To measure the number and stability of interlaces on POY, FDY and DTY Textechno developed the new Interlace Tester ITEMAT+ TSI. Interlacing can be tested by the ITEMAT+ according to two principles:

• the so-called thickness scanning principle. This is based on the fact that non-interlaced and untwisted filament yarns can be flattened by applying slight mechanical pressure.
• The optical principle. Here the yarn passes a special light barrier, which detects the differences in light transmission between a non-interlaced section and an interlace point.

While the thickness scanning principle works for all types of yarn. The optical principle is only recommended for DTY and BCF yarns. Yarns for which the interlace points are also visible for the human eye. The optical principle has the advantage of higher test speed and thus higher efficiency.

Compared to the thickness scanning sensors of older versions of ITEMAT, the new Textechno scanning sensor offers a wider linear-density range and a better reproducibility.

The instrument is the legal successor of the well-known ITEMAT by Enka Tecnica. While the basic principle was kept the same, drives and electronics were replaced by state-of-the-art technology. The mechanical interlace sensor has been completely re-designed to cover a larger linear-density range at better reproducibility. The instruments is available either in a single housing or in a multi-position cabinet which may contain up to 5 testing units.