Did you know that garment manufacturing machines can not only be used to produce garments for the fashion industry? Due to the comprehensive number of different machineries, they offer a wide range of use for many purposed and can be used in other industries such as automotive, food or even logistics. In fact, some of our needle detection machines for example are being used in logistics to inspect packages or in the food industry to check frozen prepackaged seafood.
More Than “Just” Garment Machineries
Garment manufacturing machines are also commonly used in the production of technical garments for the automotive, healthcare and even aerospace industry. What distinguishes these industries from the fashion industry are the extremely strict requirements and safety standards posed on the produced garments. Absolutely no errors are allowed. Even the tiniest error could lead to disastrous events.
To ensure that the high standards and specific demands are met, the industries rely on specialized machineries. Manufacturing technical garments involves different processes, materials, and considerations due to their distinct purposes and end-users compared to the garment industry.
The Automotive Industry
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The automotive industry usually uses heavy textiles to produce parts like car seats or airbags. Thus, the industry commonly uses heavy-duty garment machineries to handle the production. One of OSHIMA's clients, Toyota, uses Multi Roll Spreader J3 in their production line for airbags. This Fabric Spreader can automatically spread up to six rolls at once and is also specialized in heavy-duty, woven and non-woven fabrics as well as other technical textiles.
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Automotive airbags also need reliable bonding that ensure the integrity of these safety components. Fabric fusing machines, like our Continuous Fusing Machine OP-1400/1600/1800 line, with heat and pressure features can create the necessary bonding. Rolls Royce, one of OSHIMA’s clients, uses our Fusing Machines in this step in their production line for the desired result.
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For airbag materials and seat covers cutting machines with high-speed cutting and intricate pattern capabilities are commonly used. Especially for leather seat covers and other technical textiles our heavy-duty cutting specialist OneCut is a popular machine.
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In the next step automotive manufacturers tend to rely on automated sewing processes ensure consistency in their end products.
The Healthcare Industry
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In healthcare it is of utmost importance that garments have a high durability, preventing any fluids, germs and bacteria penetrate through garments such as surgical gowns. Sealing and bonding machines, like our Hot Air Sealing and Bonding Machine OP-702, are used for this purpose.
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The no-contact welding feature of ultrasonic welding machines creates strong and sterile seams, preventing contamination with their technical advancement and maintaining the necessary garment integrity for medical use. For example, our Ultrasonic Lace Machine MB9018B is often being used in the production line of disposable masks and surgical gowns.
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During the pandemic surgical gowns and especially disposable face masks were in very high demand. In order to keep up the production had to speed up by a lot yet it was important to maintain the high-quality standards and consistency. High-speed cutting machines and automatic spreading machines can therefore increase production efficiency by a lot. A commonly used machine is, again, our heavy-duty Multi Roll Spreader J3.
The Aerospace Industry
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In the aerospace industry composite textiles are being handled mostly, due to the extreme circumstances the garments such as pilot suits are used in. Due to the heavy texture, it is important to have a machine that can handle these textiles while cutting in high-precision. For one of our clients in this industry the TAC Automatic Cutting Machine was the suitable solution to work with. Another widely used solution is the Smart Automatic Cutting M8S machine with enhanced visual management.
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Most importantly however for technical garments in aerospace like pressure suits is to remain absolute airtight. To fulfill this standard usually pressure sealing machines are used in the production.
Keeping the Highest Standards
It is clear to see that garment machineries carry a lot of features with them allowing them to be widely used. However, in order to make sure that no error happens obviously one very important step should also be talked about: the Fabric Inspection. And, with the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across all industries it is also not far reached to use AI in the fabric inspection step. With smart machines like OSHIMA’s EagleAi error detection can be sped up by a lot enhancing efficiency and quality in the production of technical garments.
The production of technical garments, as well as fashion garments, involves a skilled manufacturing process. The key distinction lies in their purpose, circumstances being used in, materials used, and the industries they serve. Technical garments prioritize function and safety, fashion garments on the other hand aesthetics and trends. OSHIMA offers a comprehensive range of machineries with different features that can be used accordingly in the industry they are used in, allowing a high range of customization. Contact us today for more information.
