The unit covers the skills involved in applying laminations and fusible interlinings to technical textiles. These techniques allow for the bonding of two textile fabrics to give increased stiffening or other enhanced technical performance in the final product. The unit covers the use of solvent, powder or hot melt adhesives to achieve lamination or apply interlining.

Work may be conducted in small to large scale enterprises and may involve individual and team activities.

The application of this unit is according to OHS practices of the enterprise and workplace practices, which may include:

requirements prescribed by legislation, awards, agreements and conditions of employment

standard operating procedures

work instructions

oral, written and visual communication

quality practices, including responsibility for maintenance of own work quality and contribution to quality improvement of team or section output

housekeeping

tasks related to environmental protection, waste disposal, pollution control, and recycling

This unit requires the application of skills associated with planning and organising for the safe and efficient application of laminations and fusible linings. This unit also requires the ability to identify and communicate inconsistencies or other problems and conduct appropriate tests and checks. Workplace documentation will be used and completed as required.

Prerequisites

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1 Prepare technical textile for laminating or application of fusible interlining.

1.1 Appropriate checks are made to ensure that textile fabrics are ready for laminating or application of fusible interlining.

1.2 Work area is prepared according to OHS practices.

1.3 Solvent, powder or hot melt adhesive is obtained or prepared according to manufacturer instructions and specifications required for job.

1.4 Problems are reported and recorded.

2 Prepare technical textile for lamination or insertion of interlining

2.1 Appropriate tests are conducted if required on technical textile before lamination or fusing of interlining.

2.2 Technical textile is fixed into position on machine or conveyor as required.

2.3 Job or batch requirements are checked according to enterprise procedures.

3 Operate and monitor laminating or fusible interlining machine

3.1 Where required coating material is preformed into a continuous sheet for laminating to substrate either by application of heat or by use of an adhesive.

3.2 Solvent, powder, hot melt adhesive or continuous lamination sheet is applied to technical textile or fusible interlining.

3.3 Coating process is monitored to ensure application is according to job requirements and manufacturer instructions.

3.4 Machinevariables are set according to process and job requirements.

3.5 Laminated or interlined technical textile is removed from coating machine and tests conducted if required.

3.6 Technical textile is directed to next operation.

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit.

Demonstrates knowledge of:

laminating and interlining processes

OHS practices, including hazard identification and control measures

quality practices

workplace practices

recording and reporting practices

Demonstrates skills to:

consistently achieve quality and production output requirements

read, interpret and follow information on work specifications, standard operating procedures and work instructions, and other reference material

maintain accurate records

communicate within the workplace

sequence operations

meet specifications

clarify and check task-related information

carry out work according to OHS practices

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Critical aspects of evidence

Demonstrates skills and knowledge to:

safely and accurately load adhesives

safely set and operate technical textile laminating and interlining machines

identify machine or process faults

follow job specifications and orders

Consistency in performance

Consistently applies skills and knowledge when:

organising work

completing tasks according to instructions

working systematically with attention to detail

identifying improvements and avoiding damage

using workplace practices

using OHS practices

recording and reporting accidents and incidents

assessing operational readiness of equipment

recognising and adapting to cultural differences in the workplace, including modes of behaviour and interactions

Resource implications

Access is required to real or appropriately simulated situations, including work areas, materials and equipment, and to information on workplace practices and OHS practices.

Context for assessment

Assessment may occur on the job or in an appropriately simulated environment.

Interdependent assessment

This unit may be assessed independently or in combination with other relevant units.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the Performance Criteria, is detailed below. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs if the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.

Legislative/regulatory requirements

All work must comply with relevant Federal and State or Territory legislative or regulatory requirements.

Laminating process

The laminating process involves the production of a textile by combining two or more fabrics using an adhesive. Adhesives include solvent, powder or hot melt adhesives.

Fusible interlining

A fusible interlining is a fabric that has been coated with an adhesive coating, which under the influence of heat and pressure will melt and form a bond with any other fabric that is pressed against it

OHS practices

OHS practices include hazard identification and control, risk assessment and implementation of risk reduction measures specific to the tasks described by this unit, and may relate to:

manual handling techniques

standard operating procedures

personal protective equipment

safe materials handling

taking of rest breaks

ergonomic arrangement of workplaces

following marked walkways

safe storage of equipment

housekeeping

reporting accidents and incidents

environmental practices

Technical textile

Technical textiles are textile products that have been manufactured for special technical performance and applications. A clothing, carpet or furnishing textile product is generally not regarded as a technical textile unless a specific technical feature beyond what is normally found in clothing, carpet or furnishing has been added. An example would be special fire retardant clothing.

Machine variables may include

setting of height adjustments

setting of temperature and timer controls for heating and cooling elements

setting of roller controls after heating zone for linear pressure.

level adjustments of calibrating rollers for precise calibration

conveyor belt controls for speed, direction etc.

Sector

Technical Textiles and Non-wovens

This unit contains employability skills.