Textile Compacting Process
📌 Compactor machines are essential in textile finishing, compressing fabrics under controlled pressure and heat to ensure width stability and desired properties.
📌 Two main types exist: tubular compactor machines for tubular knit fabrics and open width compactor machines for open width processing of knit and woven materials.
📌 The machine's functions include controlling fabric width, meeting required GSM (Grams per Square Meter), maintaining dimensional stability, reducing spirality, and modifying the fabric's hand feel.

Working Procedure of Open Width Compacting
📌 Step 1 (Loading): Fabrics are loaded onto the machine, with the feeding frame and centering device ensuring accurate positioning for uniform treatment.
📌 Step 2 (Moistening): An infrared (IR) infeed device and a steaming unit uniformly moisten the fabric using controlled steam flow according to fabric width.
📌 Step 3 (Drying/Edge Treatment): A drying unit treats fabric edges, using IR emitters to enhance quality and drying consistency.
📌 Step 4 (Compacting): The unit uses felt compacting units that press the fabric between felt and steam-heated chrome-plated rollers to control compressive shrinkage, followed by a cooling roller.
📌 Step 5 (Control): Load cells, variable frequency drives, and a PLC with a touchscreen ensure precise fabric tension control throughout the process.

Applications and Benefits
✨ Compactor machines process diverse fabrics, including single jersey, interlock, fleece, Terry, and polyester.
✨ The process results in fabrics with improved dimensional stability, reduced shrinkage, and a desirable soft feel.
✨ Key outcomes measured after compaction include verifying the final fabric shade and GSM against required standards.

Key Points & Insights
➡️ The open width compactor machine achieves high-quality finishing by meticulously controlling moisture, heat, and compressive force across the fabric width.
➡️ Precise tension monitoring via load cells and PLCs is crucial for guaranteeing consistent, high-quality results in the final textile product.
➡️ Compaction directly addresses structural issues in knits, such as governing the loop structure and smoothing surface fibers.

📸 Video summarized with SummaryTube.com on Nov 09, 2025, 17:29 UTC