Westpoint Stevens,
Nation's Largest Producer of Bed and Bath Textiles
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| Problem: To finish its
chintz sheets, Westpoint Stevens developed a proprietary resin that is cured at 312
degrees Fahrenheit for 150 seconds. To allow for the resin to cure, a number
of processing steps were introduced which slowed down the entire operation. |
Analysis: Using the
finishing range to cure the resin made it unavailable for its primary function -- high
speed drying of uncoated material. Using the finishing range also required
additional fabric handling including transfer and loading onto the range. |
| Solution: Wespoint
Stevens installed an RSI designed air-flow electric IR curing system. Because
the IR method is capable of heating to 1400°F, the system can adapt to the needs of a
variety of fabrics and finishes. Westpoint Stevens now finishes the fabric at 50
yards per minute, the maximum speed of the calendar. With electric IR the fabric
avoids contact with equipment that can cause defects and the resin is cured evenly over
the fabric. |
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