Japanese textile solutions provider Shima Seiki will exhibit at the upcoming JEC World 2020 exposition where it will unveil a new prototype weft-knitting machine that is capable of multiaxial insertion. Fabrics produced on the prototype machine use inlay technique for the production of hybrid textiles that combine the stretch characteristics of knitted fabrics with the stability of woven textiles, suited to various technical applications, the company says. Warp insertion further expands the capability of the machine to produce 3Dshaped carbon fibre and composite preforms directly on the machine. This is made possible because flat knitting as a textile production method is capable of producing end products that are shaped to form and with added thickness. There are number of further advantages to this machine. For example, savings in post-processing time, cost, material and labour as compared to current methods of preform production are immense, realizing efficient and sustainable production. The company’s own yarn unwinding technology is also used for optimum yarn feed and tension for use with technical yarns that are otherwise difficult to knit.

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