Retailers Welcome Resolution To Lift Steel And Aluminum Tariffs On Canada And Mexico, Call On Congress To Pass USMCA

WASHINGTON — May 17, 2019 — The National Retail Federation issued the following statement from President and CEO Matthew Shay after the Trump administration announced plans to lift steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada and Mexico:

“We applaud the administration for reaching a resolution with Canada and Mexico on the steel and aluminum tariffs. Lifting these tariffs will support consumer confidence and provide much-needed relief for American businesses large and small. Congress should build on this progress by passing USMCA and modernizing the rules for North American trade.”

Posted May 17, 2019

Source: The National Retail Federation (NRF)

ITMA 2019 Exhibitor Preview: BRÜCKNER

LEONBERG, Germany — May 15, 2019 — For 70 years, BRÜCKNER has been the worldwide partner for all companies which are drying, coating and finishing web-shaped materials: whether clothing fabrics, nonwovens, carpet, glass or coatings – the variety of materials to be processed has never been limited.

Today, it is no longer just a question of machines, but rather of automation and control systems. The topic of digitization and Industry 4.0 opens up completely new possibilities for increasing productivity, reducing the use of resources and improving quality. In addition, an increasing shortage of skilled workers can be addressed by more intelligent software.

Brückner has invested, developed and implemented a lot in this area in recent years:

  • Intelligent assistance systems monitor the machine settings in the background and provide the machine operator with information on how to run the system even more productively and consuming less resources. Studies have shown that optimizing production parameters can increase production speed by up to 40% percent and/or reduce energy consumption by up to 30 percent.
  • A newly developed simulation tool helps to optimize existing recipes. The many machine parameters to be set have been reduced to the essentials and can in future be calculated automatically on the basis of the textile key data.
  • For the service, there is a new maintenance tool that proactively gives the machine operator or maintenance department service instructions that can be tracked in a logbook. In future, a newly developed online service platform will support our customers with all service inquiries. The technicians communicate directly with the customer via video conferencing — partly with augmented reality. Documents such as circuit diagrams or maintenance manuals can be viewed and explained together and spare parts can be ordered directly. For regular maintenance processes, photo or video illustrations can be stored in local language. Technically caused downtimes can be significantly reduced by these new systems. This increases system availability and thus productivity.
  • The exchange of machine data with higher-level control station or ERP systems is easily possible with OPC-UA. This allows to rationalize processes in the textile factory and to monitor the quality.

In addition to these efforts in the field of automation, Brückner also demonstrates the great diversity of their experience and product portfolio. This diversity and consulting competence have been built up over many years of innovation.

For example, Brückner has invested a lot in the denim sector and has also increased its personnel. The German market leader offers integrated finishing systems for pigment dyeing, synthetic resin finishing and coating: All components from the entry area, padder, IR pre-dryer, minimum application unit, coating unit, tenter, curing/hotflue, cooling, to the exit area are available from the market leader and systems supplier Brückner.

Top-dyeing or finishing of both sides of the fabric is usually carried out with the Brückner padder. One-sided functionalization or dyeing is carried out with the minimum application unit. The experts from Brückner answer any question and are happy to explain the advantages of the respective processes.

Particularly noteworthy is the economical finishing with minimum application technology and another important component in the finishing of denim fabrics is the proven Brückner Sanfor line POWER-SHRINK, which will be presented at this trade fair. The specialists at ITMA will be happy to provide further information.

Brückner can offer new concepts in the field of continuous dyeing. The continuously improved POWER-INFRATHERM IR pre-dryer has heating and cooling times of less than 5 seconds. The stripe-free drying burner segments made of special metal fibre and the large temperature control range ensure the consistent and reproducible high fabric quality.

The Brückner POWER-COLORTHERM Hotflue ensures uniform drying of the fabric over the entire width of the chambers. Even with narrow fabric webs on a wider machine, the dyeing results are optimal. Due to the symmetrical design and the inverter-controlled fans, the uniform air distribution through the upper and lower nozzles makes a volume adjustment via mechanical flaps superfluous. Optionally available are patented, driven special spreading rollers for crease-free operation with sensitive fabrics (stripe satin/percale/weft-elastic fabric) as well as a highly effective, fully automatic roller cleaning system.

The Brückner specialists in Barcelona are also available to answer your questions in this area and will be pleased to advise you.

Brückner also has something new to offer in the field of multi-layer stenters. Multi-layer tenters are mostly used where little space is available. They are suitable for finishing woven or dimensionally stable knitted fabric, nonwovens, needle felt, technical textiles or for the wool industry.

With the new Brückner POWER-FRAME VNE multi-layer tenter, only one machine operator is required, as the entry and the exit are on the same machine side. This applies both to the version with two and with six fabric passages.

The new VNE machine concept offers the highest possible power density on a small floor space or a long air flow section in a very confined space. The dryer itself is equipped with Brückner’s patented split-flow air circulation system and the alternating arrangement in each half compartment additionally ensures optimum and uniform air circulation and thermal treatment of the fabric.

Another advantage is the completely lubricant-free fabric transport chain of the multi-layer tenter, because in this version there is absolutely no oil in the dryer interior.

We are looking forward to meeting you at ITMA Barcelona.

Posted May 17, 2019

Source: Brückner Trockentechnik GmbH & Co. KG

Truetzschler Opens New Customer And Technology Center For Nonwovens

EGELSBACH, Germany — May 15, 2019 — Truetzschler is opening its new customer and technology center for nonwovens in Egelsbach to push the technological innovations of nonwoven products as well as the related manufacturing processes.

The family-owned company was established in 1888 and is one of the world wide leading manufacturers of textile machinery today. The key factors for the success of Truetzschler Group are sustainable technological innovation, the quality of its machines and its strong customer orientation. Thus, the investment in the new nonwovens customer and technology center is the logical consequence to further develop the solid status of today to technology and quality leadership in this segment.

The technology center presents two complete production lines: an inline carding line with thermobonding and spunlacing equipment and a spunlace-crosslapper line in an industrial working width. Both lines feature a wide range of possible variations and options to realise innovative end products.

By opening its new customer and technology center, Truetzschler invites all customers to jointly design the “way into the future.”

Posted May 17, 2019

Source: Truetzschler

Indorama Ventures Announces Formation Of New Mobility Business Group At Techtextil 2019

BANKGKOK, Thailand — May 16, 2019 — Indorama Ventures Public Co. Ltd. (IVL) today announced the formation of a new business unit within the IVL Fibers division named the Indorama Mobility Group, which will comprise three business segments — namely Tire, Automotive Safety and Functional Materials.

The formation of the Indorama Mobility Group is the culmination of successive strategic acquisitions over the past five years: PHP Fibers, Performance Fibers, Trevira Filaments, Glanzstoff, Kordarna and UTT. The Group collectively owns decades of industry knowledge, experience and brand equity and this creates a unique portfolio of fiber, yarn, single-end cord and fabric based on polyester, polyamide, rayon, aramid hybrid and PEN, emerging as an integrated global business unit.

The Indorama Mobility Group’s target markets are tire reinforcement, airbags, seatbelts, mechanical rubber goods, sewing threads, fabrics, ropes and cordage, automotive interior, home textiles and composites wherein it has built strong positions over the years, notably in the automotive sector. This intra-group businesses merger creates a truly global presence and accelerates business growth through cross proliferation of product lines, expanded customer partnership and a global manufacturing footprint.

The Indorama Mobility Group today has a sales revenue in excess of $1 billion with 16 manufacturing sites in nine countries employing over 6,000 people.

Headed by Jochen Boos, CEO of the newly-formed Indorama Mobility Group (formerly CEO of PHP Fibers), the new unit will pursue a growth path that is intertwined with the exciting development of the Mobility industry.

“Today’s suppliers have to adapt to the strong and disruptive trends that are already approaching like e-mobility, autonomous driving, shared mobility and smart vehicles which are creating new opportunities for fibers and textiles,” Boos said.

Spearheading the global Commercial and Operations is Arnaud Closson, COO, Indorama Mobility Group (formerly CEO of Glanzstoff) who remarked: “The newly created Indorama Mobility Group, supported by its long-standing legacy brands, will integrate all of its assets and unify its go-to-market strategy. We aim to leverage our global operational footprint and tailor our product portfolio to deliver even better customer value.”

The structure of the Indorama Mobility Group is aligned to provide functional leadership, driving market focus through the dedicated commercial organization of the three business segments, accelerating technology and product innovations through centralized R&D and benchmarking best practices across sites to deliver a new level of manufacturing excellence. Supporting these new initiatives is a geographically and culturally diversified workforce located worldwide.

On sustainability, the group is committed to have a positive impact on customers and on society, contributing to Indorama Ventures’ mission to be a responsible industry leader that creates value for our business and society.

Moving forward as a new business, while there is a continuation of activities conducted under the legacy companies, the Indorama Mobility Group is the business partner and the brand to be reckoned with.

“Empowering safety and performance” – fibers and textiles that move the world.

Posted May 17, 2019

Source: Indorama Ventures Public Co. Ltd.

Evolution St. Louis Launches High-Tech Manufacturing Facility In Grand Center Arts District

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — May 16, 2019 — Evolution St. Louis today announced the opening of a high-tech flat-bed knit manufacturing facility using cutting-edge 3D and complete garment seamless-knitting technology at 3830 Washington Blvd. in downtown St. Louis.

“Evolution St. Louis’ investment in our city is a giant step forward in making St. Louis a fashion capital in the United States,” said Susan Sherman, co-founder of the Saint Louis Fashion Fund. “Their investment in downtown St. Louis will put us on the map as a destination for advanced manufacturing and production.”

“I have been a believer in this project since day one,” said Gary Wassner, CEO of Hilldun Corporation and a principal cast member of Project Runway: Fashion Startup. “You can’t imagine how many brands come to me and have sourcing issues. Knitwear is something we have not been able to produce in the United States for at least 30 years. The future of fashion and apparel manufacturing in St Louis is what they make of it. The opportunity is unlimited.”

Evolution St. Louis expects to create 50 to 60 jobs within the first three years in operation, with additional jobs added as the company expands.

“We appreciate Evolution St. Louis and their commitment to expanding Missouri’s manufacturing industry,” said Rob Dixon, director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development. “We look forward to working with them as they grow their venture in St. Louis.”

St. Louis’ Garment District on Washington Avenue has a long history as a leader in the fashion and manufacturing industries. St. Louis is now home to brands and companies like Caleres, Soft Surroundings, Summersalt, Stars Design, Aquarius, CMC brands, Audra and Collections by Joya.

“In an increasingly competitive fashion market, this is exactly the kind of manufacturing facility we need to meet the needs of the changing industry,” said Juliana Simon, director of production, research and development for Cushnie. “This facility will help fashion brands and retailers react to customer demand and new trends by using cutting-edge technology and locating production in the United States to shorten the supply chain.”

Global market conditions, such as industrial restructuring and higher labor costs, have created an unprecedented opportunity to bring apparel production back to the United States

“This facility will revitalize the knit sector, strengthen ‘Made in USA’ fashion, and create good-paying, sustainable manufacturing jobs in St. Louis,” said John Elmuccio, co-founder of Evolution St. Louis. “We want to build the supply chain of the future.”

Evolution St. Louis will work with major brands, boutique designers and emerging, direct-to-consumer fashion entrepreneurs to help them move some of the production of their products back to the United States, and work with emerging brands and designers that often have difficulty sourcing overseas because they don’t have the ability to scale.

The $5 million initial project has involved a broad range of partnerships and collaborations with companies and organizations, including elected leaders, the Missouri Department of Economic Development, St. Louis Economic Development Corp., Saint Louis Fashion Fund and STOLL.

“The local and state elected leaders, economic development officials and the St. Louis Fashion Fund worked tirelessly to help make this project happen,” Evolution St. Louis Co-founder Jon Lewis said. “We look forward to their continued support and partnership as we establish St. Louis as the hub for knit manufacturing in North America.”

STOLL, Germany’s leading flat-knitting machine manufacturer, will install 300 high-tech flatbed knitting machines over the next three years.

“Our machines are renowned for their flexibility, diversity and efficiency,” said Andreas Schellhammer, CEO at STOLL. “We will provide Evolution St. Louis with the technology, software solutions and training to help ideas become reality – from design and pattern creation, to intellectual property protection to production.”

Construction is already underway at the 32,000-square-foot facility and machines will be installed by the end of August. Production is expected to begin later this year.

“We are already in development with several companies, and working with fashion brands, retailers, military, automotive, and other industry sectors as well,” Lewis said.

Posted May 17, 2019

Source: Evolution St. Louis

Teijin To Exhibit At Chinaplas 2019

TOKYO — May 17, 2019 — Teijin Ltd. announced today that it will participate in Chinaplas 2019, Asia’s largest exhibition for the plastics and rubber industries, which will be held at the China Import & Export Fair Complex in Guangzhou, China from May 21-24.

Teijin, marking its 20th appearance at the event, will operate a booth (No. 11.2K41) to introduce solutions for automotive parts and components that combine its advanced technologies and materials. The booth will also present Teijin’s high-performance materials for multi-material parts that contribute to weight reduction and improved performance in automobiles. In addition, seminars to introduce advanced resin-processing technologies and solutions for automotive components will be held again this year, following last year’ favorable reception.

Specific exhibits will include the following:

Polycarbonate (PC)-resin pillar-less automotive front window

The world’s first PC-resin window for use in commercial vehicles has been realized with Teijin’s proprietary hard-coating technology for superb resistance to abrasion and weather. The one-piece wrap-around PC-resin window does not incorporate standard window pillars, achieving unobstructed sight lines for safer driving and more enjoyable sightseeing as well as weight reduction.

Aqueous transparent flame retardant coating

Landex Coat Flame Retardant Clear®, the world’s first aqueous transparent flame retardant coating, developed jointly by Dainichi Giken Kogyo Co., Daimaru Kogyo Ltd. and Teijin, can be applied to a wide range of combustible materials, including timber, paper, fiber, rubber and plastic. The product is applied directly to surfaces to enhance flame retardancy while maintaining the materials’ original surface textures as a transparent coating.

Tenax® carbon-fiber-reinforced thermoplastics (CFRTP)

Teijin will showcase carbon fiber prepregs and CFRTPs made with Tenax® and thermoplastic matrix resins including Teiijn’s Panlite® polycarbonate resin, that offer many uses in growth industries such as automobiles, aerospace and electronics.

Posted May 17, 2019

Source: Teijin Group

The Next Generation Of The KARL MAYER Academy: New Premises And A New Profile For The KARL MAYER Academy In Obertshausen

OBERTSHAUSEN, Germany — May 17, 2019 — Alongside its high-tech machinery, KARL MAYER is also offering its global warp knitting customers extensive know-how and expertise to enable them to optimally use the technical possibilities offered by the machines. This company has been running its own training centre for imparting knowledge and know-how for more than 50 years. The Karl Mayer Academy now operates at locations in Germany, China and India, and is extremely successful. Every year, more than 200 students are trained at the headquarters in Obertshausen alone.

The Karl Mayer Academy moved into its modern training centre at its headquarters in April 2019, and the training courses started up in the following May — with a tried-and-tested concept but at a completely new level. “We are now offering our customers courses to qualify them for manufacturing in a digital world, thus giving them the key to success in the future as well,” said Arno Gärtner, the CEO of Karl Mayer. Furthermore, the Karl Mayer Academy, with its bright, open architecture, is a place that will provide inspiration, “Our guests will feel comfortable here and will be able to get to know each other and exchange ideas,” says Arno Gärtner. Learning will become a real experience and a guarantee of the future success of Karl Mayer’s customers.

Modern rooms, first-rate equipment, the latest technology and up-to-date knowledge

The Karl Mayer Academy welcomes its guests in Obertshausen in a hall covering an area of 755 m², which offers a bright, learning-friendly atmosphere, modern architecture and technical equipment that has taken a quantum leap forward in terms of quality. Three separate classrooms, equipped with top-of-the-range training equipment, are available for efficiently providing training in small groups.

Specially designed high-tech production machines in the HKS series are available for practical training. “We have invested extensively in the machinery. The more the users understand the possibilities offered by our sophisticated technology, the more benefit they will gain from it,” said Christine Wolters, head of the Karl Mayer Academy. The training machines all offer the latest high-tech features, especially with regard to the drive, control and patterning technology. They can also be used to demonstrate the possibilities offered by the digital production of warp-knitted textiles.

The new Karl Mayer Academy also gives an insight into the digital features of KM.ON, and these systems extend the possibilities of increasing the efficiency of the customers’ own production processes. The training machines in the Academy are networked via k.ey — an industry PC combined with the relevant software — and provide access to KM.ON’s secure cloud systems.

Top-of-the range technology for learning and testing covers the entire production process, including warp preparation. A brand-new DS OPTO is used to demonstrate the possibilities of synergistically combining sectional warping used in warp preparation for weaving and direct warping used in warp preparation for warp knitting. This universal, hybrid principle provides maximum flexibility and economic viability when processing beams for warp knitting.

The Academy also profits from being close to the Karl Mayer Development Centre. If there is a demand for market-related courses on special machines equipped with the latest technology, the models in the innovation center can be used for short-term training.

With its overall concept and equipment, the new premises of the KARL MAYER Academy will provide the know-how and expertise on both the theoretical and practical production of warp-knitted textiles for today and tomorrow. The foundations for additional E-training are also laid here.

Being creative — by exchanging ideas and testing in relation to production

The TEXTILE MAKERSPACE is located very close to the Karl Mayer Academy. The company’s own innovation platform is based on exchanging information and exploiting synergistic effects. It is available to creative pioneers in the textile and new technologies sectors, and provides space for testing, developing and lateral thinking. Its aims are to develop new applications even outside the traditional textile machinery sector, to act as the starting point for new ideas, and to produce the first visualizations of products. “Genuine, new textile applications are generated in an efficient, uniform process in our TEXTILE MAKERSPACE – from the initial thought process to the prototype. This enables product developers to arrive at innovative end-uses much more quickly,” says Michael Kieren, the main initiator of the TEXTILE MAKERSPACE. The proximity to the Karl Mayer Academy ensures that ideas are developed to suit the possibilities offered by industrial production. Fabrics with individual and extremely end-use-specific requirements in terms of yarns, patterns and characteristics can be tested on the production machines used for training, using all the company’s expertise

Michael Kieren and the MAKERSPACE community have already put some new developments in motion. Smart textiles, wearables and 3D printed garments have been the focus of various trade fairs and events for some time now.

Posted May 17, 2019

Source: KARL MAYER Textilmaschinenfabrik GmbH

ITMA 2019 Exhibitor Preview: VDMA – Herzog, Mahlo & Lindauer Dornier

FRANKFURT, Germany — May 17, 2019 — On the occasion of a VDMA press conference themed “ITMA countdown” in Frankfurt, speakers from member companies Lindauer DORNIER, Herzog and Mahlo showed how Industry 4.0 solutions are going to impact the textile process chain and what technologies visitors can expect to see at ITMA 2019. The products examples of the respective companies made clear that Industry 4.0 is no end in itself but helps to improve production processes and results and supplements the range of services.

Organic start with an app

Dr. Janpeter Horn, CEO of Herzog, the leading company in braiding technology, introduced the company’s latest Industry 4.0. product: An app-box with which the customer can easily access the data of Herzog and other machines, e.g. on a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller). The data can be visualised on dashboards created by the customer on terminals or others. The data can be processed, e.g. by creating key figures, alarms or analyses. Dr. Horn said: “Starting with Indstry 4.0 does not necessarily mean to end up in a huge project and to employ software and consultant teams. We are offering an organic start into Industry 4.0 scenarios.”

To realise this lean approach, the solution makes use of cloud technologies on the shop floor; open source technologies for inexpensive apps; no internet connection is necessary. The main advantage however is the “one-click” installation of apps which have been applicable only for smartphones and tablets.

Better production results with digital help

According to Rainer Mestermann, Managing Director of Mahlo, collecting and processing data for better production results is a basic idea of Industry 4.0. Mahlo develops and produces measurement and control equipment for the textile and nonwoven industry. A new platform from Mahlo realizes the ideas of Industry 4.0 with digital technologies. In the digitization concept for all Mahlo products, the functionalities are grouped, optimized and standardized as “services”. This results in modular hardware and software function blocks that can also be retrofitted. There are modules e.g. for the acquisition and processing of measured values, for control tasks or for the long-term archiving, data logging and analysis. One example is the control module in Mahlo’s weft straighteners. The distortion control was revised and digitised. Optimised hardware and software resulted in a faster and more efficient controller. Mestermann explained: “Evaluations confirmed by customers prove that the control module regulates 20 percent faster and more precisely than before. Better straightening results reduce the production of second-choice goods and the need to pass the same fabric through the stenter several times.”

An addition to personalized services

“Even in a 4.0 future, personal installation and maintenance support will remain an indispensable part of services but the portfolio will be supplemented by digital solutions”, stated Peter D. Dornier, CEO of Lindauer DORNIER. The company is technology leader in weaving machines. At ITMA 2019, Lindauer DORNIER will present a new customer portal. The portal is based on state-of-the-art database technology and will provide an online shop with permanent availability for original parts for all product lines. Remote maintenance and networking of weaving machines — to improve run characteristics, for example — will also be possible in future via the new customer portal. The focus of this solution is on people: Its purpose is to make the job of machine operators and production planners easier.

Thomas Waldmann, managing director of the VDMA Textile Machinery Association, summarized: “The future success of the textile industry is more and more determined by Industry 4.0. As seen today, Industry 4.0 has many dimensions and possible fields of application. In Smart Services, Operations and Factory, key solutions are provided by the machinery industry. Today’s presentations are just a few examples for innovative Industry 4.0 solutions. At ITMA in Barcelona, visitors will have the chance to see the whole range of I4.0 and other innovative solutions offered by VDMA member companies.”

With regard to ITMA 2019, the VDMA published two interviews with experts from 16 member companies presenting their latest Industry 4.0 technologies.

Posted May 17, 2019

Source: VDMA

Techtextil And Texprocess 2019: The Most International Shows Of All Time

FRANKFURT, Germany — May 17, 2019 — At Techtextil and Texprocess the textile and apparel industries displayed their most progressive side and even in challenging times still inspires a positive mood throughout the sector as a result. Record numbers of exhibitors and the highest levels of international participation to date have once again confirmed Frankfurt as the sector’s global marketplace.

With a total of 1,818 exhibitors from 59 countries and, in all, some 47,000 trade visitors from 116 countries,1, the two biggest editions of Techtextil and Texprocess ever to be held, ended today in Frankfurt. Accordingly, for four days, the Frankfurt Fair and Exhibition Centre once again became the leading international platform for users of technical textiles from the widest variety of sectors, as well as for manufacturers of apparel, fashionwear, upholstered furniture and leather products.

“Over the last four days, Techtextil and Texprocess have brought together the entire world of textiles and their areas of application in Frankfurt. This double-barrelled trade fair had, in particular, three major things going for it: a larger number of top decision-makers, higher levels of international participation and a greater degree of satisfaction amongst exhibitors than ever before. Both exhibitors and visitors were extremely well prepared and actively took advantage of what was on offer at the two fairs, in order to drive their business forward in focussed ways,” said Detlef Braun, member of the executive board of Messe Frankfurt.

Techtextil scores highly for visitor quality and variety of users

“We were thoroughly inundated on the very first day, particularly with international visitors. On top of our already high proportion of existing customers, we got lots of new contacts during the course of the trade fair,” said Dr. Günther Gradnig, managing director at Sattler Pro-Tex GmbH. The response of exhibitors to the high levels of technical expertise amongst the visitors has been extremely positive. “The nice thing about Techtextil is that the visitors you meet are 100 percent specialists. The discussions we have had have been exclusively on a technical level — and a very high level at that. At the end of the day, this provides the foundation of good business,” confirms Jörg Perwitzschky, Director of Marketing at Bayern Innovativ, speaking of visitor quality.

Performance, functionality, and smart textiles – in abundance

There was, amongst other things, strong representation at Techtextil for suppliers of fabrics for functional apparel and of smart textiles with integral lighting, heating and sensory functionality, which are used in sportswear, fashionwear, outdoor clothes and workwear. With these products, companies like Schoeller, Freudenberg, RUDOLF and Lenzing attracted designers, product managers and buyers from a host of well-known clothing manufacturers. “We had loads of people at our stand, who were looking for specific things, including many well-known brands such as Alpha Tauri, Mammut, North Face and Tommy Hilfiger,” confirmed Hendrikus van Es, Head of Protection Textiles and Member of the Senior Management Team of Schoeller Textil AG. There were, moreover, numerous exhibitors for accessories and components including, for instance, international market leaders for zip fasteners, YKK. “Visitors came from all over the world, from the USA, Pakistan, Asia, even Columbia. We are fantastically satisfied with the show,” said, for example, Jan Cees van Baaren, sales manager at YKK.

Texprocess a huge boost for the sector

“Texprocess has inspired a very positive mood amongst suppliers. The manufacturers of sewing and apparel technology and of machinery for the processing of technical textiles and leather, have been reporting a certain reluctance to invest amongst their customers, caused by, among other things, current international trade barriers,” said Elgar Straub, general manager of the Textile Care, Fabric and Leather Technologies (TFL) division of the VDMA (Association of German Machine and Plant Manufacturers). “We look towards the future with a great deal of positivity.”

Texprocess was also all about digital solutions for the sector — from fully networked production lines in the form of micro-factories and machines capable of autonomous learning to cloud-based collaboration between designers, product developers, manufactures and retailers across national boundaries. “Digitalization and interlinked networks in the sector are gaining traction and have now reached as far as the retail shop,” says Straub. “An effect that we summarise as Impact 4.0, the direct effects of Industry 4.0.” It is something Alexander Behm, product manager technical textiles at H. Stoll AG & Co. KG also confirms: “I think that, in the not too distant future, things will go more and more in that direction and, in partnership with software suppliers and machinery manufacturers for other stages of the work, will eventually include the entire process chain.” These particular knitting machine manufacturers showcased the 3D knitting of shoe uppers in the Digital Textile Micro-Factory at Techtextil and Texprocess.

Gemini CAD Systems were manifestly delighted with their own micro-factory: „With our ‘Pixel to Product’ concept, we were able to clearly show our many visitors the benefits of made to measure garments and the end-to-end workflow to produce them. The connection to the clothing and fashion industry plays a very important role for us. That is why we will a show micro factory in July with several partners at the world‘s largest trade show for sustainable fashion, Neonyt, during Berlin Fashion Week,” said Luca Traian, CEO Gemini CAD Systems.

Textile industry and textile processers increasingly committed to sustainability

With ‘Sustainability at Techtextil and Texprocess’ both trade fairs concentrated the focus on the approaches that its exhibitors are adopting to sustainability issues. A dedicated exhibition guide took visitors straight to the relevant exhibitors. Marc W. Lorch, CEO of Zwissler Holding AG, said: “For us, the sustainability focus at this year’s Techtextil was extremely important. We have our own Sustainability Manager, who consistently takes care of this matter and its ramifications in all areas. We not only talk about sustainability — we live it. We have been preparing ourselves for this appearance for a long time in the run up to the show and have also involved our customers and suppliers.” And, for the first time, there were, in 2019, two winners of the Techtextil Innovation Award in the sustainability category.

The next Techtextil and Texprocess will take place from 4 to 7 May 2021.

1: 2017: a total of 1,789 exhibitors from 66 countries and 47,388 visitors from 114 countries

Posted May 17, 2019

Source: Messe Frankfurt

Four Unifirst Laundries Earn Food Safety Certification

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — May 17, 2019 — Four UniFirst laundries recently earned the Hygienically Clean Food Safety certification, bringing the number of UniFirst Corp. facilities who have reached this milestone to 52. The four facilities are located in these cities: Sante Fe Springs, Calif.; Baton Rouge, La.; Springfield, Mass.; and Greenville, S.C. UniFirst’s Stratford, CT location also qualified for renewal of its Food Safety certification for another three years.

This achievement reflects UniFirst’s commitment to best-management practices (BMPs) in laundering as verified by third-party on-site inspection and their capability to produce hygienically clean textiles as quantified by ongoing microbial testing. The certification confirms a laundry’s dedication to compliance and processing garments and other textile products using BMPs as described in its quality-assurance documentation, the focal point for TRSA inspectors’ evaluation of critical control points that minimize risk.

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 servicing animal processing, dairies, fruit/vegetable, bakeries, grain, and other food-and-beverage industry segments.

States with Hygienically Clean Food Safety certified UniFirst laundries (one each except where noted) now include Ala.; Ariz.; Calif. (four); Colo.; Conn.; Fla. (four); Ga. (two); Ill.; La.; Mass. (two); Md. (two); Maine; Mich.; N.C. (four); N.H. (two); N.J. (two); Nev.; N.Y. (two); Ohio; Okla.; Pa. (two); S.C. (two); Texas (six); Utah; Va.; Wash.; and Wis. Canadian provinces represented are Alberta (two) and British Columbia.

“More and more, we’re seeing our customers in food-related industries looking for third-party validation that our specialized Product Protection Process and our Hygienically Clean standards are consistent with HACCP and GFSI guidelines,” said Adam Soreff, director of marketing and communications at UniFirst Corp., Wilmington, MA. “Working with a Hygienically Clean Food Safety certified laundry helps reassure them that their managed uniform program is working in concert with their own food-safety protocols to help them ensure food safety for consumers.”

The Hygienically Clean Food Safety protocol examines a laundry’s Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) practices, including its techniques for:

  • Conducting hazard analysis;
  • Determining CCPs, monitoring their control, correcting them if not under control;
  • Validating and verifying HACCP system effectiveness; and
  • Documenting and recordkeeping to show ongoing conformance.

Inspection and reinspection verify laundry practices including washing procedures (detergent formulas, temperature, disinfectant, pH, extraction), drying, garment inspection and transportation. Each certified laundry plant’s operational flowchart is evaluated, ensuring these procedures (as well as pickup, unloading and sorting of soiled items and sorting of clean laundry) are mapped. Employees’ use of personal protective equipment is documented.

Inspectors also evaluate practices relevant to handling and processing textile products used in food manufacturing/processing establishments for adherence to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) directives.

Posted May 17, 2019

Source: TRSA

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