Autefa Solutions, well-known for turn-key lines and individual machines such as cards, crosslappers and needle looms, has expanded its product range by acquiring the technology package of the Automatic Needle Exchanger from CU4Motion.

With the Automatic Needle Exchanger Autefa Solutions aims to offer an efficient and economic unit for exchanging needles, which it says should be an integrated part of every service workshop.

Automatic Needle Exchanger

The device is based on the development of a consortium of companies under the leadership of CU4Motion and was presented to the public at ITMA in 2011 for the first time. It has been developed continuously since then and fine tuned for industrial suitability in manufacturing enterprises.

The takeover negotiations between CU4Motion and Autefa Solutions were successfully concluded this month.

For Autefa Solutions the Automatic Needle Exchanger is a further building block in the concept of a modern tool management, which focuses on efficiency as well as flexibility. The innovative i-Point system for needle looms allows customised needle patterns with regard to technology by preventing surface markings in the nonwovens.

Cooperation

Automatic Needle Exchanger, a service machine for needle looms, is an excellent complement to Autefa Solution’s portfolio, according to Dr Stefan Schlichter, managing director of Autefa Solutions, who said: “We are very satisfied with the cooperation with CU4Motion. With the Automatic Needle Exchanger CU4Motion has developed and built a perfect service machine.”

“The machine is efficient and equipped with an adapted software system, so that reproducibility and safety at every needle exchange are most important. It was of major importance for us that the Automatic Needle Exchanger can be universally used for all practicable applications required from our customers and does not only cover inserting needles into new needle boards. It is about time that the hammer as the main tool disappears from the needle workshop,” he added.

Roberto Rahn, a CU4Motion shareholder commented: “After the great and positive feedback at ITMA 2011 our development team has been successfully oriented on the achievement of a high reliability and has optimised the processing speed as well as the robustness of the individual functions. As a result of these efforts we could redesign important individual processes, what has led to another patent application. In Autefa Solutions we have found a partner who will successfully establish the Automatic Needle Exchanger in the market.”

Features

According to customer requirements the needling of the needle boards has to be simple, safe and effective, in order to avoid long downtimes and to extend the service life of the needle boards.

The features of the Automatic Needle Exchanger are:

• Universal application for all needle boards and needles;
• Use of different needle designs, needle types and needle densities even in one board;
• Gentle treatment of the needle boards enables an extension of the service life of the needle boards, as they will not be damaged any more when worn or broken needles are exchanged;
• The system is capable of detecting damaged/broken needles as well as contaminations by fibre dust;
• Since the actual operation of exchanging needles is happening without the direct involvement of personnel and an entirely encapsulated environment, the system is offering an extreme high safety level.

Presentation

The Automatic Needle Exchanger will be presented by Autefa Solutions at the textile exhibition Techtextil, Frankfurt that will run from 10-13 June.

www.cu4motion.com