Hyosung Chairman Cho Hyun-Joon Signs MOU With Saudi Aramco On The Construction Of Carbon Fiber Plant

SEOUL, South Korea — June 28, 2019 — Hyosung Chairman Cho Hyun-Joon signed a memorandum of understanding with Amin H. Nasser, president and CEO of Saudi Aramco, a global petrochemical company of Saudi Arabia, at Conrad Seoul in Yeouido, Seoul, on June 25 to consider building a carbon fiber plant.

Under the MOU, Hyosung and Saudi Aramco will positively consider a plan to build carbon fiber plants in Saudi Arabia and South Korea through cooperation in the development and application of carbon fiber production technology.

Carbon fibers are four times lighter and 10 times stronger than steel. Hyosung developed carbon fibers in 2011 independently for the first time as a Korean company. It has operated a carbon fiber plant with the annual output capacity of 2,000 tons built in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, in 2013. Another carbon fiber plant with the same capacity is under construction on the premise of the Jeonju plant since February.

In March, Hyosung Chairman Cho had signed a wide-ranging MOU with Saudi Aramco for cooperation in projects related to chemicals, advanced materials, and hydrogen. Saudi Aramco was considering new projects in the fields of automobiles and new renewable energy, so it allegedly recognized the need to cooperate with Hyosung which had built up its own technology in advanced materials, including carbon fibers.

At that time, Ahmad A. Al-Sa’adi, senior vice president of Saudi Aramco and other executives visited the Hyosung carbon fiber plant in Jeonju, to inspect production lines carefully, and they verified Hyosung’s differentiated technology with their own eyes, putting their confidence in it.

Hyosung Chairman Cho Hyun-Joon said, “I look forward to seeing carbon fiber and other new businesses grow down the road through the combination of Saudi Aramco’s management know-how and Hyosung’s proprietary technology.”

Posted June 28, 2019

Source: Hyosung Corporation

The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) Announces Winner Of The 2019 Paul T. O’Day Memorial Scholarship

WASHINGTON — June 28, 2019 — The National Council of Textile Organization’s (NCTO) Fiber Council announces Reagan Dunnam, of Florence, S.C., as the recipient of the 2019 Paul T. O’Day Scholarship Award. She is the daughter of Jennifer Dunnam, who works for Fiber Industries LLC, and Robert Dunnam.

Dunnam graduated in June with high honors from West Florence High School. She will pursue a major in Fashion and Textile Management at NC State University this fall.

NCTO Fiber Council Chairman David Poston, president of Palmetto Synthetics LLC, commented: “We are pleased to recognize Ms. Dunnam’s exceptional record of academic achievements with her selection as the 2019 recipient of the Paul T. O’Day Memorial Scholarship.  All of us on the Fiber Council congratulate Ms. Dunnam and wish her continued success in her academic career.”

The scholarship program was created in 2014 in honor of Paul T. O’Day who served as President of the American Fiber Manufacturers Association (AFMA) for more than three decades. The Association merged with the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) in April 2018, and NCTO’s Fiber Council now administers the scholarship program.  Recipients receive a $5,000 award each year, totaling $20,000 for four years of study.  Sons or daughters of NCTO’s Fiber Council member company employees are eligible to apply.

NCTO is a Washington, DC-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 June 28, 2019

Source: The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO)

NCTO Applauds Senate Passage Of The National Defense Authorization Act Of Fiscal Year 2020

WASHINGTON — June 27, 2019 — The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) commends the Senate for passing the National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2020, which strengthens the Berry Amendment and safeguards our national security, by setting compliance requirements to all Department of Defense acquisitions at or above $150,000.

The Senate bill rolls back the threshold for Berry compliance requirements to 2017 levels and adjusts future increases for inflation, which the U.S. textile industry supports.

The Fiscal Year 2018 NDAA bill raised the Simplified Acquisition Threshold to $250,000. The higher threshold put more than $50 million worth of Berry contracts annually at risk of being outsourced to China and other foreign countries.

“We are really pleased the Senate passed the NDAA, which strengthens the Berry Amendment, a provision that is critical to the U.S. textile industry,” said NCTO President and CEO Kim Glas.

“Berry provides the U.S. military with high-quality textile and apparel products that are produced with 100-percent U.S. materials and labor. It also helps keep the industrial base strong and provides the best R&D, materials, and equipment for our warfighters,” Glas said. “We also urge the House to follow the Senate’s lead and take similar action to strengthen our national industrial base.”

“Without the Berry Amendment in place, defense-related activities are at risk if supply chains are filled with imports of undocumented origin,” said Kathie Leonard, President and CEO of Auburn Manufacturing Inc., a small manufacturer of fire-resistant fabrics based in Mechanic Falls, Maine.

“Our ability to continue supplying 100% domestically produced products to the military is contingent upon a reasonable Berry threshold. The minimum was raised from $50K to $150,000 several years ago. Last year it jumped to $250,000, leaving us with only 15 percent of the defense market we serve,” Leonard said.

Ashley Bullock, Government Contract Sales Manager, Raeford Uniforms, a division of Burlington Industries, said: “Passage of the NDAA along with the continued support of the Berry Amendment are critical for Burlington and our ongoing support to the U.S. military and our men and women in uniform.  As a proud part of the military’s clothing and textile supply chain, Burlington Industries, an Elevate Textiles Company, relies on the Berry Amendment to maintain our current operations in North and South Carolina and our ability to make continual investment to ensure the U.S. warfighter has the most innovative, highest-quality, and technologically advanced clothing and equipment possible.  Correcting the Berry Amendment’s threshold level is a major and positive step in protecting this important law from being watered down. “

NCTO is a Washington, DC-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 June 27, 2019

Source: The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO)

Burlington To Produce Fabric For The New Army Green Service Uniform

GREENSBORO, N.C. — June 27, 2019 — Burlington Industries LLC, a division of Elevate Textiles, is proud to announce it will supply wool blended fabrics for use in the newly-updated Army Green Service Uniform, specifically the jacket, tie, and bottoms. These fabrics will be produced at the company’s facilities in Raeford and Cordova, N.C.

Burlington is honored to be an integral part of the defense supply chain for more than 55 years. The development of the new Army Service Uniform fabric has been underway for over two years in partnership with the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), the United States Army, and several private industry partners. Continuing in the Burlington tradition, the entire process has focused on one core concept — serving the men and women of the United States Armed Forces.

These new fabrics allow their wearers the confidence to be their best with unmatched comfort, durability, colorfastness, and appearance as they represent the best of our nation both at home and abroad. Burlington’s Raeford operation is known for superior consistency and color continuity, which is a requirement for a force as large and diverse as the United States Army. Skilled workers, many with more than 20 to 50 years of experience, carefully tend to each process, ensuring the yarn and fabric are produced to meet the highest quality standards.

“At Burlington, we honor our public servants with a dedication to quality and innovation, to make sure those who serve are always served by the garments they wear,” says Allen Smith, president of Burlington. “Our Raeford brand of worsted wool fabrics are engineered to provide the soldier with advanced durability, comfort, and wrinkle-resistance, and provide Burlington’s unmatched color capability to ensure each uniform issued matches over the span of many years. As our nation prepares to celebrate the anniversary of its independence, we are honored to see the new Army Green Service Uniform in action and to pay tribute to the men and women who protect our freedoms each day.”

Since 1923, Burlington has been a global textile leader with core competencies in worsted wool and performance synthetics and has been an integral part of the defense supply chain for more than 55 years. Offering a diverse range of vertical manufacturing capabilities, fiber, and fabric blends, Burlington® Military is proud to provide quality fabrics for United States Military personnel. Through innovation, Burlington’s in-house Research and Development department, Burlington Labs®, engineers advance fabrications and technical finishes that are applied to protect and enhance performance while providing troops protection, easy-care, and advanced comfort in all their diverse environments.

Burlington Military combines the resources from the Burlington, Safety Components, and Carlisle business units to create an extensive military products platform of diversified fabrics developed to service the specific needs of the military market. Products include fabrics for Class A dress uniforms, camouflage combat and utility uniforms, physical training and extreme cold weather wear, flame resistant and firefighting protective clothing, high performance equipment, ballistic fabric for body armor and load carrying equipment, and other specialty items.

Posted June 27, 2019

Source: Burlington Industries LLC, a division of Elevate Textiles

Warrior Protection And Readiness Coalition Commends Passage Of The Homeland Procurement Reform (HOPR) Act By U.S. House Of Representatives

MARBLEHEAD, Mass. — June 25, 2019 — The Warrior Protection and Readiness Coalition (WPRC) today announced its robust support for the actions taken by the U.S. House of Representatives, who have unanimously approved H.R. 2083, the Homeland Procurement Reform (HOPR) Act. This important bipartisan legislation is designed to ensure that the operational units within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) including Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Secret Service, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) purchase uniforms and equipment manufactured in the United States.

This bill establishes specific criteria that increases the ability of DHS to obtain high-quality, American-made personal protective equipment (PPE) and organizational clothing and individual equipment (OCIE). The HOPR Act builds upon earlier procurement provisions such as the Berry Amendment and the Kissell Amendment.

The Berry Amendment sustains an essential industrial base, as well as tens of thousands of manufacturing jobs. It ensures Department of Defense personnel receive high quality, advanced American-made equipment and clothing. No warfighter can be sustained in the field without advanced fabrics, armor, footwear, protective safety gear and many other critical tools.

The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) of 2009 contained a provision known as the Kissell Amendment. As enacted, it attached a very narrow requirement for domestic clothing and textile procurement by DHS. The Kissell Amendment has not had its intended effect. DHS continues to procure uniforms and equipment manufactured in foreign countries, including CBP uniforms which are currently produced in Mexico, in a low security environment.

Introduced by Rep. Lou Correa (D-CA, 46th District) and co-sponsored by House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS, 2nd District), Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL, 18th District), Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA, 2nd District), Rep Chris Pappas (D-NH,1st District),  the HOPR Act ensures that American tax dollars are not improperly spent on low quality items made overseas when American businesses produce the same items at a better value here in the United States. A companion bill has been introduced in the Senate (S. 1055) by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and co-sponsored by Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Sen. Doug Jones (D-AL).

Original Sponsor Rep. Lou Correa said: “I want to thank my colleagues for their support in bringing this legislation to the House Floor. It is a necessary step to ensure our DHS frontline personnel have access to domestically sourced, high-quality uniforms and equipment while allowing domestic small businesses to better compete for Federal government contracts. This is a critical step in helping our men and women in the field get the tools and equipment they need to do their jobs. I am proud of this legislation and proud to say this bill protects our national security and helps small businesses.”

Rep. Brian Mast said: “The men and women who serve on the border are willing to put their lives on the line to protect our nation’s security,” Rep. Mast said. “Providing Homeland Security with the highest quality, American-made uniforms and protective gear is critical for ensuring their safety and the success of the mission.”

WPRC Executive Director David Costello said, “We are pleased to support the bipartisan effort to extend domestic-focused procurement to the Department of Homeland Security. DHS officials responsible for our national security should be provided with American-made, quality gear and equipment. The HOPR Act will not only provide high-quality, American made equipment for DHS personnel but also help create jobs and spur manufacturing within the United States. We look forward to working with Senator Shaheen and her colleagues to ensure that this critical legislation passes the Senate and becomes law.”

Posted June 27, 2019

Source: Warrior Protection and Readiness Coalition (WPRC)

Three Ways Converse’s Renew Initiative Is Rethinking Waste

BOSTON — June 26, 2019 — Initially released as a basketball shoe, the Converse Chuck Taylor All Star is an enduring icon of footwear design.

During the past 100 years, Converse has been committed to the shoe’s continual reinvention. This is evident in design and materialization, where the Chuck Taylor All Star has been the natural starting point for a number of fabric and construction experiments.

Converse Renew, emblematic of a new era of Converse design, takes on the challenge of — and finds solutions for — product creation using post-consumer and post-industrial waste. It blends a new approach to materials with inventive new methods of manufacturing, and with a singular aim: develop new and more sustainable ways of making Converse icons.

Starting with the Chuck Taylor All Star, three Renew Processes — upcycled textiles, recycled PET and recycled cotton canvas blends — will give literal tons of waste a second life.

Converse Renew’s Three Processes

  1. Renew Canvas: the same feel and look as traditional Converse canvas, except now made from 100 percent recycled polyester that came from used plastic bottles.
  2. Renew Denim: using an in-house upcycling process, denim jeans that were diverted from landfills serve as the first example of Converse’s capacity to turn single-source upcycled textiles into a Chuck Taylor All Star or Chuck 70.
  3. Renew Cotton: this proprietary process transforms cotton canvas waste from the manufacturing process to create a composite 40 percent recycled cotton with polyester to form a new yarn. (In future seasons, additional recycled blends will be explored.)

Chuck Taylor All Stars and Chuck 70s featuring Converse Renew Canvas, which uses recycled PET, release July 5. A Chuck 70 with Converse Renew Denim, which demonstrates Converse’s upcycled textile capabilities, follows in August.

Converse Renew Cotton will release in early 2020.

Posted June 27, 2019

Source: Converse Inc./Nike Inc.

L’Oréal Invests In Biotech Through A Minority Stake In PET Bio-Recycler Carbios

CLICHY, France — June 26, 2019 — L’Oréal has participated in the capital increase conducted by Carbios, a company pioneering new, bio-industrial solutions to reinvent the lifecycle of plastic and textile polymers.

This participation was done through L’Oréal’s corporate venture capital fund BOLD Business Opportunities for L’Oréal Development, launched in December 2018. With this operation Carbios will finance, amongst other elements, the industrial demonstrator for the biorecycling of plastics and polyester fibers in PET plastic, a first step towards industrializing the technology it has designed.

Carbios has developed a unique and sustainable technology using highly specific enzymes that can recycle much broader PET plastics and polyester fibers feedstock than other recycling technologies. This innovative process creates recycled PET equivalent to virgin PET, that can be used for applications like bottles and other forms of packaging.

Barbara Lavernos, executive vice-president Operations of L’Oréal, said “This participation demonstrates our support of new sustainable development technologies, in line with our commitment that by 2025, 100% of our packaging will be recycled, recyclable or compostable, and more specifically, 50% of the plastic used in our packaging will be recycled or bio-sourced. Carbios is developing a pioneering plastic recycling technology, based on both circular economy principles and biotechnologies, and we are proud to support them in their development.”

In 2017, Carbios and L’Oréal founded a Consortium to bring enhanced recycling technology to market on an industrial scale. Nestlé Waters, PepsiCo and Suntory Beverage & Food Europe recently joined the Consortium to help support the circular plastics economy using Carbios’ breakthrough enzyme-based enhanced recycling technology.

BOLD Business Opportunities for L’Oréal Development is a corporate venture capital fund aiming to take minority stakes in innovative companies and brands with high growth potential. The fund invests in new business models in marketing, R&I, digital, retail, communication, supply chain and packaging and provides startups with L’Oréal’s expertise, networking and mentorship.

Posted June 27, 2019

Source: L’Oréal

Arlington Capital Partners Acquires A Majority Interest In Riverpoint Medical

WASHINGTON — June 27, 2019 — Arlington Capital Partners, a Washington-based private equity firm, announced today it has completed a majority growth investment in Riverpoint Medical. The investment in Riverpoint marks the first deal out of Arlington’s $1.7 billion Fund V, which closed earlier this week. Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, Riverpoint Medical is a leading developer, designer, and manufacturer of medical devices focused on advanced bio-medical textile technologies. The Company has a strong history of industry leading product innovation and intellectual property development across bioabsorbable sutures, high strength medical fiber and suture-based implantable devices. Riverpoint’s advanced polymer technologies address the stringent demands of large and rapidly growing global markets including wound closure, sports medicine, animal health and regenerative medicine.

Matt Altman, a managing partner at Arlington, said, “Arlington is thrilled to partner with the Riverpoint team to continue building a leading manufacturer of advanced textile-based medical devices. Riverpoint’s ability to develop innovative technologies coupled with its unique manufacturing processes provide a strong platform to accelerate growth in large addressable markets. Our investment in Riverpoint continues Arlington’s history of building differentiated, high-growth medical device manufacturers in partnership with company founders and existing senior management.”

Pat Ferguson, CEO of Riverpoint, stated, “We chose to partner with Arlington because of its long track record of success investing in, and scaling, medical device manufacturers. We are extremely pleased to work together with Arlington to take Riverpoint to the next level of growth as Arlington shares our vision for expanding Riverpoint’s capabilities to better serve our customers and employees. Arlington’s ability to provide significant strategic and capital support is differentiated and will further enable Riverpoint to expand our offerings to our clients, increase our manufacturing capacity, and most importantly, help enhance surgical outcomes.”

Gordon Auduong, a vice president of Arlington, added: “We have been very impressed with the company’s ability to capitalize on the growth trends in the sports medicine and animal health markets. We believe that Arlington can provide the strategic support and investments necessary to accelerate this exciting platform. We look forward to partnering with the highly talented Riverpoint management team to propel the company through its next phase of growth.”

Riverpoint’s founders and senior management have all made substantial investments as part of the transaction and will continue to lead the company’s strategic growth initiatives in the future. The Walden Group served as advisor to the company on the transaction.

Posted June 27, 2019

Source: Arlington Capital Partners

Barco® Uniforms Saves 16.8 Million Bottles From Polluting Environment

LOS ANGELES — June 27, 2019 — Barco® Uniforms, a provider of design innovation in the premium healthcare apparel industry, today announced that it has prevented 16.8 million plastic bottles from polluting the environment since incorporating plastic bottles into the cutting-edge fabric of the Barco One and Skechers by Barco scrub collections in 2016 and 2018, respectively.

Each Barco One garment incorporates 5 recycled plastic bottles in its fabric and the brand has recycled 7.5 million bottles, while each Skechers garment is made from 7 recycled plastic bottles, resulting in 9.3 million recycled bottles to date. In addition to the sustainability factor, each scrub collection features moisture-wicking fabric with 4-way stretch that is designed to easily release soil.

“We are only starting to understand the devastating consequences of our global dependence on plastic and the pollution epidemic,” said David Murphy, president and CEO of Barco Uniforms. “Barco is proud to have taken concrete steps to keep plastic bottles out of landfills and the waste stream. Barco One and Skechers collections are the first lines of medical scrubs to incorporate a sustainable element into their fabric, and we are eager to see an increase in the number of bottles that we incorporate into our fabric technology in the years to come.”

To create the sustainable fabric, Barco relies on a recycled polyester (rPET) process.

“The last year has been marked by stories of marine animals washing up on shore with hundreds of tons of plastic pollution in their stomachs,” said Peggy Schulz, vice president of Corporate Marketing of Barco Uniforms. “We’ve incorporated plastic bottles into our fabric with the hope of contributing to a cleaner world and a safer environment for marine life. Barco One’s fabric technology not only helps marine life, it’s also inspired by veterinarians due to its Quick-shed™ property, so it’s truly a win-win for our environment and the animal kingdom alike.”

Barco One has gained popularity among veterinarians and pet groomers due to the fabrics’ antistatic properties, allowing animal hair to release quickly from the surface of the fabric. Barco’s Skechers line is designed for the modern, value-conscious healthcare professional who appreciates quality and style associated with highly respected brands. In addition to recycled bottles, the fabric in both Barco One and Skechers features 4-way spandex-stretch for comfort and modern design styling that is flattering on all body types.

Posted June 27, 2019

Source: Barco Uniforms

Imaging Spectrum Opens Epson Certified Solution Center In Texas

LONG BEACH, Calif. — June 27, 2019 — Epson today announced Imaging Spectrum in the Dallas area has opened an Epson Certified Solution Center. The location will showcase unique Epson® printing solutions and applications, leveraging the Epson professional printing portfolio of dye-sublimation, signage, photography, and direct-to-garment solutions. Potential Epson customers can visit Imaging Spectrum to engage with product experts and experience industry-leading print technology by running personal test print samples on the equipment.

“Imaging Spectrum is dedicated to providing state-of-the-art technology and valuable guidance and support, making the Epson Certified Solution Center a perfect fit for their Plano office,” said John Meyer, director of sales, Wide Format Channel, Epson America, Inc. “As a strong partner for nearly 20 years, Imaging Spectrum is now offering its customers even greater benefits and opportunities by providing first-hand experience with Epson products.”

Located at the Imaging Spectrum office in Plano, just outside of Dallas, the Epson Certified Solution Center will provide customers with an immersive experience, including:

  • Access to the SureColor® S-Series, SureColor F-Series and SureColor P-Series wide-format equipment;
  • Extensive print samples and applications; and
  • Comprehensive customer training opportunities.

“When it comes to digital photographic printing, Epson has set the standard in quality,” said Brian Woodchek, president, Imaging Spectrum. “We are excited to open this new Solution Center that features the latest in Epson printing technology, providing an opportunity for us to give personalized demonstrations that will help our customers’ businesses succeed and grow.”

Posted June 27, 2019

Source: Epson America, Inc.

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