Cone Denim Transitions A Portion Of Loom Capacity To Produce Medical Fabrics

GREENSBORO, N.C. — June 4, 2020 — Cone Denim® is pleased to assist in the global fight against COVID-19 by transitioning a portion of its loom capacity to produce Maxima® medical fabrics for its sister division Burlington.

“Being a part of the larger Elevate Textiles family has opened many opportunities for Elevate’s brands including Cone, Burlington and American & Efird to collaborate and innovate to better serve apparel brands and others within the textile and apparel industry who are stepping up to produce lifesaving PPE,” said Steve Maggard, president, Cone Denim. “The Cone and Burlington technical teams have been working closely to quickly transition a portion of looms in our Cone Denim Yecapixtla operation in Mexico to produce Burlington medical fabrics. Production is set to ramp up in June.”

Burlington’s Maxima® medical fabrics are engineered with specific yarns and constructions to provide the highest level of proven protection, durability and comfort, based on specified levels for ANSI/AAMI PB70 & EN13795 standards. A key advantage of Burlington fabrics is that they are reusable, which provides even greater assurance of being available when critical PPE is needed the most and promotes a more responsible, sustainable solution longer-term.

Maggard continued, “The denim industry is working in many ways to support our frontline heroes and communities. Cone is proud to be a part of such a compassionate community and glad to utilize the skills and talents of our employees to meet this critical need. At the same time, we are available to service our denim customers as retail starts to re-open and global demand for denim increases.”

Posted June 4, 2020

Source: Elevate Textiles

New Medical And Protective Zone At Cinte Techtextil China In September

HONG KONG — June 4, 2020 — Recognizing the important role the technical textiles and nonwovens sector has played in combating the pandemic in recent months and new opportunities in future for suppliers, Cinte Techtextil will debut a Medical and Protective Zone at the September 2-4, 2020, edition. To further support the industry, the exhibitor registration deadline has been extended to give companies more time to sign up for the fair.

“The global textile industry should be immensely proud of the effort it has made in helping combat COVID-19,” Wendy Wen, senior general manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd. commented. “The adaptation and innovation they have shown to save lives and support frontline workers in countries around the world has been inspiring. We would like to give these suppliers as much visibility as possible to showcase their expertise and capabilities at Asia’s leading fair for the sector, hence the creation of the new Medical and Protective Zone at Cinte Techtextil China in September.”

The Medical and Protective Zone is a special display area dedicated to textile products and technologies focused on epidemic prevention. Suppliers can utilize this zone to showcase their abilities in producing PPE and other medical and protective equipment, connect with potential partners for future collaboration and show how they have contributed to the fight against the pandemic in their countries.

Ms Wen continued: “Another measure we are undertaking to support the industry is extending the exhibitor registration deadline to give companies more time to confirm their participation. We realize that there has been much disruption to business operations this year, and new opportunities have emerged for the industry to take advantage of due to the pandemic, so we want to give companies more time to make this decision.”

“In addition, there is more and more evidence emerging from China in recent weeks that the economy is on the right track, especially when it comes to industrial activity. This gives us confidence that, in addition to the expected demand for medical & hygiene and protective textiles at the fair, other sectors that have traditionally been strong at Cinte Techtextil will experience high demand once again. This includes the likes of filtration & separation, geotechnical, structural reinforcement, transportation and environmental protection,” Ms Wen concluded.

In addition to the extension to the exhibitor deadline, buyers can already pre-register for the fair and gain access to the new online business matching service, which will allow them to schedule appointments with exhibitors onsite in advance: https://cinte-techtextil-china.hk.messefrankfurt.com/shanghai/en/planning-preparation/visiting.html#pre-registration.

Cinte Techtextil exhibitors do their part

Some of the fair’s exhibitors who have already confirmed their participation in 2020 have developed new products, or are highlighting existing products, that help during the pandemic. This includes Italian firm A.Celli Nonwovens. As a leading nonwovens machinery manufacturer with a strong presence in China, they were able to connect spunbond producers with medical mask and protective apparel manufacturers, helping the entire nonwovens supply chain to increase production of urgently needed products.

Industry leader ANDRITZ (Germany) recently developed a fully automatic, high-speed face mask converting line for the production of disposable face masks. The D-Tech Face Mask line produces and laminates three or more layers of fabrics at a speed of up to 110 m/min, allowing it to produce up to 750,000 masks per day.

Bostik’s (France) web adhesives improve face mask manufacturing by making the manufacturing process easier, while also enhancing overall face mask performance. This includes improved process flexibility due to the adhesives’ ease of use for bonding or laminating nonwovens in medical face mask assembly. What’s more, the adhesives are already provided to manufacturers in web form, meaning that only heat activation equipment is needed to complete the mask.

Autefa (Germany), along with its parent company China Hi-Tech Group Corp. Sinomach, developed a new fully automatic machine to produce protective masks earlier this year. The machine, which was expected to be supplied to the Swiss government, can produce up to 40,000 masks per day.

Cinte Techtextil China will take place from September 2-4 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. The fair’s product categories cover 12 application areas, which comprehensively span the full range of potential uses of modern textile technologies. These categories also span the entire industry, from upstream equipment and raw materials providers to finished fabrics, chemicals and other solutions. This full coverage of product groups and application areas ensures the fair is an effective business platform for the entire industry.

Cinte Techtextil China is organized by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd; the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT; and the China Nonwovens & Industrial Textiles Association (CNITA). To find out more about the fair, please visit: www.techtextilchina.com. For more information about Messe Frankfurt’s worldwide textile fairs, please visit: www.texpertise-network.com.

Posted June 4, 2020

Source: Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd.

Murata, Teijin Frontier Jointly Innovate Fabric With Antimicrobial Performance

OSAKA, Japan — June 4, 2020 — Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd. and Teijin Frontier Co. Ltd. have jointly developed the world’s first piezoelectric fabric.

Murata and Teijin Frontier jointly established with president and representative director Daiji Tamakura at the helm on April 1, 2020, as a joint venture company for the purpose of research, development, manufacturing and sales of this fabric.

PIECLEX fabric realizes antimicrobial performance by converting motions such as human movement into electrical energy by combining Murata’s piezoelectric technology cultivated through development and manufacture of electronic components with Teijin Frontier’s fabric technology, which spans from yarns and materials to product manufacturing. PIECLEX also contribute to protecting the global environment as it uses plant-derived polylactic acid (PLA) as its raw material and does not apply chemical agents and organic solvents.

PIECLEX is a carbon-neutral, earth-friendly fabric

PIECLEX uses PLA, which is produced by fermented starch extracted from plants to produce lactic acid then bonded.  Since plants absorb carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and synthesize starch, PIECLEX does not increase the total amount of carbon dioxide that causes global warming.

Utilizes piezoelectric technology to achieve antimicrobial and deodorant* functions without using of chemical agents

PIECLEX fabric generates electricity by using the expansion and contraction of the fabric produced by human movement or other motions. This enables antimicrobial and deodorant functions without using chemical agents or organic solvents, helping to reduce the environmental load.

Future development

  1. Going forward, PIECLEX Co. Ltd. will develop a wide range of applications of PIECLEX, from clothing products such as sportswear and innerwear to industrial products including filters and sanitary materials.
  2. Production and sales will start from fiscal 2020, with the goal of 10 billion yen in sales by fiscal 2025.

Murata’s Chairman of the Board and President Tsuneo Murata had the following to say about the joint venture:

“The fabric developed by the newly established PIECLEX Co., Ltd. makes use of Murata’s piezoelectric technology and knowledge cultivated through products such as SAW filters, resonators, and sensors. To the present, Murata has contributed mainly in the field of electronic equipment, and I am very happy that this combination with Teijin Frontier’s fabric technology will let us challenge the creation of new value in the field of fabrics. This joint venture will make the most of both companies’ strengths and contribute to the creation of prosperous lifestyles through electrical fabrics.”

Teijin Frontier’s President/CEO Shinji Nikko said about the joint venture:

“The piezoelectric fabric developed by PIECLEX Co., Ltd. realizes antimicrobial performance without using chemical agents, etc. It also contributes to environmental load reduction as it applies plant-derived raw materials. PIECLEX integrates Murata and Teijin Frontier’s cutting-edge technologies, and I believe this innovative fabric will be essential for sustainable future lifestyle. By providing fabric that have never existed before, we will contribute to realize bountiful lifestyles and beautiful environment.”

*Antibacterial function which prevents odor generated by bacteria that decomposes sweat and sebum

Posted June 4, 2020

Source: Teijin Frontier

Oerlikon Commissions New Logistics Center In Neumünster

NEUMÜNSTER, Germany — June 4, 2020 — In order to further optimize the material provision for the Oerlikon Neumag and Oerlikon Nonwoven business units and to strengthen internal processes at the German site in Neumünster, the Manmade Fibers segment of the Swiss Oerlikon Group decided last year to invest in a state-of-the-art logistics center with a new lift center. It has already been fully operational for a few weeks. This is tremendously helpful for speeding up the processing of the numerous orders for meltblown systems for manufacturing high-quality nonwovens for protective masks and apparel that Oerlikon Nonwoven has received over the past months alone.

Investing in a new Oerlikon Neumag and Oerlikon Nonwoven logistics center is paying dividends: the processing speed when manufacturing new systems — very much to the benefit of customers — considerably improved in the first week after the center started operating, not least as a result of the optimized processes and the material handling. After 25 years, the time had finally come to break new ground and to better equip ourselves for the future requirements of the markets. The paternoster storage facility to date not only needed to have regular repairs carried out due to its age, it was also too small for the projects increasingly being carried out today. The only 90 square meters (m²) was capable of storing around 12,000 parts. In contrast, the new logistics center now offers more than 250 m² of storage space for in excess of 25,000 parts. As a result, this now also houses all small parts, which used to be stored in the high-rack facility due to lack of space.

New hardware, new software

Coinciding with the opening of the new logistics center, Oerlikon also introduced new digital processes that will also help cope with the increasing production volumes. To this end, consistently maintained master data and photos for all parts ensure safe, paper-free storage and handling of the material from now on. In order to minimize mistakes, a laser pointer now indicates from which or to which space the goods are moved. Furthermore, a photo of the material, sorted to type, is displayed on the screen. The digitalization of the warehousing facilities secures the pick and put-away process so that checking material numbers becomes superfluous when removing items from the warehouse.

Posted June 4, 2020

Source: Oerlikon

Innovative Polyurethane Synthetics Thanks To INSQIN® Technology

LEVERKUSEN, Germany — June 4, 2020 — Only a few years ago, reference to a “full leather interior” was an indication of a high quality vehicle, and genuine leather was an expression of quality and extravagance. However, this picture has now changed: when making purchasing decisions, today’s customers are focusing more attention on sustainable products with the smallest possible carbon footprint. Other important product features are quality and durability. These features play a significant role in heavily used vehicles of established car sharing services. Providers of these services are interested in a long service life of their fleet and also place great value on low maintenance costs for their vehicles.

Covestro developed its water-based INSQIN® technology in order to create a sustainable, efficient and permanent polyurethane coating for textiles and to produce high-quality synthetic materials, especially for car interiors.

Environmentally compliant and durable

Conventional synthetics are often produced using organic solvents. For years, such volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been subject to emission reduction measures. This is why Covestro is relying on a water-based coating technology that does not require solvents. Compared with the previous solvent-based coagulation process, this efficient technology not only saves up to 95 percent water and up to 50 percent energy, but the vehicle interior is also significantly less polluted by VOC emissions.

As an alternative to animal leather, INSQIN products offer several advantages: due to their lower weight, they increase the efficiency of a vehicle and thus reduce its fuel or electricity consumption. Thanks to modern production methods, they are durable, sustainable and recyclable.

Innovative materials for premium requirements

INSQIN products are already well established in the textile coating industry and have impressed in many application areas. In vehicle interiors, they now provide an opportunity to completely redesign and reuse surfaces. Designers and drivers both benefit from this, as the color, feel and light permeability of surfaces can be customized. Because translucent effects can be achieved even with dark colors, indicator lights or buttons can be easily installed under the surface — a glance or the push of a button becomes an experience.

Posted June 4, 2020

Source: Covestro Deutschland AG

Unifi Achieves Milestone Of 20 Billion Bottles Transformed

GREENSBORO, N.C. — June 4, 2020 — Unifi Inc., reached a key goal set in 2017 — transforming more than 20 billion PET bottles. The driver of this new milestone was Unifi’s REPREVE® platform of recycled performance fibers, which has been adopted by more than 500 global brand and textile partners.

“As we celebrate World Environment Day this week, we want to thank all of our brand and mill partners around the globe for helping us reach this significant achievement and working with us to reduce plastic bottle waste,” said Tom Caudle, president and COO, Unifi. “Because it takes one plastic bottle an average of 450 years or more to start decomposing1, it’s important to keep as much plastic as possible out of our natural and urban landscapes. If each of us makes a conscious effort to recycle, we can improve our environment for today and can protect it for the future.”

To put the milestone into context, 20 billion single-serve plastic bottles can physically circle the earth approximately 100 times or fill the Empire State building more than 13 times. Recycling and transforming these bottles has the potential to:

  • Save enough energy to power more than 189,000 average homes for one year;
  • Save more than 1.7 billion liters of water, the equivalent of one year of drinking water for approximately 2.3 million people; and
  • Improve air quality by avoiding more than 517 million kilograms of CO2 emissions, the equivalent of eliminating CO2 emissions from the consumption of 1.2 million barrels of oil.

This milestone is also the equivalent of keeping 156 plastic bottles per U.S. household — assuming approximately 128 million U.S. households — out of the landfill and transforming them into sustainable fabric with REPREVE recycled performance fibers that are used in apparel, upholstery, automotive and industrial applications.

The idea for REPREVE was born in the early 2000s when Unifi was looking for a way to recycle its own fiber waste. The solution evolved to include using recycled plastic bottles as raw material for fiber, with the option to add performance capabilities like moisture-wicking and odor control. In addition to keeping bottles out of landfills and giving them a second life, REPREVE production uses less energy and water, while also producing fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to manufacturing virgin synthetic fibers.

“Sustainability and recycling are key priorities for Unifi, and we are proud to lead by example as we continue to drive awareness of the importance of recycling,” Caudle concluded. “Consumer demand for more sustainable products will continue to drive demand for REPREVE from our brand, retail, and mill partners, and that will help us reach our goal of transforming 30 billion bottles in 2022.”

1 Source: World Wildlife Fund

Posted June 4, 2020

Source: Unifi, Inc.

[1] Source: World Wildlife Fund

2020 Virtual Summer Edition Announces Partnership With Food Bank For New York City

NEW YORK CITY — June 4, 2020 — Together, Texworld USA, Apparel Sourcing USA and Home Textiles Sourcing announced today their partnership with the Food Bank For New York City.  For the past 36 years, the Food Bank For New York City has been dedicated to ending hunger by organizing food, information and support for the five boroughs.

“Hundreds of thousands of our fellow New Yorkers are facing new needs, like hunger, for the very first time in addition to the 1.5 million New Yorkers that relied on Food Bank as part of their daily lives before the COVID-19 crisis,” said Janis Robinson, vice president, Institutions & Partnerships. “We’ve implemented some unconventional strategies to ensure access to meals can continue in our neediest communities. We’re fast-tracking deliveries of food and other essentials to community based food hubs, and collaborating with them to deploy new distribution methods, like Drive-Thru Pantry Bag Pick-ups, Seniors-Only Distribution Hours, and Home/Building Deliveries.”

Texworld USA, Apparel Sourcing USA and Home Textiles Sourcing together are creating the International Sourcing Event of the Summer for industry professionals across the globe searching for the latest trends, material innovations and educational insight.  For more than a decade, in January and again each July, the fashion capital has opened its arms and supported these events. It is with the same commitment, Texworld USA, Apparel Sourcing USA and Home Textiles Sourcing are reaching out to help those in need. In an effort to feed as many needy New York families as possible, each of these events will make a donation for every registered attendee that participates in the live event, July 21-23.

“We are extremely pleased to join forces with the Food Bank For New York City.  Supporting this magnificent city that has embraced our events since their inception is not only an honor, but a responsibility that we do not take lightly during this crisis,” stated Jennifer Bacon, show director, Fashion and Apparel. “It is during these unprecedented times that organizations must reaffirm a commitment to serve. We are doing just that with this partnership and again with our own events as we move to a virtual platform for the summer 2020 edition, to ensure that we continue to support the textile sourcing community as well.”

Posted June 4, 2020

Source: Messe Frankfurt North America

INDA Supplements WIPES Academy Training Course With New Virtual Option: Experience Wipes Training Online

CARY, N.C. — June 3, 2020 — INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, announces a new virtual supplement to its seventh edition WIPES Academy training course — the first and only comprehensive wipes training program dedicated to wipes raw materials and packaging suppliers, brand and private label wipe converters, wipes retail buyers, product developers, and professionals within the wipes supply chain.

Virtual WIPES Academy will enable those not able to attend the two-day course in person to experience the full educational content of this important wipes training, via a unique website link containing the full course instruction with audio and visuals to replay at any time from 30 minutes beyond real-time to any time “on demand.”

The course content provides a current and in-depth wipes education focused on consumer and industrial wipes raw materials, ingredients, design, production, cost implications, and packaging materials for the multi-billion dollar sector.

Taught by instructor Chris Plotz, INDA’s director of education and technical affairs, and author of five wet wipe patents, the live and Virtual WIPES Academy, will be held in conjunction with the World of Wipes® (WOW) International Conference, August 24-27, in Minneapolis. For more details and to register visit: www.worldofwipes.org/WIPES-training.html

This course is recommended for all professionals within the entire wipes supply chain and applicants who have completed the INDA Elementary Nonwovens Training Course, or those having two to four years’ experience of basic nonwoven fabrics knowledge.

“While nothing can replace the value of face-to-face training and we look forward to seeing the course reconvene in person, Virtual WIPES Academy is an option for our industry members who cannot attend in person yet want the benefit of this highly relevant content,” said Dave Rousse, INDA President. “Virtual participants will hear and see the instructor’s presentation and slides as if they were sitting in a front row seat. We’re adapting to the “new normal” to better serve the dynamic wipes industry. With this Virtual WIPES Academy option, no one should miss this valuable training.”

Posted June 3, 2020

Source: INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry

Introducing 4D ShoeTech – A 4D Digital Sample Studio Built For The Future

LOS ANGELES — June 3, 2020 — Founded in 2017, 4D ShoeTech is a tech company, with footwear DNA in its founders’ blood, providing end-to-end digital design and development solutions for the footwear industry. It empowers footwear designers and developers, allowing them to ideate, prototype and showcase their design vision in 4D, photorealistic digital 3D, without ever making a physical sample. In this digital age, the future is now and 4D ShoeTech is the future of footwear design, development, sampling, marketing and sales.

The 4D ShoeTech suite of digital solutions include:

  • Photorealistic 3D CAD Modeling — Digitally create individual elements of a shoe build including heels, outsoles, bottoms, lasts and mold-making components, and then sample the product as a precise and photo realistic 4D digital sample.
  • Platform-neutral 3D Material Swatch Scanning or 3D Material Appearance Capturing Service Using X-Rite Pantone TAC7 Technology — A precise photo realistic material capture, showcasing the most intricate textile or material detail from fur, embroidery and embossed leather to metallic, glitter, iridescent and rhinestone. Tiling and seamless pattern creation will also be implemented, using advanced computer vision and AI technologies and resolving the issue of exact pattern creation.
  • Rigid or Flexible Material 3D Printer-Enabled Prototyping — 3D print and prototype heels, outsoles, bottoms, lasts, components, accessories and mold-making components, saving a highly significant amount of time and money from the traditional method.

With the understanding that photo realistic 3D digitalization is another dimension, a 4D ShoeTech digital sample is neither flat nor static as a traditional .JPEG or .PNG image reads. The viewer can visually “feel” the full texture of the product, as it has the ability to move or spin like in a motion capture or animation, making the appearance of the product incredibly life like and practically jumping out of the screen, creating a true 4D effect.

In late June, 4D ShoeTech will be launching their digital online platform based on next-generation technologies to act as a collaborative workspace for designers, developers and any partners or team members they work with. On this web based platform, the designer, manufacturer, sales rep or buyer may select a particular shoe and drop and drag available swatches and color ways, once again saving on sampling costs. With remote working the new norm in today’s climate, and sales trade shows on indefinite hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, virtual showrooms are the evolution of traditional wholesale channels. By applying 4D ShoeTech technology, a designer or sales rep will be able to easily create digital line sheets and online virtual sales showroom to exhibit their collections to global buyers with the click of a button.

Posted June 3, 2020

Source: 4D ShoeTech

IDB Invest And IFC Co-Lead A $1.1 Billion Financing To LD Celulose S.A. — A Joint Venture Between Lenzing AG And Duratex S.A. —  To Promote Growth And Strengthen Competitiveness Of The Brazilian Pulp Industry

SÃO PAULO — June 3, 2020 — IDB Invest and IFC are co-leading a $1.1 billion financing to LD Celulose S.A., a joint venture between Lenzing AG and Duratex S.A., to build one of the largest dissolving wood pulp plants in the world, in Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The export credit agency Finnvera and seven commercial banks are participating in the financing. The investment will strengthen the competitiveness of Brazil’s pulp industry, create jobs, and support the country’s efforts towards climate change mitigation.

The financing co-led by IDB Invest and IFC will support LD Celulose’s investment program for 2020-2022, which consists of the construction of a dissolving wood pulp (DWP) mill and the installation of a 144 megawatts cogeneration plant. LD Celulose will also sustainably plant and manage approximately 70,000 hectares of eucalyptus plantations.

The plant will be one of the most productive and energy-efficient in the world and will supply the public grid with renewable energy from the 40 percent of excess bioelectricity generated on site. DWP is the main raw material used to produce wood-based textile fibers, a biodegradable and more environmentally friendly fiber alternative.

The $1.1 billion loan package includes:

  1. A $500 million financing package arranged by IDB Invest — a $200 million loan from IDB Invest, $50 million loan through IDB Invest’s administered China Co-financing Fund, and $250 million loan syndicated to international commercial banks;
  2. A $500 million financing arranged by IFC — a $200 million loan from IFC; $50 million loan through the IFC’s co-lending program; and $250 million loan syndicated to international commercial banks; and
  3. A $147 million loan from financial institutions backed by the Finnish export credit agency Finnvera.

Participating banks are Banco Santander, BNP Paribas, Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft (Filiale Luxemburg), Erste Group Bank AG, HSBC Bank plc, KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH, and Raiffeisen Bank International AG.

Posted June 3, 2020

Source: Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group

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