3D Sewing Robots: Driving Automation in the Textile Industry

How are 3D Sewing Robots impacting industry? Keep on reading to find out. It’s a fact that sewing is the major component of the textile sector. However, automation has helped workers perform the most difficult task with ease. Various prominent companies, such as Tianyuan Garments Company, are adopting 3D sewing robots to cater to the vast demands.

Electric sewing machines have been gaining traction for several years; however, the advent of 3D sewing robots is expected to develop new prospects for industry growth. Electric sewing machines require skilled operators to perform the entire sewing process. Meanwhile, robotics is expected to solve this problem by performing mass production of clothing automatically.

How 3D Sewing Robots Work

3D sewing robots are gaining substantial traction due to their niche applications. These robots come in various forms according to consumer demands. Many sewing robots are purpose-built that delivers to the specific requirement of the company.

Sewing robots are integrated with unique mechanics that sew materials. These robots require sewing heads, extra grippers, and multiple robotic arms to complete the task. Various companies have developed different forms of 3D sewing robots. For instance, an Atlanta-based company, Softwear Automation, unveiled LOWRY, a sewing robot that can create a T-shirt in less than two minutes. The technology is integrated with multiple high-speed vision cameras that transmit input to the actuators and click thousands of images in a second. These cameras help this intelligent technology understand the location of the fabric and the need for fine-tuned adjustments and compensations.

Apart from that, various sewing robots can automatically cut, flip, sew, and move the pieces of fabric without any human intervention.

Another well-known technology in the textile business is Sewbo, an industrial robot used for fabric grabbing and handling in the garment industry. Sewing robots are being used to sew the entire garment in some experimental attempts. Zornow’s “Sewbo” robot can automatically manage fabric parts while sewing. The robot can automatically sew a t-shirt from start to finish, enabling 100 percent automation throughout the process. The firm also programs the robots according to a specific size and style.

How it Solves Challenging Tasks

3D sewing robots efficiently handle soft fabrics. Moreover, these robots are considered suitable for mass production. It reduces the time and cost engaged in man work, which is the key factor driving its demand.

Automated sewing robots can efficiently sew leather, fabrics, and wool. There are several sewing robots, such as Six-axis industrial robots, Collaborative robots, Cartesian robots, and Dual-arm robots, that address the challenges of industrial-scale sewing.

The Growing Use of 3D Sewing Robots

In 2017, Adidas introduced its plan to develop 800,000 Adidas t-shirts daily. The company deployed a fully automated sewbot workline delivered by SoftWear Automation.

Tianyuan Garments Company of Suzhou, China, inked a partnership agreement with SoftWear Automation to develop the t-shirts for Adidas.

Innovative 3D Sewing Robots

Industry players are making innovations, keeping in mind the challenges caused by conventional methods. For instance, Sewbo uses a stiffener on the fabric to make it more adaptable to existing robots. The machine is integrated with cameras and algorithms to manipulate the fabric.

Philipp Moll GmbH & Co. invented a 3D Sewing Technology

The new technology by Philipp Moll GmbH & Co. will strengthen the scope of the entire industry as it will produce high-quality clothes. Philipp Moll GmbH & Co. unveiled a 3D Sewing Technology that can automatically develop clothing textiles, including Shirts, jackets, trousers, etc.

Vetron Typical’s VETRON 4000 // 4010:

Vetron Typical’s VETRON 4000 // 4010 is a classic direct-drive 1-needle lockstitch sewing machine, specifically designed for use in medium to heavy-duty applications. The technology offers exceptionally high stitch quality and is integrated with a thread trimmer.

KMF Maschinenbau GmbH

KMF Maschinenbau GmbH is also maintaining a strong foothold in the industry, with its wide portfolio catering to the demands of consumers from all sectors. For the automotive sector, the firm offers a wide range of products ranging from senior-automated to fully-automated.

For instance, the company’s KMF Type 3150 is a semi-automatic machine specially designed for the topstitching of straight seams in automotive upholstery. Meanwhile, KMF Type 3121 is a widely renowned

CNC automatic sewing machine, used for automatic sewing of “automotive” upholstery parts.

Scope of 3D sewing robots

3D sewing robots are expected to fill the wide automation gap in the textile industry, allowing companies to reduce the cost and time of the process. Automation is taking vital place across all industry verticals, and the textile industry is no exception. According to a study by Astute Analytica, the global 3D Sewing Robots Market will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.9% during the forecast period from 2022 to 2028. It is majorly attributed to the new launches, innovative strategies, and changing consumer demands.

For instance, SoftWear Automation unveiled its “Sewbots as a Service.” SEWBOTS-as-a-Service in 2019. It is a rental lease service offered by SoftWear Automation that allows manufacturers, brands, and retailers to source and manufacture in the United States at a cheaper cost. The goal of the program is to provide US textile manufacturers with more control, higher margins, shorter turn times, and lower inventory levels. Sewbots-as-a-Service, according to SoftWear, provides “instant return on investment” benefits while allowing for scaling across retailers, brands, and manufacturers.

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