Meerbeke, Belgium – At Heimtextil, Belgian textile machines supplier M-Tec introduces, in cooperation with Trevira CS, a new application of its successful Mantec Lasermarker for cut-out designs in polyester fabrics, as well as a new water jet cutting machine for screen cloth, plastics and floor coverings.

The newly developed application allows for perfect cut-outs of any forms and designs and eliminates the need to sew them afterwards. It's a viable, convenient alternative to the polyester inapplicable burn-out technique. The laser beam cuts provide unique looks and offers a virtually unlimited menu of creative opportunities.

The Lasermarker was originally designed by M-Tec owner Guy Taffijn and further developed and constructed by the Belgian machine builder Mantec in Mouscron. ''Origin-ally, we started as a supplier of industrial sewing, measuring and cutting equipment for the Belgian textile market, representing several leading international brands,'' said Taffijn who runs M-Tec with his wife, Ilse.

''A major function of our company policy is to help our clients where we can and as a result, we are constantly searching for solutions to improve quality and efficiency anywhere we can in the production process,'' he said. ''For this, we work in close cooperation and continuous dialogue with our clients, which allows for valuable feedback. This in turn results in the development of new machines and systems.''

Taffijn called The Mantec Lasermarker the most successful result of the company's customer-oriented service. ''It combines the application of laser beam cutting with very flexible technical equipment,'' he said. ''The fully automatic Lasermarker cuts and marks roman blinds (for American stores) within two minutes and can be operated by one person. It has now evolved into an all-round machine to cut, seal and mark fabrics for blinds, panel tracks, roller blinds, curtains and all other kinds of textile window covering, including the most difficult made-to-measure requirements. It also adds a wide range of cut-out design possibilities.''

Its use is particularly interesting for synthetic fabrics because these are, when cutting, at the same time sealed at the edges, thus making any seaming superfluous. The system is also applicable for cutting cotton fabrics but without sealing the edges.

''Marking the lines which show where to sew tunnels, attaching rings, side, top and bottom seams are all done in no time with invisible UV ink, which can be detected by means of special UV lamps put on the sewing and ironing equipment,'' Taffijn said. ''Extremely light voiles as well as the heaviest upholstery fabrics are easy to process with the Lasermarker, because the whole operation is performed without touching the fabric. This means that very lightweight materials can be handled without any need to clamp them nor any fear that they would pull out of position during the processing. Standard table dimensions are 3.5M x 3.5M (118 x 118 inches), but other dimensions - up to 3.5M x 14M (118 x 551 inches) have already been delivered,'' said Taffijn.

The operational system of the Lasermarker is a reliable, easy-to-use and flexible independent software program working under Visual Basic for Windows NT. It's adjustable to specific demands of the buyer. Any shape or form designed by the CAD program with DXF export files can be realized in cutting-out.

Since its first presentation at Heimtextil 1998, M-Tec has sold 23 Lasermarkers in Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Italy, Turkey and Germany, ''to the great satisfaction of the buyers who have been able to smoothly adapt their production range to current trends in window covering,'' Taffijn remarked. The specimen that will be exhibited at Heimtextil will also have a new, faster steering system.

A second novelty that will be launched at Heimtextil is a water jet cutting machine, specially developed by Mantec for materials that issue noxious chlorine fumes when being heated. Its use is however not limited to non-textiles window covering materials like screen cloth — with its application for outside sunblinds and contract projects — plastics, glass fibers etc., but also aims at new markets such as floor covering.

M-Tec exhibits at international trade fairs like Intohome, Atlanta Window Coverings Expo, Heimtextil and was the only Belgian participant in the first Heimtextil Russia. At the Frankfurt Heimtextil, you can visit the company in Hall 10 at stand A21.

More information can be found at the Internet sites www.mtec-europe.com or www.mtec-americas.com.