MILAN — July 29, 2019 — Italian textile machinery orders, as elaborated by ACIMIT, the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers, for the period from April to June 2019, fell by 19 percent compared to the same period in 2018. The index orders value came in at 84 basis points (2015=100).

Orders for Italian machinery manufacturers were negative in foreign markets, with a 21 percent decline and an absolute index value of 78.6 basis points. On the domestic front, on the other hand, orders remained stationary compared to the second quarter 2018. The absolute index value came in at 140.1 basis points.

ACIMIT President Alessandro Zucchi thus commented the economic situation: “The orders index as compiled by our Economics Department perfectly reflects the situation that we as entrepreneurs have found in many markets in this first part of the year. The uncertainty due to a tension-laden geopolitical situation was further weighed down for our sector by the awaiting of ITMA, the world’s premier textile machinery fair, which took place in Barcelona last June.”

“ITMA is our industry’s main showcase, held every four years to present the most innovative textile technology solutions,” explained Zucchi. “Many of our customers have postponed investments to await news presented at the fair.” The level of success, measured in terms of overall visitors and contacts recorded by Italian machinery manufacturers during the event, lends a positive note for year-end growth on foreign markets.

Posted July 29, 2019

Source: ACIMIT, the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers

BALTIMORE, Md. — July 25, 2019 — Terra Firma is pleased to announce that StanChem Polymers has chosen to expand the existing relationship between the two companies. Terra Firma will become StanChem’s exclusive distributor in the Northeast, Southeast, Southwest and Midwest regions of the United States.

StanChem is a supplier of high-performance emulsion polymers for the architectural, construction, adhesives, and industrial markets. The company’s state of the art manufacturing plant and R&D laboratory in Connecticut are responsible for its innovative and evolving product portfolio which in turn complement its commitment to a personalized product development approach. One of Stanchem’s key differentiators is its manufacturing flexibility that allows it to service the full spectrum: small batch to commercial scale acrylic and vinyl acetate/acrylic emulsion polymer requirements.

Paul Stenson, president and CEO of StanChem Polymers, said: “We are massively pleased to work with Terra Firma to leverage our investments in plant expansion and R&D to deliver leading edge emulsion polymers to our customers.” We believe they will be an integral part of our company’s mission — to be our customers Expert Partner.

“We are incredibly excited to represent StanChem’s emulsion polymer technologies,” said David Behan, Terra Firma’s CEO. “Paul and his team focus on creating solutions for their customers, not products. Their ability to tweak and refine core emulsion polymers to meet a customer’s unique performance requirements sets StanChem far apart from players that still believe ‘one size fits all.’ We believe their most impressive offering is the ability to engineer true custom solutions with tremendous manufacturing flexibility.”

Terra Firma is a privately-held, multi-regional specialty chemical distributor whose primary focus is the CASE, construction and plastic markets along with several other complementary markets. The company operates three full-service regional customer service centers supporting the efforts of 25+ individuals dedicated to sales. Terra Firma’s sole mission is the careful shepherding of the amazing brands we represent. “Nothing Compares to Solid Ground.”

Posted July 26, 2019

Source: The Terra Firma Co.

DALTON, Ga./LONDON — July 26, 2019 — Shaw Industries Group Inc. has been named a finalist for the Ethical Corp.’s 10th Responsible Business Awards 2019 in three categories.

Shaw is among a group of companies whose efforts to lead the change, innovation and technology that drives industries forward are being recognized. Selected from among companies worldwide, Shaw is being recognized for its achievements in:

• Circular Innovation
  • The award will go out to companies that have developed innovation in a circular initiative or project that has been enabled by technology. This award will celebrate innovation which moves the company from a linear to a circular model. Innovation means any environmental, social or financial consideration has been generated from research into commercialization.
• Plastics Innovation
  • This category rewards companies that have demonstrated a market leading plastics initiative which has created measurable impact through deploying technology or innovation
• Diversity & Inclusion Leader
  • This award will go to a project or initiative that has best demonstrated measurable impact and investment in diversity strategy from the boardroom to middle management to new recruits

Shaw recognizes the potential to turn an environmental challenge into a performance win for the built environment.

“At Shaw, innovation happens when we ask: How might we? How might we take something that is initially used for only a few hours…or even minutes…and give it a new life?” notes Susan Farris, vice president of sustainability and corporate communications at Shaw.

Shaw has done just that by continually finding viable uses for a wider variety of single-use plastic bottles. Similarly, Shaw disrupted the carpet tile market in 1999 with the introduction of EcoWorx®-backed products. Shaw has continually optimized this flagship product in the years since. And – the company continues to explore opportunities to improve existing products and creating new ones — even conceiving of new product categories such as PET resilient.

Investing in people as well as products is critical to the company’s success, and Shaw is making great strides in creating a culture of diversity and inclusion (D&I). The leadership competencies associated with D&I are woven through the business and are connected to how the organization builds and empowers people, grows the business, catalyzes innovation and change, and acts strategically. Through Shaw’s Council for Diversity and Inclusion, Accelerating Change Team and executive sponsors of Shaw’s various Associate Resource Groups, the company has further developed the D&I strategy, which has resulted in new programs, processes and innovations from across the enterprise that contribute to long-term business success.

“We’re dedicated to fostering a culture that empowers our associates to bring their diverse, whole selves — with unique experiences and talents — to work,” states Mike Fromm, chief human resources officer at Shaw. “Knowing that our people are our competitive advantage enables us to attract and retain top talent who will drive business results and propel the company forward through innovation and thought leadership.”

The Responsible Business Awards 2019 will take place at a gala on October 2, 2019, at 8 Northumberland Avenue in London. The winners will be announced on the night of the Awards.

Posted July 26, 2019

Source: Shaw Industries Group Inc.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — July 25, 2019 — CITY Laundering Co., a multi-generation, family-owned industrial laundry serving the Midwest region of the United States for more than a century, has been certified Clean Green. This certification reflects the company’s dedication to operational efficiency and sustainability. Linen, uniform and facility services companies receive this distinction by adhering to TRSA-designated water and energy use thresholds and deploying best management practices (BMPs) consistent with the ASTM International environmental laundering standard.

CITY Laundering’s customers can be assured their reusable healthcare textiles are washed, dried and finished with processes that maximize sustainability and reduce greenhouse emissions. Clean Green certified operations demonstrate significant commitment to conservation and green operations through these BMPs:

• Recovering heat from drained hot water and heat dispersed from the process of warming water;
• Recapturing drained water from rinses for reuse;
• Using environmentally friendly detergents;
• Removing solids and liquids from wastewater;
• Solar energy and energy-efficient lighting;
• Recycling programs;
• Re-routing trucks to save vehicle fuel; and
• Spill prevention plans.

The Clean Green certification is valid for three years at a time. TRSA inspects laundry facilities seeking certification and approves documentation of their water and energy use and BMP deployment through production reports they submit to auditors during the inspections. TRSA’s certification management protocol includes auditor training by the association’s inspection program administrator.

Clean Green aligns with the ASTM International standard, Guide for Sustainable Laundry Practices, which recognizes key criteria for the certification as universal indicators of maximum sustainability in commercial laundry work. ASTM’s review of TRSA BMPs verified these as the most effective and practical techniques for a laundry to achieve green objectives.

TRSA members prompted development of the standard, which was vetted in the sustainability subcommittee of the ASTM Committee on Textiles. Top technical experts, scientists and environmental professionals from outside the linen, uniform and facility services industry reviewed the BMPs. ASTM is the global leader in developing and delivering voluntary consensus standards unparalleled in building consumer confidence in product and service quality.

“I applaud CITY Laundering Co. for their sustainability efforts and maintaining the highest standards in their production and delivery operations,” said Joseph Ricci, TRSA president and CEO. “Meeting all the criteria for certification is not easy, but the company is committed to industry-leading processes and technologies.”

Posted July 25, 2019

Source: TRSA