About ITMA, he adds “Barcelona was an extremely efficient place to finalize orders and initiate new ones. ITMA in Barcelona was a good edition, and without the macro uncertainties concerning the global economic growth and the US - China negotiations on tariffs and trade, it would have been record breaking but, perhaps more important than the short term, it was the place to discuss, at the highest level, the future of our business with our customers/long term partners and analyze with them the major trends which are shaping our industry”.

The first trend is the demand for eco-responsibility. It comes from the final consumer. Since ITMA, a study published this September 2019, by the French Fashion Institute, including a survey of 5000 European ( France, Germany and Italy ) and American consumers has shown high demands and expectations for a eco-responsible fashion. Raw materials have to be natural or eco friendly, recycled products are welcome, the production process at least partly local. What is really missing, the study shows, is enough supply of these products eventhough, due to their understanding of their responsibilities and the pressure from customers, many producers and retailers have make a point of doing more than is required by law, and acknowledge a commitment to all stakeholders and to the future of our planet.

One of the most efficient way to save energy is adapting servomotors which can be used in a close-loop control system to correct any speed deficiency and save energy while , at the same time, enhance the quality of the production process. For example, NSC SCHLUMBERGER the global specialists in textile machines for processing long staple fibres such as wool and wool-like fibres has introduce the ERA combing machine in a multi-servomotor drive design. With this new drive, most of the settings will be possible via the main control screen. The GC chain gill also benefits from additional axes driven by servomotors which allow more settings on the main control screen. All these new servomotor drives will allow more precise settings than using standard gearboxes which will enhance textile quality. Furthermore these new drives and technology allow recipes to be saved on each machine, data exchange between machines will be possible through a Manufacturing Execution System (MES – Industry 4.0), as is remote access to the machines in case of incidents through an Ethernet connection.

Industry4.0

A second trend is moving forward : Industry 4.0. It requires more and more sensors which FIL CONTROL provides thanks to 30 years of experience in the yarn sensors and yarn cutter industry.

After 5 years of development from Fil Control R&D team, the ring spinning market is now ready to welcome the Motion Reflective Sensor. The company was very pleased to see the high demand in their MRS-P speed sensors for ring spinning machinery that allows monitoring, controlling and optimizing the yarn manufacturer productivity for better quality at lower cost. The new Motion Yarn Tension sensor developed for tyre and carpet yarn twisting attracted many yarn manufacturers that were looking for many years for a reliable product with homogenous output signal sensors. This proven quality allowed Fil control to sign multiple contracts.

SUPERBA, the global leader in the treatment of carpet yarn; expanded its area of application. The new SUPERBA B403 automatic winder marked a real technological breakthrough. With its individual spindle motorization drive, combined with a single tension sensor per position. It enables a constant tension winding process, a very accurate bobbin length measuring as well as a unique quality control for each yarn position. it opens up new opportunities in terms of winding quality. Connected through cloud computing to the new VANDEWIELE TEXCONNECT supervision system, the B403 is part of the Factory 4.0 concept. It provides readily-available data on yarn tension to supply the predictive maintenance and reduce yarn waste, allowing manufacturers to make the highest quality carpets at the most economic prices. As for the newmulti-layer hot-air heat-setting line DHS3, it provides an unequaled level of evenness and a highly homogenous fixation characteristic to the yarn. This new line, introduced as a complementary process to the well known pressurized saturated steam heat- setting line TVP3, enables the carpet manufacturer to explore new properties for different types of fibers (such as stain resistance, enhanced bulk,...) with a high energy saving and a reduced floor space.