BALLY, Pa. — September 10, 2019 — Bally Ribbon Mills (BRM), an industry supplier of the design, development, and manufacture of highly specialized engineered woven fabrics, announces that it will showcase its high-quality, high-performance products at CAMX 2019, taking place September 23-26, 2019 in Anaheim, California. BRM experts will be on hand in booth F62 to discuss the company’s 3-D woven joints, thermal protection systems (TPS), and other 3-D structures.
BRM uses 3-D continuous weaving to creating new joint structures and improving existing joints. Delivering the optimal blend of strength, durability, and structural integrity, BRM’s 3-D woven joints are available in “Pi – π,” double “T,” “H,” and other complex net shapes. 3-D woven joints from BRM lower weight and cost without sacrificing integrity and performance. Because of the nature of the 3-D weave, strength and support is translated in all 3 dimensions, thus enabling the join to reinforce the strength along the load paths of the sub-structures being joined together. These 3-D woven shapes for joining can be tailored to suit the architecture of the structure itself, as well as the sub-components being joined.
3-D woven composites by BRM are particularly successful in aviation heat shield applications such as thermal protection systems. These systems are mission-critical components, particularly in space exploration vehicles, and 3-D woven composites reduce weight and cost while maintaining excellent performance in TPS systems. The ability to vary yarn types, density, thickness, and width, as well as resin type, allows BRM to create fully customizable TPS to fit each specific mission or application’s needs.
Along with TPS systems, 3-D woven components also function well as engine parts in aircraft. Replacing traditional titanium engine components with 3-D woven carbon fiber composites serves to reduce weight and therefore lifetime cost, all while meeting the rigorous demands of manufacturing and use.
The Carolina Panthers' PurrCussion Drumline made an appearance ...
... and so did Sir Purr
American Truetzschler even brought in some cheerleaders for the event.
Stefan Engel, CEO, American Truetzschler
Engel welcomed attendees to the event, which was a celebration of its employees for their dedication and commitment.
Klaus Becker, Honorary Consul of Germany
Becker mentioned there are 210 German-owned companies operating in the Charlotte area and that American Truetzschler has survived by bucking the trend.
Michael Schürenkrämer, Trützschler's Supervisory Board
Schürenkrämer highlighted some of the achievements of the company since its inception in 1969.
Heinrich Trützschler, Trützschler's Supervisory Board
Trützschler said the company supports new ideas both internally and those from the customer.
Trützschler believes the company is set up perfectly for its future.
Trützschler and Schürenkrämer presented Engel with a momento of the occasion.
During the event, American Trützschler recognized 4 employees with service recognition awards. All four employees have worked for the company for more than 40 years! Trützschler shook the hand of Mark Smith (right) who has been an employee for 40 years.
Monte Stratton (center) has been with the company for 43 years.
Wolfgang Naegel (right) is in his 50th year with the company!
Guenter Dohmen (right) has been a loyal Trützschler employee for 55 years!
Schürenkrämer (right) and Dohmen
Detlef Jaekel (left), former American Truetzschler vice president, retired in 2017 after 52 years with Trützschler.
Employees were encouraged to bring their families to celebrate 50 years of American Truetzschler.
CARLSTADT, N.J. — September 10, 2019 — Pantone LLC, provider of professional color standards for the design industry, today introduces a new Pantone Application Programming Interface (API) to easily and quickly integrate Pantone libraries into third party software. Desktop, web and mobile developers can use the new Pantone API to enhance or build new solutions that aid in color inspiration, design, selection, communication, formulation, production or evaluation. The Pantone API provides digital color and appearance libraries to complement physical color books which are available for use in graphics and packaging, fashion and footwear, home and interiors, cosmetic skin tones and industrial design industries.
Hosted on Amazon Web Services (AWS) the Pantone API is ideal for fashion and graphic design software, industrial CAD software, rendering software, workflow software including RIP/DFE imaging solutions, color management software, QC and color formulation software, and color apps used on mobile devices. Web developers will also appreciate Pantone API for website, social media and stock photography platforms as well, digital product catalog platforms and more. Pantone API allows users to convert CMYK, RGB and Hex values to Pantone colors without the need to create custom code, and to filter on one or multiple color hues and sort colors based on many choices, directly from the API.
“The new Pantone API eliminates a lot of the heavy coding once required by developers and enables licensee partners, like Adobe and CP Company, to seamlessly integrate Pantone libraries into their software or applications,” notes Iain Pike, Licensing Business Development Director. “Participating companies can have confidence knowing color data is based on the latest approved Pantone standards and their underlying spectral values. This allows companies to provide application features such as Pantone color searches by name or number within one or more of our popular Pantone Matching System for graphic arts and Fashion Home & Interior color systems.”
Pantone API is based on GraphQL language, and offers simple and consistent conversion of RGB and CMYK to closest Pantone colors. Other features include sort, filter and browsing functions and hyperlinks to color-specific Pantone.com product page. Pantone API has been designed to make it easier to integrate new and updated Pantone color tables and minimize the need for maintenance and allow partners to launch faster.
Left to right: Unspun, Spintex, Resortecs, Presize, Sozie, Smartex, RE-NT, The Fabricant, Returnity, Cocoon Biotech, Frankie Collective. Image credit: Alina Krasieva Photography
AMSTERDAM — September 10, 2019 — Innovations in garment fitting, recycling, intelligent machinery and a revolutionary virtual garment marketplace are among the solutions from the 12 new innovators joining the latest Fashion for Good-Plug and Play Accelerator Programme. Over the next 12 weeks, the selected innovators will participate in a robust curriculum including mentoring and industry expertise from Fashion for Good and its Corporate Partners to catalyze the innovations into the mainstream fashion ecosystem.
As e-commerce continues to grow, digital fitting solutions are increasingly important in addressing the sustainability challenges of ill-fitting clothing, which result in increased returns and stock issues. Similarly important are reusable packaging and innovations in the recycling of polybags, the most common packaging for clothing. Also, circular business models such as rental solutions are gaining traction with both consumers and brands. And the creation of a digital clothing collection offers a glance into a digital future of fashion that wastes nothing but data.
Two years since its founding, the Fashion for Good-Plug and Play Accelerator Programme continues to support promising start-ups developing innovations set to disrupt and drive the transformation of the fashion value chain toward a more circular and regenerative system. In this sixth batch, new focus areas, including fitting solutions, reusable packaging, recycling, reworking and intelligent machinery take center stage, complimenting the innovations from previous batches which comprised of new materials, dyeing and finishing, circular business models and traceability to name a few. The innovators will receive mentoring, guidance on impact assessments, funding support and market validation from Programme partners to spur the implementation of their innovations at scale.
The selected innovators of the sixth batch are: Cadel Deinking, Cocoon Biotech, The Fabricant, Frankie Collective, PreSize, RE-NT, Resortecs, Returnity, Smartex, Sozie, Spintex and Unspun.
Cadel Deinking: Cadel Deinking removes printed ink and labels from plastics and through mechanical recycling can produce high quality, high recycled-content pellets. The de-inking technology produces pellets of similar quality to that of new plastics and can be used in the same applications as new material.
Cocoon Biotech: Cocoon Biotech has developed a bio-technology platform designed to produce a bio-compatible silk protein. Its platform dissolves raw cocoon silk, post-consumer silk waste and supply chain waste into a liquid protein solution, from which fiber, liquids and gel materials can be produced.
The Fabricant: The Fabricant is a digital fashion house leading the fashion industry towards a new sector of digital only clothing — wasting nothing but data and exploiting nothing but imagination. The Fabricant specializes in photo-real 3D fashion design and animation which can be used in digital fashion editorials, digital clothing and occasional collections.
Frankie Collective: Frankie Collective is dedicated to reworking excess products into high-demand streetwear styles. Vintage garments and overstock that would otherwise end up in landfill are salvaged and reworked into contemporary items.
PreSize: PreSize is a 3D body scanning technology that uses any smartphone’s camera input to find the best fit to the users’ individual body. Unlike other smartphone fit solutions, PreSize is completely web-based and uses a video of the consumer to estimate key points of the body, ensuring a higher level of accuracy in measurements.
RE-NT: Based in Germany, RE-NT offers a circular, white label rental service and online platform. Consumers have access to the latest fashion which they can rent and brands can still engage with their audience without having to deal with operations and logistics.
Resortecs: Resortecs produces a dissolvable stitching thread for easy repair and recycling of garments. Used in attaching trimmings, such as zippers, buttons and fasteners, the threads are aimed at garment repair, recycling and reusing materials from unsold stock and dissolve when exposed to heat.
Returnity: Returnity creates custom designed, reusable and recyclable shipping packaging for individuals and businesses, providing a sustainable packaging solution for a better customer experience and engagement.
Smartex: Smartex uses a combination of IoT sensors and AI/machine learning software for the real-time inspection and detection of defects in fabric production. The technology helps textile manufactures improve production yields reducing defective production down to 0.1 percent.
Sozie: Sozie’s approach to sizing is to use real-life consumers to produce fit and style feedback for garments that match the potential buyer’s size and body type. “Sozies” are given 24 hours to find garments in retail stores and report back with photos, style comments and experience in fit. In time, a library is produced and shoppers can instantly browse content from consumers that match their body type.
Spintex: Spintex, a spin out from the University of Oxford, manufactures pure and strong silk fibers. Fibers are spun from water-based solution of dissolved silk fibers, sourced from among others, post-consumer waste streams. The technology platform can create bespoke, next generation fibers and materials.
Unspun: Unspun is an on-demand apparel company that uses 3D scanning and fit algorithms to generate digital consumer sizing. Using the 3D information, it creates a pair of customized jeans that fit perfectly through 3D weaving. The technique eliminates back-end inventory, reduces wasteful processes and ultimately increases the lifespan and wear-ability of your garments.
HUMBOLDT, Tenn. — September 9, 2019 — Jones Family of Companies has expanded its executive offices in Charlotte, N.C. The company is headquartered in Humboldt, Tenn., and will maintain its West Tennessee corporate office housing finance, human resources and family office administration staff. The new executive office functions for key executive departments such as sales, marketing, and innovation management.
Our new office is located in the historic district, just south of up-town Charlotte, which is ideally situated between the two major textile schools of North Carolina State University and Clemson University. The decision to locate a new executive office in the North Carolina Piedmont area was strategic. “This area is ground zero for the current textile resurgence movement,” said Senior Vice President Andrew Dailey. Jones will be centered around growing opportunities as the manufacturing of textiles begins to return to the United States.
“The Charlotte Executive Office allows an accelerated response to market opportunities,” said CEO CP Davis. “Today’s business atmosphere requires a model that is flexible and mobile. Charlotte is a vital financial and business center. It is also the primary hub for the major airlines facilitating economic and efficient time management to go where the business opportunities require.”
Jones Family of Companies looks forward to partnering with the local community of Charlotte as it strives to create environmentally friendly products for their consumers.
Founded in 1936, Jones Family of Companies is a leader in the textile industry. The company was formed through a partnership between two brothers and today is led by a third generation family member and Senior Leadership Team committed to the same high standards as the founders. The company has two divisions: Jones Yarn and Jones Nonwovens.
NEW YORK CITY — September 5, 2019 — abc carpet & home announced today the addition of two new members to the executive team as leaders of the carpet and rug business: Eileen Applebaum has joined as senior vice president and general manager, and Haynes Robinson as senior vice president, product design & development, reporting directly to CEO Aaron Rose. Both Applebaum and Robinson have deep roots in the floor-covering and home textile world, including merchandising, sourcing, design collaboration, and store operations.
“Haynes and Eileen bring industry-leading design and development as well as leadership capabilities to abc at a pivotal moment in our rich history. I welcome them to our team and look forward to partnering on writing our next chapter of innovation and growth,” Rose said.
Applebaum, who began her rug career as store manager for abc in 1990, rejoins the company from Mridul International, where she served as director of U.S. Creative and Accounts, assembling collections and coordinating product development for U.S.-based retailers. Prior to that, she was cofounder of Threads, where she partnered with three state-of-the-art manufacturers in India on an exclusive home textile collection. Applebaum also spent more than 15 years at Crate & Barrel as a buyer and product developer for textiles and rugs, working directly with manufacturers, agents, and designers worldwide. She also oversaw the 27,000-square-foot New York flagship store with a staff of 60 during a period of rapid growth and expansion.
Robinson was most recently vice president of product development for Stark Carpet, where he was engaged in design, development, and sourcing with a specific focus on India, Nepal, and China. As the former creative director and head of U.S. Sales for Obeetee, one of India’s largest manufacturers of hand-woven area rugs, Robinson led the transition from a stocking wholesale distribution model to a sales-and-service organization, specializing in fulfillment of private label programs and product development for top home furnishing brands. In addition, he successfully developed the printed, tufted 100-percent wool area rugs as a new product category, increasing the company’s hand-knotted production by 1500 percent over a 3.5-year span to become the industry’s largest producer of hand-woven carpets.
“I am elated that both Eileen and Haynes have joined the abc carpet & home community. With their deep creative and visionary alignment, the next incarnation of abc carpet & home promises to inspire and inform a revolutionary path forward, in service to beauty, consciousness, people, and planet,” said Paulette Cole, creative director and board chair.
PARIS — September 9, 2019 — At CAMX Expo, Chomarat is showcasing its range of carbon reinforcements, including live demos: a rocket fairing mold, a kayak paddle and a flat panel will be on display in the demonstration area of Composites One, a partner of Chomarat. The Chomarat carbon range is also available in the United States through Composites One’s distribution network.
Demonstrating The Unique Properties Of Chomarat’s Reinforcements
For the rocket fairing mold, the kayak paddle and the flat panel applications, Chomarat’s C-Weave™ carbon reinforcement offers a unique and excellent visual appearance and structural performance at the same time. “In addition to C-Weave, the kayak paddle comprises another reinforcement: G-flow™, the 2-in-1 reinforcement for infusion to strengthen the vacuum-flow,” explains Travis Irvin, sales manager and Closed Mould Process Expert at Chomarat.
Other live demos of skateboards will demonstrate the potential for high-volume production with Rovicore™, the famous glass sandwich reinforcement created by Chomarat. ”Rovicore is always at the forefront of technology for LRTM process,” he adds. Moreover, Chomarat is displaying a motorcycle helmet with exposed carbon and a very light kayak paddle, highlighting the properties of C-Weave. A tennis racket using C-PLY™ will also be displayed at the show.
C-PLY™, The Design And Manufacturing Game Changer Reinforcement
With the tennis racket, Chomarat highlights C-PLY, the multaxial carbon fiber reinforcement in which multiple layers of unidirectional fibers are placed at specific angles. This reinforcement allows various constructions: thin carbon plies (50gsm), shallow angles, unbalanced orientations, IM fiber and toughening light veil options.“ The standard biaxial range goes from a very light 100gsm using 12K fibers to 600gsm using 50K fibers. C-PLY is the best reinforcement for structural design benefits, premium surface quality and overall parts cost savings,” concludes Chris Mikesell, sales manager Composites at Chomarat.
STAMFORD, Conn. — September 9, 2019 — Hexcel Corp. has been approved by Boeing to produce HexPEKK™-100 aerospace structures for major commercial aircraft platforms.
After rigorous review of Hexcel’s proprietary poly-ether-ketone-ketone and carbon fiber material formulation, Hexcel’s superior HexPEKK-100 end-use components — as well as its highly-controlled HexAM™ additive manufacturing process (which uses selective laser sintering) — are now obtainable through Boeing’s Qualified Provider List (QPL). These HexPEKK components will be manufactured-to-print for commercial aerospace applications where complexity, weight reduction, and strong mechanical performance are critical.
Hexcel provides high-rate serial part production with reduced lead-time and at a lower cost than traditional intricately machined aluminum or composite structures. HexPEKK-100 parts meet interior aircraft smoke and toxicity requirements and are ideal for complex components such as optimized brackets, environmental control system ducts, and castings.
CARTERSVILLE, Ga. — September 9, 2019 — Commercial flooring brands, Patcraft and Shaw Contract in collaboration with Gensler, are excited to announce that the Shaw Create Centre has been awarded top honors in the Workplace category in Fast Company’s 2019 Innovation by Design Awards, the only competition to honor creative work at the intersection of design, business, and innovation. With more than 4,300 entries from the industry’s top design brands, this year’s applicant pool was the strongest in the competition’s history. The judges included renowned designers from a variety of disciplines, business leaders from some of the most innovative companies in the world, and Fast Company’s own editors. Entries were judged on the key ingredients of innovation: functionality, originality, beauty, sustainability, depth of user insight, cultural impact, and business impact.
The Shaw Create Centre, designed by a talented team from Gensler Atlanta, is a cutting-edge, three-story facility that is a living representation of the brands’ mission, people and values. Based on the idea that space shapes the personality of a business, the Shaw Create Centre opens opportunities to develop a culture that is authentic and aspirational — and, more than ever, to design and create things that matter.
With a focus on current and future employees, as well as clients and industry partners, the Create Centre boasts a break-through concept strategically designed with productivity and wellbeing in mind. A range of workspaces, from an open seating plan, to common areas used for impromptu team engagement and deliberately placed breakout rooms, promote connectivity, collaboration, productivity, movement and well-being — allowing associates to do their best work.
“The Create Centre showcases the unique balance between culture and outcomes that drive today’s fast-paced need for innovating and iterating products; blurring the lines between studio, laboratory and showroom,” says John Cantrell, co-studio director, workplace and project director, Gensler Atlanta. “Our design team worked closely with Patcraft and Shaw Contract to build a space that nourishes the design conversation, provides inspiration, and encourages collaboration, resulting in a space that employees are excited to work at.”
To promote well-being and sustainability, this LEED Silver certified facility was built with a solar façade for energy and glare reductions. The specific rotation of this façade of “fins” resulted in 25 percent less material used and allowed the use of glass with a high light transmittance, providing ample natural light to the space.
Effective workplace design links to higher business performance. The new Create Centre, located in Cartersville, Ga., enables Patcraft and Shaw Contract to serve the global design community better than ever before. It’s a place for collaborative breakthroughs, for the best talent, and for promoting a healthy culture – a place where people truly want to be.
FREMONT, Calif.— September 9, 2019 — Electronics For Imaging Inc. has named veteran tech finance executive Grant Fitz as its new CFO. Fitz replaces long-time EFI executive Marc Olin, who will assume the COO role at EFI. Fitz, who assumes his new CFO duties today, brings nearly 30 years of financial and operational experience overseeing accounting, business support, and financial planning and analysis in the print marketing, tech and automotive fields.
“Having worked with Grant at Xerox, I know him to be a thoughtful and insightful executive and a dynamic, resourceful CFO,” said EFI Chairman and CEO Jeff Jacobson. “I am excited to have him join our team to establish new financial strategies that give us the ability to drive deeper engagement and even stronger innovation in our customer offerings.
“I also wish to express my appreciation to Marc — one of the longest-serving members of EFI’s senior leadership team,” Jacobson continued. “He steered the company’s finances and helped shape strategy through an extended growth period. I look forward to working closely with Marc into the future in his COO role.”
Fitz has a proven track record as a talented and strategic finance leader. He comes to EFI from Valassis, a leading print and digital marketing technology and consumer engagement company, where he also served as the CFO. Prior to that, he was the corporate vice president and CFO at Xerox® Technology.
Fitz also held a number of senior leadership positions at General Motors, both in Europe and the United States, and served as GM’s first chief risk officer. He also worked as the senior vice president and CFO of Nexteer Automotive, a global automotive steering systems company.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial and operations engineering from the University of Michigan and a Master of Business Administration from the Krannert School of Management at Purdue University. Fitz also serves as a board member for Blink Charging.
