Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Accept emails from RSS feeds to keep up with textile equipment information

Get those important alerts, RSS feeds and used textile machinery information that could affect your business sent to your inbox by registering your specific news requirements with the resources available online.

I recommend: Keep up with news and trend in textile equipment at Fibre2fashion. Join the blogs and read about the latest postings from other textile machinery professionals at Textile Machinery.

Read about the latest textile equipment news

Read in-depth reports and magazines that cover the textile equipment industry further than the headlines. Often economic factors that seem vital in the moment can provide a different perspective with the historical context that trend watchers can provide, leading you to shift your business decisions.

I recommend: Textile World covers textile equipment news for industry executives. Keep up with all the latest news and company highlights of the textile machinery world through ZiBB.

Join trade groups for professionals dealing with industrial textile machines

Textile machinery professional associations typically include representatives from around the world. They could be useful to your business by providing the resources for you and your senior management team to participate in these textile machine conferences so that you can maintain a close eye on the competition and emerging advancements.

I recommend: Get involved with textile manufacturers through the Industrial Fabrics Association International. Most of the meetings are held in the United States, while others are held overseas to accommodate all of the membership. Find updated trend reports by getting involved with the International Textile Manufacturers Association, which also includes a global membership that would be most helpful to your news gathering efforts.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Since so much of the textile manufacturing industry is international in origin, be sure to follow news about a textile equipment source from overseas to round out your perspective.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get industrial textile equipment for your business

If you're looking to add or enhance your own textile-manufacturing abilities, several companies can provide them, whether you need looms, weavers, knitters or any other machinery. Choose the device that will cover your needs and you can start producing your own textile products or increase the productivity of your current operation.

I recommend: Look into the industrial sewing machines and textile equipment available from distributors such as Benick Machineworks, Southeastern Textile Machinery and Louis P. Batson.

Equip your business with industrial sewing machines

Getting into the garment supply field and keeping your business going aren't easy, but one type of equipment you'll be able to procure fairly easily is sewing machines. With the suppliers listed here, you can get several different kinds of sewing equipment to outfit your business or to replace older machinery to make the products you specialize in. Stay competitive and keep your clients satisfied by having reliable machinery.

I recommend: Select the equipment you need from the sewing machines for sale at Industrial Sewing Machine Man, or look at used sewing machines at Industrial Sewing Machine. You can also contact Dema Sales for equipment information.

Save money by buying used textile machines for your business

The more money you save, the better. If you're looking to cut costs, then used textile machinery, such as spinning, weaving and knitting looms, might be your answer. You'll get the equipment you need at a fraction of the price, a situation any business owner can appreciate.

I recommend: Request information about used textile machinery from Coker International, or check the list of products available from Allstates Textile Machinery.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you're just starting your business, it's a good idea to look at the long term and plan for maintenance costs, especially if you're opting for used equipment. Knowing where to get dependable service for textile machinery and machine parts will save you time and effort when the situation arises.

Action Steps
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Locate trade associations that focus on industrial textile machines

Textile industry trade associations and related groups sometimes offer training workshops or provide other resources for textile machinery.

I recommend: The American Textile Machinery Association reviews the latest machine industry standards for industry professionals. Online course modules can be found at the American Association of Textile Colorists and Chemists website. Courses range from textile fundamentals to textile processing to finishing.

Work with textile machinery manufacturers that provide on-site training

Some companies have training centers available, or representatives can visit customer sites to train on textile machinery.

I recommend: Karl Mayer provides regional training academies worldwide that focus on the basics of textile machinery and machine parts, and fabric analysis, warp knitting techniques and more. Textile machinery provider Staubli Textile also offers training sessions to its clients.

Learn how to maintain used textile machinery to help save on production costs

Maintaining existing industrial textile machines can help prolong machine durability and improve productivity.

I recommend: Corbett Industries offers employee maintenance training programs for used textile machines. Chase Machine & Engineering features a private materials applications lab for customers to test products such as sewing machines.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Training in the textiles industry requires at the minimum a high school diploma, although on-the-job training is available for operating textile machines. In addition to on-the-job training, industry insiders recommended taking computer-related technical or trade school courses to become familiar with different models of textile machinery and machine parts, as well as to keep track of advancements in new technology, whether you work with or provide textile machines for sale.

Action Steps
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Sewing machines

A sewing machine is an electronically-powered machine that uses a pedal to control the speed of the needle, allowing the sewing of textiles to be very fast and reliable with strong, durable and uniform stitching.

I recommend: See some examples of the wide variety of industrial-grade textile sewing machines on the market at SewingMachinesPlus.com.

Textile cutting machines

A textile machine cuts through fabric very easily and quickly, usually through many layers of fabric at once, making the cutting process very fast and efficient while keeping sizes and shapes consistent and uniform.

I recommend: Have a look at different kinds of fabric cutting machines at Ultimate Sewing and Vac.

Knitting machines

A knitting machine is an automatic machine that knits yarn fibers after being programmed and set to a specific pattern. They are used most commonly for knitting garments quickly and reliably.

I recommend: Visit the Textile Machine Gallery to see an example of an industrial textile knitting machine.

Fabric finishing machines

Fabric finishing machines give textiles the final treatment after being woven, and may include dying, rinsing, drying, rolling and quality inspection.

I recommend: Go to the website of Volstart Texnet Services to see some examples of textile finishing machines.

Embroidery machines

An embroidery machine is for the decoration of textiles, creating designs sewn directly into textiles with decorative stitching in different colored threads. Embroidery machines use digital patterns that can be downloaded using software.

I recommend: Find everything there is to know about embroidery machines and view the embroidery glossary at Ricoma.

Quilting machines

A quilting machine is used to sew multiple textile layers together with padding, insulation or batting between them. They are used for finishing thicker textile products like furniture, sleeping bags, bed spreads, clothing or arts and crafts.

I recommend: Read about industrial-grade textile quilting machines capable of mass production from Optron Ingeniería.