From Industrie 4.0 to AI: VDMA’s topic at Texprocess

The main theme of Texprocess, which was held from May 14-17, 2019 at Frankfurt, was Impact 4.0, tangible and visible advancement of Industrie 4.0. “For several years, digitisation along the value chain has been an important topic for manufacturers of garment technology and of machines for processing technical textiles, on which intensive and successful work has been carried out,” said Elgar Straub, Managing Director of VDMA Textile Care, Fabric and Leather Technologies (TFL), at the VDMA press conference at Texprocess.

“Solutions in the fields of digitisation, automation and robotisation, for example with 3D product development, robots and gripping systems in the cutting area or the networking of entire production lines across national borders, are already firmly established in the industry. Machine manufacturers are also taking on future topics such as machine learning and artificial intelligence, for example in the form of predictive maintenance or cloud based interface solutions,” said Straub.

Impact 4.0 – the next concrete steps of Industrie 4.0

At the press conference, Dürkopp Adler, ZSK Stickmaschinen and Morgan Tecnica provided an exemplary overview of the next steps in Industrie 4.0 developments in sewing and garment technology as well as in machines for processing technical textiles. The new sewing solution M-Type-Delta from Dürkopp Adler can be integrated into a fully digitised sewing production, guides the user with maximum use of digital solutions and constantly expands its functions as well as its "knowledge". 

ZSK Embroidery Machines presented the first Industrie 4.0 solution for embroidery machines already in 2011 with My.ZSK, to make the next step to Impact 4.0 in 2018 with My.ZSK 4.0. My.ZSK was a mere data collector that collected the status data of the machines and wrote the data onto a server, whereas MY.ZSK 4.0 (introduced in 2018) introduced analysis functions, extended reporting functionality, supports the OPC UA protocol and includes first preventive maintenance functions. The next step for ZSK after the data analysis will be Machine Learning. Based on the data collected, the machines learn to recognize and understand patterns and to react accordingly.

With the new Morgan Analytics software, Morgan Tecnica supports its cutting machines, which thus are able to communicate with each other, provide complete control of the cutting room and program, control and analyse production at any time.

Texprocess is the leading international trade fair for processing textile and flexible materials. International exhibitors presented to the trade visitors at Texprocess their latest machinery, systems, processes and services for the manufacture of garment, textile and flexible materials for the fifth time.