Karl Mayer Malimo Textilmaschinenfabrik GmbH, the technical textiles strategic unit of
Germany-based Karl Mayer Textilmaschinenfabrik GmbH, has introduced the Malitronic® Multiaxial
machine for layer stabilization in reinforcing textiles, which can be used for prepreg applications
in wind turbines, aircraft, and marine craft; and for building repairs.
One unit is available for customer trials and training purposes at Karl Mayer Malimo’s
technical center in Chemnitz, Germany. A second machine already is in place performing trials for a
multiaxial textile producer.
Mayer reports the machine offers improved efficiency and performance, and productivity has
increased 20 to 25 percent over the previous-generation model.
Karl Mayer Malimo’s Malitronic® Multiaxial machine
The machine features a modular design for optimal flexibility, with the combination of both
mechanical and electronic aspects of the individual components possible. Individual modules are
constructed at the Chemnitz plant and then assembled at the customer’s facility.
Material is fed to the machine using a full-width, continuous conveyor belt assuring uniform
and specific feeding of materials, such as chopped glass mats or pretensioned weft layers, to the
bonding section of the machine.
An optional wide cutting unit is available for producing chopped glass mats from glass
rovings to be used as feedstock. The delivery system to the machine can vary depending on the
customer’s requirements.
The Malitronic features a compensating yarn tensioner, which provides constant take-off of
the yarn from the package and evens out any differences in yarn tension as the yarns are laid on
the conveyor belt.
Sheet-wise positioning of the reinforcing yarns is controlled by the weft laying system,
which features an optimized drive system. Adjustments can be made in 1-degree increments between
+45-degree and -45-degree angles. The standard Malitronic configuration has three individually
controlled weft laying devices, but the machine can be configured with up to five.
The reinforcing yarns are moved to the bonding point using transport chains located on the
lengthwise sides of the weft insertion frame. Weft yarns are held in place by horizontally and
vertically positioned needled pins.
Stitches are formed to bond the reinforcing material. Filler thread delivery has been
simplified and optimized to offer constant thread tension.
Once the material has been bonded, selvages are removed and collected in a central waste bin.
Cutting tools can be set up to cut the working width of the material into strips as determined by
the end-use for the product.
Standard two- and three-roller take-down units are used, and the surface winder operates
semi-automatically. The customer can elect to use a combined surface and central winder in cases
such as when sensitive materials or long lengths will be wound.
October/November/December 2009