NCTO Comments On 301 Tariff Increase; Renews Call For Tariffs On Textile And Apparel End Items And Need For Exclusion Process

WASHINGTON — May 8, 2019 — The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) appreciates the Trump administration’s action to crack down on unfair trade practices from China through the Section 301 mechanism.

A Federal Register notice, set to be published on Thursday, states the administration’s intent to raise tariffs on $200 billion of imported Chinese goods from 10 percent to 25 percent on May 10. NCTO urges the administration to ensure an expeditious and transparent exclusion process and the inclusion of finished apparel and textile end products to this remedy.

“It’s long past time we address China’s unfair trade practices, particularly relating to intellectual property abuses,” said NCTO President and CEO Kim Glas.

“However, we remain very concerned that finished Chinese textile home furnishings and apparel are not on the administration’s retaliatory tariff list,” Glas said. “Chinese imports of finished goods into the U.S. market have the most significant impact on domestic textile and apparel production, investment and jobs. In order to address the crisis, we need to get to the very heart of the problem.”

According to U.S. government data, China predominantly ships end items to the U.S. versus intermediate inputs. Finished apparel, textile home furnishings and other made-up textile goods equate to 93.5 percent of U.S. imports from China in our sector, while fiber, yarn, and fabric imports from China represent only 6.5 percent.

“NCTO also remains seriously concerned that some inputs critical to the competitiveness of U.S. textile manufacturers remain on the retaliation list and will now face a 25 percent tariff. Duty increases on inputs alone, without addressing the growing problem of end products can raise the cost of U.S. textile manufacturers trying to compete with like Chinese products,” Glas said. “We are pleased that the administration intends to announce an exclusion process and we urge that the process be fair, transparent, and expeditious.”

For more on this issue, see: NCTO Testimony to the Section 301 Committee on August 20, 2018.

NCTO is a Washington, DC-based trade association that represents domestic textile manufacturers, including artificial and synthetic filament and fiber producers.

  • U.S. employment in the textile supply chain was 594,147 in 2018.
  • The value of shipments for U.S. textiles and apparel was $76.8 billion in 2018.
  • U.S. exports of fiber, textiles and apparel were $30.1 billion in 2018.
  • Capital expenditures for textile and apparel production totaled $2.0 billion in 2017, the last year for which data is available.

Posted May 8, 2019

Source: The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO)

Spanish Company Acoustics & Insulation Techniques (AIT) To Establish North American Headquarters In Richmond County, Ga.

ATLANTA— May 6, 2019 — Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced that Acoustics & Insulation Techniques (AIT), an audio insulation supplier to the automotive and construction industries, will create 45 jobs and invest $12 million in its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Augusta. Newly created jobs will include highly skilled positions in manufacturing.

“It’s a great day in Georgia when we can announce an international company has chosen to locate its North American headquarters here,” said Governor Brian P. Kemp. “I am excited to welcome Acoustics & Insulation Techniques to Augusta. Congratulations to Richmond County and all of our economic development partners who were involved in this fantastic project.”

Headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, AIT specializes in the development, production, and sale of audio insulation. Their products are used in vehicles manufactured by BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo, among others, but they also manufacture products that service the industrial and construction industries.

“Georgia has made it evident through its committed support and profound involvement at both the local and state level to help us achieve our business goals through excellent communication and interesting incentives for a startup company trying to develop a new business in the United States,” said CEO AIT Group, and President of AIT Group USA Inc. Antonio Pomés. “We chose to locate AIT in Augusta for a number of reasons including proximity to our customers and potential markets as well as accessibility through the airport, the Port of Savannah and the state’s highway network.”

Production is slated to begin in July 2019.

“The Augusta Economic Development Authority works hard to bring quality jobs to the Augusta area,” said Development Authority Chairman Steven Kendrick. “AIT is another example of advanced manufacturing jobs that will benefit Augusta and Richmond County for many years to come. We feel the support of our Development Authority Board of Directors, our local elected officials including our Commissioners and Mayor, our skilled and excellent workforce, our low cost of business, and our excellent quality of life are all factors that helped AIT and our other manufacturers choose Augusta and to remain competitive in their respective industries.”

Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) Director of International Investment Nico Wijnberg represented the Global Commerce division in partnership with the Augusta Economic Development Authority (AEDA) and Georgia Power.

“This exciting announcement puts a spotlight on the impact that Georgia has had as a leader in the global marketplace, and the recent successes we’ve had locating international companies who are looking to expand in North America,” said GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson. “I am confident that AIT will find success in Richmond County, and we look forward to working with them as they ramp up operations here.”

AIT is a Tier 2 company dedicated to the manufacturing of materials for sound insulation and vibration absorbers that produce noise. The solutions offered by AIT are the result of more than 60 years of experience. Thanks to this know-how, continuous research and investment in new technologies and products, our engineers develop innovative solutions with increasingly sophisticated and effective materials.

Posted May 8, 2019

Source: Office of the Governor of Georgia

ITMA 2019 Exhibitor Preview: Tandematic

LEXINGTON, N.C. — May 8, 2019 — Tandematic, a provider of tenter accessories, announced the release of the next generation Rail Mounted Trimmer and Rail Guidance System. These two products will be showcased at ITMA 2019 in Barcelona Spain.

Tandematic, for more than 40 years, has continuously innovated products whose ultimate goal is to minimize wasted fabric on tenters. Effective decurling, precision pinning, efficient glue application and finally, minimizing edge trim to less than 4 millimeters means more salable cloth and less waste in landfills.

Developed by a cross functional team of product designers, engineers, field technicians, and manufacturing specialists, the next generation products operate efficiently with minimal downtime, ease of maintenance, and utilize the latest software, electronics and mechanical innovations (including 3-D printed parts). Both products are Industry 4.0 compliant

The Rail Mounted Trimmer — GEN II employs a shearing action using proprietary mounting of self — lubricated, hardened blades. Onboard electronics automatically adjust trimmer speed for accurate, clean cutting while optimizing blade life. Blades are safely removed for re-sharpening using a single tool. As part of a corporate sustainability initiative, Tandematic offers an economical blade exchange program recycling worn blades for re-use.

Edge sensors working with precision actuators automatically maintains preset distance between fabric edge and point of cutting regardless of tension adjustments or process changes.

Trim waste removal is accomplished using a revamped air management system for the GEN II trimmer. Positive pressure aspirators effectively remove trim waste and eliminate clogs common with negative pressure designs.

The entire Gen ll trimmer system uses fewer parts, occupies less space and adapts to any stenter. Standalone systems also are available for applications where a stenter is not used.

An equally important component in trim waste reduction is precision pinning.

The Tandematic GEN II Rail Guider utilizes latest sensor technology seeing any color or configuration — stripes, patterns, etc. without sensitively adjustment. This feature eliminates sensitive operator tuning. Reflectors or below web targets are not required.

Updated control center employs an extremely fast zero dead-band mode for precise exact pinning. Deadband based systems are satisfied with an inherent error unacceptable when minimal trim waste is important.

Redesigned servo-motors position the rail through effective use of a ball screw mechanisms in response to sensor signals with zero backlash or overtravel. The redesigned rail actuator uses 30% fewer parts weighing 50% less than earlier versions.

Maximum rail speed is greater than 200mm/s for quickly accommodating fabric upset conditions (holes, seams, etc.). This rapid response virtually eliminates mispins and overpinning.

The entire Tandematic product line is optionally available on most OEM Stenters or adaptable to existing equipment.

Tandematic is currently accepting orders for GEN II products with Q3 shipments

Visit Tandematic at ITMA Stand H2/A104.

Posted May 8, 2019

Source: Tandematic/Navis Global

Eriez® Becomes Majority Shareholder Of Faultcurrent Ltd.

Erie, Pa. — May 6, 2019 — Eriez® President and CEO Tim Shuttleworth recently announced the company is now the majority shareholder of FaultCurrent Ltd. Based in the United Kingdom, FaultCurrent Ltd. developed a unique passive magnetic fault current limiter called the pmFCL. Its innovative design uses permanent magnets at its core to provide a reliable, robust and energy efficient solution for electrical power grid reinforcement.

Shuttleworth said: “Making this investment in FaultCurrent Ltd. was a natural choice for Eriez as we are constantly developing and investing in breakthrough products that keep us on the cutting edge.”

The pmFCL protects utility electrical distribution networks from unanticipated power surges and new demands placed on aging and already overburdened electrical infrastructures from the connection of distributed energy sources. The patented technology behind this next generation fault current limiter has been achieved through a combination of magnetic engineering insights, including using ferrite permanent magnets to saturate a network of inductors.

The pmFCL provides additional fault current headroom, presenting a low impedance during normal “in service” current flows until an abnormal fault current instantaneously forces the device into a higher impedance state, and in doing so, allows time for the power system’s existing infrastructure to react to isolate the fault safely. Post fault, the pmFCL instantly recovers, ready to protect the network again.

Unlike other fault current limiters, pmFCL’s breakthrough design is truly “fit and forget” technology. This self-contained three phase unit is delivered to the site as a complete unit that is ready to go once placed on a concrete pad. The pmFCL requires no maintenance beyond simple inspection.

FaultCurrent was incorporated in July 2012 to develop a new generation of fault current limiters based on pioneering research and development work carried out by Dr. Jeremy Hall at the Wolfson Centre for Magnetics at Cardiff University. Early stage funding was provided by Fusion IP, now incorporated into the IP Group. Eriez-Europe Chairman Andy Lewis says, “The project attracted attention — and subsequently grants — from the Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) department of the UK government.”

Lewis explained: “Eriez Investments Ltd. has a majority shareholding position, having cumulatively invested a seven-figure sum in the past two years, with the IP Group and FaultCurrent Ltd. company directors and former directors holding the remaining shares.”

FaultCurrent’s Board of Directors is comprised of Andy Lewis, Martin Ansell, Dr. Jeremy Hall and Andy Cheer.

Posted May 8, 2019

Source: Eriez

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories Expands Production Footprint In Vietnam

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — May 7, 2019 — Kraig Biocraft Laboratories Inc., developer of spider silk based fibers, announced today that, through its subsidiary Prodigy Textiles, the company has signed a new five year lease on a factory, expanding its production footprint in Vietnam. The roughly 50,000 square foot facility in Quang Nam province is expected to play a major role in supporting the company’s increasing production capacity of its proprietary recombinant spider silk technologies.

“Our team in Vietnam, led by Mr. Kenneth Le, has done an excellent job of scouting, selecting, and negotiating the terms of this deal. With its close proximity to the necessary mulberry fields, and easy access to shipping ports, this facility will serve as a springboard for Kraig Labs’ introduction of spider silk into the global textile markets,” said COO Jon Rice.

The company expects to begin transferring its technology into the larger factory from the temporary facility that Prodigy Textiles has been utilizing since December of 2018.

Posted May 8, 2019

Source: Kraig Biocraft Laboratories

Datacolor Launches New Color Lifecycle Management Solutions For The Textile And Apparel Supply Chain

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. — May 8, 2019 — Datacolor®, a global supplier of color management technology, announced today the launch of new color lifecycle management solutions intended to deliver greater transparency and confidence for both textile and apparel brands, as well as suppliers, mills and dye houses.

The new offerings include Assessment Services, which encompass a suite of comprehensive color assessment and lab audit services that will significantly reduce the time and cost of product development by ensuring the supply chain is qualified and capable to meet all expectations to assure color quality.

Datacolor also introduces ColorHub, a web-based software solution, which provides an unprecedented real-time view of mills’ color performance. This cloud-based depository of lab dip and production color data will help ensure shade consistency and quality by identifying and taking corrective action to color issues in real time.

“No one better understands how color impacts business than Datacolor, and we continually seek to develop new color management solutions that meet our customers’ needs within today’s complex global supply chain,” said Dustin Bowersox, market manager, Textiles & Apparel, Datacolor. “This series of solutions is intended to address several pain points for the textile and apparel supply chain, allowing brands to make better sourcing decisions based on mill performance and sophistication while allowing suppliers to improve operational efficiency by providing real-time data into the quality and consistency of their products.”

Posted May 8, 2019

Source: Datacolor

Custom Activewear Brand Xceed Acquires Peaks Apparel

MEXICO CITY — May 8, 2019 — When Miguel Arvizu founded Xceed in 2004, he set his brand on course to become the leader in custom-made activewear. Fast forward 15 years and Xceed has become a large, well-known and respected custom activewear brand in Mexico.

Today, this custom activewear company has taken another step forward to rapidly expand its brand through the acquisition of U.S.-based Peaks Apparel. The financial terms of the acquisition have not been disclosed but sources have confirmed the deal includes distribution agreements and a licensing deal with next generation technology software platform BrikL Ltd.

“This is an exciting acquisition that supports our growth strategy,” explained Xceed CEO Miguel Arvizu. “We will be able to leverage our established brand, production and distribution operation to further expand our market and channel penetration. We are ready to take the next steps in becoming a large-scale production hub for North America and the licensing and distribution agreements will get us there quickly.”

Xceed wasted no time after the agreements were signed, starting implementation of the new BrikL software platform with the expectation that the entire system to be fully live by June. BrikL is a 3D and eCommerce platform for custom-made clothing and team purchasing in the marketplace. Built with next generation technology, BrikL makes buying custom-made apparel simple and easy for both Xceed and its customers.

“People hear the phrase ‘state-of-the-art technology’ and do not typically think Mexico City is where they will find it. We have been using advanced technology since the inception of our company. You can walk into our retail store and use our 3D body scanning machine to dial in your measurements,” says Arvizu, referring to one of his design studios, located inside a high-end shopping center in Mexico City.

Peaks Apparel will transition to the Xceed name by the end of 2019 and continue to spearhead the expansion of the organization in the US and Canadian market. “It is a little surreal to wake up one morning and know that you are now one of the largest and fastest growing brands in your market space,” says Jason Reinhardt, CEO and Founder of Peaks Apparel. “Having teams of inhouse designers, customer service personnel, large scale production facilities and retail shops all driven by advanced technology will provide our customers a much better overall experience.”

Posted May 8, 2019

Source: Peaks Apparel, LLC

Lymeez Patented Technology Slows The Climb Of Ticks By 4-8x

BEDFORD, N.H. — May 8, 2019 — Lymeez® patented 3D Mesh Tick Gaiters slow the climb of deer ticks by 4–8X over common pant fabrics, such as khakis. A slower climb means longer exposure to the microencapsulated permethrin repellent on each fiber of the gaiters—a force multiplier of repellent effectiveness.

Ticks don’t fly or jump. Stop them on their instinctual climb up from grass and brush. Lymeez 3D Mesh Tick Gaiters target the most frequent questing height of ticks — foot and lower leg. New this year, are Lymeez 3D Mesh Arm Gaiters, for gardeners facing ticks crawling up arms while gardening.

Lymeez Tick Gaiters are used by thousands of outdoor workers of Local, State and Federal agencies and private utilities and outdoor recreationists of all types.

Founder and CEO John Patton warns of tick-borne risks, “Tick-borne illnesses are on the rise.” According to the CDC there has been a dramatic increase in the incidence and geographic range of Lyme disease and other tick borne diseases across the US, with cases reported in all 50 states. CDC map of tick borne diseases.  “Preventing Lyme disease starts with making prevention a regular habit — just as you always wear a seatbelt, always wear tick bite protection when heading outdoors. Lymeez products are lightweight easy on/off outerwear, readily available when needed.”

A 20-second video showing Lymeez patented technology in action is here. The study results are here. Lymeez uses “intelligent textile technology,” infusing every fiber of the gaiters with micro-encapsulated permethrin. Movement and friction causes some of the millions of microcapsules to burst, gradually releasing the repellent. Repellency is UV resistant and lasts through 50 washes, or the expected life of the product.

Deer ticks, which carry Lyme disease and other pathogens, can be as small as sesame seeds and poppy seeds—and very easy to miss. Tick bite prevention only works when it is a regular habit. Lymeez offers several choices of product, optimized for different activities or terrain. See product comparison chart. Lymeez Tick Gaiters are breathable, comfortable, easy on/off effective protection from tick bites. Sewn and treated in the USA. Available in multiple colors. Adjustable Fit.

While Lymeez LLC, nor any company, can guarantee complete prevention of tick bites, Lymeez offers effective built-in tick protection. Outside More, Worry Less!™

Posted May 8, 2019

Source: Lymeez LLC

Standard Textile Acquires JC Burnham Commercial Window Coverings

CINCINNATI — May 8, 2019 — Standard Textile Co. Inc. — a global supplier in the healthcare and hospitality textile, window treatment, and decorative fabric markets — announced today it has acquired the business of JC Burnham, located in Rochester, Minn.

JC Burnham markets the fabrication and installation of window treatments to the institutional market. The acquisition of JC Burnham advances Standard Textile’s strategy of expanding its leadership position in markets served and positions the company for future growth.

Joe and Carol Burnham founded JC Burnham 30 years ago, focusing primarily on blinds and draperies. The company expanded its offerings to include window shades, cubicle curtains, and bed covers. Since its founding, the company has gained a strong reputation for reliability, customer service, and quality craftsmanship. Today, the company is a provider of window coverings for Mayo Clinic in Rochester and other facilities within the Mayo Clinic Health System, and is a key player in the Rochester market, servicing hospitality, commercial, and educational customers.

“We are pleased to acquire JC Burnham. We respect the business that Joe and Carol built and their total commitment to customer service and quality, which aligns with our core values. Our acquisition of JC Burnham provides Standard Textile growth opportunities in all markets we serve,” said Gary Heiman, president and CEO of Standard Textile.

“It’s been thrilling for Joe and I to build JC Burnham,” said Carol Burnham. “We’re so grateful for the trusted relationships we have developed with our customers over the years. When Joe and I began talking about the future of our business, we decided what was most important was leaving the company in good hands. Standard Textile was top of mind. As a global company and a leader in the healthcare and hospitality markets, they have already established great relationships in the market, and we felt they are best positioned to take the company to the next level.”

“This acquisition allows us to expand our end-to-end healthcare solutions,” said Tom Main, Standard Textile’s Group vice [resident of sales. “With nearly 80 years of service, we have deep expertise in healthcare environments, from textiles to decorative products. We are excited to gain a stronger presence in Rochester, Minnesota, where we have a long-standing history of servicing Mayo Clinic’s textile needs and excited that we will now have the opportunity to service their decorative needs, too.”

Posted May 8, 2019

Source: Standard Textile

ITMA 2019 Exhibitor Preview: SDL Atlas

ROCK HILL, S.C. — May 7, 2019 — SDL Atlas is pleased to be an exhibitor of ITMA 2019 Show, June 20-26.

During the show, SDL Atlas will display a variety of newly redesigned instruments, Vortex M6, Martindale, Autoburst and Launder-Ometer® along with their new line of high quality SDL Atlas Test Materials and RemoteAccess, a revolutionary remote instrument monitoring app for tracking real-time testing progress of instruments anytime, anywhere, on the go that works with both iOS and Android platforms.

On display for the first time, the newly redesigned Vortex M6 is now updated with a variety of features designed to increase efficiency and the user experience.

The Martindale now features individual station lighting that gives a notification flash of the relevant station along with a beep to indicate the end of a test.

The Autoburst is reengineered from the bottom up to provide unmatched performance for hydraulic burst testing for heavy duty samples. Some of the new features include station lighting, full-color touchscreen control and the flexibility to operate as either a stand-alone instrument or paired with a computer.

The Launder-Ometer has also received a complete redesign adding a full-color touch screen pre-loaded with standard tests and muti-language interface. It has an automatic door that opens and closes with the press of a button.  Sensors automatically stop the rotor from turning when the door opens.

SDL Atlas is committed to providing customers confidence in standard based testing. With offices and experts in the United States, United Kingdom, Hong Kong and China, plus agents serving over 100 countries, SDL Atlas is ready to support its customers with instruments, test materials and services anywhere in the world.

Posted May 8, 2019

Source: SDL Atlas

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