American & Efird To Purchase Charles Craft Performance Yarns

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — September 25, 2020 — Elevate Textiles Inc. — a global provider of advanced, high quality products and mission critical textile solutions — is pleased to announce that its American & Efird (A&E) division has agreed to purchase the high performance yarn business of Charles Craft Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of high-performance flame resistant/cut resistant industrial yarns and other specialty products. The purchase is expected to close in early October.

The combination of these legacy brands brings together leading technical yarn expertise and expands A&E’s product offering related to thermal protection, cut resistant and flame retardant yarns. The purchase includes the assets of the Charles Craft manufacturing operation in Hamer, S.C., which will operate as part of the American & Efird U.S. manufacturing platform.

“We are very excited to welcome the Charles Craft high performance yarn line-up into the A&E and Elevate family of brands,” says Mark Hatton, managing director, American & Efird Americas. “Charles Craft is a respected brand in the industry known for its high-end industrial yarns and quality service to the safety apparel markets. Bringing together these two longstanding brands benefits both and allows us to support our combined customer base with an expanded product offering and enhanced technical expertise, all with the same reliable service they expect.”

Frank Buie, vice president, sales for Charles Craft, will join American & Efird as part of the sales management team. “Charles Craft is excited to have its performance yarn business become part of Elevate Textiles and join with some of the industry’s most iconic brands,” Buie said. “More than 53 years ago my father, Charles Buie, acted on his life-long dream to create a small business, which grew into a leading industry brand. Becoming part of the larger A&E brand provides new life and longevity to our well-known technical yarns, while offering new opportunities for our employees and customers. We are committed to a very smooth transition for our customers and look forward to greater collaboration and synergies ahead.”

Hatton added: “We welcome Charles Craft customers and employees to our Elevate and A&E family. We are excited to explore many opportunities ahead to continue our tradition of yarn innovation and quality service.”

Posted September 25, 2020

Source: Elevate Textiles Inc.

Precision Textiles Invests In New Equipment To Make PPE Manufacturing Permanent Part Of Its Product Portfolio

TOTOWA, N.J. — September 24, 2020 — Six months ago, when Precision Textiles put a toe in the water to try its hand at producing personal protective equipment (PPE), the strategy was designed to keep its plant open and employees working. But the strategy has been so successful, that the supplier of coated fabrics, nonwovens and laminations for the bedding, automotive, healthcare and home furnishings industries has now purchased additional manufacturing equipment to make the PPE line a permanent part of its product portfolio.

With the addition of six new laminating machines dedicated to producing medical gown fabric, Precision Textiles can now produce an additional 1.5 million yards of domestically-sourced fabric each month. These additional machines have allowed the company to hire 25 new machine line operators and supervisors that will solely produce medical gown fabric.

“When the coronavirus pandemic erupted, we began manufacturing medical gown and mask fabrics in order for us to remain an essential business. We saw what our country needed, and we were able to respond quickly to this demand. We see now that PPE materials made domestically and are readily available to meet the needs of our customers are more important than ever, and we look forward to further expanding into this category,” said Scott Tesser, CEO, Precision Textiles.

During the initial outbreak, Precision Textiles’ 210,000-square-foot manufacturing facility became an essential business providing more than 28 million yards of PPE to hospitals, businesses and non-profit organizations to-date. Along with production, which was completed in

the New Jersey factory, all the polyester staple film, TPU fiber and other materials used to make the fabrics were sourced domestically.

To continue making PPE domestically, Precision Textiles is committed to sourcing the necessary materials state-side, as well as bringing all PPE production to its U.S. facilities. This move will also create numerous of jobs within the industry.

“Over the course of my career, I watched how garment production slowly made its way overseas and never came back,” Tesser said. “I started in this business straight out of college; my father was in the apparel industry and my grandfather before him. I remember the days of garment racks being pushed down the streets and cutting rooms full of hustle. To me, it was what our country was built on. Hard work and labor. We were a country that made things.

“I was proud to be a part of that, and it’s time to bring manufacturing back to the United States. I don’t want to see our nation’s reliance on PPE in the hands of foreign manufacturers. We can and we will make it here,” he added.

Posted September 24, 2020

Source: Precision Textiles

Trinity Technology Group (TTG) Welcomes Bruce Anneaux To The Executive Team

HIGGINSVILLE, Mo. — September 24, 2020 — Trinity Technology Group — a producer of ePTFE technology for the industrial, apparel, automotive, and medical markets — has hired Bruce Anneaux as the company’s chief technology officer. Dr. Anneaux brings to his new position extensive experience in the fluoropolymer and medical applications industries, both of which are extremely relevant to TTG’s current and future business.

“Bruce’s credentials are impeccable and his education and work experiences will help TTG expand and secure a leadership position in our key market segments,” said Greg Vas Nunes, TTG’s CEO. “I am excited to see the contributions Bruce makes to all our market segments, especially to our medical segment, and to our company as a whole.”

In his new role at TTG, Dr. Anneaux is charged with ePTFE technology and application development to drive new growth while serving our core customers’ requirements. He will also focus on expanding TTG’s pulse plasma oleo treatment technology and working with outside partners and advisers to bring new products to market.

An electrical engineer by training, Bruce’s passion for patient care innovations guided him to a career in medical device and biotech R&D and bioengineering product development. Prior to joining TTG, Dr. Anneaux worked for Poly-Med, a bioresorbable polymer startup, where he served as the Manager of Medical Devices and Engineering and as an R&D leader. He also worked for more than ten years as the Corporate Director of R&D for Zeus Industrial Products, a polymer technology company. His reputation as a biomaterials and bioprocessing subject matter expert is reinforced with more than 80 patents and patents pending that credit him as the inventor or co-inventor.

Bruce Anneaux holds a Ph.D. and an M.S. in bioengineering from Clemson University, a B.S. in extracorporeal circulation technology from the Medical University of South Carolina, and a B.S. in electrical engineering from Clemson University. He has served as an adjunct faculty member for Clemson University’s Department of Bioengineering and is a member of the Advisory Board for the University of South Carolina’s Department of Biomedical Engineering. He will relocate from South Carolina to Missouri.

Posted September 24, 2020

Source: Trinity Technology Group

Sterling Auxiliaries Announces Agreement To Acquire Sand Springs, Oklahoma, Chemicals Manufacturing Site From Baker Hughes

SOUTHBURY, Conn. — September 24, 2020 — Sterling Auxiliaries Pvt. Ltd. and its parent company, Artek Surfin Chemicals Ltd., a leading producer of specialty chemicals with manufacturing capabilities across four continents, have agreed to acquire the land and assets associated with Baker Hughes’ Sand Springs, Oklahoma, chemicals manufacturing facility.

The Sand Springs facility, which includes approximately 120 employees who will transfer with the sale to Sterling, manufactures oilfield specialty chemicals. As part of the transaction, Baker Hughes will enter into a long-term toll manufacturing agreement with Sterling at the Sand Springs manufacturing site. The new Sand Springs entity will be called Sterling Specialty Chemicals LLC.

“The purchase of Baker Hughes’ Sand Springs chemicals manufacturing assets is another key step in our global vision and growth strategy as we continue to pursue additional strategic acquisitions such as this,” said Vishal Goenka, director, Artek Surfin Chemicals Ltd., parent company of U.S.-based Galata Chemicals and India-based Sterling Auxiliaries. “Sterling and Baker Hughes have worked together globally for nearly 10 years. This transaction is a testament of our deep relationship, and we look forward to continue this partnership in the years ahead.”

The transaction is expected to close by September 30, 2020.

Posted September 24, 2020

Source: Artek Surfin Chemicals Ltd.

Sustainable Textile Industry: Recycling Becomes A Focus

REMSCHEID, Germany — September 24, 2020 — Mountains of waste, plastic-infested oceans, negative CO2 footprints – the need for more sustainable ways of living has never been more urgent. Consequently, it is logical that recycling solutions are becoming increasingly important within the textile industry. This was also tapped into at the first virtual Global Fiber Congress in Dornbirn with a session that focused specifically on the topic. In front of around 400 participants, Markus Reichwein, head of Product Management at Oerlikon Barmag, also spoke about solutions currently on the market.

As the only manufacturer, the Oerlikon Group’s Manmade Fibers segment offers the entire mechanical recycling chain — from preparing the recycled materials, producing the melt all the way through to the textured package. Here, the company utilizes the VacuFil solution supplied by its subsidiary Barmag Brückner Engineering (BBE) — which, in addition to mastering bottle-to-bottle and bottle-to-textile processes, is also able to process textile waste into chips. This permits the running of textile production operations very much in line with the zero-waste philosophy.

VacuFil ensures a stable process in the case of recycled quality yarns

The reliable removal of contaminants is vital for a stable and efficient spinning process and outstanding yarn quality. At the same time, stable operating conditions with minimal fluctuations are essential. The greatest challenge here is the differing qualities of the bottle flakes fed into the system, as the extrusion process is barely able to balance these fluctuations. Here, the VacuFil concept counters with blending silos, which reduce the differences in the viscosity of the polymers considerably and guarantee high yarn and fabric quality.

The VacuFil concept is installed upstream to an Oerlikon Barmag POY system, which transforms the recycled melt into filament yarn of the accustomed high quality. As texturing solutions, Oerlikon Barmag offers its state-of-the-art automatic eAFK-series systems, including the latest generation of the eAFK Evo, which was unveiled at the ITMA Barcelona last year. Yarn manufacturers wishing to continue texturing manually can use the eFK series.

With the VarioFil R+, producers of smaller batches now also have a compact system with an integrated recycled materials preparation unit at their disposal. The system offers a special extrusion system for bottle flake materials, the very latest metering and mixing technology for spindying and expanded 2-stage melt filtration. The four spinning positions are each equipped with an Oerlikon Barmag 10-end WINGS POY winder.

While mechanical recycling has already been extensively developed, chemical recycling for mixed fabrics is still presenting the textile industry with huge challenges. The Oerlikon Group’s Manmade Fibers segment is currently working on solutions and concepts for transforming these fabrics into new textiles.

Posted September 24, 2020

Source: Oerlikon

Italian Textile Machinery: A Digital Certification Project

MILAN — September 24, 2020 — Regarding the digitization of production processes, ACIMIT, the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers, has launched a project aimed at defining a form of digital certification, which can be used by Italian manufacturers to certify the ease of integration of their machinery into the production systems of their textile customers.

The first step in this project has been the elaboration of a shared reference vocabulary for Italian textile machinery manufacturers, which resulted in the creation of a conceptual model of machine and process production management data that can be useful for textile manufacturers in identifying and calculating related productive KPIs (Key Performance Indicators). This model was developed by the Manufacturing Group of the School of Management of Politecnico di Milano, under the scientific guidance of prof. Marco Taisch, an international expert on digital transformation processes in the manufacturing sector, and within the bounds of the Industry 4.0 paradigm, supported by researcher Elisa Negri.

Alessandro Zucchi, president of ACIMIT, explained how this project arose: “A group of member companies felt the need to propose to their customers machinery that can communicate with each other in a common language, facilitating the integration of data between these machines within their customers’ operating systems (ERP, MES, CRM, etc.). We therefore turned to prof. Taisch to define a project together that could be useful to all manufacturers in the industry, accelerating their digitization process.”

As stated by Marco Taisch: “New technologies are being developed today that will become increasingly critical for manufacturers. The ability to conduct predictive analytics, using sensors capable of reading data, and the capability of connecting machinery (the so-called Internet Of Things – IOT) are technologies based on the concept of information that allow for the collection of data, their analysis and the ability to use such data in business processes. The goal of this project by ACIMIT is to work together and exploit a competitive advantage proposed to its member companies, in turn allowing for a rethinking of KPI measurement systems adopted within each individual company, and adapting them to a standard language shared by a wider community.”

As for the long term, the project aims to build customer loyalty, thanks to a common vision of machine data and an easier and more uniform integration of information derived from the machinery of different manufacturers in the operating systems of client companies. All this will be rendered concrete in the creation of the ACIMIT Digital Label, a digital certification of adherence for member companies applying this data model.

“The idea of a digital label,” adds Taisch, “will allow customers to be provided with a continuous flow of information that is easily interpreted, and above all will allow for the development of additional services and new business models for greater competitiveness within the industry.”

Zucchi concludes by stating, “Our proposal to Italian textile machinery manufacturers is to adopt the common language provided in the model to allow their machinery to communicate. The entire Italian textile machinery supply chain will benefit from this, by presenting a single data model for the interface between machines and production systems – and their customers will also benefit, in facilitating the collection and integration of machine data and simplifying business analyses.”

Posted September 24, 2020

Source: ACIMIT, the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers

Gordini Introduces New Material Innovation With Clutch™ Synthetic Leather In F20 Styles Now Available 

ESSEX JUNCTION, Vermont — September 24, 2020 — Continuing to redefine the cold weather experience through glove innovation, Gordini introduces its Clutch™ Synthetic Leather for Winter 20, featured in more than 10 glove and mitt styles for men and women. The signature material offers an animal-free alternative that outperforms traditional leathers and suedes. Clutch styles are now available at www.gordini.com, as well as at retailers nationwide including Scheels, Ramsey Outdoors and Stratton Mountain, Winter Park and Steamboat resorts.

“Responsible design continues to be top of mind for our Gordini team, as we strive to enable our customers to enjoy the outdoors and all its elements for longer periods of time,” said David Gellis, Gordini president. “What we’re able to offer with our Clutch synthetic leather is improved durability, breathability and functionality in great-looking gloves that are more consistent in color, quality and thickness than animal leathers — all with a lighter impact on the planet.”

Proven in work gloves on the toughest job sites, Clutch synthetic leather is 4-6 times more abrasion resistant than the most durable natural leathers used in gloving. Machine washable, the material is 40 percent more breathable than cowhides of the same thickness, offering better circulation to manage moisture and prevent sweaty hands. Because Clutch is animal-free, the manufacturing process is more reliable and resource efficient than traditional tanning, estimated to use as much as 60 percent less water than leather manufacturing.

Posted September 24, 2020

Source: Gordini

NCTO President & CEO Kim Glas Testifies At U.S. International Trade Commission Hearing On Challenges Related To U.S. PPE Production

WASHINGTON — September 24, 2020 — The U.S. International Trade Commission held a public hearing on September 23-24 as part of its investigation of conditions impacting U.S. industry sectors and supply chains in the production of medical goods related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) President & CEO Kim Glas is testifying on panel 5 today, the hearing’s second day.

“Amid the devastating challenges of responding to COVID-19, NCTO members have been at the forefront of deploying manufacturing resources to address the critical need for personal protective equipment (PPE),” Glas said in testimony prepared for delivery.  “Our members quickly mobilized, proactively retooling production lines and retraining workers to provide U.S.-made PPE to frontline medical workers.”

“Despite these heroic efforts to confront the ongoing crisis, the onshoring of a permanent PPE industry will only materialize if proper government policies are implemented to incentivize the long-term investment needed to sustain PPE production in the United States,” Glas said.

Glas’ testimony as prepared for delivery can be found here.

Posted September 24, 2020

Source: National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO)

Gerber Technology Launches Fashion Transformation Initiative

NEW YORK CITY — September 24, 2020 — Today, Gerber Technology announced a new Transformation Initiative that makes a worldwide network of fashion experts available to help manufacturers, designers and retailers adapt and digitalize for success in the post-COVID world.

COVID-19 continues to reshape the way we live, work, dress and buy clothes, highlighting the need for digitalization, eCommerce, and flexible working conditions, requiring fashion companies to transform their supply chains. Every business is unique and Gerber understands each business is at a different stage in its digital transformation. Through Gerber’s new “Fashion Transformation Initiative”, a team of trusted advisors will work closely with customers to digitize and optimize their supply chain. To ensure a successful transformation, Gerber is offering a free assessment to help identify where a business is in its digital journey, allowing them to offer proper resources, expertise and guidance. Over several months now, Gerber has been a trusted advisor for business and process transformation, helping close to 2,000 companies retool their processes to support personal protective equipment (PPE) production and digitize their supply chains.

“We have a very integrated consulting approach that can help you through this evolution. We start to work with manufacturers and designers to determine where they are in this journey of digital transformation and really assess what the next logical step is specific for their business,” said Michelle Steenvoorden, vice president of Professional Services at Gerber Technology. “It’s going to be personalized for everyone depending on industry and business goals. We’ve created a free assessment to help people discover where they are in their digital journey, whether they’re a craftsman just beginning to digitize or an innovation leader. We’re here to help our customers optimize their supply chains, work towards cost-saving goals and really be well suited to take on the next evolution in their industry.”

COVID-19 has exposed inefficiencies across the fashion and apparel industry, highlighting the need for brands, retailers and manufacturers to evaluate and retool their processes. For fashion companies to be successful in the new era, they need to focus heavily on creating a customer-friendly eCommerce experience, reconfiguring their supply chains and improving visibility, as well as deciding which markets to focus on and looking for new opportunities for growth. Gerber’s consulting services are partnering with customers to help them with each of these focus areas and empower them to reach the next level. By leveraging Gerber’s expertise and industry-leading technology, customers will build a strong, digital back bone that will improve their agility and efficiency, enabling them to quickly respond to customer trends and market challenges.

To help their customers digitally transform, Gerber will rely on the power of their end-to-end integrated platform and support their customers as they bring it to fruition in their own factories. With Gerber’s integrated solution, fashion companies can leverage tools such as AccuMark® and YuniquePLM® to fully connect their design room to the cutting room, improve collaboration among their teams and build a strong eCommerce experience.

“When we were looking to implement a PLM solution, the head of IT said YuniquePLM was the Cadillac of PLM systems. It’s the best solution on the market,” said June Evans, Director of Technical Design at Filson. “We ultimately chose YuniquePLM because of how easy it is to use and the integration with AccuMark. YuniquePLM is an incredible asset and has helped tremendously over the last several months as we all adjusted to working remotely.”

Posted September 24, 2020

Source: Gerber Technology

United Sewing Automation Announces Test Results Of Their U.S.-Sourced And N.C.-Manufactured PPE Surgical Masks

MOUNT AIRY, N.C. — September 23, 2020 — United Sewing Automation, Inc. (USA) today announces the test results of their ASTM Rated Level 3 Disposable PPE face masks produced in their new automated manufacturing facility in Mount Airy, N.C. With the continued spread of the coronavirus, safety remains a top priority in America. While face masks have become a key component in fighting the spread of the virus, not all face masks provide optimal protection. As a result, USA recently completed extensive testing of their American-sourced and manufactured face masks in an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory and is pleased to report excellent results.

ASTM International sets the preferred international standard in healthcare best practices inclusive of testing and requirements for performance of medical grade materials. The FDA, who oversees the sale and marketing of all surgical masks, requires that manufacturers demonstrate mask performance in several critical areas: Bacterial Filtration, Particulate Filtration, Liquid Barrier Protection, Breathability, and Flammability.

USA is pleased to announce the following test results:

  • BFE – ASTM 2101 Bacterial Filtration Efficiency – passed at 99.62%
  • PFE – ASTM F2299 Particulate Filtration Efficiency – Rated Over 99.76%
  • Fluid resistance ASTM F1862 – passed at 160 mmHg
  • Flammability 16CFR 1610 – Passing Results for Class 1
  • Differential Pressure ASTM F2101-19 Breathability – Passed at 4.8 mm
  • Biocompatibility – Non-cytotoxic and Non-irritating

With testing complete, USA’s American-sourced and manufactured masks are now in compliance with the Berry Amendment and qualify for Department of Defense contracts.

Since the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic, America’s reliance on imported PPE has caused supply chain issues. In addition, the United States has been flooded with cheap, imported, inferior-quality face masks that do not provide adequate protection to fight the spread of COVID-19. In response, USA’s ownership team invested in automated equipment to manufacture American-made medical grade masks that provide proper protection for Americans.

Made from high-quality, USA-sourced materials, USA’s face masks feature a three-ply design with a built-in adjustable nose bridge and ear loops made of nylon and Spandex, providing a better fit than traditional disposable masks.

“We are very happy with the new test results,” said Ben Webb, USA’s CEO. “Our goal is to provide the highest-quality protective masks for every face in America every time one is needed. This virus is highly contagious and the American public needs to better understand that not all masks provide the proper protection. These test results prove that our masks provide a higher level of protection than lower-quality, imported masks. We want to do our part in controlling the spread of this highly contagious airborne virus.”

USA’s ownership team has many years of experience in the textile and apparel industry and had the vision in 2017 to bring apparel manufacturing back to Mount Airy, N.C. through automation. USA recently installed high-tech Ultrasonic welding machines and automated production equipment capable of producing 1,000,000+ facemasks per week, with the ability to expand to meet market demand.

Posted September 23, 2020

Source: United Sewing Automation

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