Despite the reduction of the total number of weaving machine exhibited at this ITMA by 39 in the rapier sector and 20 in projectiles, the major machine makers still had half of their exhibits rapier looms. This indicates that rapier weaving machines are important in producing apparel fabrics as well as technical textiles. Blending innovative design and the latest in engineered fibres and yarns, while always stretching the-limits of weaving machine technology, high-tech wovens have developed markets for textiles that were unknown in the recent past. Projectile weaving machines still play a very important role in this field. Some 30,000 Sultex machines are used in technical areas worldwide. Dornier has always been deeply involved in technical textiles. Both of their air-jet and rapier weaving machines provided a high level of expertise in different fields within technical textiles and designed customised solutions. Picanol's BU-Technical Fabrics division is commercialising weaving systems that are especially designed to be competitive in the sector of technical textiles. Alpha technologies from Somet and the Leonardo series from Vamatex both have rapier machines for technical fabrics up to 460 cm. The quality of technical textiles for airbags, medical applications, ballistics and military purposes which are used to protect life cannot be compromised.
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