Circular Knitting Machine with Technological Features, ‘Vahdet Duayen’ Launched at ITMA
Interview: Özge Çağıl Sütcü
Vahdet Tekstil Makina, which has been serving in the sector for many years, unveiled its latest knitting machine “Vahdet Duayen”, which has many new features, for the first time at ITMA 2023 Exhibition.
Vahdet Makina participated in the ITMA 2023 Fair held in Milan between June 8-14 ,and exhibited its open-width knitting machine with fully electronic, special cleaning system and vibration prevention feature.
We interviewed Metin Yıldız, Chairman of the Board, Vahdet Tekstil Makina for our Tekstil Teknoloji magazine. He shared the features of the machine, ITMA Fair and investment plans with us.
Vahdet Tekstil Makina, which entered the sector in 1986 by repairing, maintaining, servicing and gear production of circular knitting machines, started to produce circular knitting machine spindle systems in time. Vahdet Tekstil Makina, which manufactures circular knitting and hosiery machines, frame systems, steel, shuttle, develops the machines of knitting manufacturers. By carrying out R&D studies, it ensures that spare parts and components are integrated into the machines. These services provided by Vahdet Makine, which converts tube width machines into open width, have been patented with the “Utility Model” certificate.
The company closely follows the latest developments in technologies, makes investments, and increases the quality of production, in order to realize the quality production of spare parts of circular knitting machines.
Metin Yıldız talked about the features of Vahdet Duayen, which is the product he highlighted at the ITMA Fair, and emphasized that this machine is the first knitting machine with comprehensive features developed in Turkey in the last hundred years.
Functional braking system
Yıldız said that the manual turning arms and electric motor in the machine were canceled, a servo motor was added, and it is a machine that has a highly functional braking system within the electronic system.
Yıldız explained that the new system they have developed for the machine cleaning process, which is the most difficult stage for the personnel and the employer. He underlined that they have applied for a patent for the cleaning system in Turkey and that this system is a very important detail for the knitting sector. Thanks to the cleaning system, the operation of disassembling and cleaning the machine, which takes 4-5 hours, has been reduced by 1/5 and both cost and time savings have been achieved. This system, which prevents needle breakages and cleaning problems that take hours, was exhibited only at the Vahdet Tekstil booth. He said that the cleaning needle was specially prepared by Groz-Beckert for Vahdet Tekstil,and that this feature is the shortening of the needle length, which shortens the friction distance and takes the load off the machine.
Metin Yıldız said that the most preferred feature of open width knitting machines is the ease of working with full lycra to prevent fold marks. The new needle that Vahdet Tekstil developed as a result of long-term R&D studies provides a very comfortable working with lycra fabric. He also mentioned the need to limit energy consumption due to the energy crisis in Turkey and around the world, “The most important aspect of Vahdet Duayen is that it saves 20-30% energy. It saves both energy and cost. We now need to switch to green energy, this has become a necessity for the world.”
Speaking about the knitting machinery sector, Metin Yıldız said: “Open width jacquard single jersey machines were in high demand before. However, we can say that it has lost its attraction for 8-10 years. There was a significant increase in demand for circular knitting machines. There are two types of knitting: flat knitting and circular knitting. Production is made in the range of 45-55, 50-50. The industry is developing, special machines are being created. But the economic fluctuations during the pandemic have not yet subsided. We witnessed the Ukraine-Russia War and a major earthquake called the “Disaster of the Century”. Our customers in the earthquake zone were also affected. Because of all this, we cannot predict what changes and innovations will happen in the future. But we will continue our work.”
“We are looking forward to participating in ITM 2024”
Yıldız talked about the problems they experienced while participating in the ITMA Fair due to visa problems. Stating that the visas of their staff were released 12 hours before the flight, Yıldız explained that they had a stressful journey because of this. Stating that there were not many visitors, Metin Yıldız continued as follows: “We received orders from countries such as Peru, India, Uzbekistan and Portugal. Our investment projects are continuing. We are building a new factory in Istanbul/ Deliklikaya. In addition to our investments, we will continue to participate in fairs. We are looking forward to participating in the ITM 2024 Fair to be held next year. We will exhibit our Interlock machine at the fair. I would like to thank the ITM Team here.”
