Saurer’s partnership with apparel branding innovator Lion Brothers has lasted seven decades. It was first to supply NASA with embroidered mission patches starting with Apollo 1. Using Saurer’s 2S-55, the most advanced embroidery machine of the time, Lion Brothers produced shoulder patch for Apollo 11, the mission that resulted in 2 astronauts reaching the moon.

On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong had become the first person to set foot on the moon. This year on July 20, the world will commemorate the 50th anniversary of this event.

“We are proud to have made a contribution to this pioneering mission. Superb quality has always been a distinguishing feature of our customers’ products,” said Efthimios Katsidis, general manager Saurer Embroidery.

At the time, punched tape was used to programme embroidery machines. An image six times the size of the design, called the cartoon, was produced. The puncher then recorded the X and Y coordinates on the paper tape by punching holes into it. The creation of the cartoon and digitising process were both manual. In the case of the Apollo 11 mission patches, the government contract with Lion Brothers dictated that all cartoons and punched tapes had to be destroyed once production was complete. This means that any such patches produced subsequently are copies.

“As science and technology keep developing, we are eager to see our customers pushing boundaries and using our machines to serve clients in new industries and in unprecedented ways,” said Katsidis. “Who knows, perhaps embroideries or technical textiles created on Saurer machines will play a role in the first manned mission to Mars.”

Saurer Group is a leading globally operating technology group focusing on machinery and components for yarn processing. As a company with a long tradition, Saurer has always been a leader in innovation. Today, Saurer comprises the two segments Saurer Spinning Solutions and Saurer Technologies. Saurer Spinning Solutions offers high quality, technologically advanced and customer-specific automation solutions for processing staple fibre from bale to yarn. Saurer Technologies specialises in twisting and embroidery as well as engineered and polymer solutions. (PC)