Timing belts in different designs and sections are used in the textile industry. Whether it be small chloroprene timing belts used for spindle drives in texturing machines or high power timing belts in large sections used for main drives right up to polyurethane timing belts, e.g. metre goods welded in circular knitting machines. The product range is extremely versatile and the applications are almost unlimited.

The Mayer & Cie. Company – worldwide leading manufacturer of circular knitting machine uses,
amongst other items, the Optibelt OMEGA HL 1040 8M 50 high power timing belt
in their knitting machines and open width machines.
The knitting machines are available in both single and double jersey design. Single jersey is knitted right/left and the double jersey is either left/left or right/right. The size and quantity of the needles are decisive with regards to the quality of the work, the speed and diameter is decisive for the quantity of the work. Inside a knitting machine up to 3000 knitting needles are moved that only measure around 0.3 mm. Circular knitting machines are used for the manufacture of clothing right through to the manufacture of automobile and technical textiles. The timing belt serves as a main drive and has replaced the planetary gear train. This reduces costs with regards to maintenance, but also mainly with regards to the construction costs of the gear train. In addition to this, the timing belt offers a quieter drive. Depending on the version of the machine, a V-belt drive with two grooves is connected upstream of the timing belts for reduction purposes. Here two Optibelt Super X-POWER 1537 XPZ units carry out their work. Smaller timing belts, such as the Optibelt Hi Flex 70262 x 8 (Optibelt 153 2.8MHP 8) are used in the form of a spindle drive in the texturing machine. Texturing machines refine the yarns. At this point, flat and endless chemical yarns will be crinkled and bagged (crinkled yarn) in order to – for example – increase the stretching properties of the product. Therefore it is attempted to give the synthetic fibres a characteristic that is similar to natural fibres.

The Padma Group prefers OMEGA HP and HL
As one of the largest exporters of textiles that are sold with the most famous of labels in both the USA and Europe, the company pays particular attention to the excellent goods that are manufactured by their machines. Recently, the Managing Director – Mr. Khan Mohammed Ameer – spoke to Optibelt at Textech in Dhaka about a new machine that was experiencing problems: The belts that were used with the machine were lasting for a maximum of two weeks and then had to be replaced. As is always the case in such circumstances, the negative consequences were substantial: high maintenance costs and the stoppage of planned production. However, the Optibelt experts on location were ready with good suggestions for a solution. By adjusting the idler, the angle could be arranged in a more favourable manner so that the Optibelt OMEGA HP and HL belts that were now installed could provide ideal performance. Since this took place, the belts have been running for six months without any breakdowns. The feedback from the responsible manager from Bangladesh was also positive. The objective is now to equip the respective machines with Optibelt drive belts – proof of the unique quality of Optibelt products.

Only the best for the bears
In Grieskirchen, a town located in Upper animals are manufactured on an annual basis for the Steiff brand.
When driving the high power sewing machines, quality products from Optibelt are relied upon. For over 100 years, Steiff teddy bears have found a place in people’s hearts. Even Optibelt plays some part in the manufacture of these top quality animals. Richard Steiff, the nephew of Margarete Steiff, the founder of the company, was the person who brought the first toy teddy complete with moving body parts on to the market in 1902. Now over 1.5 million plush animals of all types leave the Margarete Steiff GmbH plants on an annual basis. The sewing of these animals is of particular importance. It is marvellous to see the precision and dexterity with which the sewing staff go about their art. They can always rely upon their most important tool – the sewing machines that rattle with breath-taking speed. This is due to the fact that the wrapped VB V-belts from Optibelt take care of the long-term and maintenance-free drive of the machines.