Groz-Beckert will present its latest products and services at the upcoming Febratex. © Groz-Beckert Knitted Outerwear, Hosiery/Socks, Sports/Activewear Groz-Beckert, a leading German supplier of industrial machine needles, precision parts and fine tools, will present its latest products and services from the fields of knitting, weaving and sewing at Febratex, which takes place in Blumenau, Brazil, from 21-24 August 2018. At the trade show, the knitting division will be presenting its product portfolio for circular knitting, flat knitting, legwear and warp knitting technologies. The focus will be on presenting system solutions to meet the increasing requirements with regard to wear and demanding textiles, as well as solutions for customer-specific requirements. The smooth interaction of the individual components can be observed in the "glass" knitting machines. New legwear exhibit For the first time at Febratex, this year Groz-Beckert will be presenting the new legwear exhibit. The acrylic exhibit displays various knitting technologies from the fields of socks and hosiery in different gauges, presenting a wide range of Groz-Beckert products in action with needles and system components for up to 10 different models. The product areas of circular knitting and flat knitting also present transparent knitting machines, complementing the presentation of Groz-Beckert's broad range of products in a vivid and unique way. Each of the three acrylic glass machines has individually removable elements for detailed viewing. One particular highlight from the product range is the further development of the litespeed needle – the litespeed plus. The optimised needle geometry is designed to reduce the machine temperature and result in significant energy savings in the knitting process. KnotMaster In the weaving product area, Groz-Beckert will be presenting the quick and universal tying machine KnotMaster AS/3 at Febratex. The high-performance tying machine features modern touchscreen controls, which make the handling transparent and clear. With four lease types, as well as single knots, automatic repeat, double thread and thread breakage monitoring, the AS/3 offers a wide range of features and covers a large number of applications. KnotMaster. © Groz-Beckert The tying machine also has an extensive range of yarns: In addition to cotton and wool, synthetic, mixed and elastic yarns can also be processed. Smart INH In the field of sewing, Groz-Beckert will be focusing on Smart INH. Since 2016, the company has been offering the quality management system INH (Ideal Needle Handling), a patented process for problem-free and time-saving handling of broken and damaged sewing machine needles. With Smart INH, the latest component of the quality management system, Groz-Beckert is now enabling the digital documentation of all needle breakages and all other needle changes. Users are supported by the specially developed INH@site app...

Groz-Beckert needle SAN SF. © Groz-Beckert Groz-Beckert needle SAN SF. © Groz-Beckert Reduced cleaning requirements and fewer lint-related lines in the knitwear when processing staple fibre yarn in large diameter circular knitting machines is the specialty of the new, patented Groz-Beckert needle SAN SF. The leading German provider of industrial machine needles presented its innovation at this year’s ITMA trade fair in Barcelona. The new SAN SF special application needle takes account of the fact that, by nature, the processing of staple fibre yarn involves a higher amount of lint that can accumulate in the needle track. It was designed to reduce the associated effects and helps to ensure that the knitting process runs fault-free for longer periods of time without prolonged interruptions for cleaning. Contamination Staple fibre yarns are made by twisting fibres of a respectively defined length. During processing in the knitting machine, yarns like these lose fibres due to friction. Protruding fibre ends can also break off. This results in increased fibre fly, which is deposited in and on the knitting machine. In conjunction with oil, contamination thus occurs, which means that the machine must be cleaned regularly to guarantee problem-free processes. If the mixture of oil and fibres enters the needle trick, it can accumulate under the needle shank and raise the needle. This leads to differences in the hook position. The result: formation of lines in the knitwear and potential damage to the needle due to contact with other machine elements. Solution “Here the only remedy is frequent cleaning,” the manufacturer explains. “The machine must be stopped, the needles must be removed and freed from residues in a time-consuming process. The slots of the cylinder must be cleaned. The machine is at a standstill.” Contamination and dust. © Groz-Beckert Contamination and dust. © Groz-Beckert “This is where the new Groz-Beckert SAN SF special application needle comes into play. Its special needle shank geometry prevents dirt from getting under the needles. This means that the machine can run for much longer without the necessity to remove the needles for cleaning even when processing staple fibre yarns and can produce more fabric during the same time.” The needle back is solid, i.e. without cut-outs. It therefore fills the entire needle trick and leaves no space for residues to accumulate. The needle stays in its position and keeps the needle trick clean for longer – up to three times longer in field tests, according to the company. “There are humps on the top side of the needle shank. They also help to transport fibres out of the needle trick and to keep them away from the back of the needle. They also support the trick wall if a neighbouring needle butt is overloaded in multi-track machines.” Benefits The SAN SF is said to significantly reduce the frequency of contamination-related lines in the knitted fabric. Knitting mills may benefit f...