Saurer Epoca 05 – The modular system revolutionizes the Two Frame Technique
by Andreas Hellwig, Market and Product Manager, Saurer Arbon Ltd.
The first Saurer Epoca in 1995 heralded a new epoch in the shuttle embroidery technique. Previously, economical embroidering had for decades only been possible with the two frame technique, mostly in the execution with 2 frames on top of each other. Owing to the improved ergonomics combined with quicker fabric changing times and lower loss with idle times, the Epoca succeeded with only one frame in producing profitably when compared to the conventional technique. Now the Epoca also offers its customers a version with the two frame technique without, however, being unfaithful to its very own primary advantages.
Saurer has, in the past, frequently come up with surprises by technological and economic achievements which have provided the market with new impulses. Within the Epoca line, these were certainly the steel frame and foundation models, the FastCut cutting technique and recently the laser option.
As a new innovation, the complete modular-constructed embroidery system will no longer be offered only as a steel frame and foundation version in lengths up to 30 m and with the well-known additional laser and soutache & sequin devices, but alongside the one frame version also as a two frame version. Here it is not just a rigid fusion with resulting losses in flexibility and productivity but two completely independent units. This preserves all the advantages: with a thread break or another standstill, only one of the affected frames is idle; the other one continues to fully operate. Naturally, one can re-equip and restart a frame when it is finished although the other is still working on the first piece. Even servicing does not mean that both frames must simultaneously stand still.
The basis of this revolutionary innovation, for which a patent has been applied, is a solely electronic link of the two frames. It is based, alongside the so far applied servomotor technique, on one single intelligent control for both frames. This ensures in every case that the correct position is taken up. Only the pattern must be identical for both frames. In contrast, the cloth used as well as the yarn and also several parameter settings can differ.
In order to improve profitability, Saurer even goes a step further. All embroidery machines are now equipped with the fabric spanning system FastSpan. With only one single cloth shaft, this system enables the application of the revolutionary run-through technique alongside the well-known cloth fastening methods, longitudinal spanning bar, Velcro and fishbone. However, the fabric fixation can be changed at any time. With the pull-through method, the cloth is no longer nailed or clamped onto the frame but is pulled into the frame like a sail by using a special shaft drapery and then fixed. When pulled off, the new cloth is simultaneously drawn in. At this point, the cloth can both be trimmed and used as a multiple of the machine length, which brings distinct advantages in the further processing.
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