Wakayama ? Shima Seiki has today launched
two new knitting machines which will allow manufacturers to produce ultrafine
15 gauge WholeGarment knitwear at twice previous speeds and a new intarsia
machine which it says will revolutionise multi-colour intarsia knitting.
Shima says the new MACH2X153 18L machine
(pictured above right) is a breakthrough in this the most technologically
sophisticated form of commercial knitting. This latest model in Shima Seiki's
flagship MACH2X series can knit beautifully shaped WholeGarment knitwear at
more than twice the productivity over prior models but this time with the
capability to produce sophisticated ultrafine 15 gauge knitwear.
The new machine achieves knitting speeds of
up to 1.6 metres per second thanks to a special large-hook version of Shima
Seiki's innovative SlideNeedle which is mounted on 4 needlebeds at 18-gauge
needle pitch. This effectively yields very tight, high-grade 15 gauge texture
fabrics.
The machine also employs Shima's Rapid
Response ?R2CARRIAGE? for quicker carriage returns after each knitted course,
and its i-DSCS Digital Stitch Control System with Intelligence undergoes a
standard upgrade to a brand new system called i-DSCS+DTC which features Dynamic
Tension Control. This allows variable electronic control of yarn tension,
thereby supporting high-speed knitting of delicate yarns to reduce the chance
of yarn breaks.
Intarsia fabrics
Meanwhile Shima has also introduced its new
MACH2SIG computerized intarsia shaped knitting machine which it says
revolutionises multi-colour intarsia knitting by increasing productivity in
ways never before possible.
Shima says the MACH2SIG (pictured left) is at
the cutting edge of flat knitting machine technology and can knit intarsia in
speeds up to 1.4 metres/sec. The maximum number of yarn carriers has increased
from 32 to 40, allowing for more flexibility during knitting and expanding the
range of possible intarsia patterns.
This machine is also equipped with the new
i-DSCS+DTC Digital Stitch Control System as an option and its WideGauge
capability permits a variety of gauges to be knit on a single machine, allowing
the MACH2SIG to play various production roles. In particular, the MACH2 SIG123SV
features WideGauge capability that allows the freedom to handle changing
seasons and shifting trends without investing in a machine for every gauge or
resorting to the complex, time-consuming task of gauge conversion.
There is a new Automatic Yarn Carrier Setting
software on SDS-ONE apparel design systems that improves set-up efficiency and
brings down lead times. Depending on the intarsia pattern, what used to take
hours or days to program can now be performed in minutes or even seconds.
More importantly however is its
dramatically expanded range of design, colour and patterns (pictured right)
that permits the designer to further explore unprecedented areas in the world
of intarsia knitting. The machine also makes use of spring-type sinkers which
operate full-time regardless of carriage position, and provide gentle holddown
movement for improvements in quality and texture for complicated
three-dimensional fabrics.
Shima began shipment of MACH2SIG in January
of 2010 and has been exhibiting the machine at private show circuits in various
markets worldwide and reports a steady stream of orders for both of the new
machines.
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