strong reduction in the treatment cost.
• Elastin effect weft-warp with elastomer with a new process on wet, obtained with caustic soda treatment in rope without tension and by polymerizing a special chemical product with stenter frame machine.
• High shrinkage effect in warp and weft with good compressing, by drying at a high speed after caustic soda treatment (800 m./min.) to obtain shrinkage effect of 12- 15%.
• Softening of finished goods by using steam (SOFT effect) and drying.

Rotormat is controlled by a PLC and a offers a clear and easily readable user interface display with touch screen. The programmed cycles can be memorized and recalled at any time: 100 programs (EACH MAY CONTAIN 100 Steps). The system is provided for the remote servicing and trouble shooting by means of modem.

Mistral: ideal for wet dry  finishing of all fibres

Mistral is a new machine ideal for customers with middle and small production lots, for which Rotormat model offers much larger capacity. Fabrics are driven  to conveyor belt system on which fabric adherence is assured by the compressed air action, facing fabric direction.

An automatic device keeps the pressure on the fabric to a minimum value in order to assure the adherence and it changes according to the type and fabric weight. Mistral is considered an economical  machine even its usage integrity is proven for for all modern finishing types both on fabric and on knitted goods. The main features are given as under:

• Rapid scouring of all fibres.
• Enzymatic treatments on natural and artificial fibres.
• Fabric dry softening with mechanical effect at high speed.
• Drying of pre-treated fabrics with chemical softeners.
•  “Soft” treatment on knitted goods with shrinkage and dimensional steadiness.