EFI Introduces Next-generation Single-pass Reggiani BOLT Textile Digital Printer

BERGAMO, Italy — November 9, 2018 — The brand-new, next-generation, single-pass EFI™ Reggiani BOLT textile digital printer from Electronics For Imaging Inc. (EFI) made its debut this week during an open house event at the EFI Reggiani facility in Bergamo, Italy. The advanced, ultra-high-speed digital single-pass printer has the potential to revolutionize the textile printing market, providing users with high uptime and reliability, outstanding performance, superior printing uniformity and accuracy, long printhead life and minimal maintenance needs, according to the company. The EFI Reggiani open house has created huge interest in global textile market opportunities, with nearly 300 customers and journalists attending to see the new BOLT in action.

“The innovative development of our new single-pass printer comes from Reggiani’s speed of innovation in digital textile printing, its 70 years of history, and our proprietary knowledge of high-volume analog rotary printing,” said EFI Reggiani Vice President and General Manager Adele Genoni. “Our EFI colleagues’ proven, worldwide expertise in single-pass technology and, most importantly, EFI Reggiani’s serious commitment to listening to and addressing our textile customers’ needs, have allowed us to achieve incredible results with our newest print technology. The EFI Reggiani BOLT re-writes the rules of digital textile single-pass printing, delivering superior throughput and quality with a highly competitive return on investment for customers. We are excited to bring this technology to our customers and see their businesses succeed and grow.”

Cutting-edge printhead technology and high-performance ink delivery

The BOLT offers an innovative, low-maintenance, fast-startup recirculation printhead that delivers better, more-uniform printing with superior uptime. Thanks to its cutting-edge printhead concept and high-performance ink delivery system, the BOLT has throughput speeds of up to 295 feet per minute (more than 86,100 square feet per hour) at a 600 x 600 dots per inch (dpi) resolution. It features high-end grayscale imaging in drop sizes from 5 to 30 picoliters, and also provides premium-quality 600 x 4,800 maximum-dpi resolution printing, allowing customers to address the full range of design needs. The printhead has been developed in partnership with a leading printhead manufacturer, and will be available exclusively for EFI Reggiani.

High-end capabilities, with reduced downtime

The EFI Reggiani BOLT meets growing requirements for high-quality, ecologically sustainable digital textile imaging in apparel, décor and other markets. Paired with an EFI Fiery® digital front end (DFE) print server offering unique, high-speed processing capabilities on demand, the BOLT printer is a robust, industrial platform designed for 24/7 operation and continuous productivity that drives high-volume throughput while reducing the cost per meter. Additional new features and enhancements on the printer include:

Enhanced maintenance features – The printer’s contactless wiping system prolongs printhead life and quality. Plus, the printer comes with an assisted alignment system for its test calibration scan unit, and features extractable printing beams for easier maintenance.

Extended color gamut and superior imagequality – Thanks to EFI expertise in color management and flexible color configurations, customers can easily reproduce a wider variety of work, including designs featuring plain colors, geometric patterns, fine lines, deep blacks and smooth gradients.

Proprietary IP combining digital and rotary technologies – One or more analog printing stations, which may be easily connected as an optional feature, can be integrated into the digital printer for special effects.

Efficient, high-powered EFI Fiery technology

The Reggiani BOLT is a Fiery Driven™ printer, featuring an EFI Fiery DFE with RIP and color management technologies running on Fiery XB bladed hardware for maximum performance. Fiery technologies for the printer give textile printing businesses the ability to successfully produce highly challenging jobs with the finest detail, demanding colors, smooth gradients and more. EFI color scientists developed special algorithms and custom screening for this Fiery system to deliver vivid print results, including high saturation without losing detail, and superior color even when using the fastest print mode.

Fiery technologies for the new Reggiani BOLT printer also will include a 1-year subscription to EFI Fiery DesignPro, a powerful textile and fashion design suite that runs inside designers’ Adobe® Creative Cloud® applications. Fiery DesignPro reduces the time needed to create color books, repeats, colorways and prepare files for production to minutes instead of hours. Together, the new Reggiani BOLT single-pass printer and Fiery technologies address key market trends as customers face pressure for faster time-to-market, quick fashion cycles, shorter print runs and more customization.

EFI Reggiani high-speed innovation in digital printing for textiles

The BOLT printer is the newest in an important series of EFI Reggiani innovations. In the last 15 months, the team has developed a totally renewed range of digital scanning printers with cutting-edge technologies, launching a new model every quarter to offer customers solutions to whatever their requirements may be for easily scalable textile printing. The list of EFI Reggiani advancements includes two recent launches – the COLORS digital printer, which provides unparalleled performance with up to 12-colour printing, and the TERRA pigment ink with binder solution featuring in-line polymerization, a process that speeds up customers’ printing with one of the industry’s greenest production technologies.

Posted November 15, 2018

Source: Electronics For Imaging, Inc. (EFI™)

Tarkett Launches Its Latest Cradle To Cradle™ Certified Rubber Flooring Collection — Pentagonals

SOLON, Ohio — November 9, 2018 — Tarkett, a worldwide leader in innovative and sustainable flooring and sports surface solutions, launches its latest Cradle to Cradle™ certified rubber flooring collection — Pentagonals. Three pentagonal shapes comprise this collection, providing specialized flooring to create distinctive designs in a material known for performance.

“Rubber flooring has always offered practical beauty and often is specified for its durability and low overall maintenance,” said Terry Mowers, vice president Commercial Design, Tarkett North America. “With our Pentagonals collection, we’ve introduced all-new intriguing and artistic design elements to tried-and-true performance flooring.”

Pentagonals were inspired by one of the world’s most intriguing geometric puzzles —searching for five-sided shapes that tile the plane, or fill a surface without overlapping or leaving gaps. In all this time, only 15 such pentagons have been discovered, and Tarkett has selected three of them to debut in this new rubber flooring collection:

  • Shell creates a random or linear pattern on the floor;
  • Monument is a stately shape that creates direction and a sense of movement on the floor; and
  • Diamond echoes the cut of a precious stone, creating a dazzling floor design.

However, shape is not the only choice within the line. Because Pentagonals are crafted from Johnsonite’s time-tested rubber flooring, practically limitless color and texture combinations are available. Pentagonals will be available in 142 solid colors and a variety of marbleized patterns and speckled colorways. A host of different textures add to design options and improve safety.

The Pentagonals design process is driven by the newly developed online visualizer at pentagonals.tarkett.com, designed to walk customers through the easy, step-by-step selection process resulting in a personalized flooring layout. For more complicated designs than the visualizer allows, Tarkett’s Designer on Demand program is available to assist with custom layouts.

Pentagonals rubber flooring is equally beautiful when it comes to sustainability. Johnsonite’s rubber flooring is:

  • FloorScore™ certified and meets CA 01350;
  • Cradle to Cradle Bronze certified v3.1;
  • ILFI Living Product Challenge Imperative Certified with a Water Petal Certification;
  • Phthalate-free, except for recycled materials;
  • Non-PVC;
  • Part of the ReStart® reclamation program; and
  • Made in the U.S.A. in an ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified plant.

As part of Tarkett’s 2020 sustainability goals, the company assessed every material in its rubber flooring through Environmental Protection Encouragement Agency standards. Tarkett exceeded its goals by using these assessments to optimize its rubber flooring, resulting in the elimination of materials of high concern, such as zinc borate.

“Our design team works closely with our R&D and sustainability teams to ensure we’re doing good by developing innovative, sustainable flooring solutions,” said Mowers. “With Pentagonals, you get endless sustainable design opportunities in a product that offers performance, safety, and low maintenance.”

Posted November 15, 2018

Source: Tarkett

Meridian Specialty Yarn Group (MSYG) Wins Leadership In Innovation Award From The North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership

VALDESE, N.C. — November 15, 2018 —  This week, Meridian Specialty Yarn Group (MSYG) won a top award from The North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP) for Meridian’s commitment to building a new, world-class, state-of-the-art, textile plant in North Carolina at a time when other regional textile plants were closing or moving overseas.

At a ceremony and banquet held Wednesday, November 14, MSYG was honored with NCMEP’s Leadership Award for Innovation. The awards ceremony was held in conjunction with the North Carolina Manufacturing Conference, which took place Nov. 13 and 14 at the Durham Convention Center. Attending the ceremony to accept the award for MSYG were Tim Manson, the company’s president,  Stephen Hudson, senior vice president of sales, and Debbie Sigmon, human resources director.

This is the fourth year in a row that NCMEP has recognized North Carolina companies for manufacturing excellence and exceptional performance across five categories:

  1. Developing Markets
  2. Continuous Improvement
  3. Innovation
  4. Advanced Talent Management
  5. Sustainable Manufacturing

MSYG was singled out for the Leadership in Innovation Award for a number of reasons, according to the following statement from NCMEP released on Nov. 14:

“Meridian Specialty Yarn Group (MSYG), like the rest of the textile market during 2001-2010, felt the impact of job and market losses, but survived by doing things that no one else would do. They could have closed their doors, but chose to invest in their people and the community. Currently they have 270,000 square feet at their plant in Valdese and are in the midst of a major, multi-million-dollar expansion of another 116,000 square feet, along with an extensive modernization of their existing plant. This will require the addition of at least 25 employees but it will make the facility one of the most modern yarn and fiber dyeing facilities in the world.”

Meridian’s new plant is expected to open this winter and the Leadership Award for Innovation reflects a tremendous amount of effort on the part of the employees and management, as well as the company’s owner, Meridian Industries.

“Over the past four years the employees and management team at MSYG have worked very hard bringing our vision of a world-class textile operation to life here in North Carolina,” said Manson. “I am very grateful for their commitment and the tireless efforts that have brought us to this point in time. I also want to thank Dan St. Louis of The Manufacturing Solutions Center for nominating Meridian. I am very proud of this award and see this as the beginning of great things ahead.

Posted November 15, 2018

Source: Meridian Specialty Yarn Group, Inc. (MSYG)

LyondellBasell Licenses Hostalen ACP technology to China Petrochemical International Co., Ltd and Sinopec-SK (Wuhan) Petrochemical Company Ltd

ROTTERDAM, The Netherlands — November 8, 2018 —  LyondellBasell today announced that China Petrochemical International Co. Ltd (Sinopec International) and Sinopec-SK (Wuhan) Petrochemical Co. Ltd., (Wuhan) have selected the LyondellBasell Hostalen Advanced Cascade Process (Hostalen ACP) technology.

The low-pressure slurry process technology will be used for a 300KTA high density polyethylene (HDPE) unit to be built in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.

“LyondellBasell is proud to expand its relationship with Sinopec with this license at Wuhan,” said Jim Seward, vice president technology business, sustainability and O&P EAI JV management at LyondellBasell. “Sinopec’s selection reconfirms the trust the customer places in our technology. This project represents the ninth Hostalen ACP line licensed in China. With this license, the total design and operating capacity of Hostalen ACP lines in China will exceed three million tons per year.”

Seward added, “With our leading low-pressure slurry process and extensive technical support, we are confident that the new plant will enable Sinopec International and Wuhan to meet their production goals delivering HDPE products with outstanding properties.”

Hostalen ACP process technology manufactures high performance, multi-modal HDPE resins with an industry-leading stiffness/toughness balance, impact resistance, high stress cracking resistance and process advantages used in film, blow molding and pipe applications.

In addition to the Hostalen ACP process, LyondellBasell’s portfolio of licensed polyolefin processes and associated technical services includes:

  • Spheripol – The leading PP process technology with more than 25 million tons of licensed capacity. with globally recognized quality grades with leading monomer consumption and investment costs to make it the technology of choice
  • Spherizone – The breakthrough multi-zone circulating reactor provides a unique and innovative platform to manufacture polypropylene products with novel architecture and enhanced properties
  • Lupotech – The market leader on high pressure technology offers, with its high conversion rates and effective heat recovery system, the lowest operating and investment costs for the production of low density polyethylene (LDPE)
  • Metocene PP – Innovative add-on technology for the production of specialty polypropylene products using single-site catalyst systems
  • Spherilene – Flexible gas phase process technology for the production of LLDPE, MDPE and HDPE

Posted November 15, 2018

Source: LyondellBasell

Jiangsu Honggang Petrochemical To Utilize INVISTA’s Latest P8 Technology For New PTA Line

SHANGHAI — November 15, 2018 — INVISTA’s technology and licensing group, INVISTA Performance Technologies (IPT), and Jiangsu Honggang Petrochemical Co. Ltd. (Honggang) have reached agreement for the licensing of INVISTA’s latest purified terephthalic acid (PTA) process technology. This is the first time that INVISTA and Honggang would be collaborating to build state-of-the-art PTA assets; a further recognition by the PTA industry of the many technology and schedule advantages which INVISTA delivers for its customers.

Honggang will utilize INVISTA’s P8 PTA technology at a scale of 2.4 million metric tons per year. Since 2012, INVISTA has licensed nearly 21 million tons of PTA capacity, representing almost two-thirds of the license capacity awarded during this period. Of this capacity, 70 percent would be based upon INVISTA’s industry-leading P8 PTA technology, designed to deliver long-term value for our many new and returning customers.

A kick-off meeting was successfully held in the week of October 8, 2018. The targeted project start-up date would be in Q4 2020.

INVISTA’s latest industry-leading PTA technology is available as a licence package from INVISTA Performance Technologies.

Posted November 15, 2018

Source: INVISTA

The Valence Group Advises INEOS Enterprises On Its Acquisition Of Ashland’s Composites Business And BDO Facility In Germany

LONDON — November 15, 2018 — The Valence Group acted as financial advisor to INEOS Enterprises on its announced acquisition of the Composites business and BDO facility in Germany of Ashland Global Holdings Inc. for $1.1 billion. The transaction is expected to complete in the first half of 2019, subject to regulatory approval and consultation processes.

The composites business is a global leader in unsaturated polyester resins, vinyl ester resins and gel coats. In addition to its wide range of gelcoats, the business also provides corrosion-resistant fiberglass reinforced plastics which provide exceptional durability, superior heat resistance, low maintenance and high performance for challenging environments. The BDO facility in Marl, Germany, produces key intermediates for high performance polyesters and polyurethanes. The businesses included in the transaction comprise 20 manufacturing sites in Europe, North and South America, Asia and the Middle East, employ 1,300 people and generate combined sales of more than $1.1 billion per annum.

Posted November 15, 2018

Source: The Valence Group

ZAFUL Activewear Sweeping Campuses In Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES — November 15, 2018 — At the beginning of November, ZAFUL launched a campaign destined for UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles), CSULB (California State University, Long Beach) and USC (University of Southern California) to bring its latest activewear to LA students. Bringing selected collections, ZAFUL kicked off its first campus campaign and showed off its stylish and activewear vibe to the vibrant students.

It took 4 years for ZAFUL to survive and thrive in the online world and on November 1, ZAFUL kicked off its first offline campaign to interact with the students in LA. With a simple registration and an Instagram post at ZAFUL’s booth, participants got coupons, free leggings and even a chance to win a trip to Hong Kong. On their first day at UCLA, ZAFUL booth attracted hundreds of students to visit and take photos. ZAFUL’s “Guess the price, get the prize” game drew in many students and the booth was soon surrounded by prize seekers.

ZAFUL’s on campus campaign has been working with local student agencies and communities, such like OCA and Student Universe, to boost brand awareness among students, covering both online and offline channels. Additionally, ZAFUL is actively developing its own campus ambassadors and building connections for more student campaigns in the future.

“Leggings with heels? Never on your first date!”

Activewear is now a major style for college students. Not only because they are practical and durable for daily use, but they can be extremely stylish and edgy to go with various occasions. ZAFUL walked around the campus and talked with students about their ideas about activewear.

See what students said about their activewear:

This weekend, ZAFUL will continue its campus tour at USC alongside the excitement of USC’s annual rally held ahead of the football team’s game against crosstown rival UCLA. Maggie Luo, the Project Manager of ZAFUL shared her expectation for the last stop in USC. “As the volume of visitors is predicted to be at least 3 times larger that day, our team will organize more related-themed activities and activewear for the party to spice it up,” Maggie said.

So far, the exposure and engagement from the UCLA and CSU activities have reached over 4 million users on social media and online communities, and it is predicted based on the existing stats that the total reach will top 10 million by the end of November.

Posted November 15, 2018

Source: ZAFUL

Teijin Develops Highly Modified Cross-section Crimped Yarn: SOLOTEX OCTA

TOKYO — November 15, 2018 — Teijin Frontier Co. Ltd., the Teijin Group’s fiber and products converting company, announced today that it has developed SOLOTEX OCTA, a highly modified cross-section crimped yarn that is extra bulky, lightweight, stretchable and shape-recovering. Samples will be provided in the fiscal year 2018. Teijin Frontier expects annual sales of staple-fiber Solotex Octa to reach 400 tons and sales of filament Solotex Octa to reach one million meters as textiles by the fiscal year ending in March 2023.

Synthetic staple fiber insulation that is extra shape-recovering after compression, bulky and lightweight is in demand as a substitute for natural feathers. There also is demand for extra bulky, lightweight and stretchable synthetic filament, but until now, manufacturers have found it difficult to produce such fiber that is both bulky and stretchable.

Teijin Frontier developed Solotex Octa by transforming the cross-sectional shape of Solotex, a stretchable, shape-recovering and high-cushioning material, into a highly modified cross section comprising eight projections aligned in a radial pattern around a hollow fiber.

Solotex Octa offers the following features in addition to those of Solotex:

  • Shape-recovering after compression, highly bulky, lightweight and stretchable owing to the clearance between fibers.
  • When used for staple fibers, maintains its coiled crimp structure with rigidity due to its cross-section shape, resulting in shape-recovering after compression, high stretchability and cushioning.
  • Textiles are absorbent, quick drying, anti-transparent, and provide thermal barriers and insulation due to Solotex Octa’s large surface area.

Teijin Frontier envisions a wide range of promising applications for Solotex Octa, including fashionwear, industrial materials and more. The staple-fiber version will be used in place of feathers mainly for bedding. The filament version of Solotex Octa will be used in textiles for sportswear and fashionwear.

Posted November 15, 2018

Source: Teijin Group

Suominen Names Pekka Ojanpää President And CEO

HELSINKI, Finland — November 15, 2018 — Suominen Corp. has appointed Pekka Ojanpää as the new president and CEO on August 3, 2018.

Ojanpää will start in his role on December 1, 2018.

Pekka Ojanpää (born 1966) is Master of Science (Econ.) and prior to joining Suominen he worked as president and CEO of Lassila & Tikanoja Plc.

The Interim President and CEO is Tapio Engström.

Posted November 15, 2018

Source: Suominen Corp.

How USTERIZED® Mills Can Look Forward To Business Advantages

USTER, Switzerland — November 15, 2018 — Every business needs auditors, to monitor and check finances and administration — but it has to be said that a visit from them is not always greeted with eager anticipation! In fact, there is often a degree of nervousness at the likelihood of difficult questions and high expectations. However, it’s a different story when USTER sends its experts to carry out periodic audits at USTERIZED® certified mills. Here, the mill management and staff can expect an extremely positive experience, with nothing but good advice for future business progress. All conducted and delivered in a spirit of friendly and helpful cooperation that everyone welcomes.

An insight into the working life of an Usterized auditor is instructive. Muraliganesh K. is one of 11 auditors. Specialists like him from the company’s Textile Technology department execute around 60 audits each year to re-certify Usterized members or to carry out initial audits of spinning mills wishing to acquire the Usterized quality label. Murali works for the Uster subsidiary in India, and visits every year an average of 18 customers mainly in India and South East Asia. “I spend about 24 days, or close to one month per year, traveling, and I miss my wife and kids of course – but I really love my job,” says Murali.

The Usterized program aims to conduct a one-day audit every year or a two-day audit every second year for its members. Regular audits are essential to ensure that Usterized mills continue to be the reliable partners yarn buyers expect, knowing they can trust in their quality management excellence.

Audit process

The need for the audits is clear, but it would be wrong to misinterpret this as a kind of examination. Murali and his colleagues make critical checks on equipment and how it‘s maintained, as well as measuring other factors such as how climatic conditions in the laboratory are maintained. They also take a close look at all relevant parameters in each process step and recommend actions in case of outliers. The auditors will also carry out a walkthrough of the spinning mill, to identify improvement areas. Finally, they review sample plans and discuss how yarn quality profiles are used with customers. This process is a must: the audit requires evidence of consistent quality in the material being produced, as well as a continuous improvement program in the spinning mill.

“I love my job as an auditor because the customers are always happy to see me. They look forward to my visit and they are always well-prepared with a list of questions,” says Murali. Staff in certified mills are typically keen on further development of their quality management skills and look for solutions towards better results in terms of yarn quality, process efficiency and customer satisfaction. Audits are also a good chance to conduct trials and gain deeper insights into quality management issues from the knowledgeable and experienced auditors. “I also love about my job, that I can help to make it a better world for some spinning mills and of course it makes me happy to hear that the suggested settings resulted in better yarn performance and improvements on fabric appearance at Customers the winners

Feedback from certified mills shows they appreciate the regular audits, especially for the multiple benefits they gain from the Uster specialists casting an expert eye over every step of their production. And the ultimate advantage is seen on the yarn buyers’ side. Customers of Usterized mills know that they follow state-of-the-art quality management disciplines, not only at the time of initial certification but continuously for long as they are certified. “Usterized doesn’t mean just keeping a high quality standard in processes and products. It’s about continuously raising the bar,” says Andreas Birsner, head of Usterized at Uster Technologies. “Therefore Usterized spinners are, and will always be, recommended as preferred suppliers for yarn consumers.”

Guaranteed high standards make Usterized spinning mills dependable partners for weavers, knitters, retailers and garment makers. Usterized mills are always customer-oriented, with a better understanding of application requirements and end-uses. They stand for production of yarns with consistent quality, from batch to batch. Their commitment to continuous reduction or elimination of complaints in downstream processes and the value chain is another typical characteristic.

Quality data for improvement

During an audit visit in 2018, Murali sat with the mill quality managers to check various reports. The data showed that the quality had actually deteriorated compared to the 2017 audit. The change wasn’t significant and there was no risk of complaints. Yet, for Murali and the Usterized member, the situation was definitely not acceptable, since it was against their understanding of continuous improvement in quality management.

The causes of the quality fall-off were identified by Murali during his tour through the mill. “Some reasons were more obvious, such as inappropriate materials handling, incorrect channelization and other expert findings from the maintenance and settings of the roving and spinning machine,” says Murali. When these issues were remedied, the quality came back to the required level and the mill personnel was made aware of the causes during the production processes. The result formed the basis for further improvements in yarn quality.

Uster is committed to working on further development of quality management, to the benefit of its Usterized members (see www.uster.com/usterizedmembers for the complete member list), as well as for yarn buyers, creating all-round trust in this Uster quality seal for spinning mills. “To comply with all responsibilities, Uster must request that the mills obtain reproducible quality data continuously, reliably and accurately, which is also compared to the Uster STATISTICS,” says Birsner.

Posted November 15, 2018

Source: Uster Technologies Ltd.

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