BOZEMAN, Mont. — September 27, 2018 — In celebration of Manufacturing Day, U.S.-manufacturer, West Paw will open its doors on October 5 to students, parents and community members. As part of an ongoing effort from the manufacturing community, this event is designed to change people’s perceptions about today’s manufacturing environment and draw attention to the outstanding opportunities that a career in manufacturing can provide. Planned activities include school group tours and open houses.

Manufacturing Day is an annual national event executed at the local level supported by thousands of manufacturers as they host students, teachers, parents, job seekers and other local community members at open houses, plant tours and presentations designed to showcase modern manufacturing technology and careers.

For over 22 years, West Paw has been a proud manufacturer of dog toys, beds, leashes and collars. West Paw is excited to showcase our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility to the members of our community as well as be a part of this important national event.

“There is an increasing demand for highly skilled professionals in the manufacturing sector who can design, program and operate technology,” said Spencer Williams, CEO and president of West Paw. “The average age of a manufacturing employee is 56, and between now and 2020 there will be an unprecedented shortage of skilled workers who will need to be replaced.”

Posted September 27, 2018

Source: West Paw

WORCESTER, Mass. — September 27, 2018 — Vystar® Corp. today launched a new era of pillow indulgence with the Vytex® Cloud Super-soft Plush Collection of 100-percent all natural latex pillows in four sizes and two levels of support.

“You’re going to love the new Vytex Cloud pillows for life,” stated Steve Rotman, CEO of Vystar. “You’ll sleep better on the heavenly delight of super- and ultra-soft eco-friendly latex whose light, natural breathability and resilience provide cool, supportive comfort for years. A better sleep means more energy for life.”

While pillow experts recommend replacing your pillows every year due to loss of resilience and contamination from sweat, bacteria, and dust mites that other pillow materials harbor, Vytex latex foam is naturally anti-microbial and odor free, and repels dust mites. Because Vytex latex is deproteinized to remove allergy and odor causing proteins and impurities, it is virtually allergy free and naturally whiter. Vystar’s patented technology gives the Vytex Cloud pillows a stronger latex bond that means Vytex foam stays springier over the long-term. You can enjoy Vytex Cloud pillows for years and appreciate that they are completely biodegradable at the end of useful life.

Consumers have their choice of super soft 45 density or ultra-soft 55 density for the ultimate personal comfort. Vytex Cloud Pillows have an organic cotton zip-close cover for natural airflow. Vytex Collection Cloud Pillows are now available on Amazon.com in choice of  Super Soft  and Medium firmness in Standard, Queen, King, and Body sizes.

Vytex is vastly different from traditional latex. Rubber sap that is tapped from the tree contains less than 40 percent actual rubber content, with the rest comprised of impurities (proteins, carotenoids, etc.) and waste product from the tree. Vystar’s multi-patented process removes virtually all the allergenic latex proteins and other waste to create a stronger, purer, naturally fresh smelling foam with the added advantage of years of buoyant, 90-percent-more resilient latex. Vytex has natural anti-microbial properties without the dangerous off-gassing and relatively short usable life of petrochemical laden memory foams and polyurethane foams.

Posted September 27, 2018

Source: Vystar® Corp.

BOBINGEN, Germany — September 27, 2018 — Trevira GmbH, Germany, is again participating as an exhibitor at this year’s Building Healthcare show in Dubai, from October 2-4. The manufacturer of high-value polyester fibers will present a large variety of fabrics made by 12 partners from inherently flame retardant Trevira fibers and yarns.

Modern furnishing concepts for healthcare environments are making increasing demands in terms of quality, functionality, coloring and hygiene. Perfectly matched materials and color concepts in the interior not only help to provide good orientation for the residents, but also create more attractive spaces. In addition, the use of appropriate textiles such as curtains, drapes, blinds and sliding panels, fabric-covered dividing panels, upholstery and bedding textiles, can improve the room acoustics, protect your privacy and let the room appear in a pleasant light. In healthcare environments where hygiene and cleanliness are of particular importance, antimicrobial textiles may be used.

Trevira CS® and Trevira CS Bioactive® create a safe, attractive and comfortable environment in hospitals, clinics, spas, care homes and all other sectors in the contract sector.

Trevira CS Bioactive contract textiles combine flame retardant and antimicrobial functions, which makes them the ideal material for use in healthcare facilities. They inhibit the growth of bacteria, prevent the formation of odors in/on the fiber and keep the textiles fresh for a longer time. The permanent flame retardant and bioactive properties of their fibers is integrated at molecular level, meaning that they remain unaffected by repeated washing, abrasion and ageing. This gives them an advantage over textiles with only a supplementary surface finish.

Trevira CS and Trevira CS Bioactive fabrics for the healthcare sector presented at the show stand come from these suppliers: Delius, Dina Vanelli, Fidivi Tessitura Vergnano, Gebrüder Munzert, JAB, Mattes & Ammann, Pugi, Rubelli, Rudolf Breuer Mechanische Weberei, Schmitz Textiles/drapilux, Subrenat, Verotex.

Trevira CS and Trevira CS Bioactive fabrics meet the requirements of the relevant international fire safety standards and can be certified according to the IMO regulations for the maritime sector. All Trevira fibers and yarns carry the Oekotex Standard 100 certificate. They are manufactured in accordance with the highest standards for sustainable products. A broad variety of collections with thousands of designs are available in Trevira CS worldwide.

Posted September 27, 2018

Source: Trevira GmbH

WASHINGTON — September 26, 2018 —  On September 25, President Trump announced his intention to appoint 2018-19 National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) Vice Chairman Don Bockoven to the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations (ACTPN) for a four-year term.  Bockoven is the President & CEO of Leigh Fibers and ICE Recycling, companies based in Wellford and Lake City, S.C., respectively.

“NCTO is very appreciative of this announcement. Don Bockoven is highly respected leader in the U.S. textile sector,” said NCTO President & CEO Auggie Tantillo as he thanked President Trump for his appointment of Bockoven to the ACTPN on behalf of the U.S. textile industry.

“Because the textile supply chain from fiber production to finished apparel and sewn products is very trade-sensitive, the U.S. textile industry is grateful for the opportunity to have a voice in formulating America’s trade policy,” Tantillo added, noting that nearly 40 percent of duties collected by the U.S. government are on textile-related goods.

The ACTPN is appointed by the President of the United States and is the principal trade advisory committee which provides overall policy advice on trade matters to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). Established by Congress under the Trade Act of 1974, the committee provides information and advice with respect to U.S. negotiating objectives and bargaining positions before entering into trade agreements, on the operation of any trade agreement once entered into, and on other matters arising in connection with U.S. trade policy. The ACTPN considers trade policy issues in the context of the overall national interest.

Leigh Fibers maintains over a million square feet of space dedicated to fiber reprocessing, research and development, quality control, warehousing and administration and is capable of handling over 350 million pounds of recycled fiber annually.

ICE Recycling custom designs plans for businesses to divert their waste products away from landfills, specializing in carbon footprint reduction, bailing, grinding and packaging of recyclable materials for repurposing in future manufacturing projects.

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 550,500 in 2017.
• The value of shipments for U.S. textiles and apparel was $77.9 billion in 2017.
• U.S. exports of fiber, textiles and apparel were $28.6 billion in 2017.
• Capital expenditures for textile and apparel production totaled $2.4 billion in 2016, the last year for which data is available.

Posted September 26, 2018

Source: NCTO

HOUSTON — September 26, 2018 — The investments being made to Port Houston’s channel continue to pay off. As a result of the completion of the widening and deepening of its Bayport Channel and work on what’s known as the Bayport flare, Port Houston is seeing rapid growth in the size of ships calling its container facilities.

Later this week, Port Houston is expected to receive its largest container ship to date, a 9500 twenty-foot equivalent (TEU) vessel Port Commission Chairman of the Port of Houston Authority Janiece Longoria announced Tuesday during the Port Commission regular meeting.

“This is sign of the future for the container industry and we must continue to make the investments to handle these vessels of the next generation,” Chairman Longoria said as part of her announcement. Just last week, Port Houston received an 8450 TEU vessel to Bayport.

As another example of the growing demand, in July the port recorded the largest number of container lifts on one vessel in its history at 4,800 lifts. That record has since been shattered twice, the latest being earlier this month when more than 5,700 container moves were handled on one of the port’s East Asian services.

Several items acted on the agenda by the Port Commission further illustrated a commitment to investment to meet the port’s growing demand. They included the approval to accept a request for proposals to redevelop container yards at Barbours Cut Container Terminal; a recommendation to award the planning and design of the next phase of terminal development at Bayport; and a recommendation to construct the rail spur into the Bayport container facility.

Port Houston concluded the month of August delivering strong results. Overall tonnage for the year at nearly 28 million tons reflects an 8 percent increase over last year. Steel tonnage remained steady through August, reflecting growth of 29 percent for the year. August container volume remained solid, but Executive Director Roger Guenther noted that comparisons to the same month last year at this time is skewed due to the effect of Hurricane Harvey with port operations closed for a week in August of 2017. However, year-to-date activity continues to be strong with a port-wide increase of 11 percent overall in TEU. Loaded container units are up 10 percent compared to last year.

Port Houston alone handles more than two-thirds of all U.S. Gulf container traffic. With the growth in larger ships that depend upon Houston, the importance to highlight the needs for improvements required for the Houston Ship Channel are emphasized by Port Houston’s leadership.

Before concluding, Chairman Longoria underscored some of the advocacy efforts given by Port Commission members, staff and herself to top leadership of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the greater interests of the Houston Ship Channel to stress the requirements for widening and deepening of the busiest waterway in the nation to serve our industry and maintain efficient two way traffic.

“Through our partnership with the Corps in the current Mega-Study that will conclude in 2019,” Chairman Longoria said, “We continue to highlight the need to widen the channel through the entire reach of Galveston bay to handle increasing vessel sizes, and that the economic security of our nation is dependent upon safe, two way traffic through the busiest waterway in the nation.”

Finally, Chairman Longoria proudly shared a reminder that Port Houston was once again sponsor of Breakbulk Americas Houston, Oct. 2-4. A few thousand industry leaders from across the country and around the world seeking business opportunities for Houston are expected to attend this important business networking event.

Posted September 26, 2018

Source: Port Houston