Swiss flat knitting machine manufacturer Steiger has launched a brand-new Antares 2.185 flat knitting machine, that will be shown for the first time at ITMA in Milan in June. The unique machine with 24 yarn guides to knit coarse gauge intarsia sweaters, will be on show in Hall 4 stand D101/D101a.

The Antares 2.185 is a coarse gauge (3 needles per inch) machine to knit panels, fully fashioned, shaped garments, Jacquard and stitch structure combinations. It has the characteristic Steiger open carriage with two knitting systems and full three-way-technique, with variable intelligent stroke knitting on a 185 cm needlebed.

The Antares 2.185 has individual electronic needle selection, special Steiger upper take-down and takedown comb, direct yarn feeding on an open carriage with 24 independent motorised yarn-carriers with, 24 cutters and clamps on the needlebed. The machine is available in gauge 3.

Antares 2.185 is a single head compact machine, without cam carriage bridge, with direct yarn feeding from the top and two system cam boxes, each with integrated bidirectional transfer. It has a working width of 185 cm (73″).

Electronic needle selection permits unlimited patterning possibilities due to three-way-technique and integrated function for split-stitches and shaping by stitch transfer and press-off method.

Stitch quality is controlled electronically without limits, with the possibility to modify at any time. The machine can be fitted with up to 24 motorised yarn-carriers with direct feeding, independent to carriage movement. Yarn carriers are dropped off automatically at the edge of the design or the selvedge.

Take down is programmable and is active at 25mm from loop formation. A programmable take-down comb is also fitted. Drive is by brushless motor, giving infinitely variable stroke and programmable knitting speed up to 1.30 m/s. Stop motions cover yarn breakage, knots, shock, over-heating of motors, fabric press-off etc. Racking is selective over +-60 mm, with the possibility of correction. The Antares 2.185 is programmed via Steiger’s Model software on PC.

Steiger at ITMA 2023

Hall 4 stand D101/D101a

8-14 June 2023

Fiera Milano Rho

Milan, Italy

www.itma.com

www.steiger-textil.ch