{"id":3080,"date":"2020-09-22T09:16:43","date_gmt":"2020-09-22T13:16:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/robodk.com\/blog\/?p=3080"},"modified":"2024-11-20T13:44:52","modified_gmt":"2024-11-20T18:44:52","slug":"robot-applications-textile-industry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/robodk.com\/blog\/robot-applications-textile-industry\/","title":{"rendered":"9 Excellent Robot Applications in the Textile Industry"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Is it even possible to use robots in the textile industry? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like many people, you might think that textile manufacturing is just too complex for robotic automation. The materials are too unpredictable, the tasks are too varied, and the cost of robotic technology is too high\u2026 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026 at least that’s what many people think! <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Since the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world, many textile manufacturers have had to make a 180\u00b0 turn to their operations to keep up with the changing demand for textiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Some manufacturers rushed to change their operations<\/a> to produce face masks in order to help reduce the transmission of the virus. Other manufacturers saw the demand for their products change drastically and were required to switch their operations as a response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All across the world, the textile manufacturers are looking for new ways to improve their processes to keep up with <\/a>the rapidly changing industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Robotics is one of the most reliable technologies for responding to changes quickly. Unlike other forms of automation, robots are very adaptable. With <\/a>the right tools<\/a>, you can change a product line in hours, days, or weeks. Not many months as with other types of automation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many excellent robotic applications are already being used in the textile industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Isn’t Robotics Too Difficult for Textile Manufacturing?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It’s true that robotics has long eluded the textile industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As one report from the <\/a>Wall Street Journal<\/a> pointed out, it’s ironic that robotics is only now coming to textiles given that the industry was one of the first to be mechanized back in the 18th century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fabric manufacturing has, of course, some aspects of automation already. However, for a long time, only specific tasks could be reliably automated (such as yarn forming, carding, cotton mixing, etc.). For more the complex tasks, human dexterity has always been necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The problem is that fabrics are a fickle medium. As <\/a>KP Reddy from SoftWear Automation<\/a> says: “One of the biggest technical challenges is really that material flows. It stretches and gets deformed every time you touch it.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traditionally, industrial robots have been more suited to working with solid and predictable materials such as metal, plastic, wood, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, even though industrial robots are not yet able to perform every task in textile manufacturing, there are many robotic applications that can help manufacturers to stay agile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9 Excellent Robot Applications in the Textile Industry<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Whether you’re a textile manufacturer, integrator, or you are just interested in robotics, here are 9 applications that are a great start for deployment in textile manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Robot Printing and Drawing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Printing designs onto fabric is a core task in garment manufacture. In many cases, the printed design is the only difference between related product lines. Robots are perfect for printing and drawing as the complex paths can be programmed automatically if you’re using the right tools<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This system from Toshin Kogyo Co even allows complex screen printing with a robot:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/vqEqlouLN_Y?t=78\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

2. Logistic Transportation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many of the most exciting new applications in robotics in recent years have not come from the manufacturing tasks themselves but rather in the transportation and packaging of products. These tasks are just as applicable in the textile industry as they are to other types of manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Picking, packing, warehousing, and sorting are just a few examples of applications in this category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Bale Handling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many fabrics start their life as giant bales. These are bulky, heavy, and can be difficult to move around the factory floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bale handling is a perfect task for large industrial robots, which can have payloads up to almost 2 tonnes. They can easily be programmed to pick, stack, and sort bales autonomously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. 3D Fiber Structure Printing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of <\/a>the latest developments in robotic textile manufacturing<\/a> is 3D printing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a similar manner to normal 3D printing, 3D printed fabrics use fibers that are coated in a polymer for garments like protective firefighting uniforms. The robot guides the fabric into the shape of the 3D structure and the hardening polymer sets it in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Pick and Place<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pick and place can be used in almost any manufacturing environment when you need to move pieces around the workspace. Although textiles are flexible, it is entirely possible with careful programming to move pieces around using a robot with a modified gripper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Laser Welding<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In recent years, there has been a shift away from sewing as the only way to join materials. Techniques such as laser welding allows you to join two pieces of fabric using a laser.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a very similar task to other types of welding <\/a>which are extremely well suited to robotic automation<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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