V-Trion, a subsidiary of the Grabher Group based in Lustenau, Germany, has inaugurated a Karl Mayer MJ 52/1-S raschel warp knitting machine for processing electrically conductive yarns.

The combination of electrically conductive materials with textiles opens up a wide range of new possibilities, especially in the sports sector. The analysis of mobility through sensors, for example, helps to avoid incorrect overload to the body during physical activity.

The work of a consortium consisting of component and sports product manufacturers, service providers and research institutions led by the University of Salzburg aims to demonstrate how this potential can be utilised through specific, marketable products.

As a partner from the textile production chain, the Grabher Group has installed the new machine for key project work in the smart textiles sector. On the raschel machine with jacquard and multibar technology, electrically conductive yarns can be worked into warp knitted fabrics directly and placed as required in order to easily implement functional elements such as sensors, conductors and coils. The textile properties remain unchanged. The integrated production method saves additional process steps and reduces environmental pollution compared to other processes, such as conductive printing pastes.

The MJ 52/1-S will also be used for projects of the Smart Textiles Platform Austria, which brings together more than 80 international companies and research institutes, including both Grabher and the Karl Mayer.

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