#Spinning

2020-09-24

MillMaster Labtrend Simple control of wear and tear

Components & wear and tear parts © 2020 Loepfe

With its “Lab Trend”, MillMaster TOP offers a comprehensive analysis tool for determining deviating yarn properties and their causes.

Deviations in the yarn quality produced may result from the following factors:

Raw material change
Settings change
Wear and tear
Dirt
Climate changes

The following examples outline how the maintenance interval for wear parts can be planned and the correct selection of components can be made.

Figure 1 shows repeated IPI peaks in the range of 2 - 4 cm IPI Thick. This yarn’s irregularity pattern suggests increased wear and tear of the top roller surface due to e.g. constant friction or small grooves along the roller eventually affecting its surface structure. This is a slow, ongoing wear and tear process, which can easily be tracked with the help of “Lab Trend” in MillMaster TOP. The more the top rollers are suffering wear and tear, the more 2 - 4 cm IPI irregularities there will be in the yarn structure. Once there is an excessive increase in IPI values, it is time to take appropriate action.

MillMaster TOP not only helps in identifying wear and tear but also helps towards the selection of the right machinery components, e.g. to determine the optimal cradle spacer for the top roller.

MillMaster LabTrend wear and tear © 2020 Loepfe

Figure 1: Graphic representation © 2020 Loepfe

The cradle spacer is used to optimize the main drafting zone of each ring spinning position. The selection of the right cradle spacer sometimes requires a few iterations until the optimum is found.

MillMaster TOP’s “Lab Trend” can easily visualize the influence of the used cradle spacer type and in due course contribute to achieving an optimum. This is done in real time by evaluation of 2 - 70 cm IPI Thick events, whereas the different sizes of the cradle spacers directly influence the number of these undesired thick places.

Likewise bottom apron types of various suppliers can be compared in terms of the resulting yarn quality.

Also here “Lab Trend” can easily show how different condition or quality of bottom apron types might affect the yarn irregularity and help finding the best-suitable option.

Solutions & benefits:

MillMaster TOP “LabTrend” significantly helps to identify the reasons for quality deviations and their causes without much effort. Following table provides a brief overview of the IPI influencing factors mentioned in above outlined examples.

MillMaster TOP "LabTrend" not only allows comprehensive monitoring and evaluation of the yarn quality, but also supports maintenance planning, monitoring of the machine settings and the selection of the best-suitable machine accessories.

A tradition of innovation celebrated at ITMA 2025 in Singapore

For 70 years, Loepfe has embodied precision, technological excellence, and uncompromising quality. Join us as we proudly celebrate seven decades of innovation at ITMA 2025 in Singapore. Founded in 1955 by two visionary brothers, Helmut and Erich Loepfe, the company has been a pioneer in yarn quality control – continuously pushing technological boundaries to meet and exceed industry expectations.

Leadership transition at Loepfe

Loepfe Brothers Ltd. has embarked on a new chapter with the appointment of Markus Kleindorp as the new CEO, ushering in a fresh era of leadership. Former CEO Ralph Mennicke's departure prompts restructuring, including the addition of Gregor Stalder as CFO. With this seasoned team, Loepfe aims to maintain its excellence in the textile industry.

Object Carpet tests production of rPET BCF yarn on Neumag BCF line

In a joint project with Object Carpet GmbH, Denkendorf; the Institute for Textile Technology (ITA), Augsburg; and Next Generation Recyclingmaschinen GmbH (NGR), Feldkirchen, Austria, Barmag investigated the processing of recycled polyester for BCF yarn. The goal was to evaluate the fundamental suitability of 100% recycled carpet material for reuse in carpet yarn production to create a closed-loop system in carpet manufacturing. To date, commercial rPET BCF processes have been based solely on rPET from bottle pellets.

New spinning package with two-step filtration for recycled yarns and more

At the ITM in Istanbul, BB Engineering unveiled its new, patented ValuePack spinning package for the first time, which features a two-stage filtration system. This is particularly beneficial for re-cycling processes. Until now, spinning packs have used either metal powder (“sand”) or filter candles as filter media. Both options are suitable for differ-ent applications, and each has its own specific advantages and dis-advantages.

GenuTrace client advisory: Is your cotton supply chain UFLPA ready?

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has released updated operational guidance (CBP Publication No. 5560-0526) expanding its forced labor enforcement framework. The guidance supersedes the original 2022 UFLPA Operational Guidance and now covers all forced labor enforcement authorities — UFLPA, CAATSA, and WROs/Findings — in a single unified document. For cotton importers, the enforcement posture has not softened. It has become more structured, more documented, and more demanding. Learn more about UFLPA.

"We will become a recycling powerhouse"

The textile industry is now in its fourth consecutive year of crisis, while automation, artificial intelligence and recycling are reshaping the rules of the game. In this interview, Rieter CEO Thomas Oetterli discusses the first signs of a market recovery, reflects on his first three years at the helm of the company, explains the integration of Barmag, outlines Rieter’s vision of the fully automated spinning mill and highlights the strategic importance of recycling. In doing so, he explains why the new Rieter Group aims to play a leading role in transforming the textile value chain into a circular economy.

2026 general meeting of the Friends and Supporters of RWTH Aachen at ITA

The Friends and Supporters of RWTH Aachen e. V. (proRWTH) looked back on a successful year of support at their 2026 general meeting. The meeting took place at Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen and was combined with a joint session of the Executive Board and the Administrative Board. Before the general meeting began, participants were given a guided tour of ITA, providing them with fascinating insights into current research and development topics in textile engineering.

Cotton ConneXions Insight to Impact brings supply chain leaders together around cotton innovation

Cotton Incorporated’s Cotton ConneXions Insight to Impact brought together more than 300 industry leaders from 140 companies across 10 countries, including more than 45 top global brands and sourcing organizations, underscoring strong global interest in cotton-rich product development, sourcing and supply chain collaboration.

Footwear innovation enabled by warp knitting technology– insights from New Balance

The future of the athletic shoe is increasingly being shaped on warp knitting machines. For KARL MAYER, the footwear industry is one of the most important growth markets – and one of the sectors where innovative textiles can realize their full potential. In his keynote address at the opening of KARL MAYER’s TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER in Obertshausen in April, Vishnu Prakash Muthusamy, Senior Textile and Materials Engineer at New Balance, explained the opportunities that warp knitting technology opens up for performance, sustainability, and faster development processes, and why textile manufacturers are transitioning from suppliers to development partners.