Shima Seiki Italia held a highly successful Open House exhibition at its Milan headquarters from 26-28 March 2014, with more than 200 visitors from Veneto, Lombardia, Liguria and Piemonte, and some of Italy’s leading fashion brands from Modena and Bologna in the country’s Emilia Romagna region, attending the event.

The central theme of the event was Enjoy the Knit, and the Italian subsidiary of the leading Japanese flat knitting machine builder presented the Shima Seiki New Knit Collection 2014/2015 Autumn & Winter, which is reported to have been very well received by visitors alongside a range of its latest technology flat knitting machines.

Amazing technology

From a technology point of view the exhibit that is said to have ‘amazed’ visitors was Shima’s brand-new SRY123LP machine in 12 gauge, which features two loop presser beds mounted above its conventional needle beds for performing inlay and other techniques for producing novel knitwear with woven like textures. A full range of samples from the SRY123LP was on show in Milan.

Although the focus for the SRY123LP at the Milan Open House was knitwear with woven like textures and properties, the machine is also being promoted as machine for the production of technical textiles and footwear and significantly, was shown at last week’s Techtextil North America in Atlanta.

The SRY123LP, which has been dubbed ‘Shima’s inlay’ machine looks set to make inroads in technical textile markets where particular properties are required in a fabric that can be achieved by inlaying -  where the particular yarn is not knitted but laid in to the fabric and locked in by subsequent knit or tuck loops.

As most flat knitted fabrics are dimensionally unstable, the inlay technique can be employed to stabilise the fabric. Tensile strength and stiffness can also be improved significantly by laying in high modulus (low elasticity) yarns. These are desirable properties in many technical textile applications. Read more at – Shima Seiki launches new ‘inlay’ machine for technical fabrics and Advanced flat knitting machine for technical textiles to be shown in Atlanta.

Wholegarment technology

Also on show in Milan was Shima’s SWG061N in 10 gauge, a machine which has the capacity to produce seamless knitted accessories such as hats, gloves, socks, ties and shoes and the company’s flagship four needle bed MACH2X Wholegarment machines in M173X configuration in gauges 5S and 8L. MACH2X series Wholegarment knitting machines feature Shima’s original SlideNeedle on four knitting beds for full Wholegarment production capability.

Virtual Sampling

Demonstrations were also performed on Shima’s SDS-ONE APEX3 3D design system, which is at the core of the company’s Total Knitting System concept.

According to Shima, with the support of all aspects throughout the knit supply chain, APEX3 integrates knit production into one smooth and efficient workflow from planning and design to machine programming, production and even sales promotion.

Especially effective is APEX3’s capability to improve on the planning process with Virtual Sampling, the company reports. Photo-realistic simulation capability is said to minimize the need for sample-making, effectively reducing time, material and cost from the sampling process.

Shima Seiki Italia has also created a new impressive space dedicated to training courses for its customers which was opened on the day of the Open House show.

Further reading

Show of strength by Shima Seiki in Carpi

Shima Seiki launches new ‘inlay’ machine for technical fabrics

www.shimaseiki.com