Leading flat knitting solutions provider Shima Seiki, of Wakayama, Japan, has been selected by the Cabinet Office public relations office of the government of Japan as one of several innovative companies effectively undertaking Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) outlined by the United Nations as a global agenda.

At the 74th session of The United Nations General Assembly scheduled to convene in September 2019, the SDG Summit will review progress of implementation of SDGs by each participating government.

As part of the Cabinet Office's effort in promoting the country's advanced technology as it pertains to SDGs leading up to the Summit, Shima Seiki has been selected for its solutions in sustainable consumption and production made possible with its combination of Wholegarment knitting machines and design system.

“Shima Seiki is focused on transforming the labour-intensive fashion industry into a knowledge-intensive industry that minimises the use of limited resources, solves environmental problems and creates a sustainable world,” said Mitsuhiro Shima, President and Executive Officer

Waste in apparel industry

The impact that the apparel industry has on the environment is now being addressed as a global problem affecting the future of the planet we live on. Much of the trouble stems from waste in manufacturing, and waste in consumption—whether too much or lack thereof.

The technology eliminates cut-loss – the waste resulting from conventional cut-and-sew production – entirely. © Shima Seiki

Shima Seiki is addressing these problems with Wholegarment knitting machines. Whereas conventional knit manufacturing methods consist of separate parts being knit then cut and sewn together, Wholegarment knitting is capable of producing an entire garment without seams, using only the amount of yarn required to knit that item.

Saving time and money

In addition, by utilising the company's SDS-ONE APEX series 3D design system in product planning and design, photorealistic simulations can be used as virtual samples that can replace actual knit production in the sample-making process that consumes a major portion of time, cost and material used within the apparel supply chain.

Shima Seiki’s 3D design system enables users to produce high-resolution virtual samples that look as real as actual products yet save resources. © Shima Seiki

Virtual samples can be used at the retail level to gauge consumer acceptance of upcoming products, data for which can be used in forecasting demand. Such feedback can be used to adjust production volume and optimise inventory, preventing leftover stock that would otherwise go to waste. The combination of Wholegarment knitting and virtual sampling provides a new manufacturing model that can shorten the production cycle significantly and realises sustainable consumption and production.

www.shimaseiki.com

Further reading

Sustainable consumption: Shima Seiki's solution