#Spinning

2023-09-07

Rieter ROBOdoff: Automation reduces labor costs in rotor spinning

Gaoyi Delida Textile Co., Ltd., China, has upgraded their 30 semi-automated rotor spinning machines R 35, R 36 and R 37 with ROBOdoff, Rieter’s automatic doffing solution. ROBOdoff reduces the operator’s workload and labor costs thanks to a doffing success rate of up to 98%. The yarn package length and weight are consistently maintained, resulting in a lower conversion cost.

Delida faced difficulties in recruiting skilled operators for its rotor spinning mill. The noisy and dusty mill environment paired with the heavy workload involved in manual doffing don’t provide an attractive work environment. Finding qualified operators therefore became critical, resulting in increased labor costs.

Based on market requirements, Delida produces a wide range of yarn counts with the rotor spinning machines, which require frequent batch changes, adding additional workload to the operators.

The weaving and knitting markets demand for consistent yarn package length and weight to minimize downstream yarn waste. In addition, the yarn package with the target length and weight is also a very popular requirement in the market. For Delida, this was a constant challenge with the traditional manual doffing, as the weight deviation between the yarn packages is greater, leading to increased conversion costs.

ROBOdoff installed on an existing rotor spinning machine R 35. © 2023 Rieter

Delida aims to increase the level of automation to overcome the problems of growing labor costs, improve the flexibility of the batch process and meet the market requirements of delivering consistent yarn package weight. Managing these challenges will help to further strengthen its competitive advantage and consolidate its market leadership position. Delida turned to Rieter to learn about automation solutions.

Automated Doffing with ROBOdoff as an Upgrade

Rieter’s after sales team recommended the ROBOdoff upgrade for Delida’s rotor spinning machines R 35, R 36 and R 37. ROBOdoff is a device for automated package change that runs on each side of the machine. Given the solution's promising potential to mitigate the persistent labor shortages, Delida ordered 30 devices. ROBOdoff has the following three smart setting features that meet multiple customer needs and provide maximum flexibility during operation:

• automated block doffing regardless of the package length,

• doffing in delta length securing that all doffed packages contain the target length, which ensures the weight deviation of the yarn packages is minimal, and

• ROBOdoff works as a traveling cleaner when doffing is not required, which cleans the rail and the machine's spinning positions.

Reliable performance with 24/7 working mode reduces the operator's workload of manual doffing. The customer was so satisfied with the stable performance of ROBOdoff that they will choose ROBOdoff again when investing in new machines.

ROBOdoff with smart setting features enables maximum flexibility during operation. © 2023 Rieter

Improved Operational Agility Resulting in Labor Cost Reduction

The automatic doffing system ROBOdoff delivers an impressive doffing success rate of 98%, eliminates the need for manual doffing and reduces the operational workload, resulting in labor cost savings. The enhanced flexibility of the block doffing option allows Delida to manage frequent changes in yarn production batches with ease, improving overall operational agility significantly and ultimately reducing labor costs.

Zhang Xiuzhen, Factory Director of Gaoyi Delida Textile Co., Ltd., China © 2023 Rieter

ROBOdoff does not only automate the unpleasant task of manual doffing. With the option of the delta length securing feature, the doffed packages are maintained with the same package length, resulting in a uniform package weight. The operator can set the package length and ROBOdoff will automatically doff packages whose length lies within the defined tolerance. The yarn waste in subsequent weaving or knitting processes is minimized to a greater extent. Another signature advantage of the ROBOdoff is a consistent and proper formation of the transfer yarn tail.

The uniform doffing process reduces the damage and replacement cost of the doffing arms, which helps extend the lifetime of the rotor machine in general. ROBOdoff also works as a traveling cleaner when doffing is not required, which cleans the rail and the machine's spinning positions from micro dust offering maximum flexibility to customers.

ROBOdoff enables more efficient work organization. The physically exhausting process of manual doffing is now a thing of the past and operators are free to focus on more value-adding tasks. This investment pays off in about two to three years.

"ROBOdoff ensures that all doffed packages contain the consistent target length thanks to the delta length module. This is extremely helpful for our customers in the weaving and knitting segment. At the same time, ROBOdoff has significantly reduced our labor costs, increased yarn profitability and improved the efficiency of our mill operations."

Zhang Xiuzhen, Factory director of Gaoyi Delida Textile Co., Ltd., China

Georg Stausberg, a veteran of the textile machinery industry, takes over as Rieter Group CEO

Georg Stausberg, one of the most experienced executives in the international textile machinery industry, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Rieter Group with immediate effect from 4 November 2026. With more than three decades of industry experience and a long-standing leadership career at Barmag, Stausberg brings extensive technological expertise, international market knowledge and an established network across the global textile industry to his new position.

Rieter appoints Daniel Lippuner as new CEO as Thomas Oetterli steps down

Thomas Oetterli has decided to step down from his function as CEO, effective October 31, 2026, and hand over the Chairmanship of the Board of Directors. “After the successful implementation of the Next Level performance program, the structural measures initiated to consolidate the sites and the acquisition of Barmag, the time has come to hand over responsibility to new hands,” explains Thomas Oetterli.

Savio presents intelligent winding and air-jet spinning technologies at ITMA Asia 2026

At ITMA Asia Shanghai 2026, Savio will showcase its latest developments in winding and spinning technology, focusing on artificial intelligence, automation and digital integration. The spotlight will be on two machines: the Proxima Smartconer®, Savio’s next-generation winding platform, and the Lybra Smartspinner®, an air-jet spinning solution designed for flexible yarn production and a wide range of textile applications.

Trützschler to showcase innovations in spinning preparation and nonwovens at ITMA Asia 2026

From November 20 to 24, 2026, the Trützschler Group will present its latest fiber processing technologies at ITMA Asia in Shanghai, China. At Hall 5.1, Booth D20, the company will showcase solutions designed to increase productivity, simplify operations and improve efficiency across spinning preparation and nonwoven production. Key highlights include the automated can transport system T-CAN, the next-generation card TC 30, innovative card clothing solutions such as STEELTOP and SUPERFLOW, as well as advanced nonwoven technologies for hygiene, wipes and filtration applications.

Jeanologia and BCome connect factory data with Life Cycle Assessment and Digital Product Passports

A new white paper by EIM by Jeanologia and BCome demonstrates how primary environmental data from denim finishing processes can be integrated into a garment's Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and prepared for use in a Digital Product Passport (DPP). A comparative case study highlights significant improvements at the production stage while also showing how these translate into the environmental performance of the finished garment.

Inside the Making connects denim and sportswear supply chains at Ecomondo 2026

Six European companies are joining forces at Ecomondo 2026 in Rimini to demonstrate how different stages of denim and sportswear production are interconnected. The new initiative, Inside the Making, highlights the importance of cooperation across the textile supply chain in addressing sustainability challenges, from reducing resource consumption to improving transparency and the reliability of environmental claims.

EDANA welcomes definitive EU anti-dumping measures on Chinese PET spunbond

EDANA, the international association serving the nonwovens and related industries, has welcomed the European Commission's decision to impose definitive anti-dumping duties on imports of PET spunbond originating in China. The association considers the measures an important step towards restoring fair competition and safeguarding European industrial capacity.

EU imposes definitive anti-dumping duties on Chinese PET spunbond imports

The European Commission has introduced definitive anti-dumping duties ranging from 39.8% to 48.1% on imports of PET spunbond from China. The measures, which entered into force on 31 October 2026, will remain in place for five years and are intended to address unfairly priced imports that have caused injury to European manufacturers. The EU market for these nonwoven materials is valued at approximately €200 million.