N.C. Governor’s Award Honors Six Companies For Exporting — AB Carter Named Top Small Business Exporter

RALEIGH, N.C. — February 5, 2020 — Today, six North Carolina manufacturers received 2019 Governor’s Export Awards in a ceremony highlighting their growing sales success in international markets. These manufacturers make everything from cosmetics to heavy-duty plastic waste containers.

North Carolina’s export of goods and services supports more than 400,000 jobs in the state, according to the Washington-based Brookings Institution.

“Manufacturing is the second largest contributor to our state economy, with more than $30 billion in goods being exported annually,” said Governor Cooper. “North Carolina’s global reputation as a manufacturing powerhouse would not be possible without all the companies that export, including the leaders we are honoring with Export Awards.”

Now in its third year, the Governor’s Office developed the export awards program in collaboration with the North Carolina Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC), which works on the state’s behalf to help businesses achieve their export objectives.

The 2019 Governor’s Export Award winners are:

  • Aegis Power Systems in Cherokee County;
  • World Cat in Edgecombe County;
  • BETA Fueling Systems in Rockingham County;
  • AB Carter in Gaston County;
  • Revlon Consumer Products Corp. in Granville County; and
  • Otto Environmental Systems North America in Mecklenburg County.

“The EDPNC is proud to celebrate these award-winners from all over the state,” said John Loyack, EDPNC Vice President of Global Business Services. “They are leaders among the businesses we work with because they have reached new levels of success in exporting or made the strongest of beginnings in international sales.”

The EDPNC international trade team includes five North Carolina-based trade managers who each specialize in specific industry sectors and trade representatives in North Carolina’s six trade offices around the world: Canada, Mexico, Europe, Japan, China and the United Arab Emirates in the Middle East. In 2019, the EDPNC assisted 614 businesses from 89 North Carolina counties, and those businesses reported just over a $1 billion in international sales.

The EDPNC selects the award winners from among the hundreds of businesses it has assisted with services ranging from export education seminars and foreign market intelligence to trade show support and introductions to international distributors. The EDPNC helps primarily small and medium-sized businesses develop new exporting opportunities and increase sales free of charge.

“Due to the professionalism and the caliber of the representatives at EDPNC, Otto had the confidence to enter markets such as Latin America and the Caribbean,” said Travis Dowell, senior director of sales for award-winner Otto Environmental Systems North America. “Their continuing assistance allows us to provide the same exemplary customer experience to our export market as we do in the United States. EDPNC’s help is second to none.”

More information on the 2019 Governor’s Export Award recipients:

Otto Environmental Systems North America – Governor’s Award of Excellence: This manufacturer of residential and commercial plastic waste containers opened its U.S. headquarters in Charlotte in 1988, where it now employs more than 300 people.

Aegis Power Systems – Top Rural Exporter: Founded in 1995, Aegis Power Systems manufactures specialized power supplies for industrial, military and heavy-duty industrial customers in Murphy.

World Cat – Top Global Reach Exporter: World Cat builds a wide range of customized power catamarans in Tarboro.

BETA Fueling Systems – Top New Exporter: Operating in Reidsville for more than 40 years, BETA Fueling Systems has been designing and building aircraft-refueling equipment for commercial and military customers, including specialized refueling trucks, filters and parts.

AB Carter – Top Small Business Exporter: This century-old manufacturer from Gastonia provides machines, products, parts and accessories for the yarn and fiber spinning industry. Its global presence includes offices in five countries and agents in 44 countries.

Revlon Consumer Products Corp. – Top Large Business Exporter: Revlon, a well-known manufacturer of cosmetics, hair color and other beauty products, has its largest manufacturing plant in Oxford.

Posted February 13, 2020

Source: North Carolina Office of the Governor

JEC World 2020 Exhibitor Preview: Bally Ribbon Mills

BALLY, Pa.— February 13, 2020 — Bally Ribbon Mills (BRM), a designer, developer, and manufacturer of highly specialized engineered woven fabrics, announces it will highlight its 3D weaving capabilities at JEC World 2020, which will be held March 3-5, 2020, in Paris-Nord Villepinte, France, Booth M73 in Hall 6. BRM will highlight its film infusion capabilities for 3D woven joints; woven thermal protection systems (TPS); and advanced woven composite 3D structures, including 3D near-net shapes.

In BRM’s film infusion process, a frozen sheet or film of resin is infused onto the custom 3D woven joint. Film-infused 3D woven joints ship as pre-made assemblies, ensuring consistent quality control from the industry-leading experts in fabrication and saving customers the cost of infusing the resin themselves. BRM has perfected the science and art of 3D continuous weaving to fabricate such structures as “Pi – π,” double “T,” “H,” and other complex shapes. Offering the optimal blend of strength, durability, and structural integrity, these complex woven structures are used primarily in aerospace applications, often in airframe structural components and subassemblies including stiffeners and joints.

Drop by the booth to see lightweight materials like 3D woven fabrics and learn about our multifunctional thermal protection systems (TPS) for atmospheric re-entry. BRM has implemented innovative weaving technologies to develop complex webbing for aerospace products. The woven TPS billet to be showcased at the booth is part of a line of products that was selected as the critical component of the heat shield on the Orion Crew Capsule, which helps protect against the extreme temperatures of atmospheric re-entry.

Also on display are lightweight, cost-effective, advanced woven 2D and 3D composite structures. Using a multi-dimensional continuous weaving method, BRM produces textiles that can be fabricated into near net-shape structures. These advanced weaving capabilities offer customers new solutions that reduce weight and cost. The technology weaves complex shapes automatically, eliminating many costly, time-consuming, and labor-intensive processes.

Posted February 13, 2020

Source: Bally Ribbon Mills (BRM)

Khanna, Meadows introduce Modernization Centers of Excellence Program Act

WASHINGTON — February 13, 2020 — Today, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) introduced the bipartisan Modernization Centers of Excellence Program Act, a bill that will establish a program at GSA to facilitate the adoption of modern technology by executive agencies. This is a light touch codification of the CoE program, which will have the following responsibilities upon request by an executive agency:

  1. Modernize information technology and how a customer interacts with an executive agency
  2. Improve cooperation between commercial and executive agency information technology sectors
  3. Assist executive agencies with planning and adoption of a more efficient commercial cloud computing system, tools to help Americans receive support from and communicate with an executive agency; contact centers and other related costumer supports; efficient use of data management, analysis, and reporting; and optimized infrastructure, including for data centers, and to reduce operating costs.
  4. Share best practices and expertise an executive agency
  5. Other responsibilities that the Director of TTS may identify as necessary

“I am pleased to once again work across the aisle with my friend Mark Meadows to modernize our government agencies. I applaud the work that the Centers of Excellence have already completed and look forward to codifying this program,” said Rep. Khanna. “This bill and these centers will to continue to save money for the American Taxpayer and bring state of the art technology to our federal government. In such partisan times, this effort is a good reminder that there are many issues that we can still come together on for the betterment of our nation”

“Congress should take every opportunity possible to make government more effective and efficient as we work to better serve Americans everywhere,” said Rep. Meadows. “By bringing the best of private sector innovation to the federal government’s IT systems, these Centers of Excellence will allow agencies to better communicate with the Americans they serve, all while saving the taxpayer tens of millions by making agencies more efficient. IT modernization is increasingly important for innovations both within and outside government, and I want to thank Rep. Khanna of California for his bipartisan work on this critical initiative. I’m glad to join him.”

The Centers of Excellence (CoE) sits underneath Technology Transformation Services (TTS) at General Services Administration (GSA), and was established in 2017. Depending on its current engagement phases, it is a 50-150 person enterprise integration consultancy with a mission of accelerating IT modernization by leveraging private sector innovation. It centralizes best technological and modernization practices and expertise for the transformation of executive agencies.

It currently has the following six “centers”: artificial intelligence, cloud adoption, contact center, customer experience, data and analytics, and infrastructure optimization.

The CoEs are currently working or have worked with the following agencies: USDA, HUD, OPM, CSPC, DoD/JAIC. The partnership with USDA saved the agency an estimated $43 million in cost savings.

Read the Modernization Centers of Excellence Program Act here.

Posted February 13, 2020

Source: Office of Congressman Ro Khanna

Koch Industries Deploys Innovative AC Kinetics Drive Software; Slashes Energy Consumption 31 Percent

WICHITA, Kan. — February 13, 2020 — Koch Industries Inc. (Koch) announced key findings from its use of an innovative software created by AC Kinetics (ACK). Georgia-Pacific, a Koch company, ran the software on a start-stop jumbo roll bath tissue line. “The 31-percent energy savings and the motor temperature reductions, which increases motor lifespan, that one of Georgia-Pacific’s Green Bay, Wisconsin, facilities experienced using AC Kinetics’ drive are nothing short of extraordinary,” said Mike Younis, director of Energy Optimization for Georgia-Pacific’s Consumer Products Division.  “We see huge potential with AC Kinetics’ software to increase the efficiency of tens of thousands of machines with motors at Georgia-Pacific and across other Koch companies. This can reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power generation and significantly increase our operational efficiency.”

ACK drive software is installed on the motor drive — the hardware that regulates the voltages and currents to the motor — and auto-configures for optimal operation thereby saving setup costs. “Our revolutionary software runs on standard drive hardware and delivers the highest performance and the lowest energy consumption simultaneously; automatically saving energy, reducing carbon emissions, and lowering motor temperature,” said Dr. Neil Singer, President of AC Kinetics. “This allows companies to boost the efficiency of their conversion machines’ motors, thereby saving huge amounts of energy without compromising performance.

Currently, 45 percent of the world’s produced energy goes into motors, and 90 percent of motor ownership costs are energy. Motors fitted with ACK drive software consume less power throughout their life cycle, especially at lower loads and speeds, without impacting performance.  AC Kinetics’ software enhances the motor drive by optimizing the electrodynamics of motor system, increasing performance and simultaneously reducing energy usage.  ACK Kinetics is currently offering licenses for the software to motor drive manufacturers.

Posted February 13, 2020

Source: Koch Industries Inc.

Unifi Announces Recipients Of Third Annual REPREVE® Champions Of Sustainability Awards

GREENSBORO, N.C. — February 13, 2020 — Unifi Inc. today announced recipients of the third annual Champions of Sustainability awards, continuing to recognize companies driving sustainability for the good of tomorrow. This year, a total of 79 companies have achieved key milestones through their use of REPREVE recycled performance fiber. Highlights include H&M, which has recycled more than a half billion bottles, and Wal-Mart and Quiksilver reaching the quarter billion bottle milestone. In addition, Lovesac and Inditex, special category winners last year, both advanced to bottle-based awards.

“Working together, Unifi’s brand, retailer and textile partners have helped us recycle more than 19 billion bottles,” said Jay Hertwig, senior vice president of global sales and marketing for Unifi. “We are excited that more and more companies are committing to global responsibility and using our ecofriendly fiber options to positively impact our planet, both now and in the future.”

REPREVE Champions of Sustainability will be awarded to 26 brand and retail partners that have each transformed 10 million or more recycled plastic bottles, and 42 textile partners that have each transformed 50 million or more bottles, through the use of REPREVE performance fibers. A list of award recipients can be found below and by visiting Unifi.com/champions.

“While plastic consumption is on the rise, we’re doing our part to give bottles a second life. It is our hope that these awards also inspire consumers to make recycling a daily habit and increase recycling rates,” said Hertwig.

In addition to the 68 bottle-based awards, Unifi is also recognizing 11 special category award winners:

  • REPREVE Partners in Innovation recognizes companies that have created a unique product with REPREVE or that used REPREVE in a fresh, innovative way. This year’s winners are Twin Dragon, Palmetto Synthetics and U.S. Denim Mills.
  • REPREVE Circular Economy recognizes companies that demonstrate a substantial commitment to the circular economy by transforming waste into new products. Logoplaste and Oak Hall are being recognized accordingly.
  • REPREVE Newcomer recognizes key companies that made a significant switch to REPREVE within the last year. Unifi is proud to recognize Macy’s, Happy X Nature, Culp Home Fashions and Hard Rock International for this award.
  • REPREVE All-In recognizes companies that integrated REPREVE throughout their product line(s). Bermuda Sands and Walmart are winners for their commitment to using REPREVE.

Brand & Retailer Bottle Awards

  • Aeropostale;
  • Gildan;
  • Haggar;
  • HanesBrands;
  • Haworth;
  • H&M;
  • Inditex;
  • JCPenney;
  • Jordache;
  • Lindex;
  • Lovesac;
  • Lucky Textiles;
  • Momentum;
  • NIKE;
  • Okaïdi;
  • Patagonia;
  • Polartec;
  • Quiksilver;
  • Target;
  • Timberland;
  • The North Face; and
  • Under Armour.

Textile Partner Bottle Awards

  • Antex Knitting;
  • Billion Rise;
  • Clarotex;
  • Copen;
  • Darlington;
  • Duvaltex;
  • Elevate Textiles;
  • Freudenberg Performance Materials;
  • Hamrick Mills;
  • Hornwood Inc;
  • Inmobiliaria Apopa;
  • Intradeco;
  • Jiangyin Chunlan;
  • Kipas;
  • Küçükçalık;
  • MAS Fabrics;
  • Merinos;
  • Milliken & Company;
  • Nanjing Haixinlining;
  • Nantong Dafuhao;
  • Nantong Shuanghong;
  • Ningbo Huayao;
  • Ningbo Shenzhou;
  • Pettenati;
  • Pride Performance Fabrics;
  • Saehan;
  • Sage Automotive Interiors;
  • Shandong Hongye;
  • Shanghai Challenge Textile;
  • Shuford Mills LLC;
  • Snyder Enterprises Inc.;
  • Suzhou Yunmei;
  • Swisstex Direct LLC;
  • Tah Tong Textile;
  • Texhong;
  • Texpasa USA LLC;
  • Textufil S.A.;
  • Tuntex;
  • Worldon;
  • Wujiang Zhonglian;
  • Wuxi Changjiang; and
  • Yuanwen.

Special Category Awards

REPREVE Partners in Innovation

  • Twin Dragon;
  • Palmetto Synthetics; and
  • U.S. Denim Mills.

REPREVE Circular Economy

  • Logoplaste; and
  • Oak Hall.

REPREVE Newcomer

  • Macy’s;
  • Happy X Nature;
  • Culp Home Fashions; and
  • Hard Rock International.

REPREVE All-in

  • Bermuda Sands; and
  • Walmart.

Posted February 13, 2020

Source: Unifi Inc.

Ocean State Innovations Acquires ColorWorks

Portsmouth, R.I.-based Ocean State Innovations, a Brand & Oppenheimer (B&O) company,
has acquired ColorWorks, an Elizabethton, Tenn.-based commission textile dyer and finisher. Ocean State will contribute the capability to source a wider range of textiles as well as technical knowledge, both of which will help better serve the needs of ColorWorks’ customers.

“We look forward to continuing our commitment to the ongoing operations at ColorWorks and the future innovation that the commission dyeing and finishing segment adds
to Ocean State,” said Edward Ricci, Ocean State Innovations CEO.

Praesidian Capital, an investor in both first lien debt and equity in B&O/Ocean State, is supportive of Ocean State’s continued strategic growth.

“We are very pleased with Ocean State’s growth trajectory and with management’s continued commitment to innovation, customer service, and high-quality textile products,” said Jason Drattell, the founding partner of Praesidian. “We anticipate continued growth and success as management executes on their strategic vision.”

January/February 2020

MagnaColours® Launches Water-Based Transfer Range

England-based MagnaColours® has launched MagnaTrans™ a water-based transfer printing range, which includes water-based inks, transfer dye migration blocker, printable and sprinkle adhesives, and fixer, as well hot and cold peel transfer films for matt and gloss finishes.

MagnaTrans inks were designed for screen-printing transfers or digital printing transfer systems. White, black and neutral base inks are available, and eco-pigments can be combined with the base ink to produce colors as required. Pantone and fluorescent premixes also will be available in addition to a collection of special-effect inks — metallic, two-tone, reflective, ultraviolet reactive and glow in the dark — for unique designs.

“With these new inks, printers can achieve the same incredible high stretch designs with heat transfers as they can with our conventional screen-printing inks, whilst enjoying the same benefits of having an environmentally friendly solution,” said Helen Parry, managing director at MagnaColours.

January/February 2020

Epson Launches SureColor® F3070 DTG Printer

Long Beach, Calif.-based Epson America Inc. has introduced the SureColor® F3070, its first industrial DTG printer. The machine is designed for high-production printshops with reliability and performance in mind. According to Epson, the SureColor F3070 features a new 2.6-inch PrecisionCore® dual printhead and a bulk ink pack system for low ink cost and minimized waste compared to Epson’s cartridge systems. Additional features include an automatic garment height adjustment and easy user maintenance. SureColor F3070 is capable of printing custom garments in a variety of fiber types such as cotton, linen and rayon.

“The printed textile market is seeing tremendous growth, complemented by new printing
technology innovation,” said Tim Check, senior product manager, Professional Imaging, Epson America. “We are committed to driving the digital textile market and excited to expand Epson’s award-winning product line to deliver our first industrial direct-to-garment printer for high-production print shops. Designed for mid-to-large size garment printers looking for a high-production, cost-effective equipment, the SureColor F3070 can produce
a full-size shirt in about a minute, allowing shops to print hundreds of shirts per day.”

January/February 2020

Textil del Valle Selects Kornit Digital DTG Printer

Israel-based Kornit Digital reports Textil del Valle South America, a vertically integrated garment manufacturer based in Peru, has added Kornit’s direct-to-garment (DTG) digital printer to its 1.1-million-square-foot facility.

“Kornit’s sustainable print technology provides the last piece of the puzzle, so we have the ‘full package’ for manufacturing the garment itself, imprinting it on demand based on the customer need, and shipping it ourselves, all from a single location,” said Juan Jose Cordova, general manager at Textil del Valle. “Our market has been veering away from stocking shelves with inventory that may or may not sell, and the Kornit solution helps our business and customers eliminate that uncertainty and risk.”

January/February 2020

Benninger Acquires LAB-PRO

Benninger AG recently acquired LAB-PRO GmbH, a producer of dyeing machines, dosing systems, hydro-extractors and laboratory equipment. Both companies are based in Switzerland, and Benninger is a sister company of Jakob Müller AG and 100-percent owned by Jakob Müller Holding AG. The move integrates LAB-PRO’s discontinuous dyeing technology — including the FabricMaster jet-dyeing machine, JigMaster jigger and BeamMaster high-temperature beam dyeing machine — into Benninger’s portfolio.

LAB-PRO founders Thomas Widmer and Thomas Gerhard will continue to lead the company as managing directors.

January/February 2020

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