INDA Announces Session Chairs And New Conference Details For Inaugural Filtxpo™ Featuring Technical Experts In Critical Filtration And Separation Areas

CARY, N.C. — August 22, 2019 — Industry experts in filtration science and technology will chair seven critical sessions for INDA’s inaugural FiltXPO, North American’s only exhibition and technical conference dedicated exclusively to filtration and separation, Feb. 26-28, 2020, at Navy Pier, Chicago, Ill.

The overall FiltXPO program will be chaired by Dr. Behnam Pourdeyhimi, Associate Dean for Industry Research and Extension, William A. Klopman Distinguished Professor, North Carolina State University, and executive director, The Nonwovens Institute. co-chairs are Paul Marold, president, Lydall Performance Materials and Dr. Taylor Sulmonetti, associate, Exponent.

Session leaders who are shaping the cutting-edge topics and line up of more than 30 speakers and seven keynote presentations are:

  • Air Filtration – Paul Marold, president, Lydall Performance Materials;
  • Biopharmaceuticals – Dr. Ruben Carbonell, Frank Hawkins Kenan Distinguished Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at North Carolina State University;
  • Membrane Technology – Dr. Behnam Pourdeyhimi, associate dean for Industry Research and Extension, William A. Klopman Distinguished professor, North Carolina State University, and executive director, The Nonwovens Institute;
  • Micro/Macro Modeling – Dr. Hooman V. Tafreshi, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University;
  • Nano Fibers – Dr. Alexander Yarin, distinguished professor, University of Chicago;
  • Separation Technologies – Dr. Taylor Sulmonetti, associate, Exponent; and
  • Water Filtration – Hervé Buisson, vice president, Veolia Water.

“FiltXPO will feature technology thought leaders and innovators in the most up-to-date areas that are critical to filtration and separation,” Pourdeyhimi said.  “Attendees will gain knowledge, insights, and connections to transform their businesses, making FiltXPO a not-to-be-missed event.”

Speakers will look at the trends shaping specific industry sectors and opportunities being fueled by more stringent regulations for clean air and water, public pressure, growth in developing global markets, and other factors.

FiltXPO is expected to attract more than 2,000 attendees and 200 exhibitors for three intensely-focused days of technical program content within the hottest topics in filtration and separation. Technical conference sessions will run in conjunction with the show floor exhibition.

This highly technical event is targeted for professionals in biopharmaceuticals; HVAC and indoor air quality; medical and healthcare; food, beverage, and liquid processing; clean energy, oil and gas emissions; testing, instrumentation, modeling; and wastewater/process water filtration.

Posted August 22, 2019

Source: INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry

First Devan R-Vital® CBD (Cannabidiol)-Infused Textiles Hit The Market

NEW YORK CITY — August 22, 2019 — With the recent launch of Acabada ProActiveWear, the first CBD-infused textiles are officially hitting the market. The fabric treatment behind the CBD-infused textiles was developed by Devan Chemicals, a Belgian company specialized in functional finishes for the worldwide textile markets.

Devan launched its CBD (cannabidiol) fabric treatment at Heimtextil 2019 in Frankfurt as part of their R-Vital® range of microencapsulated active ingredients. The range contains active substances like Aloe Vera, Q10, Vitamin E, … with CBD being its latest addition. Now, only 8 months later, the first CBD-infused products are hitting the market.

High-quality organic CBD

Born in 2019, Acabada ProActiveWear is the world’s first and only CBD-infused activewear brand, committed to creating innovative, luxury apparel for the proactive woman. Conceptualized in New York and produced in Portugal, Acabada infuses luxury fabric with the highest quality organic CBD, to ensure that women will look, feel and perform at their best. Thanks to the close and intense cooperation between Acabada, Devan and the Portuguese production partner, goods were in store in less than five months starting from initial contact.

With over 30 years in the apparel industry, Acabada CEO and Co-Founder Seth Baum recognized the positive effects of CBD on pain and inflammation and the fact that top athletes embrace the active ingredient as a part of their training and recovery ritual. Baum assembled a team of experienced fashion designers, including Co-Founder and CCO Katrina Petrillo, and together they created a high fashion yet innovative product that is primed to disrupt the market. “While typical CBD products such as tinctures and edibles are growing exponentially in popularity, we began to envision a product that addressed health and wellness through a different lens. By physically infusing CBD into our garments, our product live at the intersection of fashion, fitness, and wellness,” Baum said. With Acabada ProActiveWear, recovery starts from the moment you get dressed by helping to fight soreness and promote healing before the first squat, lunge or crunch.

Each garment from Acabada ProActiveWear contains up to 25 grams of zero-THC, lab-certified, 99.9% pure CBD, which will allow the benefits to last through 40 high-intensity wear and wash cycles. As customers approach 40 wears and washes, they can choose to sustainably recycle their CBD-infused garments through Acabada’s upcycling program, where the recycled, synthetic fabrics will be repurposed where needed as commercial materials.

Microencapsulation

Through a scientific process called microencapsulation, CBD molecules are strategically infused into luxe, high-performance fabrics by wrapping microscopic droplets of zero-THC, hemp-derived CBD with a protective coating. Using Devan’s patented textile finishing treatment, the microcapsules bond to the fibres in the fabric. Strategically placed within the garments to align with muscle groups, the microcapsules gradually open over time as each layer meets with friction from your skin. When the individual capsules break open, the CBD is released and trans-dermally absorbed, where it interacts with your body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) to help regulate and reduce pain and inflammation caused by physical activities. In the meantime, Devan has put together extensive research and testing documentation in order to accommodate questions from brands and retailers on this trendy subject.

More CBD-Infused products to hit the market in the coming months

Clearly CBD is hot, even in the worldwide textile markets. Devan is currently in close cooperation with multiple other brands and retailers to develop more CBD-infused products. Plenty are in precollection and some are already in preproduction stage. The items under development are related to more active- and recovery-wear and home textiles such as pillows, bed sheets and sleepwear. Fabric application is spreading to the traditional textile producing countries like Portugal, Turkey, China and India. Much more CBD-infused products will hit the retail market in the coming months, starting with New York Market Week this September.

Posted August 22, 2019

Source: Devan Chemicals NV

ExOne Licenses Method Of 3D Printing Lightweight Ceramic-Metal From Oak Ridge National Laboratory

NORTH HUNTINGDON, Pa. — August 19, 2019 — The ExOne Co., provider of industrial sand and metal 3D printers using binder jetting technology, today announced it has licensed from the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) a patent-pending method of 3D printing aluminum-infiltrated boron carbide (B4C) collimators and other components used in neutron imaging.

Researchers at ORNL developed the method of 3D printing on the ExOne M-Flex®, a 3D printer that uses binder jetting technology to 3D print objects in metals, such as stainless steel, bronze or tungsten, as well as sand, ceramics and composites.

In this instance, a team at ORNL led by David C. Anderson, group leader of Instrument Engineering, developed a process to 3D print objects in B4C, a neutron-absorbing material, and then infiltrate the objects with aluminum. Infiltration is when a material is wetted or absorbed into another material like water into a sponge. The final aluminum-infiltrated B4C material is known as a metal-matrix composite, a type of cermet. Co-inventors of this process include ORNL’s Amy Elliott and Bianca Haberl.

The development is significant because aluminum-infused B4C has strong but lightweight properties, as well as energy-absorbing characteristics that are particularly useful in neutron scattering instruments, which enable researchers to capture data down to the atomic level. That data is then expressed as an image, much like data in a digital camera is shown as a picture.

“It delivers results that X-Rays can’t. Neutrons can detect light elements, like hydrogen or water, but they also penetrate through heavy elements like lead, which enables analysis of complex processes in-situ,” explained Dan Brunermer, Technical Fellow, The ExOne Company. ExOne plans to use the license to commercialize the 3D production of aluminum-infiltrated B4C objects, such as shielding equipment and components used in neutron scattering instrumentation.

Using traditional methods, manufacturers face limitations in the shapes of collimators they can produce, which also limited the type of research and other work that could be done with them. The new method of creating B4C objects opens the door to new types of objects useful in deflecting or absorbing energy, which can protect people and the environment from radiation.

The intellectual property covered in the license agreement includes pending U.S. patent application no. 16/155,134, entitled “Collimators and Other Components from Neutron Absorbing Materials Using Additive Manufacturing,” as well as two additional provisional filings. Under the agreement, ExOne will also engage in ongoing 3D printing production of a variety of B4C matrix components used in neutron scattering experiments at ORNL.

The new B4C material also means that ExOne can now offer its customers a method of 3D printing a metal material that is lighter than bronze. ExOne’s metal 3D printers, such as the new X1 25PRO™, are capable of 3D printing objects in more than six qualified metal materials today.

“This research and the resulting license agreements demonstrate the value that the DOE Manufacturing Demonstration Facility at ORNL delivers to the manufacturing and science community at large,” Brunermer said.

Posted August 21, 2019

Source: The ExOne Company

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories Expands And Strengthens R&D Team

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — August 21, 2019 — Kraig Biocraft Laboratories Inc., a developer of spider silk-based fibers, announces today that it has expanded its team with the addition of its first biological engineer to the R&D department. This new hire brings extensive experience working with spider silks. Working directly with Kraig’s chief scientist, she is already developing new and stronger transgenics and providing valuable input shaping the direction the company’s research is headed.

Her input in protein design combined with the company’s breakthroughs in accelerating the rate of transgenic achievements should result in rapid prototyping of new and exciting silk materials. As a biological engineer, with a background in spider silk, she fits in very well with the culture of the company and has already brought innovative ideas to streamline Kraig Labs’ R&D processes. Additionally, she possesses experience with sericulture and has implemented new procedures in the company’s facility to ensure the continued production of the best quality fibers.

“I am very excited to add an engineer to our molecular biology team. She is extremely impressive with her depth of knowledge and experience with sericulture, recombinant proteins, spider silks, and material properties. She has already made several important contributions to our R&D and I am looking forward to future breakthroughs,” said Chief Scientist Dr. Trevor Kane. “We were very fortunate to have found a bio-engineer with a background in spider silk and extensive research experience.”

Posted August 21, 2019

Source: Kraig Biocraft Laboratories Inc.

Arlee Home Fashions Signs Licensing Deal With America’s Tabletop Leader Lenox Corp.

NEW YORK CITY — August 21, 2019 — Lenox — a tableware, giftware and home entertaining company — announced today a licensing deal with Arlee Home Fashions Inc. In collaboration with Lenox, Arlee Home Fashions will design and market new table linen, kitchen textile and bath collections set to debut in early 2020.

The collections will be licensed under the Lenox brand name and comprise both kitchen textile and linen products, including table cloths, napkins, place mats, wine holders, tree skirts, decorative pillows, and throw blankets, kitchen towels, pot holders, and aprons. The bath products include bath and hand towels, wash cloths, bath rugs, shower curtains, bath robes, as well as bathroom accessory items. The collection will preview at the April 2020 New York tabletop market and will be offered at department and specialty stores as well as on www.lenox.com.

“We continue to look to develop in the table linen and bath categories and explore exciting new opportunities in the future. Our partnership and licensing effort with Arlee Home Fashions will allow us to leverage our design expertise to expand our product offerings to today’s consumer, reinforcing our position as America’s leading tabletop and entertaining business,” said Mads Ryder, CEO of Lenox Corp. “Our goal is to set the scene from start to finish for the modern-day consumer by offering additional product categories to complement the tableware and entertaining categories. We are thrilled to partner with an organization like Arlee Home Fashions that shares our beliefs and has a commitment to delivering quality products to consumers.”

“We are honored to be entering a licensing agreement and partnership with Lenox an iconic brand that stands for quality,” said Nancy Kristoff, executive vice president of sales at Arlee Home Fashions. “We look forward to expanding the product classifications to the consumer under this highly regarded tabletop brand.”

Arlee Home Fashions is a 45-year-old home textiles manufacturing company of table linens, kitchen textiles, decorative pillows, chair pads, decorative throws and pet products. Arlee has a highly regarded and innovative design team; and an experienced and dedicated sales team specializing in selling to the department stores, specialty stores and clubs.

Lenox is a leading designer and marketer of dinnerware, flatware, glassware, kitchen and giftware. The company markets its products under the Lenox, Dansk, and Reed & Barton brands. In addition to its core brands Lenox Corp. manufactures and distributes other brands such as Kate Spade New York, Marchesa by Lenox, Brian Gluckstein by Lenox, Domino by Lenox, and Luca Andrisani by Lenox. Lenox products are sold through department stores, gift and specialty retailers, and general merchandise chains, as well as through the company’s own retail stores and consumer direct channels, including Internet, catalog and mail order. Over its 130-year history, Lenox has been the recipient of numerous design awards, including the Women’s Choice Award®, and has the distinction of being the first American dinnerware used at the White House. Lenox is headquartered in Bristol, Pa.

Posted August 21, 2019

Source: Lenox Corp.

Denim Talks Highlights Global Fashion Brand Perspectives In Line With Circular Fashion

FRANKFURT AM MAIN, Germany — August 21, 2019 — From fashion conscious to conscious fashion, the 2nd edition of Denim Talks was all about bringing denim industry in line with circular fashion. The one-day forum which took place at the Denim Show at Gartex Texprocess India in New Delhi witnessed fashion and industry leaders sharing insights, experiences and global perspectives to keep the Indian denim industry on top of the game, sustainable and globally competitive.

Denim apparel is one of the fastest growing segments in the Indian apparel market, with a double digit growth forecast. During the recent Denim Talks held in the capital, industry stakeholders including fashion brands such as Pepe Jeans, Jack & Jones, Mandhana Retail Ventures Ltd. (Being Human Clothing), Raymond UCO Denim, Reliance Industries, Ginni International among others came together with Denim Manufacturers’ Association to discuss the potential of denim, its prospective application areas, possible alternatives and how Indian denim industry can get in line with sustainability and circular fashion.

On the sidelines of Denim Talks, Sharad Jaipuria, president, Denim Manufacturers’ Association & CMD, Ginni International Ltd. shared “Indian denim industry currently stands at $3.6 billion, and has been growing at a CAGR of 9% over the last five years. The industry is expected to grow at CAGR of 11% in the next five years. The steady growth is credited to the rise in consumerism, bridging luxury gap and advancements in denim fashion which have given the segment a major boost. Fashion industry globally is perceived as less environment friendly, and denim manufacturers today must take the lead in embracing sustainability which needs to be imbibed in the entire textile value chain.”

The forum, which brought together a delegation of 99 professionals, also saw the unveiling of a denim industry report by its Knowledge Partner – Wazir Advisors who indicated: “In five years, we are expecting denim consumption to almost double. India’s denim fabric exports have increased at a CAGR of five percent in last six years to reach $410 million.” Bangladesh over the last decade has been the biggest market for Indian denim fabric with a 50%+ share in India’s exports for six years running, highlighted the report.

When it comes to fashion apparels and garment segment, denim is the biggest rage in India and globally, and the Indian denim industry has sharply capitalised by moving forward with innovative fashion trends. But while fashion dominates the production, the forum played an important role in highlighting Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and raw material alternatives for denim industry with Bombay Hemp as one such company working towards bringing Hemp as a sustainable substitute into focus. 35% of the jeans today are made more sustainable, much larger than any other segment in the fashion sector highlighting the significant role of the denim industry in bringing circularity and sustainability in fashion.

The speakers at the forum delved deeper into what it means to bring sustainable fashion with denim and the potential of Indian market for sustainable clothing. Already working in this sphere through her international brand Doodlage, Ms Kriti Tula, Co-Founder & Creative Director remarked: “Fashion is a $3 trillion industry. Only 2% is getting recycled today. We need to have brands that talk about the impact of fashion. The Indian market for fashion conscious accounts to 440 million millennials, which accounts for almost 34% of India.”

Ravikant Prakash, design head- India, Arvind Ltd, “I have seen a great change in buying preferences of consumers. While trends definitely dominate choices, consumers today also want to see a story — where has the garment come from, what processes has it undergone, how has the brand integrated sustainability and so on. Denim is one fabric where reusing makes it more beautiful and that’s a trend that will stay on.”

With India standing as the second largest manufacturer in this sector, denim brands are keeping an eye on the domestic and global trends of the fashion-conscious consumer. Out of 51 mills in India, 34 were present at the Denim Show making it the largest denim industry show of its kind. Besides the exhibition and summit, the organizers also unveiled a denim-wrapped car as a star attraction together with denim guitar, handbags and several utility products at the trend zone highlighting diverse denim applications that the industry can focus on.

As brands gear up to design the future of denim, the Denim Talks will continue its focus on bringing domestic and global trends to the fore with the next edition slated at the Denim Show at Gartex Texprocess India in March 2020 in the fashion-capital – Mumbai.

Posted August 21, 2019

Source: Messe Frankfurt GmbH

Covestro Films OEKO-TEX® Certified

LEVERKUSEN, Germany — August 21, 2019 — Covestro’s Platilon® thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) films are ideal for many smart and pollution-free textile applications. They are breathable, waterproof, tear-resistant and above all skin-friendly. That makes them the material of choice for sports articles and outdoor clothing, but also for furniture and seat covers for cars. Several of these film products have recently been certified with Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX®, which confirms their high level of product safety for consumers.

The films were awarded certification for Product Class I. This applies to articles with direct skin contact for infants and young children up to three years of age. This means that they are associated with the highest demands placed on the skin-compatibility of the products.

Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX is a globally uniform, independent testing and certification system for textile raw materials, intermediate and end products at all stages of processing. The test criteria and limit values often go far beyond national and international specifications. The certification guarantees high and effective product safety.

Absence of pollutants is also the maxim for other Covestro products and applications in the textile sector. For example, the company consistently focuses on aqueous, solvent-free raw materials in textile coatings and recently introduced Impranil® DLN-SD, an aqueous polyurethane (PU) dispersion which according to initial findings facilitates production of biodegradable textile coatings.

Posted August 21, 2019

Source: Covestro Deutschland AG

LA Fashion Week Opens With New Designers And Partners Debuting At Petersen Automotive Museum This October

LOS ANGELES — August 21, 2019 — LA Fashion Week (LAFW) will be hosting its 2019 shows this October 8-12 at the Petersen Automotive Museum, one of the world’s premier car museums and historical landmarks in Los Angeles. This season they’ve partnered with United Airways, Swarovski, Moss Adams, Essentia Water, Fashion TV, and more showcasing over 20 award-winning designers and artists from Europe and Asia, featuring their latest collections.

“LA’s become the streetwear and red-carpet fashion capital of the world. As part of this cultural renaissance we’re excited to be leaders behind this movement into a premier hub for fashion, art, design and entertainment; that’s why we’ve designed the shows to become more experiential than ever before” said Arthur Chipman, executive producer of LAFW.

Kicking off this season, world renowned Julien Macdonald, dubbed the “Ultimate Glam Designer” by Elle Magazine, is opening the shows. His impressive bio includes working as the creative director for Chanel under the late Karl Lagerfeld and replacing Alexander McQueen at Givenchy. In the last year, Julien’s namesake label was worn by notable celebrities worldwide. LAFW’s calendar includes innovative labels such as Luooif Studio and California’s high energy streetwear pioneer brand Dolls Kill. The Royal Thai consulate in LA is debuting their country’s top design talents Landmee official, Salisa Official, Kanapot Aunsorn and Renim Project.

With trendy labels, strategic partners, influential guests, and over 2.5 billion digital impressions per season, LAFW has grown into an established high-profile event in Los Angeles focusing on increasing the profile of West Coast Fashion. This season brings in partnerships with Spring Place, Soho House, and Fresh Wata, with more to be added. LAFW has been proclaimed by Mayor Eric Garcetti and California State Senator Ben Allen as the Official Fashion Week for the City of Los Angeles.

LAFW SS20 kicks off its Opening Night Gala October 8, 2019.

Posted August 21, 2019

Source: LA Fashion Week (LAFW)

Textile Executives Stress Importance Of USMCA At Roundtable With Congressman Tom Rice

WASHINGTON — August 21, 2019 — U.S. textile executives participated in a roundtable today with Representative Tom Rice (SC-07), a key member of the House Ways & Means Trade Subcommittee, at which they discussed the competitiveness of the domestic industry, outlined priority issues in Washington and explored ways to jointly push for passage of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

Congressman Rice, a leader on trade and competitiveness issues that heavily impact the domestic textile industry, participated in an executive roundtable hosted by Milliken & Company at its headquarters in Spartanburg, S.C.

“Milliken is honored to host Congressman Rice today to talk about innovation, competitiveness and the importance of passing USMCA,” Jeff Price, executive vice president of Milliken Operations stated. “USMCA makes several key updates to NAFTA that will enable our trilateral trade to become stronger, which benefits this key industry in South Carolina. We greatly appreciate the Congressman being here today and appreciate his leadership.”

Congressman Rice stated: “I was honored to participate in today’s roundtable with leaders in South Carolina’s textile industry to discuss the need to pass the USMCA as quickly as possible. Modernizing outdated trade agreements to reflect our 21st century economy will support American manufacturers and enhance our global competitiveness. I will bring the valuable input I received today back to Washington as I continue working to advance the USMCA and keep our economy booming.”

“We welcome Congressman Rice’s participation in the roundtable today as well as his continued support of the U.S. textile industry,” said NCTO President and CEO Kim Glas. “U.S. textile exports to Mexico and Canada totaled $12 billion last year, underscoring the importance of our Western Hemisphere supply chain. This key supply chain has helped drive the $20 billion in investment by the industry over the past decade and has also helped support investment and nearly 25,000 direct textile jobs in South Carolina alone.”

“Congressional passage of the USMCA trade agreement is one of our top legislative priorities this year,” Leib Oehmig, chairman of NCTO and CEO of Glen Raven noted. “The new USMCA makes several important improvements that would benefit our industry and enhance our three-way trade. We look forward to continuing to work with Congressman Rice to help get this trade agreement over the finish line.”

USCMA would update and replace the 25-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The NAFTA supply chain drives approximately $20 billion in annual trilateral textile and apparel trade, up from just $7 billion prior to NAFTA, and is important to the continued growth of the industry. The updated USMCA makes several key improvements, including stronger rules or origin for sewing thread, pocketing, narrow elastics and certain coating fabrics. In addition, it fixes the Kissell Amendment loophole and ensures stronger customs enforcement. These provisions will benefit our U.S. textile industry.

National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) is a Washington-based trade association that represents domestic textile manufacturers, including artificial and synthetic filament and fiber producers.

  • U.S. employment in the textile supply chain was 594,147 in 2018.
  • The value of shipments for U.S. textiles and apparel was $76.8 billion in 2018.
  • U.S. exports of fiber, textiles and apparel were $30.1 billion in 2018.
  • Capital expenditures for textile and apparel production totaled $2.0 billion in 2017, the last year for which data is available.

Posted August 21, 2019

Source: National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO)

The Flag Shop Adopts New Standard Of Quality And Expands Its Offerings With EFI VUTEk FabriVU Printer

FREMONT, Calif. — August 20, 2019 — The Flag Shop has installed an EFI™ VUTEk® FabriVU® 340i dye-sublimation printer from Electronics For Imaging Inc. The Vancouver-based soft-signage and textile printing company has 11 franchise locations across Canada and is using the versatility and quality of its new printer to expand product offerings from coast to coast.

The Flag Shop’s recently installed 340i is the first printer in its class to offer in-line sublimation, which eliminates the need to transfer printed items to a separate calender/heat press. The four-color, 133-inch wide printer also offers superior-quality, 2,400 dots per inch (dpi) imaging, which enables The Flag Shop to differentiate itself with truly premium products. “We needed a replacement printer, but we also wanted a printer that would allow us to expand our opportunities,” said Susan Braverman, The Flag Shop’s president. “The EFI 340i will be fabulous for our existing ‘bread and butter’ product line but, equally important, it opens up a whole new world of products that don’t yet exist in our marketplace.”

Braverman added, “I like to find products that aren’t being made, and love to expand into areas where we have no competition. This printer not only allows us to do that, but having a grand format printer in Vancouver means we have the flexibility of completing large projects in-house and the ability to deliver really quickly if needed. That’s a big advantage for our clients.”

New textile solutions for a diversifying market

The printer is already setting a new standard for quality among clients. “We recently made street banner samples on the FabriVU 340i for a large international retailer of high-end yogawear — and they told us we blew away the competition,” said Ron Reyes, The Flag Shop’s Production Manager. “We were awarded the order and installed their full banner program throughout the city.”

Vancouver is also colloquially known as Hollywood North because so many films and television series shoot there. The Flag Shop has been actively supporting this industry with both digitally printed and appliqué products.

Reyes commented, “We are now able to provide products, such as backdrops for sets, with fewer seams which is important to this industry. We used to do projects in multiple pieces which were then sewn together but now are able to produce large backdrops in one piece — that’s impressive.”

The Flag Shop also purchased the newest-version EFI Fiery® proServer SE digital front end (DFE) to drive its new printer. With the DFE, the company gets superior color management and spot-color handling, along with EFI’s exclusive Fiery Accelerated System Technology RIP (FAST RIP) — a processing feature that RIPs jobs 5 times faster on average to eliminate printer downtime spent waiting for files.

Versatility and speed deliver an impressive ROI

Even though The Flag Shop was founded in 1975 as the first retail flag store in the world, it expanded years ago to also produce street banners, feather flags, corporate displays and scores of other textile applications. Municipalities, sports companies, event and conference organizers, and entertainment industry businesses are all steady clients.

“We didn’t stop at flags,” Braverman explained, “and my company really shines in high-quality customized printing. Customers choose us because of our reputation for providing affordable, quality solutions to complex requirements.”

Both she and Reyes regard EFI as having a similar objective of delivering flawless output. “I looked high and low for the right printer, and was very impressed by the VUTEk FabriVU 340i,” said Reyes. “It features Italian technology from Reggiani, which has been making the number-one textile digital printers since day one. That was very exciting. Plus, it delivers on color quality, and the inks produce a wide color gamut just out of CMYK.

“The 340i recirculation ink technology extends the mileage of the inks,” he added, “so our ink cost has gone down and our ink usage has gone down. The ROI on this printer is impressive and I’ve been blown away by the EFI level of professionalism.”

“EFI is in their own class. You don’t just buy the printer and they’re gone,” Braverman summarized. “We expect to enhance our competitive advantage and improve profitability by taking advantage of all the features that the VUTEk 340i offers us. EFI has an incredible lineup of printers!”

EFI VUTEk FabriVU printers are also available in 70-inch and 205-inch wide models to address a broad range of high-quality soft signage applications.

Posted August 20, 2019

Source: Electronics For Imaging Inc. (EFI™)

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