Flaw detection system may save textile jobs

17 Jun 2002

On-line sensors at three United States textile plants are providing information that will help keep textile industry jobs in the U.S. and improve quality of domestically produced fabric. The sensors are part of the American Textile Partnership's (AMTEX) Computer-Aided Fabric Evaluation (CAFE) project, developed by the Department of Energy's (DOE) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant and other DOE laboratories.

Since July, the inspection systems have been providing some valuable information at three textile plants in the Southeast. Although some modifications are needed, plant managers are encouraged by the results.

"We've been compiling data for the last few months and the systems are working as expected," said Glenn Allgood, manager of the CAFE project and a member of ORNL's Instrumentation and Controls Division. "Dust, lint, heat and other real-world conditions aren't interfering with the sensors at all."