Every aspect of garment manufacturing from visualising of a design to actual implementation and retail presentation and management is today increasing becoming dependent on technology. It would not be wrong to say that technology has moved beyond the basics and today ‘Smart Technology’ that not only assists users in doing a perfect job, but also thinks for them giving easy solutions to time consuming and complex operations. Shima Seiki, a leader in flatbed knitting and wholegarment technology, is offering many new thinking technologies that meet the increasing need for speed, while also adding value and quality to the product.
Among the most interesting offerings from Shima Seiki is the all-in-one designing and communication tool SDS ONE APEX3 workstation, which not only speeds up the sampling process, but also saves resources for fashion design. The design software automats product planning, designing, patterning, knit programming, virtual sampling, production and merchandising into one comprehensive software replacing the conventional method of first sketching the sample and then selecting the design, material, texture, silhouette, colour, etc. which used to take about 2-3 weeks. “The SDS-ONE allows the sample to be developed virtually in just an hour to maximum two days depending upon the garment. Products in different colours and styles can be generated with a click,” says Vaibhav Behl of Janaksons International, the exclusive agents for Shima Seiki in India.
The most significant feature of the design solution is the visualisation of knitted samples of any type with the yarn and loop simulation feature. It is possible to make a customised yarn, by deciding the count, ply, twist, space dyed, mélange, plating and converting them into real image of knitted fabric. “The system has 1000 pre-loaded stitch patterns, presenting the designer with numerous options to experiment with,” adds Vaibhav.
Among the many advantages of using the SDS-ONE APEX3, the critical one is that it establishes a very easy communication between the designer and the factory to not only decrease the iteration but also improve the lead time. For knitwear (flatbed or circular), a generic machine code is generated to ensure that every design aspect, whether it is a cable or a colour accent, is spot on at the exact right position on the garment as it was designed on the SDS-ONE APEX3.
The story for SDS-ONE does not end with product development, but is carried forward to visual merchandising to design stimulation store displays and printing of high resolution graphics such as posters, catalogues.
Training and after-sales-service is also very critical for Shima Seiki and Janaksons International has a well-equipped showroom-cum training centre in Ludhiana for quick response to customer needs. “As Shima Seiki keeps upgrading its technology, they depute their professionals to our training centre for imparting training to our technical team who in turn extend training to the technical staff of our customers,” says Vaibhav.
Shima Seiki has also recently introduced its entry point SSR 112 computerized flat knitting machine with superior cost performance ratio, which is bound to lead Shima Seiki’s efforts to penetrate both new and emerging markets with the same uncompromising technology and quality at an affordable price. With a 45-inch knitting width and an ultra compact double system carriage, the machine is compact and allows 15% more machines to be installed in the given floor space and is up to 25% more energy-efficient compared to the previous machines.
Explaining the vision behind the development of SSR-112, Vaibhav says, “In the last few years, due to the economic slowdown, production has been shifting towards manufacturing centres providing large quantities at a lower price. Even after the recovery of the economy, production has remained in these areas generating greater interest in capital investment to improve manufacturing capabilities. Therefore, demand for computerized knitting machines has increased especially in these emerging markets with the hand-flat knitting machines and mechanical machines being phased out by computerized ones with higher productivity.”
