First automated fabric inspection system for Circular Knitting Machines

Smartex announced the launch of Smartex-V1, an advanced camera vision system that reduces defective production to close to 0% in Circular Knitting Machines, including lycra faults, yarn thickness, holes, needle defects, and more.

textile factories to better manage quality & efficiency, reducing waste & time and avoid too late inspection after the rolls being entirely produced.

What current clients say:“Smartex innovative technology helps our company every month by increasing production, improving quality and transparency in the supply chain” says Eng. Mario Jorge Silva, CEO at Tintex Textiles S.A.

This camera inspection system is able to reduce the production costs of textile manufacturers by detecting and stopping the production machines. The system uses Computer Vision and Artificial Intelligence and can be easily incorporated in knitting machines. It also provides automated insightful productivity & quality reports, real-time production monitorization via internet, registers, and stores 100% of the production for full transparency & traceability, an opportunity that has never existed before.

Lycra defects are one of the most difficult to detect. Smartex’s inspection system is able to detect in real-time any defects that occur during the production of textiles, as well as intervene in the production process thereby avoiding waste due to periodic defects on textile rolls.

Tintex Textiles S.A. is a leading textile company in Europe, known for high-quality standards in the knitting and dyeing processes. Tintex Textiles S.A. have been reporting a direct benefit from Smartex technologies of a) monthly average of 7 textile rolls saved per machine and b) monthly average of 28 defects avoided, many of them periodic & repeatable capable of damaging full rolls;

Detection of faults almost invisible to human eyes

Technology attracted worldwide funding Based in San Francisco, Shenzhen, and Porto, Smartex attracted some of the most significant capital funds in the world, focusing on industrial technologies. Some examples include Momenta Ventures, DCVC, Spider Capital, SOSV, Cindy Bi (General Partner at CapitalX) and Fashion for Good, a global initiative supported by C&A, adidas, Kering Group, PVH, Stella McCartney, Target, Zalando, etc.. The European Commission also recognized Smartex technologies as fundamental for the industry 4.0 in One of the defects that present the most challenges is the lycra defect. Commonly, this defect goes unnoticed until the dying
stage, resulting in waste of resources. Once a periodic defect is detected, the knitting machine stops the production so that the problem is promptly fixed without causing further damage. In case of singular defects (such as holes, oil spots, contamination points, etc), the system provides a stoppage option, XY roll coordinates, automated online dashboards, and quality reports of the rolls, machines, employees, and the entire factory plant.

Also recognized by Forbes
With 10+ years of textile experience, the Smartex team of founders was selected by Forbes to the list of 2020 regarding the 30 most impactful entrepreneurs in Europe.

Contact information:
Ana Tavares
Head of Communication and Partnerships
[email protected]
Phone:+351 916505897