The Itema rapier R9500-2 is born to be versatile. Ever since Itema designs and develops internally its rapiers, leveraging the exclusive heritage of the big names of the past, namely Somet, Sulzer and Vamatex. The Itema R9500-2 is known to be the most positive negative rapier machine in the market, due to the uniqueness of its weft transfer system which provides unparalleled versatility of yarns and patterns.

Dedicated devices have been developed to excel in the weaving of technical fabrics, adding to the already excellent R9500-2 base sturdiness and flexibility, through key reinforcements and core advancements. Depending on the application, the R9500-2 can be equipped with optimized devices to get superior sensibility to weave even the most delicate weft and warp monofilament yarns, maximum sturdiness to easily handle the heaviest fabrics and best-in-class performances in terms of fabric quality and machine efficiency.

The continuous roll-out of customized special versions tailored for technical applications, including OPW Airbag, Fiberglass, Bolting Cloth, among others, the wide weaving width up to 540 cm, as well as dedicated devices for each application make the R9500-2 by Itema the perfect machine for the manufacture of the full range of technical textiles, including ones with the finest monofilament yarn, multifilament yarn with high tenacity, and multiple pick insertion fabrics.

Technical features:

1) Itema Rapier Weft Transfer System

• SK Weft Transfer with guided rapiers and hooks. Engineered for speed, provides high performances and superior fabric quality.
• FPA - Free Positive Approach - Weft Transfer featuring a race board with no guiding elements in the shed, it combines the versatility of a positive rapier system with higher performances and efficiency, enabling to weave even the most delicate monofilament yarns

2) Multiple choice of Weft Cutter

Motorized Weft Cutter developed by Itema and introduced on the market in 2001, is driven by an independent motor allowing different cutting times for each weft/color eliminating the time-consuming and accurate operation to find the best possible compromise to set one single cutting time for different weft yarns, resulting in

• much-improved efficiency
• no weft stops due to incorrect settings
• weft waste optimization
• perfect weft insertion

• ROTOCUT
• featuring an high precision rotary blade which cuts all the weft yarns at the same moment is the preferable choice in case of simple fabric constructions

3) Double Press Roller

4) Multiple options of Back-Rest Roller

• Light Weight Back-Rest Roller designed to compensate the lack of elasticity of specific yarns
• Double Back-Rest Roller with an increased cylinder diameter to optimally tolerate the warp yarns high tension
• Warp tensioner for an optimized warp tension

5) Full Width Temple

6) Rotary Deviating Bar

7) Thermal Cutters

8) Itema Electronic Weft Brake

The airjet A9500-2 - the most innovative airjet weaving machine in the market - inspires the curiosity and sparks the interest from real technology buffs and has already amassed important references, especially in medical applications and automotive fabrics.

Looking at specific technical applications, the Itema airjet A9500 provides undeniable benefits, matching unparalleled performances and the highest productivity with superior textile efficiency.

The Itema A9500-2 is pre-set for independent motorized Jacquard with no cardan shaft, allowing to weave specific technical textiles (such as Airbag OPW) with no speed limitations.

When it comes to weaving very high density fabrics, the A9500-2 is customized with dedicated devices to ensure best-in-class results. Key components are reinforced to ensure optimized machine control and reliability whilst Itema patented devices guarantee reduced consumption and superior textile efficiency.

The reinforced whip roller eliminates friction allowing an improved warp tension control and reducing warp stops, whilst the left and right waste selvedgeassures the correct tension of the weft leading to an excellent fabric quality.

Moreover, the longer dwell of the cam sley drive allows a longer weft insertion time, leading to a more efficient weft filling insertion. The Itema patented ELD - Electronic Leno Device, is the ideal solution for leno binding on high speed machines guaranteeing a perfect leno binding whilst significantly reducing operational costs thanks to its innovative design.

Itema is registering an increasing demand in airjet technology to weave fabrics for the automotive industry. Customers who chose the Itema A9500-2 to weave these type fabrics, reported that in this particular field what makes the Itema airjet extremely successful is again the longer dwell of the cam sley drive and, a recent innovation featured on A9500-2, the double tandem nozzles which allow to weave even the most coarse yarns at high speed.

Parachute fabrics is another main application for airjet technology, and the Itema A9500-2 exceeds weaver’s expectations with its elastic whip roller, a dedicated device for warp tension compensation. The double pick insertion ensures to weaving ripstop and, furthermore, the Polito nozzle guarantees high speed weft insertion and ensures unparalleled productivity.

Best-in-Class Shed Geometry

Optimal heald frames position guaranteeing higher speed and longer life cycle for heddles and harness frames. The optimized beating stroke is ideal to weave the widest range of fabrics ensuring perfect fabric quality

2. BLC - Brush Lycra Clamp Nozzle

Dedicated solution to weave elastic weft yarns ensuring superior fabric quality and reliability, ideal for medical applications (i.e. gauze)

3. Low Blow Single Hole Relay Nozzles

New generation of nozzles to provide lower air consumption and requiring lower maintenance

4. Multiple Selvedge Formation Options

In addition to mechanical tuckers, melting devices and air tuckers are available; for cut and full-width reed, both side and central tuckers are provided, reducing style change set up operations

5. ELD - Electronic Leno Device

Patented solution for leno binding to ensure no speed limitations, higher performances and reduced maintenance

6. Multiple options of Back-Rest Roller

• Reinforced Back-Rest Roller

eliminating friction to allow an improved warp tension control

• Elastic Back-Rest Roller

ideal for warp tension compensation

7. Double Tandem Nozzles

Allowing to weave even the most coarse yarns at high speed

8. New Sley Cam Profile

• Longer weft insertion time due to longer dwell
• Reduced air-consumption

9. iREED®

Patented device to lower air consumption when weaving coarse yarns in narrow width

The absence of the weft exchange thanks to the positive rapier weft transfer featuring an open patented rapier system allows the weaver to process the widest range of weft yarns with maximum textile efficiency.

Ranging from refined lamé to high tenacity monofilament yarns, passing through bouclé yarns up to carbon, polyester and polypropylene tape, UniRap provides the possibility to weave sophisticated technical fabrics and innovative fashion styles.

Based on reliable and user-friendly electronic and mechanical platforms and providing excellent ease-of-use, UniRap clearly provides valuable benefits in terms of versatility, performances and reliability guaranteeing to quickly penetrate new market opportunities. The insertion cycle is electronically driven, including the weft clamping settings and the flexible electronic architecture offers real-time management of the on-board automated devices.

Designed as an open platform, UniRap comes to the market in a variety of configurations enabling the weaver to create the perfect loom for his specific requirements, from standard versions with weft feeders up to 12 colours with Jacquard or dobby shedding machines for fancy apparel or furnishing to the single-color zero twist weft feeding for tape yarns up to 25 mm.

UniRap: endless weaving possibilities.

Technical fabrics are the specialty of the legendary and unique P7300HP due to the unparalleled versatility and reliability of its weft insertion system. The unmatchable uniqueness of the positive weft transfer consists in the single insertion driven by the projectile, which catches the weft and carries it directly with no exchanges, providing unmatched efficiency.

The P7300HP continues to harness great interest from projectile weaving aficionados and represents an unbeaten and unbeatable benchmark for those looking to weave the very widest fabrics - up to 655cm weaving width - and high-specialty materials, such as agrotextile, geotextile and carpet backing fabrics. When it comes to weaving tape yarns, the Itema projectile weaving machine provides the highest performance compared to all the other insertion technologies in the market.

The projectile P7300HP V8 in its standard version is ready to weave a wide range of technical textiles.

Furthermore, the P7300HP is available in RSP and R3 configurations, customized to weave high-end filter fabrics, heavy geotextiles and high-end conveyor belts. Reinforced to weave the most heavy textiles, the RSP version features a beat up force up to 11.000 N/m whilst the R3 version can reach up to 15.000 N/m.

The projectile P7300HP guarantees unparalleled results when weaving specific, high quality technical fabrics, ensuring top fabric quality, significant cost savings and outstanding reliability.

Technical features:

• Unique Positive Weft Insertion System
• Sturdy machine structure
• No Weft and Warp Waste
• Adaptive Selvedges to minimize Yarn Wastage
• FPB - Fast Projectile Brake
• Reinforced Main Machine Drive and Sley Drive
• Reinforced warp tensioner versions
• Reinforced Warp let-off and take-up drives

Offering both negative and positive rapier transfer systems, Hercules represents the perfect combination of mechanical sturdiness and textile efficiency ensuring the greater profitability in the market.

Hercules is the ideal weaving machine to easily produce any kind of technical fabric thanks to its superior ease of use and flexibility. The sturdy yet flexible machine structure ensures the maximum reliability leading to enhanced production capability.

One of a kind on the market, Hercules provides unbeatable textile flexibility thanks to its unique weft transfer system that enables the valuable possibility to easily and quickly switch from positive to negative rapiers, thus leading to unparalleled textile efficiency when handling the widest range of weft yarns counts in single or multiple weft insertions configurations.

Moreover, the take-up system skilfully handles both extremely coarse and super light fabrics.
Hercules, available in weaving width up to 6200 mm, effectively weaves even the heaviest technical fabrics.