Switzerland-based Santex Rimer Group is a leading textile company in the area of finishing knitted fabrics made of cotton, cotton blends, and viscose. The company's main objective is to optimize performance while minimizing energy usage to achieve desirable textile properties such as minimal shrinkage, a soft texture, and a shiny appearance.
Founded in 1982, Santex provides specialized machinery for treating open-width fabrics and offers several energy-efficient options that contribute to sustainable production practices and reduced carbon dioxide emissions. Renowned fashion houses worldwide entrust Santex with their textile finishing needs.
During the pre-ITMA conference held in Berne, Switzerland, Natascha Meier, Senior Sales Director of Santex Rimer Group, presented their newest technologies and ideas.
The interview with Natascha Meier covered the company's new product, the SANTAFRAME, and its ability to reduce energy consumption while improving the quality of knitted fabrics.
Santex Rimer's SANTASHRINK relax dryer machine is well-known in the market for its high production capacity, with good shrinkage results.
At the ITMA, Santex Rimer will introduce their innovative stenter frame SANTAFRAME, which uses a novel airflow technique that enables the company to control heat distribution, thereby reducing energy consumption. The heating system is located above the fabric track in the upper part of the 2m long treatment zone. Circulating air fan draws the air from the nozzle and treatment zone through the filter panels and directs it along a short path to the heat exchanger, from where it is fed into the nozzles.
A regulating flap in front of the nozzle boxes allows the top and bottom airflow to be continuously adjusted. The arrangement of the heat source on the pressure side of the circulating air fan allows for a high air circulation speed and hence a higher drying capacity. Prior to the last treatment chamber, the fabric passes through a steam and vibration section, which enhances the fabric volume and soft fleecy handle.
The SANTAFRAME eliminates the traditional exhaust tower and allows for up to 30% reduction in gas consumption, thermo oil consumption, and energy costs. Santex Rimer offers three pre-meeting media options: gas, thermo oil, and steam heating.
The SANTAFRAME is used for the shrinkage, relaxation, and tensionless drying of tubular or open-width knitted fabrics. The fabric guidance, whether single, double, or multiple strands, is effected at one treatment level. The machine has a wide variety of versions, with the length of the stenter frame or number of chambers chosen according to the required drying and/or heat setting/curing capacity.
Natascha Meier emphasized the need for customers to visit their booth at the ITMA to see the SANTAFRAME and understand the concept the company has in mind. The company has a good sales team of resources to help customers in the decision-making process.
In conclusion, Santex Rimer Group's SANTAFRAME is a significant innovation that will improve the quality of knitted fabrics while reducing energy consumption and costs. The company's commitment to sustainable production practices and reduced carbon dioxide emissions is commendable, and it is no wonder that renowned fashion houses worldwide entrust Santex with their textile finishing needs.
