The Welch Foundation And Rice University Announce Creation Of The Welch Institute: Establish Houston As A Worldwide Hub For Advanced Materials Research

HOUSTON — September 3, 2020 — The Robert A. Welch Foundation announced yesterday a $100 million gift to Rice University to establish The Welch Institute, a sweeping strategic partnership focused on world-leading advanced materials research.

The Welch Institute, which will be located on the Rice University campus, will combine fundamental research in chemistry and materials science with the latest in machine learning and artificial intelligence to accelerate the discovery, design and manufacture of the next generation of materials with applications to new energy systems, sustainable water, space systems, telecommunications, manufacturing, transportation, security and more.

The goal of The Welch Institute is to attract top researchers from around the world to collaborate with Rice University’s internationally renowned faculty and scientific resources, making the Institute a center of intellectual discovery, innovation and transformation in advanced materials. The Institute will be governed by an independent Board of Directors and advised by a Scientific Advisory Board.

“The Welch Institute will focus on the development of advanced materials for the good of society and to advance the vision of Robert A. Welch, who believed in basic chemical research as a powerful force for transformative breakthroughs and improving the quality of life,” said Welch Foundation Chair and Director Carin Barth. “It will bring together top minds across all disciplines to catalyze innovation and center leadership in the field right here in the Houston area.”

Why is advanced materials research so important? The major milestones of civilization have been defined by new materials. The Bronze Age. The Iron Age. Even the present Information Age was enabled by the development of advanced materials that resulted in the semiconductor.

Until recently, new materials were often discovered by serendipity. Recent examples include Kevlar, solar panels, lithium batteries, the quantum dots that enabled HDTV and the composites used in knee and hip replacement. But collaboration across disciplines has enabled more intentional discoveries.

Although the theoretical and computational sciences have played an ever-expanding role in the discovery process, recent advances in data mining, computational chemistry and quantum theory have produced breakthroughs in creating “materials by design” with predictable properties — new, de novo, from-the-molecules-up materials that can help usher in a new era of progress on humanity’s major challenges.

The Welch Institute will be the first such effort in which the goals, the scientific strategy, the scientific team, and the facilities and equipment are constituted at the outset to utilize basic research to drive the design of advanced materials. Researchers at the institute might, for example, explicitly design materials that would be rigid or flexible, to conduct heat, to emit light or to advance quantum computation. In the not-too-distant future developments such as these could lead to solar cells that cheaply and efficiently provide abundant clean energy. Other devices stemming from the Institute’s research might compute at the speed of light or exploit the quantum properties of matter, solving problems that are impossible to overcome on today’s computers.

“Rice University is an ideal foundry for the next generation of advanced materials because of our strengths in both materials and computational sciences,” said Rice University President David Leebron. “The Welch Institute will foster an ecosystem of exploration, drawing from diverse disciplines to drive a new materials-based era to advance human welfare and progress, a multi-faceted successor to previous eras defined by stone, iron, bronze and silicon.”

For The Welch Foundation, the new institute represents a logical next step, building on its established programs, which have had a significant impact on the scientific community. For the past 65 years, the Foundation has supported basic research in chemistry and related fields in Texas colleges and research universities. The Foundation also bestows two annual awards: The Welch Award in Chemistry recognizes substantial achievements in chemical research, and the Norman Hackerman Award in Chemical Research recognizes the accomplishments of scientists early in their careers. Those programs will continue full force.

“The Foundation has contributed more than $1 billion, endowing 48 chairs at 21 Texas universities and supporting the work of hundreds of world-class research chemists,” said Peter Dervan, chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board of The Welch Foundation and Bren Professor of Chemistry at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). “We want to develop the Institute while maintaining all of our legacy grant programs and awards, which have served Texas scientists so well over the years.”

The Foundation considered funding a dedicated research institute several times in the past. The opportunity to partner with Rice University played an important role in the decision to move forward now. The Rice faculty is world-renowned, and collaboration between disciplines has been integral to the school’s culture since its inception. That collaboration was fundamental to the 1985 discovery of buckminsterfullerene (a new form of carbon) at Rice, which won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1996 and laid the foundation for nanotechnology.

“As a member of The Welch Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Board, I am thrilled the Foundation is investing in such a meaningful way in a field of research that holds so much promise for solving the world’s problems,” said Catherine Murphy, Larry R. Faulkner Endowed Chair in Chemistry at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Sixty-five years ago, Robert A. Welch said, “I have long been impressed with the great possibilities for the betterment of mankind that lay in the field of research in the domain of chemistry.” A half century earlier, Rice University’s first President, Edgar Odell Lovett, proclaimed that there should “be no upper limit” to the ambitions of this Rice University. Those two visions unite as one in the new institute.

“The establishment of The Welch Institute represents a new benchmark in the realization of their ambitions, a boon to Houston, and by intention a great benefit to mankind,” added Barth.

Posted September 5, 2020

Source: The Welch Foundation

Polygiene Takes First Steps With Dr. Scholl’s

MALMÖ, Sweden — September 4, 2020 — Dr. Scholl’s®, a foot care brand, is now keeping its premium insoles fresh from odor and microbes by teaming up with odor-controlling specialist Polygiene.

Moving forward, Dr. Scholl’s insoles will combine two Polygiene technologies — antibacterial Stays Fresh Technology and Odor Crunch® treatment — to stop the growth of odor-causing bacteria. “We are looking forward to elevating the value proposition of our hardest working insole with the addition of Polygiene technology,” said Kate Godbout, senior vice president of marketing at Dr. Scholl’s.

The first product to incorporate this new offering is the Dr. Scholl’s Massaging Gel Work Insole. Designed for people who work on their feet all day, these insoles give you energizing comfort so you can do more at work and at home. Patented gel waves cushion your feet, absorb shock, and get rid of your achy feet and legs even when standing on hard floors all day long. The addition of the combination treatment from Polygiene will ensure these insoles inhibit and guard against the growth of odors from bacteria and fungi, keeping the products fresh and hygienic.

“Everyone here in North America knows Dr. Scholl’s,” said Hans Bergman, sales director for Polygiene. “We are impressed with their long history of adding know-how and technology to help you move better from the ground up. And now writing in Polygiene as the next chapter in their story, feels fantastic.”

Dr. Scholl’s has a wide array of offerings with benefits that range from foot comfort to cooling, arch support to ingrown toenail pain relief. Polygiene technologies will eventually be incorporated into the broader portfolio of Dr. Scholl’s insoles for everyday walking shoes.

Posted September 4, 2020

Source: Polygiene AB

Ascend Completes Purchase Of Poliblend And Esseti Plast

HOUSTON — September 3, 2020 — As part of its global growth strategy, Ascend Performance Materials has completed its acquisition of Italy-based firms Poliblend and Esseti Plast. With this purchase, Ascend expands its portfolio into other engineered plastics, recycled resins and masterbatches.

“Poliblend and Esseti Plast complement our current business exceptionally well,” said John Saunders, Ascend’s vice president of Europe. “Our experience as a large-scale, fully integrated polyamide 66 manufacturer coupled with Poliblend’s portfolio of recycled and virgin PA66, PA6 and POM, and Esseti Plast’s extensive masterbatch operations will offer our customers more choices for quality, high performance materials on a global scale.”

As part of the purchase, Ascend establishes its second production facility in Europe. The acquisition also includes Poliblend Deutschland, a distribution facility located in Germany.

“This acquisition, coupled with our new compounding facility in China, will allow us to serve our customers locally around the globe,” said Phil McDivitt, Ascend’s president and CEO. “We now have production, product development and testing capabilities in North America, Asia and Europe, giving us additional scale to respond to our customers. Furthermore, a product developed for a customer in Europe can be quickly replicated and produced across the globe to meet shifting supply chain needs.”

Announced in February 2020, the acquisition was put on hold as COVID-19 cases spiked in Italy and then in the United States. “I am extremely grateful to Poliblend’s leadership and our team in Europe for navigating unprecedented circumstances to ensure this deal closed,” McDivitt said. “The safety and health of our people is our highest priority.”

Posted September 3, 2020

Source: Ascend Performance Materials

VDMA: Technology Webtalk On Waste Water Reduction And Treatment

FRANKFURT, Germany— September 3, 2020 — The next international VDMA webtalk on September 9, 2020, from 2-4 p.m. CEST) will focus on “Waste water reduction and treatment in textile dyeing and finishing.”

Facing environmental and economic requirements, textile manufacturers need to implement wastewater treatment technologies in their factories.

The presenters and their topics at a glance:

Bertram Stetter — Airflow technology from FONG’S EUROPE leads to the lowest water consumption per kilogramme of textile in discontinuous dyeing processes by transporting textile goods with air.

Karl Hesse, Körting Hannover, will explain how the operating costs of your mercerising process and the ecological footprint can be reduced at the same time. Savings of more than one million USD per year are realistic and the pay-back time is less than one year.

Dr. Norbert Müller-Blanke, TIA Technologies for Industrial Wastewater Treatment, will focus on the necessity, benefits and operating requirements of wastewater treatment technologies.

After the presentations, the experts will be available to answer the participants’ questions.

Registration is possible via this link https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/5531298161916946192  (no participation fee).

Posted September 3, 2020

Source: VDMA

Applied Composites Acquires Alliance Spacesystems, A Provider Of High-Performance Composite Structures For The Space Industry

LAKE FOREST, Calif. — September 2, 2020 — Applied Composites Holdings LLC announced today that it has acquired Alliance Spacesystems LLC, a vertically integrated provider of high-performance composite structures and assemblies for the commercial, civil and government satellite market. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

This marks the fifth acquisition of the Applied Composites platform created by AE Industrial Partners LP (AEI), a private equity firm specializing in aerospace, defense and government services, power generation, and specialty industrial markets.

Alliance offers a full spectrum of composite structure capabilities for the satellite industry, from engineering to manufacturing, integration and final qualification testing. The company is a premier supplier of high-precision payload structures for satellite buses, antenna reflectors, booms and support structures used for a wide variety of military and commercial applications. Alliance is a qualified supplier for Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Ball Aerospace, among others. The Company also creates high-strength composite structures for launch vehicles, as well as produces high quality, affordable rigid composite solar array substrates. Alliance provides end-to-end composite manufacturing services through its state-of-the-art facilities in Los Alamitos and San Diego, Calif.

“We are excited to add Alliance, with its well-respected space heritage and its extensive line of composite products and services, to our growing company,” said David Horner, CEO, Applied Composites. “Interest and investment in the space industry is at an all-time high, and we look forward to working closely with the Alliance team as we look for ways to meet this growing demand and better serve our customers.”

“This is a highly strategic combination that significantly strengthens our market position and value proposition,” said Rick Byrens, general manager, Alliance.  “Together, we possess a unique set of capabilities and skills that will help us to accelerate our growth and continue to deliver the quality and complexity that our customers demand.”

“When we formed Applied Composites, our goal was to create a one-stop shop for complex composites, offering unparalleled products and services to the aerospace, defense and space industries,” said Kirk Konert, partner at AEI. “With the addition of Alliance, we have taken another step in building a uniquely diverse and vertically integrated composites platform.”

Kirkland & Ellis served as legal advisor and RSM served as financial advisor to Applied Composites. Blank Rome was the legal advisor and KippsDeSanto & Co. was the financial advisor to Alliance.

Posted September 2, 2020

Source: Applied Composites

Culp Announces Results And Strengthened Liquidity For First Quarter Fiscal 2021, Announces Quarterly Dividend

HIGH POINT, N.C. — September 2, 2020 — Culp Inc. today reported financial and operating results for the first quarter ended August 2, 2020, which were materially affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Additionally, the first quarter of fiscal 2021 included 13 weeks compared with 14 weeks for the first quarter of fiscal 2020.

Fiscal 2021 First Quarter Financial Summary1

  • Net sales were $64.5 million, down 8.8 percent over the prior-year period, with mattress fabric sales down 7.1 percent and upholstery fabric sales down 11.0 percent compared with the first quarter of last year.
  • Pre-tax income from continuing operations was $1.5 million, compared with pre-tax income from continuing operations of $3.5 million for the prior-year period.
  • Net loss from continuing operations was $(2.7) million, or $(0.22) per diluted share, compared with net income from continuing operations of $1.8 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, for the prior-year period.
  • Adjusted net income from continuing operations (non-GAAP) was $1.0 million, or $0.08 per diluted share2. Adjusted net income from continuing operations for the prior-year period was $2.0 million, or $0.16 per diluted share3.
  • The company’s financial position reflected total cash and investments of $47.4 million and no outstanding borrowings as of August 2, 2020. This compares with a net cash position of $38.7 million as of the end of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020.
  • Cash flow from operations and free cash flow were $10.6 million and $10.0 million, respectively, compared with cash flow from operations and free cash flow of $2.0 million and $1.0 million, respectively, for the prior-year period.
  • The company announced a quarterly cash dividend of 10.5 cents per share, payable in October.

1During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020, the company sold its majority ownership interest in eLuxury LLC, resulting in the elimination of its home accessories segment. Accordingly, the financial results for this segment are excluded from the reported financial performance of the company’s continuing operations and are presented as a discontinued operation in the company’s consolidated financial statements.

2This excludes a $3.7 million net income tax charge, which consists of a $7.2 million non-cash income tax charge to record a full valuation allowance against the company’s U.S. net deferred income tax assets, partially offset by a $3.5 million non-cash income tax benefit resulting from the re-establishing of certain U.S. Federal net operating loss carryforwards in connection with the U.S. Treasury regulations enacted during the first quarter of fiscal 2021 regarding the Global Intangible Low Taxed Income (“GILTI”) tax provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

3This excludes a $229,000 income tax charge, which represents the company’s estimated GILTI tax incurred through the first quarter of fiscal 2020.

Financial Outlook

Due to the continued economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the lack of visibility as to its duration, the company is providing only limited financial guidance for fiscal 2021 at this time.

Although subject to unforeseen changes that may arise as the pandemic and its economic impact continue to unfold, the company is encouraged by improving business conditions. The company expects sales and operating income for the second quarter of fiscal 2021 to be materially improved as compared to the first quarter, but not reaching the performance achieved in the second quarter of last year, which was an especially strong quarter for the upholstery fabrics segment.

Commenting on the results, Iv Culp, president and CEO of Culp, said: “As we continue to navigate our way through these uncertain times, we remain focused on the health and safety of our employees, customers, suppliers, and the communities that we serve. I am incredibly thankful for our team’s hard work, agility, and commitment to safety, and I am proud of our leadership team for adapting and effectively managing through this challenging environment.

“We are pleased that both our mattress fabrics and upholstery fabrics segments saw better-than-expected increases in orders and shipments during the quarter, particularly during the last eight weeks. We are especially pleased with the substantial sequential improvement compared with the end of the fourth quarter, going from a significant pre-tax loss to profitability. We believe these trends are primarily being driven by a surge in consumer focus on the home environment and overall comfort, leading to an increased proportion of discretionary spending moving to home furnishings.

“Although the ongoing impact and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic remain unknown, we are cautiously optimistic, based on current demand trends, that business will continue its solid return in the second quarter of fiscal 2021. We are confident that our product-driven strategy, strong management team, and solid financial position will enable us to overcome the near-term headwinds and capture market share as we continue to demonstrate the resilience and strategic advantage of our global platform and stable supply chain. Our balance sheet remains strong, as evidenced by our significantly improved liquidity as compared to pre-pandemic levels at the end of the fiscal 2020 third quarter. We are also pleased to have maintained our quarterly dividend throughout this period of disruption, and we are excited about the continued sequential improvement in our business we expect for the second quarter of fiscal 2021,” added Culp.

Segment Update

Mattress Fabrics Segment

Sales for this segment were $36.1 million for the first quarter, down 7.1 percent compared with sales of $38.9 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2020, which included an extra week. Excluding this extra week, sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2021 were comparable (based on average sales per week) to sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2020.

Sandy Brown, president of Culp’s mattress fabrics division, stated: “While our mattress fabrics sales and operating performance for the first quarter of fiscal 2021 were affected by the ongoing disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic, we were pleased with the solid improvement during the quarter as business conditions began to normalize. The beginning of the quarter was materially affected by the virus, but we experienced a greater than anticipated increase in demand beginning in mid-May as government restrictions were lifted and customers and retail stores resumed operations. This increase continued throughout the quarter across all product offerings, including our CLASS mattress cover business, approximating pre-pandemic levels at quarter end. We returned all our previously furloughed workers and rapidly expanded our production schedules to meet this growing demand. As a result, sales increased by approximately 60 percent from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 to the first quarter of fiscal 2021.

“While we were energized by the sequential growth in sales and improving business conditions for the quarter, our operating performance was negatively affected by manufacturing inefficiencies associated with the dramatic ramp up in operations, as well as significant inventory reductions. Despite these challenges, we believe business conditions are stabilizing and will result in improved profitability going forward, barring additional disruption related to the pandemic. To support our future growth plan, we are investing in additional equipment to expand our capacity in North America. We believe the strength and flexibility of our global manufacturing and sourcing operations in the U.S., Canada, Haiti, Asia, and Turkey have us well positioned to execute our strategy and support the current environment surrounding the changing demands of our customers,” added Brown.

Upholstery Fabrics Segment

Sales for this segment were $28.4 million for the first quarter, down 11.0 percent compared with sales of $31.9 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2020, which included an extra week. Excluding this extra week, sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2021 were down approximately 4.0 percent (based on average sales per week) compared with the first quarter of fiscal 2020.

“The unprecedented disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic continued to affect our sales and operating results for the first quarter of fiscal 2021,” said Boyd Chumbley, president of Culp’s upholstery fabrics division. “We began the quarter slowly, with a gradual increase in orders and shipments beginning in mid-May as customers and retail stores started to reopen, followed by a swift upturn during the month of June and further acceleration to end the quarter. We returned all our previously furloughed workers to meet this rapid increase in demand, and our strong platform in Asia, including our cut and sew capabilities in Vietnam and our stable supply chain, has allowed us to respond quickly and meet the needs of our customers.

“We were pleased with the improvement throughout the quarter as demand increased in most of our businesses, including our residential upholstery business which features our popular lines of LiveSmart® and LiveSmart Evolve™ performance fabrics, as well as the Read Window Products portion of our hospitality business. We have benefited from our ability to continue representing our products for customers through our innovative virtual showcase presentations, and our strong product placements with customers prior to the COVID-19 outbreak have also advanced our recovery as business conditions improve,” Chumbley added.

Balance Sheet

“As the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic remains uncertain, maintaining a strong financial position remains one of Culp’s top priorities for fiscal 2021,” added Ken Bowling, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Culp, Inc. “As of August 2, 2020, we reported $47.4 million in total cash and investments and no outstanding borrowings, up from our $38.7 million net cash position as of the end of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020. During the first quarter, we incurred $500,000 in capital expenditures and spent $1.3 million on regular dividends. We also generated cash flow from operations of $10.6 million and free cash flow from operations of $10.0 million for the quarter, compared with cash flow from operations of $2.0 million and free cash flow of 1.0 million for the prior-year period.

Dividends and Share Repurchases

The company announced that its Board of Directors has approved the payment of the company’s quarterly cash dividend of 10.5 cents per share. The dividend is to be paid on or about October 15, 2020, to shareholders of record as of October 8, 2020. Importantly, the company has maintained and increased its annual dividend for eight consecutive fiscal years. The Board will continue to evaluate the appropriateness of the current dividend rate considering economic conditions and the company’s performance in upcoming quarters.

The company did not repurchase any shares during the first quarter of fiscal 2021, leaving $5.0 million available under the $5.0 million share repurchase program approved by the Board in March 2020. As previously disclosed, the company has temporarily suspended its share repurchases given the economic uncertainty related to COVID-19.

Posted September 2, 2020

Source: Culp Inc.

Lenzing Survey Shows That Transparency Is Key For Clothing And Home Textiles Brands To Win Consumer Trust And Confidence

LENZING, Austria— September 2, 2020 — Lenzing Group, a global supplier of sustainably produced wood-based specialty fibers, announced findings from its Global Consumer Perception Survey on Sustainable Raw Materials in Fashion and Home Textiles. The survey, which was conducted in early 2020, assessed the perceptions and behaviors of Conscious Consumers1 towards sustainable clothing and home textile products2, as well as their views towards sustainable raw materials and product features.

To understand consumer interest in sustainable materials and their current knowledge, a total of 9,000 respondents across nine countries aged between 18 and 64 were surveyed using online questionnaires. The key findings of the survey provided a glimpse into consumer habits towards pursuing a sustainable lifestyle, their knowledge of the raw materials used in clothing and home textile products, their perception towards brands, and preferred product descriptions.

The findings also reflected the imminent need for closer collaboration within the clothing and home textile industries to provide consumers with more transparent information about the products they purchase, in order to enhance consumer trust and maximize business potential.

Three key findings of the survey are outlined below:

  1. Conscious Consumers actively engage in pursuing a sustainable lifestyle and are constantly educating themselves about raw materials. 
Almost all (86 percent) respondents believe purchasing clothes made from sustainable raw materials is a key component of living a more sustainable lifestyle, and they frequently purchase products from brands that are committed to using sustainable raw materials (80 percent) or recycled materials (77 percent) in their products. The survey also revealed that majority of respondents actively learn about sustainability through researching the production process of products before purchasing (76 percent in clothing and 74 percent in bedding and home textiles). They also tend to read label hangtags (88 percent in clothing and 86 percent in bedding and home textiles), and most respondents are willing to pay an average of 40 percent more for clothing or home textile products with descriptions that reflect sustainability. When shopping for clothing and home textile products, respondents consider the material type to be their most important consideration (ranked in the top three factors for consideration by 44 percent of respondents), which is above price, design, brand reputation and function.
  1. Products described as “Eco-friendly” or “Natural” with a “Biodegradable” or “Recyclable” afterlife appeal to consumers.
 When asked about definition of sustainable clothing, respondents considered products being processed or manufactured using humane, eco-responsible production processes and products made from natural, organic or botanic materials as top considerations. More than 80 percent of respondents expressed that they are “extremely interested” or “very interested” in sustainable fashion and purchasing clothing made from sustainable raw materials. When asked about their preference for clothing and home textile products, half of the respondents said they would be more likely to purchase a product described as “eco-friendly” or “natural”, whereas over 60 percent of respondents are more likely to purchase products with a “recyclable” or “biodegradable” afterlife. Given the popularity of such terms, there are opportunities for brands to provide more descriptions and greater clarity to the materials, production processes and product afterlife information to their products as consumer education.
  1. Brands with greater transparency on raw materials and ingredients can gain consumer trust. Most respondents considered brands that are transparent with their ingredients (83 percent) and the origin of their raw materials (82 percent) as trustworthy. At the same time, respondents also consider brands that are transparent about their production processes (82 percent), sustainable practices (81 percent) and where their raw materials come from (82 percent) as trusted brands. While respondents believed that knowing what raw materials were used in their clothing and home textile products is important to build confidence in a brand (87 percent), they also believed that knowing the brand’s environmental impact when deciding to purchase (87 percent) is very important.

“The findings of this survey prove the value of Lenzing’s ongoing efforts in driving the sustainability dialogue across the textile supply chain, from yarn makers to consumer brands. Based on the survey, we gained a more comprehensive understanding of consumer perceptions globally. The rating of material type being the top consideration factor when shopping for clothing and home textile products has also echoed our belief that consumers value and actively look out for sustainable products. This survey provided us, our partners and brands with insights to curate more targeted strategies and programs to drive sustainability, not only on raw materials, but also product afterlife. In the long run, we hope to bring optimal value for the clothing and home textiles industry supply chain and help brands achieve new heights, drive sustainability and safeguard our planet.” said Florian Heubrandner, vice president of Global Business Management Textiles at Lenzing.

Collaboration in the fashion and textile industry is essential for driving greater transparency

Though sustainability has been a hot topic among brands, to enhance transparency, there is still room for the supply chain to evolve communications on raw materials, production process and product afterlife. Given consumers are already actively searching for sustainable products, it is important for the industry and brands to revolutionize how technical knowledge is translated into consumer language on websites, product tags and labels.

To drive change, Lenzing has been taking the lead with a three-pillar approach to increase industry collaboration and shift towards sustainability by ensuring a higher degree of transparency and enabling verification of raw material origin from production process to final garment. The three-pillar approach covers special fiber identification technology, a blockchain-based tracking system, and proactive supply chain collaboration and planning. Such approach is also complemented by Lenzing’s bespoke e-branding platform for manufacturers and brands, providing one-stop support for fabric certification, including fabric testing, identification numbers and hangtags to offer reassurance that sustainability is in every step of the supply chain.

“We are thrilled to see more consumers embrace a sustainable fashion lifestyle by making informed purchases based on research and reading product labels. With rising consumer expectations towards sustainability, over the past few years, we have been transforming and upgrading the TENCEL™ brand experience through proactive engagement programs on sustainable cellulosic fibers,” said Harold Weghorst, vice president of Global Brand Management at Lenzing.

“Consumer interest in eco-friendly and biodegradable products aligns with our ongoing commitment to bring brands and consumers more sustainable and biodegradable options to the clothing and home textile industries. Derived from sustainably sourced wood, Tencel branded fibers offer breathability, quality and biodegradability to clothing and home textile fabrics that are used in our everyday lives. While we continue to advocate for innovation in sustainable raw materials, we will continue to go beyond fibers and look for new ways to engage brands and consumers, enabling them to embrace sustainability anytime, anywhere,” Weghorst added.

The survey is commissioned by Lenzing in partnership with Wakefield Research, a market research firm, surveyed online a total of 9,000 respondents aged between 18 and 64 from nine countries including China, Japan, Korea, India, Indonesia, Turkey, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States in early 2020.

1Refers to consumers who: 1) Are image-conscious and value eco-friendly products; 2) Believe that brands play an important role by acting ethically, producing sustainable products and giving back to their communities; 3) Are influenced by deals, others’ opinions and environmentally friendly practices of companies and 4) Have purchased clothes and home textiles within the past 2 years.


2 Home textile products include bedding, draperies, carpets, towels, etc.

Posted September 2, 2020

Source: Lenzing Group

USTER Launches Automated Quality Monitoring For Nonwovens Producers

USTER, Switzerland — September 2, 2020 — Nonwovens producers are well aware of the potential threat posed by contamination in end-products. Not only does it damage user perceptions of quality, it could also prevent products from meeting important standards such as ‘flushability’. In some cases, hard particles in finished goods might even result in class actions and lawsuits by consumers. USTER can protect against these risks with its new fiber cleaning system — and offers full control of contamination and defects by combining two automated solutions for quality monitoring.

Nonwovens production lines demand tough standards. Material throughout is very high, while wear and tear on machines through abrasive fibers adds extra constraints. These challenges are met by the USTER® JOSSI VISION SHIELD N fiber cleaning system, which was especially developed for the high-output synthetic nonwovens industry. Thanks to its wide and deep channel, Uster Jossi Vision Shield N is designed to be installed on high-production lines. The machine is built with the most durable materials, using stainless steel to prevent abrasion in areas which come into contact with the fibers. For the record: Uster Jossi Vision Shield N is made in Uster, Switzerland.

Uster Jossi Vision Shield N is the result of surveys, close collaboration with international nonwovens companies and countless hours of field tests. Installation is easy, since the fiber cleaner’s slim design fits perfectly into existing lines — and it readily copes with the pace of standard production environments. For best detection results, the fiber cleaner is tuned to identify the typical disturbing contamination types in nonwovens, including colored fibers, metal or wood particles and grease deposits.

Proven detection technology

Though Uster Jossi Vision Shield N is brand new, it is based on well-proven technology. In fact, it’s acknowledged as the leading fiber cleaning system specifically adapted to the needs of the nonwovens industry. Introduced to the market 20 years ago, there are 3,500 systems currently installed worldwide and the technology has been continuously improved. The field of experience was in spinning mills processing cotton. In that sector, contamination is a serious issue — and is even more critical for producers of fleece for the hygiene and medical applications. Some nonwovens producers rely on Uster Jossi Vision Shield 2, the fiber cleaning system with the most sophisticated detection technology, to guarantee zero contamination standards. The same applies in security paper printing of cotton for currency, where specialist producers place complete trust in the Uster equipment.

While other technologies use conventional color cameras, the built-in spectroscopes of Uster Jossi Vision Shield N operate on a much greater wavelength. This enables it to find contamination even within the ‘invisible’ range of infrared and ultraviolet light, even detecting contamination fragments of the same or similar shade as the fibers themselves — down to the fineness of a human hair.

A further advantage is the positioning of the system. For fiber cleaning, bundle size is the key: small contaminant particles can hide inside bigger bundles, making them especially difficult to locate when the material is more compressed. Uster Jossi Vision Shield N is ideally located in the line to overcome this, directly behind the fine opener. This ensures that the fiber bundles pass the spectroscopes in their most open state.

No waste worries

Initially, nonwovens producers might be wary of applying the system’s outstanding contamination detection performance — the fear being that too much raw material would be wasted through contamination ejections. But that’s not the case with Uster Jossi Vision Shield N! The velocity of the fiber bundles is continuously measured. Precision valves then match the timing and duration of each ejection of contamination, so that a minimal amount of ‘good’ material is taken out each time, even at high production throughputs. “It is important to ensure a minimum of good fiber is lost. Trials have shown that the advanced Uster technology results in about 75-percent less waste comparing with other fiber cleaners — saving tons of raw material every year,” said Giacomo Frattesi, product manager, Uster Technologies.

Extra assurance comes with the Quick Teach feature, in which Uster Jossi Vision Shield N automatically ‘learns’ the correct color of each new raw material lot within seconds. This prevents any annoying false ejections when changing lots. Additionally, it is possible to view pictures of every ejected contaminant on the touchscreen, to verify that only the required material is removed.

An unbeatable combination

The nonwovens industry today faces constantly increasing quality requirements. Trends such as a greater focus on product quality by end-users are driving demands for more comprehensive control over contamination, and also over defects arising in the production process.

At the fiber preparation stage, Uster Jossi Vision Shield N ensures the best possible initial inspection and removal of contamination. Then, at the end of the production sequence, Uster EVS FABRIQ VISION N handles automated detection and marking of all the main defects caused during production — and of any remaining contamination.

This combined solution makes it possible today for nonwovens producers to protect quality, avoid material waste and take full advantage of the potential for process optimization. “The combination of Uster Jossi Vision Shield N and Uster EVS FabriQ Vision N means that Uster can offer a complete quality monitoring solution for the nonwovens industry,” Frattesi said.

Posted September 2, 2020

Source: Uster Technologies AG

Freudenberg Starts Up New Production Line In Taiwan With Focus On Technology And Sustainability

WEINHEIM, Germany — September 2, 2020 — Freudenberg Performance Materials completed the installation of a state-of-the-art spunlaid line in Taiwan and will begin production of nonwovens for diverse markets.

The new production line is the first to feature the latest spunlaid technology developed by Freudenberg. The technology enhances filament distribution for increased material uniformity, which in turn provides customers with ease of processing the nonwovens for a variety of applications. The line also utilizes AI technology to detect variances in the material and automatically adjust uniformity as well as a high-grade IR camera to identify small melt defects. “The expansion of our capabilities underscores our long-term commitment to Asia. We want to continue to support our customers in the automotive and carpet markets with innovative and sustainable solutions that will help them grow,” Dr. Frank Heislitz, CEO, Freudenberg Performance Materials.

In addition to new, proprietary technology, the production line features enhancements to reduce environmental impacts. All parts used in construction were selected based off their energy efficiency to lessen CO2 emissions during operation. The Taiwan site also invested in a new recycling system to recycle all start-up materials as well as scrap materials during normal operations; the recycling line will help the team in their goal to reach zero-waste operations. The spunlaid line will also run partially on solar energy supplied from panels installed on site early last year.

“The new production line will not only allow us to better serve our customers in Asia, but also do so in a sustainable way,” said Lin Gow Ming, president of Freudenberg Far Eastern Spunweb. “We are always researching and implementing new ways to reduce our carbon footprint and that was something we focused on heavily while building up the line — how we could make our operations better for the product and the environment.”

Posted September 2, 2020

Source: Freudenberg Performance Materials Holding SE & Co. KG

Filo At Milano Unica With FiloFlow

BIELLA, Italy — September 2, 2020 — As usual, Filo will be present at Milano Unica, scheduled at Milano Rho Fiera September 8-9, 2020. The presence of Filo at the textile’s Exhibition is based on sustainability and traceability, through the proposals of FiloFlow, the sustainability project successfully carried out by Filo.

The area of Milano Unica dedicated to Filo is an integral part of the Trend Area of the textiles and accessories’ exhibition. In this context, Filo brings the spinning industry’s contribution by showing the yarns proposed by its exhibiting companies in the scope of FiloFlow, the sustainability’s project. The choice of proposing the yarns of FiloFlow project at Milano Unica helps to strengthen the continuity between the two international fairs which are set upstream of the textile production supply chain. Once more — and especially during the current time, characterised by uncertainty — the aim is to highlight the power of Italian textile supply chain, based firstly on the quality of both materials products and on the sustainability and traceability of the production processes.

After Milano Unica, Filo will have its 54th edition, scheduled at MiCo – Milano Convention Centre October 7-8, 2020. For the spinning industry it will be the first opportunity to go back to direct contact with clients and buyers at an international level.

To accesss the 54th edition of Filo, it is mandatory to register online by September 30, at the site www.filo.it.

Posted September 2, 2020

Source: Filo

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