Milliken — Where Innovation Is Key

Milliken’s Roger Milliken Center features an Innovation Gallery showcasing the company’s advanced textile technologies.
Milliken’s Roger Milliken Center features an Innovation Gallery showcasing the company’s advanced textile technologies.

A new Milliken website helps clients access the depth and breadth of Milliken’s technology trove of innovative, amazing textiles.

TW Special Report

In many ways innovation in the textile industry is synonymous with Spartanburg, S.C.-based Milliken & Company. Founded in 1865, the company’s history in textiles stretches back more than 150 years.

Milliken & Company’s strong culture of innovation, which was shaped personally by the late CEO Roger Milliken, began in 1945, when the company formally established its research group. Milliken bet the company’s future on continuous product development — making a corporate commitment to conceptualize and create cutting edge textiles. To do so, Roger Milliken personally involved himself in reviewing research and invited preeminent minds in engineering and chemistry to help guide future projects. Milliken also challenged his research associates to look for the very best brains in the world. He commissioned his scientists to contact schools that were prominent in chemistry, chemical engineering and mechanical engineering to find the best students of the previous 10 years. This recruitment effort was at the core of a serious research commitment that continues to this day.

The Roger Milliken Center (RMC) recently celebrated its 60th anniversary. RMC is home to the company’s global headquarters and corporate innovation center — one of the world’s largest privately-held textile research facilities.

Today, Milliken operates three divisions — Performance and Protective Textiles, Floor Covering, and Chemicals. With innovation firmly woven into Millken’s DNA, staying on the forefront of technological advances is a priority. When challenged to solve a problem, Milliken’s team of researchers, chemists, engineers and developers work together to create best-in-class technical solutions, while investments in innovative technologies ensure the company remains cutting-edge.

MillikenNCTOlab
Milliken’s team of researchers, chemists, engineers and developers work together to create best-in-class technical solutions.

Improving Access To Milliken’s Technologies

Through its Performance and Protective Textiles division, Milliken serves a range of industries including apparel, automotive and transportation, building and infrastructure, hospitality, industrial, military, interiors, and protective markets.

The company’s new website, launched under the tagline “Textiles from a Different Perspective” and located at textiles.milliken.com, unifies the diverse portfolio of the Performance and Protective Textiles division, showcasing its breadth of capabilities and highlighting the company’s expertise and next-generation products. The website also illustrates the successful history of Milliken textiles, its legacy and ability to collaborate with customers to solve complex problems.

“Milliken is synonymous with credibility within textiles,” said Jeff Price, president of the Milliken Performance and Protective Textiles Division. “Milliken innovations speak for themselves, and this website helps convey our story and fortify our reputation in a cohesive online platform.”

Taming Complexity

Previously, exploring the vast array of textiles available through the division presented challenges because of the sheer number of textiles available. Now, using the new website, customers can navigate through the portfolio by choosing market or by searching key performance characteristics to find solutions that best fit their needs. The advanced search page lists the eight markets served by Milliken’s Performance and Protective Textiles division and 28 key fabric properties.

As an example, if a customer were searching for fabrics with moisture wicking or antimicrobial characteristics, 10 search results are returned. Among the results are Biosmart® Technology — a patented technology engineered to bind chlorine in wash water to the surface of a fabric to inhibit the growth and spread of bacteria — and ResQ™ DH — a National Fire Protection Association certified fabric enhanced with moisture wicking properties and high breathability to keep firefighters cool and comfortable.

MillikenNCTOPrice“Milliken’s Performance and Protective Textiles website displays the value of Milliken front and center,” Price said. “We are enhancing our world through well-thought-out products, crafted to fill a need and manufactured responsibly.”

“Our keen attention to detail and unsurpassed quality result in superior textiles that add value to people’s lives.” — Jeff Price President, Performance and Protective Textiles Division, Milliken

Responsible Manufacturing

Milliken designs fabrics for performance, but also takes environmental responsibility into consideration intentionally incorporating sustainable measures from product conception to production. The company continually assesses its net impacts, seeks greater efficiencies and develops new technologies to avoid using harmful materials. Many of Milliken’s manufacturing facilities also have obtained ISO 14001 certification — the highest global standard for environmental responsibility. Company records also document its first recycling policy and the fact that it was reusing packaging and textile materials in its operations in the early 1900s. With one of the most ambitious environmental policies in the industry today, sustainability truly is and always has been an important part of the company and everything it does.

In addition, Milliken has the honor of being named one of the “World’s Most Ethical Companies” for 12 years running. The list, published by Ethisphere Magazine, is compiled by the Ethisphere Institute, a leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practice. Milliken is one of only 12 companies to receive the honor every year since its inception.

With new tools in hand, Milliken’s diverse textiles portfolio, built on more than 150-years of industry experience and award-winning research and development, has never been more accessible to customers looking to solve challenges using innovative fabrics. “Our keen attention to detail and unsurpassed quality result in superior textiles that add value to people’s lives,” Price said.

Editor’s Note: This article appears in Textile World courtesy of the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) as part of the “American Textiles: We Make Amazing™” campaign. NCTO is a trade association representing U.S. textile manufacturing. Please visit ncto.org to learn more about NCTO, the industry and the campaign.

March/April 2109

The Last Stitch

LastStitchNCTO
Marty Moran, Chairman, National Council of Textile Organizations, and CEO, Buhler Quality Yarns Corp. (a Samil Spinning Co.)

Why NCTO matters more than ever.

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The U.S. textile industry is experiencing an exciting and dynamic period. A new policy environment has evolved in Washington that places a greater emphasis on domestic manufacturing. Combined with a desire for shortening production and sourcing cycles, investment in U.S. textile production capacity, including foreign direct investment, has been invigorated, as many look to our shores to grow their capacities.

I have seen this investment story firsthand. The company for which I have the privilege of serving as CEO, Buhler Quality Yarns, was launched in 1996 by Hermann Bühler AG, a Switzerland-based textile manufacturer originally founded in 1812. This 200-plus-year-history added a fresh chapter when it was purchased by Korea-based Samil Spinning. Our new ownership represents a sea-change — Samil Spinning has invested in Buhler Quality Yarns for growth — they see clear benefits and great potential in Western Hemisphere production.

This is not just a single data point to exemplify a trend. Consider a recently published McKinsey study1 demonstrating that apparel manufacturing is returning to our hemisphere in a way thought impossible only a few short years ago. Retail, in almost all sectors, stresses the need for speed-to-market manufacturing processes, underscoring the need for optimized and more local supply chains.

A Brave New World

Opportunity is potential, and potential is full of as much uncertainty as it is excitement. Let’s make no mistake — we are in uncharted territory. Growth is certainly welcome news, but prosperity can often be guided by nearsighted intentions, causing us to be the architects of unintended consequences further down the road.

This is why our industry needs the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) now more than ever. Our core mission, to “preserve and enable the prosperous future of U.S. textile manufacturing,” is being put to the test under new light.

Consider the uncertainty of a potential trade war with China. The U.S. Government recently placed duties on many products under 301 Authority.2 This position has touched many products in the supply chain, affecting many textile companies — some positively, some negatively. Navigating these new constructs, and anticipating next moves by both countries, has become a significant challenge not just for textile companies, but for brands and retailers as well.

In addition, the Trump administration has renegotiated the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), America’s regional free trade agreement with Canada and Mexico. Since U.S. textile exports to the combined Mexican and Canadian markets totaled nearly $12 billion in 2017, it is critical that any transition to the U.S.-Canada-Mexico Agreement (USMCA) be smooth for all parties.

How The U.S. Factors

Many brands and retailers are now faced with the decision to either maintain their current sourcing strategies, or adopt — or in many cases, create — new strategies that feature Western Hemisphere sourcing.

Trade challenges factor heavily, but it is also critical for brands and retailers to recognize the need to contract sourcing lead times and to avoid supply disruption.

David Sasso — vice president of Sales at Buhler Quality Yarns, and a veteran expert in textile supply chains — has made a very strong argument for Western Hemisphere sourcing in two recent articles. In “Responsive Retail”3 and “What TPP’s Death Means for U.S. Apparel Brands and Supply Chain Management in Uncertain Times”4 he argues that, because of the trend-based, mercurial nature of the fashion industry, it is important to be able to react quickly. Shotgun approaches to fashion can cause two major issues. First, when an item is ordered in large quantity and sales don’t meet expectations, the result is markdowns and lost revenue. A second possible negative outcome is when an item sells in far greater quantities than anticipated. Supply chains dependent on overseas sources, and shipping constraints often lead to stockouts, leaving profits on the table and customers looking elsewhere for similar styles.

A brand’s sourcing strategy that moves at least a portion of its sourcing chain to the Western Hemisphere reduces lead times, solving both issues. A Western Hemisphere supply chain holds net-positive potential for brands, retailers, and consumers alike.

“The United States and our partners in the Western Hemisphere supply chain are making investments to better serve brands and retailers — and ultimately, consumers. Strategic business partnerships are important, but they must also be combined with a strong voice in Washington to ensure that the investments and relationships are allowed to prosper.”
— Marty Moran, Chairman, National Council of Textile Organizations, and CEO, Buhler Quality Yarns Corp. (a Samil Spinning Co.)

The Task At Hand     

The United States and our partners in the Western Hemisphere supply chain are making investments to better serve brands and retailers — and ultimately, consumers. Strategic business partnerships are important, but they must also be combined with a strong voice in Washington to ensure that the investments and relationships are allowed to prosper. This is a strategy that must be recognized and championed — and that is exactly why NCTO exists.

We must ensure that those working to craft trade and procurement policies hear our voice, understand our challenges, foresee those policy decisions that may have net-negative consequences for our industry, and enact policy engineered to further our interests. Governmental policy makers are not textile supply chain experts who live and breathe this industry. We are, and thus only we, as a united industry, can communicate our interests.

I am proud to serve this industry as chairman of the NCTO, and proud to work with and on behalf of all of our members.

The opportunity is ours to seize. It is a truly exciting time to be in American textiles.

  1. https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/mckinsey/industries/retail/ our insights/is apparel manufacturing coming home/is-apparel-manufacturing-coming-home.ashx
  2. https://www.trade.gov/mas/ian/tradedisputes-enforcement/tg_ian_002100.asp
  3. https://www.buhleryarn.com/blog/how-faster-smarter-supply-chains-can-limit-discounts-stockouts/
  4. https://www.buhleryarn.com/blog/tpps-death-means-u-s-apparel-brands-supply-chain-management-uncertain-times/

Editor’s Notes: NCTO Chairman Marty Moran has been part of U.S. textile manufacturing for more than 26 years. A native of North Carolina, he serves as CEO of Jefferson, Ga.-based Buhler Quality Yarns Corp. (a Samil Spinning Co.). Buhler is known not only for its high-quality yarn spinning, but also for its deep supply chain expertise, placing Moran at the center of this complex and ever-shifting industry.

This article appears in Textile World courtesy of the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) as part of the “American Textiles: We Make Amazing™” campaign. NCTO is a trade association representing U.S. textile manufacturing. Please visit ncto.org to learn more about NCTO, the industry and the campaign.

March/Arpil 2019

March/April 2019

Stefan Flöth was named a managing director of Germany-based A. Monforts Textilmaschinen GmbH & Co. KG effective January 1, 2019.

John Sobchak was appointed to the newly created position of CFO for Gelest Inc., Morrisville, Pa.

Aurora Specialty Textiles has named Erik Nees sales account manager where he will oversee industrial sales including tape, bedding, medical and technical textiles applications.

Downlite, Mason, Ohio, has named Lisa Pruett chief sales and marketing officer.

Katia Walsh was named chief strategy and artificial intelligence officer for San Francisco-based Levi Strauss & Co.

Atlanta-based brrr° recently added Molly Kremidas and Valentina Henao to its sales team.

Switzerland-based SSM Schärer Schweiter Mettler AG has named Roman Haefeli head of sales.

Ketty Pillet has joined Gerber Technology, Tolland, Conn., as vice president of global marketing.

Austria-based The Lenzing Group has named Jürgen Eizinger vice president of Global Business Management nonwovens division effective March 1, 2019. His focus will be on creating awareness for the VEOCEL™ sustainable brand, as well as leading the development and implementation of various business strategies.

March/April 2019

Quality Fabric Of The Month: OmniBloq™: Keeping Flylow Gear Dry As A Bone

QFOMBolgerFlylow
Flylow Gear’s men’s Quantum Pro Jacket and Chemical Pant are treated with Bolger and O’Hearn’s OmniBloq™ DWR for high performance in demanding conditions.

Bolger & O’Hearn’s OmniBloq™ was engineered to keep apparel dry and consumers comfortable even in pounding rain and squall conditions.

By Rachael S. Davis, Executive Editor

Fall River, Mass.-based Bolger & O’Hearn recently introduced a new type of durable water repellent (DWR) to the market called Stormproof/ Breathable™ OmniBloq™. The company reports OmniBloq is an “ideal DWR in even the harshest snow storms, rain and squalls,” and has been engineered to deflect heavy, wind-driven rain and provide laminate-like rain resistance when applied to a single-ply, woven man-made fabric. OmniBloq also maintains a fabric’s breathability without compromising fabric hand or wearer comfort.

“Single-ply fabrics having specific woven constructions can be finished with OmniBloq and will retain the original fabric’s air permeability and moisture vapor transmission rate, while providing excellent water holdout in addition to the outstanding resistance to soaking in extreme rain exposure,” said Shawn Honeycutt, sales manager.

According to Bolger & O’Hearn, typical DWR finishes deposit a semi-organized layer of coating onto the textile fiber, which provides enough of a barrier to resist gentle water spray and other contaminants. However, this disorganized finish arrangement reduces long-term durability and makes the fabric vulnerable to high-impact rain and snow.

What sets OmniBloq apart from typical DWRs is that the chemistry forms a highly ordered layer on the textile fiber that is strongly repellent. This near-perfect organization of the OmniBloq coating also ensures it remains adhered to the fiber over time, so the fabric maintains its ultra-repellency in adverse environmental conditions even after repeated laundering. “Fabrics based on man-made fibers such as polyester, nylon and blends with spandex can be home laundered more than 30 times and still retain outstanding storm-resistant properties,” Honeycutt said.

The chemistry is a bluesign-approved, non-perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) technology that also provides protection against oils and stains. OmniBloq is suitable for application on single-ply fabric constructions, but can “super charge” laminated waterproof/breathable fabric constructions as well,” Honeycutt said.

Fabrics treated with OmniBloq pass the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists’ (AATCC’s) Rain Test 35-2013; resist wetting out anywhere from three to 20 times longer than the same fabric treated with a traditional DWR; and also maintain the highest rating on the Bundesmann water repellency test after more than 30 minutes of exposure to impact equivalent to full force rain, according to the company.

OmniBloq is suitable for all types of performance apparel and gear, as well as boat and car covers, military uniforms and soft goods, footwear, and awnings.

Denver-based outerwear and apparel company Flylow Gear recently adopted OmniBloq DWR introducing four of its best-selling winter designs treated with the finish at the recent Outdoor Retailer + Snow Show — the Quantum Pro Jacket and Chemical Pant for men; and the Billie Coat and Nina Pant for women.

“We’re stoked to be the first winter sport brand to use OmniBloq DWR, and we specifically chose to use it on pieces that are favorites of some of the hardest skiing men and women on the mountain” said Dan Abrams, president, Flylow Gear.

For more information about Stormproof/Breathable™ OmniBloq™ DWR, contact Shawn Honeycutt shoneycutt@bolgerohearn.com; omnibloq.com

March/April 2019

Athletic Specialty Retailer Hibbett Sports Announces CEO Transition Plan

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — March 22, 2019 — Hibbett Sports Inc., an athletic specialty retailer, today announced the planned retirement of Jeff Rosenthal, president and CEO. The Board will commence a search process to identify the company’s next CEO, and Rosenthal will remain at the company in his CEO capacity until a successor is named. He will assist the Board with the search and the execution of the transition. Upon the completion of the leadership transition, Rosenthal will continue to serve as a member of the Board of Directors.

Commenting on Rosenthal’s decision, Mickey Newsome, chairman of the Board, stated, “We are fortunate to be able to have a seamless transition of leadership at Hibbett Sports. Jeff has served Hibbett for over 21 years and has contributed significantly to its growth. He has worked tirelessly over the past several years leading the company in a very difficult retail environment. He has created a foundation for the company’s success as we move forward, and we thank him.”

“I have been privileged to lead Hibbett Sports over the past nine years as president and CEO,” Rosenthal stated. “I am proud of our accomplishments during that time having built a world class e-commerce website and most recently completing our first significant acquisition. I believe that the Company is well positioned, and it is an appropriate time to begin a transition. I am committed to working with the management team in a smooth transition and subsequently working alongside my Board peers.”

Posted March 22, 2019

Source: Hibbett Sports Inc.

Record In Laminating Layers Of Carbon Fiber Fabric Achieved By Ahlstrom-Munksjö HighFlow

STOCKHOLM — March 22, 2019 — The need came from Ahlstrom-Munksjö customers, who are trying to tackle the challenge of the ever-increasing size of wind turbine blades. While blades become longer, also the thickness of laminates gets higher.

Ahlstrom-Munksjö glass and carbon fiber composite team was able to develop a carbon fiber based unidirectional fabric. In a unidirectional (UD) fabric the majority of fibers run in one direction only. The new fabric developed, can be laminated to 165 layers or even more in one shot. The previous record of infusing carbon fiber unidirectional fabric was 120 layers.

“We are really excited about the new HighFlow Carbon unidirectional fabric. Our team in Mikkeli plant, Finland, did excellent work with this.”, says Pekka Helynranta, Vice President, Building & Wind. “HighFlow Carbon Wind Energy is specially designed for wind turbine blades to enable larger new generation wind turbines.”

Bigger wind turbines can generate more energy. Increase in size means also increase in blade size. To optimize power generation blades should be lightweight and stiff. Until now, there wasn’t a good solution to this. HighFlow Carbon solves this problem. By increasing the number of unidirectional fabric layers up to 165 we are able to help the customer to reach a new level of thickness on spar cap laminates. The fabric was unidirectional carbon fiber 600g/m2.

By using Ahlstrom-Munksjö HighFlow fabrics, the infusion process itself is more reliable as there is a lower risk for unsaturated areas of carbon unidirectional fabric. In this new range of products the permeability of fabrics is totally engineerable, the flow rate and direction can be controlled. This means that our customers can now forget problems related to infusion of carbon fiber fabrics.

We have reached a high level of interest from our customers. Our customers are turbine blade manufacturers which use the blades on their own turbines or sell the blades to the big global wind turbine manufacturers. Also, design offices, which make blade designs for blade manufacturers have shown interest in our new concept.

Posted March 22, 2019

Source: Ahlstrom-Munksjö

DOMOTEX USA Celebrates Its Successful First Edition In Atlanta

CHICAGO — March 22, 2019 — After three days of state-of-the-art flooring displays from around the world and lively industry discussions on and off the show floor, the inaugural DOMOTEX USA launched from February 28 to March 2. In total, 282 exhibitors from 25 countries showcased their latest products across 89,400 square feet of exhibition space in Atlanta to kick off the event. More than 57 percent of the show’s exhibition space featured North American flooring suppliers and 43 percent of the square footage was dedicated to international exhibitors.

“DOMOTEX USA highlighted the passion and innovation of the world’s floor covering manufacturers in an intimate and artfully curated space in the Georgia World Congress Center,” said Larry Turner, president and CEO of Hannover Fairs USA (HFUSA), the organizer of the event. “As an extension of DOMOTEX in Hannover, Germany, the world’s leading showcase for carpets and floor coverings, the flooring trends demonstrated, topics discussed, new partnerships made and business connections forged at DOMOTEX USA make this the most creative, international and inspirational event for the North American marketplace.”

DOMOTEX USA 2020 will take place at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Ga., from February 5-7.

Pre-Show Plant Tour Offers Retailers Unique Experience

To unveil the first DOMOTEX USA event, HFUSA organized for registered attendees a unique tour of four Dalton, Georgia-area flooring facilities, including Shaw Industries’ resilient manufacturing facility, The Dixie Group headquarters & creative facility, Engineered Floors SAM plant and Beauflor USA’s sheet vinyl facility. The full-day tour took place on Wednesday, Feb. 27, the day prior to the opening of the inaugural show.

Attendees experienced from start to finish the manufacture of several products showcased at DOMOTEX USA, including Shaw’s COREtec brand of waterproof luxury vinyl tile flooring, Dixie Group’s new carpeting products across its Dixie Home, Fabrica and Masland lines, Engineered Floors carpet fiber production technologies and Beauflor’s crafted sheet vinyl and proprietary textile backing, Blacktex.

“To see such distinct and unique facilities all in one day and to experience up close the automation, scale of each facility and product design inspiration is a great use of any flooring retailers time immediately before the show,” said Allison Weiner, designer and merchandiser of Green Bay, Wis.-based HJ Martin and Son and winner of the DOMOTEX World Tour Sweepstakes trip to DOMOTEX Hannover in January 2019.

DOMOTEX USA Donates $10,000 to Aid Industry Workers

During the show’s opening night reception, DOMOTEX USA presented a $10,000 donation to the Floor Covering Industry Foundation (FCIF) to further the 501(c)3 charitable non-profit organization’s outreach to floor covering industry workers battling life-altering and catastrophic medical conditions. Charlie Dilks, FCIF’s board chairman and chief product officer of CCA Global Partners, accepted the donation on behalf of the charity.

Exhibitor Highlights and Product Launches

Exhibitors expressed amazement and satisfaction with the steady flow of qualified attendees and found the new show to be easy to navigate, well planned and executed. Many manufacturers of hard and soft floor coverings and floor processing technologies utilized their exhibitions at DOMOTEX USA 2019 to launch new products into the North American marketplace.

“I like the overall quality of DOMOTEX USA and suppliers exhibiting across the show floor,” said Franck Taubert, group export commercial director of Alsapan, a French manufacturer of laminate and resilient flooring. “We were very pleased with the big floor covering distributors who visited our booth. The difference between other North American industry events and DOMOTEX USA is this show is for attendees who are specifically interested in purchasing floor covering products,” he added.

Producer of hardwood floor cleaners, stains, sealers and high durability finishes, Bona, showcased its new Bona Inspiration design focused collection of stains, sealers and finishes at the inaugural show. “We officially launched Bona Inspiration in the U.S. at DOMOTEX USA 2019,” said Leah Bradley, Bona’s band manager. “We saw a great selection of the mix of attendees we hoped to see across our target audiences, including architects, interior designers, retailers, distributors and contractors,” added Bradley.

Kabul Carpet Export Center (KCEC), a novel project entirely funded by the Unites States International Agency for Development (USAID) to support the Afghan weaving business selling handmade rugs, launched in the North American marketplace at DOMOTEX USA 2019. The company was pleased with the broad audience of carpet and rug importer attendees who visited its booth to discuss the project and its Afghan weavers. KCEC launched at DOMOTEX Hannover and will attended DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR next month.

For Bruce Hammer, vice president of sales in North America for Ribadao, a Portuguese-based solid flooring, engineered flooring and wall panel manufacturer, the show presented an intimate space to showcase its products to a targeted audience of OEMs, distributors and large retailers. “The opportunities we secured at DOMOTEX USA we would not have captured at any other North American flooring event,” said Hammer.

During DOMOTEX USA 2019, Shaw Industries, a member of the show’s advisory board, showcased its COREtec and Anderson Tuftex brands. The company highlighted the Anderson Tuftex new Unleashed collection of pet friendly carpets and hardwood products. The carpeting in the collection is made with STAINMASTER® PetProtect® carpet. Anderson Tuftex also featured its wide and long plank hardwoods as part of the Unleashed collection. “Shaw is thrilled to support the inaugural show and to showcase our high quality, boutique brands. We did make new retailer contacts and expect to secure new business as a result of our participation at the event,” said Carrie Edwards Isaac, vice president of marketing and consumer strategy for Shaw Industries residential division. “The beauty of the wide variety of customers we’ve connected with during the show is that they were interested in both our hard and soft collections,” she said. Shaw exhibited its COREtec brand at DOMOTEX Hannover in January.

SWISS KRONO launched its new, advanced and improved, water-resistant laminate flooring lines at the inaugural show. Commenting on the new U.S. show, Fabian Kölliker, head of marketing at SWISS KRONO Group said, “DOMOTEX USA is in the right place, and we look forward to attending the show next year and are happy with the 2020 show dates. We were pleased to see many of our existing customers and to connect with new retailers, too.”

Education Spotlights Digital Marketing and Brand Leadership

During the show’s two-day Growth Sessions conference, industry thought leaders and digital marketing experts offered key takeaways, case studies and creative approaches to the predominantly flooring retailer audience. FloorForce sponsored the first day of Digital Growth discussions held Thursday, Feb. 28. The day’s discussions offered measurable tools for finding, understanding and connecting with targeted flooring customers through digital channels.

DOMOTEX USA’s Friday, March 1 Branding and Marketing Growth Sessions highlighted how retailers can create brands that really resonate with their customers. Important takeaways were how to get intentional about the branding process and how to think through brand positioning, brand essence and the brand promise.

The Insider Talks held on the show floor for all attendees featured top industry professionals who discussed topics ranging from the state of the flooring industry to tips for flooring installation and repairs.

Emily Morrow Home Design Panel Sells Out

Emily Morrow Home hosted a design panel and luncheon that specifically addressed the changing landscape of interior design. The discussion highlighted each panel member’s design focus and favorite Emily Morrow Home hardwood style. Insights on current and future trends also were discussed.

Inaugural Show Attracts Qualified Attendees

The quality mix of show attendees was extremely high – a fact confirmed by all exhibitors. The inaugural show secured 5130 registrants, attracting retail professionals, wholesalers, distributors, OEMs, interior designers, contractors and installation professionals. About 70 percent of the first show’s attendees are located in the Eastern U.S.

“Attendee traffic, including qualified North American retailers and distributor partners, exceeded our expectations for the inaugural show,” said Pat Oakley, vice president of marketing at Mullican Flooring in Johnson City, Tenn. “The show’s location was a perfect fit for us, allowing many of our customers, manufacturing and marketing personnel to easily attend. We have signed on for DOMOTEX USA 2020,” he added. During the inaugural show, Mullican launched its new Wexford Kiln-Aged collection, which is a part of its engineered wood flooring line.

Posted March 22, 2019

Source: DOMOTEX USA

ITMA 2019 Exhibitor Preview: Mayer & Cie.

ALBSTADT, Germany — March 22, 2019 — Albstadt-based circular knitting machine manufacturer Mayer & Cie. (MCT) is exhibiting at this year’s leading textile and garment technology trade fair ITMA with the slogan “Stay a winner. With Mayer & Cie.” The focus of the company’s presentation will be on sport. Sportswear, active leisurewear and sports shoes are increasingly made of circular knitted fabrics and the long-established German firm has the right machines to cater for this trend. Mayer & Cie. is also going for the improved customer experiences that consistent digitization makes possible.

The sportswear market is a growth market

“Circular knitting is one of the most efficient ways to manufacture textile surfaces,” says managing partner Marcus Mayer, in charge of technical development at Mayer & Cie. “A Mayer machine manufactures up to 40 kg of fabric per hour, enough for around 380 t-shirts. Jersey fabric is elastic too, which is good for wearing comfort, especially in the sport and leisure sectors.”

For years global demand for circular knitted goods has increased continuously. An important growth driver is the sportswear and sports fashion sector, including sports shoes. According to Euromonitor the market segment grew by about seven per cent per year between 2013 and 2017. By 2017 Euromonitor estimated its total market value to be around USD 78 billion. Lightweight synthetic fibres, new patterns and attractive functionalities are the key requirements in this area.

Mayer & Cie. can already fulfil many requirements with a portfolio of machines considered to be the largest in the industry. Lightweight mesh structures, often requested for running shirts, are a speciality of the IG 3.2 QCe interlock machine, for example. Jacquard machines from the OVJA family, in contrast, are suitable for the manufacture of shoe uppers. Hardy Bühler, trend scout and regional sales manager at Mayer & Cie., says that “for a sports shoe to be made of knitted fabric has only really been an option since the 2012 Olympics”. Compared with the conventional methods flat knitting and warp knitting, circular knitting scores points for productivity and significantly shorter set-up times.

“Because we think there continues to be a great deal of potential in sports- and leisurewear, our new machine developments are mainly located in that area,” says Marcus Mayer, summarising his company’s ITMA presentation.

Spinning and knitting on the way to new applications

Series production of the Spinit 3.0 E spinning and knitting machine has been under way since the end of 2018. It combines two previously separate processes – spinning and knitting – in one machine. That saves time, space and energy compared with conventional manufacturing processes. Mayer & Cie. has already won several awards for this approach, the latest being the Innovation Prize for the Climate and the Environment (IKU) that the Federal Environment Ministry and the Confederation of German Industry (BDI) award every other year.

The company is presenting at ITMA its further developments of this machine. “We aren’t of course revealing yet exactly what they are,” says Marcus Mayer. “All I will say is that with this machine we aim to increasingly target sports- and leisurewear.”

Regeneration as part of sporting performance

Many top-flight athletes have long realised that a good night’s sleep is part of successful preparation for competitive events. Mattress covers and sportswear are a good match for Mayer & Cie. too. One ITMA exhibit is aimed specifically at this market segment. “The fully electronic circular knitting machines that are in demand can confidently be described as the premium class,” Marcus Mayer says. “Even though probably no-one remembers the pattern on their mattress, it is one of the most elaborate patterns that are made.” That was why a wide range of patterns, ease of use and, of course, the productivity of its circular knitting machines were key considerations for a mattress cover manufacturer.

Make collaboration easier, improve service

Along with machine development Mayer & Cie. has set itself another target for ITMA and thereafter: to improve the customer experience, a task of which Sebastian Mayer is in charge. His responsibilities at Mayer & Cie. are for corporate development and digitization. Digitization of the company’s extensive customer and machinery know-how is currently under way. Customers will be able to see and test the initial results at ITMA. Available for testing will be the new Web shop, linked with an analogue model of the high-bay warehouse in Albstadt-Tailfingen, and machine maintenance by means of HoloLens.

“And that is just a foretaste of what is to come,” said Sebastian Mayer. “We want to offer our know-how to our customers on a customer portal. That will make efficiency optimization and predictive maintenance possible, delivering genuine customer benefits.”

Posted March 22, 2019

Source: Mayer & Cie. (MCT)

Smart Composites: IPC Unveils An Intelligent Motorcycle Helmet And A Multifunctional Wind Turbine Blade At JEC World 2019

PARIS — March 7, 2019 — IPC, the Industrial Technical Centre with expertise dedicated to plastic and composite innovation, is presenting two prototypes on its stand: an intelligent motorcycle helmet and a multifunctional wind- turbine blade. “With these two prototypes, IPC demonstrates its ability to functionalize composites, particularly with printed electronic components. Live demos will be organized during the three days of the show on our booth,” explained Bertrand Fillon, general manager of Research at IPC.

The helmet was manufactured in partnership with the technical and creative paper manufacturer Arjowiggins, and the wind turbine blade, with the CEA. These two demonstrators will also be exhibited in Germany at the LOPEC exhibition 2019 in Munich on 20-21 March.

Improve The User Experience

The objective is to add new features to improve the user experience, without impacting security. The motorcycle helmet is equipped with sensors and NFC communication functions. “Here, printed organic electronics are used in the helmet to allow remote temperature changes,” adds Lionel Tenchine, Program Line Manager for “Technologies for Intelligent Products” at IPC.

The helmet manufacturing process is based on the use of composites and the infusion process.

Detecting Potential Damage In Advance

Developing predictive maintenance is an important issue when it comes to avoiding sudden, serious accidents. A recent McKinsey study estimates that by 2025 it will save $630 billion for companies, for example.
The wind turbine blade presented at JEC World detects potential damage that could occur on the blade structure beforehand, making it possible to carry out preventive repairs on the one-meter-long blade. Printed organic electronics are used in the demonstrator to integrate strain gauges and the temperature detection function.

Posted March 22, 2019

Source: IPC — the Industrial Technical Centre

Crypton Announces A High Point First: The Crypton Patio — An Outdoor Oasis Right In The Center Of High Point Market

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. — March 22, 2019 — Crypton®, a provider of performance fabric technologies in the residential home furnishings market, has announced that it will be creating a first-of-its-kind, pop-up, outdoor lounge, dining and meeting area that will be open to all attendees of High Point Market, the world’s largest home furnishings trade show. The Crypton Patio will provide a perfect spot for alfresco dining (from an array of nearby food trucks and carts) outdoor meetings or for taking a quick power nap in the Hammock Garden. Centrally located near the Transportation Terminal and the Showplace building off the main pedestrian walkway, it will be open from Saturday through Monday, April 6, 7 and 8 from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., weather permitting.

“The vibe will be fun and relaxed,” said Crypton Home’s Marketing Director Elise Gabrielson, “a spot where you can camp out between appointments, relax, eat lunch, catch up with colleagues and friends. If you’re not sure where to meet up, just call your team and say, “Meet me on The Patio!’” The Patio will also serve as an informal Crypton design resource center with a sneak peek at the newest Crypton fabric trends from around Market. A Crypton Product Specialist will be on hand to answer questions and help marketgoers find Crypton partner showrooms throughout High Point Market.

Says High Point Market Authority COO Tammy Nagem, “We’re pleased to have Crypton break new ground by providing The Crypton Patio experience. Theirs is an esteemed brand represented in more than 80 High Point showrooms, and their pop-up experiences are known to our attendees for being both delightful and immersive.” For example, on Saturday and Sunday Crypton will offer a pop-up-within a-pop-up when from 2 -4 The Patio will be the location for Crypton’s Pooch Pop Up, where weary show goers can relax and snuggle up with a dog from the Canine Companions for Independence. A selfie tagged #poochpopup will trigger a donation from Crypton to the organization, which furnishes trained companion dogs to those who need them. Fun giveaways for your own pooch will range from the classic (tennis ball, frisbee) to the unexpected (soothing aromatherapy paw towelettes by Herban Essentials).

Crypton Patio highlights include:

Dining Patio: with picnic tables and umbrellas for meeting or dining or both Hammock Garden: for a snooze, a selfie or both

Pergola Bar: where everything is refreshing, like locally sourced organic juices and kombucha from High Point purveyor Organic AF, free samples of all-natural botanical aromatherapy from Herban Essentials and live demonstrations of Crypton’s indoor performance fabrics at work

Pooch Pop Ups: Saturday and Sunday 2 – 4 snuggle or snap a #poochpopup selfie
Plant life: take-home design ideas for outdoor-safe and indoor-pretty floral/décor by Balsam Hill

Design Inspiration to-go: designers can get expert specification tips and choose fabric samples to-go at the Pergola Bar’s Swatch Buffet featuring the latest Crypton introductions from showrooms across High Point

In addition to The Patio, Crypton will once again sponsor High Point Market’s Style Spotters and Blogger Tour, and the brand is also hosting a Beauty Lounge inside the Designer Lounge at Universal Furniture, where show goers can relax on furniture covered in Crypton fabric while having a 20-minute makeup application or hair touch-up with a professional stylist. Beauty Lounge appointments will require an RSVP. The Crypton Patio is open to all, 11 – 4 Sat, Sun and Mon April 6 – 8.

Posted March 22, 2019

Source: Crypton®

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