Gentherm Partners With ThermoAnalytics To Advance Human Thermal Comfort Predictions

NORTHVILLE, Mich. — February 15, 2019 — Gentherm, the global developer of thermal management technologies, today announced a partnership with ThermoAnalytics Inc., a thermal modeling software development firm, to improve human thermal comfort predictions.

Individual comfort varies widely from person to person, and there is an increased need to improve existing and develop new software capabilities that can accurately predict an individual’s personalized comfort and wellness. The collaboration leverages the thermophysiology expertise from both companies to design and develop new specialized and unique tools that will support a deeper understanding of true thermal comfort.

The partnership aims to move beyond thermal comfort predictions to include the effects of moisture on human comfort. ThermoAnalytics will add new functionality to their software based on previous research conducted with industry-leading companies and the U.S. Army. The advanced software capability will enable Gentherm to improve the personalized thermal comfort experience provided through the Company’s Climate Control Seat (CCS®) and future ClimateSense™ solutions. These features will be integrated into ThermoAnalytics’ robust suite of thermal modeling software.

“Gentherm and ThermoAnalytics share a vision of a human-centric approach in understanding and delivering personalized thermal comfort,” said Phil Eyler, president and CEO of Gentherm. “We anticipate that these advanced tools, leveraging predictive analytics, will allow us to accelerate our continued innovation of industry leading thermal solutions.”

“In addition to gaining deeper knowledge of human thermal comfort, the partnership will provide us with a better understanding and ability to predict the impact of moisture in human comfort, which is the next breakthrough in thermal modeling,” said Keith Johnson, President and CEO of ThermoAnalytics. “Collaborating with a market leader like Gentherm assures that these tools are both innovative and align with the needs of the market.”

Posted February 15, 2019

Source: Gentherm Inc.

Braun Linen Service’s Pomona, Calif.-based Plant Earns Hygienically Clean Healthcare Certification

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — February 15, 2019 — Braun Linen Service, a third-generation owned and operated industrial laundry serving Southern California for more than 80 years has achieved the Hygienically Clean Healthcare certification for its Pomona, Calif., laundry, reflecting its commitment to best management practices (BMPs) in laundering as verified by on-site inspection and its capability to produce hygienically clean textiles as quantified by ongoing microbial testing.

The Hygienically Clean Healthcare certification confirms the organization’s continuing dedication to infection prevention, compliance with recognized industry standards and processing healthcare textiles using BMPs as described in its quality assurance documentation, a focal point for Hygienically Clean inspectors’ evaluation. The independent, third-party inspection must also confirm essential evidence that:

  • Employees are properly trained and protected;
  • Managers understand regulatory requirements;
  • OSHA-compliant; and
  • Physical plant operates effectively.

To achieve certification initially, laundries pass three rounds of outcome-based microbial testing, indicating that their processes are producing Hygienically Clean Healthcare textiles and diminished presence of yeast, mold and harmful bacteria. They also must pass a facility inspection. To maintain their certification, they must pass quarterly testing to ensure that as laundry conditions change, such as water quality, textile fabric composition and wash chemistry, laundered product quality is consistently maintained. Re-inspection occurs every two to three years.

This process eliminates subjectivity by focusing on outcomes and results that verify textiles cleaned in these facilities meet appropriate hygienically clean standards and BMPs for hospitals, surgery centers, medical offices, nursing homes and other medical facilities.

Hygienically Clean Healthcare certification acknowledges laundries’ effectiveness in protecting healthcare operations by verifying quality control procedures in linen, uniform and facility services operations related to the handling of textiles containing blood and other potentially infectious materials.

Certified laundries use processes, chemicals and BMPs acknowledged by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, American National Standards Institute and others. Introduced in 2012, Hygienically Clean Healthcare brought to North America the international cleanliness standards for healthcare linens and garments used worldwide by the Certification Association for Professional Textile Services and the European Committee for Standardization.

Objective experts in epidemiology, infection control, nursing and other healthcare professions work with Hygienically Clean launderers to ensure the certification continues to enforce the highest standards for producing clean healthcare textiles.

Braun’s Paramount facility recently earned the Hygienically Clean Hospitality certification.

“Congratulations to Braun on their certification,” said Joseph Ricci, TRSA president and CEO. “This achievement proves their commitment to infection prevention and that their laundry takes every step possible to prevent human illness.”

Posted February 15, 2019

Source: TRSA

Techtextil North America 2019 Exhibitor Preview: USTER Technologies

USTER, Switzerland — February 15, 2019 — In many areas of primary textiles, USTER is a watchword for quality. From fiber to yarn, producers worldwide trust the Uster brand to help them deliver the quality their customers demand and optimize their operations. Now, Uster has expanded its technology to cover fabric production, with world-class systems for automated fabric inspection which guarantee consistent and measurable quality.

Taking the successful EVS fabric inspection systems into its portfolio, Uster will seek to expand the scope for automated fabric quality assurance. Its filament yarn tester has already made an impact in technical textiles markets, and this sector will also see Uster explore further applications for its fabric inspection systems, starting with the forthcoming Techtextil North America exhibition.

In filament yarn production, the Uster evenness tester is now almost as well-established as in cotton spinning. The distinctive grey and red livery of the instrument today is a familiar sight in the laboratories of technical textile yarn manufacturers, acknowledged as essential equipment over the past six decades. In its latest version, the Uster TESTER 6 C-800 drives global standards — and its new capacitive sensor gives filament yarn producers the power to guarantee right-first-time quality.

Automated fabric inspection

Uster’s product portfolio in laboratory testing is well known, not so the competences in other areas of technical textile processing. At Techtextil North America 2019 Uster introduces its newly-integrated systems for automated fabric inspection. Although the Uster name may not yet have the impact in fabric manufacturing as in other sectors, its range of inspection technology now being presented is class-leading, backed by 28 years’ experience.

This new offer is based on Uster’s acquisition last year of Elbit Vision Systems (EVS), the Israel-based pioneer in automated optical inspection equipment. Now incorporated within Uster, the EVS products are part of a comprehensive textile quality monitoring and control offering, from fiber to fabric.

Multiple technical textiles applications

EVS technology is applicable to wide-ranging fabric types and end-uses, including numerous specific and diverse segments of technical textiles. Visitors to previous Techtextil North America shows have already been able to view EVS monitoring and fabric quality assurance systems since 2006. The latest developments to be featured at the upcoming show (Booth 1429) in Raleigh, North Carolina display the classic Uster design and carry the new product designations: USTER® EVS Q-BAR, USTER® EVS FABRIQ VISION and USTER® EVS FABRIQ SHADE.

In North America, it is common for leading brands to employ fabric inspection processes to increase yields and – primarily – to ensure the quality their customers require. This is especially important in critical product areas such as vehicle seating, airbags, seat belts, tire cord, and vinyl in the automotive industry; as well in high-tech apparel, technical, medical, and composite markets.

In these demanding and often sensitive applications, materials must generally be lightweight, durable and sustainable, with secured and consistent quality as the absolute prerequisite. John Belew, vice-president sales at Uster Technologies Inc., said: “Among international experts from architecture, the automotive industry, medicine, the fashion industry or personal protection we want to continue to spread the word about on-loom inspection. Together with the suppliers to these industries, we aim to find new applications for our finishing systems.”

Developing unique customer experiences

Some EVS customers have been enjoying the advantages of automated fabric inspection for more than 20 years. Over that period, ongoing development of the systems has kept pace with their needs. The commitment to strict quality control — eradicating fabric defects and even the slightest deviations in color shade — has created and developed unique customer experiences. Mills installed fabric inspection systems on equipment such as tenter frames, coating lines and sanforizers. Customer satisfaction with EVS was enhanced by measurable benefits across KPIs: production efficiency, increasing yield, and lower labor costs – adding up to higher profitability.

“Long-term customer relationships show that the systems we offer continuously develop in parallel with the need of the users. We want them to produce a better product for their market — and no less,” Belew said. “At Techtextil, we will show that trusting Uster means no compromises in quality with automated fabric inspection installed.”

Posted February 15, 2019

Source: Uster Technologies Ltd.

Itema Exhibits Weaving Innovations At IGATEX Pakistan 12th International Exhibition

COLZATE, Italy/KARACHI, Pakistan — Itema – Italian manufacturer of weaving machines, spare parts and integrated services — is exhibiting at IGATEX Pakistan (Hall 5 – A5/17) from February 26-28 at Karachi Expo Centre in a joint booth with its sole agent in the country, Noon International.

Itema is uniquely positioned by offering to textile manufacturers what is today considered the most complete product portfolio available on the market, providing all the top three weft insertion technologies: rapier, airjet and projectile. Moreover, the company provides OEM spare parts and upgrade kits for Itema, Somet, Vamatex and Sulzer machines models giving to Customers the chance to revitalize and extend the life cycle of their existing weaving machines.

Itema is strongly committed to investing in the Pakistani market, providing highly innovative and technological products to fully satisfy the growing potential and the requirements of the advanced weaving mills of the country. In order to further demonstrate this commitment, in 2016 Itema opened a Dubai-based affiliate, Itema Middle East, which provides business development and continued support in Pakistan, Africa and Middle East basin countries.

Furthermore, in October 2017, in collaboration with Noon International, Itema opened the doors of its ItemaCampus in Lahore, a state-of-the-art training center equipped with the latest generation rapier and air-jet looms. No matter how easy to use and intuitive the latest-generation weaving equipment from Itema is, on-the-ground training remains a key element when it comes to getting the most out of your looms. In the ItemaCampus every week a team of skilled technicians with a long-standing experience on the field share their knowledge and passion with Pakistani weavers, providing them with a significant added value and active support, which will undoubtedly further bolster and facilitate the country’s renowned creativity and responsiveness to the ever-changing fast-paced demands of today’s textile market.

The physical presence of Itema in Pakistan has been very well received and this customer-oriented approach has contributed to the creation of partnerships with some of the most prominent textile corporations of Pakistan, including denim specialists such as Azgard 9 and Artistic Fabric Mills that installed the Itema denim dedicated rapier R9500denim. Another high-profile partnership which is worth to mention is the one with the vertically integrated textile company Gul Ahmed, that chose the Itema absolute best-seller — the R9500 rapier weaving machine — to refurbish one of its plant to weave a widest range of fabrics in different weaving width such as bed sheeting, apparel and linen applications.

Moreover, Itema confirms its leadership as preferred provider of weaving technology for high-end terry fabrics production in Pakistan, with a significant number of new installations for the rapier R9500terry in a diversified group of Customers from Faisalabad to Karachi.

As Itema’s Global Marketing and Sales Director Christian Straubhaar, stated: “This is just a starting point. I am sure that Pakistan will play an even more major role in the worldwide textile industry of the future and Itema is here to support and facilitate this growth.”

During IGATEX, Itema’s team will introduce to visitors and weavers all the latest breakthrough innovations implemented by the Italian company, including what is already recognized as the game-changer in the denim weaving world: the second generation of the Itema denim dedicated rapier machine, the R95002denim. Unparalleled cost savings, superior fabric quality and outstanding user-experience are the key words of the R95002denim which features breakthrough devices and delivers tangible benefits to weavers.

Saving is the crucial point of the R95002denim. Not only the optimization of the main mechanical components allows a considerable energy consumption reduction but the machine is equipped with the iSAVER™, a unique and revolutionary device that eliminates the waste selvedge on the left-hand side of the fabric thus leading to unparalleled savings.

Furthermore, for the first time in the weaving industry, a sustainable approach to fabric production is possible thanks to a significant reduction in resources use and wastage.

Franco Brambilla, Itema Middle East executive director, commented: “Our intention is to constantly increase our physical presence in Pakistani weaving mills with the newest and most advanced weaving machinery range and to support the entire textile industry from small, family-run operations all the way to the most sophisticated, vertically integrated conglomerates. This is our mission and this is what we will do in a systematic, gradual and sustainable way”.

Itema staff, along with its agent Noon International, will be present at the exhibition to meet Pakistani textile entrepreneurs and to personally introduce them the Company’s latest technological advancements to weave the widest range of fabrics, while ensuring top quality, outstanding reliability and the highest performances.

Posted February 15, 2019

Source: Itema S.p.A.

SilcSkin™ Decollette Pad Awarded Winner Of LNE & Spa’s Best Product In Neck And Decollete Category Two Years In A Row

LOS ANGELES — February 15, 2019 — SilcSkin — silicone anti-wrinkle pad pioneer and creator of the original and number-one selling Decollette pad — was awarded LNE & Spa’s Best Product for 2019 in the Neck and Decolleté category for the second time. The Decollette Pad was selected based on rave reviews from LNE & Spa readers and attendees of the International Congress of Esthetics and Spa. Developed by two-time Emmy award winning make-up artist Camille Calvet over a decade ago, SilcSkin silicone pads are the “secret” to preventing and smoothing out wrinkles and scars without chemicals or surgery. Winners are featured on LNEOnline.com

“We are incredibly honored to be recognized by Les Nouvelles Esthétiques & Spa again this year,” said founder of SilcSkin, Camille Calvet. “Nothing makes me happier than hearing from so many women about how much our Decollette pad helped them look and feel better.”

Camille discovered the benefits of silicone when working on set as a special effects make-up artist in Hollywood two decades ago. On set one day, she realized after removing silicone material, the skin appeared smoother. This discovery led to the development and launch of the original Decollete silicone pad by SilcSkin™ in 2003.

Today, SilcSkin is a complete non-invasive anti-aging silicone beauty line that treats and prevents wrinkles on the chest, neck, face and hands overnight. Made from 100-percent medical grade silicone in the U.S.A under sterile lab conditions, SilcSkin pads are developed using a perfected platinum curing process for a stronger and longer lasting product. SilcSkin pads are waterproof, hypoallergenic, contains no fragrance and allergy causing latex, urethanes or adhesives. Reusable for up to 30 days, SilcSkin is soft and comfortable and simple to use while you sleep. The product is sold at more than 1500 retailers worldwide including high-end ecommerce and catalog.

Posted February 15, 2019

Source: SilcSkin

Haggar Clothing Names Winner Of First Menswear Design Competition For FIDM Graduates

DALLAS — February 15, 2019 — Haggar Clothing Co. selected the winner of the first FIDM SuperLabâ menswear design competition today. Zachary Hall of Sierra Madre, Calif., bested two other finalists to take home the top prize — an offer for a full-time position on the Haggar design team.

The competition, which began with eight graduates of the FIDM menswear program in August, required participants to develop plans for 15-piece collections that demonstrate a deep understanding of the millennial consumer market and the Haggar brand. Beyond the designs, Haggar also asked finalists to source materials and create the technical specifications and details that a factory would need to produce each garment.

Competitors faced two rounds of judging, with a presentation of six initial silhouettes in August and today’s full collection presentation, where they were evaluated on criteria including creativity, appropriateness to market and the collection’s viability.

“While the FIDM SuperLabâ branded banner is one we’ve used for many years for special projects, this marked the first menswear competition and the first with a job offer on the line,” said Barbara Bundy, FIDM vice president of education. “Using their education in materials sourcing and technical package development, our graduates moved from the conceptual side of design to the more tangible and logistical elements necessary to produce a retail collection.”

“This contest model isn’t something a lot of brands would try,” said Haggar Chief Sourcing & Merchandising Officer Tony Anzovino. “Working with FIDM brought us three highly qualified designers, any of whom could have been a good fit on our team. That said, we are delighted to begin work with Zach this summer.”

Hall is expected to join the Haggar design team in June. Other finalists in today’s competition were Nicole Snyder of Ankeny, Iowa, and Ashley Cheng of Taipei, Taiwan.

Posted February 15, 2019

Source: Haggar Clothing Co.

NatureWorks Announces 100 Percent Third-Party Certified Sustainable Feedstock By 2020

MINNETONKA, Minn. — February 14, 2019 — A new initiative at NatureWorks will ensure that by 2020 100 percent of the agricultural feedstock for Ingeo™ biopolymers and Vercet™ performance chemicals will be certified by the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification System (ISCC) to the ISCC PLUS standard of best practices in agricultural production.

NatureWorks was the first biopolymers manufacturer to become certified to the new ISCC PLUS standard in 2012 and currently has more than 40 percent of its agricultural feedstock certified. At full capacity, more than 90 farms will be involved in the program by 2020.

The ISCC PLUS certified crops are grown within 50 miles of the NatureWorks’ Blair, Nebraska, production facility, which has an annual production capacity of 150,000 metric tons of Ingeo biopolymer. Every farm entering the program receives training in adhering to the ISCC PLUS certification’s principles, which are the following:

  1. Protect highly biodiverse and high carbon stock areas.
  2. Implement best agricultural practices for the use of fertilizers and pesticides, irrigation, tillage, soil management, and the protection of the surrounding environment.
  3. Promote safe working conditions.
  4. Comply with human, labor, and land rights.
  5. Comply with laws and international treaties.
  6. Implement good management practices and continuous improvement.

“New materials innovation is being driven by the tenants of the circular bioeconomy, and as we seek to decouple plastics from fossil feedstocks, we remain committed to feedstock diversification and to critically assessing the sustainability of each and every feedstock we use,” said Rich Altice, CEO and president of NatureWorks.

ISCC PLUS is an independent third-party sustainability certification system developed in a multi-stakeholder initiative. The comprehensive program certifies the sustainability of agricultural feedstocks used for biobased products, including both the environmental and social aspects of agricultural production. Site specific audits and certificates ensure full traceability and chain of custody along the supply chain, ensuring that the total volume of Ingeo received by the final user of the product can be traced back (and documented through a mass balance system) to the equivalent amount of certified, sustainable crop produced. ISCC certification has been adopted by global brands and is supported by non-governmental organizations.

“We are very happy about NatureWorks’ commitment to sourcing sustainable agricultural feedstock,” said Gernot Klepper, chairman of the ISCC Association. “Agricultural producers have both a responsibility and a tremendous chance to contribute to meeting the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. Certification with ISCC PLUS enables farmers to move toward more sustainable agricultural practices, thus supporting ecologic and social, as well as economic sustainability in agriculture and rural areas.”

As part of NatureWorks’ commitment to renewable, sustainable feedstocks and materials, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation recently announced that NatureWorks, along with other global brandowners and manufacturers, have signed the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment. As a signatory, NatureWorks committed to the following in support of sustainable agriculture for bioplastics:

  • By 2019, 60 percent of the company’s feedstock will be certified as sustainably and responsibly managed via ISCC PLUS.
  • By 2020, 100 percent of feedstock will be certified as sustainably and responsibly managed via ISCC PLUS.
  • By 2025, 100 percent of new feedstocks for additional manufacturing capacity will be certified as sustainably and responsibly managed via an independent third-party administered program.

Posted February 14, 2019

Source: NatureWorks

Sunbrella® Introduces Its First Nonwoven Seating For Marine Environments

BURLINGTON, N.C. — February 14, 2019 — Crafted for durability and comfort, Sunbrella® is introducing its first nonwoven marine seating fabric. New Sunbrella Horizon seeks to enrich the boating experience with a luxuriously-soft hand specially designed to resist bacterial staining, cold-cracking, excess stretching and fading. The new product line will debut at the Miami International Boat Show, February 14-18.

“Sunbrella identified a need for a soft, longer-lasting upholstery for the marine market, and we felt it essential to carry the brand’s technical expertise through this new product line,” said Bill McDaniel, marine market manager for Sunbrella. “We invested in extensive research and developed a solution that extends the brand’s legendary performance into a new non-woven line. We’re thrilled to take a bold step in bringing a new product to the marine market that’s backed by the Sunbrella brand promise.”

Sunbrella Horizon withstands life on the water, including consequences from the notorious pinking effect. It is backed by an industry-leading three-year warranty against bacterial staining, a first for marine vinyl products. In addition, Sunbrella Horizon carries a five-year limited warranty against loss of strength and color, plus resistance to mildew and atmospheric chemicals.

Sporting a luxuriously soft hand, this four-way stretch textile is offered in two distinct embossing patterns and a wide array of 30 colors. It is also designed to match perfectly with other Sunbrella products, ensuring seamless coordination across existing Sunbrella marine products. The pigments used in Horizon are consistent with the pigments which are fed into each Sunbrella fiber, allowing for whole boat customization and color consistency.

The product features powerful resistance to excess stretching and its excellent recovery capability prevents puddling, so boat seating remains in top condition. Horizon will stand up against even the toughest weather with complete waterproof protection. It is also bleach cleanable to prevent common boat stains such as mold, mildew and salt residue.

Engineered to meet the Sunbrella brand standard of artistry and craftsmanship, Horizon lasts season after season without fading or losing its hand. Horizon is available in 54-inch width beginning in the spring. Learn more and see the product in application at the Sunbrella booth E556 during the Miami International Boat Show.

Posted February 14, 2019

Source: Sunbrella

Drinkworks™ Doubles Down On Recycling Solutions with Loop Industries

BEDFORD, Mass./MONTREAL — February 14, 2019 — Today, Drinkworks and sustainable plastics technology company Loop Industries Inc., announced a partnership to allow the users of the Drinkworks Home Bar by Keurig® to return used cocktail, brew and cider pods to be recycled and upcycled by Loop.

This announcement comes on the heels of Drinkworks launching the Drinkworks Home Bar by Keurig in November 2018, through an early access pilot program in St. Louis, Missouri. The Drinkworks Home Bar by Keurig uses proprietary pods made from 100-percent recyclable materials, and precision on-board chilling and carbonation systems to prepare quality cocktails, brews, ciders and more at the touch of a button.

The mail-back process is simple: consumers can fill pre-paid, recyclable Loop and Drinkworks co-branded pouches with empty pods, seal them up, and drop the materials in the mail. A complimentary mail-back pouch is included in the Home Bar packaging, and more pouches are currently available for free when requested from 1-855-DRINKWORKS.  Pouches will be available online and in retail locations as Drinkworks expands later this year.

“We’re thrilled to work with the sustainability experts at Loop Industries to provide our loyal customers with the means to recycle and drive forward a circular economy,” shared Nathaniel Davis, CEO of Drinkworks. “Following our successful launch last November, we’re excited to continue gathering feedback on this partnership to help shape our future advancements.”

“Drinkworks has developed a fun and innovative way to help consumers enjoy the full cocktail experience from their own home — and they have harnessed their innovative spirit to ensure their pods are fully recyclable, too,” added Nelson Switzer, chief growth officer, Loop Industries.  “Providing consumers access to a free program to recycle and upcycle the PET content in their pods increases the sustainability of their pods and system, especially as the Loop logo will appear on Drinkworks pods and packaging reminding consumers to upcycle.”

Posted February 14, 2019

Source: Loop Industries

Kornit Successfully Executes Direct-To-Customer Plan In North America

ENGLEWOOD, N.J. — February 14, 2019 — Effective February 7, 2019, Kornit Digital is now serving all customers and prospects directly in North America and has fully transitioned out of its distribution agreement with Hirsch Solutions. This strategic move strengthens the customer relationship and Kornit’s ability to provide superior customer experience.

Kornit has made significant investments in personnel and resources throughout its North American operations, including a new headquarters and Center of Excellence Center outside of New York City. The new state-of-the-art facility provides customers and prospects product advancements, demonstrations, product training and business growth seminars from some of the world’s most knowledgeable experts in digital textile printing.

“Moving closer to our customers is about accelerating and elevating their capabilities to be world-class businesses in partnership with Kornit” stated CEO Ronen Samuel. “As the global leader in digital textile printing, it is our goal and responsibility to provide our customers superior knowledge and innovation for business growth.”

Kornit Digital Americas President Shai Terem added, “As Kornit launches new systems that now break more barriers to what’s achievable for textile printing, our customers and prospects have complete access and advanced resources in North America to empower their success.”

Following the record-breaking unveiling of the Kornit Atlas in January, Kornit plans to unveil two new revolutionary systems and ink-sets in early April at the Kornit Digital Center of Excellence in Englewood, N.J.

Posted February 14, 2019

Source: Kornit Digital

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