After 30 years of producing Sant'Andrea Novara machines, the Italian company is now launching a new digitalised drawing frame generation at ITMA.
The focus of the new Elvo machine is on manufacturing quality. Sant'Andrea is proposing an integrated software for maintenance, checking consumption and for production programming, that also records the quality of the mass produced.
"This is very innovative because the electromagnetic system is very precise," says Marco Ploner, CEO, Sant'Andrea Textile Machines.
"No one is really making maintenance systems in this area. So, we are digitalising the pen and paper usually used to check and maintain the machines. This system is allowing you to become better at problem solving."
Features of the new Elvo generation include touch screen control, continuous delivery control, a new auto-leveller, ongoing quality check, a new suction system and easy access from the head bottom for inspection, cleaning and maintenance, and remote control and display of machine status and efficiency levels.
At the moment, the yarn preparation company is trialling the product with a customer. And after that, another customer is trialling it as well.
"Everybody wants to trial it, there is a lot of interest. There are some companies, such as those producing cashmere or alpaca, that are very interesting because we could then research the product in this application area better.
"Once you solve the worst problem, then everything else is easier," he adds.
Ploner says that the machine is still relatively new and needs to evolve, but hopefully it will be fully available in about a year and a half's time.
"By next ITMA we will be creating a five metre high wall showing off this product," he jokes.
Sant'Andrea Textile Machines is part of the Beppe Ploner Group, which also owns Tecnomeccanica Biellese, Coppa and Alea.
Tecnomeccanica focuses on card preparation, Coppa produces accessories for textile machines, in particular for combing, preparing and twisting wool and synthetic fibres, and Alea creates textile dryers.
In 1969, having gained experience over a period of 25 years in this sector, Giuseppe Ploner founded Tecnomeccanica Biellese. The group is now run by his children and grandchildren – Paola, Stefania, Mario, Luigi and Marco Ploner.
Sant'Andrea, Tecnomeccanica Biellese and Coppa are exhibiting in Hall 6, Stand 102-108.
