Wira

● Recommended by leading retailers and manufacturers

● Facilitates prediction of cloth shrinkage in making-up

● Gives a reproducible measure of ‘relaxation’ shrinkage

● International Standard test method

● Also provides a rapid routine test for process control

● In extensive use throughout industry and large retailers

● Ergonomic design crafted in fine stainless steel

The WIRA Steaming Cylinder subjects four cloth specimens at a time to dry saturated steam at atmospheric pressure. The specimens are given no mechanical restraint and there is no subsequent vacuum cooling. The device provides a reproducible measure of the component of shrinkage occurring in steam pressing attributable to latent strains in the cloth supplied. Any further shrinkage that may occur arises from the characteristics of the pressing process itself.

The Steaming Cylinder is invaluable in maintaining good communications between clothiers and their suppliers on the specification and performance of woven and knitted fabrics.

Brief Description

The cylinder has a doublewalled thermally insulated steaming chamber into which the cloth specimens are placed on a stainless steel supporting frame of low heat capacity and surface area. Steam is fed to the equipment by an integral steam generator. This is onnected to a water supply, thus making the operation automatic.

WIRA Steaming Cylinder

An automatic timer is incorporated in the apparatus to give an indication of the 30-second cycle required for BS4323 and ISO3005. A standard shrinkage rule and coloured pens are supplied to record shrinkage.

Standard Test Method

1. Preconditioned in the standard atmosphere for testing textiles. Preconditioning ensures that in conditioning itself equilibrium is always approached from the dry side.
2. Marked using the measuring device and then measured.
3. Steamed for 30 seconds, followed by 30 seconds rest outside the cylinder, this cycle being performed three times in all.
4. Preconditioned, conditioned and re-measured.