In less than three years since its introduction, the sixth generation of the Uster Tester 6 by Uster Technologies has earned positive feedback from spinning mill quality managers for automatic data analysis and alerting features provided by Assistant Q.

Production managers appreciate the facility for connection with other Uster testing and monitoring instruments to offer detailed guidance on process improvements, integrated throughout all mill operations. At the top level, mill owners report great satisfaction with their investment in Uster Tester 6 as a means to boosting staff performance in the drive towards managing the spinning mill with quality in mind.

The benefits of the Uster Tester 6 are also impressing professionals at the next stage of the yarn business: the traders and sales people tasked with linking yarn production to the paying customers downstream. At the forthcoming ITM 2018 exhibition in Turkey, the Uster Tester 6 will be showcased to all these groups from the yarn business, with Uster specialists ready to present the only evenness tester with numerous deal-making advantages.

Pilling prognosis passes the test

Pilling trials carried out manually at the fabric stage consume both time and money – and even then, assessments are based on the subjective views of the operators. The Assistant Q provides objective grading of the yarn, with accurate and instant results. Its prognosis relies on data and algorithms developed on thousands of samples.

An Indian spinner facing a severe quality claim decided to put the accuracy of predictions by human operators and Assistant Q to the test. The spinner had complaints about low pilling resistance in knitted fabric made from a Ne 30 100% combed cotton ring spun yarn. The mill sent samples of knitted fabrics – made of yarns produced from three different cotton bale laydowns – to an institute, for testing with the pilling box method. At the same time, yarn samples of the same three different cotton mixes were sent to the Uster laboratories for a blind test.

The correlation between the pilling resistance grades determined by Assistant Q and those identified with the pilling tests was impressive, capturing the changes in the fibre mix that affected pilling behaviour. “The accurate and reliable data measured by the different sensors of Uster Tester 6 means that Assistant Q always has a significant advantage over human assessors in predicting pilling,” the company concluded.

Fabric appearance forecasting

Since data can be used to forecast how a fabric will behave under friction stress, it could also be the basis of a fabric appearance analysis. It is possible to estimate the look of a fabric with the Total Testing Center – in a single step when testing the yarn quality parameters with the Uster Tester 6.

Eray Aydok, a yarn trader within Biska, uses Uster Statistics. He regards grade information, including a picture of the predicted fabric appearance, as the best tool possible, establishing a “common language of yarn quality”.

“My customers love to see the finished fabric from the yarn they are going to buy right away, without waiting for test results. The fabric appearance grades influence trust positively and instantly. They ensure that the deal is based on mutual understanding,” he explained.

Weaving performance

Pilling, fabric appearance and weaving performance are among the Total Testing Center features to be highlighted at the Uster booth at ITM 2018. Uster is excited to present the concept of the Total Testing Center, highlighting to mill owners, operators, managers, technicians and yarn sellers the specific benefits they can expect.

“Uster is convinced that the quality and production efficiency assurance provided with the Total Testing Center is a valuable success factor in a competitive market environment like Turkey. This advantage can be further driven on the one hand by the advanced alerting system – which simplifies the job of the mill personnel to secure quality – and on the other by a completely new system which allows the management to focus on fast and informed decision-making,” commented Andreas Tanner, Executive Vice President Sales and Service within Uster Technologies.

www.uster.com