Equipment list

ITECH Lyon has four technology platforms for teaching and research. This equipment is available for service projects (carried out by us), and some of it can be rented (made available on our premises).

Laboratories for paints, inks, adhesives, and cosmetics

Manufacturing equipment

• VMI, GRENIER CHARVET, and DISPERMAT laboratory dispersers
• ULTRATURAX dispersers
• SUSMEYER and COMEC-OLMOS mills
• TRICYLINDRE mills
• WERNER-type Z-blade mixers
• RED-DEVIL mixers
• Reactors for polymer synthesis
• Co.PACK cosmetic powder press
• Lipstick molds
• SCAMEX single-screw extruder (screw Ø=45 mm)
• TSA twin-screw extruder (screw Ø=21mm, co-rotating, 50D, rod die)
• Battenfeld injection molding machine (Ff=35T)
• Mini laboratory press (+mini-test tube mold)
• MIB-HYDRO compression press (Ff=50T)

Application equipment

• A pressurized booth for liquid paint
  • Conventional and HVLP air spray application
• A powder coating booth
  • Electrostatic spray gun application (SAMES)
• BÜRKLE roller coater
• UV tunnel
• Electric infrared
• Hot air ovens
• Dip tank and Cubic
• Doctor blade coating machine (MATHIS)
• BYK Coating/Printing Machine (rotogravure, flexography)
• Automatic and manual hand coaters
• K-Proofer
• K-lox

Characterization equipment

• Film thickness measurement
• Cross-hatch, impact, bending, tensile, abrasion, deep drawing, scratching, washability,
• Buchholz… (ERICHSEN, BYK GARDNER…)
• Plate and cone rheometers (THERMO SCIENTIFIC)
• Viscosimeters: BROOKFIELD RVT, ISO cups, AFNOR…
• Measurement of mechanical and adhesive properties: Dynamometers (LLOYD, TESTOMETRIC)
• Gloss meters (ERICHSEN and BYK-GARDNER)
• Measurement of surface energy and surface tension:
  • Liquid: LAUDA tensiometer (Pt blade)
  • Solids: Video camera (DIGIDROP)
  • Film, wires, fibers, powder: KRÜSS tensiometer
• Optical microscope (LEICA)
• Mini centrifuge (6000 rpm)

Plastic materials laboratories

Implementation resources

ITECH platform

• FANUC electric injection molding machine (Ff=30T)
• DEMAG-SUMITOMO hydraulic injection molding machine (Ff=35T)
• TSA twin-screw extruder (screw Ø=21 mm, co-rotating, 50D, ring die)
• SCAMEX single-screw extruder (screw Ø=45mm)
• MIB-HYDRO compression press (Ff=50T, 400mm x 400mm platen)
• 3D printer (FDM), ZORTRAX M200
• ILLIG thermoforming machine (Working area 250 mm x 350 mm)
• Mini laboratory press (+mini-specimen mold)

CFP Platform / CFP Equipment

• Yvroud tube/profile extrusion line (screw diameter: 40 mm)
• Bausano counter-rotating twin-screw profile extrusion line (screw diameter: 52 mm)
• Collin wire extrusion line (screw diameter: 20 mm)
• Blow molding extrusion line: Collin 3-layer
• Uniloy Milacron blow molding extrusion line: 1-liter blow molding machine; 3-layer capability
• One laboratory rotomolding machine: SAT brand: single tooling holder
  Gas ramp oven. Maximum temperature of 350°C
• Two thermoformers: 1 Illig RV 53, 1 Illig SB 53
• 18 injection molding machines: Engel, Arburg, Demag, Netstal, Billion, Krauss Maffei, Battenfeld, JSW, Fanuc, including 5 machines in an automated cell.
• A centralized PIOVAN material supply system, with 3 drying ovens and 2 desiccators
• Two injection molding machines
  • Krauss Maffei (50T)
  • Battenfeld (55T)

Other ITECH equipment

• Knife granulator
• Water tank
• Hot air circulation oven
• Desiccator
• Ovens (T max=240°C)
• Gear pump (up to T=200°C)
• K-Tron powder feeder (Gravity and Volumetric)
• AIS/SISE water-cooled controllers up to T=90°C
• Type A specimen notcher
• Peristaltic pump
• Hot stamping

Measuring equipment

• Precision balance, max. 810 g, resolution 0.01 g
• Scales up to Max=8 kg, d=0.1 g
• Probe thermometer
• IR thermometer
• Hygrometer

Testing equipment

• Mechanical characterization:
  • Shore A and D hardness
  • Charpy impact (ZWYCK)
  • Dynamometer (tensile/bending/compression) (TESTOMETRIC)
• Rheological characterization:
  • MFR/MVR (DYNISCO)
  • Plate and cone rheometer (THERMO SCIENTIFIC)
  • Capillary rheometer (MALVERN)
• Surface energy and surface tension measurement:
  • Liquid: LAUDA tensiometer (Pt blade)
  • Solids: Video camera (DIGIDROP)
  • Film, threads, fibers, powder: KRÜSS tensiometer
• Image analysis: Optical fiber and microscope (LEICA)

Computer resources

• AUTOCAD licenses
• 25 Autodesk Simulation Moldflow Insight licenses
• 9 MOLDEX 3D licenses
• 9 CATIA V5 licenses
• 25 HYPERWORKS licenses
• One SOLIDWORKS 2008 license
• One TOPSOLID license
• One A0-size color plotter

Textile materials laboratories

Yarn workshop

• Fiber spinning, cotton type
  • 1 continuous spinning machine (conventional ring spinning) with 6 spindles
  • 1 open-end spindle (rotor spinning) for sliver up to 5000 tex, yarns produced: Nm28 to Nm60
  • 1 cotton purity testing bench (USTER MTDA3)
  • Precision scale
• Twisting – texturing
  • 1 double-casing machine with 10 spindles: elastic core from 11 to 2200 dtex, cover from 8 to 220 dtex
  • 1 8-spindle false twist texturing machine, with or without fixation, with or without pneumatic interlacing: for POY yarns in PA, PES, or PP from 17 to 330 dtex
  • 1 8-spindle direct-drafting machine, yarns from 22 to 470 dtex
  • 1 8-spindle double-twist spinning frame, for yarns from 44 to 470 dtex; crêpe twist up to 3,000 twists/m; setting ovens
  • 1 20-spindle drawing-twisting machine: 2 to 6-ply, twisting twist of 60 to 300 twists/m

Weaving workshop

• 1 TOPMATIC knotting machine
• 1 mini warping machine: 100-position beam, for heddles 480 mm between flanges
• 1 PICANOL OMNI air-jet loom; 4 colors; nominal width = 190 cm; electronic dobby for 10 heddles; associated CAD/CAM
• 1 DORNIER positive-gripper rapier loom, 8 colors, with electronic Jacquard machine (1,408 hooks); warp density: 34 threads/cm; nominal width = 170 cm
• 1 negative-gripper rapier loom, 7-color, with electronic Jacquard machine (1,344 hooks); warp density: 200 threads/inch; nominal width = 190 cm
• 1 handloom with an electronic Jacquard machine with 1,408 hooks; 1 color; warp density = 22 threads/cm; width = 82 cm; weaving from a warp beam or a bobbin
• NEDGRAPHICS Jacquard weaving CAD
• 1 MÜLLER needle loom for ribbon, 2 heads with a nominal width of 84 mm; electronic dobby with 20 heddles + 6 selvedge heddles on cams; associated CAD
• Various hand looms for pre-sampling
• 1 COBRA 24-spindle braiding machine; winding machine for preparing spindles

Knitting workshop

• Wrap-knitting (“run-resistant”)
  • K. MAYER KS3 warp knitting machine, gauge E18, working width 42 inches, 3 heddle bars, one compound needle bed, electronic feeders; 48-link warp (single or double charmeuse, satin, single knit, atlas, etc.)
  • LIBA rachel loom: Racop-TR6, gauge E12, working width 10 inches, 6 shuttle bars, 1 compound needle bed, 16-link 2-step warp (single or double charmeuse, satin, single knit, atlas, etc.)
  • COMEZ crochet machine with jacquard weft: ACOTRONIC 400, gauge E15, working width 400 mm, 11 shuttle bars (10 of which are electronically controlled), a set of sliding needles; warp on a beam with a maximum of 600 bobbins. Associated CAD/CAM (Comez DRAW3 software)
• Pick-up knitting
  • TERROT S3P148 circular knitting machine: gauge E6, 30-inch machine, single needle bed, 48 drop-in needles; for 2-color single jersey mini-jacquard knitting
  • TERROT UP248 circular knitting machine: gauge E18, 30-inch machine width, double feed, 48 drop needles; for piqué, double-faced, rib, Richelieu, interlock, and 3-color mini-jacquard knitting
  • STOLL CMS 302 TC flat knitting machine: gauge E7, width 50 inches, double feed, double drop, 8 colors, electronic needle selection; for knitting structured panels. Associated CAD/CAM: SIRIX 210
  • SHIMA SEIKI SVR 122SV flat knitting machine: E7 gauge, 48-inch width, double feed, double drop, 8 colors; for shaped knitting and structured panels
  • SDS-ONE APEX3-3 programming and design system
  • Various double-bed hand knitting machines, for pre-sampling: gauges 5 and 12

Finishing laboratory

• Dyeing and finishing
  • 3 LABOMAT (100 ml or 200 ml bottles or 5 L tank)
  • Programmable JIGGER for wide-width dyeing (max. width 30 cm)
  • Programmable AUTOCLAVE for wide-width dyeing (width 14 cm)
  • Programmable mini OVER-FLOW for tube dyeing, 1 kg capacity
  • FOULARD: 30 cm width, 1-liter tank
  • FOULARD and FIXING RAKE, for finishing, 1-liter tank: for 40 cm x 30 cm fabric pieces or continuous processing with a maximum width of 30 cm; max. 250°C
  • Additional equipment: 8 kg spin dryer, precision scales, drying oven
• Printing
  • Printing table with magnetic squeegee; flat or rotary frames
  • SPRAY BOTTLE: 33 cm x 43 cm samples
  • VISCOSIMETERS (HAAKE / BROOKFIELD) for polymer dispersions in aqueous media; associated software
• Colorimetry
  • Spectrophotocolorimeter and associated software (quality control, formulation correction)
  • Light booth
• Coating
  • Manual laboratory coating device for fabrics measuring 40 cm × 30 cm or continuous coating with a maximum width of 30 cm: doctor blade coating

Textile testing laboratory

• Physical testing
  • MTS 1/M TENSILE TESTER, for yarns and fabrics; load cells: 100 N and 5 kN; control software
  • MTS DY30 TENSILE TESTER, for yarns; load cells: 1 kN
  • VIBROSCOPE system: VIBROMAT ME: fiber count measurement; FAFEGRAPH: fiber tenacity measurement
  • 2 – Computerized torsion testers
  • SPRAYTEST: measurement of fabric water repellency
  • WATER WATERPROOFING TESTER (2 m column)
  • WIRA AIR WATERPROOFING TESTER
  • Pendulum DECHIROMETER
  • 2 – GLOSS METER
  • Infrared Spectrophotometer
  • 2 – 4-station MARTINDALE abrasion tester
  • RPTT PILLING TEST
  • CROCKMETER: Color fastness to dry and wet rubbing
  • DRAPING METER
  • CREASE METER (measurement of permanent angle)
  • FLEXOMETER for coated fabrics
  • Thickness gauge
  • TRICOLAB with 6-color gauge, for sampling tubular knits; gauges: 7, 14, or 24
  • Digital camera microscope
  • GRADING BOOTH (gantry, light booth)
  • Additional equipment: binocular microscopes, fabric sample board, stitch counters, yarn dispensers, precision scales, cutting tools, sewing and overlock machines for sample preparation
  • Tensiometer
    • Liquid: LAUDA tensiometer (Pt blade)
    • Solid: video camera (DIGIDROP, KRÜSS)
    • Film, Yarn, Fibers, Powder: KRÜSS Tensiometer
• Chemical testing
  • Infrared spectrometer, for qualitative chemical analysis
  • WASCATOR: colorfastness to washing; dimensional stability
  • LINITEST: colorfastness to washing
  • PERSPIROMETER and oven: colorfastness to perspiration, water, and seawater
  • Oil extraction apparatus for fat content

Leather laboratories

Manufacturing and application equipment

ITECH Platform

• Laboratory fulling machines (FA.VE)
• Booth for conventional, HVLP, and airless spray gun application
• Automatic and manual hand coaters
• Hot-air ovens
• RAYNERI, GRENIER CHARVET, EUROMELANGE, and ULTRATURAX dispersers
• FRITSCH knife mill for soft to medium-hard and fibrous materials
• WERNER and RED-DEVIL mixers

ITECH/CTC platform

• Mechanical processing
  • Deburring machine
  • Derailing machine
  • Spinner
• “Wet” fulling
  • Test fulling machines: battery, Steni (7 kg), Dose (92 kg), and Uni (150 kg)
• Dryer / Stretcher
  • Pre-assembled frame
  • Vacuum dryer (Cartigliano)
  • Palisson (Cartigliano)
• Finishing
  • Manual spray guns: Barnini booths and oven
  • Roller coating lab
  • Grain and smoothing press (Mostardini 60×50 cm / 135×65 cm)
  • Erretre dry fulling mill
• Equipment for exotic leathers
  • Soldani polishing and smoothing machine

Characterization equipment

ITECH platform

• Mechanical property testing: Dynamometers (LLOYD, ADAMEL LHOMARGY)
• Martindale EMI: abrasion and pilling
• Veslic
• FRITSCH universal knife mill for organic materials, 1 and 4 mm screens
• Viscosimeters: BROOKFIELD RVT, ISO cups, AFNOR…
• Gloss meters (ERICHSEN and BYK-GARDNER)
• Measurement of surface energy and surface tension using a video camera (DIGIDROP)
• Plate and cone rheometers (THERMO SCIENTIFIC)

CTC platform

• Bally ball-on-ball tester (ISO 3379 ball test)
• Veslic (Friction ISO 11640)
• Bally flexometer (Repeated bending)

Cross-functional laboratories

Analytical equipment

• IRTF
• UV
• Atomic Absorption
• GC, HPLC, SEC
• DSC
• ATG, ATG/IRTF coupling
• DMA
• pH measurement
• Dry matter, bulk density, ash content…

Artificial aging equipment

• Salt spray (ERICHSEN)
• SUN TEST
• QUV
• CTS climate chamber

Colorimetry equipment

• Film applicators
• Light booths
• Colorimeter
• Spectro-colorimeters and QC and color formulation software (DATACOLOR, MINOLTA, X-RITE)
• Multi-angle

Microbiology equipment

• Temperature- and humidity-controlled incubation chamber
• Autoclave
• Algae fouling tank
• PSM laminar flow hood