Sliver Can Essentials for Operations in the Textile Industry

Sliver cans are essential for all types of carding, drawing, spinning, roving, and combing, as they enable fast, flexible and consistent production in the textile industry. But not all sliver cans are created equal and selecting the wrong fit for your operation could be a hindrance rather than a benefit. To help give you an idea of what you should be looking for in the right sliver can for your textile operations, we’ve put together this guide of essentials.

Sliver Can Essentials

But, what are the true essentials when it comes to sliver cans in the textile industry? Here are some things that you don’t want to overlook, or you risk compromising the quality of your end product.

Sliver Can Material

Say goodbye to the composite materials used in the sliver cans of yesterday and welcome a new solution - HDPE (high-density polyethylene) plastic. These cans are made from a high-quality plastic material that is heat-welded together and has proven to be super effective for operations in the textile industry as they prevent snagging during the filling and emptying process. The construction of the HDPE sliver can also allows for extremely precise dimensional accuracy. And unlike the conventional sliver cans crafted from composite material, these HDPE cans can be fully recycled after use. This is a huge win for companies that are environmentally conscious.

Springs

Any experienced yarn spinning mill manager knows what is at the heart of a well-performing sliver can. It’s all about the lift force. There are a variety of factors that can influence spring selection, such as the fiber that is used (for instance, 100 percent cotton is heavier than polyester, Kevlar, Nomex, and synthetic yarns with blended fibers), the sliver can width and height, pounds per can, and more. Before you select the spring for your sliver can, make sure you fully understand these factors in order to choose the appropriate spring for your can.

Another feature to look for is a self-centering spring. This will keep the sliver fibers from snagging and catching during spinning to maintain a consistent and high-quality yarn during the filling and emptying processes.

Casters

There are different types of sliver can casters to choose from, depending upon your needs:

• Standard
• Premium
• Choke resistant

What type of caster best suits your operations? Each of the three types has its own share of pros and cons. Premium casters, for instance, are designed to be highly durable and are the recommended choice for all card cans. However, they tend to be on the more expensive side.

Standard casters, on the other hand, come is a variety of sizes and are ideal for sliver cans that are 40 inches and over. Available in both swivel and rigid varieties, their suggested weight is up to approximately 400 pounds.

Finally, there are choke resistant (or non-choking) casters. These caster types are ideal for a range of applications. These include yarn spinning, cut and sew, and knitting. Besides their choke resistant feature, there are additional benefits as well, which include:

• Reduced maintenance commitment, since it’s not necessary to clean chokes from wheels
• No lubrication required
• Choke-resistant casters are easy to roll and move, which reduces worker fatigue and injury potential
• Reduced damage to the sliver cans during the auto doffing process

Additionally, there are a variety of choke resistant caster types, each supporting a different level of weight. These caster types include:

• 50mm choke resistant casters – can support 40 to 50 pounds per caster.
• 60mm choke resistant casters – supports 50 to 60 pounds per caster.
• 65mm choke resistant casters – supports 60 to 70 pounds per caster.
• 80mm choke resistant casters – supports 90 to 110 pounds per caster.
• 120mm choke resistant casters – the load per caster is about 300 pounds when pulled or towed, or 175 pounds when pushed by human movement.

Identification Bands

When it comes to fiber identification, you can’t go wrong with selecting colored bands. There are a few different types to consider - vinyl bumper bands, elastic identification bands, and woven spandex identification bands. In addition to fiber identification, the vinyl bands also help to protect the outer sides of sliver cans when placed side-by-side. They are made in a number of different sizes, including 16”, 18”, 18.5”, 20”, 24”, 28”, 30”, 36” 40” and 1200mm”.

Meanwhile, elastic bands are a fantastic option for separating different fibers and sliver cans. They are also made in the same sizes as the vinyl bands as well as 17”, 22.5”, 33”, and a 235 x 920 rectangular version.

Woven spandex bands, on the other hand, are ideal for custom identification, as they come in various patterns (like stripes, checkerboard, and so on) or custom woven numbers or words, as well as a variety of colors ranging from neutral tones like black, gray, and tan to brighter tones like red, green, and yellow. The biggest benefit of the woven spandex identification bands is that they last a long time without losing their elastic properties.

Other Considerations

We’ve now covered the primary essentials for sliver cans in the textile industry, including the material, springs, casters, and colored identification bands. But those aren’t necessarily the only choices you’ll have to make. There will be other sliver can features to consider as well before finalizing your order. Features like:

• Will your sliver cans require glide ring boots to allow a can without casters to slide easily on top of the floor?
• What sliver can piston lid size will you need?
• Do you need a card can latch or handle?

Sliver cans continue to be an important part of any textile facility’s operations, largely when it comes to efficiency and effectiveness. The sliver can has stood the test of time in the textile industry, and our company has been there helping to evolve the technology and move it forward. It’s a big part of the reason why Conitex Sonoco is considered the premier manufacturer of high-performance sliver cans in North and South America.

If you have more questions about sliver cans or want to work with Conitex Sonoco for your next order, contact us anytime. We would be happy to assist!