After the successful implementation of the latest fabric dyeing machines iMaster H2O and soft-TRD SIII, Thies is launching its newest yarn dyeing machine in Shanghai, iCone.

Schlafhorst points the way and opens up new perspectives for the industry with pioneering innovations and intelligent automation solutions. The company from Übach-Palenberg in Germany with its long tradition is dedicated to ensuring the success of its customers. It has a presence in textile markets across the globe with an extensive sales and service network, along with production plants and technology centres in China and India.

René Bucken, from Schlafhorst's marketing  said, “We are looking forward to presenting our new products in Shanghai and discussing our response to the pressing issues in the industry with people for whom, like us, textiles are in the blood."

Rotor spinning machines from Schlafhorst

The Autocoro 8 can now demonstrate its true profitability on 552 spinning positions. With rotor speeds of 160,000 rpm tested in practice and new automation solutions, the Autocoro 8 shows further increase in productivity.

The new semi-automatic BD 6 rotor spinning machine has been equipped with patented digital technology from the high-end world of the Autocoro. It is highly productive and delivers packages that are scarcely distinguishable from Autocoro packages.

Autocoro 8 with high productivity

More and more spinning mills are now producing high-speed yarns constantly at 160,000 rpm with Autocoro 8. With maximum machine length of 552 spinning positions, the Autocoro 8 is 15% more productive. But this high productivity doesn't take up any more space, because the Autocoro 8 with its single-drive technology is still 13% more compact than belt-driven machines of comparable length from other manufacturers. New, intelligent automation solutions ensure even greater productivity, permitting a seamless lot change on single-lot machines among other things. At the same time, batches can be reliably separated if needed without all spinning positions having to run out first when spinning cans or components need replacing. Thus, changing material no longer kills productivity.

The new BD 6: packages with the Autocoro character

In the world of semi-automatic machines, the new BD 6 even with the basic specification produces packages with the Autocoro character. The patented digital piecing technology DigiPiecing with its high level of piecing reliability and the highly precise winding technology from the Autocoro are capable of even more. On its 480 spindles the BD 6 achieves a take-up speed of 230 m/min. This is 40% faster and more productive than its predecessor.

Zinser ring spinning machines

Schlafhorst demonstrates afresh that Zinser ring and compact spinning machines are the benchmark for productivity and efficiency.

Automation: A longstanding issue

Many working processes can be simplified and designed to be less labour-intensive thanks to automation.The automation also improves quality, as manual intervention can damage the material and impair the quality. Schlafhorst offers economical automation solutions in all areas. With full automation of the ring spinning mill, no further manual handling is required from the roving frame to the package winder.

Doffing automatically with CoWeMat

The CoWeMat from Zinser saves up to 61% of labour costs depending on the yarn count and bobbin format. At the same time, the CoWeMat reduces the staff intensive logistics outlay in the mill. The interruption-resistant, unsorted tube feed CoWeFeed guarantees frictionless processes that eliminate the need for operator intervention and reduce operator input by 66%. The fully automated link to the winding machine, in which the spinning and winding capacity can be suitably coordinated, offers even greater benefits than this standalone solution. This increases the efficiency rating of the overall installation thanks to optimum utilisation.

ZinserRing 72 and ZinserImpact 72, a new machine generation

The new ZinserImpact 72 compact spinning machine will be on display in combination with the Autoconer X5 at Schlafhorst's exhibition booth in Shanghai. The new ZinserImpact 72 is equipped with efficient self-cleaning compact spinning technology, Impact FX.

Autoconer X5 with intelligent material flow technology

In Shanghai, Schlafhorst presents the Autoconer X5 linked to the new compact spinning machine ZinserImpact 72. The trend towards automation of the ring spinning mill continues. After Indonesia, Thailand and Korea, a real wave of automation is now engulfing China and India in Asia. Rising labour costs and more sophisticated quality requirements as well as a growing shortage of suitable staff are prompting investments  in large linked installations and also standalone machines like the Autoconer X5 type D, which makes it particularly easy to automate manual process sequences.

FlowShare FX: Reliability & productivity

The automation highlight on the Autoconer X5 being exhibited is FlowShare FX. Schlafhorst has fundamentally improved the logistical intelligence and process reliability of the Autoconer with what is currently the most modern, smartest material flow technology. FlowShare FX is the only system on the market to balance out fluctuations in the material supply entirely independently and reliably: Vario Reserve adjusts the number of reserve bobbins to match the requirement, High-Speed Feeding uses a differentiated belt speed to ensure a supply to meet this requirement and Intelligent Bobbin Sharing exchanges bobbins between the winding positions entirely autonomously if a material bottleneck threatens.

FX technology on the Autoconer

The machine displayed at the booth is also equipped with the top features of Schlafhorst's winding and splicing technology. PreciFX, Autotense FX, Ecopack FX, Speedster FX and the injection splicer to guarantee a unique package quality, while maintaining high productivity. The simple, flexible handling of PreciFX and package designs that are optimally adapted to the requirements of downstream process stages convince its users in all application areas. Thanks to PreciFX, the compromises that have had to be made over the years regarding the structure of hard and dye packages as well as in bobbin processing and rewinding have finally been resolved.

Schlafhorst Customer Support A secure innovation path to the future

Companies that purchase textile machines from Schlafhorst secure an economical innovation path to the future. The German textile machinery manufacturer implements technological innovations so that they can be retrofitted to existing machines. With its original parts, modernisation kits, technology kits and service kits, Schlafhorst assumes responsibility for innovation throughout the product life cycle and ensures that even customers with older machine generations always benefit from technological advances.

Over 450 service staff in 20 service and three technology centres advise customers all over the world with regard to productivity and quality increases. They support customers with regard to investment decisions and produce detailed efficiency calculations.

Schlafhorst customers are not only buying a machine, they are also benefiting from a life-cycle partnership, which guarantees them a continuous strengthening of innovation in the ongoing production operation. Schlafhorst implements this life-cycle partnership among other things with tailor-made modernisation and technology kits. Improvements in the design of individual parts and spinning components or entire assemblies can thus be retrofitted quickly and easily.

Retrofit additional spinning positions and compact technology as required

At ITMA ASIA 2014, Schlafhorst presents two interesting retrofit packages. With the Autocoro Modernisation Kit for machine extension, the Autocoro 8 can be extended to 552 spinning positions, thereby increasing the productivity per machine by around 15%. The Zinser Modernisation Kit for compact spinning technology integrates the world's most efficient compact spinning technology into Zinser ring spinning machines of the 350, 351, 450 and 451 series. Schlafhorst's claim to innovation also extends to the original parts.

Over 5,700 active customers in more than 120 countries are already benefiting from the innovative technology and unique customer support offered by Schlafhorst.