Rieter Appoints Emmanuelle Gmür As Chief Human Resources Officer And Member Of The Group Executive Committee

WINTERTHUR, Switzerland — December 10, 2024 — The Board of Directors of Rieter Holding Ltd. has appointed Emmanuelle Gmür to the Group Executive Committee of the Rieter Group with effect from January 1, 2025. As Chief Human Resources Officer, she succeeds Tom Ban, who has decided to pursue his career outside Rieter.

Gmür has extensive knowledge in human resources and a proven track record in strategic leadership and organizational development, management consulting and change management. She has vast international experience and knowledge of the textile industry.

In the period from 2013 to 2024, Gmür was active as chief human resources officer, Global head of Communication and as a member of the global management board of the Triumph Group, Bad Zurzach (Switzerland). At the same time, she was a member of the Supervisory Board of Triumph France SA, Obernai (France) from 2020 to 2024 and deputy chairwoman of the Supervisory Board of Triumph Austria AG, Vienna/Wiener Neustadt (Austria) from 2015 to 2024. She previously worked as Global Head of Learning and Development for the Triumph Group in Bad Zurzach (Switzerland) from 2010 to 2013. From 2007 to 2010, she held the position of Head of Consulting at Qualintra SA, Geneva (Switzerland). From 1999 to 2006, she held various positions at British Telecom plc, London (United Kingdom), among others as a consultant for leadership and organizational development and as a business transformation consultant.

Thomas Oetterli, Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of the Rieter Group

“Emmanuelle Gmür has extensive international expertise in all areas of human resources management. She is a respected expert and leader and will consistently drive forward the further development of the human resources department. As Chief Human Resources Officer, she will enrich the Rieter team with her expertise and profound business acumen and support the Group Executive Committee in implementing the new strategy,” says Thomas Oetterli, chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of the Rieter Group.

Gmür holds a Core MBA from the Helsinki University of Technology, Helsinki (Finland) and a Master of Science in Business from the École supérieure de commerce de Reims (France). She was born in 1976 and is a French citizen.

Posted: December 10, 2024

Source: Rieter Ltd.

Loepfe Brothers Ltd. — At The Forefront Of Mastering Polypropylene Clearing

WETZIKON, Switzerland — December 10, 2024 — Loepfe has been at the forefront of mastering polypropylene clearing for years, and PRISMA is the latest proof of this expertise. As PRISMA is an evolving system, Loepfe proudly announces a further improvement in P-clearing. Designed for spinning mills facing fluctuating humidity levels, the system is proven to offer better fabric quality while maintaining the cut rate.

Over the past 12 months, extensive trials have been conducted, and tons of data has been collected and used to upgrade the level of accuracy in polypropylene detection. The data was used for optimization in signal processing and to offer an additional setting function specifically for spinning mills that must contend with pronounced climatic fluctuations.

Polypropylene clearing

Contamination of cotton with synthetic fibers remains a significant concern for spinning mills. Polypropylene contamination, typically stemming from bale packaging, can lead to a myriad of issues throughout the production process. These include broken needles in knitting applications, thread breakage during weaving, and visible defects in the final product after dyeing. Effective contamination clearing substantially enhances yarn quality, while overly stringent measures can negatively impact production efficiency and increase waste.

For spinners, clever P-clearing balances the need for quality yarn with the imperative to maintain operational efficiency. Loepfe’s approach combines advanced technology, precise signal processing, and tailored settings to address various production scenarios, now enhanced to account specifically for humidity fluctuations.

New climate compensation

In response to the unique demands of spinning mills operating in environments with significant humidity variations, PRISMA now features an innovative climate compensation setting. Extensive testing of this new functionality at affected spinning mills has demonstrated several benefits, including:

  • Enhanced overall classification accuracy
  • Improved clearing performance
  • Consistent cut rates coupled with superior final fabric quality
  • Same cuts and better clearing performance

The new function makes it easy to counteract the changing climate in a spinning mill. The system then takes into account the increasing humidity and calculates an average value between the standard deviation and the peak values.

By providing this enhanced climate compensation setting, Loepfe empowers spinning mills to sustain peak performance and exceptional quality, even when confronted with challenging environmental conditions.

P-Clearing Matrix

The P-Matrix allows operators to input specific parameters, starting with a pre-generated clearing curve by the Autostart function that considers the most crucial factors for optimal and efficient clearing results. By easily adjusting the settings – raising or lowering the clearing curve – operators can tailor outcomes to meet their individual production needs.

The key influences on polypropylene clearing include:

  • Raw material (fiber length and short fiber content)
  • Yarn count
  • Twist amount in the yarn
  • Yarn hairiness
  • Humidity (impact on hairiness)

How to set P climate compensation

Go to Default Group Settings and set Climate Compensation to 50%. Select the checkbox Adjustable in Group to show it in Group Settings optional. This 50% will be applied to all the groups by default. The service key is required to access the Default Group Settings.

The Climate Compensation value may be influenced by the yarn count and cotton variety. It is recommended to start with a value of 50% as various trials show that the best result can be achieved between 35% and 75%.

Posted: December 10, 2024

Source: Loepfe Brothers Ltd.

Sächsisches Textilforschungsinstitut e.V. (STFI) Investigates Textile Applications For PU Potting Compounds

CHEMNITZ, Germany — December 10, 2024 — Potting compounds made of polyurethane (PU) are traditionally used to protect and isolate electrical and electronic parts, e.g. in battery modules or as an insulating layer on circuits or for embedding LEDs. In addition to their electrically insulating properties, they are heat-resistant and mechanically flexible. Furthermore, the transition from the liquid to the solid aggregate state is so convenient that these PU compounds can applied precisely. The Sächsisches Textilforschungsinstitut e.V. (STFI) is currently developing two applications on textiles. The first involves examining PU potting compounds as a cover layer for sensors that are used to monitor mechanical stress. The second approach is dedicated to 3D printing on pre-stressed textiles to subsequently produce three-dimensionally deformed structures.

The ongoing research project “Texsafe” (Reg. No. 49MF220096) focuses on the development of large-area textile sandwich-structured surface elements for monitoring mechanical loads. For this purpose, coating materials are required to permanently record the permittivity by changing mechanical param-eters during elastic deformation. In addition, these materials must be able to withstand high loads of up to 1000 kg non-destructively and protect the textile against mechanical damage. Polyurethane-based potting compounds from WEVO-CHEMIE GmbH, Ostfildern-Kemnat with viscoplastic proper-ties and a high elongation at break have proven to be particularly suitable for this purpose. These requirements are fulfilled by the Wevopur products from Wevo, which have already been successfully evaluated in extensive test series. The first functional samples have been produced on a small scale, enabling the detection of mechanical loads. The potting compound proved to be particularly suitable due to its low mixing viscosity, as the textile was well wetted or saturated. The next step is to scale up to large-area textile sandwich-structured surface elements. Applications include truck loading space detection, parking lot and floor sensors for access control and observation areas.

3D printing on textiles has already been the subject of successful developments at STFI for several years. In this context, new materials for the various 3D application processes are constantly being tested. Selected Wevopur products were also tested as part of the research project “Machine and process development for 3D printing on pre-stretched textiles” (Reg. No. KK5081706WO1).

Materials with high flexural strength and SHORE hardness in the upper Shore D range were required for the selective reinforcement of pre-stretched textiles using 3D printing. Stretchable PES knitted fabrics were stretched homogeneously and without distortion in the longitudinal and transverse directions using a newly developed tensioning system with defined forces. Following this, the textiles were printed with various geometries using 3D printing. In addition to the classic FDM process, in which thermoplastic filaments are used, the LDM process was also tested. In this process, pasty materials or liquids are used.

Products from the Wevopur series also proved to be very useful here. The materials were applied to the pre-stretched textiles using a 2-component print head. This reinforced the textiles at certain points. After that the printed textile was relieved of pressure and defined deformations were created. This is also called “4D printing”. For example, this technology can be used to produce individual textile lampshades or acoustic panels and open further application possibilities in architecture. The customized viscosity and good adhesion of Wevo materials such as WEVOPUR 71/25 MT/3 with WEVONAT 300 ensure a good and durable bond with the textile.

Posted: December 10, 2024

Source: Sächsisches Textilforschungsinstitut e.V. (STFI)

Chlorine Gas Systems: New Electric Safety Valve Makes The System Safer

WERTHEIM, Germany — December 10, 2024 — Chlorine gas plays a key role in the disinfection of drinking and industrial water. However, handling the chemical can pose considerable health risks — from irritation of the eyes to fatal pulmonary edema. To further improve occupational safety during use, Lutz-Jesco has developed the VakuStop — a vacuum regulator for dosing systems that is equipped with an emergency stop function to prevent uncontrolled chlorine gas leaks directly at the chlorine gas tank in the event of an emergency. The new product will be on display from 11 to 14 March 2025 at the Aquatech 2025 water technology trade fair in Amsterdam (Hall 1, Stand 01.244). Lutz-Jesco will also be presenting dosing pumps from the Memdos Smart series for dosing aggressive chemicals as well as electrolysis systems from the Easychlorgen and Minichlorgen series, which safely produce the disinfectant sodium hypochlorite from commercially available salt.

The new VakuStop is based on the C2213/14 vacuum regulator, which Lutz-Jesco has upgraded by adding an automatic safety valve. The system is designed as a compact device that can be fitted to the valve of a chlorine gas tank in just a few simple steps. It can also be connected to a gas warning device or the PLUS safety blow-off valve. In normal operation, the vacuum regulator enables the controlled dosing of up to 10 kg of chlorine gas (CI2) per hour into the piping system provided that there is a sufficient vacuum in the dosing line.

The new VakuStop is based on the C2213/14 vacuum regulator, which Lutz-Jesco has upgraded by adding an automatic safety valve

If the negative pressure drops, for example due to a leakage, the chlorine supply is automatically interrupted. If chlorine gas escapes due to a defect in the dosing system, the electric safety valve of the VakuStop closes immediately, preventing any further escape of gas. This emergency-off function is also triggered in the event of a chlorine alarm, a cable break, if overpressure is detected or if the pushbutton is actuated. In these cases, a stop lever clearly protrudes from the housing as an indicator to signal the interruption. The valve only opens again when an employee operates the lever manually after eliminating the cause of the fault.

“Chlorine gas can present a serious risk to human health – from irritation of the eyes and skin to life-threatening pulmonary oedema. With the new VakuStop, we are helping to minimise the risks involved in handling chlorine gas and further improve occupational safety in the industry,” says Heinz Lutz, CEO of Lutz Holding GmbH.

Lutz-Jesco offers the new VakuStop as part of a comprehensive safety system to increase the safety of larger chlorine gas systems. The centrepiece is a control unit that connects to a gas warning device and up to twelve VakuStops. In the event of a chlorine alarm, the control unit can close all twelve safety valves simultaneously – even during a power failure. The control unit is available with an optional integrated uninterrupted power supply (UPS). This uses twelve safety valves to guarantee safety at full loads.

Memdos Smart diaphragm dosing pump for low-pulsation dosing of aggressive chemicals for water treatment

Lutz-Jesco will also present diaphragm dosing pumps from the Memdos Smart series at Aquatech 2025. They enable low-pulsation dosing of aggressive chemicals for water treatment and are powered by a drive with a stepper motor controlled by a microprocessor, which allows asynchronous running. This enables operation of the motor at a higher speed during priming, thereby creating negative pressure which draws in the liquid more quickly. As a result, the vacuum phase, a dead time with standard motors, is reduced to a minimum. After priming, the stepper motor can then operate at a slower speed to expel the fluid in a controlled and even manner without an abrupt increase in pressure.

“The stepper motor enables an almost constant supply stream, which permits the gentle, low-pulsation dosing of aggressive chemicals – without pressure peaks and with minimised dead time,” says Steffen Roth, Head of Development at Lutz-Jesco GmbH. “We firmly believe that stepper motor-driven diaphragm dosing pumps will dominate the market in the future when it comes to high-precision and reproducible industrial dosing tasks.” The Memdos Smart is available in eight performance levels – with delivery rates between two and 180 litres per hour. The pump is controlled from an intuitive 3.5-inch touch display, which can also be integrated into a higher-level control system. “In the era of Industry 4.0, this enables seamless integration of the dosing pump into industrial automation systems.“

An alternative to commercially available chlorine products for water treatment: electrolysis systems generate disinfectant in-situ from commercially available salt

Lutz-Jesco will also exhibit two alternatives to standard chlorine products for water disinfection at Aquatech 2025: the Easychlorgen and Minichlorgen electrolysis systems. They produce the disinfectant sodium hypochlorite from commercially available salt – directly at the point of use. “Using salt as a starting substance is much safer than handling concentrated sodium hypochlorite solution, calcium hypochlorite or chlorine gas,” says Thomas Beutel, an expert in swimming pool technology and the design of technical dosing systems at Lutz-Jesco GmbH. “This significantly reduces the need for personnel to handle hazardous substances, which not only has considerable benefits for occupational safety but also prevents accidents.” The Easychlorgen is available with chlorine capacities of 250, 500, 1,000 and 2,000 g/h, the Minichlorgen with capacities of 30, 60 and 90 g/h.

Posted: December 10, 2024

Source: Lutz Holding GmbH

Fiber Customers Rely On LENZING™ Acetic Acid Biobased

LENZING, Austria — December 10, 2024 — The Lenzing Group, a supplier of regenerated cellulose fibers for the textile and nonwovens industries, announces a significant milestone in its partnership with C.P.L. Prodotti Chimici S.r.l., a supplier of chemical products for the textile industry. LENZING™ Acetic Acid Biobased, a by-product of pulp production, is at the center of this collaboration. Oniverse, which also owns the renowned fashion brand Calzedonia, will not only rely on Lenzing for its fibers in the future but will also use LENZING Acetic Acid Biobased for dyeing textiles.

Lenzing has always developed solutions together with partners to meet the industry’s requirements for a circular economy. The strategic partnerships with C.P.L., the first licensing partner for LENZING Acetic Acid Biobased, and Oniverse underline the trust of customers in Lenzing’s biorefinery products. These collaborations are a successful example of the increasing relevance of transparency and more environmentally friendly and sustainable products in the industry. In addition, Lenzing enables improved visibility of its own products for partners and customers through co-branding, whether in the textile and nonwovens sector or in the biorefinery product portfolio.

Elisabeth Stanger (MBA), Senior Director Biorefinery & CoProducts, Lenzing Group

“The collaboration with C.P.L. and Oniverse is another important step towards promoting the circular economy. Thanks to its high purity and low carbon footprint, our LENZING Acetic Acid Biobased plays a central role in many industrial processes. This strategic alliance underlines the industry’s trust in Lenzing and our biorefinery products,” said Elisabeth Stanger, senior director Biorefinery & Co-Products.

“Our partnership with Lenzing, which has been based on trust and respect since the early 1990s, has always maintained a high level of quality. We are looking forward to the next step that combines quality with sustainability,” says Marco Lanzetti, owner of C.P.L. Prodotti Chimici. “As the first license partner for LENZING Acetic Acid Biobased, we are proud to be able to promote Lenzing as a brand to our customers, such as Oniverse, in the textile market, reduce our carbon footprint and achieve our sustainability goals.”

“This partnership is a good example of circular economy, showing how different supply chains can work together to optimize waste and reduce the impact of their activities on the environment,” says Federico Fraboni, head of Sustainability at Oniverse.

The biorefinery process at Lenzing makes optimal use of the renewable raw material wood, the starting material for pulp and fiber production, and converts it into valuable products such as bio-based acetic acid. LENZING Acetic Acid Biobased, which has a carbon footprint that is more than 85 percent lower than fossil-based acetic acid, is used in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, chemical and textile industries and in processes in the textile sector, such as washing, dyeing and finishing.

Posted: December 10, 2024

Source: The Lenzing Group

AATCC Foundation Announces 2025-2026 Scholarships and Fellowships

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — December 9, 2024 — The AATCC Foundation scholarship and fellowship application is now open for the 2025-2026 academic year. Undergraduate and graduate students in any textile-related discipline may apply for more than a dozen separate scholarships and $100,000 total funding with one simple online form.

All scholarships have a deadline of February 28, 2025, and recipients will be notified over the summer.

The 2025-2026 scholarships are divided into the following categories: Textile Chemistry Scholarships, Other Textile-Related Scholarships, Local Section Scholarships, and Graduate Fellowships. The details about the specific scholarships in the categories are listed below.

Textile Chemistry Scholarships:

Charles H. Stone Scholarship

Four $6,000 scholarships are available to rising juniors and seniors at North Carolina State University and Clemson University.

Charles E. Gavin III Family Scholarship (Auburn University)

Rising freshmen, sophomores, juniors, or seniors attending Auburn University are eligible for the $8,000 Gavin Family Scholarship.

Gordon & Marjorie Osborne Scholarship

The Gordon and Marjorie Osborne Scholarship offers two $5,000 scholarships that support students pursuing a career or coursework in textile engineering, textile chemistry, textile science, or a related discipline.

Textile Chemistry Scholarship

The AATCC Foundation Textile Chemistry Scholarship is a $1,000 scholarship for undergraduate students of textile chemistry, polymer and color chemistry, or related topics.

Woodruff Textile Manufacturing Scholarship

The Percy W. Woodruff Jr. Textile Manufacturing Scholarship is a $3,500 scholarship supporting a non-traditional, undergraduate student at Clemson University.

Other Textile-Related Scholarships:

AATCC Corporate Member Scholarship

The AATCC Corporate Member Scholarship is a $1,000 scholarship available to AATCC corporate member employees and their children, only for the 2025 Fall semester.

Charles E. Gavin III Family Scholarship (Georgia Institute of Technology)

Rising freshmen, sophomores, juniors, or seniors attending Georgia Institute of Technology are eligible for the $6,000 Gavin Family Scholarship.

Darsey Family Scholarship

The Darsey Family Scholarship is a $3,000 scholarship available to undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in a textile- and/or fashion-related program at a US university with an AATCC student chapter.

Kanti & Hansa Jasani Family Scholarship

The Kanti and Hansa Jasani Family Textile Scholarship offers three $1,000 scholarships to undergraduate and graduate Indian students, specifically Indian citizens with student visas, who are attending a US university.

Martin J. Bide University of Rhode Island Scholarship

The Martin J. Bide University of Rhode Island Scholarship is a $2,500 scholarship for undergraduate students studying Textile Fashion, Merchandising and Design at the University of Rhode Island.

National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) Paul T. O’Day Scholarship

The National Council of Textile Organizations Paul T. O’Day Scholarship offers a $5,000 scholarship that may be awarded for up to four years, for a cumulative scholarship of $20,000. Students must have at least one parent or guardian employed by an NCTO member company and/or organization to be eligible.

Textile Design Scholarship

The AATCC Foundation Textile Design Scholarship is a $1,000 scholarship for undergraduate students of textile design or related topics.

Textile Merchandising Scholarship

The AATCC Foundation Textile Merchandising Scholarship is a $1,000 scholarship for undergraduate students of textile merchandising, management, and retail programs.

Varley Family Textile Technology Scholarship

The Varley Family Textile Technology Scholarship offers two $5,000 scholarships that support students pursuing a textile-related career at Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) or Cornell University.

Local Section Scholarships:

Delaware Valley Section Scholarship

Undergraduate students studying textiles at a school in the Delaware Valley section (DE, MD, NJ, PA) are eligible for this $500 scholarship.

Metro Scholarship

The Metro Scholarship offers two scholarships valued at $3,000 for students attending schools in New England, New York, or New Jersey.

Piedmont Section Scholarship

The AATCC Foundation Piedmont Section Scholarship offers five $3,000 scholarships available to students attending an educational institution in the AATCC Piedmont Section (VA, WV, NC, SC).

West Scholarship

This $3,000 scholarship supports undergraduate students studying a textile- or fashion-related field in colleges/universities located in the states encompassed by the California, Northwest, Midwest, and Pacific sections of AATCC.

Graduate Fellowships:

The Connelly-Perkins Graduate Fellowship and the Grady, Houser, Hauser, Daniels Graduate Fellowship have increased from $5,000 to $6,000. Graduate students are also eligible to apply for the Darsey Family Scholarship and Kanti & Hansa Jasani Family Scholarship.

Connelly/Perkins Graduate Fellowship

AATCC Foundation Connelly/Perkins Graduate Fellowship is a $6,000 fellowship for Ph.D. candidates at the Clemson University Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE).

Grady, Hauser, Houser, Daniels Graduate Fellowship

This $6,000 fellowship for Ph.D. candidates in Fiber and Polymer Science is awarded to students at the North Carolina State University Wilson College of Textiles.

Posted: December 9, 2024

Source: The AATCC Foundation 

Samsara Eco Develops New Nylon 6 Enzyme To Scale Infinite Recycling

CANBERRA, Australia — December 9, 2024 — Samsara Eco, the climate tech innovator, has today announced its latest step to help combat the plastics crisis, developing enzymes capable of recycling nylon 6, a synthetic fiber commonly used in apparel, hosiery and automotives. The innovation builds on Samsara Eco’s existing capabilities to infinitely recycle nylon 6,6 and polyester and marks an important leap to tackle waste and eliminate the use of virgin plastics — plastics including synthetic textiles like nylon and polyester made from fossil fuels.

Pictured L-R: Vanessa Vongsouthi and Paul Riley

The innovation comes at a critical time when almost two-thirds of the 3.25 billion metric tons of textiles produced each year end in landfill or incineration. Currently less than 1 percent of textiles are made from recycled textiles, meaning almost all synthetic textiles are still made from carbon-intensive fossil fuels. Samsara Eco’s latest innovation opens another pathway for textiles to end the reliance on fossil fuels and reduce waste so brands can use what they’ve already created to make new products.

The newest enzymes can break down nylon 6 into its original building block that can be reused repeatedly without losing quality. The breakthrough was achieved using Samsara Eco’s proprietary enzyme design platform, which creates enzymes capable of breaking down plastics at speed, scale and with precision.

“The current take-make-waste economy is incredibly damaging to our planet. We must reduce our reliance on carbon-intensive fossil fuels and instead, use what’s already in circulation,” said Paul Riley, CEO and founder of Samsara Eco.

“Our latest breakthrough makes it possible to believe future textiles will be made from waste and excess, not fossil fuels. We are now able to give new life to nylon 6 and continue to recycle the typically unrecyclable, infinitely. Our ability to recycle nylon 6, nylon 6,6, polyester and mixed fibers, including colored and dyed blends, is a game-changer for the textile and fashion industry. Apparel is very rarely made from a single fiber so being able to recycle mixed fibers is the only way we can create true circularity for the industry.

“Pushed by incoming regulation, industries are becoming increasingly mindful of the entire lifecycle of their products and their carbon impact. We’re providing a way to address both concerns with a real scalable textile-to-textile recycling solution.”

The latest achievement follows intensive research, lab testing and bench-scale proof of concept.

Samsara Eco will collaborate with customers in textiles and automotive — two industries where nylon 6 is prevalent — as well as strategic partners to trial the new enzymes on nylon 6 products and blended materials from its innovation campus in Jerrabomberra, New South Wales, set to open mid-2025.

Posted: December 9, 2024

Source: Samsara Eco 

Culp Adds Advanced Quilting Equipment To Enhance Bedding Cover Supply And Quality

HIGH POINT, N.C. — December 9, 2024 — Culp Inc., through its Culp Home Fashions (CHF) mattress fabrics division, has announced an important investment to add advanced quilting equipment at its Haiti sewn mattress cover operation, which is located on the northeast border of the Dominican Republic. This enhancement underscores the company’s commitment to delivering exceptional quality and innovation in its sewn cover offerings for bedding.

The investment includes:

  • Advanced quilting machines to ensure precision and consistency in every quilted and sewn cover;
  • A complete flat-pack and roll-pack machine to support varied customer packaging needs;
  • Tape-edge machines designed to achieve the highest standards of closing tape application for cover durability and quality;
  • Border measure-and-cut technology for optimized material usage and accuracy;
  • Border double-head sergers to enhance seam strength and aesthetic finishes; and
  • Metal detectors on each sewing line to guarantee covers are free from needle metal contamination, ensuring customer safety and satisfaction.

The upgraded quilting capabilities enhance CHF’s ability to deliver exceptional products to bedding customers worldwide, reinforcing the company’s dedication to innovation and excellence. Building on the partnership with Verlo Mattress, for customizable quilted covers, announced earlier this year, CHF has leveraged insights from this collaboration to advance its capabilities and drive growth into new business segments. This partnership has enabled CHF to refine its sewn mattress cover offerings and expand innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of the bedding industry.

“This investment represents another step in our growth strategy for Culp Home Fashions,” said Iv Culp, president and CEOof Culp, Inc. “By equipping our team with this efficient and diverse quilting equipment, we can better meet our customers’ needs with unparalleled quality and efficiency.”

“With this new equipment, which will be operational as of January 1, 2025, we will have cutting-edge capabilities to produce superior quilted covers, reinforcing our leadership in the fabric and sewn cover business for bedding,” said Tommy Bruno, president of CHF.

This strategic move bolsters Culp’s focus on leadership and operational excellence. Earlier this year, Armando Alfaro joined the company as CHF’s Director, Business Development, and he was recently appointed to oversee Culp’s global cut-and-sew operations for bedding. With more than eight years of experience in the quilted cover industry, Alfaro and his management team have the expertise needed to maximize CHF’s potential and to drive customer satisfaction.  Additionally, Paige Seadler recently joined the company as CHF’s Director, Product Marketing, overseeing cover development, brand experience, and project management. With more than a decade of leadership in the mattress industry, Seadler brings a deep understanding of the mattress consumer, retail dynamics, and merchandising. Together, Alfaro and Seadler leverage their complementary strengths to enhance production efficiency, develop new lines of business, and deliver customer-focused solutions while further positioning Culp as a leader in the bedding textile industry.

Posted: December 9, 2024

Source: Culp, Inc.

Leave No Trace Selects Mountain Hardwear For Corporate Partner Of The Year 2024

RICHMOND, Calif. — December 6, 2024 — Mountain Hardwear is proud to announce it has been named the 2024 Leave No Trace Corporate Partner of the Year. This distinction honors the company’s relentless commitment to environmental stewardship and its proactive role in promoting sustainable outdoor practices. This recognition highlights Mountain Hardwear’s significant contributions over the past year, the brand’s second year of partnership with Leave No Trace.

Mountain Hardwear’s efforts to advance environmental awareness have been wide-ranging— from leveraging its global platform to raise the profile of Leave No Trace principles, to engaging directly with communities on conservation projects.

One of the key achievements for Mountain Hardwear in 2024 was co-leading a major volunteer initiative with the brand’s employees in the Bay Area, where more than 100 hours of service were dedicated to hands-on environmental work. This initiative benefitted local ecosystems and demonstrated Mountain Hardwear’s dedication to engaging outdoor enthusiasts in stewardship activities.

In addition to its volunteer efforts, Mountain Hardwear played an integral role in supporting the expansion of Leave No Trace’s ambassador program. Leave No Trace welcomed Mountain Hardwear mountaineering athletes Scott Lehmann and Shayna Unger as Leave No Trace Ambassadors. Working together with Mountain Hardwear and Leave No Trace, these influential athletes are helping to amplify the message of responsible outdoor practices to a broader audience, inspiring others to incorporate LNT principles into their outdoor adventures.

Mountain Hardwear also continued its tradition of outdoor education by co-presenting at major outdoor festivals throughout the year. These events allowed Mountain Hardwear to reach thousands of festival-goers, offering free education on Leave No Trace principles and encouraging attendees to adopt sustainable practices when exploring the outdoors. By providing this valuable resource to outdoor communities, Mountain Hardwear, in partnership with Leave No Trace, continues to reinforce their role as leaders in environmental education.

As a featured sponsor of the Leave No Trace Global Summit, Mountain Hardwear helped celebrate the organization’s 30th anniversary while paving the way for its next 30 years of impact. The summit served as an important milestone for Leave No Trace, and Mountain Hardwear’s involvement further demonstrated its long-term commitment to supporting environmental initiatives and sustainability within the outdoor industry.

“Mountain Hardwear’s connection with the leading environmental education organization allows our shared missions to be amplified — empowering more people to experience and connect with nature while becoming more conscious stewards and to protect our wild spaces. We are proud to partner with Leave No Trace and receive this recognition,” said Kathryn Luna, senior brand marketing specialist — Community & Partnerships.

“Our work with Mountain Hardwear exemplifies the power of partnership in achieving meaningful change. Mountain Hardwear’s dedication to environmental stewardship and engaging communities has amplified Leave No Trace’s mission to protect and enjoy the outdoors responsibly. Together, we’re inspiring a new generation of outdoor enthusiasts to become lifelong stewards of our natural world,” said Dana Watts, Leave No Trace executive director

Looking ahead, Mountain Hardwear is excited to announce a new collaboration with Leave No Trace. The Leave No Trace x Mountain Hardwear logowear collection, set to launch this upcoming spring, will combine innovative design with a focus on sustainability, further advancing the shared mission of promoting environmental responsibility within the outdoor community.

For more information about the 2024 Leave No Trace Corporate Partner of the Year Award, visit Leave No Trace Awards 2024. To learn more about Mountain Hardwear and its award-winning products, please visit www.mountainhardwear.com.

Posted: December 9, 2024

Source: Mountain Hardwear, Inc.

NRF: Import Cargo Rising as Higher Tariffs and Potential Port Strike Approach

WASHINGTON — December 9, 2024 — With a strike possible again next month at East Coast and Gulf Coast container ports and President-elect Donald Trump planning to increase tariffs, the nation’s major container ports are expected to see a continued surge in imports through next spring, according to the Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

“Either a strike or new tariffs would be a blow to the economy and retailers are doing what they can to avoid the impact of either for as long as they can,” NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said. “We hope that both can be avoided, but bringing in cargo early is a prudent step to mitigate the impact on our industry, consumers and the nation’s economy. We call on both parties at the ports to return to the table, get a deal done and avoid a strike. And we call on the incoming administration to use tariffs in a strategic manner rather than a broad-based approach impacting everyday consumer goods.”

Talks have broken down between the International Longshoremen’s Association and the U.S. Maritime Alliance, leaving the potential for a strike after the current contract extension reached after a three-day strike in October expires January 15. NRF last week led a coalition of trade associations in sending a letter asking both parties to return to the bargaining table. Meanwhile, Trump has said he plans to increase a wide range of tariffs once he takes office on January 20.

Hackett Associates Founder Ben Hackett said retailers are under pressure as they frontload cargo to avoid both the disruption of the strike and higher costs from the tariffs.

“Prospects of reaching a quick agreement on the key sticking point of automation are not looking good,” Hackett said, referring to the port labor contract. “The window to frontload goods on vessels arriving before a potential strike is quickly closing. Then there are issues as President-elect Trump promises to increase tariffs when he takes office. It is not clear whether this will actually take effect immediately or whether it will take time to implement the tariffs, but shippers are moving up as much cargo as they can before then.”

U.S. ports covered by Global Port Tracker handled 2.25 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units – one 20-foot container or its equivalent – in October, although the Port of Miami has yet to report final data. That was down 1.2% from September but up 9.3% year over year.

Ports have not yet reported November’s numbers, but Global Port Tracker projected the month at 2.17 million TEU, up 14.4% year over year. December is forecast at 2.14 million TEU, up 14.3% year over year. That would bring 2024 to 25.6 million TEU, up 14.8% from 2023. Before the October strike and November’s elections, November had been forecast at 1.91 million TEU and December at 1.88 million TEU, while the total for 2024 was forecast at 24.9 million TEU.

January 2025 is forecast at 2.2 million TEU, up 12% year over year; February at 1.87 million TEU, down 4.1% because of fluctuations in the timing of Lunar New Year shutdowns at Asian factories; March at 2.17 million TEU, up 12.7%, and April at 2.15 million TEU, up 6.6%.

Global Port Tracker, which is produced for NRF by Hackett Associates, provides historical data and forecasts for the U.S. ports of Los Angeles/Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle and Tacoma on the West Coast; New York/New Jersey, Port of Virginia, Charleston, Savannah, Port Everglades, Miami and Jacksonville on the East Coast, and Houston on the Gulf Coast. The report is free to NRF retail members, and subscription information is available at NRF.com/PortTracker

As an authority and voice for the retail industry, NRF analyzes economic conditions affecting the industry through reports such as Global Port Tracker.

Posted: December 9, 2024

Source: The National Retail Federation (NRF)

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