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Automation is

essential for accurate, reliable and verifiable results when wise decision, as GTA delivered 12 million meters of

fabrics without any quality claims during the first six
monitoring and testing fabric quality. Usually, several
different people are involved in daily quality
months of operation. It’s possible to put a figure on
product decisions, and this can cause inconsistencies if they savings from claim-free production – but increased
customer satisfaction and trust perhaps has an even
don’t have access to the accurate and reliable data
greater value that can’t be calculated.
provided by our systems.
quality and TEXtalks: EVS has become USTER® EVS and its TEXtalks: Is there another example you can share
with us?
systems are now integrated in the USTER product
range. Why did you choose to partner with USTER?
Sam Cohen: Actually, there is more to say about GTA
business Sam Cohen: USTER is the world leader in quality experience. The major part of this company’s
testing, monitoring and classifying in textiles. I was
production is delivered to a coater in Germany.
sure that the combined technology of EVS and
Previously, the coating firm would routinely inspect
USTER would offer customers more potential for
the fabric delivered from GTA. However, since
optimization further automation and improvement in quality receiving products with EVS defect reports and
management, as well as increased and sustained
defect maps, the coater was able to eliminate this
product performance.
expensive process step. This customer obviously
TEXtalks: What would you recommend to fabric now has total confidence to rely on the EVS defect
reports from GTA – and consequentially has ordered
producers wishing to optimize quality? And how can an EVS visual inspection system to be installed on its
USTER® EVS solutions help? own stenter line.
Sam Cohen: Today, manufacturers in emerging
Sam Cohen completed his MBA at Southern Wesleyan University, in South markets face the same challenges that American TEXtalks: So far, automatic fabric assurance has not
Carolina USA. In 1992, he joined Elbit Vision Systems (EVS) and took part in the companies had in the past, when the textile industry yet become standard in every production mill. What
development of I-Tex, the first generation of fabric inspection machines. In 2010 migration to Asia started. Automation became will be the main driver for other mills to invest in
he became CEO and major shareholder of the company, which is known as a essential for future growth. It’s clear now that those this technology?
world-leading high-technology supplier for automated vision inspection, today manufacturers who automate their processes will be Sam Cohen: There is still clear potential for a high
employing 50 staff. After the acquisition of EVS by USTER, he leads the new the ones surviving in today’s competitive international proportion of other customers to benefit from
USTER subsidiary in Caesarea, Israel as the COO. Sam Cohen is Israeli citizen, environment. automation of their quality inspection and monitoring
52 years old and married with three children. TEXtalks: Cost efficiency is a key driver in any processes. I’m absolutely convinced that automation

Sam Cohen production unit. How do USTER® EVS systems in quality management is essential for business
success and continuing growth. In addition to
COO, Uster Technologies Ltd. support this requirement? advantages for producers – such as reduced labor
Sam Cohen: As well as the advantages we have
already mentioned, our systems give mill managers cost, yield enhancement and constant quality control
the ability to optimize yield and labor sources. In – we have recently noted that many end-users and
other words, they can do a better job with fewer staff retailers are pushing their suppliers to move to
In April 2018, Uster Technologies announced the lead you to look into automatic material inspection? – and even achieve a higher yield. automation. I believe that the entire textile industry will
acquisition of Elbit Vision Systems Ltd. (EVS), a Sam Cohen: Since 1987, I had been involved in ultimately benefit from this trend.
world-leading supplier of high-tech inspection high-tech and startup companies. Then, in 1992, I TEXtalks: Could you give us a practical example of
solutions for the textile industry. EVS vision-based visited a textile mill in the US and immediately how USTER® EVS systems enabled a customer to TEXtalks: What are the likely future trends for
quality management in general?
systems automatically identify defects in fabric and realized the huge potential of automation in the textile increase cost efficiency? Sam Cohen: I believe that, within the next ten years,
web products – ultimately enabling users to grade industry. Today, we can clearly recognize the parallel Sam Cohen: It’s a fact that a new mending machine monitoring systems will be applied on any weaving,
their quality and value. Sam Cohen, co-founder and factors behind the need for automation in textiles: can never operate flawlessly, even with knitting and finishing system. This will create an
major shareholder of EVS, is now the Chief Operating perpetual increases in labor costs, pressure to state-of-the-art production methods. GTA, a German immediate need to control and link quality data from
Officer of the business within USTER. In this interview, improve cost/performance ratios, and workforce fabric processing and finishing company, decided to all these systems, and that’s where new solutions will
he explains how automatic inspection can enhance transition. invest in a visual inspection system at the same time need to be developed and applied.
textile business performance, with practical examples as installing a new stenter frame. It proved to be a
from the industry. TEXtalks: What are the main benefits the EVS
technology offers to the textile industry?
TEXtalks: How did your interest in technology first Sam Cohen: Automation technology creates

January/February 2019 January/February 2019