Globally recognized as a forerunner in weaving technology, SMIT is a manufacturer of weaving machines established in 1938 and renowned for its high standard levels of innovation, productivity and versatility, ensuring competitiveness throughout a large variety of applications. In 1958 SMIT presented the very first flexible-ribbon weaving machine of the world. SMIT rapier loom machines includes rapier weft insertion for home textiles, garments, terry towels and customized solutions to produce special technical fabrics.
Since April 2016, SMIT officially entered among Santex Rimar Group’s brands. The synergy between SMIT and Santext Rimar Group allows customers to rely on an integrated technology provider for all production processes, from loom to finished – natural and technical – textiles.
”Make it a better world” is what the developers from SMIT had in mind when inventing 2SAVE. It is the world’s first and only weft tension control that saves selvedge at both left and right sides of the woven fabric, realizing pick-by-pick sustainability through fabric waste reduction.
SMIT is a globally-recognized forerunner in weaving technology – and a famous brand – for developing outstanding innovations to benefit future generations. Renowned for its high standards of productivity and versatility, SMIT has been meeting customer needs since 1938 – and now extends its focus on the global stage.
Water saving with every weft
The solution is the control of weft thread tension outside the fabric edges. 2SAVE cuts false selvedges at both sides of the fabric – hence the ‘two sides’ indicated in its name – saving fabric waste during production. Even through it’s an all-new solution, 2SAVE is characterized by easy settings on the machine control, suited to the usual know-how of the weaver.
In practice, 2SAVE has shown that a significant amount of weft yarn can be saved on the left-hand and as well on the right-hand side – a total of between 50 mm and 80 mm of yarn saved for each pick. Imagine the total savings, when it already results in over one meter after only twenty single picks…
Eliminating selvedge waste leads to a significant decrease in raw material waste, with tangible benefits in terms of water saving at the very beginning of the value chain of fabric making – for any cotton fabric, including denim. The 2SAVE system shows effective weft cutting with any type of weft yarn.
The weft control device on the left side includes shearing and an aligning nozzle – as does the weft control on the right-hand side. Part of the sophisticated solution is the programmable crossing phase of four lateral ends of leno bindings on the fabric.
This makes it possible to insert the weft yarns into the fabric without the need of additional yarns, opening up even more potential for raw material saving.
Limiting resources with extended possibilities
The elimination of the false selvedge yarns and spools at both sides has the great effects of yarn saving and recycling weft tails. There’s no limitation regarding the functions for weft selection: possibilities are open, using up to eight colors in combination with all types of weft yarn – and double weft insertion is also allowed.
Regarding quality and scope, weavers achieve the usual standards without any compromise. It takes an easy and quick operation to change symmetric weaving width on both sides.
It’s also worth noting that the selvedge saving with 2SAVE allows an increased maximum weaving width of 50 mm more that the corresponding standard equipment.
The weaving width range is also 50 mm larger than with a standard machine.
Feeling good, feeling relaxed
2SAVE doesn’t interfere with any of the energy-saving features of SMIT weaving machines – or with their excellent performance and speed. Efficient production is ongoing, while saving waste.
Savvy weavers well understand that competitiveness is not at risk when aiming for more sustainable fabric making. Protecting the environment goes hand in hand with protecting profits – another reason for the name 2SAVE.
