In its Recycling Xtreme (rX) edition, the Autocoro 11 fully automated rotor spinning machine processes even the shortest mechanically recycled fibres with exceptional raw material efficiency, unlocking new levels of circularity in yarn production. It also sets new benchmarks in energy efficiency, productivity and operational autonomy. Since its launch in 2023, mills worldwide have recognised its transformative potential.

Recycled fibres are obtained from pre-or post-consumer waste. Pre-consumer waste, often cut-offs from garment production, consists of fibres that are very uniform in type and colour, but vary in length due to tearing during the opening process. In post-consumer waste, mostly obtained from worn-out garments, the spinnability of the fibres is less predictable and requires a high degree of flexibility and fine-tuning of the settings by the spinning mill.

Saurer’s engineers have developed the smart features that allow Autocoro 11 to process a high content of shortest fibres from both pre- and post-consumer waste material. Recycling the fibres in a more circular way saves natural resources for the future of our planet (Fig. 1). It is also a cost-effective alternative to virgin fibres, enabling mills to reduce their costs.

Highest flexibility and quality with Autocoro 11

The Autocoro 11 is a fully automated rotor-spinning machine. Precise adjustments for different fibres are easily done thanks to the single drive technology. By fine-tuning the yarn twist, speed of the opening rollers and rotor size, it is possible to achieve a recycled yarn quality which almost matches that of yarns made from virgin cotton. The wide range of adjustment options open new ways for spinning mills to achieve greater profitability and flexibility in yarn production.

Quality paired with machine efficiency in recycling
Recycled cotton yarns have a narrower count range than those made of virgin cotton. While not all blends can be spun into both coarse and fine yarns alike with the necessary properties for further processing steps, the use of carrier fibres is essential to achieve sufficient yarn strength.

The finer the yarns are, the more carrier fibres with a homogeneous length, i.e. polyester fibres, are needed to have the required minimum number of 110 well-bonded fibres in the yarn cross-section and thus ensure adequate yarn strength and sufficient spinning stability. Increasing recycled content without adapting spinning settings, often leads to an increase in yarn breaks. Fortunately, the Autocoro 11 can compensate such increase of yarns breaks with the Synchropiecing 60 technology (Fig. 2), always keeping the highest level of economic efficiency.

Higher productivity and less maintenance with Recycling Xtreme
The new yarn guides with their self-cleaning mechanism in combination with continuous blow-off (Fig. 3) increase productivity while significantly reducing maintenance costs. In a Turkish spinning mill, the manual cleaning intervals were extended from 3 days to 6 weeks - an impressive fourteen-fold increase! At the same time, productivity when spinning Ne 10 weaving yarn was significantly increased. Thanks to the new yarn guides, disruptions to yarn guide movements caused by deposits are now a thing of the past. The days of packages with uneven flanks are also a thing of the past - real progress that raises efficiency and quality in the spinning mill to a new level.

Interval cleaning for first-class yarn quality
Recycled fibres tend to accumulate in the rotor grooves. Such contamination can impair the yarn quality and increase yarn breaks. The Autocoro 11 has an innovative solution to this problem: the new patented interval cleaning of the rotors implemented in the Doffing Cleaning Unit (Fig. 4).

State-of-the-art linear motor technology ensures that the cleaning process is now digitally controlled and perfectly synchronised. The combination of pneumatic and mechanical cleaning at regular intervals ensures effective removal of deposits. The recently integrated movement mode of the cleaning scraper optimises cleaning even further. A precise positioning of the scraper in the rotor groove ensures that deposits cannot stick in the first place.

All these advanced technology features enable excellent spinning stability and high, constant yarn quality. Yarn breaks are significantly reduced, and the processing of recycled fibres is made much easier on Autocoro 11 with Recycling Xtreme.

Focus on raw material efficiency

In the past, the aim was to eliminate short fibres to achieve maximum yarn quality. Today, the focus is on minimising the loss of valuable raw materials to achieve a more circular economy in textiles.

Saurer – for saving fibres from bale to yarn
From the bale opener to cards and draw frames up to the spinning machine- in the production of carded rotor yarn, up to 9% of cotton and recycled fibres are discarded as waste during the production process. To reduce the ecological footprint, it is essential to reduce the share of waste. The new Autocoro 11 in the Recycling Xtreme edition offers innovative solutions for processing a wide range of recycled fibre types and blends economically and with low losses.

Innovative three-chamber system separates clean fibres
In the new Autocoro 11, fibres of good quality, which are sorted out during the piecing process from the spinning box, are collected separately in an innovative three-chamber system (Fig. 5). These process-related rejected fibres can simply be fed back into the spinning process. This saves on raw material costs while contributing to sustainable production.

New standards in cleanliness

Equipped with dirt-repellent aluminium caps, the SE 21 spin box sets new standards in cleanliness. The caps prevent fibre fly from accumulating in the housing of the opening rollers. In addition, new fibre beard supports in various lengths, which can be clipped in without tools, ensure that the short fibre separation is regulated as required (Fig. 6). Long clips minimise the amount of waste, while short clips increase it. Unusable waste fibres are efficiently removed in the dirt channel.

Recycling Xtreme extraction technology increases productivity
A new patented suction system in the Autocoro 11 section frame ensures removing a large share of the waste quickly and effectively (Fig. 7). This is particularly important for long machines and helps to keep the lower part of the spin box clean, thus increasing productivity. 

Recycling Xtreme + Synchropiecing 60 - a guarantee for higher output
Spinning recycled fibres presents challenges: a high number of yarn breaks and clearer cuts are not uncommon, especially at high rotor speeds. Over 1000 yarn breaks per 1000 rotor hours are the norm for many recycled yarns. This is not a challenge for the Autocoro 11 Recycling Xtreme edition combined with Synchropiecing 60 as it can perform up to 60 piecings simultaneously to achieve high efficiency even in difficult environments. This is particularly true in combination with long machines, coarse yarns, short package running times and frequent interventions by the Corolab yarn clearer.

Autocoro 11: Synergy of efficiency, economy and sustainability!

With its pioneering and energy-saving technologies, the Autocoro 11 impressively demonstrates how spinning mills can produce economically, efficiently and more sustainably with the help of the Autocoro 11. The Autocoro 11 offers tailor-made solutions for every spinning mill and every type of yarn and fibre. More about the energy saving features of Autocoro 11: https://saurer.com/en/news/autocoro-11-press-release

Saurer Spinning Solutions GmbH & Co KG
Waltraud Jansen
Senior Expert Product Marketing & Communication Open End
Carlstrasse 60
52531 Übach-Palenberg, Germany