In the world of industrial textiles, the manufacturing method is just as critical as the material itself. For established original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) sourcing high-performance webbing, understanding the distinction between shuttle loom and needle loom weaving is essential. While the end products may look similar to the untrained eye, the machinery used dictates the fabric’s structural integrity, edge characteristics, and suitability for critical safety applications.
At Sturges Manufacturing, we leverage over a century of experience to operate both traditional shuttle looms and modern needle looms. This dual capability allows us to match the right weaving technology to your specific application—whether you require the high-speed efficiency of modern production or the uncompromising structural perfection of legacy weaving.
What is Shuttle Loom Weaving?
Shuttle loom weaving is the traditional method of fabric production, dating back to the dawn of industrial textiles. In this process, a shuttle carrying the weft yarn (the filling yarn) physically travels back and forth across the entire width of the webbing, passing through the shed formed by the warp yarn.
Benefits of Shuttle Loom Weaving
- Reliability and Durability: Because the shuttle passes the weft yarn continuously back and forth, creating a seamless and consistent weave that is exceptionally resistant to unraveling.
- Uniform Fabric Structure: The continuous nature of weft insertion ensures uniform tension across the webbing. This is particularly advantageous for tubular webbing, where shuttle looms can weave a truly seamless tube without the stitched or knitted edge found in other methods.
- Symmetrical Selvedge Edges: One of the most distinct features of shuttle loom webbing is the edge quality. Because the weft yarn turns around at the edge and returns, shuttle looms produce identical, symmetrical selvedge edges on both sides of the fabric. This “self-edge” is smooth, uniform, and inherently lock-stitched by the weaving process itself.
- Suitability for Critical Applications: While slower than modern methods, the shuttle loom is often the only choice for mission-critical applications—such as parachutes and aerospace tie-downs—where edge uniformity and the elimination of potential failure points are non-negotiable.
Understanding Mil-T-87130 Webbing
The value of shuttle weaving is clearly demonstrated by Mil-T-87130. This military specification covers textile tape and webbing made from intermediate modulus para-aramid fibers, specifically utilizing the high-strength characteristic of this fiber.
The Role of Shuttle Loom Weaving in Mil-T-87130 Manufacturing
Mil-T-87130 webbing is frequently used in aerospace and defense applications where failure is not an option. Although high-performance fibers can be woven on various machines, the shuttle loom plays a vital role in meeting the stringent requirements of this specification. The symmetrical selvedge edges produced by the shuttle loom ensure that the webbing lies perfectly flat and interacts consistently with hardware, reducing wear and friction points. For critical load-bearing scenarios defined by Mil-T-87130, the structural continuity provided by shuttle weaving offers OEMs the peace of mind that comes with a time-tested, “fail-safe” construction.
What is Needle Loom Weaving?
The needle loom is a modern, high-speed iteration of the weaving machine designed for efficiency. Instead of a shuttle traveling the full width, a hooked needle carries the weft yarn through the shed, where a knitting needle or latch needle catches it on the opposite side to secure it.
Benefits of Needle Loom Weaving
- High-Speed Production: Needle looms operate at significantly higher speeds than shuttle looms. This throughput makes them ideal for large-volume orders where lead time and output capacity are primary concerns.
- Versatility: These machines are highly adaptable. They can easily switch between different weave patterns and fiber types, making them the workhorse for a vast array of commercial and industrial webbings.
- Cost-Effectiveness: The increased speed and efficiency of needle looms generally result in lower production costs, offering a competitive price point for standard webbing products without sacrificing tensile strength.
- Edge Characteristics: It is essential to note the difference in edge construction. Unlike the symmetrical edges of a shuttle loom, needle looms typically produce an asymmetrical edge. One side features a standard selvedge, while the other side—where the weft is secured—features a knitted or “insertion” edge. While functionally strong, this visual and tactile difference is a key identifier of needle-woven fabric. The edge is more noticeable on thin webbings while thicker webbings keep the edge less pronounced.
Narrow Woven Fabrics and Common Webbings Made with Needle Looms
While the choice of loom often depends on the application, needle looms are the standard for producing a wide range of narrow woven fabrics across industries.
- Elastic Webbing: The high-speed capabilities of needle looms make them well-suited to producing elastic webbing for safety gear, apparel, and medical devices.
- Tubular Webbing: Modern needle looms can efficiently produce tubular webbing for industrial and climbing applications, offering a strong, hollow structure.
- Aramid Webbing (Kevlar®, Nomex®, etc.): It is a common misconception that specialty fibers must be shuttle-woven. In reality, specialty fibers like Kevlar®, Nomex®, Vectran®, and Dyneema® can be woven on either needle or shuttle looms. The decision comes down to the application. For industrial safety harnesses or fire-resistant gear where cost-efficiency and volume are key, needle-woven aramid webbing delivers the required strength and performance.
Key Differences between Shuttle Loom & Needle Loom
| Feature | Shuttle Loom | Needle Loom |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Slower, traditional process | High-speed, modern production |
| Edge Quality | Symmetrical selvedge edges on both sides | Asymmetrical: One selvedge edge and one knitted/insertion edge |
| Structure | Continuous weft; highly uniform | Knitted lock-stitch edge; efficient |
| Best For | Critical Mil-Spec, Aerospace, Parachutes | High-volume Industrial, Commercial, Safety |
Why Choose Sturges for Needle Loom or Shuttle Loom Webbing?
At Sturges Manufacturing, we don’t force your product into a single manufacturing box. We are one of the few remaining webbing manufacturers that maintain a fully operational fleet of state of the art shuttle looms alongside our state-of-the-art needle looms.
Whether you need the symmetrical precision of shuttle loom webbing for an aerospace application or the cost-effective volume of a needle-woven Kevlar® strap for industrial safety, we have the machinery and the expertise to deliver. All our processes are backed by rigorous in-house testing and the capability to produce Berry-compliant webbing, ensuring every yard meets the highest standards of quality and performance.
Choosing between needle loom and shuttle loom weaving isn’t about which is “better”—it’s about which is right for your specific application. By understanding the differences in edge symmetry, production speed, and fabric structure, OEMs can make informed decisions that balance cost, performance, and safety.
Need help determining which weave is right for your project? Contact Sturges Manufacturing today to leverage our 100+ years of weaving expertise.