OPERATING & SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

SEWING MACHINES VISUAL INSPECTION

CONDITION REPORT

A copy of this document must be sent with the hire equipment - original to stay at the branch.

VISUAL INSPECTION CONDITION (to be completed by Geofabrics staff when checking out and checking in)
Customer

IFS Order Number

Dispatch/receipt

Out date:

Branch location

In date:

Product Name

Expected return date

Item Number

Number of items

1st Sewing machine

Item name

2nd Sewing machine

Metal carry case

Metal carry case

Large cone thread

stand

Tweezers

Clippers

Oil

Screw driver

Checked out

Checked in

Serial Number

Comments

This equipment has received an in-service inspection and was found to have no obvious defects.
CHECKED OUT BY
CHECKED IN BY
Name: Name:
Signature:
Signature:
Date : ____/_____/____

Date : ____/_____/____
Comments/inspection results:
_

Dear Customer
On receipt of this equipment, please check all equipment has been received, ensure your site staff read
and understand the operating, maintenance and safety information and use the equipment in a safe
manner.
You are responsible for the safe operation of the equipment and the safety of your staff.
At the conclusion of the use of the equipment, please clean the equipment, repack it for transportation
and return it to Geofabrics.
Please advise if there are any missing parts. All equipment usage must be in terms of Geofabrics
Equipment Hire Agreement. You will be charged for any damaged or missing components.

www.geofabrics.com.au

ABN 23 005 479 961

83-93 Canterbury Road, Braeside, Victoria, 3195, Australia.
QUALITY
- SUPPORT
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Telephone: 03 8586 9100

Facsimile: 03 8586 9160

GEOFABRICS.COM.AU

UNION SPECIAL 2200 SEWING MACHINE

OPERATING & SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
WARNING !

Any alterations to this hire equipment may prove dangerous to the operator and will be in breach of the
Equipment Hire Agreement.

Service must only be performed by an authorised Geofabrics service organisation or representative.

Please contact your nearest Geofabrics branch for return of this equipment or servicing if it is found to be
faulty.

All hire related documentation, operating & safety instructions are available on the company website
(www.geofabrics.com.au).

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UNION SPECIAL 2200 SEWING MACHINE OPERATORS MANUAL

The Union Special 2200 Sewing Machine (sewing machine) is a tool intended for joining geosynthetic blankets/
sheets together in the field at the point of geosynthetic textile application.
Pre-operational considerations:
Before operating the sewing machine, it is important that you read and understand the maintenance and
safety precautions outlined below and in the Equipment Hire Agreement (General Safety).
Contact your nearest Geofabrics branch if you do not understand any of the instructions in this
document.
To operate the sewing machine, operators must be in good physical and mental condition.
Safety Precautions and Working Techniques:
A Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) should be prepared by the user of the Sewing Machine for
each work site.
Because the sewing machine is a puncturing device, special safety precautions must be observed to
reduce the risk of personal injury.
Ensure that electrical leads to the sewing site are not tangled, disorganised or frayed. When in use, all
electrical leads should be uncoiled to prevent heat build up.
Steel capped safety boots must be worn while operating the sewing machine due to the possibility of
someone dropping the sewing machine on their feet - the sewing machine weighs 5kg.
Ensure that task rotation is in place to provide workers with adequate rest periods where sewing is
continuous for more than 15 minutes. The 5kg weight of the sewing machine combined with the static
posture of the hand/fingers while operating the sewing machine creates a repetitive strain hazard for
operators.

Keep all fingers and other body parts clear of the sewing point at all times.

Do not use the sewing machine for any application other than its intended purpose.
Do not abuse the sewing machine in any way which may result in personal injury and/or damage to the
sewing machine.
Check the condition of the sewing machine before each use for any damage. If the behaviour of the
sewing machine changes check it immediately and return it to Geofabrics for service if necessary.
Never modify the sewing machine in any way.
Site Conditions:
The sewing machine is designed for fast and efficient operation. Ensure that the route of travel along the
sewing edge is clear of obstructions and debris to avoid slips/trips and falls while facing sideways to the
direction of travel. Where possible, use the sewing machine on flat, level ground.
The sewing machine should not be operated in conditions which will endanger the operator or other site
personnel (e.g. wet weather, high winds, when lightning is a risk).

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SEWING MACHINE INSTRUCTIONS

SAFETY RULES
General operating directions
1. Before putting the machine into service carefully read the instructions. The starting of each machine is only
permitted after taking notice of the instructions and by qualified operators.
2. Observe the national safety rules valid for your country.
3. This machine should only be used for the purpose intended.
4. All safety devices must be in position when the machine is ready for work or in operation without the
appertaining safety devices is not allowed.
5. For your personal protection it is recommended that you wear safety glasses.
6. In case of machine conversions and changes all valid safety rules must be considered. Conversions and
changes are made by own risk.
7. The warning hints in the instructions are marked with one of the two shown symbols.

Special operating directions

8. For the following the machine has to be disconnected from the power supply by pulling out the mains plug:

8.1 For threading needle and looper.

8.2 For replacing sewing tools such as needle, presser foot, throat plate, looper, feed dog, needle guard,
folder, fabric guide etc.

8.3 When leaving the working place and when the working place is unattended.

8.4 For maintenance work.

General maintenance directions

9. Maintenance, repair and conversion works (see item 6) have to be done only by trained technicians or
special skilled personnel under consideration of the instructions.
10. Any work on the electrical equipment has to be done by electricians or under direction and supervision of
special skilled personnel.
Special maintenance directions
11. Works on parts and equipment under electrical tension are not permitted. Permissible extensions are
described in the applicable sections of standard sheet EN 50110.

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OPERATNG INSTRUCTIONS
Set-up
Check by turning the motor hand wheel in operating direction (see fig 1) if the machine works. A slight resistance
will be felt as the feed dog rises.
Loosen screw (A, fig 2) and set thread rod so that its lower end is flush with the underside of thread cone
support (C, fig 2).
2). Retighten screw (A, fig 2).
Check the threading of the machine (fig 3).
Check that threads from spoils are not tangled and are feeding freely.

Operating

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

For a neat, presentable closure the filled bag has to be prepared as follows:
Start stitching by pressing the thump switch. Continue stitching as the bag material leaves the machine. This
will produce a thread chain, which then guided into the V-cut out of the throat place, is automatically cut by the
tread chain cutting knives. Release the switch, the machine stops.
Note:

While stretching, the operator can stop and start as desired, to ensure even and consistent fabric is
achieved.

The knives function only when the machine is operating, if the thread is pulled, damage to the needle and
looper can occur.

Ensure machine is not forced or twisted as damage and breakage to looper and needle will occur.

Threading
1. Pull out mains plug before threading.
2. Loosen thumb screw(s) (D, fig 2) in the thread con support, pull out the spool pin (s) (E, fig 2) and remove
the empty thread cone(s).
3. Insert the new thread (Coats barber M11/12) with spool pin(s) (E, fig 2) and retighten thumb screw(s) (D, fig
2).
4. Thread the machine as shown in fig 3. For threading the needle, turn motor hand wheel in operating
direction until the needle is in its up most position above the throat plate.
5. For threading the loope, open the hinged cover (A, fig 3) and turn motor hand wheel im operating direction
until the needle is in its lowest position below the throat plate. Reclose hinged cover (A, fig 3) after
threading.
Presser Foot Pressure
The pressure on the presser foot should be just so strong that the machine feeds uniformly on the fabric to be
sewn. When leaving the fabric to be sewn, a uniform thread chain must be formed.

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Changing the Needle

Pull out mains plug before changing the needle.
Turn motor hand wheel in operating direction until the needle is in its up most position above the throat plate.
Unthread the eye of the needle loosen the screw (D,fig 3) for the needle and draw out the needle. Insert the
shank of the new needle as far as it will go into the needle seat and with the flat on the shank facing to the front.
Retighten screw (D, fig 3) for the needle on the flat of the needle shank and thread the needle eye.

Fig. 3
Maintenance
Pull out the mains plug before doing maintenance works on before oiling.
Oiling
The machine has to be oiled at least once a day on the oil spots 1 to 11 shown in the oiling diagram fig 4. Oil
spots 1,2 and 3 are especially important.
Cleaning
Clean the machine periodically from lint. For this also open hinged cover (A, fig 4) and the punched cover (B, fig
4). Remove sand particles with compressed air. Reclose covers.

Fig. 4

(03) 8586 9111

MELBOURNE

(02) 8785 8800

(02) 4950 5845

NEWCASTLE

COFFS HARBOUR
(02) 6653 5706

(08) 9249 5411

(08) 8162 5855

Fax: (03) 8586 9186

Fax: (02) 9821 3670

Fax: (02) 4950 5895

Fax: (02) 6653 5706

Fax: (08) 9249 5447

Fax: (08) 8162 5755

HOBART

SD 7 - 11/12

SYDNEY

PERTH

ADELAIDE

(03) 6273 0511

(07) 3279 1588

BRISBANE

TOWNSVILLE
(07) 4774 8222

(07) 4155 9968

BUNDABERG

GOLD COAST
(07) 5594 8600

0407 523 669

DARWIN

Fax: (03) 6273 0686

Fax: (07) 3279 1589

Fax: (07) 4774 8655

Fax: (07) 4155 9968

Fax: (07) 5563 3727

Fax: (08) 8162 5755

GEOFABRICS is a registered trade mark of Geofabrics Australasia Pty Ltd.

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