Over the past few months, many spinners have noticed a noticeable drop off in orders. While they give multiple hypotheses for the somewhat stagnant business conditions, none say they are really sure what has changed.
“Normally, we have a decrease after holiday orders are delivered, but not quite like this,” said one spinner. “Part of it, I think, is caution by our customers as a result of the current environment in Washington. I don’t think anyone knows exactly what is going to happen, but the potential for impact on the economy is there.”
Another spinner said, “I think a lot of business executives think we are overdue for a recession, and they are being cautious about restocking. If the bottom does fall out, they don’t want to be stuck with excess inventory that is not moving off the shelves.”
Yet another spinning executive attributed the slowdown to increased imports. “Because of looming tariff increases, customers are buying as many products from China as they can before prices increase. Even though the tariffs scheduled for October have been delayed by President Trump, there are still increases scheduled for December. So, unless the U.S. and China come to some agreement, many Chinese imports will be considerably more expensive for U.S. buyers after December 15.”
The December increase, if implemented, will place an additional 15 percent tariff on about $160 billion in Chinese products.
Textile Traceability Efforts Increase
Numerous issuesand the expanding global supply chain have made traceability more important over the past few years.
A number of companies have invested millions in tracking processes that trace a product from point of origin, through every step in manufacturing/fabrication process and, ultimately, up to consumer purchase. Traceability is also becoming prevalent in the textile industry, particularly to help counter country-of-origin fraud and counterfeit products.
“The textile supply chain is a complex network and a lot can happen in the process between the various production lines or stages — from the production of fiber and yarn and on to weaving or knitting the textile, the garment production, the transportation to the retailers, and finally to the consumer,” said a doctoral student at a Swedish university. Tarun Kumar Agrawal, at the Swedish School of Textiles, University of Borås, has developed a traceability method using blockchain technology. Originally developed to trace cryptocurrency transactions, Blockchain is a digitized, decentralized, immutable ledger of transactions that, in theory, is virtually tamper-proof and provides complete supply-chain transparency to involved stakeholders.
Agrawal was quoted recently by the website phys.org: “Consumers want to know where the garment they buy comes from, what it is made of, and if it is ethically produced. At the same time, the producers want to show that their products keep promised quality and are sustainable, and they want to be able to protect themselves from counterfeiting.”
Traditional textile traceability has been based on such things as RFID and QR codes, but these systems are limited in scope. By expanding traceability technology, consumers can now be assured that the product the receive is to the specifications they expect.
One company in the industry investing heavily if traceability is Oritain, a London-based company that specializes in verifying origin. Recently, Oritain and COTTON USA signed a partnership to provide forensic verification of origin for all U.S. cotton. “A global first for the cotton industry, this collaboration will give brands and retailers the assurance they need to make responsible sourcing and purchasing decisions,” according to a recent press release.
“We want to support Cotton USA who are making a conscious effort to find real, workable ways of farming more sustainably,” said Rupert Hodges, executive director, Oritain. “The result is an incredibly high-quality crop that not only performs well but supports the environment. Now through Oritain, customers who choose U.S. cotton can have total confidence that they are getting the product that they sourced.”
Editor’s Note: It was incorrectly reported in the October 2019 edition of Yarn Market that both the legislatures of Canada and Mexico have ratified the USMCA. To date, only Mexico has done so.
Canada-based Albarrie uses Evonik’s P84® polyimide fiber in some of its filter fabrics.
Upcoming FiltXPO™, an exhibition and technical conference dedicated to filtration and separation, will highlight opportunities in this growing industry sector.
By Sandy Frinton
Technical textile manufacturers may find opportunities in the burgeoning filtration industry at FiltXPO™ — the International Filtration/Separation Exhibition & Technical Conference — which will be held February 26-28, 2020. For those involved in filtration and separation, more than 2,000 attendees and 200 exhibitors will gather at Chicago’s Navy Pier for North America’s only exhibition and technical conference dedicated exclusively to filtration and separation, according to the organizer — the Cary, N.C.-based Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry.
The time to seize the opportunities in filtration is now with growth fueled by stringent emissions regulations and public pressure for cleaner air and water, rapid industrialization in developing global markets, growth in healthcare and biopharmaceuticals, developing markets for cannabis filtration and high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) cleanroom type filtration, and the desire for ecofriendly products, among other factors.
Filtration media suppliers are focusing on more efficient, cleaner energy, value-added, high-performing solutions. Nanofiber and high-performance material technologies are emerging as alternatives to traditional membranes, creating new opportunities for textile, nonwoven and engineered material manufacturers.
At the same time, the industry is grappling to find ways to overcome low consumer awareness of air quality health issues, balancing performance and price, determining standards, addressing an aging workforce, dealing with consolidations, and wrangling with trade and tariff concerns.
Technical experts will provide the latest insights on these timely topics and more during FiltXPO. With a large convergence of thought leaders in one place, the outlook for the filtration industry to chart future strategies is extremely favorable.
Cross section view of HiFyber HF-STP4720 multilayer nanofiber media.
Market Opportunities
“The filtration market will continue to be influenced by the increased global demand for cleaner and contamination-free air and water,” said Noora Blasi, marketing communications manager, Filtration & Performance, Finland-based Ahlstrom-Munksjö. “Regulatory compliance and increased focus on safety in workplaces are also impacting the filtration market and encourage the players in the filtration market to continuously develop next-generation solutions.”
The need for pure water around the world will create opportunities, predicts Ben Blundell, business director Elastomer, E & E, Filter, Stockmeier Urethanes USA Inc., Clarksburg, W.Va. “As the world population continues to grow, we face the continued need for clean water in global regions where water is either scarce or polluted,” Blundell said. “There’s also a trend to improve our current filter products to make them reusable and increase longevity and efficiency.”
Hollingsworth & Vose (H&V), East Walpole, Mass., continues to see demand for improved indoor air quality (IAQ) and energy savings achieved by lowering filter pressure. “We have a strong pipeline of product innovation solutions for cabin air, HVAC, fuel and liquid filtration,” said Mike Clark, president, High Efficiency Specialty Filtration Business Unit. “We are seeing increasing demand for fine particulate air filtration as end-use customer expectations for IAQ increase. We are seeing an increasing interest in IAQ monitoring with the advent of lower-cost ePM1 and ePM2.5 sensor technology. H&V’s new solutions increase filtration efficiency without increasing pressure drop.”
Mehmet Caglar Gonullu, sales manager at Turkey-based HiFyber, sees many favorable trends impacting the filtration segment. “There is potential for growth regarding significant trends such as transformative advances in healthcare, digital technology changes, and zero emissions,” Gonullu said. “Also, the high demand potential, rapid industrialization, increasing per capita income in China and India makes the filtration market very attractive and China is expected to be a worldwide hub for lots of filtration materials. Additionally, rising demand for high performance and eco-friendly products is a key factor expected to drive the market in the future.”
Customized filter tubes, filter discs, filter bags and filter cylinders from MAISHI Manufacture Group Ltd., China.
Greg Rhoden, national market manager for Engineered Products, Phifer Inc., Tuscaloosa, Ala., expects continued growth in demand for filtration products across the board as air and emissions standards become more stringent.
According to Gonullu, cabin air filters for trains, trucks, buses and off-road vehicles are growing fast to meet the European Union (E.U.) air quality standards and these applications currently are at fine filtration grades but trending to HEPA filtration grades in the future. Companies that offer innovative products for these applications will get a foothold, Gonullu said.
H&V’s EIF Division President Josh Ayer said: “Fuel filtration is becoming increasingly important to OEMs as they look for solutions to meet automotive emissions challenges. H&V’s ability to combine multiple filtration media technologies to produce high-performance composite materials enables us to meet a wide variety of application requirements that are often competing in nature such as increased efficiency and life without a pressure drop penalty.”
Customers are seeking filtration media that offers low-pressure loss, high flow and longer service life with lower running cost, as well as customized solutions to fit individual requirements, said Takashi Owada, general manager of New York City-based Teijin Frontier U.S.A.
Another growth segment is the healthcare and biomedical industry. For HiFyber, this area is the largest contributor to the growing demand of nanofibers globally. Applications such as drug delivery, barrier textiles, wound healing and tissue engineering, employ the services of nanofibers on a wide scale in the healthcare and biomedical industry.
Greenville, Wis.-based 5K Fibres spins cellulose solutions as part of product development.
Nanofibers And High-Performance Fabrics
Nanofiber technology is a unique solution that delivers exceptional and consistent performance to fill the gap between conventional filtration materials and membranes, according to Gonullu. “Nanofibers are literally revolutionizing the filtration industry and enhancing the performance of the filters,” he said. “There are lots of trends in the market that will drive nanofibers demand for medical, textile, automotive and electronics applications. Up until more recently for submicron particle filtration requirements, glass fiber and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membranes offered the solution, but after developments in nanofiber technology, nanofiber materials have been started to be used as an outperforming alternative with a lower-cost advantage.”
Gonullu explained the change from the HVAC market being dominated by micro-glass media and charged melt blown, which in the HEPA efficiencies is high priced. However, once the charges of the media are dissipated by loading, the efficiency of the material can degrade quickly. At this point, nanofiber synthetic materials are representing an opportunity with its low superior airflow, energy efficiency and high filtration performance.
Brian Little, president of Bondex Inc., Trenton, S.C., sees the trends continuing in industrial filtration fabric technology to accept higher-performance fabric that results in more efficient fabric that is lighter yet more robust than the traditional felts used today.
“We anticipate a shift to increased adoptions of pleated elements in the future as a way to combat throughput and filtration efficiency challenges,” Little said.
New felt technologies available today can provide users high-efficiency fabrics without the limitations associated with the use of expanded-PTFE membrane laminated felt, according to Little. As a result of aramid fiber price increases and supply challenges, his company is finding the market more willing to consider new fiber blends that historically would not have been viable.
Challenges To Tackle
While consumers are demanding cleaner air, many are not educated on the negative impacts that ultra-fine particles are having on human health, according to Michelle Czosek, CAE, executive director of the National Air Filtration Association. “There’s also the difficulty of people not seeing the payback in having good Indoor Air Quality,” she said. “There’s a cost that comes associated with having increased air quality and people need to be educated on why the long-term effects outweigh those costs.”
As the U.S. air filtration market becomes more technical and people better understand the health benefits of good IAQ in different environments opportunities will increase, Czosek expects.
“There is a need for global regulation and controls on IAQ for the benefit of human health as well as emission control and filtration improvement globally for the benefit of society,” said Paul Marold, president, Rochester, N.H.-based Lydall Performance Materials Inc., and FiltXPO Conference co-chair and Air Filtration Session chair.
The filtration industry also is undergoing a dramatic change with consolidation among players and the loss of talent due to an aging workforce.
“There are quite a few mergers and acquisitions taking place in the market driven by investors who are seeing the opportunities which improved filtration offers,” Czosek said.
Bondex’s Little sees a greater proportion of the filtration industry workforce reaching retirement eligibility each year, causing the industry to lose valuable expertise while, “the need for innovation in this space is at an all-time high.”
Another concern is current policy. “The China/USA trade negotiations are impacting the industry’s ability to forecast capital investments and outages for upgrades for plant sites, impacting overall demand,” Little added. “Additionally, the current tariff structure is limiting options for producers who source some of their goods from China, causing producers to consider and qualify new sources of materials which are not affected by this policy.”
As a primarily metal wire mesh component supplier to the filtration industry, Phifer also sees challenges resulting from trade and tariff uncertainties in the short term. On the plus side, this has created an opportunity for “Made in USA” products as the playing field for fair trade is equalized, Rhoden said.
Industrial filtration engineers are facing the challenge of meeting emissions regulations while their plant throughput is at record-high levels, according to Little. Users have constraints on baghouse upgrade options while traditional filtration fabric technology offers limited options to help solve these challenges.
Also, the trends in energy sources used for power generation are impacting the demand for filtration media product designs. “Fewer coal-fired power plants in operation have resulted in lower demand for PPS [polyphenylene sulfide] felt, while increasing use of waste to energy technology has generated a need for filtration media that is compatible with volatile gas stream chemistry,” Little said.
Filtration standards is another area affecting the industry. Gonullu notes it is necessary to be able to test and show the value of filter media to gain success in the filtration market and the cost of such testing must be accounted for as part of the startup of entering this space as a business.
Nanofiber Filter Media Session Chair Dr. Alexander L. Yarin, distinguished professor, University of Illinois at Chicago, sees the need for one global testing protocol so product comparisons are easier as well as a global standard for air quality.
“The air in China ultimately becomes the air in Europe and the air in North America,” Marold said. “By having controls and regulations in place globally, we can alter the trend of air pollution. But we as a global society have to make this a priority and pay for it.”
Conference Highlights
FiltXPO attendees have the opportunity to gain technical knowledge at the conference. The three-day event will feature seven keynotes and more than 30 speakers in the critical areas of air filtration, nanofiber filter media, separation technologies, membrane technologies, biopharmaceuticals, micro/macro modeling and water filtration.
The HiFyber team is most interested in air filtration and nanofiber media sessions at FiltXPO as those reflect the company’s main markets.
“It’s crucial for me to keep myself up-to-date on the new trends, practices, and innovations related to my field,” Gonullu said. “Membrane technology is another field of interest because we have ongoing projects for membrane production with electrospinning technology.”
Networking In Chicago
The Windy City has plenty to offer FiltXPO attendees from dining to shopping and sightseeing at Navy Pier. The networking and relationship building can continue at area restaurants with river views, and attendees will be able to take in the attractions, boat tours, beautiful skyline and great views of the lakeshore and downtown buildings.
Innovations Coming To FiltXPO™
Among the innovations that will be introduced at FiltXPO™ are new media for industrial air and liquid filtration that deliver higher efficiency, energy-savings and use nanotechnology and high-performance materials as alternatives to traditional media.
Finland-based Ahlstrom-Munksjö, will showcase its newly introduced Extia® range of 100-percent man-made, highly durable, pulse cleanable filter media specifically designed for industrial air filtration applications. The new products expand the Extia 1000 family introduced last year. At FiltXPO, the company will highlight the Extia mid-efficiency range — which includes flame retardant, surface conductive and food approved versions — tailor-made to meet the safety requirements of specific industrial air pollution control applications. It also will show the high-efficiency range, which includes offerings reaching efficiency levels up to EN1822 H13 specifically designed for applications with very fine particles and critical dusts.
India-based A2Z Filtration Specialties Pvt Ltd., a filtration machine manufacturer, will put the spotlight on various fit to purpose automated lines such as its cabin filter line, mini pleat lines and inline framing lines. Also, the company’s component division will feature its wide range of pressed metal components, end caps, expanded metal, injection molding parts, and casting and machined caps.
Bondex Inc., Trenton, S.C., a provider of technical nonwovens with thermal bond technology, will exhibit its expanded portfolio of Hydrolox® high-performance industrial filter media that includes solutions in homopolymer acrylic, polyimide, and polyester-stainless steel blends for electrostatic performance. Attendees at FiltXPO also can view Hydrolox for liquid filtration applications that include solutions with polypropylene and polyester, coupled with traditional surface finishes and industry-proven chemical treatments.
Hollingsworth & Vose, East Walpole, Mass., a global manufacturer of nonwoven materials and engineered papers, will present to FiltXPO attendees how its new NanoWave® pocket media can help companies meet the new raised HVAC ISO16890 standards. The company also has introduced a new product family in its Technostat line that combines enhanced mechanical filtration with Technostat’s electrostatic performance.
Turkey-based HiFyber, a manufacturer of nanofiber filter media engineered for high-efficiency air filtration applications, has introduced a new media in response to the demand for filters that consume less energy because of increased energy prices and increased emissions regulations. The company will show its new multilayer, fully synthetic, energy-saving and pleatable nanofiber media at FiltXPO. According to the company, this media represents a breakthrough in filtration technology and can be used in various types of filters, particularly in HVAC and also in gas turbine air intake filters. The media doesn’t rely on electrostatic charge and delivers 100 percent mechanical filtration efficiency, which guarantees consistent performance throughout the life of the filter. Using nanofibers in a small fiber diameter provides a key benefit of lower pressure drop in air filtration as the company has demonstrated in V-Bank filter testing. The media is offered from F7 and up to E12 filtration grades.
Stockmeier Urethanes makes adhesives and sealants for air, liquid and gas filtration.
Stockmeier Urethanes USA Inc., Clarksburg, W.Va. — a provider of adhesives, sealants and coating systems for the filter industry — will show technologically-advanced urethane materials that can act as both the frame and the adhesive. The company also will highlight foam gasket systems that don’t require large investments; processing methods designed in conjunction with the adhesive material to reduce labor and allow for automation, and new chemical technology to accurately control flow allowing for fast assembly methods without equipment updates.
Japan-based Teijin Frontier, will highlight its ultra-fine fiber technology which is 1/7500 times thinner than a human hair.
For more information about FiltXPO, please visit filtxpo.com.
Texworld USA is heading in a new direction for the January 2020 edition of the event to be collocated with Apparel Sourcing USA.
TW Special Report
Atlanta-based Messe Frankfurt Inc., organizer of Texworld USA, reports a new direction for the January 2020 edition of the show, which will return to the Javits Center in New York City January 19-21, 2020. Texworld USA will, as always, collocate with Apparel Sourcing USA.
Texworld USA — an apparel sourcing event for buyers, research and product development specialists, designers, merchandisers and overseas sourcing professionals — covers more than 18 product categories including cotton, denim, functional fabrics, jacquards, drapery and silky aspects. The focus for the January event is “a spotlight on innovation through the evolution of today’s fabrics: denim, cotton and functional fabrics.”
Messe Frankfurt noted updates and a new artistic direction for the January event. The Texworld Showcase, led by New York City-based The Doneger Group, will highlight trends and offer insights on the latest colors and textiles available for the Spring/Summer 2021 fashion season. Named “The New Dimension,” the trend showcase will organize functional and quality-made fabrics into four themes — Fundamental, Diaphanous, Alteration and One World.
Local Loft will again feature at Texworld USA. This designated area is focused on domestic suppliers, connecting apparel service providers with companies looking for U.S.-based production options, in-stock goods and inventory, and small quantity options to address the growing demand for low- to mid-level minimums.
Apparel Sourcing USA — a long-term joint venture partnership between Messe Frankfurt and the China-based Sub-Council of Textile Industry, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT-TEX) — is designed to offer apparel brands, retailers, wholesalers and independent design firms a dedicated sourcing marketplace for finding the best international apparel manufacturers. Focused on finished apparel, Apparel Sourcing USA specializes in ready-to-wear for men, women and children, as well as accessories.
Education
The Texworld USA Educational Program, including the Lenzing Innovation Seminar Series and Textile Talks, is open to all registered Texworld USA and Apparel Sourcing USA participants. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Lenzing Innovation Seminar Series, hosted by Austria-based Lenzing Fibers, will again feature a strong educational program “focused on finding dynamic solutions to industry and environmental problems,” according to Messe Frankfurt. “We’re looking forward to a new year in sustainable sourcing opportunities,” said Tricia Carey, director of global business development, Lenzing Fibers. “Despite the apparel industry’s sourcing challenges, we see Texworld USA as an opportunity for alternative sourcing solutions for today’s market. The Lenzing Innovation Seminar Series includes topics ranging from sustainability, tech and sourcing.”
To continue the conversations that began at the last edition’s FASHIONSUSTAIN event, FASHIONINNOVATE will make its debut on Sunday, January 19, 2020. This one-day conference, dedicated to tools and innovative fabrics, will cover such topics as technology tools, biosynthetics and smart textiles. The hope is to address industry challenges and assist companies in the quest for sustainability.
The winter edition also will host an Innovation Showcase that features a curated selection of textiles, materials and technologies.
“We chose innovation as the direction for 2020 as a way to call attention to the inventiveness in the industry and take steps towards synchronizing sustainability and innovation,” said Jennifer Bacon, show director of fashion and apparel, Messe Frankfurt.
“By adding elements like FASHIONINNOVATE and the curated innovation showcase, we achieve our objective to elevate our platform by bringing in the brightest minds to spread awareness on these topics.”
Registration is complimentary for qualified trade industry professionals. Attendees are encouraged to preregister online but may also register on-site using a business card and photo identification. The show is open Sunday, January 19, and Monday, January 20, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on January 21.
For more information about Texworld USA and Apparel Sourcing USA, please visit texworldusa.com and apparel sourcingshow.com.
Québec-based Filspec™ — a manufacturer of high-performance technical yarns from a myriad of fiber types — is a member of TechniTextile Québec.
TechniTextile Québec is focused on promoting Québec’s technical textiles industry, while supporting member companies in a variety of ways.
By Jim Kaufmann, Contributing Editor
The ever-increasing pace of change experienced throughout the textile industry has compelled companies in virtually every sector to craft various approaches to harness these changes and maybe more importantly to take advantage of them. A unique and innovative program adopted by Québec’s Ministry of Economy and Innovation aims to position the Québec Province’s business regions worldwide as industrial expertise centers. The approach borrows several tenants from a traditional Chamber of Commerce, only on a much larger geographic scale, adds in an “all for one and one for all” mentality and then focuses on creating essentially an ecosystem around “branded industry clusters.” Each industry cluster is made up of Québec-based companies with industry-specific interests to “work as one for the benefit of all.” TechniTextile Québec, a non-profit organization and legal entity that represents the sector, is one such cluster with a specific focus on the technical textiles industry.
Established in 2017 by merging three smaller clusters from different areas of the Québec Province, which includes the cities of Montreal and Québec City and much more, TechniTextile Québec was created to champion Québec’s technical textiles industry, while providing technical support, guidance and fostering collaboration, innovation and market development to member companies throughout the Québec Province and ultimately internationally. “The purpose of the merger was to consolidate the entire Québec technical textiles sector into a single niche with a broader critical mass of companies,” said Dany Charest, TechniTextile Québec’s general manager. “Our focus now is to develop and position this cluster of member companies as a brand incorporating a strategic plan to establish it as a center of technical textiles expertise in Québec and abroad.”
Four-Hundred Strong
The textile industry in general and technical textiles in particular have a large economic impact on the Québec Province where there are more than 400 companies who manufacture or use technical textiles to produce related end products. These include several companies and brands that are leaders in their respective fields based in the Québec province such as:
Cirque de Soleil’s Costume Workshop;
Logistik Unicorp., a developer and producer of uniforms;
Duvaltex, a manufacturer of fabrics for office, hospitality and healthcare applications;
Soprema, a manufacturer of building materials;
Belt-Tech, a producer of webbings and narrow fabrics for industrial applications;
Texel Technical Materials Inc., a technical nonwovens producer; and
3B Hockey, a manufacturer of hockey jerseys and socks.
All of these companies incorporate advancements in technical textiles throughout their various product lines.
Dany Charest, general manager, TechniTextile Québec
Charest explained: “Technical textiles can take the form of knits, wovens, nonwovens, carpets, rope and braids, where performance and functional characteristics are more important than esthetic attributes such as texture and visual appearance. In general, technical textiles must comply with strict customer specifications and meet precise standards for specific applications. The resulting products and composites are aimed at the industrial, construction, defense, environmental, civil engineering, safety, recreational, medical, sports, transportation and technical clothing sectors. In our view, most textiles used to make everyday clothing for the fashion market do not fall into this category. However, it should be noted that all textile markets, including fashion and clothing, certainly benefit from the many advances made in technical textile technology.”
Open Dialogs, Collaborations
While its primary focus is to promote the Québec Province’s technical textiles industry, TechniTextile Québec serves as a platform for opening dialogs and exchange between its members. It nurtures collaborations within the cluster to pool resources, initiate development activities, increase the local production of innovative textiles, improve time to market and create new jobs. “Every textile mill strives for performance,” Charest said. “Innovation and support are key to building a successful business model. We offer support in a variety of ways including several projects that focus on innovation, commercialization, market growth and sustainable development as well as developing partnerships amongst our members in order to create greater value.
“Today, TechniTextile Québec’s success is measured by the industry’s outreach to other industrial sectors that typically purchase textile products and materials,” Charest offered. “Our primary objective is to promote the region’s manufacturing capacity, which still remains relatively unknown outside of the Québec Province to this day. We are also working with Primacom, a business and marketing communications company to help us achieve our objectives in raising the profile of the industry.”
New Website, Portal
In January 2020, TechniTextile Québec will launch a new website and portal to promote the cluster’s member companies globally and make it easier for prospective technical textiles buyers to find them. The portal will feature a specialized search engine and a technical guidance desk staffed by TechniTextile Québec to make searching for suppliers and technical resources as effortless as possible. Each TechniTextile Québec member will have a listing on the portal that provides general information on their company and its product focus. Member companies will also be able to buy space for more detailed listings, gaining even greater visibility. “Making those connections between buyer and supplier is the main focus of the portal, so it will contain very little information on the cluster’s varied projects and activities, many of which may be proprietary,” Charest explained. “Our goal is to have 300 member companies on the TechniTextile.ca portal by the end of 2020 in order to provide buyers worldwide with a large pool of our cluster’s potential suppliers. This digital initiative is a ‘must’ in today’s business climate.”
Along with the TechniTextile.ca portal, TechniTextile Québec intends to launch a campaign to promote textile products made in Québec. “Our goal is to inform Québec’s institutional, commercial and industrial buyers about the multitude of value-added textile products right here in Québec via short video clips and other promotional activities,” Charest noted. “In addition, we have targeted two primary markets, where we will hold a few shows in 2020 on subsectors such as personal protection, construction and furniture. During these fairs, we will promote TechniTextile Québec, the new website and portal, broadcast our member’s video clips and provide some technical conferences and seminars to demystify the world of textiles. Québec is experiencing a full employment situation, so it is difficult to find workers in all industries, including the textiles sector. So, we’re hoping that these conferences and seminars will help to create interest in textiles for new workers as well.”
For its members, TechniTextile Québec’s level of success is based on tangibles and intangibles. The tangibles include membership numbers, levels of participation, satisfaction rates and the success of the website and portal among others. The intangibles however may prove to be more valuable in the long run. “We’re all in a race to get product to market” offered one industry veteran, “but as a whole, we are stronger than as individuals. Helping all for the benefit of all through the collaborations established, relationships built and opportunities developed resulting in the long term strength of the industry is really how TechniTextile Québec’s value will be defined.”
American Truetzschler employees, past and present.
American Truetzschler, U.S.-arm of Germany-based Trützschler GmbH, celebrated its milestone anniversary with an event for employees and their families.
By Rachael S. Davis, Executive Editor
The year was 1969. It was a historic year for the space race, and also a very remarkable year for Germany-based Trützschler GmbH & Co. KG as it opened its first subsidiary company outside of Germany to support its growing business in the United States. Charlotte, N.C.-based American Truetzschler recently hosted a “50 Years of Service” event for employees and special guests to mark its 50th anniversary milestone. Games, food and music were in plentiful supply during the celebration; and the Carolina Panthers’ Sir Purr mascot and the PurrCussion drumline also made an appearance.
During the event, Stefan Engel, American Truetzschler CEO, said to the gathered employees, “This is a celebration where we celebrate you, your hard work, your dedication and your commitment.”
“It all started with a dream in the Trützschler family,” Engel said. “They turned this dream into a plan by taking risks, developing state of the art products, hiring passionate people, and building a strong and honest relationship with customers, suppliers and employees. Once American Truetzschler was successfully established, each of you helped in a unique and very personal way to keep this dream alive. You have unconditionally provided excellent service to our customers, which is the most important pillar of this company.”
“Fifty years ago — 1969 — many of you will remember was the year when American astronauts landed on the moon for the first time,” said Dr. Michael Schürenkrämer, member of Trützschler’s Supervisory Board, during the anniversary celebration. “The year 1969 also played a giant role for the comparatively little world of Trützschler in Germany, as our fathers Hans and Hermann Trützschler founded their first subsidiary abroad far, far away on another continent in Charlotte, N.C.
“Just as the astronauts explored the moon in several missions before they landed, our fathers — with a genetic code from the founder for customers — had previously taken care of the American market extensively,” Schürenkrämer added. It was a challenging and big market where Trützschler already had business with, even before the Second World War.”
(left to right): During the event,Trützschler Supervisory Board Members Heinrich Trützschler and Dr. Michael Schürenkrämer presented Stefan Engel with a gift as a thank you for his dedication to the well-being of the company.
Fifty-Years Of Growth, Changes
Initially, the business opened as a service and repair company. In 1973, American Truetzschler moved into its own building on Performance Road where it remains today — albeit with numerous expansions to the space over the intervening years.
In the early 1980s, the company began manufacturing the first American-built machine, the FBK524 chute feed for carding machines, mixers and cotton cleaners. The feed streamlined production and reduced costs, according to the company. Approximately 2,900 FBK tuft feeders were produced in total, which were mounted onto rebuilt cards in the United States. “The first customers to receive Trützschler equipment made in the United States were Shuford Mills and Highland Yarn Mills,” Dr. Schürenkrämer mentioned.
A testament to the health and growth of the U.S. yarn spinning industry during the 1990s was the rapid sales of Trützschler’s carding machines during the decade. In 1992, the company sold its 2,000th card to Sara Lee in Mountain City, Tenn. In 1997, the company delivered its 3,000th card to Shuford Mills, which was the company’s first Trützschler card purchase. And unbelievably, just two years later in 1999, American Truetzschler marked another milestone when it delivered its 4,000th card in the United States.
Schürenkrämer acknowledged Russell Corp., Parkdale, Hanes, Sara Lee, National Textile, Vintage Yarns — now known as Parkdale Plant No. 25 — Dan Valley, Mayo Yarns and Frontier Spinning as important customers during the 1990s.
Trützschler Supervisory Board Member Heinrich Trützschler personally thanked the company’s largest U.S. customer Parkdale Mills. “Mr. Duke Kimbrell and Mr. Andy Warlick purchased roughly 800 Trützschler cards over the years,” Trützschler said. “Because Parkdale took over some other mills with Trützschler cards, they had more than 1,000 Trützschler cards in total!”
The Carolina Panthers’ PurrCussion drumline made an appearance during the festivities.
During the 2000s, American Trützschler introduced card wire products after its parent company acquired the activities of John D. Hollingsworth, and increased production capacity in Charlotte to include large components for nonwovens machinery too.
In 2005, yarn spinner Parkdale took delivery of its 1,000th Trützschler carding machine. The year 2007 saw the company sell its first complete nonwovens line to a customer in the United States. Later, metallic card clothing production and service and flat repair, as well as an additional sales division to serve the bulk continuous filament (BCF) industry were added to the company’s capabilities.
“Unfortunately, we had to close down manufacturing of blowroom machines in Charlotte, but the activities still going on comprise the production of card clothing, repair of rolls, electric control cabinets and spare parts stock service,” board member Trützschler said.
Today, under the leadership of Engel, the company is organized into four main areas: the card clothing business; spinning business, nonwovens business and BCF business. “American Trützschler at present is small but in good shape; it is lean, powerful and competitive,” Trützschler stated.
Former American Truetzschler Vice President Detlef Jaekel (left) and current CEO Stefan Engel.
Employee Recognitions
Special guests at the event included American Truetzschler’s former CEO Kurt Scholler, who became a Trützschler employee in 1989; as well as former Vice President Detlef Jaekel who spent 52 years employed by the company.
During his speech, Heinrich Trützschler recognized Jaekel’s contributions to the company. “[Jaekel] joined Trützschler Germany in 1965, moved to Charlotte in 1975 and grew finally into the top management position,” Trützschler said. “In 2017 — after his long and successful career — Detlef retired. Detlef’s life was American Truetzschler. He always worked very hard and, in many cases, even day and night and on Sundays since customers would call him anytime when they had a major problem. Detlef never gave up on a problem and finally solved them. He was a fighter for the company. Mr. Jaekel, we are aware of the excellent and outstanding job you did for this company. Thank you very much for your big personal efforts!”
Many other employees were noted by name during the celebration for their contributions to American Truetzschler over the years, but four in particular were honored for their long years of service to the company. The following people were presented with a token of appreciation:
Mark Smith, production manager – 40 years;
Monte Stratton, customer service parts – 43 years;
Wolfgang Naegel, quality control – 50 years; and
Guenter Dohmen, technical service – 55 years.
Engel also was presented with “a symbolic sign of gratitude” for his daily commitment and dedication to the well-being of the company from the supervisory board members.
“On occasion of this 50th anniversary we would like to take this opportunity and express our special thanks to all of our American customers for their great support over those years,” Trützschler said. “Without the trust and confidence of our customers we couldn’t be successful. We are extremely grateful for these good relationships which we hope to continue in the future.”
“Service is the mirror of your dedication, loyalty, trust in the family and its products,” Engel offered to the employees during the celebration. “We are all proud and excited about the past achievements, but we are more enthusiastic about the challenges and opportunities lying ahead. Today we celebrate you — the past and the future of American Truetzschler. We have fantastic products, a great organization spread throughout the world, and we have you with the right spirit. It fills me with pride and confidence on our journey to the next 50 years.”
Although smaller than in past years, the 99th edition of IFAI Expo attracted quality attendees.
TW Special Report
IFAI Expo 2019, organized by the Roseville, Minn.-based Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI), hosted more than 325 exhibitors at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., and attracted 4,412 verified visitors from 64 countries, according to IFAI. The show floor was complemented by more than 83 educational sessions over 4 days of programming, a keynote address and 28 camp-fire style sessions targeting the Advanced Textiles, Specialty Fabrics and Shade and Weather Protection segments.
“To me, as a first-time attendee, IFAI Expo is a place to meet people, a place to learn more about your own industry and a place to learn more about what else is out there, what are you missing and what is left to be discovered,” said Jenn Bradley, Synthetic Resources Inc., Seattle, Wash.
Highlights from the expo included: an all-day behind-the-scenes tour of Walt Disney World; an opening reception offering craft beer and carnival-style games; the Industrial Fabrics Foundation Night featuring a performance by the IFAI-member band Hangin’ By A Thread; the expo’s first-ever 5K Fun Run/Walk; the Manufacturing for Good demonstration area; and keynote speaker Thom Singer. More than 300 attendees also participated in 14 Market/Division open meetings where IFAI members and non-members came together to talk about challenges, opportunities and new technologies.
Scott Campbell, CEO of Ranier Industries Ltd., Tukwila, Wash., was honored with the rarely bestowed Chairman’s Award. Recipients are those deemed to have had an extraordinary and meaningful impact on the association. IFAI Chairman Steve Ellington, president of Trivantage, presented the award to Campbell during IFAI’s Annual Meeting that was held during the expo.
IFAI also presented the Outstanding Volunteer Awards recognizing members who generously gave their time to serve on different boards, task forces and committees, judged competitions and provided education and leadership to others in the industry. Additionally, IFAI recognized high-achieving products and designs with the Show Stoppers awards, International Achievement Awards, Industrial Fabrics Foundation Innovation Awards, Advanced Textiles Student Design Competition, and Fabric Structures Student Design Competition.
“The first day was the best day we’ve had at a trade show in several years — both in quantity and quality of the visitors” said Ted Fetterman, director of sales and marketing, Bally Ribbon Mills, Bally, Pa. “We’ve seen owners and upper management out here looking at what is new and what’s innovative, and that’s interesting.”
“Although the show wasn’t as big, we gathered a lot of leads and a lot of quality contacts,” said Brian Kenny, Director of Sales at YKK-USA Inc. “For me, that’s what it’s about because that quality will translate into revenue. I’m also looking forward to Indianapolis next year. I think it will be a good location for the show.”
“IFAI Expo 2019 was a success — attendees, both domestic and international, experienced the newest products and technologies on the show floor and enjoyed insightful education led by industry experts,” said Steve Schiffman, IFAI President and CEO. “Overall attendance was up only slightly, but exhibitor comments were very positive. Attendees were highly qualified prospects and very interested in buying. We are pleased with the results and feedback from this year’s expo and look forward to our plans for the 100th Anniversary of IFAI Expo in 2020.”
Mark your calendars for IFAI Expo 2020, which will be held November 4-6, 2020, in Indianapolis, Ind.
The Talley Student Union on the NC State campus was a great location for the recent RISE® conference.
The recent RISE® event facilitated learning as well as building connections for individuals in the nonwoven/engineered fabrics industry.
TW Special Report
The ninth RISE® — Research, Innovation & Science for Engineered Fabrics — conference, attracted more than 170 professionals to the Talley Student Union on the campus of North Carolina State University (NC State), Raleigh, N.C. The event was co-organized by the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA), NC State, and The Nonwovens Institute (NWI).
RISE focuses on emerging technologies and ideas with the aim of connecting innovations with real-world applications for professionals in the nonwoven/engineered fabrics industry.
At the 2019 edition, attendees gathered to hear presentations given on topics arranged in three major sessions — Sustainable Additives & Polymers; Circular Innovation; and Market Data & Intelligence Trends. Keynote presentations included “CiCLO Sustainable Textile Technology” by Andrea Ferris, CEO, Intrinsic Advanced Materials; “The U.S. Economic Outlook” by Dr. John Connaugton, Barings Professor of Financial Economics, UNC-Charlotte; and “Biodegradation-Promoting Additions for Plastics — Questions You Should Ask,” by Dr. Susan Selke, director and professor, School of Packaging at Michigan State University. RISE also featured a poster exhibition highlighting the work of graduate students presented by NWI.
During RISE, the Nonwovens Institute hosted a reception with guided tours of its facility on the NC State campus.
Conference attendees also had the opportunity to attend a reception and guided tour of the 40,000-square-foot NWI on the Centennial Campus of NC State.
“This conference provides valuable new nuggets of information and I always make six to eight strong connections,” said Darryl Fournier, vice president, North America, Fibertex Nonwovens.
Innovation Award
During the conference, attendees listened to presentations from each of the three RISE Innovation Award finalists about their products — Surfaceskins from the Nonwovens Innovation & Research Institute (NIRI), England; Reicofil 5 (RF5) Technology from Reifenhäuser Reicofil GmbH & Co. KG, Germany; and the Remodelling™ Compound Hernia Patch from Shanghai Pine & Power Biotech, China — and voted for their favorite innovation. NIRI took home the top honor for its Surfaceskins antibacterial door push pads and door handles, which are designed to kill deposited germs in just seconds between one user and the next one passing through a door to help limit the spread of healthcare associated infections.
“RISE 2019 on the North Carolina State University campus was an energizing event,” said INDA President Dave Rousse. “The venue of academia added to the sense of learning from the conference content. With great support from NC State and the Nonwovens Institute, this edition of RISE was described by many as the best RISE event yet. The combination of the campus environment, strong slate of speakers, condensed agenda with lunch on-site, and the Nonwovens Institute reception and tour made for a value-packed two full days. I think we have found the right formula, and we look forward to returning RISE to NC State again next year, with our partner, the Nonwovens Institute.”
RISE will return to the NC State campus in September 2020.
Lang Ligon & Co. Inc. was a first-time exhibitor at FloorTek.
TW Special Report
The American Floorcovering Alliance (AFA) recent hosted FloorTek 2019 at the Dalton Convention Center, Dalton, Ga. The exhibition featured 80 exhibitors with the addition of several new programs to the satisfaction of exhibitors and visitors alike.
Zach Monroe of Card-Monroe Corp. called FloorTek 2019 the “best yet,” saying, “It’s really good to see that, as we invest in the show, they invest back.”
His sentiments were echoed by Eltex U.S. Inc.’s President Jonathan Bell. “My overall impression was that FloorTek was a very well run show and seemed to be better attended this year than the last several shows,” Bell said. Eltex was showcasing its new sensor for tufting machines, the COMPACT II, which was first shown at the recent ITMA show in Barcelona.
The Synthetic Yarn & Fabric Association’s Rodney Turner (left) with AFA’s Stephanie Manis
Focus On Future Connections
Future Connections was added to the FloorTek agenda as a way to network local, future talent with opportunities in the floorcovering industry.
Stephanie Manis, AFA executive director, stated: “FloorTek is the perfect opportunity to connect future leaders with the current industry. Partnering with local schools in an industry networking environment such as FloorTek is the perfect space to connect students and industry businesses to show what options are available in the industry.”
According to AFA, “The inaugural Future Connections drew the HR departments of Engineered Floors, Apache Mills, Qualified Staffing, American Carpet Wholesalers, and Express Employment professionals, and students from Dalton State, Chattanooga State, Cleveland State, Georgia Northwestern, and Belhaven.”
“Dr. Tremaine Powell, dean of Engineering and Information Technologies at Chattanooga State Community College, both staffed the Chatt State booth at FloorTek and participated in the Future Connections event,” AFA reported. “Some of his students participated, but Powell and other education professions who attended intend to make FloorTek’s Future Connections networking event a part of the curriculum for next year’s classes.”
Extending Networking In Dalton
The AFA also organized a new networking opportunity for FloorTek attendees and exhibitors with an opening night VIP reception titled “Taste of Dalton” held in Burr Park located in downtown Dalton. The event featured local fare, live music, drinks, and more, with the support of sponsors, participating Dalton restaurants and supporting members.
AFA To Make FloorTek An Annual Staple
The AFA announced at the exhibition’s conclusion that because of the success of the event, and a high satisfaction rating among exhibitors, it intends to make FloorTek an annual staple as opposed to holding the exhibition every other year.
The AFA defines itself as a “not for profit association created to promote and market the flooring industry.” It was mission success at this year’s FloorTek 2019 exhibition.
CAMX showcased the variety and depth of the composites industry, as well as hinted at future opportunities.
By Jim Kaufmann, Contributing Editor
CAMX — the Composites and Advanced Materials Expo produced by the American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA) and the Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering (SAMPE) — held recently at the Convention Center in Anaheim, Calif., was the equivalent of walking into a big box superstore filled with virtually every aspect of the composites supply chain. The only real difference between the expo and a big box retailer was that one rarely, if ever, had to look for assistance because plenty of knowledgeable representatives, eager to address any questions, staffed each booth.
Numerous examples of molded composite parts and end products were on display in many booths showcasing how broad and varied the composites industry has become, while at the same time hinting at how much more opportunities lie ahead. The CAMX and ACE Awards display areas on the show floor also added to the potential of more new applications and unique opportunities created with composites.
Variety and product selection along with all the “hot topics” — such as Industry 4.0, improving processing speeds and market growth and expansion — were certainly present and lest we forget, there was a lot of business being conducted throughout. “It may not always look like it, but there are a lot of people having a lot of strategic meetings here at the show,” said Seth Carlin, key account manager for Saertex-USA, Huntersville, N.C. “I’ve been in so many meetings, I haven’t had a chance to walk the show floor and now doubt that I will.”
“It just makes good sense for me to attend these industry shows,” offered Lutz Heinig, sales manager, technical textiles business unit for Greensboro, N.C.-based Karl Mayer North America. “It would take me three to five days of travel alone just to see the number of our customers that I can see here in one day.”
“CAMX always does a good job with the show set up allowing us easy access to all aspects of the industry, including our suppliers and customers and it’s great to catch up with everyone,” added Dave Maas, business development manager, V2 Composites, Auburn, Ala.
One of the underlying themes at CAMX was the growing urgency to keep the current momentum in the industry going. As composites usage grows in acceptance, companies now have to show they belong and can match or better traditional manufacturing methodologies in performance, cost and efficiency. “The end users are the key and we all need to somehow get more of them attending these shows to broaden the lines of communications,” said Daryl Thompson, business development manager, Hypercomp Engineering, Brigham City, Utah. “I see suppliers talking to suppliers and there are customers here, but it’s really the end users who need to understand what each level of this supply chain is capable of.” Exhibitor Andreas Martsman, vice president of marketing and sales for Sweden-based TeXtreme, added: “We, as fabric suppliers, need to be taking a much larger part in design and engineering because the flexibility of this technology is huge. Many customers only talk to the pre-preggers, not the fabric manufacturers on infusion and fabric structures. We need to change that reality because we understand that small changes in the fabric’s features can greatly influence product performance. We can bring our experience to the table and show them how best to apply it.”
As the composites industry continues to evolve, shows like CAMX will keep providing the forum for allowing attendees to keep it moving in the right direction. The next edition of the show will be held September 21-24, 2020, in Orlando, Fla.
Sweden-based Södra reports it has developed a solution that will enable blended fiber fabrics to be recycled on a large scale. The company’s new technology can separate cotton from polyester in a poly/cotton blend. The cotton fibers may then be mixed in with the company’s wood-derived textile pulp in order to create new textiles. Viscose and lyocell textiles also may be processed using the technology. Currently, the company can only process white textiles, but is working on a decoloring solution to allow more textile waste to be recycled. Another goal is to investigate extracting “a stream of residual products from the polyester,” according to the company. In order to meet a goal of adding 25,000 metric tons of textiles to its pulp production, Södra is looking for partner companies to deliver large volumes of textiles for processing.
By Jim Phillips, Yarn Market Editor
