Retailers Ask Appeals Court To Overturn California Worker Classification Law Affecting Truck Drivers

WASHINGTON — May 14, 2020 — The National Retail Federation (NRF) this week asked a federal appeals court to overturn a recently passed California worker classification law, saying the measure makes it harder for companies to contract with independent truck drivers by narrowing the circumstances under which an individual can work as a contractor rather than an employee.

“The court’s decision will have a significant impact on retailers’ ability to deliver merchandise to their stores and distribution centers across the country,” NRF Vice President for Government Relations and Workforce Development Lizzy Simmons said. “Owner-operators play an important role in maintaining a nimble supply chain. This law narrows opportunities for independent truckers, reducing flexibility in delivery and upending the retail supply chain.”

NRF, the Retail Litigation Center and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit on Wednesday. The case was brought by the California Trucking Association and challenges the application of Assembly Bill 5, which took effect in January, to motor carriers.The sweeping new law codifies and expands a 2018 California Supreme Court ruling that established the state’s “ABC test,” which sets strict criteria that must be met for a worker to be classified as an independent contractor. There are about 70,000 independent truckers based in California, including many who work at ports where the bulk of imported merchandise enters the United States and others who drive beyond the state’s borders.

The brief argues that AB 5 violates the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act, a 1994 federal law that expressly preempts any state law or regulation related to the “price, route or service” of motor carriers and was intended to prevent a patchwork of state regulations that could undermine federal deregulation of interstate trucking.

“California Assembly Bill 5 frustrates Congress’s aims by prohibiting motor carriers from hiring the independent owner-operators they have historically relied on to transport property in American commerce, with drastic impacts on carriers’ prices, routes and services,” the brief said. “AB 5 will impose an impossible choice between violating the law, backed by potential criminal penalties, and incurring unrecoverable costs from the forced restructuring of business operations.”

The California Trucking Association won an injunction against the law in U.S. District Court earlier this year. In addition to the truckers’ lawsuit, it has been challenged by lawsuits brought by freelance journalists and rideshare companies.

Posted May 14, 2020

Source: The National Retail Federation (NRF)

Cotton And Textile Sectors Call For Collaborative Action

ZÜRICH — May 14, 2020 — The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), The Committee For International Co-Operation Between Cotton Associations (CICCA), The International Cotton Association (ICA), The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) and The International Textile Manufacturers Association (ITMF) are unified in promoting a common set of values and shared commitment to safe trading and contract sanctity across the global cotton community. Our joint challenge today is to ensure that fair and equitable trade practices govern the commercial relationships throughout the cotton and textile supply chains. We believe that these principles have never been more important than they are now.

The loss of demand resulting from COVID-19 and the preventative measures that are being applied throughout the world affects the cotton and textile sectors from end to end. It is essential for each trading partner to be mindful of each other’s position. We must strive to find mutual agreements which keep in mind our shared commitment to the long-term health of the international cotton and textile trade, and to the principles of fair and equitable trading practices on which it is built. We encourage that all those engaged in the cotton and textile value chains jointly and collaboratively commit to:

  • Take actions that are considered and designed to contribute to the recovery of the cotton and textile sectors in 2021 and beyond;
  • Communicate, collaborate and be responsive to the needs of their counterparties;
  • Continue to respect the trade rules that govern the sectors;  and
  • Recognize and publicize positive behaviors. Identify and call out negative, counter-productive commercial behaviors.

The strong sense of community in the cotton and textile world will continue to be a source of strength. The constraints we are currently facing will pass and many of the freedoms that we are used to are likely to return before too long. We have confidence in the future of our industry.

Posted May 14, 2020

Source: The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), The Committee For International Co-Operation Between Cotton Associations (CICCA), The International Cotton Association (ICA), The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) and The International Textile Manufacturers Association (ITMF)

Unique Competitive Advantage For Megalabel With Durst Tau RSC E Press

BRIXEN, Italy — May 14, 2020 — An investment in a Durst Tau 330 RSC E single-pass digital inkjet label press is a strategic move by Megalabel benefiting from a direct service structure, parts and support in Brazil provided by Durst, manufacturer of advanced digital printing and production technology.

Owner Marcio Romano says cost-effective, industrial scale production at very high quality and speed will fill the gap between flexo and short-run digital production. “We closed a deal in practically three days,” Romano said. “Knowing that we can count on a service structure, parts and support here in Brazil is an important differential. It gives us the confidence to bet on a technology that will certainly bring us a unique competitive advantage.”

The arrival of Durst technology at Sao Paulo-based Megalabel has a strategic role. Now, the company will be able to produce in high quality and at an extremely affordable cost for longer runs of labels using digital technology. “Durst Tau 330 RSC E puts us in a different position in the market, as we are reference in terms of production technology,” said Mr. Romano. “In our premises, we have the three options available today for printing: flexography, digital printing for short runs, and Durst digital printing at an industrial level of very high quality.”

Among the highlights of the Tau 330 RSC E, Romano reinforces high print resolution and speed. In addition, for him, the agility in service and the security of reaching negotiations was only possible thanks to the presence of Durst’s structure directly in the country.

When Megalabel was founded 12 years ago, Romano, had a very clear focus in mind: offer very high quality to produce labels in short runs for the market. Today, the company has a consolidated name in the segment, producing short and large production runs. “For this, we invested in flexographic technology and also in digital printing,” Romano explained. However, the other digital technology in use at Megalabel was “high cost” when larger volumes on an industrial scale were needed. “It was to cover this gap between flexography and digital printing in short runs that we invested in the technology of the Durst Tau 330 RSC E,” said Mr. Romano.

With support for widths up to 330 mm, the Tau 330 RSC E prints at 52 linear meters and with the optional speed upgrade up to 80 linear meters/min. This corresponds to a production capacity of 1,485 square meters/hour at a print resolution of 1200×1200 dpi. It can produce in up to 8 colors (CMYK, plus White, Violet, Orange and Green), thus covering almost 95% of Pantone colors at a lower cost.

Helmuth Munter, Label & Flexible Packaging Segment Manager for Durst Group, said: “The Durst Tau RSC E brings affordable, industrial scale digital production to increasing numbers of forward-thinking companies such as Megalabel. The fact that we have dedicated teams in Brazil offering direct service, parts and support locally is clearly going to be an increasingly important factor in decision-making going forward as we continue to build our business in South America and further afield.”

Posted May 14, 2020

Source: Durst

Bolger & O’Hearn Donates 400 Pounds Of Hand Sanitizer For Use At Lifespan Hospitals Throughout Rhode Island

FALL RIVER, Mass. — May 14, 2020 — This week, Bolger & O’Hearn donated 400 pounds of hand sanitizer to Rhode Island’s Lifespan health system. The donation was delivered this afternoon to Rhode Island Hospital in Providence.

The hand sanitizer will be used throughout the Lifespan system to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. The gift to Lifespan is the third large donation of hand sanitizer Bolger & O’Hearn has manufactured in its Fall River, Massachusetts, plant since the COVID-19 crisis began. To make these donations — which now represent over 1,300 pounds of hand sanitizer and would equal 2,600 individual 8 ounce bottles — B&O has diverted part of its manufacturing capability and tapped the company’s supply chain.

In March, B&O donated over 200 gallons of hand sanitizer to the city of Fall River for use by the fire department and front line workers to support city operations. Bolger & O’Hearn has been located in Fall River since 1969.

In April, Bolger & O’Hearn donated over 700 pounds of hand sanitizer to Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, which is a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School. That donation of hand sanitizer was distributed in 4.6 ounce bottles to residents of underserved Boston communities, where hand sanitizer was either not available or affordable, to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic in New England.

Today’s 400 pound donation went to Lifespan, a five-partner, not-for-profit health system based in Providence, R.I. Formed in 1994, Lifespan includes The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University: Rhode Island Hospital and its Hasbro Children’s Hospital; The Miriam Hospital; and Bradley Hospital, Newport Hospital and Gateway Healthcare.

Bolger & O’Hearn is best known for making specialty chemicals for the textile industry, including fluorine-free, high powered durable water repellents that are being used in the manufacturing of PPE.

“Bolger & O’Hearn is a long established business here in the greater Providence regional area and we see this as a small role we can play helping our community during the pandemic,” Murphy said. “This is a time for all of us to pull together and do what we can to help others, save lives and support those who are risking their lives to save ours. It’s the least we can do.”

B&O has plans to continue sourcing materials, as they can, to manufacture and donate hand sanitizer to front line workers in New England.

Bolger & O’Hearn is helping to fight the COVID-19 pandemic on other fronts, as well. This includes  working closely with other leaders of the US textile industry to develop medical textiles and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including masks, gowns, bed coverings, hospital room drapes and more.

“In particular, we are seeing a high demand for the durable water repellents (DWRs) we have developed  for high-end performance apparel brands,” Murphy said. B&O’s DWR’s, which include fluorine-free Altopel F3 and Stormproof/Breathable OmniBloq®, provide resistance to fluid penetration, splatter and soils and offer a much higher level of barrier protection for both woven and nonwoven textiles than standard DWR’s.

In addition, employees at B&O are making masks from test fabric that has been treated at the plant with B&O’s high powered barrier DWR’s. Those masks are being given to employees, family, friends, customers and area first responders.

Posted May 14, 2020

Source: Bolger and O’Hearn

Oerlikon Nonwoven Delivering High-End Meltblown Technology To FleeceforEurope: Protective Masks For Europe

NEUMÜNSTER, Germany — May 14, 2020 — Two companies newly-established in Germany to manufacture and distribute high-end protective masks were in the spotlight at the beginning of May: with FleeceforEurope and Lindenpartner, Düsseldorf-based Kloepfel Group purchasing consultancy and Berlin-based industrial consultancy Bechinger & Heymann Holding plan to manufacture and distribute up to 50 million protection class FFP1 through FFP3 respiratory masks a month exclusively for the European market from the beginning of fall. And the primary focus will be on quality. With protective masks — including those used in operating rooms — this quality is provided above all by virus-absorbing nonwovens. And these will be manufactured by the new venture ‘FleeceforEurope’ in Germany using an Oerlikon Nonwoven meltblown system.

But all masks are not created equally. For this reason, protection against infections such as corona-virus can only be guaranteed with the right quality. On the one hand, this relates to how the masks are made. On the other hand, it is above all — as is so often the case — about what’s inside. Because the nonwoven used in protection class FFP1 through FFP3 respiratory masks plays a decisive role.

Here, the globally-leading and long-established meltblown technology from Oerlikon Nonwoven will be deployed. In a special, patented process, the fibers laid into a nonwoven fabric during manufacture are subsequently electrostatically-charged, before the material is further processed down-stream.

Inquiries from all over the world

“Our patented electrostatic charging ensures that even the smallest particles, and therefore also viruses, are drawn in and absorbed by the nonwoven fabric for several hours. As a result of the comparatively loose formation of the fibers, the wearer can nevertheless breathe in and out easily,” explained Rainer Straub, managing director of Oerlikon Nonwoven with pride. And rightfully so. Because Oerlikon is currently dispatching one meltblown system after the other. “We identified the situation early on and have adapted to demand. We started manufacturing in advance at the beginning of the year and can now start reliably delivering and quickly assembling systems and, due to our global Oerlikon Manmade Fibers segment network, we are able to offer the necessary service as well,” the experienced engineer explained. Currently, the company is receiving inquiries from across the globe, but specifically also from Europe and from Germany itself.

“The Federal States all currently want to be self-sufficient in order to better control the so-called critical infrastructure in the future. The investment program announced by Germany’s Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Peter Altmaier this week will additionally boost the demand for our meltblown technology,” Straub added.

European market for protective masks with a promising future

Those responsible at Oerlikon Nonwoven and FleeceforEurope, which will primarily focus on producing high-end nonwovens, and Lindenpartner, which will manufacture and distribute the protective masks, are certain of one thing: the market for protective masks has a very promising long-term future in Europe. What has been commonplace in Asia for many years now will also become normal in Europe. People will be increasingly wearing face masks when venturing out, in order to better protect themselves against health risks such as the current pandemic and also against increasing environmental pollution in the form of fine particles and exhaust fumes in the future.

“We didn’t know what meltblown technology was three months ago. We helped our customers procure protective masks, at the same time discovering the in part hair-raising conditions in the global markets”, explained Marc Kloepfel, CEO of the Kloepfel Group. According to him, around 200 businesses in China were manufacturing protective masks until 2019, a figure that has meanwhile risen to include thousands of micro-producers. “And there is a lot of very poor quality on the market and, unfortunately, counterfeits as well. But customers from all over the world are knocking on the door with bags of cash and buy everything they can get their hands on — even items that may have been stolen further up the supply chain.” The prices have practically exploded. “While masks used to cost ten cents to purchase, prices has risen to two euros or more during the coronavirus crisis,” explained Philipp Heymann, CEO of Lindenpartner. However, there is — as in the case of many other industrial and consumer goods — a huge level of dependency on Asia, and China in particular, among Europeans and Americans. In order to become competitive here, the focus will be on state-of-the-art production processes for manufacturing protective masks. “At the end of the day, we will be able to manufacture products in Germany at Chinese prices as a result of our automation technology,” Heymann said.

Medical face masks from a vending machine

Mask producer Lindenpartner has already secured supplies of nonwovens and will be producing face masks for the European healthcare sector over the coming weeks. To fight the coronavirus pandemic, Lindenpartner is planning to install 100 self-service face mask vending machines in Germany over the next four weeks, positioning them in publicly-accessible places such as shopping centers and airports, for example. FFP2 masks will initially cost around five euros from vending machines. As soon as Lindenpartner is able to manufacture the masks with its own nonwoven fabrics, prices will fall to approximately 2 to 3 euros.

Posted May 14, 2020

Source: Oerlikon

ABB IE5 SynRM Motors Deliver Ultra-Premium Energy Efficiency

FORT SMITH, Arkansas — May 13, 2020 — Customers can increase their energy efficiency, improve sustainability and enhance reliability by upgrading to ABB IE5 ultra-premium SynRM motors that offer up to 50 percent lower energy losses compared to IE2 motors.

ABB’s award-winning synchronous reluctance (SynRM) motors offer a new first choice to meet the growing global demand for improved energy efficiency. These motors now meet the new IE5 ultra-premium energy efficiency class defined by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

The IE5 ultra-premium SynRM motors offer up to 50 percent lower energy losses and significantly lower energy consumption than the commonly used IE2 induction motors. ABB first introduced SynRM technology in 2011, and case studies in industrial installations have demonstrated energy savings of up to 25 percent, depending on the application.

The IE5 level of efficiency is made possible by the SynRM design, which combines the performance advantages of permanent magnet technology with the simplicity and service-friendliness of an induction platform. To ensure an environmentally friendly design, the permanent magnets do not feature rare earth materials.

“Climate change and environmental responsibility are driving huge changes across all industries,” said Tero Helpio, Global Product Manager, IEC LV motors, ABB Motion. “We have responded to this challenge with our IE5 ultra-premium motors that meet the most stringent energy efficiency standards. These motors offer industrial users a great opportunity to reduce their electricity usage and reduce CO2 emissions while also benefiting from increased productivity and lower life-cycle costs.”

Additional benefits of the IE5 SynRM motor are lower bearing and winding temperatures for enhanced reliability and long life. The design also creates less motor noise for a better working environment.

ABB IE5 SynRM motors can be used in a wide range of demanding industrial applications where they offer accurate control and high efficiency across the whole speed range, even at partial loads. This makes them an ideal upgrade option for standard induction motors in pumps, fans, and compressors as well as in more demanding applications like extruders, concha mixers, winches, and conveyors. IE5 SynRM motors are an easy replacement for induction motors as they have the same size and output power, so no mechanical modifications are required.

The IE5 SynRM motors meet the requirements of the efficiency class defined in IEC TS 60034-30-2 and are available with output power of 5.5 to 315 kilowatt (kW) in frame sizes IEC 132-315. They can be specified as part of a high-efficiency motor and drive package with ABB variable speed drives (VSDs).

Posted May 13, 2020

Source: ABB Motors and Mechanical Inc.

Symphony Mills Launches New Online Ordering System, Amid Covid-19

REIDSVILLE, N.C. — May 8, 2020 — Interior fabric trader Symphony Mills recently launched its new website. The new site showcases all collections that the company has to offer. The most notable feature of the site is the sample ordering system that was expedited after the Covid-19 outbreak. Customers now have the option to view the catalog online, order sample hangers and have them delivered directly to their front door.

Symphony Mills, a business line of fabric manufacturing group Global Textile Alliance Inc., launched its new website as an update to its 2015 edition. The update is an enhancement that allows five worldwide hubs to service its customers with a more robust online presence.

Part of this innovation is the company’s online catalogue, which took nearly two years to develop. The company had not planned to launch its catalogue this early, as Sales Director Jessica Norby explained: “Our website was supposed to launch at the start of Summer, but with many of our customers working from home with no fabrics for their new furniture and curtain collections, we worked diligently to bring the website live to provide much needed product.”

Symphony Mills accelerated its internal process and launched the website and online catalogue earlier this month. “Orders are gradually coming in and we are noticing the positive effects from this new online investment,” Norby said. “We are now working to prepare all packages in our facilities while practicing social distancing.”

Posted May 13, 2020

Source: Symphony Mills

University of Pittsburgh Researchers Create Durable, Washable Textile Coating That Can Repel Viruses

PITTSBURGH — May 13, 2020 — Masks, gowns, and other personal protective equipment (PPE) are essential for protecting healthcare workers. However, the textiles and materials used in such items can absorb and carry viruses and bacteria, inadvertently spreading the disease the wearer sought to contain.

When the coronavirus spread among healthcare professionals and left PPE in short supply, finding a way to provide better protection while allowing for the safe reuse of these items became paramount.

Research from the LAMP Lab at the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) Swanson School of Engineering may have a solution. The lab has created a textile coating that can not only repel liquids like blood and saliva but can also prevent viruses from adhering to the surface. The work was recently published in the journal ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces.

“Recently there’s been focus on blood-repellent surfaces, and we were interested in achieving this with mechanical durability,” said Anthony Galante, a Ph.D. student in industrial engineering at Pitt and lead author of the paper. “We want to push the boundary on what is possible with these types of surfaces, and especially given the current pandemic, we knew it’d be important to test against viruses.”

What makes the coating unique is its ability to withstand ultrasonic washing, scrubbing and scraping. With other similar coatings currently in use, washing or rubbing the surface of the textile will reduce or eliminate its repellent abilities.

“The durability is very important because there are other surface treatments out there, but they’re limited to disposable textiles. You can only use a gown or mask once before disposing of it,” said Paul Leu, co-author and associate professor of industrial engineering, who leads the LAMP Lab. “Given the PPE shortage, there is a need for coatings that can be applied to reusable medical textiles that can be properly washed and sanitized.”

Galante put the new coating to the test, running it through tens of ultrasonic washes, applying thousands of rotations with a scrubbing pad — not unlike what might be used to scour pots and pans — and even scraping it with a sharp razor blade. After each test, the coating remained just as effective.

The researchers worked with the Charles T. Campbell Microbiology Laboratory’s Research Director Eric Romanowski and Director of Basic Research Robert Shanks, in the Department of Ophthalmology at Pitt, to test the coating against a strain of adenovirus.

“As this fabric was already shown to repel blood, protein and bacteria, the logical next step was to determine whether it repels viruses. We chose human adenovirus types 4 and 7, as these are causes of acute respiratory disease as well as conjunctivitis (pink eye),” said Romanowski. “It was hoped that the fabric would repel these viruses similar to how it repels proteins, which these viruses essentially are: proteins with nucleic acid inside. As it turned out, the adenoviruses were repelled in a similar way as proteins.”

The coating may have broad applications in healthcare: everything from hospital gowns to waiting room chairs could benefit from the ability to repel viruses, particularly ones as easily spread as adenoviruses.

“Adenovirus can be inadvertently picked up in hospital waiting rooms and from contaminated surfaces in general. It is rapidly spread in schools and homes and has an enormous impact on quality of life — keeping kids out of school and parents out of work,” Shanks said. “This coating on waiting room furniture, for example, could be a major step towards reducing this problem.”

The next step for the researchers will be to test the effectiveness against betacoronaviruses, like the one that causes COVID-19.

“If the treated fabric would repel betacornonaviruses, and in particular SARS-CoV-2, this could have a huge impact for healthcare workers and even the general public if PPE, scrubs, or even clothing could be made from protein, blood-, bacteria-, and virus-repelling fabrics,” said Romanowski.

At the moment, the coating is applied using drop casting, a method that saturates the material with a solution from a syringe and applies a heat treatment to increase stability. But the researchers believe the process can use a spraying or dipping method to accommodate larger pieces of material, like gowns, and can eventually be scaled up for production.

The paper, “Superhemophobic and Antivirofouling Coating for Mechanically Durable and Wash-Stable Medical Textiles” (DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b23058), was co-authored by Anthony Galante, Sajad Haghanifar, Eric Romanowski, Robert Shanks and Paul Leu.

Posted May 13, 2020

Source: University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering — Maggie Pavlick

Delta Apparel Announces Two-Year Contract Extension For Chairman And CEO Robert W. Humphreys

GREENVILLE, S.C. — May 12, 2020 — Delta Apparel Inc., a provider of core activewear and lifestyle apparel products, today announced a two-year extension of the employment contract with its Chairman and CEO, Robert W. Humphreys. His employment will now expire with the filing of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year 2022.

Humphreys joined the company in 1998 as CEO and became chairman of the board of directors in 2009.

Dr. Jay Gogue, Delta Apparel’s Lead Independent Director, commented: “Since bringing Delta Apparel public in 2000, under Bob Humphreys’ leadership, the Company has grown revenue by over 300 percent through innovative acquisitions and solid fundamental operating principals. Bob’s vast knowledge of the branded apparel and manufacturing business, as well as his proven leadership skills, has served our teams, customers and shareholders well over the past 20 years. We are delighted that Bob has agreed to extend his employment as Delta Apparel’s Chairman and CEO through the 2022 fiscal year, and the Board looks forward to its ongoing working relationship with Bob and his team as we continue to build value for all of our stakeholders.”

Posted May 13, 2020

Source: Delta Apparel Inc.

Berry Announces New Meltblown Capacity In Response To Rising Demand

EVANSVILLE, Ind. — May 13, 2020 — Today, Berry Global Group Inc. announced the continued expansion of its global Meltex™ meltblown capacity, with the addition of another asset to support the growing global face mask demand.

This announcement comes as demand surges due to COVID-19 and the increased need for nonwoven protection materials. The new asset is expected to be operational in October 2020 and will be placed in Europe at Berry’s existing production facility in Berlin, Germany and will incorporate Berry’s patented charging technology post installation. The new line will focus on the production of highly efficient filter material for premium FFP2 (N95) and FFP3 (N99) grade filter media.

“We are now beginning to see the localization of varying forms of equipment that produce materials for PPE, as countries and governments look to be able to react with speed to any future outbreaks,” said Cedric Ballay, executive vice president and general manager for Europe in Health, Hygiene, and Specialties at Berry. “We continue to provide timely solutions to those looking for assistance fighting the spread of COVID-19.”

As the largest manufacturer of nonwoven fabrics, Berry makes materials for the world’s leading and emerging brands. These products range in use from materials for face masks, respirators and protective healthcare apparel to packaging, many of which have been deemed essential in the efforts to fight the spread of COVID-19.

Posted May 13, 2020

Source: Berry Global Group Inc.

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