Mimaki Announces Innovative Virtual Event To Inspire, Inform And Engage With Customers And Prospects

AMSTERDAM — March 13, 2020 — Mimaki Europe, a manufacturer of inkjet printers and cutting systems, has announced that it will host an interactive, action-packed online event — dubbed The Mimaki Virtual Print Festival — designed to provide customers and prospects with a unique combination of information, product demonstrations, competitions and networking opportunities. The event will comprise a series of group webinars and individual virtual meetings starting March 24, 2020, the same date that FESPA 2020 was originally scheduled to open its doors, with Mimaki revealing new features and content every week until the end of April.

Replicating its original FESPA 2020 line-up, Mimaki aims to provide participants with a virtual experience that has as many of the benefits of the original event as possible. To achieve this, the company will offer customers, partners and prospects the opportunity to participate in product demonstrations, virtual FESPA 2020 stand tours, individual meetings to discuss specific business requirements and technology questions and live, knowledge-sharing sessions with FESPA executives. Everything from signage, graphics, textiles, direct-to-shape, 3D print and more will be discussed, with Mimaki encouraging an open dialogue with its industry peers from all market sectors.

Danna Drion, senior marketing manager EMEA, Mimaki Europe, commented: “Mimaki is fully supportive of FESPA’s considered decision to postpone its event and we look forward to participating in the rescheduled event once new dates are confirmed. While we cannot recreate the full experience of attending a FESPA event, we want to ensure that our customers and prospects still have access to as much of the latest product information and educational resources that we intended to share at FESPA 2020 as possible. The Virtual Print Festival allows us to offer the industry exactly that, enabling a host of different virtual interactions designed to inspire, engage and excite our customers and prospects as they see the range of applications and business opportunities enabled by Mimaki’s latest solutions.”

Highlights of The Mimaki Virtual Print Festival include:

  • Industry Trends with Mimaki and FESPA: Mimaki and FESPA collaborate to present webinars on the current trends, address market challenges and present the latest business opportunities within the print industry.
  • Product Demonstrations: Short video demonstrations, showcasing the full benefits and capabilities of Mimaki’s latest technologies will be scheduled regularly throughout the event. Headlining the video series will be the versatile Tx300P-1800 MkII, which offers both direct-to-textile and transfer printing.
  • Virtual Coffee and Briefings: Existing or potential distributors and customers can arrange a 1:1 meeting during the event to speak with an experienced Mimaki representative to gain a more thorough, tailored insight into Mimaki technologies or discuss individual business needs.
  • Live Chat with the Experts: For those who have a one-off question or are unable to attend a full briefing, Mimaki experts from every field will be available to speak over a live chat during the first week of the event (24th March to 27th March).

For live updates on session announcements, competitions and more information about the Virtual Print Festival, as well as how to register, attend and participate, visit www.mimakieurope.com/virtual-print-festival.

Posted March 13, 2020

Source: Mimaki Europe

FESPA Brasil 2020 Postponed Due To Coronavirus Situation

DORKING, England — March 13, 2020 — FESPA and APS have reached the decision to postpone the FESPA Brasil 2020 event, which was scheduled to take place next week, March 18-21, 2020, at Expo Center Norte, Sao Paolo, Brazil.

The move follows the recent announcement of the postponement of the FESPA 2020 events in Madrid, Spain, originally scheduled for March 24-27, 2020 (Global Print Expo, European Sign Expo, Sportswear Pro).

The postponement of FESPA Brasil 2020 follows consultation with FESPA’s local partner and trade event organiser APS Eventos Corporativos, as well as FESPA’s leading exhibitors in the region, in light of the global escalation of the coronavirus crisis in recent days.

FESPA CEO Neil Felton commented: “We have been monitoring the situation in Brazil closely since the virus outbreak, as in Europe. Until recently, the relatively low number of confirmed cases in Brazil meant there was little exhibitor support for postponement. However, the rapidly changing global picture in the last week has led us to re-evaluate our risk assessment for this event. Consequently, we have made the decision to postpone the event until later in 2020, in the interests of the health and wellbeing of our Latin American event community.”

The FESPA Brasil team is in direct communication with all exhibitors and pre-registered visitors regarding the postponement, and will proceed in due course to explore the available options for rescheduling.

Posted March 13, 2020

Source: FESPA

International Printing Industry Trade Fair drupa Will Be Postponed To April 20-30, 2021

CHICAGO — March 13, 2020 — The drupa trade fair scheduled for June 16-26, 2020, will be postponed to April 20-30, 2021. In doing so, Messe Düsseldorf is following the recommendation of the crisis management team of the German Federal Government to take into account the principles of the Robert Koch Institute when assessing the risk of major events. Based on this recommendation and the recent significant increase in the number of people infected with the new corona virus (SARS-CoV-2), including in Europe, Messe Düsseldorf has reassessed the situation. In addition, there is the general ruling issued by the city of Düsseldorf on March 11, 2020, in which major events with more than 1,000 participants present at the same time are generally prohibited.

“The decision was taken in close consultation with our advisory boards and sponsoring associations,” emphasized Werner M. Dornscheidt, chairman of the board of management of Messe Düsseldorf GmbH. It also reflects the wishes of individual industries: “As their partner, we are currently doing everything in our power to reduce the economic losses suffered by our exhibitors”.

“The city of Düsseldorf is following the instructions of the state government. Our aim is to slow down the spread of the corona virus so that the health system can continue to function properly,” emphasized Thomas Geisel, Lord Mayor of the state capital of Düsseldorf and chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Düsseldorf trade fair company.

Delaying the spread of the virus as far as possible is also a declared goal according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). In order to fulfil Messe Düsseldorf’s responsibility for risk prevention, the company primarily had to minimize the increased risk of infection at major events. Measures to reduce the risk of transmission at major events, which the Robert Koch Institute has clearly defined — such as ventilation of the venue appropriate to the risk of infection, the exclusion of persons from risk groups and the comprehensive installation of entrance screening, were practically impossible to implement. Also, comparable measures were and are unreasonable in view of the unforeseeable rapid development and the size of the various events with up to 60,000 participants.

drupa president Claus Bolza-Schünemann also agrees with this: “A postponement of drupa was unavoidable after the latest developments. The decision is therefore right and responsible. Many exhibitors start their logistical preparations middle of March — today’s announcement of the postponement enables all those affected to react now, reschedule and prepare for the event date in April 2021. The excitement for ’embrace the future’ remains undiminished — also in 2021”.

In view of the increased risk entailed by a fair with significant international participation, the industry associations also welcome the announcement: “drupa is the most important meeting place for the international printing industry,” said Dr. Markus Heering, managing director of the Printing and Paper Technology Trade Association of the VDMA. “True to the motto ’embrace the future’, it is characterized by personal, international contact and live product presentations. The risk of infection would simply be too high at present. We therefore support the decision to postpone the event and look forward to the date next year.”

The Düsseldorf hotel industry is also sending out an important signal through its umbrella organization DEHOGA (Trade Association for the Hospitality Industry): “We appeal to our members and the entire industry to be flexible when it comes to rebooking by exhibitors and visitors. The Düsseldorf trade fairs such as drupa play an enormously important role for the city, the hotel industry and the catering trade. It would be counterproductive not to show goodwill in this situation,” as both DEHOGA-Representatives Giuseppe Saitta (Chairman Düsseldorf/District Group Rhein-Kreis Neuss) and Rolf D. Steinert (Düsseldorf/Rhein-Kreis Neuss Hotels and Tourism Group) emphasize.

Werner M. Dornscheidt is pleased about the general consensus and encouragement in this special situation: “We would like to thank all partners for their excellent cooperation in making these difficult and time sensitive decisions. We are pleased that together dates were found so quickly in order to provide all those affected with reliability in planning.”

Posted March 13, 2020

Source: Messe Düsseldorf North America

DOMO Chemicals To Invest 12 Million Euros In New Nylon Plant In China

LEUNA, Germany — March 13, 2020 — DOMO Chemicals, a producer of high-quality engineering materials for a diverse range of markets, has announced plans for a new state-of-the-art plant in Zhejiang, China. The new plant will be capable of producing 50,000 tons of sustainable and innovative engineered nylon compounds each year. The company signed a new factory project through “cloud contract” with PingHu DuShan port Economic Development District on February 20, 2020. Production is expected to commence in the fourth quarter of this year.

DOMO Chemicals will invest 12 million euros ($13 million) in the new plant, which will have more than 11,500 square meters of floor space. The company plans to install multiple production lines at the first stage of development, which would offer an estimated capacity of 25,000 tons per year. There will be enough additional space available to cope with future demand requirements. The move is in line with the company’s global growth strategy with a strong focus on the Asia Pacific (APAC) region.

Speaking during a video ceremony of the signing, Vice President Global Engineering Plastics Ludovic Tonnerre, stated: “DOMO Chemicals has only been operating in China since 2015, but we are growing rapidly. Despite the current coronavirus challenges, we are confident that China will lead the world in embracing a future generation of sustainability and e-mobility solutions. We are very grateful to the government and relevant departments for their patience and assistance and are confident in our long term cooperation, relationships and mutual opportunities.”

The new plant will be located in the convenient transportation port area of DuShan Pinghu city, Zhejiang province, which is in close proximity to Shanghai and facing the East China Sea. The modern factory will integrate R&D, production, and sales. It will mainly develop and produce modified engineering plastics such as nylon 6, nylon 6.6* and high temperature nylon (HTN). These products meet the rising market demand for modified materials for the automotive, electronics and consumer industries.

DOMO will implement measures that exceed the requirements for environmental protection for the equipment, processes and technologies used at the new plant. The company will be investing in new air and water treatment technologies, and in the reduction of water and energy consumption. This is in line with the overarching DOMO Philosophy: “Caring is our formula.”

The contract, which was signed remotely during the ongoing coronavirus situation, demonstrates DOMO’s long term commitment to the Chinese economy and the resilience of local Chinese colleagues and partners. DOMO has strictly complied with the government’s protection requirements at all times and diligently checked on the wellbeing of the work personnel.

Fabrizio Cochi, general manager Asia/Pacific at DOMO Chemicals concluded: “When DOMO Engineering Plastics started in China, we operated a small plant with two machines, with the aim of supplying our global automotive customers. In 2019, despite the slowdown of the Chinese economy, we were already selling 6,000 tons of engineering nylon compounds to diverse local applications. I believe that we are about to enter a period of rapid development in China once today’s hurdles are overcome. We remain strongly committed to China and the APAC region.”

*DOMO does not sell or distribute any Technyl grades to customers and distributors outside the European Economic Area and Switzerland. TECHNYL® is a registered trademark of Domo.

Posted March 13, 2020

Source: DOMO Chemicals

Gelest Ramps Up Production Of Its BIOSAFE® Antimicrobials To Meet Surging Demand

MORRISVILLE, Pa. — March 12, 2020 — Gelest Inc., an innovator in materials science and the manufacturer of BIOSAFE® Antimicrobials, announced today that it is ramping up the production of its Biosafe Antimicrobials to meet surging demand.

Biosafe Antimicrobials are found in a wide range of EPA-approved applications among them: Certainty® SmartBoost™ Laundry Additive for healthcare uniforms, NWA Quat Keeper™ Foodservice Towels for restaurants and cafeterias, and King Microshield® for medical equipment and facilities. These are used to preserve treated articles by preventing the growth of stain and odor causing bacteria, fungi, mold and mildew.

As hygiene awareness grows due to the global COVID-19 outbreak, the public is taking extra precautions to prevent the growth of unwanted bacteria on the clothing they wear and the surfaces they touch. Consequently, demand for sanitizers, disinfectants, and antimicrobials are on the rise. Gelest, like so many suppliers, is ramping up production to meet the demand increases.

“Our Morrisville facility has the capacity and experience to adapt production to demand,” said Shiming Wo, vice president and general manager Life Science of Gelest. “By rapidly developing new applications of Biosafe Antimicrobial and quickly ramping up the production responding to the market demand, Gelest is living up to its commitment to fighting against antimicrobial resistance through partnership with private industries, governments, and non-governmental organizations worldwide.”

In 2019, Gelest joined The Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Challenge initiated by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Biosafe Antimicrobials inhibit microorganism growth by physically puncturing the microbe’s cell membrane and destroying the microbes on contact. As previously reported, this mode of action has significantly less tendency for microbes to develop resistance through adaption and mutation.

Posted March 12, 2020

Source: Gelest Inc.

Kelheim Fibres Achieves Low Risk In First CanopyStyle Audit

KELHEIM , Germany— March 12, 2020 — Today, environmental not-for-profit organization Canopy, third-party auditor NEPCon, and Kelheim Fibres released the results of Kelheim’s CanopyStyle Audit. The company’s current supply chain is confirmed as low risk of sourcing wood from Ancient and Endangered Forests or other controversial sources.

“Canopy congratulates Kelheim Fibres for its low risk audit results,” said Nicole Rycroft, Canopy’s executive director. “Producers are increasingly hearing from brands that they will no longer source Ancient and Endangered Forest textiles by the end of 2020. This audit result is a validation of Kelheim’s efforts in that direction and positions it well in a competitive market place.”

“Future-oriented fiber materials cannot come at the cost of Ancient and Endangered forests and other valuable resources. Therefore, we are committed to focus on sustainability at every step from raw material sourcing and state-of-the-art closed-loops production processes,” said Craig Barker, CEO of Kelheim Fibres. “As a small producer, we are proud to have accomplished low-risk audit results. We welcome the recommendations the audit report has given us for further improvements and we will actively work towards implementing them.”

NEPCon is pleased to be the independent auditing body for the CanopyStyle initiative and in particular making it possible to meet the growing demand for CanopyStyle audits throughout Europe,” stated Jon Jickling, director, NEPCon Solutions. “Kelheim Fibres was committed to this third-party assessment of their raw material sourcing.”

Key findings of the audit include:

  • The company is at low risk of sourcing from Ancient and Endangered Forests;
  • The company has a limited fibre basket and uses a significant proportion of FSC-certified fibres 
in its viscose products; and
  • The company has begun supporting forest conservation solutions in key areas of Ancient and 
Endangered Forests.

In the spirit of continuous improvement, Canopy recommends that the company increase the proportion of FSC-certified fiber, and make efforts to source 100 percent FSC, as well as continue to invest in research and development of low-impact alternative fibers, with the goal of launching a fiber line that contain these products. 
This audit, which reflects a snapshot in time, is to be conducted annually to ensure that the company continues to meet the expectations of the CanopyStyle initiative. The audit findings contribute to Hot Button Issue Report.

Posted March 12, 2020

Source: Kelheim Fibres GmbH

DSM Announces Partnership With SABIC And UPM Biofuels To Create Bio-Based Dyneema®

LIMBURG, Netherlands — March 12, 2020 — Royal DSM, SABIC and UPM Biofuels today announced a partnership that will help to reduce the environmental footprint of Dyneema®, the world’s strongest fiber. The collaboration will see Dyneema transition to bio-based feedstock leveraging SABIC’s ground-breaking TRUCIRCLE™ solutions for certified renewable products. As such, DSM is delivering on its commitment to improve the sustainability footprint of Dyneema, moving towards a circular, bio-based economy.

In December 2019, DSM announced ambitious sustainability targets for its Dyneema high performance fibers. This new partnership represents an important step in realizing the goal of sourcing at least 60 percent of its feedstock from bio-based raw material by 2030. The transition to bio-based feedstock will maintain the unique properties of Dyneema, enabling customers to adopt a more sustainable solution without compromising process efficiency or final product performance. The Dyneema bio-based material will be carrying the globally recognized ISCC Plus certification and will not require re-qualification of downstream products. Bio-based Dyneema will be available from April 2020.

UPM Biofuels produces bio-based feedstock UPM BioVerno from the residue of the pulping process. This is then processed by SABIC to make renewable ethylene under their TRUCIRCLE umbrella of solutions. TRUCIRCLE includes certified renewable products, specifically resins and chemicals from bio-based feedstock that are not in competition with the food chain and help to reduce carbon emissions. By applying a mass balancing approach [1], DSM is then able to create bio-based Dyneema fiber that delivers consistent durability and performance with a reduced environmental impact. The new partnership underlines DSM’s commitment to working closely with partners and suppliers to realize a more sustainable value chain.

Wilfrid Gambade, president DSM Protective Materials, said: “By partnering with SABIC and UPM Biofuels, we are taking the next important step in our sustainability journey, and driving our industry’s transition from conventional to renewable resources. By improving the impact of our materials, together with our partners, we are helping to protect both people and the environment they live in. In this way, we are using our bright science to deliver brighter living.”

Mark Vester, Circular Economy Leader at SABIC, said: “We firmly believe that true collaboration and innovation will drive positive change. With our TRUCIRCLE initiative, we are more committed than ever to closing the loop on used plastics in 2020. We are delighted to be partnering with DSM and UPM Biofuels as a further step towards transforming the value chain and creating a circular, transparent, and sustainable economy.”

Juha Rainio, Sales and Marketing Director at UPM Biofuels: “We are committed to replacing fossil-based feedstocks with renewable ones. This collaboration with SABIC and DSM is an excellent example of a future beyond fossils, which is a key driver for UPM going forward.”

[1] Mass balance accounting is a well-known approach that has been designed to trace the flow of materials through a complex value chain. The mass balance approach provides a set of rules for how to allocate the bio-based and/or recycled content to different products to be able to claim and market the content as ‘bio’-based or ‘recycled’-based. Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation (Mass Balance White Paper).

Posted March 12, 2020

Source: Royal DSM

Recycling Polyester: perPETual And Polygenta Manufacture rPET FDY Using Oerlikon Barmag’s WINGS

REMSCHEID, Germany — March 12, 2020 — India-based yarn manufacturer Polygenta, a manufacturer of sustainable recycling yarns, recently commenced production of recycled polyester FDY yarns at its facilities in Nashik. The yarn is produced using a combination of perPETual Global Technologies patented chemical recycling technology and Oerlikon Barmag’s direct spinning system equipped with the 32-end WINGS concept.

The spinning plant was commissioned by Oerlikon Textile India technologists in close collaboration with the process experts at Oerlikon Barmag, with various FDY products currently being developed. The yarn produced caters to the requirements of premium-segment clients demanding high quality, cost effective sustainable solutions.

As one of the world’s first companies, Polygenta has, since 2014, been producing 100% recycled POY and DTY from post-consumer PET using the patented chemical recycling process developed by perPETual Global Technologies. perPETual’s process reduces CO2 impact by more than 66 percent compared to virgin PET. The yarn is spun using Oerlikon Barmag systems and equipment. As a result, Polygenta is able to produce a wide range of DTY and FDY yarns that comply with the Global Recycled Standard (GRS).

Posted March 12, 2020

Source: Oerlikon Textile GmbH & Co. KG

National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) Supports Administration’s Proposals On Economic Stimulus In Coronavirus Response; Rejects Importer Attempts To Remove China 301 Tariffs On Finished Products

WASHINGTON — March 11, 2020 — The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), representing the full spectrum U.S. textiles from fiber through finished sewn products, issued a statement today welcoming the Trump administration’s proposals on an economic stimulus package to gird the economy against the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, but the organization urged officials to reject any attempts by importers to remove China 301 tariffs on finished products as part of any relief package.

“The president has outlined the need for a broad economic stimulus package that would include various tax incentives to help impacted industries and workers. We support the administration’s efforts to bolster the economy as a response to the coronavirus outbreak, while opposing add-ons to any stimulus package designed to exploit the crisis,” said NCTO President and CEO Kim Glas.

“Any push by importers and retailers to take advantage of the situation and press for removing China 301 tariffs on finished consumer goods — a penalty imposed by the administration in a separate investigation of China’s illegal intellectual property (IP) abuses — should be rejected immediately,” she said. “Tariff breaks on finished products will only pad the pockets of retailers that have long benefited from China’s trade abuses, and ultimately will not be passed on to the consumer,” Glas said.

“Granting importers a tariff break would essentially let China off the hook for systemic IP violations that have displaced U.S. workers and undermined U.S. leverage in negotiating a phase two agreement,” Glas continued.

As part of a Phase One deal with China, the administration reduced duties on finished apparel and textile products implemented on September 1 from 15 percent to 7.5 percent.

“NCTO has strongly supported applying tariffs on finished products as a key negotiating leverage but opposes keeping tariffs in place on certain inputs that are not made in the U.S. such as select dyes, chemicals and textile machinery. NCTO has long-argued tariffs on these inputs hurt domestic competitiveness for U.S. textile manufacturers,” Glas said.

Finished apparel, home furnishings and other made-up textile goods equate to 93.5 percent of U.S. imports from China in the sector; while fiber, yarn, and fabric imports from China only represent 6.5 percent, according to government data.

NCTO is a Washington, DC-based trade association that represents domestic textile manufacturers, including artificial and synthetic filament and fiber producers.

  • U.S. employment in the textile supply chain was 594,147 in 2018.
  • The value of shipments for U.S. textiles and apparel was $76.8 billion in 2018.
  • U.S. exports of fiber, textiles and apparel were $30.1 billion in 2018.
  • Capital expenditures for textile and apparel production totaled $2.0 billion in 2017, the last year for which data is available.

Posted March 11, 2020

Source: National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO)

National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) Responds to China Commission’s Report on Forced Labor in China to Produce Global Products

WASHINGTON — March 11, 2020 — National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) President and CEO Kim Glas issued the following statement today in response to the Congressional-Executive Commission on China’s staff report on the forced labor of Uyghurs and other minorities in China to produce consumer products for global companies.

We share the concerns of the bipartisan China commission regarding forced labor in China that is used to produce goods for global companies. We agree with the findings and the commission’s recommendations to the administration and Congress to take action against the systemic abuse of forced labor.

The plight of the Uyghurs and minority groups in China deserves greater attention. It is another example of how the Chinese have utilized illegal and oftentimes abhorrent practices to gain an advantage in the marketplace.

As the commission’s report details, Chinese apparel exporters have clearly profited from the virtual enslavement of this minority population, and we call for continued scrutiny and the end to this exploitation of a repressed people. The commission has served a fair warning to U.S. businesses and consumers to not be complicit in these forced labor practices.

NCTO is a Washington-based trade association that represents domestic textile manufacturers, including artificial and synthetic filament and fiber producers.

  • U.S. employment in the textile supply chain was 594,147 in 2018.
  • The value of shipments for U.S. textiles and apparel was $76.8 billion in 2018.
  • U.S. exports of fiber, textiles and apparel were $30.1 billion in 2018.
  • Capital expenditures for textile and apparel production totaled $2.0 billion in 2017, the last year for which data is available.

Posted March 11, 2020

Source: National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO)

1...1,0761,0771,078...2,624Page 1,077 of 2,624

Sponsors

Breaking News

Load more

Digital Issue

2026 Quarterly Issue Number I

View Latest Digital Issue

FEATURED ARTICLES

© Copyright 2017 Textile Industries Media Group, LLC.