Announcing the All-New Uster AFIS 6 – The Indispensable Process Control Instrument

Uster Technologies introduces its next-generation fiber process control system

Fiber quality measurement during spinning preparation is essential for optimizing raw material use and ensuring yarn quality. The all-new Uster AFIS 6, the next-generation laboratory instrument from Uster Technologies, is designed to meet these needs—now with the added capability to test man-made fibers alongside cotton. It provides critical data to optimize fiber processing for cotton, synthetics, and blended yarns.

Control from Bale to Roving
Spinners strive to maintain the quality of incoming fiber throughout production. Uster AFIS 6 enables quality control at each processing stage—from bale to roving—ensuring consistent performance. In its latest version, the system supports 100% synthetic fibers and blends, allowing integrated testing for a wide range of raw materials commonly used in short-staple spinning.

Continuous Monitoring, Comprehensive Insights
Fiber characteristics such as length, fineness, maturity, neps, seed coat neps, trash, and dust influence yarn quality across processes like opening, cleaning, carding, combing, and roving. AFIS 6 (Advanced Fiber Information System) evaluates these parameters, helping mills detect and resolve fiber issues early—before they reach the yarn.

Only AFIS 6 offers this level of precision and insight, enabling better cost control, reduced waste, and fewer off-quality yarns. It also introduces a streamlined user interface—shared with Uster Tester 6—supporting 11 languages and simplifying data analysis with an enhanced reporting package.

Optimizing processes and saving money with Uster AFIS 6 measurements

What Spinners Need to Know
Neps in yarn are a major concern, especially when visible in finished fabrics. AFIS 6 distinguishes between fiber neps and seed coat neps—the latter being harder to eliminate. It also reports nep size, enabling spinners to estimate their impact on yarn quality.

The instrument also measures fiber length and short fiber content, both by number and weight, as well as fiber maturity and immature fiber count. Using advanced opto-electronic sensors, AFIS 6 delivers the precision needed for optimized short-staple spinning.

An optional sensor allows the measurement of dust and trash particles, which can negatively impact fabric production. Knowing this data in advance reduces weaving downtime, extends knitting needle life, and improves cleaning efficiency in rotor spinning.

Seamless Synthetics Testing
With synthetic fiber use on the rise, AFIS 6 responds by measuring properties critical to these materials—especially cut length, fineness, and fiber neps. New parameters such as cut length and denier help spinners make informed decisions during raw material selection. The system supports cotton blended with polyester, micro-polyester, viscose, modal, micro-modal, lyocell, micro-lyocell, and acrylic, as well as 100% synthetic yarns.

Enabling Quality and Profitability
Carding and combing are crucial to yarn quality. Carding is often described as the heart of spinning mills, while combing reduces short fiber content and removes neps, trash, and dust. AFIS 6 enables optimization of both processes—directly impacting yarn quality and profitability.

AFIS 6 connects with Quality Expert, integrated within Uster Tester 6, to provide full visibility from fiber to yarn. It presents key quality indicators at the right moment in the right format, offering smart comparisons, application insights, and decision-focused reports.

Built-In Global Benchmarking
AFIS 6 includes integrated Uster Statistics, offering two levels of benchmarking—overall process and individual process steps. These comparisons help pinpoint unexpected spinning faults and support global standardization of mill performance.

Taking Control of Yarn Quality
With AFIS 6, spinners can manage fiber quality proactively—maximizing both efficiency and end-product excellence. The new Uster fiber process control system is a vital tool in achieving world-class spinning results.