Niche Markets for Cage Ginned Fiber

William P. Lalor, Lambert H. Wilkes and Dennis Findley


 
ABSTRACT

The system that describes values to various fiber qualities is briefly discussed. The economics of textile mills and of the manufacturing process are briefly described. Because cage ginned fiber is a specialty product, the potential for this and other specialty fibers is explored.

The premise of what follows is that better fiber commands a premium price in the long run only if it makes extra profit for the mills using it.

It is well known that some fibers on every cottonseed are short. The original selective gin had the objective of removing the long fibers and leaving the short ones. Instead, when the data were collected, the fiber left on the seed was much longer than expected even when up to 95% of the saw-ginning turn out was accomplished by the selective gin.The new ginning process did not damage the fibers the way saw ginning did. The objective of the study therefore was changed to removing as much fiber from the seed as possible in the selective gin, now known as the cage gin. Removal rates as high as 95% of the saw gin removal rate were accomplished routinely.

The cage gin affects nep content and short fiber content, with minor effects on length and strength. Figures 1 through 4 show short fiber content, comber waste, raw fiber neps and spinning potential yarn numbers (spy numbers). Figures 5 and 6 show how the reduced neps and short fiber content are expressed as improved yarn properties.

The issue of premiums that mills might automatically pay for this improved fiber can not be dealt with because the market plays an unpredictable role. The reasons why mills could afford to pay premiums for improved fiber properties might include (1) reduced ends down, (2) reduced processing and comber waste, (3) increased spinning frame productivity because of reduced twist that is needed to meet strength specifications when short fiber content is low, (4) very high quality fabric that would command a premium not otherwise possible or (5) the ability to bypass an expensive process such as combing while producing a fabric acceptable in the market.

Mills cannot afford to pay premiums for fiber that merely exceeds specifications of their end product. They can however pay premiums for fiber that allows them to meet their end product specifications at a lower cost. Tables 1, 2 and 3 show a comparison of carded cage ginned yarn and combed saw ginned yarn for the three varieties. The ability to produce a carded yarn of such high quality (competitive with combed) is now being exploited as a way to obtain a premium for cage gin fiber. Sheeting fabric has been manufactured and is now being evaluated. Lummus Industries has been licensed by Cotton Incorporated to develop, manufacture and sell the cage gin.



Reprinted from 1992 Proceedings Beltwide Cotton Conferences pp. 18 - 19
©National Cotton Council, Memphis TN

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Document last modified Sunday, Dec 6 1998