USTER, Switzerland — October 13, 2020 — Uster Technologies launches a new standalone version of USTER® QUALITY EXPERT which leverages the value of USTER® instruments to significant profitability gains. Connecting to Uster Quality Expert enables flexible and fact-based responses to the changing business environment. With the new standalone version, a relatively small investment means cotton spinners can optimize costs in tougher times — and maximize profits when markets recover.

USTER is opening the door to advanced quality and process optimization — making its unique Quality Management Platform available to a much wider range of yarn manufacturers. Until now, Uster Quality Expert has been exclusively hosted within USTER® TESTER 6. The new Uster Quality Expert standalone version is targeted at textile mills which do not yet own the Uster Tester 6 but have invested in at least one modern Uster instrument — such as the USTER® QUANTUM 3, for example. The new offering helps users to benefit from automated quality management capabilities, powered by Uster’s well known application intelligence, with minimum investment. The value is then expanded in future with every additional product connected.

The launch is part of the company’s vision to extend its Think Quality concept further across the textile community, using fact-based quality management. The standalone and the Uster Tester 6 hosted version share the same newly updated software release, featuring many improvements.

Both Uster Quality Expert versions deliver uncompromising standards in ultimate analysis, unique Value Modules and fault prevention mechanisms. Exploring vast optimization possibilities with total transparency becomes easier than ever.

Remote control

The role of accurate data in the production environment is growing, alongside the need for maximum flexibility. Businesses have to be ready with effective short-term planning — especially when markets today are as unstable as people’s health. Sudden changes in regulations might call for urgent actions, which could even decide on the continuing viability of a business.

Uster Quality Expert enables informed decision-making. The new standalone version offers the same value-added reports, based on combined data from laboratory instruments and in-line monitoring systems. Remote access to production information, whenever and wherever needed, keeps users in the picture 24/7.

Spinners can connect the Uster MOBILE ALERTS app to Uster Quality Expert and control mill operations from their mobile phones. It allows alarms to be managed “in the pocket” — so users can stay safe and still control important production factors during the months under the ‘new normal’ conditions. The remote features will also be vital in driving a business upswing in future.

More automation

As each connected instrument joins the Quality Management Platform™, Uster Quality Expert expands its intelligence for fault prevention and assured quality. Each Value Module of Uster Quality Expert helps to automate costly tasks, prevent faults and drive higher process performance to the required quality levels, constantly and reliably.

Applying the same data language throughout the mill fosters common understanding. Mill managers, quality managers, operators and other personnel benefit from the well-established Value Modules such as the Alarm Center — creating awareness and triggering action. The Mill Analysis module provides insightful analytics for data-based decisions, and Yarn Prognosis uses an easy-to-read grading system to predict yarn quality for subsequent processing and to prevent claims. The latest release features additional highlights, including a new dashboard design, a bar chart alternative to the spider quality charts and improvements to the Mill Analysis module.

Information worth every cent

Flexibility in a spinning business also means taking every possible chance to save costs: waste reduction, power optimization and ultimately to obtain maximum value out of costly raw material while meeting quality requirements. Control of key quality indicators, and analysis enabling correlative actions, are part of the Total Contamination Control (TCC) and Ring Spinning Optimization (RSO) Value Modules.

TCC combines data from Uster Quantum 3 yarn clearers and Uster JOSSI VSION SHIELD fiber cleaning to give spinners precise control over contamination levels in yarns. Interaction between initial control at fiber cleaning and final control at winding makes it possible to balance ejections and clearer cuts. When connecting Uster Quantum 3 and Uster SENTINEL to Uster Quality Expert, mills can intelligently correlate ring quality data and winding quality, for ultimate control over productivity and quality. RSO also enables higher spinning performance while optimizing cop build-up.

Stay safe in business

Maintaining partnerships with spinning mills worldwide for more than 70 years, Uster understands exactly the challenges they face. To enable even faster response to any quality deviations, Uster further developed the Alarm Center Value Module. The latest release of Uster Quality Expert indicates whether a deviation appears in a critical range or in a positive range. This additional information saves time when immediate corrective actions are needed — as well as allowing best management and leveraged improvements in positive cases.

Uster’s ambition to support business profitability is as well-known as its dedication to quality. This is a good moment to launch a system which helps yarn producers overcome problems in these crisis-hit times. Remote data access enables mills to make critical decisions now — and will boost success factors at the first signs of an upswing. Flexibility is a primary benefit spinners can achieve with Uster Quality Expert Standalone: “We believe that Uster Quality Expert — in the hosted and standalone versions — is the solution helping to secure business now and in the future. It provides the opportunity for any spinner to benefit from smart quality management from the initial investment — and then harvest additional value with each expansion into further quality control tools,” said Sivakumar Narayanan, executive vice president and head of Marketing & Business Development, Uster Technologies.

Posted October 13, 2020

Source: Uster Technologies AG

RONSE, Belgium — October 13, 2020 — Anker, Devan and Shark Solutions teamed up to create the world’s first flame retardant aviation carpet using a recycled binder. Inspired by the knowledge and the needs of the aviation market, Anker motivated to achieve this new goal together. The PVB binder reuses laminated glass from windshields and architectural/building glass that otherwise would go to landfill.

German carpet manufacturer Anker is the first company to offer flame retardant carpets for aviation that are made with a recycled binder. In the search for a more sustainable binder, Anker discovered the PVB from Shark Solutions, a Danish cleantech company focused on giving a new life to post-consumer PVB. Properties of the aviation carpet with PVB as binder are the same as those of traditional non-sustainable carpets. The market has been looking for this type of solutions for a long time and market introduction has already started. Anker will introduce well known and special developed styles of aviation carpets with PVB and plan to take out traditional non-sustainable aviation carpets stepwise as soon as possible.

Shark’s PVB reuses laminated glass, from windshields and architectural/building glass, that otherwise would go to landfill. The non-toxic binder (no chlorine or phthalates) is fully recyclable and thus lives up to the future standards of the industry.

Textile innovator Devan Chemicals, known for its tailor-made flame retardant solutions, was called in to develop the flame retardant back coating, which is compliant with the Airbus and Boeing safety standards. “Based on many years of experience and competences in customer related developments, improving recycling rates is getting more and more important”, says Dirk Vanpachtenbeke, R&D manager Flame Retardants at Devan. “We are very proud that, together with Anker and Shark Solutions, we can contribute to this rising demand for products that meet the standards of a circular economy solution.”

In other news, Anker and Devan are already working on a new project, which includes Devan’s antimicrobial/viral-reducing technology. Recently, Devan published test results on the activity of its technology (BI-OME®) against SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses. According to independent testing, BI-OME is proven to achieve 99 percent and higher virus reduction, including of SARS-COV-2, on samples before washing and retains 98.5 percent even after 25 wash cycles. This technology has been recognized with the 2020 European Technology Innovation Leadership Award by Frost & Sullivan.

Posted October 13, 2020

Source: Devan Chemicals NV

TAIPEI, Taiwan — October 12, 2020 — Frontier, a collaboration software as a service (SaaS) designed to digitize fabric materials, enhance supply chain management, and boost 3D design capabilities, will present its workflow enhancing technology to brands, mills and manufactures at the Taipei Innovative Textile Application Show (TITAS) taking place at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center October 13-15, 2020.

At the show, Frontier will highlight its new strategic partnership with C-Design PLM, a cloud-based product lifecycle management (PLM) from France, which will be the first of its kind to integrate materials into PLM and supply chain digitization. It will also offer interactive sessions for interested attendees to demonstrate the ease and capability of the platform to digitally connect and interact with supply chain as working remotely becomes the new normal.

“From our recent standing room only workshop held here, we found that as material developers — whether they be from the brand, mill or manufacturer side — had the opportunity to experience new Digital Product Creation (DPC) tools and how best to embrace them for their use, they discovered how adaptable they are and how they can integrate into organizations’ daily workflow,” said Wayne Fan, Chief Strategy Officer, Frontier. “Suppliers began to realize that Frontier can transform their business digitally by launching their digital assets into the cloud and connect seamlessly with virtual prototyping applications.”

Frontier will also extend interactive opportunities for exhibitors who cannot attend the TITAS live show through its virtual show taking place on October 21-30, 2020. Frontier will provide options for brand designers and product developers to freely and seamlessly enter into the Frontier platform, without any barrier of entry, to search trends in the marketplace, fabric suppliers and interact with the entire supply chain.

“As many of the online trade shows only offer pre-recorded interviews, panel discussion, and static virtual booths, there is very little live interactive engagement,” said Fan. “We are looking to connect and engage with those who cannot attend the TITAS show due to COVID-19 through our extended virtual program to make trade shows live again.”

Please visit Frontier at TITAS in Hall 1, booth M1101, and virtually October 21-30 at https://frontier.cool/virtualevent.

Posted October 12, 2020

Source: Frontier

TOTOWA, N.J. — October 12, 2020 — Precision Textiles, a supplier of coated fabrics, nonwovens and laminations for the bedding, automotive, health care and home furnishings industries, has expanded its popular IQ FIT® product family with the addition of its first all-natural, cotton FR mattress sock. The IQ FIT Natural is a glass-free natural alternative to FR sock solutions made with fiberglass.

The IQ FIT Natural is not only 100 percent glass-free, but is made with sustainable, renewable cotton that delivers breathability and superb moisture wicking. The cotton selected is a natural, hypoallergenic, durable, long-lasting fiber that stays strong after years of use and biodegrades when composted. The new glass-free sock also eliminates the breakdown of fiberglass and provides bedding manufacturers with a safer FR solution. Each component within the sock was chosen not only for the safety of consumers but also for the safety of the environment. The new sock is also free of para-aramid and antimony — both of which offer fire resistance but can cause respiratory and skin irritation — to ensure consumers receive an all-natural sleep experience.

“The addition of the IQ FIT Natural to our product lineup allows us to offer mattress manufacturers an all-natural cotton FR mattress sock that is free of skin irritants and harmful chemicals,” said Keith Martin, vice president of Precision Textiles. “As consumers become more health conscious about the products they’re bringing into their homes, this breathable cotton option allows bedding producers to address the consumer demand for more sustainable and natural raw materials in their mattresses.”

IQ Fit Natural is available in three adaptive sizes — twin/twin XL, full/queen and king/California king.

Posted October 12, 2020

Source: Precision Textiles