List of Machines Required for Garment Manufacturing

Shafiun Nahar Elma
Industrial & Production Engineer
National Institute of Textile Engineering & Research (NITER), Bangladesh.
Email: [email protected]

Introduction:
The garment industry is a significant sector of the world economy, accounting for billions of dollars in import and export exchanges each year. The garment industry has focused on innovative machinery to suit rising consumer demands for productivity, sustainability, and personalization. From fabric manufacture to garment fabrication, there are numerous phases involved in the garment, including cutting, stitching, finishing, quality control, and more. This implies that each production stage requires a variety of other types of machines for garment manufacturing to finish the full process efficiently, quickly, and sustainably.

Primary Production Processes:

1. Fabric Production: Manufacturing process of weaving and knitting a yarn into a fabric.
2. Cutting: Cutting of the fabric to specifications in a design.
3. Sewing: Stitching by sewing the cut fabric in the formed garments.
4. Finishing: Final touches such as ironing and washing of the clothes in preparation for market
5. Quality Control: Verification of how the products that come from the factory meet the set standards of the industry before distribution.

List of Machines Used in Garment Manufacturing

List of machines used in cutting section:

1. Straight Knife Cutting Machine
2. Round Knife Cutting Machine
3. Band Knife Cutting Machine
4. Computerized Cutting Machine (CNC)
5. Laser Cutting Machine
6. End Cutter Machine
7. Notching Machine
8. Die Cutting Machine
9. Drill Machine

List of machines used in sewing section:

1. Single Needle Lockstitch Machine
2. Double Needle Lockstitch Machine
3. Overlock (Serger) Machine
4. Flatlock Machine
5. Chain Stitch Machine
6. Buttonhole Machine
7. Button Sewing Machine
8. Bartack Sewing Machine
9. Zigzag Sewing Machine
10. Blind Stitch Machine
11. Feed Off the Arm Machine
12. Coverstitch Machine
13. Elastic Inserting Machine
14. Automatic Pocket Setter
15. Automatic Belt Loop Setter
16. Seam Sealing Machine
17. Placket Attaching Machine

Embroidery machines for garment manufacturing:

1. Single Head Embroidery Machine
2. Multi-Head Embroidery Machine
3. Computerized Embroidery Machine
4. Sequin Embroidery Machine
5. Chenille Embroidery Machine
6. Cap Embroidery Machine
7. Laser Embroidery Machine

Finishing section machines for garment manufacturing:

1. Ironing/Pressing Machine
2. Steam Iron
3. Heat Sealing Machine
4. Fusing Machine
5. Thread Trimmer Machine
6. Needle Detector Machine
7. Embroidery Backing Trimmer
8. Label Cutter

List of printing machines:

1. Screen Printing Machine
2. Roller Printing Machine
3. Digital Printing Machine
4. Sublimation Printing Machine
5. Heat Transfer Printing Machine
6. Pad Printing Machine

Washing and dyeing section machines for garment manufacturing:

1. Washing Machine (Industrial)
2. Hydro Extractor Machine
3. Drying Machine
4. Dyeing Machine
5. Stone Washing Machine
6. Enzyme Washing Machine
7. Ozone Washing Machine

Packing and labeling section machines:

1. Packing Machine
2. Label Printing Machine
3. Barcode Printer
4. Shrink Wrapping Machine
5. Tagging Machine

Specialized and customized machines:

1. Pleating Machine
2. Snap Button Machine
3. Laser Marking Machine
4. Velcro Attaching Machine
5. Belt Loop Cutter
6. Riveting Machine

Not essential but effective machines for garment manufacturing:

1. Fabric Spreading Machine
2. Pattern Plotter Machine
3. Fabric Inspection Machine
4. Roller Heat Transfer Machine

Trends in Garment Manufacturing Technologies:
In the past ten years, more machines have entered the manufacturing and distribution of garments because of the use of technology and artificial intelligence. These technological innovations enable companies to streamline processes, cut labor costs, and improve the speed of production.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Garment Manufacturing:

• Predictive analytics: This helps the firms to know the market and maintain their value chain.
• AI in Quality Control: AI-powered systems connected to the lines of manufacturing can detect flaws in manufactured products, reducing rejected items while keeping up with the quality requirements.
• Data Analytics: Data analytics help manufacturers make decisions on machine performance, production constraints, and consumer preferences.

AI-related machines for garment manufacturing:

1. Automatic Cutting Machine
2. Sewing Robot
3. AI-controlled Embroidery Machine
4. Camera-based Inspection System
5. AI-controlled Pattern-Making Machine
6. Automatic Production Planning System
7. AI-controlled Packaging Machine

Sustainability within the Garment Manufacturing Sector:
The garment industry is in an active search for ways to minimize the negative impact of fast fashion. Advanced automated technology in machinery shifts the focus on minimizing the environmental effects through the reduction in waste of textiles, consumption of energy and water, therefore,

Sustainable machinery for garments manufacturing:

1. Waterless Dyeing Machine
2. Ozone Washing Machine
3. Laser Finishing Machine
4. Air-dyeing machine
5. Energy-Efficient Sewing Machines
6. Eco-friendly Fabric Recycling Machine
7. Biodegradable Material Processing Machine
8. Solar Powered Production Machines
9. Zero-waste Pattern Making Machine
10. Eco-Friendly Water Treatment Machine
11. Organic Cotton Ginning Machine
12. Digital Printing Machine

Sustainable machinery operations practices:

• Fabric Waste Minimization: Generally, the industry uses CNC and other Automated cutting machinery. Patterns are drawn to perfection. This machine aims at minimum waste material after cutting.
• Waste Management: According to observation, machines can recycle wasted textiles into fiber. This makes new products. There is an increasing utilization of these machineries. It enhances circular fashion production.

Major Buyers and Manufactures of Garment Machinery:
Garment machinery has been one of the fastest-growing industries in the world, and textile machinery exports are likely to cross US$25 billion by 2025. China leads the global garment machinery market with a market share of more than 45% and export value of over $12 billion, while German and Japanese industries focus on high value-added, ecologically friendly automated machinery for garments manufacturing and exports. Generally speaking, high demand for speed low prices, and environment-friendly productions drives the demand for automated systems and green technologies. Key importer countries like Bangladesh, Vietnam, and India are focusing on investing in sustainable machinery as a coping strategy for this challenge of competitiveness. Over 60% of the machines sold by 2030 will have something to do with sustainability in them, hence changing the face of garment manufacturing.

• Awareness and Training: Most of the Countries lack awareness. It is about sustainable machinery and the skills needed to operate this machinery.
• Supply Chain Issues: Finding the right sourcing of sustainable materials and components is not so easy; there are geographical and supplier constraints.

Conclusion:
The garment sector is changing; it is driven by advanced technologies. Other driving forces are sustainability and a shift in consumer taste. Machinery for textile manufacturing sectors becomes one of the key factors for economic growth. It paves the path to more efficient, sustainable, and tailor-made production methods. Machines for garment manufacturing in the future will focus on two areas: firstly, efficiency, and secondly, sustainability. Indeed, for those investing in such cutting-edge advancements, the future surely looks brighter than this time. The topography of technology keeps changing. Entrepreneurs can thrive with such investments.

References:

1. https://www.fibre2fashion.com/industry-article/6444/making-of-garments
2. https://textilelearner.net/uses-of-sewing-machines/
3. https://onlinegarmentsacademy.blogspot.com/2020/08/garments-machinery%20.html
4. https://study.com/academy/lesson/textile-industry-types-of-machines.html
5. https://textilernd.com/advanced-apparel-finishing-machinery/
6. https://www.textileschool.com/9150/type-of-industrial-sewing-machines-used-in-garment-manufacturing/

Founder & Editor of Textile Learner. He is a Textile Consultant, Blogger & Entrepreneur. He is working as a textile consultant in several local and international companies. He is also a contributor of Wikipedia.

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