FIBER PROCESSING

The Fiber Processing Laboratory (FPL) is a full-scale, state-of-the-art yarn-processing pilot facility. From bale to yarn, this facility houses a wide variety of yarn-manufacturing equipment. Opening, blending, cleaning, carding, drawing, combing, and capabilities for spinning yarn on any of the three current short staple systems are available. This includes the new Murata MVS technology as well as rotor machines from both Schlafhorst and Rieter. A Suessen Elite ring-spinning machine is also in place. Doubling and Saurer two-for-one twisting complete this very flexible pilot lab. The facility is staffed by formally trained and industry experienced personnel whose responsibilities include everything from machine setup to mill audits, experimental procedures, data analysis, and presentations.   

The FPL and its staff serve the mill consumers of U.S. cotton as well as the importers of cotton goods. These services also include support for internal research and development activities within Cotton Incorporated.

Typically, research projects are designed to answer industry problems and concerns and, more importantly, to accomplish these in the most efficient and timely manner possible. Past and continuing research addresses the following important issues:

• Raw material selection.
• Short fiber content and its influence on yarn and end product quality.
• Sticky cotton processing.
• Yarn evenness and general quality improvement.
• Barré and its many causes.
• Machine maintenance and efficiency improvement.
• New technology/process evaluations.

There is also a growing demand by cotton users for educational type activities. These may include basic textile fundamentals or specific areas of interest or concern. Numerous seminars and presentations are made every year to growers, ginners, mills, retailers, and other key consumers in an effort to better cotton's position.