New TRSA Middle East Chapter Premieres Its Website

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — October 19, 2020 — TRSA has launched a website, me.trsa.org, for its new Middle East Chapter. The site introduces linen, uniform and facility services in the region to TRSA programs that enable them to access TRSA’s expansive knowledge base of industry trends and best practices to improve efficiencies and market growth.

The Middle East endeavor is the association’s first chapter outside the United States. Launched with Dubai-based TRSA member Rent-A-Towel (RNT), the chapter’s initial activities will focus on certification and education. Thus, the site highlights certifications these operations can earn: Hygienically Clean (Food Safety, Food Service, Healthcare, Hospitality), Clean Green and Safety and Health. Also detailed are individual education/recognition programs, led by the Certified Professional Laundry Manager (CPLM), Hygienically Clean and Soil Sort courses and the Production Management certificate program. These programs for individuals are provided online.

Most laundry in the region is currently processed in on-premise laundries (OPLs) in hotels and hospitals. TRSA activities will guide chapter members in adapting techniques typical of larger-scale (outsourced) laundries that improve hygiene, maintain plant safety and health, conserve resources, and otherwise positively impact customers and employees as laundry operations evolve.

The site enables OPL operators to enroll staff as individual members and their organizations as general members. These are in addition to the two standard forms of TRSA membership for outsourced laundries and associate supplier partners. A student membership is available in the Middle East as well.

The chapter will operate in the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) countries: Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the Sudan, the Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Yemen.

TRSA President & CEO Joseph Ricci, CAE, said: “We look forward to learning the management priorities of the laundry management teams throughout the region and supporting their professional development. COVID-19 has highlighted the importance of our industry worldwide to sustainability: providing sufficient inventory levels of hygienically clean reusable textiles and reducing natural resource depletion through the most efficient laundry practices. TRSA is committed to advancing these causes globally.”

Posted October 19, 2020

Source: TRSA

Dempsey Uniform And Linen Supply Qualifies For Renewal Of Hygienically Clean Certifications

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — October 16, 2020 — Dempsey Uniform and Linen Supply Inc. of Jessup, Pa., has recently qualified for renewals of both the Hygienically Clean Healthcare and Hygienically Clean Food Service certifications. These certifications reflect Dempsey’s consistent commitment to best management practices (BMPs) in laundering as verified by on-site inspection and its capability to produce hygienically clean textiles as quantified by ongoing microbial testing. The Jessup location also holds the Hygienically Clean Food Safety certification as well as the TRSA Clean Green certification, which recognizes environmental stewardship in commercial laundries.

Originally earned in 2017, the renewals of the Hygienically Clean Healthcare and Hygienically Clean Food Service certifications confirm the laundry’s continuing dedication to infection prevention, compliance with recognized industry standards and processing healthcare textiles using BMPs as described in its quality assurance documentation, a focal point for Hygienically Clean inspectors’ evaluation. The independent, third-party inspection must also confirm essential evidence that:

  • Employees are properly trained and protected;
  • Managers understand regulatory requirements;
  • OSHA-compliant; and
  • Physical plant operates effectively.

To achieve certification initially, laundries must pass three rounds of outcome-based microbial testing, indicating that their processes are producing, in this case, Hygienically Clean Healthcare and Food Service textiles with diminished presence of yeast, mold and harmful bacteria. They also must pass facility inspections. To maintain certification, quarterly testing is mandatory to ensure that as laundry conditions such as water quality, textile fabric composition and wash chemistry change, their laundered product quality is consistently maintained. This process eliminates subjectivity by focusing on outcomes and results that verify textiles cleaned in these facilities meet appropriate hygienically clean standards and BMPs.

For Hygienically Clean Healthcare certification:

  • Hospitals, surgery centers, medical offices, nursing homes and other medical facilities can know that the certified laundry is effective in helping to protect healthcare operations by verifying quality control procedures in linen, uniform and facility services operations related to the handling of textiles containing blood and other potentially infectious materials:
    • Hygienically Clean certified laundries use processes, chemicals and BMPs acknowledged by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, American National Standards Institute and others. Introduced in 2012, Hygienically Clean Healthcare brought to North America the international cleanliness standards for healthcare linens and garments used worldwide by the Certification Association for Professional Textile Services and the European Committee for Standardization.
    • Objective experts in epidemiology, infection control, nursing and other healthcare professions work with Hygienically Clean launderers to ensure the certification continues to enforce the highest standards for producing clean healthcare textiles.

For Hygienically Clean Food Service certification:

  • Full- and limited service restaurants and other food service operations can know that the certified laundry is effective in helping to protect their operation by verifying quality control procedures in linen, uniform and facility services operations related to Food Service.
  • Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) practices are examined in the Hygienically Clean Food Service inspection process, evaluating the plant’s techniques for:
    • Conducting hazard analysis
    • Determining CCPs, monitoring their control, correcting them if not under control
    • Validating and verifying HACCP system effectiveness
    • Documenting and record-keeping to show ongoing conformance
  • Inspections also evaluate practices relevant to handling and processing textile products used in food manufacturing/processing establishments for adherence to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) directives. Introduced in January 2016, Hygienically Clean Food Service brought to linen and uniform service laundering in North America the international cleanliness standards used worldwide by the Certification Association for Professional Textile Services and the European Committee for Standardization.

“Congratulations to Dempsey Uniform and Linen Supply on their continued best practices that earn the Hygienically Clean Healthcare and Hygienically Clean Food Service certifications,” said Joseph Ricci, TRSA president and CEO. “Their achievement proves their commitment to infection prevention and that the laundry takes every step possible to prevent human illness.”

Dempsey Uniform and Linen Supply is family-owned and -operated commercial laundry headquartered in northeastern Pennsylvania since 1959. Dempsey now serves clients in six mideastern states and the District of Columbia.

Posted October 16, 2020

Source: TRSA

Plastics Manufacturer Selects Catawba County For New Operations At Upgraded Facility In Newton

RALEIGH, N.C. — October 15, 2020 — RMC Advanced Technologies Inc. (RMC), a manufacturer of molded plastic and composite parts, will develop a new manufacturing operation in Newton, N.C., Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest to expand a facility previously used for plastics manufacturing.

“In these challenging times, North Carolina continues to attract leading manufacturers like RMC because of our strong workforce, our commitment to economic development and the state’s ability to manage a crisis well,” said Governor Cooper. “Manufacturers know they have a strong partner in our state so we’ll continue to see more new jobs.”

RMC, part of the Composites Division of Quebec-based NanoXplore Inc., is a solutions‐driven, customer‐focused manufacturer of molded plastic and composite parts and assemblies. RMC develops technologies, product designs and new manufacturing concepts that provide superior services and products to customers. The company’s technology specializes in processes that support high-volume, high-speed, and large surface-area molding.

In Newton, RMC will expand a facility that once housed Continental Structural Plastics Inc. The vision for the new operation includes adding a full paint line and other production capabilities, which will enable expanded production shifts, output, and future growth.

“RMC Advanced Technologies is extremely excited to have acquired and, in quick order, to be expanding our new Newton operation to better fulfill the needs of our North American customers,” said Ali Karnib, Vice President of Operations – Composite Business Unit. “We greatly appreciate the support from the State of North Carolina, Catawba County, and the City of Newton on this expansion project and we look forward to being an involved corporate citizen in our new community.”

“North Carolina welcomes RMC to the state’s community of manufacturers, the top state for these companies in the Southeast,” said Secretary of Commerce Anthony M. Copeland. “Even in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, the North Carolina economy is still humming and creating jobs.”

Through the project period of 4-5 years, the new jobs may create a payroll impact in the local community of more than $3.57 million per year, pending new business awards to the company.

A performance-based grant of $150,000 from the One North Carolina Fund will help facilitate RMC’s project in North Carolina. The grant is contingent on the company creating 80 jobs and investing $7.1 million in the project. The One NC Fund provides financial assistance to local governments to help attract economic investment and to create jobs. Companies receive no money upfront and must meet job creation and capital investment targets to qualify for payment. All One NC grants require a matching grant from local governments and any award is also contingent upon that condition being met.

In addition to the North Carolina Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, other key partners in the project include the North Carolina General Assembly, the North Carolina Community College System, the Western Piedmont Council of Governments, Catawba County Community College, the City of Newton, Catawba County Government, and the Catawba County Economic Development Corporation.

Posted October 16, 2020

Source: North Carolina Office of the Governor

Retail Sales Growth Speeds Up as September Marks Fourth Month of Gains

WASHINGTON — October 16, 2020 — A strong rebound in apparel led a continuing V-shaped recovery from the pandemic as retail sales accelerated their rate of growth in September and marked the fourth straight month of year-over-year gains, the National Retail Federation said today.

“Retail sales showed impressive gains in September,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “Consumers continue to prove their resilience and strength through this pandemic. Retailers and consumers are adapting to the current environment, embracing shopping in different ways and focusing on specific categories.”

“We’re optimistic about the prospects for a strong holiday season, as people want something to look forward to and bring joy to their lives,” Shay said. “While it’s been a challenging year for everyone, there’s been an enormous amount of innovation within the retail industry and retailers have demonstrated that we can keep the economy open and operating safely.”

“Retail sales are continuing to build on the momentum we’ve seen through the summer and have been boosted by an improving labor market, a rebound in consumer confidence and elevated savings,” NRF Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said. “A significant number of people remain unemployed, but more are going back to work and that makes them confident about spending. September retail sales reflect the support of government measures and elevated savings that is being spent now that consumers are shopping again. With less spending on personal services such as travel and entertainment outside the home, some of that money is shifting to retail cash registers. All in all, these numbers and other economic data show the nation’s economy remains on its recovery path.”

The U.S. Census Bureau said today overall retail sales in September were up 1.9 percent seasonally adjusted from August and up 5.4 percent year-over-year. That was more than triple the 0.6 percent month-over-month increase and almost double the 2.8 percent year-over-year increase in August. Sales have been up both month-over-month and year-over-year each month since June following record monthly drops this spring.

NRF’s calculation of retail sales — which excludes automobile dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants in order to focus on core retail — showed September was up 1.3 percent seasonally adjusted from August and up 12 percent unadjusted year-over-year. The year-over-year gain was more than double the 5.7 percent year-over-year increase in August, which was unchanged from July. NRF’s numbers were up 9.2 percent unadjusted year-over-year on a three-month moving average. Compared with March – the month the pandemic set in – September sales were up 5.6 percent.

Three-quarters of retail categories saw both month-over-month and year-over-year increases. The biggest monthly gain came at clothing stores, although their sales remained below last year, while the largest year-over-year increase was seen online. Electronics and appliance stores were the only major segment to post a decline.

Specifics from key retail sectors during September include:

  • Clothing and clothing accessory stores were up 11 percent month-over-month seasonally adjusted but down 12 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
  • Sporting goods stores were up 5.7 percent month-over-month seasonally adjusted and up 18.3 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
  • General merchandise stores were up 1.8 percent month-over-month seasonally adjusted and up 4.1 percent unadjusted year-over-year. Department stores, a subset of the category, were up 9.7 percent month-over-month.
  • Health and personal care stores were up 1.7 percent month-over-month seasonally adjusted and up 7.8 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
  • Building materials and garden supply stores were up 0.6 percent month-over-month seasonally adjusted and up 23.4 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
  • Online and other non-store sales were up 0.5 month-over-month seasonally adjusted and up 27 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
  • Furniture and home furnishings stores were up 0.5 percent month-over-month seasonally adjusted and up 7.5 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
  • Grocery and beverage stores were unchanged month-over-month seasonally adjusted but up 11.5 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
  • Electronics and appliance stores were down 1.6 percent month-over-month seasonally adjusted and down 6.1 percent unadjusted year-over-year.

Posted October 16, 2020

Source: The National Retail Federation (NRF)

Shaw Wins 2020 w3 Awards For Floorvana+ Augmented Reality Tool

DALTON, Ga. — October 15, 2020 — Shaw Industries Group Inc. recently received Gold and Silver honors in the 15th Annual w3 Awards, announced by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts earlier this month.

Receiving more than 3,000 entries from across the globe, the w3 Awards illuminate creative excellence on the Web by honoring outstanding Websites, Marketing, Video, Mobile, Social, and Podcasts developed by some of the best digital content creators across multiple industries.

“Seeing is believing — and Floorvana+ helps consumers take inspiration to the next level by leveraging augmented reality technology to essentially ‘test-drive’ new flooring before they commit to purchase,” says Misty Hodge, director of digital marketing for Shaw Residential. “With this new website and mobile innovation, consumers can upload a picture from their own home or business and digitally drop in our products, testing different product categories, colors, installation patterns and more. Our retail customers have also been able to rely heavily on Floorvana+ as a selling tool during shutdowns and virtual consultations. We couldn’t be more proud to accept these 2020 w3 awards, and to be recognized alongside other winning brands like Google, LEGO, and Geico.”

Floorvana+ is integrated into the consumer experience across all residential brand websites. Visit each website (Anderson Tuftex, COREtec, Philadelphia Commercial and Shaw Floors) for the full experience or visit Floorvana+ directly at floorvanaplus.com. To view a complete list of the 2020 w3 Award Winners, please visit w3award.com.

Posted October 15, 2020

Source: Shaw Industries Group Inc.

Arris Composites’ Additive Molding™ Carbon Fiber Truss Wins Red Dot: Design Concept 2020

Ethan Escowitz, CEO and founder of Arris Composites, with the company’s award winning Additive Molding™ Carbon Fiber Truss

BERKELEY, Calif. — October 14, 2020 — Arris Composites today announced that its Additive Molding™ Carbon Fiber Truss won the Red Dot: Design Concept 2020 award. Arris’ first-of-its-kind carbon fiber truss doubles the specific stiffness of a steel I-beam while adding material benefits like corrosion resistance and the opportunity for functional integration into the structure. It is also 100 percent recyclable and highly scalable in size and quantity thanks to Arris’ innovative Additive Molding manufacturing process.

Arris’ groundbreaking process combines additive manufacturing and traditional high-volume molding techniques to produce continuous carbon fiber composites that can be combined with other materials such as metals and even electronics.

“Carbon fiber is one of the highest performance materials available, but high-cost manufacturing processes have kept it exclusive to extreme performance applications, like aircraft and premium automobiles,” explained Ethan Escowitz, CEO and founder of Arris Composites. “Our truss shows how the Additive Molding process can deliver optimized composites at mass-production volumes and costs for applications across industries as diverse as consumer electronics and sporting goods, to aerospace and automotive. It’s an honor to have it recognized by Red Dot.” Speaking about the work that took place at Arris, Escowitz continues, “Behind this achievement is an amazing team, including two major contributors at the center of this multi-year development effort: Arris’ Chief Engineer, Erick Davidson, and Process R&D Lead, Scott Perkins.”

The Red Dot Award: Design Concept is the largest professional design concept competition in the world. With an international jury consisting of experts from diverse fields, the award serves as a fair, recognized, and indisputable benchmark for creativity and design excellence in the industry. Designers, design teams, companies, design studios, and universities from all over the world are invited to submit prototypes, marketable products, new ideas, and design concepts for evaluation and to put their designs to the test.

This year a total of 4,170 entries from 52 countries were submitted with only 5.5 percent of entries winning a Red Dot.

Beyond the I-Beam

Truss structures have many more applications compared to simple I-beams and other extruded shapes because they can be optimized for a broader set of load scenarios in applications like wind turbines, planes, cars, all the way down to scooters and sporting goods. Trusses, while ubiquitous in large infrastructure (where the best structural designs prevail), have seen limited use in transportation. Reasons for this include the high costs associated with truss manufacturing processes and the additional burden of scrap associated with these conventional processes. Additive Molding makes complex, high-performance structures like trusses possible in the strongest and lightest materials, and with the throughputs and costs required at scale.

Additive Molding Mimics Nature

Critical for structurally demanding applications, like those in the aerospace and automotive industries, Additive Molding mimics how nature aligns wood grain in a tree for strength and aligns fibers within a designer’s topology to optimally employ high-performance continuous fiber composite materials.

The alignment of wood grains through a tree limb provides the highest structural strength and stiffness. Similarly, Additive Molding allows designers to align glass and carbon fibers along the load paths within a complex 3-dimensional part. The fibers can also be precisely aligned around attachment features. For the first time, optimized composites can be applied to advanced part designs at scale.

Posted October 15, 2020

Source: Arris Composites

BEDGEAR®, Polygiene Sign Exclusive Germ Shield™ Agreement To Protect And Keep Consumers Safe, Clean And Healthy While Sleeping

Farmingdale, N.Y. — October 15, 2020 — BEDGEAR®, the brand of Performance® that provides innovative bedding by focusing on an active lifestyle and well-being, and Polygiene, the world leader in stays fresh and odor control technologies, announce the new Germ Shield™ Protector that incorporates a lab-tested anti-microbial technology that inhibits 99 percent of microbes and germs. This is part of BEDGEAR’s longstanding commitment to provide sleepers with clean and safe products that deliver a healthy sleep environment. The Germ Shield Protector will be on display at High Point Market in North Carolina from October 13-21 in the BEDGEAR Showroom (Plaza Suites, Ground Level, 1-500).

Central to the Germ Shield Protector is Polygiene’s proven technology that suppresses the buildup of germs, bacteria and odor. Polygiene’s textile treatment technology is found in everyday safe household products like sunscreens, bandages and deodorants. This same technology is now being applied to BEDGEAR’s products, and Polygiene and BEDGEAR have established an exclusive agreement. Polygiene has added an additional safety layer to BEDGEAR’s existing protection, which includes preventing the buildup of microbes, pet dander, dust mites and allergens as well as resisting stains, fluids, mold and mildew.

“Consumers do have a heightened awareness for a better, more hygienic sleep environment because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Eugene Alletto, BEDGEAR’s CEO and founder. “However, both BEDGEAR and Polygiene do not want to take advantage of consumers’ fears with unsubstantiated claims about the Germ Shield™ Protector, which inhibits the presence of germs and microbes. Both companies emphasize science, truth and transparency. BEDGEAR has always focused on engineering airflow in its breathable bedding products, which have become the choice of more than 15 professional and national sports teams. BEDGEAR’s partnership with Polygiene was a natural fit since it focuses on sports and outdoor products. And like BEDGEAR, Polygiene believes in sustainability.”

Polygiene uses the best functioning technologies that are bluesign® certified, which means they meet strict independent environmental and product life cycle standards. Polygiene also holds an OEKO-TEX® certificate that guarantees the absence of unhealthy chemicals.

“Polygiene firmly believes in data, science and genuine research and will always be a reliable and trustworthy partner in every sense,” said Ulrika Björk, CEO of Polygiene. “Polygiene’s technology with BEDGEAR’s Germ Shield Protector safely inhibits the growth of microbes and odors.”

Other bedding manufacturers are focusing on applying an anti-microbial topical treatment just to their mattresses. BEDGEAR’s Germ Shield Protector is one bedding layer closer to the sleeper because it is placed over a standard mattress protector, which directly lays on top of the mattress, resulting in a cleaner and healthier sleep environment.

The protector is also engineered with BEDGEAR’s Hyper-Cotton™ technology to provide fast evaporation of moisture. Hyper-Cotton™ provides four times the airflow compared to traditional 100-percent cotton fabrics. For more than five years, BEDGEAR has been applying anti-microbial protection to its breathable Performance® sheets.

Posted October 15, 2020

Source: BEDGEAR

Fallon, Shawmut Team Up To Create New N95 Mask Production Facility In Massachusetts To Meet Sustained Demand For PPE

WEST BRIDGEWATER, Mass. — October 15, 2020 — The Fallon Co. and Shawmut Corp. today announced the creation of a new domestic manufacturing operation to produce N95 respirators. State of the art manufacturing equipment installed in an expanded facility based in West Bridgewater, Mass., will enable end-to-end production of up to 180 million masks per year. Additionally, the operation is expected to create as many as 300 new jobs in Massachusetts.

The new effort will also be supported with a $2.7 million grant from the Commonwealth’s Manufacturing Emergency Response Team (MERT), a state-led initiative that has facilitated the production of more than 11 million pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other critical items by manufacturers that pivoted operations to address COVID-19 at the onset of the public health crisis. Announced today, this is one of 13 grants totaling $6.5 million being distributed to multiple organizations during October, or “Manufacturing Month,” to support the production of PPE in Massachusetts.

“The MERT program continues to identify and support successful ‘Made in Massachusetts’ manufacturers like the Fallon Company and Shawmut Corporation, that will produce N95 masks and other PPE equipment locally, for Massachusetts front-line responders, business owners, and residents,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “We are pleased to welcome the expansion of this manufacturing facility in Massachusetts and appreciate the role these companies are playing in the Commonwealth’s fight against COVID-19.”

The operation brings together two well-established, successful family businesses to serve as one of only a handful of high-quality mask manufacturers in the U.S. The West Bridgewater facility will extend existing Shawmut manufacturing capabilities, which include medical gowns, to add polypropylene melt blown extrusion and mask conversion capabilities to create respirators, shoring up the U.S. healthcare supply chain with domestic production. The 60 tons of machinery was fast-tracked from Germany-based Reifenhauser REICOFIL GmbH & Co on an expedited timeline and, last week, landed in the Port of Boston.

In addition to a financial investment by Joseph Fallon, CEO of the Fallon Co., the effort will be supported by President Michael Fallon and the company’s development, legal, and construction teams. Funds will support infrastructure upgrades, utility improvements, and capital investment to Shawmut Corporation’s manufacturing facility in West Bridgewater. Widely recognized as the leader in melt-blown polypropylene production equipment, the Reifenhauser production line will enable the conversion of non-woven materials into N95 respirators in Massachusetts.

“With all that’s at stake right now, we must shore up domestic manufacturing of lifesaving personal protective equipment for the people whose lives are at risk,” said Joe Fallon, the initial investor in the new facilities. “So this isn’t just about making masks here in the U.S., it’s about ensuring we have the equipment needed to keep our frontline workers safe and in a position to take care of people over the long term.”

In addition to having full control of the manufacturing process to ensure ongoing quality and safety and eliminate potential price gouging, domestic production will allow first responders and medical personnel to conduct fit testing in the factory, as well as allow for rapid prototyping and testing of future PPE products.

Shawmut, which has decades of experience in the healthcare sector, is currently producing isolation gowns and surgical barrier fabrics, and will now be producing high-quality FDA- and NIOSH-approved N95 masks made of melt-blown nano fiber material. The company plans to start with an initial run rate of 5 million masks per month, gradually building up to producing 15 million masks per month.

“These health risks are not going away. We need to plan ahead to ensure our state and country never run out of N95 masks again,” said Shawmut CEO, James Wyner. “Shawmut is proud to be partnered with Joe and others at the Fallon Company to bring this advanced PPE manufacturing investment to Massachusetts.”

“We have a 104-year history of manufacturing in the state,” added Shawmut’s 95-year-old Chairman Justin Wyner. “We are honored to have been chosen for this important grant from MERT, and grateful for the opportunity to bring these vital manufacturing capabilities home to the Commonwealth.”

A fourth-generation, family-run company with locations across the country and around the world, specializing in high performance materials for automotive and medical applications, Shawmut has been working with Massachusetts MERT and federal officials, including members of FEMA, to support the production of as many as 4 million isolation gowns per month.

The Fallon Co. is rooted in family values, sustaining strong partnerships and helping others, which is fundamental to the Fallon Company’s identity. With a long history of “quiet generosity,” the family has received notable recognition for helping those in need, including military families and single parents, along with children’s healthcare and youth enrichment organizations, among others.

Posted October 15, 2020

Source: Shawmut Corp.

Hexion Releases Updated Sustainability Goals For 2020 And Beyond

COLUMBUS, Ohio — October 15, 2020 — Hexion Inc. is strengthening its commitment to minimize its impact on climate change and develop more innovative sustainable products as part of its updated sustainability goals for 2020 and beyond.

“Our focus on sustainability and the societal trends we see is greater than ever before,” said Craig Rogerson, chairman, president and CEO. “Faced with a global pandemic, climate change and opportunities surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion, we continue to focus our efforts on making a positive impact while accelerating our growth. These new goals strengthen our long-standing commitment to sustainability and delivering on our strategic approach to ‘Responsible Chemistry,’ which includes supporting our associates, customers and communities.”

Earlier this year, the company completed an updated materiality assessment where it engaged with various internal and external stakeholders. From that assessment, the Company determined its most important areas of focus. While not limiting its sustainability efforts to these focus areas alone, these topics drove bold goal discussions and included:

  • Minimizing climate change impact — Hexion will strive to protect against climate change throughout its business lifecycle by efficiently using natural resources, optimizing existing processes and enhancing products and technologies through continuous innovation.
  • Developing innovative sustainable products — Hexion is committed that by 2030, all new products will incorporate sustainable attributes.
  • Enhancing worker safety/well-being — By 2022, Hexion will offer a voluntary well-being program that addresses associate physical, mental, and financial well-being with the goal of 50 percent associate participation in the program by 2025. Hexion also re-affirmed its commitment to continue to drive toward zero recordable injuries.
  • Reducing spills and releases — Hexion has committed to reduce spill mass and releases by 80 percent by 2025.
  • Maintaining product stewardship — Hexion remains committed to implementing the Responsible Care Product Safety Code and will continue to be transparent and communicate to key stakeholders regarding its stewardship programs such as risk reviews and reduction of substances of concern.

“Meaningful impact is driven by action more than intent, which is why Hexion completed a materiality assessment in 2020 as part of its ongoing sustainability strategic planning initiatives,” said Stephanie Couhig, senior vice president, Environmental, Health and Safety, Hexion. “By focusing efforts on these goals, Hexion can make a positive change. From demand for energy efficiency to creating bio-based and circular products, chemistry can play an important role in addressing climate change as we positively address our carbon footprint.”

Work continues to establish an aspirational goal around climate change and Greenhouse Gas emission reductions, as well as assembling Hexion’s Scope 3 emissions. All are expected to be finalized in the first quarter of 2021.

Posted October 15, 2020

Source: Hexion Inc.

Oerlikon Experts Share Their Know-How Online

REMSCHEID, Germany — October 15, 2020 — In order to ensure the transfer of know-how and technology in times of the pandemic, the Manmade Fibers segment of the Swiss Oerlikon Group will start its new webinar series in November. Four interesting technology lectures are planned until the end of 2020 which will be held in English. Current trends in the production of manmade fibers as well as Oerlikons technology solutions will be presented and discussed with the participants. A continuation of the webinar series is already planned for 2021.

An overview of the Oerlikon Manmade Fibers webinars in the fourth quarter of 2020:

Factory know-how from a single source – A boost for your efficiency
November 4, 2020: 11:00-11:45h CET
Speaker: Jochen Adler, Oerlikon Manmade Fibers CTO

From melt to yarn, fibers and nonwovens. At Oerlikon Manmade Fibers you get the entire factory know-how from a single source. From the planning and construction of highly complex production plants and competent customer services, Oerlikon Manmade Fibers offers everything for a successful business. Oerlikon is the right partner, especially – but not exclusively – for newcomers in the textile industry.

VarioFil – Your compact spinning solution
November 11, 2020: 11:00-11:45h CET
Speaker: Ralf Morgenroth, Head of Engineering Textile Machinery BB Engineering (BBE)

The speaker from Oerlikons Joint venture Partner BBE will present the flexible, customized compact spinning system VarioFil. Whether for different feedstocks of standard spinning polymers or recycling, VarioFil will be tailored to your needs. Thanks to conversion packages, you can quickly and cost-effectively adapt to market requirements and you are therefore not restricted to one material or one specific process.

Green Technologies – Join us on the road to a sustainable fiber industry
December 2, 2020: 11:00-11:45h CET
Speaker: Markus Reichwein, Head of Product Management Oerlikon Manmade Fibers

The right technologies for recycling are a key requirement for a sustainable manmade fiber industry. Oerlikon Manmade Fibers describe a cascaded approach into new technologies as well as different material sources outlining your need for versatile solutions.

VacuFil – Your future upcycling plant, from waste to value
December 9, 2020: 11:00-11:45h CET
Speaker: Matthias Schmitz, Head of Engineering Recycling Technology, BB Engineering (BBE)

The speaker of Oerlikons Joint Venture partner BBE presents the innovative PET recycling system VacuFil. It combines gentle largescale filtration and controlled intrinsic-viscosity build-up for consistently outstanding melt quality. The vacuum-unit — located next to the filter — quickly and reliably removes volatile contamination. The modular structure of the VacuFil range offers numerous possibilities for the process guiding system. Whether as a standalone solution with downstream granulation or as an inline version including 3DD additive feed – customer requirements can be optimally catered for with customized system configurations.

Posted October 15, 2020

Source: Oerlikon

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