One of the largest textile machinery equipment suppliers in the world, Groz-Beckert has demonstrated with its "Litespeed" needles for circular knitting machines that product innovations are not driven solely by financial considerations. Their latest innovation weighs just 0.6 gram and is capable of lowering the end user?s CO2 emissions significantly, and has received a number of environmental and innovation awards. At the ITMA in Milan in November, Groz-Beckert presented the next generation of this needle: the Litespeed Plus.
Eric Schöller, a member of the management board, explains why this family-owned company and active member of the VDMA textile machinery trade association with 7,700 employees worldwide devotes equal attention to efficiency and sustainability in all its new developments and research into such future technologies as textile-reinforced concrete. ?Sustainability meets profit? hung like a banner over the world’s largest textile machinery trade fair, the ITMA, in Milan in November. Groz-Beckert supports this concept with? ? the presentation of several product innovations representing the issues of conserving resources and raising productivity. At Groz-Beckert, the guiding principle of sustainability is informed by acceptance of our ecological, economic and social accountability as well as profitable growth. For this reason, we are also committed participants in the VDMA?s ?Blue Competence? sustainability initiative, which has become a powerful network of 400 partners in a concerted effort to make sustainable products with sustainable production. Accordingly, at the ITMA Groz-Beckert will present products and innovations associated with the topics of process capacity utilisation, resource conservation and energy reduction.
Can you give a few examples?
For example, at the ITMA we presented new modules in our expanded warp knitting range. When they are used together with a Groz-Beckert knitting machine needle, perfectly coordinated tools are guaranteed. This in turn means that processes run smoothly in every sense, and are not interrupted by errors, thus ensuring maximum productivity while conserving resources. Another example is the service concept Sewing5 , which encompasses the sectors Supply, Solutions, Service, Superiority and Sustainability. As a partner, Groz-Beckert assists its customers throughout the entire sewing process. In this way, we create the best possible conditions, not only for making the right product choice, but also for perfect needle handling, and thus also profitable production. Another example is the EcoStar needle used to make nonwovens. When used, it reduces energy consumption by as much as 7 per cent, and it has a considerably longer service life.
Resource protection begins at the product development stage. What can users expect from the new generation of ?Litespeed Plus? needles?
In order to be truly effective, sustainability must be a way of life at every workstation. This is why in the last few years Groz-Beckert has continuously lowered its emissions and energy consumption while still raising productivity. We are committed to sustainability ourselves, and we want to support this approach among our customers with our products. We have been extremely successful in this with the new generation ?Litespeed? needles for high-performance circular knitting machines: The further improved shaft geometry reduces friction and wear substantially. As a result, we achieve much higher productivity, enormous energy savings and a reduction in our CO2 emissions.
Sustainability as sales argument. What orders of magnitude are we talking about?
When ?Litespeed Plus? needles are used, it has pr