How to Use Machinery to Weave Outdoor Furniture

Introduction

Outdoor furniture is becoming more and more popular in the market due to its UV-resistant and waterproof properties. With the increasing demand, the speed of manual weaving has made it difficult to meet the market demand, especially the labor cost increase year by year. In addition, manually woven products lack consistency and it is difficult to ensure that each product is woven exactly the same. As a result, more and more factories are considering the use of machines for outdoor furniture weaving to improve productivity and product consistency.

What is Machine Weave

Undoubtedly, machine weaving replaces traditional hand weaving through automated equipment. Machine weaving can adjust the data according to the demand and complete the weaving of specific sizes precisely, which greatly improves the efficiency of weaving. This method is particularly suitable for mass production of rattan of the same size specification. However, if different sizes of rattan need to be changed frequently, the machine will need to change molds, which is relatively inefficient. Therefore, for outdoor furniture of the same size and in large quantities, machine weaving is very suitable, while if the size of the rattan is changed frequently, manual weaving is more flexible and convenient.

Weaving Materials Suitable for Outdoor Furniture

The popular weaving material for outdoor furniture in the current market is mainly PE artificial rattan. This material is not only able to simulate the color and shape of natural rattan, but also can be mass-produced, which is more suitable for outdoor use.PE artificial rattan has excellent UV resistance and corrosion resistance, is not affected by changes in the surrounding environment, and is very durable.

PE rattan comes in a variety of colors and shapes, and different styles are suitable for different types of products. For example, flat rattan is usually used more for outdoor chairs, while round rattan with a larger diameter (e.g. 9.5mm) is more suitable for weaving sofas. This type of rattan has higher requirements in terms of wall thickness and hardness to meet the needs of outdoor use such as durability and load-bearing performance.

The Machine Weaving Process

The process of machine weaving is very simple, except that there is one more step in preparing the raw material than in manual weaving. In manual weaving, the raw rattan material is supplied directly in bundles, and the workers cut it as often as needed. In machine weaving, on the other hand, the rattan must first be wrapped around a disk to prevent knots during weaving. To solve this problem, simply tell the rattan supplier to use machine weaving, and they will pre-wrap the rattan around the disk for direct use.

To weave, hang the coiled canes in front of the machine and set the weaving spacing for each cane on the computer, both horizontally and vertically, as well as the desired size of each woven panel. After placing the start of the rattan at the entrance of the machine, automated weaving can begin. Machine weaving not only improves productivity, but also enables 24/7 production, thus effectively reducing weaving costs.

Let’s take an example to illustrate: Suppose you need to knit a chair with a seat size of 560mm x 580mm and a machine with a knitting width of 1.8 meters. After setting the data, one machine can produce three woven panels of the same size at the same time. This greatly improves productivity.

A video of a machine weaving will be included below to help better understand the entire weaving process and productivity.

Advantages of Machine Weaving

Stability

Machine knitting offers greater consistency and stability than hand knitting. Unlike hand knitting, machines ensure that each product is knitted exactly the same, whereas hand knitting, even when done by the same worker, is difficult to achieve absolute consistency.

Efficiency

Machine weaving significantly increases productivity. For example, a 2-meter-wide machine can weave approximately 500 square meters of product in 8 hours, an efficiency that cannot be achieved by hand.

Cost Reduction

Machine weaving not only improves the weaving efficiency, but also effectively reduces the labor cost, making the products more competitive in the market.

Considerations for Machine Weaving Outdoor Furniture

When using a machine for weaving, it is important to note that rattan of the same size can be produced on the same machine. However, if a flat rattan is currently being used and you subsequently want to replace it with a round rattan, you will need to change the mold of the machine. Thus, machine weaving can be significantly more efficient, whereas manual weaving has the advantage in terms of flexibility.

Future Trends in Machine Weaving for Outdoor Furniture

Machine weaving for outdoor furniture is gradually replacing manual weaving, which is the trend of market development. Currently, one of the biggest problems facing every factory is the shortage of workers. The fact that most young people are not willing to work in factories has led to a disconnection of workers in many factories. This situation has prompted many factories to turn to machine knitting as an alternative to manual knitting. Machine knitting not only significantly improves productivity, but also effectively reduces costs, making it an effective solution for dealing with labor shortages.

Conclusion

Machine weaving is becoming more and more popular among customers, which not only improves the weaving efficiency, but also ensures the consistency and stability of the products. We offer customized services in a variety of sizes and different knitting patterns to meet your various needs. If you have any needs, please feel free to contact us and we will be happy to serve you.