Technology

In the four years since the release of EmbroideryStudio, Wilcom has been meeting with embroidery specialists in order to better address their individual needs. Among its results, Wilcom developed its new advanced integrated Design Library and its EMB design file. These tools will not only improve productivity and enhance the number of orders, but do this with increased accuracy.

Automatically indexes all designs

Managing hundreds or thousands of client designs is time consuming and often leads to lost design files, resulting in having to redo the work. The new advanced integrated Design Library automatically indexes all designs on a computer or network, allowing users to search for a design in seconds by customer, order, date or any other text field. Recently viewed designs can be retrieved and opened in two clicks. Designs can also be grouped and sorted by customer, order, date, folder, design status, stitch count and more. Designs can also be opened, converted, printed and stitched in a batch, saving the users from repeatedly doing the same tasks.

Creative abstract office business technology communication internet concept: Modern professional desktop computer PC workstation with blank screen or empty monitor, keyboard and mouse isolated on white background.

Productivity tool

Functionality has been increased by the latest Wilcom. EMB design file, which allows all the job information to be stored effortlessly together with the design. This means there is no need for a separate database, since the garment, quantities, sizes, colours and approval status can all be identified in one place.

Open a design file and you will also find the customer and contact details, order number, order and due dates, general notes and more. Everything is also indexed and searchable within the Design Library, making this an extremely powerful productivity tool. Real-life TrueView representations of designs can be displayed on high-resolution images in the actual colours the customer orders.

The enhanced auto-digitizing provides nearaccurate stitch counts, too, allowing quotes to be rapidly generated. Approval sheets can then be e-mailed directly to customers for fast approvals. Both of these features are available in EmbroideryStudio e4 Designing and Decorating. Hereby, all the usual frustrations around design, orders and approval management are removed, resulting in an uncomplicated and easy-to-use multi-decorating solution.

Shipments of long-staple spindles and open-end rotors were up, while those of short-staple spindles were down. Shipments of draw-texturing spindles and circular-knitting machines decreased, while those ofshuttle-less looms and electronic flat knitting machines increased.

Deliveries of new long-staple spindles and open-end rotors soared by nearly 111 per cent and 66 per cent, respectively from 2015 to 2016. The number of shipped short-staple spindles decreased in 2016 by 12 per cent compared to the previous year. The number of shipped draw-texturing spindles fell by 14 per cent and shipments for new circular knitting machines by 3 per cent year-on-year. In contrast, deliveries of electronic flat knitting machines soared by 99 per cent in 2016. In the segment of finishing machines (fabrics continuous), the number of stenters increased in 2016 year-on-year by 22 per cent.

These are the main results of the 39th annual International Textile Machinery Shipment Statistics (ITMSS) just released by the International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF). The report covers six segments of textile machinery, namely spinning, draw texturing, weaving, large circular knitting, flat knitting and finishing. The 2016 survey has been compiled in cooperation with more than 140 textile machinery manufacturers, representing a comprehensive measure of world production. This number does not include the numerous Chinese companies that are represented by the so called “District”. Therefore, the amount of participating companies is likely to be around 200.

Spinning machinery

Shipments of new short-staple spindles fell by nearly 12 per cent year-on-year in 2016, the third decrease in a row. The level of short staple spindles declined to about 7.9 mn spindles, the lowest level since 2009. Most of the new short staple spindles (92 per cent) were shipped to Asia, whereby shipments fell by 12 per cent year-on-year. Thereby China, the world’s largest investor of short-staple spindles, experienced an increase of 9 per cent, whereas deliveries to Bangladesh, Indonesia and Vietnam rose by 97 per cent, 4 per cent and 31 per cent, respectively. The six largest investors in short-staple spindles in 2016 where China followed by India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Turkey and Pakistan.

Global shipments of long-staple (wool) spindles soared by 111 per cent from around 54,000 in 2015 to nearly 114,000 in 2016. Deliveries to Turkey, one of the main investors in long-staple spindles in the last few years, jumped by 153 per cent from just around 11,000 in 2015 to around 27,800 spindles in 2016. The majority of long-staple spindles (60 per cent) were shipped to Europe (including Turkey). Nearly 39 per cent of long-staple spindles had Asia as destination.

Shipments of open-end rotors rose by 66 per cent to a level over 634,000 rotors in 2016. About 92 per cent of worldwide shipments of open-end rotors were destined for Asia. Thereby, deliveries to Asia increased strongly by over 87 per cent to nearly 583,000 rotors. Shipments to China, the world’s largest investor in openend rotors, increased its investments significantly by around 92 per cent in 2016. In contrast, regions such as North America and South America recorded annual percentage declines of 72 per cent and 53 per cent, respectively. The world’s second and third largest investors in 2016 were India and Turkey.

Shipments to China, the world’s largest investor in open-end rotors, increased its investments significantly by around 92 per cent in 2016. In contrast, regions such as North America and South America recorded annual percentage declines of 72 per cent and 53 per cent, respectively. The world’s second and third largest investors in 2016were India and Turkey.

Weaving machinery

In 2016, worldwide shipments of shuttle-less looms increased by 4 per cent to 84,700 units. Thereby, shipments of air-jet and water-jet shuttle-less looms increased by 15 per cent (to 22,900) and by 6 per cent (to 31,800), respectively. In contrast, rapier/projectile shuttle-less looms decreased by 6 per cent to around 30,000 units. Not surprisingly, the main destination of shipments of all shuttleless looms (air-jet, water-jet and rapier/projectile) in 2016 was Asia with 91 per cent of worldwide deliveries, of which 41 per cent were water-jet looms and 32 per cent rapier/projectile looms. In Europe and North America 73 per cent and 56 per cent of shipments were for rapier/projectile looms, while the share of waterjet looms was only 2 per cent and 7 per cent, respectively.

Finishing machinery

The 2016 edition of ITMF’s International Textile Machinery Shipments Statistics included for the eleventh time also data on finishing machinery. However, the categories were revised in 2015. In the segment fabrics continuous shipments of some machine types increased in 2016 like dyeinglines (CPB), sanforizing/compacting machines or stenters. In contrast, shipments of washing machines (stand-alone), bleaching-lines, mercerizinglines and relax drying/tumbling machines decreased. In the segment fabrics discontinuous shipments of air-jet dyeing and jigger/beam dyeing machines fell, whereas those of overflow dyeing machines rose

Winswin, established in 2013 under the Win Hanverky Group, is a Hong Kong based robotic mannequin company with its own manufacturing facilities in China. The company has a team of professional engineers who are experts in their fields: From mechanical engineering, prototyping; electronics to robotics, software and motors. It sees innovation essential in moving the world forward, which makes its dauntless research and developments indispensible.

One of the company’s breakthrough offering is i.Dummy® Revolutionary Robotic Mannequins technology. The technology was developed by the Hong Kong Poly Technic University in 2013. The project was led by Dr Allan Chan Chee-kooi, Associate Professor at PolyU’s Institute of Textiles and Clothing (ITC), with team members. Applying advanced mechatronics technology as the platform of mannequin development, Dr Allan Chan and his team members collected massive anthropometric data from worldwide population, as well as actual body scales from 3D Body Scanner, to create I.Dummy’s universal body scales and sizes. Understanding the new fitting revolution has come, Winswin acquired the technology, refined and brought it into the market. I.Dummy will assist its keenly sensitive fashion partners to fit in the new era.

It is an intelligent robotic technology that can change at a moment’s notice to adapt to almost any body type, of any size or ethnic background. It’s also changing the face of the garment industry which until now has relied on traditional fixed-size mannequins. “A single mannequin [the i.Dummy] fits all,” the company says. “Workshops or shop-floors won’t have to stock mannequins of different sizes, which often take up lots of valuable working space.” At the heart of the i.Dummy is a massive database of body sizes collected from American, European, Japanese and Chinese sources, developed by the research team composed of experts.

The implications for the garment and fashion industry are enormous. With its ability to assume any body shape in just eight seconds, i.Dummy will accelerate the process of garment design and development, allow garment factories to produce for multiple international buyers and overcome consumer reluctance to purchase clothing online. Its ability to mimic different body profiles means the i.Dummy is also an excellent educational and training tool for fashion design students. Some of its major advantages are:

• Business managing: Use one i.Dummy for different size range from different brands. Get more business without extra costs
• Product developing: Make sure all design details perfectly in all sizes to decrease the amount of substandard
• Manufacturing: Fit and design quality checks for any size at anytime
• Fitting: Revise the updated customer’s body profiles in a short time
• Retailing: Presentation and display in the perfect sizes
• Designing: Save different sizes for every unique haute couture design
• Trading: Use same standard for fitting increasing the efficiency of communication among clients and vendors
• Online shopping: Fitting in customers’ sizes when shopping online
• Educating: Excellent tool for fashion students

SPGPrints announced that its JAVELIN® digital textile printer has won the European Digital Press Association (EDP) Award for “Best Textile Solution” in the Print and Finishing Category. The award was presented by the Association at a ceremony during the FESPA 2017 exhibition in Hamburg, Germany on 10th May, 2017. This achievement follows the same award being presented last year to the SPGPrints’ PIKE® digital textile printer. The JAVELIN digital textile printer was launched at ITM 2017, in April 2016, and installations have been taking place around the world.

The EDP Association comprises 20 printing trade press magazines in 27 countries, representing more than half a million readers. This year’s entries were judged by the EDP technical committee that comprised Herman Hartman (Chairman), Editor, signPro (Benelux); Rob Haak. President, SPIKIX; Klaus-Peter Nicolay, Editor, Druckmarkt, (Germany) and Igor Terentyev, Editor, Publish, (Russia).

In making the award, the judging panel commented, “The printer offers quality and value to textile printers who are taking the first step into digital production. The JAVELIN has several multiple-pass scanning printing modes that can print highresolution images up to 1,200 dpi on a variety of substrates. Possibly a breakthrough in textile at high resolution and small droplets with special inks for textile.”

The JAVELIN uses 36 Fujifilm Dimatix Samba print heads and SPGPrints’ unique Archer® technology to produce variable drops for optimal control of detail and saturation.The printer offers flexibility in configuration for use with acid, reactive and disperse PIKE Inks from SPGPrints. Its capability of printing up to two mn linear metres annually on a wide range of substrates makes it an ideal solution for printers taking their first steps into digital production, and those wishing to supplement an existing digital capability.

The award was accepted by Jos Notermans, Commercial Manager Digital Textiles at SPGPrints, who said, “The recognition of the JAVELIN printer’s capabilities, productivity and place in the global textile printing industry is extremely gratifying. It demonstrates the power of the Archer® technology that means printers can use the JAVELIN with a wide range of substrates and achieve high levels of print quality.

“Modern retailing demands shorter runs, faster turnarounds and shortened supply chains with no compromises on colour or print quality,” he continued. “The JAVELIN and PIKE printers offer this capability to different ends of the volume spectrum. To have this acknowledged by the EDP Award judges is a great endorsement of SPGPrints’ technology and leadership position in the textiles market”

ThreadSol- the pioneer in enterprise material management for the sewn products industry- takes pride in constantly challenging the present and being part of such a revolution. ThreadSol’s outlook is to introduce technologically driven products to drive manufacturing by targeting material cost and differentiate from the extremely competitive environment. With its innovative solutions, ThreadSol demonstrates an entire range of enterprise material management solutions, which can help apparel manufacturers save material cost and boost profits, in an industry that is heavily dependent upon economic priorities.

IntelloCut

IntelloCut is a material planning and optimisation solution for the sewn products industry. The flagship solution of ThreadSol has been successfully deployed in 90+ factories worldwide, who plan 2.5 mn pieces every day. With the help of its advanced algorithms, IntelloCut gives the most optimised cutplan, roll plan and lay plan, in just one click. The cloud computing structure helps to access the solution from any point. It also offers a feedback system which works like GPS: Any variations on floor and the plan can be changed with a single refresh button. With over 150+ features, intelloCut is a product ahead of its time and truly defines the new age technology.

In a constant effort to improve, ThreadSol has introduced IntelloGreen: A tablet application which replaces on-floor printed layslips. The application is based on cloud computing and takes data from intelloCut, transforming business from traditional to environment friendly. The advanced reporting structure of IntelloCut provides an edge to the manufacturers to get complete control over factory’s practices through IntelloMobile: World’s first fabric utilisation reporting app. It provides 100 per cent real-time traceability of fabric, with all reports on mobile phone.

IntelloBuy

IntelloBuy is a material estimation solution for the sewn products industry. It is the second product by ThreadSol, taking the enterprise material management model of the company to the next level.

IntelloBuy gives accurate buying consumption for a particular stylewhich saves millions of dollars of material cost at the buying stage, every day, for manufacturers worldwide. intelloBuy accesses factory historical database and allows the user to add exact wastage from factory floor to generate the most accurate fabric requirement. This can save up to 10 per cent fabric cost, ultimately boosting profit.

IntelloTrace

IntelloTrace is the world’s first NFC based production management solution for the sewn product industry. This is the first tracking tool to offer the technology used by Google and Apple to the manufacturing floor.

Apart from the advanced technology, intelloTrace streamlines the factory processes and facilitates customisation as per a factory’s requirement. It administers comprehensive tracking for the entire factory and helps in better control and execution of every department. Any anomaly in the factory is notified to the users by simple mobile alerts for immediate actionable intelligence for the smooth functioning of their departments. The entire functioning of the organisation can be monitored using interactive visual reports. The reports can be viewed at all levels of production – from the bird’s eye view at the factory to the in depth view at the operator level.