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In recent years Rius has focused its innovation on knitting technology, particularly crochet and raschel. The first is primarily used in the traditional textile sector, while raschel knits are geared more towards technical areas.
The changes in the market, continues Ruis Jr., have also been reflected in the demand for warping machines, which has progressed from a type of machine for traditional textiles to one focused more on technical textiles that include glass and carbon fibers.
The future: technical textiles
Innovations in textile machinery are crucial for Rius, but not always simple to implement. The challenges in producing machines for new textiles lies in part in understanding the needs and demands of the market today and in the future, and in the time and cost required to design such a machine.
In order to predict the needs of the industry in the near- and long-term, Rius has a research department that focuses on emerging trends and on developing applications for new textiles. The investment in such a department – approximately 5% of sales – reflects the fact that the international trend is towards the production of machinery for specialized technical textiles.
High speed and efficiency crochet knitting machine for the production of elastic and rigid bandages and gauzes for medical applications.Photos: Valentin Rius Clapers
Article published in september 2011
Carmelo Hermoso de Mendoza
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