Burlington Medical Fabrics, Proven Advanced Protection For More Than 40 Years

GREENSBORO, N.C. — April 30, 2020 — A manufacturer of advanced barrier fabrics, Burlington’s reusable fabrics have been a trusted resource for leading PPE manufacturers to provide advanced protection, for more than 40 years. Burlington’s Maxima® and XALT™ collections provide engineered, state-of-the-art healthcare fabrics that combine the highest degrees of protection, performance, comfort and durability, while offering a more sustainable, cost effective and environmentally responsible solution.

Unlike other fabric manufacturers, Burlington operates its own “on site” institutional grade medical laundry complete with steam sterilization equipment. Therefore, fabrics can be thoroughly evaluated for true to life performance and durability before leaving the manufacturing facility. Rigorous R&D, testing, strict manufacturing controls and continuous improvement provide assurance to leading PPE manufacturers that Burlington’s advanced fabrics always perform where it counts the most — protecting healthcare workers and patients.

“Burlington is known for innovation and quality, and we are proud to be a trusted supplier to leading PPE manufacturers globally,” says Nelson Bebo, vice president, sales. “We take protection and our responsibility to provide it very seriously, and never has that been more important than now. The scarcity of PPE due to COVID-19 crisis has reinforced the importance of reusable PPE, and we are pleased to offer our expertise to support the industry and ramp up the production of our proven, established fabrics to meet the current critical need.”

Burlington’s Maxima 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. Burlington’s XALT resusable fabric collection, introduced more than 20 years ago, is a high tech composite three-layer system that combines innovative fabrics, laminated film, and adhesive technology for a superior medical barrier without sacrificing durability and comfort. XALT fabrics provide higher levels of protection and are certified to meet both ANSI/AAMI PB70 Level 4 and EN13795 high performance, critical area 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 most. Additionally, reusable fabrics provide a more responsible, sustainable solution reducing not only the amount of waste going to landfills or to be incinerated but also minimizing disposal costs.

“The current COVID-19 crisis has shown that supplies of disposable products are not sufficient,” Bebo added. “The solution is fairly simple when you look at how to more quickly increase supply. One reusable garment equals, on average, 75 disposable garments and the supply of reusable PPE can be more quickly replenished through increased laundering. The durability of Burlington’s medical fabrics also allows the life of the garment to be extended past it’s original use. For example, a fabric certified for Level 2 protection through 75 launderings can be tested at the end of that time and still meet certification for Level 1 protection, extending its life cycle and useful protection.”

For inquiries into sourcing Burlington’s medical barrier products, please complete the contact form at burlingtonfabrics.com and a sales representative will respond.

Posted April 30, 2020

Source: Burlington

ITMF Survey About The Impact Of The Corona-Pandemic On The Global Textile Industry

ZURICH — April 30, 2020 — Between April 16-28, 2020, the International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) conducted a third survey among ITMF Members and affiliated companies and associations about the impact the Corona-pandemic on the global textile value chain, especially on current orders and expected turnover in 2020. In total 600 companies from around the world participated.

Worldwide, Current Orders Are Down By 41% On Average

Source: ITMF

Orders in East Asia dropped visibly less (-28 percent) than in all the other regions (-40 percent and more). It can be assumed that this region, which was hit first by the Corona-crisis, is also recovering first from it. Especially China and Korea were able to contain the epidemic successfully. In the last few weeks, most Chinese textile companies have ramped up production significantly. Likewise, off-line retail stores have reopened, and consumption is picking up again in East Asian countries. It remains to be seen what the consumption behavior will be like in China, Korea and other places once shops are open again.

Worldwide, Expected Turnover 2020 Is Down By 33 Percent on average compared to 2019

Source: ITMF

Companies in Europe are expecting turnover in 2020 to be down by “only” 22 percent, a figure significantly better than the -33 percent reported in the second survey. Companies in East Asia are expecting turnover to be down by 26 percent, which is close to what was reported in the second survey (-24 percent). Companies’ turnover expectations in South East Asia and South Asia on the other hand have deteriorated significantly. These regions were hit later by the Corona-pandemic and hence the full impact was felt with a delay. Compared to 2019, expected turnover for 2020 is down to -38 percent in South East Asia and to -31 percent in South Asia. Turnover expectations in Africa, South America and North America have not changed much since the second survey.

Challenges:

  • securing enough liquidity;
  • supply chain disruption; and
  • uncertainty.

Opportunities:

  • increasingly thinking about diversification, currently focusing on medical textiles;
  • streamlining organization and production processes;
  • accelerating the reassessment of existing supply chains; and
  • accelerating digitalization and investing in sustainable production.

Government Support:

  • Many companies receive little to no help, even if governments have support policies in place.
  • Government support can comprise:
    • loans with low interest rates and deferred repayment;
    • delayed tax payments;
    • delayed social security payments;
    • short-work schemes; and
    • reduction of power costs.
  • The biggest relief comes when retailers/brands discuss adaption to the unwinding crisis with their suppliers instead of cancelling orders unilaterally

Posted April 30, 2020

Source: ITMF

 

Oerlikon Nonwoven Expands Its Laboratory Nonwovens Production Capacities In May

NEUMÜNSTER, Germany — April 30, 2020 — Within the context of supporting the critical infrastructure in Germany, Oerlikon Nonwoven immediately began converting its laboratory systems in Neumünster to manufacture nonwovens at the end of March. With this, only small local businesses and companies were initially supported in the manufacture of oronasal masks. The laboratory system at the R&D Center is normally used solely for research and development purposes and customer trials. It was never conceived for continuous operation in its original form. Now, Oerlikon Nonwoven has made further investments in order to enable continuous operation in the laboratory. With this, material for more than one million protective masks a month can be manufactured.

“Since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis, we have received more than 500 inquiries that we are progressively dealing with. To be quite honest, we had initially not anticipated such tremendous interest. But the demand is there and we quickly further adapted to the challenge”, stated Andreas Frisch, head of operations at Oerlikon Nonwoven.

The laboratory has meanwhile run out of raw materials and new orders for replacement materials had to be placed before Easter — with current delivery times of approximately three weeks. This will allow production to be resumed, and even considerably expanded, in May.

The laboratory system is now once again being deployed to produce nonwovens that will be used to make more than million face masks/oronasal masks a month, nonwovens of the very highest quality. “We will not be manufacturing the masks ourselves. We have meanwhile found both corresponding partner companies and also private individuals demanding nonwovens,” Frisch added, commenting on the developments.

Boom in orders

Furthermore, Oerlikon Nonwoven has also fired up the production of the machines and systems used for its meltblown technology. The demand from Germany, Europe and the rest of the world has quickly secured the company a boom in orders. “In the meantime, we have been able to sign orders in the mid-range double-digit millions. We have adapted our delivery times as much as possible and will — this is our objective — start delivering the additional orders for nonwovens systems from the fall,” explained Rainer Straub, head of Oerlikon Nonwoven. “We will be commissioning the first meltblown system at the site of a leading Western European nonwovens producers in the second quarter of 2020. This system will be deployed exclusively in the manufacture of nonwovens for respiratory masks.”

The Oerlikon Nonwoven Meltblown technology — with which nonwovens for respiratory masks can also be manufactured, among other things — is recognized by the market as being the technically most efficient method for producing highly-separating filter media made from plastic fibers. The capacities for respiratory masks available in Europe to date are predominantly manufactured on Oerlikon Nonwoven systems.

Posted April 30, 2020

Source: Oerlikon

IGATEX PAKISTAN Has Been Postponed

KARACHI, Pakistan — April 30, 2020 — In view of the current situation pertaining to the rise of coronavirus pandemic worldwide, FAKT Exhibitions has decided to act in collective industry interest and postpone IGATEX PAKISTAN 2020 and its concurrent event ICADEX PAKISTAN 2020 to a later date yet to be determined, keeping in mind the health and safety of our exhibitors and visitors.

We regret for any inconvenience caused and aim to announce the new dates of IGATEX PAKISTAN as soon as possible.

Posted April 30, 2020

Source: IGATEX PAKISTAN Team/FAKT Exhibitions (Pvt.) Ltd.

Cifra Launches Warp-Mask Against COVID 19

LOMBARDY, Italy — April 30, 2020 — Warp knit seamless (WKS) specialist Cifra S.p.A., backed by its long-term know-how, has engineered and produced an innovative and high-tech range of protective masks called Warp-Mask, which will be used to help in the country’s fight against COVID-19. Cifra has developed and introduced this product onto the market in just few days.

Cifra CEO Cesare Citterio

“I thought about how I could make myself with my company available to cope with this terrible pandemic,” Cifra CEO Cesare Citterio told the online newspaper. “And we came up with the design of a high-tech mask that is guaranteed to be OekoTex Standard 100 certified, warp-knitted, double-layered, water-repellent, knitted in one without seams for optimal comfort, sterilized, washable up to ten washes and all designed and made in Italy.”

Engineered by Cifra WKS system, Warp-Mask is a high-tech double-layer, run-proof and water repellent mask, which “thanks to its Perfect Skin technology, perfectly adheres to the nose and to the mouth.”

Each mask is in fact made with 80-percent nylon and 20-percent Lycra multifilament yarn — where the high percentage of Lycra and PerfectSkin technology guarantee perfect face adherence, to ensure the covering of both nose and mouth.

The fabric is doubled for a more compact and ultra-run-resistant structure and uses HeiQ Eco-Dry technology, which offers fluorocarbon-free durable water repellence (DWR). This high-performance sustainable water-repellent treatment offers exceptional efficiency and durability to washing and dry cleaning. The applied Heiq Eco-Dry treatment makes the masks 40° machine washable and thus reusable.

Warp-Mask is also resistant to bacterial agents thanks to Fresh-tech treatment by HeiQ and is “100-percent Made in Italy quality.”

Posted April 30, 2020

Source: Cifra S.p.A.

India ITME Society Has Postponed India ITME 2020 And Rescheduled For December 2021

MUMBAI, India — April 30, 2020 — COVID-19 has brought disruption and distress for the general life, industry and economy, especially for the textile and textile engineering industry all over the world. Hope yourself and family along with full team of your organization are safe and holding up good in this trying situation. Stay safe. Stay well.

Under the circumstances, India ITME Society proposes to postpone India ITME 2020 by one year to December 2021. The new dates for the event: December 8-13, 2021.

We assure you that India ITME Society shall stand by industry in all possible ways to see through these difficult times and shall double the efforts to ensure customer reach for exhibitors.

Posted April 30, 2020

Source: India ITME Society

Concept III’s Message On COVID-19

RED BANK, N.J. — April 30, 2020 — To say these are unprecedented times is certainly an understatement. The truth is a worldwide pandemic is leading to worldwide economic stagnation, and thus creating unique challenges for anyone directly or indirectly working within the performance textile industry. And as closures, furloughs, and stay-at-home orders remain in place, businesses such as ours, and yours, will feel the pinch. Simply put, COVID-19 is creating a financial strain for mills, suppliers, and apparel brands.

Of course, the health and safety of everyone, no matter where you’re located on the globe, remains top of mind. However, as the coronavirus forces us to embrace new norms and brace for inevitable complexities, we mustn’t let our business goals fall by the wayside.

No matter where you are in the supply chain, you will — if not already — feel the effects. We wish we could tell you we had a magic formula to cure the current ills of the world, but we don’t. None of us were equipped with a pandemic playbook, so we must learn as we go while navigating this storm together. What we can tell you is, as an industry, we will persevere. The performance textile industry is, and has always been, resilient. That’s why Concept III also sees some semblance of a silver lining around all this darkness. Here are the positives we believe will help this industry succeed in these trying times:

  • Consumers still want quality apparel. With value being paramount, consumers will ultimately choose performance apparel over fashion brands.
  • Our industry focuses on utilitarian products that service real needs. For instance, workwear and durable apparel are still in demand.
  • Consumers still want to get outside, but they’ll now choose real nature, or sparsely populated areas instead of congested urban settings. Rather than wearing sneakers, jeans, or business-casual attire, they’ll recognize the value and need for the appropriate outdoor performance products.
  • If there’s a “new normal” on the horizon, then the same old, same old will no longer work. It’s time to unleash the creativity we’ve all been holding in. Because the rules and strategies we all followed just a few short months ago have been upended, we can take liberties and inject fresh, new ideas into product leadership.

In the five decades Concept III has been around, we’ve seen good times and bad. And just like you, we’re still standing. That’s because we’ve always stood together. Performance textiles is a global industry, with people scattered across continents, yet we work as one. We’re proud to say this is an industry made up of the world’s toughest, brightest, and most ingenious people. In short, Concept III knows if we continue to stand together, we can weather this storm, and we’ll come out of it with a brighter outlook for the future.

Posted April 30, 2020

Source: Concept III

INDA Reschedules World Of Wipes® International Conference To August 24-27, 2020

CARY, N.C. — April 30, 2020 — INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, has rescheduled the 14th edition of the World of Wipes® (WOW) International Conference to August 24-27, 2020, in response to updated guidance on phased reopenings in various states, consistent with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and a view of airline scheduling changes over the summer in response to the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Initially scheduled June 22-25, the WOW event in Minneapolis will still take place in Minneapolis at the same venue, but a full two months later than originally scheduled.

“We have been carefully watching several metrics to guide our decision-making on this important event. With several states recently announcing their approaches to reopening in phases, it is clear in some states that the final phase will not be reached until late June or into July. Many airline schedules have been reduced to reflect this. We are now convinced that rescheduling this event a full two months later will coincide with the safe reopening of conferences and events, and with company travel policies that prevent employee travel until this late summer time frame,” said Dave Rousse, INDA President.

“At the event, we want to ensure the safety of our attendees and will follow heightened hygienic practices with sanitizers and wipes readily available, increased spacing between conference seats, increased hotel cleaning of surfaces, and reception food served by wait staff, not buffet style.” Rousse also notes that the last week of August is the first time frame that does not conflict with other industry events as the calendar becomes quite crowded in September, October, and November.

WOW 2020 will connect senior-level wipes professionals during four value-packed days combining relevant technical and educational content with business engagement opportunities.

Session topics include: buyer demographics, sustainability, industrial and flushable wipes, substrates, preservatives, and single use plastics. More than 400 senior-leadership participants attended WOW in 2019. For the full conference agenda, visit: https://www.worldofwipes.org/conference.php.

Event Highlights

Three exceptional Finalists vie for the prestigious World of Wipes Innovation Award® that represent advancements that expand the use of nonwoven fabrics in creativity, novelty of approach, uniqueness, and technical sophistication in product and technology innovations within the entire wipes value chain. This year’s Finalists include:

Berk International LLC: Food Fresh liners that can absorb accumulated moisture in sealed produce packages and reduce wilting and spoilage.I

TW Pro Brands: The DETEX® Metal Detectable Scouring Pad designed to be detected by metal detectors in most food production facilities to minimize the risk of foreign object contamination.

Lonza LLC: The NUGEN® NR Disinfectant Wipe designed to be a one-step no-rinse food contact surface disinfectant, that cleans and disinfects surfaces without detergent pre-clean or potable water-rinse requirements.

The winner will be announced Thursday, August 27.

Preceding the conference, INDA’s WIPES Academy will be led by instructor Chris Plotz, Director of Education & Technical Affairs, INDA, August 24-25. The WIPES Academy is the first and only comprehensive wipes training for the entire wipes supply chain.

Posted April 30, 2020

Source: INDA

NCTO Urges Government To Institute Buy American Policy To Boost Manufacturing Of Personal Protective Equipment

WASHINGTON — April 30, 2020 — National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) President and CEO Kim Glas issued a statement today, urging the government to institute Buy American policy changes to help bolster U.S. manufacturers producing personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline workers battling the COVID-19 pandemic.

“If the government is sincere about reconstituting a U.S. production chain for medical personal protective equipment (PPE) to resolve the drastic shortages we are experiencing during the current pandemic, it is going to have to make key policy changes to help incentivize domestic production. A strong Buy American mandate for these vital healthcare materials needs to be instituted for all federal agencies, coupled with other reasonable production incentives, to help ensure a strong U.S.  manufacturing base for these essential products.

Our government already has an existing example of such a mandate that serves as an excellent model. The U.S. Department of Defense operates under a fiber-to-finished product Buy American rule for military textiles. This rule ensures that the vital textile materials our U.S. warfighters depend upon, come from a secure domestic production chain that cannot be severed during a military emergency by offshore entities.

There is a bipartisan call for action as members of Congress on both sides of the aisle have begun to acknowledge the need for these types of reasonable and essential policy changes.

Expanding domestic purchase requirements through Executive Order and other legislative initiatives will ensure that PPE production through U.S. supply chains that have been created overnight don’t evaporate as soon as this crisis is over.

In the midst of the crisis, our failure to confront this challenge will allow for a repeat of the sins of the past that allowed sourcing agents to offshore the entire production of medical PPE in search of lucrative profits. While chasing the lowest cost import may have seemed cost effective at the time, these past few months have demonstrated that we paid a deadly price through this approach by jeopardizing the very lives of frontline medical personnel that are fighting the pandemic.

This is a national security issue. It’s also a vital healthcare issue and it is decision time for U.S. policymakers. If our country is to be prepared for future deadly pandemics such as the one it is now facing, reasonable policy changes need to be implemented to ensure that we strengthen our domestic supply chain to address America’s security, safety and healthcare requirements.

Posted April 30, 2020

Source: NCTO

Consolidated Pathways Signs Agreement As New Brand And Technical Representative For Sanitized® Products

BURGDORF, Switzerland — April 30, 2020 — SANITIZED AG announces that it has entered into an agreement with Consolidated Pathways Inc. Midland, Mich., to globally promote the Sanitized® odor-management, hygiene function and material protection technologies to brands and retailers. Consolidated Pathways will also support the advancement of the trusted Sanitized® Quality Seal and related branding concepts. The longtime co-operation between Sanitized AG and Archroma remains unchanged and is supported by the activities of Consolidated Pathways.

Consolidated Pathways acts as global brand and technical representative for the Sanitized line of antimicrobial products. Consolidated Pathways will be focusing on commercializing Sanitized® products in textiles and will use its broad experience in polymer-based antimicrobials to extend the reach of the unique technologies that Sanitized AG offers.

Posted April 30, 2020

Source: Sanitized AG

1...1,0851,0861,087...2,668Page 1,086 of 2,668

Sponsors

Breaking News

Load more

Digital Issue

2026 Quarterly Issue III

View Latest Digital Issue

FEATURED ARTICLES

© Copyright 2017 Textile Industries Media Group, LLC.