Karl Mayer: Good reasons for commercial success on the imitation leather and embroidery markets

New product developments are opening up a new end-use for the warp-knitted fabrics produced on the HKS 3-M, i.e. embroidery grounds.
These airy marquisette fabrics are particularly popular among Turkish net curtain manufacturers, especially since the last Heimtextil trade fair. In India, on the other hand, producers of saris are becoming increasingly interested in these warp-knitted textiles as carriers for decorative embroidery. This is further reinforced by the huge demand for the HKS 3-M as a result of the rapid growth of the Chinese artificial leather industry, where warp-knitted textiles are used as the backing substrates for PU or PVC coatings to produce animal hide effects.

Efficient production of dimensionally stable embroidery grounds
The HKS 3-M can produce high-quality, fine marquisette fabrics in a gauge of E 28 for use as embroidery grounds. The small openings in the textile mesh structure are absolutely symmetrical and produce a finished article with a neat appearance. The embroidery grounds produced on this tricot machine are also extremely slip-resistant and stable in the lengthwise and crosswise directions. These characteristics enable the embroidery process to be carried out at high speed. The reason for this exceptional processing performance is the special pattern design, which features a double weft and a pillar stitch lapping.
With their fine, dimensionally stable construction, the embroidery grounds produced on the HKS 3-M are becoming more and more established alongside the chunkier marquisette fabrics produced on the RSE series of machines, which is one of the machines that has been traditionally used until now. Compared to classic raschel-knitted textiles, this new machine offers two advantages in terms of its efficiency: at a working width of 130", its operating speed is almost 24% faster, and the investment outlay for buying the machine is also lower.

Coating carriers
One of the materials that has proved to be suitable for producing composite materials, such as artificial leather, is a warp-knitted construction featuring the ‘trainer’ lapping – a construction that has become established for producing tracksuits. This soft, weft-raised fabric is produced on an HKS 3-M with a width of 210" and a gauge of E 28. It is made from a blend of 100% textured and untextured polyester. Unlike warp-knitted fabrics that are used as apparel fabrics, this semi-technical textile has a lower stitch number and a modified yarn geometry. In this case, the change mainly relates to the position of the textured yarns. A relatively elastic fabric is produced which, as well as having excellent drapability, also has a soft handle and good resistance to tearing. These characteristics are not as important for furniture and clothing, but they are required for producing luggage, bags and shoes.