The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 10

10 THE MANCHESTER GUARDIAN TUESDAY JUNE 2 195? the control (Seiitral production NOM-WOVEMS FOR INDUSTRY By D. JJrunnschweiler (Lecituter in Textile Industries, Manchester College of Science and Technology) following article describes a major application of production control equipment in operation at a' jFrench mill. It is a starting point the" introduction of automation into the cotton textile- industry and although some' of the features are not generally applicable to. this country it is an important advance BONDINA (B.D.A.) iTD. are major producers of non-wovens that are meeting new demands in many 'fields.

IAIUV mSUUUICULctUUlI rPHS first mill to haw bpen twsiveiy veqiiibped. with the iw Hasier 'Central Production Coiitro! Unit is; Filatures Tiss'ages de comprises "'a of 35,000 rinc SDindles. VILENE- non-woven -Interlining fabrics in full range of weights for clothing manufacture. Bondina non-woven air filters. Efficient and regenerable air -filter mats of durable man-made fibres.

Bondina non-woven fabrics back plastic coatings to ensure high quality-drape and' handle. Bondina non-woven overlays andsurface. veils reinforced, plastics give; lasting surface strength and best appearance. In wide range of organic fibres and thicknesses. Bondina non-wovens for shoe and luggage manufacture.

and a weaving section of. 174 single shuttle automatic looms. The weaving section utilises about 15 per cent of be given in such a situation. In this way, there is absolutely no machine me yarn produced (average count 20s cotton), the remaining 85' per cent being sold on ring primarily to French hosiery manufacturers. Most interference, time, i.e.

zero time wait- have been re-equipped ins for doffing. with machinery during the last ten When 'the shift changes. speed motors (Brown-Boveri) on the for the 174 automatic looms is rather below 85 per cent mural indicators in ring frames. simpler than that fused for spinning, the weaving shed are automatically The majority of the production at consisting of a single lamp panel and illuminated, and the weavers adjust to Wittenheim is on ring tubes which recorder in-the office of the weaving new sets by incorporating one are packed in boxes for dispatch to manager. Every loom has its own helper weaver.

Thus, a weaver, pre- customers. A novel system of tube lamp on the panel, arranged according viously tending 40 takes over a handling is now being installed which to the floor plan in the weaving room, reduced set of 32, the helper weaver ensures that after doffing the tubes are When a loom is running its lamp is tending the Should -the untouched by hand. The doffers lit; the circuit being provided by the efficiency drop below 80 per cent'the controller hands over the dofhng programme to his successor, so that there is no disruption. The controllers were aged 17 and 18 respectively, and although some old equipment is use. Each floor at the Wittenheim mill forms a self-contained spinning section.

Next to the manager's office, and adjacent to the testing laboratory motor starter contactors. The com- second neiper weaver taices over a set appeared to find their work simple but interesting. Taking into account the 90 ring frames over two shifts. is a. control room in which the Hasler control equipment'' is fitted, whereas formerly a total staff of 90 production' on all three floors of the persons was involved for doffing, the mill being completely regulated from same duties are now undertaken by The view of the weaving shed (right) clearly shows the mural indicator displaying the work plan in force in this case Plan 3.

On the left is a picture of the central control room. Both were taken at the mill of Filatures et Tissages de Wittenheim, near Mitlhousc In these industries and a'lso iii others, such the electrical industry (insulation fabrics and battery separators), Bondina non-wovens are meeting special manufacturing -requirements, improving production-techniques as well, as the performance: of the products. Manufacturers in almost every field are turning to non-wovens to explore new possibilities. The non-wovens of Bondina (B.D.A.) Ltd. are -backed by a world-wide research organisation and full development is given to all plans and enquiries from every section of industry: this room.

bined efficiency of all the looms is continuously recorded on a single channel recorder, which in effect, makes a snap reading of the proporr tion of looms running every three seconds. Should the pattern of efficiency vary from the normal daily variation, this is immediately visible, and remedial action can be taken. Similarly, the manager can see which looms are persistently stopppd, and determine the cause by telephone without actually visiting the weave room. Unique method A unique method is used to main a stair of 60. In addition to the equipment already mentioned, each ring and flyer frame has its own production counter situated in the control room, together with a multi-channel running time recorder.

The controller is responsible for indicating on the running time recorder, the reason for every stoppage of looms in a similar Thus, the following arrangements are in use at present. Plan 1 above 85 per cent efficiency five weavers. Plan 2 above 80 per cent efficiency six weavers. Plan 3 above 75 per cent efficiency seven weavers. Normally, on a change Plan 1 to Plan 2 being indicated, the introduction "of the extra weaver will cause a steady rise in efficiency, which must be maintained for some predetermined time (ten minutes at present) before a reversion to Plan I is indicated.

There is simultaneous indication in the shed and the manager's office of the number of the plan in operation. It is within the control of the weaving place the full tubes on a shallow trough running along the front of the frame, whence the tubes fall by gravity through plastic piping to an intermediate storage hopper. Three divisions Labour in the spinning rooms is divided into three distinct categories, namely, spinners, who do nothing but piece broken ends, creelers, who operate as a team according to a prearranged plan, and doffers, who operate as a team, taking instructions from "the control room via a mural indicator by the ring frames. The mural indicator shows the number of the next frame requiring doffing (the replacement of a full bobbin of other than for dofhng. The charts from the recorders, together with the A control desk is provided which paper on which the doffing programme channels tubes filled with a particular is Worked out, form a complete record quality of yarn to the appropriate hopper.

The hoppers are situated over a conveyor belt, the hopper flaps tain the overall shed efficiency at a high level by redistributing work ot the operation of the spinning section. It is the duty of the controller to VILENE is tho registered trade mark of BONDINA (B.D.A.) LIMITED. 23a St. James's London S.W.I. Telephone TRA 4468; and conveyor movement being among the weavers according to manager to initiate a of plan see that the production of the flyer actuated by the operator at the control transient conditions.

Normally, five by push but the exercise' of senates oy an empty one) ana in now ana ring frames keeps in step, to such overriding control would be console. wnen the contents of the weavers hopper are discharged, the conveyor assisted are employed each shut, by two helper or smash transports the tubes through a humidi- weavers, If the efficiency falls below many minutes lime eacn aotring must forecast when the production for a take place. The minutes are auto- given order is complete, and to issue malically counted down, and when instructions for the commencement of only one minute remains, the head the next order. A special plug board doffer collects her team at the frame fitted with production counters is used indicated, ready to stop spinning, and to link the production of machines on fying machine and thence to the automatic box packing machine. The unusual.

During the first year of operation of the weaving control system there has been an overall rise in loom efficiency of 3 per cent to 5 per cent (depending upon, the particular fabric being woven). a predetermined level, the helper weavers leave their individual looms stopped for lengthy periods in the following manner. Immediately the efficiency falls packing is done automatically with the exception of nailing the lid on the case. The production control installation aoriinE--immediately zero the same count and Quality of material. appears on the indicator.

fibres Developme ets synthetic The controller at the console in the control in advance the order of doffing on the 90 ring frames in. the This is done by knowing the time to fill each ring bobbin, given the count, bobbin size, and speed. The If the production should be unbalanced in any way, this is immediately apparent, and necessary adjustments are made without delay. The production outstanding for a given order is always visible, so that it is very easy to see whether delivery times are lins. adhpred to.

and there is no PHONE AND CRAMS STOKE-ON-TRENT 84698 and S7172 controller confirmation of the accuracy of his forecast, indicated by danger of over-production. The By our Industrial Staff "NE of the most striking features of the textile industry since the war is the considerable success that has rewarded the efforts of scientists, technicians, and research workers to develop new man-made fibres and to lights on -the control panel, which also required and actual production figures confirm. that doffing is taking place. are disolaved in each room for the ''Should the bobbins on two frames operatives' information. becom'efull together af airly frequent Another part of the central control will spin installation is concerned with the short on one frame, initiating, doffing at maintenance of a standard end an earlier stage.

Clear instructions, breakage rate during spinning, which are given as to the frame priority to made possible by the use of variable 13 Manufacturers of Filter Cloth Equipment find new uses for existing ones. The following brief review of current wo'rk demonstrates the vigour and confidence of an industry which has tended in recent months to sull'er from a depressing and defeatist publicity. Viscose Rayon. Fibre producers arc concentrating their investigation of cellulose structure and it is predicted that development and improvement of viscose rayon is-still far trom being at an end and manufacturers may saiely assume that it will continue to improve. Strong Fibro, the extra strong viscose rayon staple now being made by Courtaulds, is being taken up by shirting fabric makers.

Mainly it is being blended 5050 with cotton. It is also being used for conveyor belting, filtration fabrics, and the base fabrics used for coating with abrasive materials. Tricel Triacetate is- the newest cellulosic fibre. It is being- tested for electrical insulation applications, where it shows promise of being a very material. In laundries its excellent heat resistance, both wet and dry; is a valuable property and now Tricel is being blended with Teryiene for making laundry and Hoffman press fabrics.

In these applications an increase in life of maiiy hundred per cent is claimed. Conventional Acetate is being developed iii a new ranee of bonded for PRESSES DRUMS AND DISCS FURNACE GAS RECOVERY AND DUST COLLECTION in Nylon Teryiene, P.V.C. Glass Wool Coffon Jute and other materials Sneyd Mills, Newcastle Street. Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent. Gate warnings for sea areas RocftatI, Iceland, White Sea, Faroes.

The belly, cod end, and cod tine of this trawler's net, are made of nylon naturally on water. This important which are almost incredibly strong property makes it suitable for life- and yet relatively light in weight and saving equipment. Ropes made from with better flexibility than those made it will float on the water surface, while from cotton ducks. One belt. fishing nets have an inherent buoyancy for example, has a tensile, strength fibre.

materials which are used for air which is very helpful to the fisherman. As there is no moisture take-up and the nets retain their flexibility even in the coldest weather Courlene X3 fishing nets, like those from nylon and wen in excess ot such a belt has market attractions lor long-centre working such as. in. drift mines or for trunk conveyors in coalmines since it requires substantially less driving power. SYNTHETIC FIBRES -FOR INDUSTRIAL AND BOmsm PURP0SES Teryiene, make the fisherman's task far easier.

Although cost is inevitably Anotner big market tor nylon which increased by using synthetic fibres is growing rapidly is for purse seines. instead of traditional materials, this About fifty of these huge nets were is balanced by the added life of the fished off Norway during the past season and it is expected that the: total in use next season will exceed a hundred. Many others will.be in use and also sound and heat insulation In the radio industry high fidelity are being lined with the--bonded material, and the Midland Red Bus Company is using it for lining the bodies of its buses. The great value of this new voluminous material is that it retains its flexibility at very low temperatures and is not affected by excessive vibration. Polythene yarns are now being made by two companies in Britain and marketed -under the brands Courlene and Drylene.

The newest form is called Courlene X3. This has improved strength, abrasion resistance, and resistance', to heat. It is particularly-useful for making-up into protective clothing where its excellent chemical resistance can be an advantage. As its electrical properties are excel nets. Nylon.

Two developments which are of particular interest are conveyor belts made from all-nylon ducks in other hsneries. Nearly all the ES CARR SONS LTD ssfstai and the use of nylon for purse seines, nylon purse seines off Norway are made from British nylon twine. They Solid-ivoven belting incorporating have proved outstandingly successlul since their first introduction in 1957 and it is thought that the entire CLARENCE MILLS, CLEW0RTH ST, MANCHESTER 15 ESTABLISHED 1848 LONDON OFFICE: 2 Wool Exchange, in either staple fibre form or continuous filament form, has been in use for several years. More recently nylon has entered the plied belting field Norwegian herring industry will and as a further step forward work is gradually switch over to nylon. At an 24 Bisinghall E.C.2 MONARCH 7230 Cables: CAR MANCHESTER n-Woven Fabrics? lent, Courlene X3 is being used to provide insulation between conductors as in the television coaxial cables.

It now being devoted to the development of conveyor belts made from all-nylon ducks. Several experimental lengths have, in fact, been produced already as a. result of close co-opera average cost of 7,500 fully rigged, or about twice as much as a cotton equivalent, a nylon purse seine represents a substantial capital outlay so this changeover will obviously not be immediate. However, there is a growing realisation that there are numerous economic advantages. is also being used in certain storage tion between British Nylon Spinners.

uanei ies- as it resists aitacK Dy tne 1 ri 1 I. fi electrolyte: As it has a specific gravity and the trade. With all-nvlon i below that of water Courlene X3 floats ducks it is possible to produce belts fDIGNAN Co. Ltd: Manchester 1 Specialists in CLOTHS for FILTRATION and DUST COLLECTION SURGICAL and INDUSTRIAL GAUZES and SCRIMS Polypropylene put to commercial use 1 by the use of Timonox Antimony Oxide, jj ffl t- ai: PIONEERS IN FILTRATION SINGE 1883 iimonox SMiiuiiuuy uaiub ia aYdiiauic (1) A fine dry powder. 2 Dispersions in Plasticizers jj or emulsions.

jj FULL DETAILS ON APPLICATION TO: jj I ASSOCIATED LEAD MANUFACTURERS LIMITED jj fi 138 ROYAL EXCHANGE, MANCHESTER JHS WOOL, COTTON, UTE, LINEN, ASBESTOS, CLASS, TERYLENE," nylon, ORLON, COURTELLE, POLYTHENE, SARAN, THERMOVYL, FLUON, DYNEL, COURLENE, FELT AND MIXTURES OF ABOVE. industrial Cloths for AH Working Conditions in A simplified arrangement showing the make-up of an ordinary chain polymer (above) and the ordered arrangement of molecules in the isotactic polymer below) By courtesy of General Electric, United States Telephone Manchester Blackfriars 7612 XUDS jj If liiililiBllliliittli Special Finishes and Impregnations JOHN R. GARM5CHA1L LIMITED. EN MORE WORKS LIVERPOOL 11. By P.

Abbenheim THERE is considerable interest in the recent announcement that Courtaulds has started production of a polypropylene fibre. This is a completely new form of synthetic fibre and an important future is predicted for it in all sections of the textile industry, particularly for industrial use' where its interesting chemical properties will be of considerable value. It is chemically inert, for example, and therefore ideal for making protective clothing and filtration media. Although propylene has long been known to chemists it was of no commercial significance until Professor Giulio Natta of the' Institute of Industrial Chemistry, Milan Polytechnic, discovered a method of polymerising it. By his process, which uses some novel catalysts, the polymer is produced so that the molecular arrangement is symmetrical instead of random.

This enables chain polymers to be made that have plastic forming properties, whereas previously they were merely viscous liquids. These are known as isotactic polymers and they are of particular interest to industry because they confer on materials very important physical properties. Isotactic polypropylene is made from the waste material of oil cracking plants and is therefore cheap. It can be used for plastic mouldings or, if extruded, fibres. It has long been the dream of fibre producers to make a fibre with the properties of a fully synthetic, but at a price midway between the regenerated, cellulosics (rayon) at about 2s a pound and the fully synthetics at about 10s a pound.

In Italy, Montecatinl Is now building a DACCA MILLS CONSTABLE STREET, GORTON, MANCHESTER. TELEPHONE EASt 1745. Established 100 years is an advantage and also a disadvantage. It means, for example, that it cannot be dyed and the only way. at present, of colouring it.

is to incorporate the colour in the polymer before it is made into fibre. The advent of polypropylene fibre Is an important event in the history of man-made fibres. Where it fits in the scale of fibre prices can be seen from the following list of staple prices for the main British man-made fibres (per lb.) viscose rayon. Is lOJd; acetate, 3s polypropylene (L.800kg.), 4s 2d Tricel, 4s 6d nylon, 9s 9d Teryiene, Although Courtaulds has not released technical details of its new fibre, Montecatini reports that its polypropylene has a specific gravity of 0.91, compared with 1.32 for wool and 1.5 for cotton, which means that' when converted Into fabrics It should give bulkier and lighter materials. fibre plant to make a polypropylene fibre which it says will sell at about 800 lire per kilogram (about 4s 2d a pound).

This is clearly an extremely attractive price to textile manufacturers. In the United States a polypropylene fibre has just been put into production while in Britain an agreement has been concluded between Shell and I.C.I, to produce polypropylene. Chemically this new material is related to polythene but it is lighter and has a higher melting point, two big advantages as far as textiles are concerned. It does, however, suffer from ultra-violet degradation strong sunlight can cause it to lose its strength quickly. This is something to which technicians will, no doubt, give a high priority in their research.

The compact symmetrical chemical structure of polypropylene means that It is completely non-absorbent. This ACGA MILLS LT RESPIRATOR REFILLS, GAUZE AND COTTON TISSUES SURGICAL COTTON WOOL AND SIZED WADDINGS ISlmond products have established over the years a reputation for hygiene, reliability and all-round excellence and service. E. IU.INCWORTH CO. (Bradford) LTD.

SHELF MILLS, near HALIFAX, YORKS. Telephone 762619 MANUFACTURERS OF SIZED COTTON WADDINGS GREY BLACK BLEACHED 'TRICEL' WADDING FOB QUILTING BRAIDED FLUTE WADDING FOR SEATING UPHOLSTERY DACCA MILLS CONSTABLE STREET, GORTON, MANCHESTER..