A humming knitting machine. Identical yarn. Identical speed. Identical tension. And yet, one small change made a measurable difference. In a tightly controlled test at Groz-Beckert’s Technology & Development Center (TEZ), a lubricant from Klüber Lubrication quietly outperformed a leading competitor product. The result? A 4% drop in energy consumption - without changing a single machine setting.

Precise setup, tangible impact

This energy efficiency project was conducted on a Monarch VXC circular knitting machine (Gauge E44). All parameters - yarn type, tension, speed, and oil dosage - were kept constant. Six temperature sensors monitored thermal behaviour with high precision.

“An energy efficiency project on a knitting machine is nothing new. We have already many successful projects,” says Lisa-Maria Irger, Market Development Manager GIT-Textile and responsible for the test at Klüber. “What makes this case stand out is that the tests were conducted under identical, near-laboratory conditions at the Groz Beckert TEZ”.

A major difference compared to field trials was the extensive oil replacement process carried out beforehand: Before each test run, Groz-Beckert allocated four full days to completely clean the machine and allow for a full running-in phase. This reduced residual oil content to below 5%, minimising cross-contamination and allowing each lubricant to perform on a clean baseline and post retrofit.

“Such thorough preparation is rarely feasible in commercial field environments, where machine downtime is tightly limited. This makes the results particularly robust and valuable,” explains Lisa-Maria Irger.

The comparative test between the Klüber product Klüberoil Tex 1-22 N and a leading competitor product led to the following findings:

- Energy Consumption: Klüberoil Tex 1-22 N demonstrated an average reduction in power usage of approximately 4%

- Cam Temperature: A decrease of around 0.7% was recorded

“At Groz-Beckert, a unique opportunity arose to assess the efficiency behaviour of Klüber’s specialty lubricants under laboratory conditions,” says Lucas Hildebrand, who supported the project from the Application Engineering - Energy Efficiency department, and was also responsible for analysing the data.

“In collaboration with Groz-Beckert specialists, a 4% improvement in energy efficiency was demonstrated. Additionally, the insights gained into machine operating behaviour will further enhance internal test and evaluation methodologies.”

Lisa-Maria Irger adds: “Thanks to the practical test carried out on the machine and expertise of both partners, we can tailor our knitting oils specifically to the actual requirements of the textile industry.”

A strong signal to the market

The data provides a strong reference point for Klüber Lubrication’s textile industry solutions. For operators, the potential benefits are clear:

- Reduced energy costs

- Improved performance leading to a reduction in needle temperature

- Increased needle lifetime

- Reduced corrosion, wear and residue thanks to superior product quality

- Decreased CO₂ emissions and environmental impact

www.klueber.com