USTER closes acquisition of EVS

Combined technology offers customers more potential for further automation and improvement for increased and sustainable performance.

Uster Technologies AG has announced the successful closing of the acquisition of Elbit Vision Systems Ltd (EVS), a world-leading high-technology supplier for automated vision inspection in the textile industry. This expands Uster’s competencies in quality control and strengthens its product portfolio. EVS’s products are used to automatically locate, label and trace defects of fabric and web products, and ultimately to grade the quality and determine the value of the produced goods.

Thomas Nasiou, Chief Executive Officer of Uster, said: “I am delighted that we are now able to finalise this major milestone, which embodies the strengthening of Uster’s activities across the globe. The access to innovative technology and the enhanced presence will enable us to strengthening our offering to customers, and offer new, interesting perspectives to the colleagues of Uster and EVS. The acquisition fits perfectly into our vision to be the world’s leading supplier of quality solutions for the textile industry from fiber to fabric.”

Sam Cohen, CEO of EVS, commented: “I am proud of the progress we have made during the last few years in improving our products and services leading to increased customer satisfaction, expanding our footprint while delivering on our financial targets. Now, I am very much looking forward to continue working for EVS, now part of Uster, and combining our offering. I believe that we will demonstrate the potential to provide our customers with new, innovative products that can address unmet needs.”

The Uster Group is the leading high-technology instrument manufacturer of products for quality measurement and certification for the textile industry.

The Group provides testing and monitoring instruments, systems and services that allow optimisation of quality through each individual stage of textile production. This includes raw textile fibers, such as cotton or wool, all staple fiber and filament yarns, as well as downstream services to the final finished fabric. Uster Technologies provides benchmarks that are a basis for the trading of textile products at assured levels of quality across global markets. The Group’s aim is to forward know-how on quality, productivity and cost to the textile industry.

Inman Mills and USTER share a vision of progress
Textile manufacturers and their technology suppliers face many challenges in common, in an increasingly competitive and quality-conscious business. That’s why it’s important that they share a vision of excellence, which fosters both individual success and technological progress. Well-known North American textile producer Inman Mills is a prime example, in its relationship with USTER. Both companies have a proud heritage, founded on ‘traditional’ values – and a strong commitment to innovation.

Inman Mills produces some of the world’s most advanced fabrics for a wide range of applications. Its spinning and weaving plants are well established throughout the Southeast portion of the United States. The mill founded in 1901 near Spartanburg, South Carolina, is one of the oldest and most traditional in the world. “If there’s one thing that we as humans can always count on it’s change. Inman Mills has a long history of change and adaptation in an attempt to stay ahead of the game,” says Bill Bowen, Vice President of Inman Mills. The company’s tradition relies on the core values and principles that have maintained its position as a key player in an ever-changing industry, constantly adapting and improving to suit the demands of an expanding global market.

USTER’s Think Quality approach is an invitation to spinners to follow the USTER route to developing their yarn production towards higher customer satisfaction and business success. Aiming to help customers succeed in today’s harsh and competitive market conditions, USTER has evolved this support into a quality-focused mill management approach. This means that producing the required yarn quality is matched with the most efficient use of raw material. The target is to avoid waste and increase production speed as much as possible, without interfering with the other manufacturing goals. USTER’s mission is to utilise innovative technology to equip spinners for mill optimisation at the highest level – without risking claims.

USTER is proud that its customers participate in this philosophy, by continuously raising their awareness of quality – constant quality – in yarn production, embracing both technology and structures for mill quality management. Inman Mills is an ideal example of a mill driving its quality development in parallel with USTER. The US company makes yarns from expensive raw materials. Therefore Inman uses the USTER® AFIS to carry out checks machine-to-machine, as well as process-by-process, to get the best value out of the raw materials. More USTER® technology is installed to test at different stages throughout the mill. “USTER® laboratory equipment allows us to optimise our raw materials but it also allow us to optimise our processing machinery and run it at the highest speed possible – but still produce the right quality,” says Bowen.

USTER is appreciative of the role its customers play in bringing innovative technology to fruition in their mills. The Inman Mills approach shows how this works in practice: “We’re really having to push the envelope to meet the high quality standards our customers expect,” says Bowen. “In order to do that, we invest in the best machinery we can – as well as the best testing equipment that’s available – to allow us to make products meeting customers’ requirements.”

Past, present and future developments by USTER are supporting mill management. The focus is on meeting the needs of management through instruments and systems which provide answers to enable informed decisions. This is a cumulative process, starting with individual instruments and expanding in line with a mill’s commitment to manage yarn production with quality in mind. “We recognise USTER as a leader in defining the future of the textile industry. We trust USTER and follow its development. The past proved that we are right in doing so,” says Bowen.

The Uster Group is the leading high-technology instrument manufacturer of products for quality measurement and certification for the textile industry. The Group provides testing and monitoring instruments, systems and services that allow optimisation of quality through each individual stage of textile production. This includes raw textile fibres, such as cotton or wool, all staple fiber and filament yarns, as well as downstream services to the final finished fabric. The Uster Group provides benchmarks that are a basis for the trading of textile products at assured levels of quality across global markets. The Group’s aim is to forward know-how on quality, productivity and cost to the textile industry.