04/06/2026
5 good reasons you should consider using a metering device with your industrial overlock machine.
If your production needs the elastic to be stretched the same amount every single time, specifically useful for waistbands, leg openings, activewear, swimwear, underwear, a metering device is the upgrade that removes all operator variation.
Hand stretching the elastic while sewing and handling the fabric is never identical, even with experienced machinists. A metering device locks in the exact ratio for you.
Also, for obvious human related reasons on long production runs, operators fatigue and consistency drops. A metering device keeps the feed ratio stable for hours, giving you:
• fewer rejects
• fewer reworks
• a smoother workflow
• faster throughput
It also reduces your reliance on highly skilled operators, which again is not what we love promoting, but the reality of textile manufacturing in Australia. Without a meter device, the operator must control how much the elastic is stretched, how evenly it’s applied and how it feeds into the overlock.
Automating this means newer operators can achieve the same quality as experienced ones exactly what modern manufacturing needs to stabilise output and encourage more Australian brands to manufacture on shore.
And if your elastic is slippery, narrow, prone to rolling or prone to over‑stretching, a metering device controls the feed tension and prevents distortion, giving you a cleaner, more professional finish.
Automation isn’t just about speed it’s about consistency, quality and a production line that works smarter.