spreading machine

clothing manufacturing

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The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 14, 2026

Quick Summary

The term "spreading machine" in clothing manufacturing refers to equipment used to lay out fabric evenly before it is cut into garment pieces. These machines are essential for handling large bolts of material, which can be over 100 feet long and contain hundreds of layers (plies) of fabric.1

There are various types of spreading machines:
* Manual and Semiautomatic: These are pushed by hand along the fabric length as they feed the material.1
* Automatic: Introduced in the mid-20th century, these machines can spread a full bolt of fabric without manual intervention.1

The way fabric is spread can vary, with plies facing one direction or alternating in a face-to-face arrangement. Precise alignment of these plies is crucial for accurate cutting and garment assembly.1

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clothing and footwear industry
History
The first spreading machines in the late 1890s, often built of wood, carried fabrics in either bolt or book-fold form as the workers propelled the spreading machines manually and aligned the superposed plies vertically on the cutting table, thus making the cutting lay. Although most of the…
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The first spreading machines in the late 1890s, often built of wood, carried fabrics in either bolt or book-fold form as the workers propelled the spreading machines manually and aligned the superposed plies vertically on the cutting table, thus making the cutting lay. Although most of the…
Read More