Moving into a new generation of textile calendering

With more than 150 years’ experience in developing and supplying calenders for textile applications, ANDRITZ leads the way in quality, performance and reliability. The launch of its latest development, the teXcal Raconip TT, was the start of a new phase in the industry, combining top performance, quality and safety with the latest in smart operation utilizing IIoT and digital solutions. This new calender was developed in cooperation with Rolf Ramisch, a well-known specialist in textile calender technology. 

The production of technical textiles, such as sportswear, workwear, canvas and parachute fabric demands the most rigorous of parameters for process technology and very close tolerances for the end product. Consistency of quality is essential. Christian Meyer, textile calender product expert, explains, “There are various added features in the teXcal Raconip TT, but one feature that truly stands out is the latest smart technology that documents all elements of the operation, including pressure, web tension control and temperature.

“This eliminates the risk of operator error and results in a much more consistent quality. And of course, it also means that previous product recipes can be stored and accessed again easily for a repeat run of certain products.”

The new calender comes complete with an innovative, deflection-controlled roll – the newly developed Raconip roll. It offers maximum flexibility thanks to unrestricted profiling across the entire fabric width by means of hydrostatic pistons. This guarantees the highest quality, such as absolute flatness and precise air permeability.

“The pistons can be individually adjusted according to the product requirements. This is based on a smart control system to ensure greater flexibility in zone correction and the highest possible correction potential, especially at the fabric edges,” adds Josef Kohnen, Head of Technical Product Management.

Another important feature that ANDRITZ has added to the teXcal Raconip TT calender is a “safe area”, which has been created on the calender where the operator is able to touch and check the fabric web by hand, with the added feature of a light bar that illuminates the entire infeed area.

Christian Meyer comments, “With the new calender, the operator now has excellent visibility thanks to transparent guards that allow a visual at the exact moment when the fabric passes through the nip. Now there is no more danger of the operator’s fingers being caught up in rotating rolls.”

In terms of technical innovations, ANDRITZ has introduced a new sleeve for the calender, the Racoflex plus. Josef Kohnen explains, “The Racoflex plus is an excellent new feature of the teXcal Raconip TT calender. It is made out of a homogeneous composite material, which means it has excellent bending behavior. Also, and most importantly, this bending ability is combined with extreme hardness. We are able to deliver Racoflex plus with up to 94 Shore D, which is necessary for technical textiles.

“The benefits that these new sleeve types bring mean that the hardness remains constant no matter what the temperature conditions are on the roll. A very smooth surface ensures high compression and gloss development in the fabric web.”

All technical details and specs are available on the teXcal Raconip TT product page.