TRSA DC Conference: One Industry, One Voice

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — October 28, 2019 — The TRSA 10th Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., Mar. 25-26 is your best opportunity to establish relationships and help educate our nation’s legislators on the issues that are important to you and your companies.

The Conference agenda includes an opening keynote, a Hill Day issue briefing, TRSAPAC reception and an Industry Awards dinner on Mar. 25. The following day, TRSA members will head to Capitol Hill for a meeting with legislators followed by a luncheon with a member of Congress. New for 2020 is a registration rebate offer for TRSA members that allows up to 100% of the registration rebated following full attendance at this event.

Attendees of the Legislative Conference will hear detailed and savvy political and electoral analysis from keynote presenter A.B. Stoddard. Stoddard is an associate editor and columnist with the political news site and polling data aggregator RealClearPolitics as well as a contributor and guest host for SiriusXM’s POTUC Channel. She also appears on the Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, CNN and MSNBC as a political commentator.

Pre-Hill Day you’ll also gather with other members of your group to formulate strategy to convey the industry’s positions to policymakers. Strategizing will continue at the TRSAPAC Reception.

On Wednesday evening, Mar. 25, a celebration of industry creativity and excellence will come in the form of TRSA’s Industry Awards Dinner. All Operator (laundries) and Associate (suppliers) member companies and their employees are eligible to be nominated for these awards; descriptions and nomination forms (deadline is Friday, Jan. 17) are at www.trsa.org/awards:

  • Best Plants of the Year Award (new this year!)
  • Above and Beyond Service
  • Clean Green Innovation
  • Company Community Service Award
  • Diversity Recognition Award
  • SafeTRSA Safety Excellence
  • TRSA Years of Service Awards
  • TRSA Volunteer Leadership Award

Complimentary and discount registration will be available to award-winning organizations. Questions about the Awards program can be directed to Ken Koepper, Director of Membership/Industry Outreach, kkoepper@trsa.org or 877.770.9274, ext. 109.

TRSA Capitol Hill Day is Thursday, Mar. 26 and attendees will experience small-group visits to legislators’ offices. This is your chance to generate immediate and long-term benefits for your company.

Register by Friday, Feb. 14 to receive early pricing discounts. Operator members from the same company can register and pay for two, which allows a third colleague from their company to come for free.

Posted October 28, 2019

Source: TRSA

CTT Group Appoints New President/CEO

SAINT-HYACINTHE, Québec — October 23, 2019 — Robert Bélanger, president of the board of directors of the CTT Group and president of Belt-Tech Products Inc., is pleased to announce the appointment of Olivier Vermeersch as president/CEO of the CTT Group, one of the Collegial Center for Technology Transfer (CCTT) of the Cégep of Saint-Hyacinthe. Vermeersch succeeds Jacek Mlynarek from today. Mlynarek will remain associated to the CTT Group as an Ambassador and Strategic Advisor and – Research and Development, Partnership and Innovation.

The CTT Group Board of Directors and the entire team would like to thank Mlynarek for the energy and dedication he has devoted over the last 26 years to the development of the CTT Group, which is now recognized as one of the most important Collegial Center for Technology Transfer in Quebec and Canada. In 2009, Mlynarek received the Innovation System Builder Award from the Quebec Association for the Development of Research and Innovation.

Vermeersch is in a familiar territory, since he has been working for the CTT Group from the beginning of his career in 1991. In 2014, he was promoted to vice president – research and development and more recently, he was appointed as executive vice president. In 2014, he was awarded the prestigious Excellence Award from the “Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies.” Vermeersch will continue to be Chairholder of the NEXTEX Industrial Chair of St-Hyacinthe College, a Canadian NSERC Level 2 Chair in Innovative Technical Textiles, which brings together many of CTT Group’s customers.

According to Bélanger: “The appointment of Mr. Vermeersch, coupled with Mr. Mlynarek’s association, is both novelty and continuity. This collaboration will give a new boost to the CTT Group, while maintaining its achievements: a major asset for its many clients. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I wish Mr. Vermeersch and Mr. Mlynarek the best success in their new duties.”

The CTT Group is a collegial center for technology transfer affiliated with the Cégep of Saint Hyacinthe. He has extensive expertise in research, development and analysis of technical textiles, geosynthetics and advanced textile-based materials. Through its team of multidisciplinary experts and a fleet of highly specialized equipment, the CTT Group serves local, national and international clients.

Posted October 28, 2019

Source: CTT Group

Södra Reports Its Breakthrough Will Enable Large-Scale Textile Recycling

VÄXJÖ, Sweden — October 28, 2019 — At present, no one in the world can recycle fibers from blended fabrics on a large scale. Södra reports it now has a unique solution that will enable circular flows in the fashion and textile industry.

“Only a negligible proportion of the global production of clothing and textiles is recycled today,” said Lars Idermark, president and CEO of Södra. “Virtually everything is sent to landfill or incineration. But Swedish innovation and a willingness to help mitigate climate change can now influence the game at a global level.”

One of the major obstacles to textile recycling is that the fabrics are often made from blended materials. Södra’s new technique can separate the cotton and polyester in poly/cotton blends, which are one of the most widely used textiles on the market. The pure cotton fibers are then added to the company’s wood-derived textile pulp, which can then be used to make new textiles.

“We are now redrawing the map for the fashion and textile industry by offering circular flows of textile fibers,” said Johannes Bogren, president of Södra Cell Bioproducts. “A sweater can now become a sweater again. This will create added value for our customers, and especially the fashion industry. It’s a big day for us and an equally big day for the emerging circular bioeconomy.”

During the autumn, Södra’s pulp mill at Mörrum produced pulp by adding 20 metric tons of used textiles. At present, Södra can only accept white textiles, but the aim is to also find a decolouring solution. The goal is also to investigate the possibility of extracting a stream of residual products from the polyester. Swedish laundry and textile service provider Berendsen delivered the test material used in the pilot project comprising end-of-life sheets, towels, tablecloths and bathrobes from hospitals and hotels.

“We will be able to accept viscose and lyocell in addition to poly/cotton blends,” said Helena Claesson, project manager, Södra. “Due to the technological change in our processes, we will be needing large volumes of textiles. We are now seeking companies with high sustainability ambitions that would like to partner with us in the delivery of textiles,”

Production will commence at a low rate of 30 metric tons this year, but the long-term target is to add 25,000 metric tons of textiles to the company’s pulp production.

Posted October 28, 2019

Source: Södra

ShanghaiTex 2019 Exhibitor Preview: Novibra Boskovice s.r.o.

BOSKOVICE, Czech Republic — October 24, 2019 — Novibra will present the latest innovations in spindle technology and energy saving measures at the forthcoming ShanghaiTex.

The energy saving spindle LENA has been designed for the highest speeds and lower energy consumption. It is the only spindle in the market with 17.5 mm wharve diameter and energy savings in the average of up to 6 percent.

The new generation of clamping crowns CROCOdoff and CROCOdoff Forte introduce genuine doffing without underwinding. The crowns work automatically depending on the spindle speed. The major advantages are significant reductions in maintenance costs. That is based on a lower ends down rate after doffing and minimized cleaning of the underwinding area.

Novibra’s goal is to bring beneficial and customized solutions to the customers helping them to keep their leading position in the market. Novibra is looking forward to discussing the new products that fulfil one of today’s biggest demands for energy savings and maintenance costs reduction.

See for yourself the many advantages on offer from Novibra. Visit us at ShanghaiTex from November 25 to 28, 2019: Hall E1, Booth A30.

Posted October 25, 2019

Source: ‪ Novibra Boskovice s.r.o.

ShanghaiTex 2019 Exhibitor Preview: Graf + Cie AG

RAPPERSWIL, Switzerland — October 24, 2019 — Graf introduces at ShanghaiTex three novelties for the textile market: a new card clothing with up to 30-percent longer lifetime, a height adjustable comb and a helpful solution for card clothing management.

MULTISHARP, the unique wear resistant alloy for card clothings, increases the lifetime of metallic card clothings on the cylinder by up to 30 percent. Additionally, the work load of the maintenance team can be minimized by providing longer service cycles and less unplanned downtimes.

The yield on raw material can be increased without compromising the quality requirements — thanks to the continuous height adjustability of the new combs series. The continuous and exact gap setting between nipper and circular comb on each individual combing head provides customers a new level on raw material utilization. Additionally, the maintenance people will appreciate the comfortable and easy installation of the circular comb.

With the card clothing management the overall investment costs can be reduced. This is based on minimizing the operational expenses including optimizing the overall equipment effectiveness. Graf’s card clothing management prolongs the lifetime of flexible flats by up to three times without comprising on the quality parameters throughout the entire life cycle.

See for yourself the many advantages on offer from Graf. Visit us at ShanghaiTex from November 25 to 28, 2019: Hall E1, Booth A30 with focus on spinning and Booth C35 with focus on nonwoven.

Posted October 25, 2019

Source: ‪ Graf + Cie AG

ShanghaiTex 2019 Exhibitor Preview: Bräcker


PFÄFFIKON-ZÜRICH, Switzerland — October 24, 2019 — Bräcker will present a new traveler with up to 50-percent longer lifetime and shorter running-in period. This is only one highlight out of the impressing product variety.

A novelty Bräcker shows at ShanghaiTex is the new CARBO traveller for ring spinning machines. It is specially designed for man-made fiber spinners. CARBO is a new coating technology which improves the sliding properties. This results in up to 50-percent longer lifetime and a shorter running-in period. Recommended applications next to man-made fibers are also their blends, core yarns and all yarn counts.

In addition, Bräcker exhibits its well-known portfolio of high-quality products which meets the continually rising demands on the textile market like higher speeds and productivity. The rings and travelers offer long service lives, lowest yarn breaks and no thermal damages when processing man-made fibers.

See for yourself the many advantages on offer from Bräcker: Visit us at ShanghaiTex from November 25 to 28, 2019, in the New International Expo Centre: Hall E1, Booth A30.

Posted October 25, 2019

Source: ‪ Bräcker AG

ShanghaiTex 2019 Exhibitor Preview: SSM

HORGEN, Switzerland — October 23, 2019 — At ShanghaiTex SSM will present solutions for precision package winding and high package consistency and provides a wide range of renowned textile machines.

SSM enables yarn dyers to be successful with the precision package winder PWX. Only a quick response to market trends in combination with high cost- efficiency enables customers to be competitive. The winder offers clear benefits to dye package winding and rewinding of filament and staple fiber yarns, with or without lubrication.

For the XENO-platform SSM presents the first and only self-regulating backpressure system in the world: preciforce™ for a guaranteed package consistency. Furthermore, the next generation of the blade winding powerblade™ will be introduced for the XENO-platform.

Besides the displayed applications, SSM provides a wide range of renowned textile machines.

See for yourself the many advantages on offer from SSM. Visit us at ShanghaiTex from November 25 to 28, 2019: Hall E1, Booth A30.

Posted October 25, 2019

Source: ‪ SSM Schärer Schweiter Mettler AG

ShanghaiTex 2019 Exhibitor Preview: Suessen

SUESSEN, Germany — October 23, 2019 — Suessen will present the new compacting devices for high flexibility, new weighting arms and premium rotor spinning components for excellent yarn quality.

COMPACTeasy is the new mechanical compacting device available as a plug- on/plug-off unit for any ring spinning machine type and suitable for most common applications like cotton, man-made fibers and blends. COMPACTeasy is the solution in compacting without additional energy requirement.

New EliTe is a versatile compact-spinning system with new innovative components. The customers profit from higher productivity, better quality and lower operational costs. Upgrade packages and spare parts packages enable the customers to benefit also on existing installations.

The new Top Weighting Arm HP 4080 for roving frames offers a new design for easy settings and improved stability. In addition, consistent yarn quality over the lifetime is guaranteed.

Regarding premium parts the new SOLIDRING B 188 for rotor spinning machines offers a shorter and more aggressive saber tooth shape for better fiber opening and finally improved yarn quality. For semi-automated rotor spinning machines a new rotor cup design and fluted and spiral navels improve the yarn quality and enhance the spinnability of low grade cotton.

See for yourself the many advantages on offer from Suessen. Visit us at ShanghaiTex from November 25 to 28, 2019, in the New International Expo Centre: Hall E1, Booth A30.

Posted October 25, 2019

Source: ‪ Spindelfabrik Suessen GmbH


U.S. Commerce Department Announces $13 Million To Support U.S. Manufacturers

WASHINGTON — October 23, 2019 — Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced $13 million in U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) grants to support 11 Trade Adjustment Assistance Centers (TAACs) that help manufacturers affected by imports adjust to increasing global competition and to create jobs. The TAACs, which each service multiple states, are located in California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Massachussetts, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington.

“From day one, the Trump administration has fought for a level playing field for American manufacturers, including by securing new trade deals with our partners and confronting unfair trade practices,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “This program is one element of an effort to strengthen the U.S. manufacturing sector after years of neglect on the part of the Federal government.”

The 11 grants are:

  • $1.9 million to the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, for the Great Lakes Trade Adjustment Assistance Center;
  • $1.1 million to the University of Missouri–Columbia, for the Mid-America Trade Adjustment Assistance Center;
  • $1 million to the MidAtlantic Employers’ Association, King of Prussia, Pa., for the Mid-Atlantic Trade Adjustment Assistance Center;
  • $963,770 to Applied Strategies International Ltd., Chicago, Ill., for the Midwest Trade Adjustment Assistance Center;
  • $1 million to the New England Trade Adjustment Assistance Center Inc., North Billerica, Mass., for the New England Trade Adjustment Assistance Center;
  • $889,819 to the Research Foundation of the State University of New York at Binghamton, for the Trade Adjustment Assistance Center Serving New York, New Jersey and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;
  • $1.1 million to the Trade Task Group, Seattle, for the Northwest Trade Adjustment Assistance Center;
  • $1.2 million to the University of Colorado at Boulder, for the Rocky Mountain Trade Adjustment Assistance Center;
  • $1.3 million to the Georgia Tech Research Corp., Atlanta, for the Southeastern Trade Adjustment Assistance Center;
  • $1.2 million to the University of Texas at San Antonio, for the Southwest Trade Adjustment Assistance Center; and
  • $1.3 million to the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, for the Western Trade Adjustment Assistance Center.

EDA’s Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms program funds 11 Trade Adjustment Assistance Centers across the nation. The centers support a wide range of technical, planning, and business recovery projects that help companies and the communities that depend on them adapt to international competition and diversify their economies. The grants announced today are for the second year of a funding cycle running from 2016 to 2021.

Posted October 25, 2019

Source: ‪U.S. Department of Commerce / U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA)

Gerber Announces Grand Opening Of New York City Innovation Center

NEW YORK CITY — October 24, 2019 — Continuing its quest to drive technology-based innovation for flexible materials industries, Gerber Technology opened its state-of-the-art Innovation Center in the heart of New York City during its annual FashionTech conference, ideation, with more than 300 attendees. The 18,000+ square foot Innovation Center will provide visitors with a unique experience that will help them stay connected to the latest trends and technology in fashion & apparel, as well as flexible material processing.

The Gerber Innovation Center is located on the 19th floor of the Starrett-Lehigh Building in New York City, which is home to many other fashion industry icons and long-standing Gerber customers.

“Our Innovation Center is the first of its kind in the industry,” said Mohit Uberoi, CEO, Gerber Technology. “Visitors will meet our experts and experience first-hand how our end-to-end platform can enable an on-demand workflow, taking personalized consumer requests from design to print, cut and sew in a matter of hours. We are not aware of any other facility in the world that allows visitors to experience an end-to-end platform that features the latest 2D/3D CAD and PLM solutions, as well as Industry 4.0 enabled smart machines.”

In addition to the end-to-end experience, the Gerber Innovation Center will also serve as an innovation hub for educational institutions and major companies from across the industry. It will be a space for partners, industry associations, students, designers and manufacturers to come together to redefine the future.

“The Gerber Innovation Center is unlike anything else I have seen in the industry,” said SPESA President, Michael McDonald. “It offers an extraordinary experience that will drive innovation and help to shape the future of the fashion & apparel markets.”

The space will host a number of forums, workshops and collaborative working sessions where industry leaders can come together and prepare ways to address the new pace of the industry. The Innovation Center will be available for industry events in fashion, home & leisure, transportation and other high-tech markets.

“I really enjoyed our time at the Innovation Center and want to thank the Gerber Team for their kind hospitality,” said Mark Harrop of WhichPLM. “It’s genuinely very impressive and the team should be incredibly proud of their work.”

Posted October 25, 2019

Source: Gerber Technology

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