Producing protective masks is a delicate process in order to ensure that each mask is safely and properly produced. If masks are not made properly, then it can lead to greater risk of infection for frontline healthcare workers and patients.
Alongside serious human and economic costs, the Covid-19 pandemic brought us a global shortage of protective masks. Governments had to scramble to procure masks for frontline healthcare workers. Orders for masks skyrocketed, and Protective Mask manufacturers struggled to meet demand. Fortunately, fabric fusing machines helped manufacturers make orders in a timely and safe fashion by transforming production. Read on to find out how it can enhance your garment factory’s efficiency, output, and profits.
What is fabric fusing?
Fabric fusing is like gluing two fabrics together using heat on one side of the garment’s interlining, then bonding it to another piece of fabric through a heat-and-pressure treatment. The resin hardens as it cools, strengthening the bond between the two pieces of fabric. The garment’s interlining impacts its durability, appearance, quality, and comfort, so strong and reliable fabric fusing is important for producing good-looking garments that retain their shape over time.
Traditionally, fabric parts and interlinings were joined via sewing, which was a time-consuming and labor-intensive process.
During the pandemic, hospitals and governments throughout the world needed masks so their frontline workers could be safe while treating COVID patients. Fabric fusing machines were able to help garment manufacturers produce a greater number of high-quality masks in a much shorter amount of time.
How do fabric fusing machines work?
Fabric fusing technology has evolved over the years, yet three factors have remained constant: temperature, pressure, and processing time. These variables must be closely monitored so that the fabric pieces are properly bonded. These factors are interconnected, so if one is altered, then the others must change accordingly.
The first step of fabric fusing is evenly spreading the fabric onto a flat surface. The fusing machine needs to be set to the appropriate preheating temperature, because overheating can result in garment shrinkage.
After that, resin is applied to a fusible interlining before being bonded to the fabric. The interlining and fabric are then fed into a fusing machine and heated to a certain temperature based on the requirements of the manufacturer.
The machine then presses the fabric and interlining together at a preset pressure level. Finally, the fabric is set aside to cool down, and the glue begins to harden and strengthen.
How fabric-fusing machines can help garment and PPE makers meet rising demand
Small fabric-fusing tools are perfect for making dress shirts and shirt parts like collars and cuffs. Aside from that, these tools can also make medical masks.
The fabric fusing machine features automatic belt edge adjustment for durability, automated bonding for increased efficiency, and temperature management systems for consistent results and safety.
A fabric fusing machine can be used to fuse masks because it applies heat and pressure to bond different fabric layers together, creating a more structured and sometimes more protective barrier in masks.
While fabric fusing machines play a role in the production of medical masks by ensuring layers are bonded effectively, other equipment, processes, and stringent quality control measures are crucial to produce masks that meet medical standards.
Conclusion
Fabric-fusing machines have been used in the clothing business for a long time and were a big part of meeting the increased demand for protective masks. Its ability to quickly and precisely bond materials was especially important when quality and speed were key.
As the world deals with changing health care needs, it is still very important to make sure that PPE is made quickly and reliably. Using the proven abilities of fabric fusing tools is a smart and necessary move for businesses in the clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE) industries.
The OSHIMA fabric fusing machine stands out because it has features that make it easy to apply pressure evenly, find problems automatically, and set the right temperature. Contact us to find out how the OSHIMA machine can help you improve your mask or any medical production process.
