COTTON TEST CENTER GETS NEW EQUIPMENTAustralias textile research body, CSIRO TFT, has announced investments worth more than U.S. $500,000 in cotton processing equipment, targeted at helping the countrys cotton growers.The research organization will install a full-scale yarn production line, with bale-to-spinning equipment from leading European technology suppliers Trutzschler, Zinser and Schlafhorst. Both ring and rotor spinning routes will be used.The aim is to test various raw cottons to see how harvesting and ginning procedures affect yarn characteristics. The line also will test fiber properties and research possible new yarn production techniques.CSIROs Gary Robinson said the project would directly benefit Australian cotton growers: “Using the new equipment, well be able to process different batches of cotton under a variety of conditions whether the batches are small from breeding programs, or large from individual growers and ginning groups. In this way, we can build up a comprehensive picture of fiber performance.”October 2001
