Swiftwick Unveils Newest Performance Sock Additions For Spring

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — May 2, 2019 — Swiftwick, a performance sock company with the “Best Sock You Will Ever Wear” guarantee, announced that it has added 20 new styles to three products in its popular VISION™ line for spring. The new lineup is a continuation of Swiftwick’s mission to empower life’s adventures.

Swiftwick launched seven new styles to its VISION performance socks. New styles include VISION One Flash and Morse available in a one inch cuff height, VISION Five Elevate, Dimension and Pixel available in a five inch cuff height, and VISION Seven Pixel and Atom available in a seven inch cuff height.

The all-new VISION Impression design features VISION’s core technologies with seven new printed styles that include the Splash, Prism, Spokes and Deco styles in a five inch cuff height, and the Alloy, Canvas and Rise styles in a seven inch cuff height.

Swiftwick is also paying homage to favorite locales with the new VISION Tribute series that features spirited designs for the United States in one inch and five inch cuff heights, as well as styles for select states in a five inch cuff height.

Swiftwick’s VISION performance socks are designed with durable, high-performance fibers that protect feet, as well as moisture-wicking technology that keeps feet dry and prevents blisters. VISION offers a moderate compression fit and medium cushion for fitted support and comfort. Plus, Swiftwick strives to give back to the community one sock at a time by giving a percentage of sales from all VISION socks to charitable initiatives.

“Our VISION socks are a mix of the technology expected from Swiftwick with unique colors and patterns many of our customers desire,” said Chuck Smith, Swiftwick president. “We’re especially excited about the Vision Impression collection, which is the market launch of our new 360 printing technology. We took extra time in launching printed socks to ensure they lived up to our technical standards and delivered on our ‘Best Sock You Will Ever Wear’ guarantee. This new technology gives us added flexibility to push what is possible with patterns and colors.”

Posted May 2, 2019

Source: Swiftwick

ITMA 2019 Exhibitor Preview: imogo

LIMHAMN, Sweden — May 2, 2019 — imogo is a new Swedish company formed by a team with long experience in textile processing technology. It is now boldly aiming to change the face of the textile manufacturing industry with its new Dye-Max spray dyeing technology, to be introduced to the market at ITMA 2019 in Barcelona.

While still at the prototype stage, and with a first full-scale line currently under construction and due to be demonstrated this Autumn before delivery, the DyeMax nevertheless promises to slash the use of fresh water, waste water, energy and chemicals by as much as 90 percentcompared to conventional jet dyeing systems.

Spray cassettes

Its application unit consists of a closed chamber containing a series of spray cassettes with precision nozzles for accurate and consistent coverage, in combination with the patented imogo pro speed valve that controls the volume to be applied. The chamber is equipped with an exhaust system and droplet separator to ensure that the environment around the unit is free from particles.

“The spray cassettes are a key part in the Dye-Max line,” explained Imogo’s founding partner Per Stenflo. “There is one set of spray cassettes for each of the three separate dye dispersion feed lines and they can be easily exchanged without the need for tools in less than a minute. This allows for extremely fast changeovers between different colours without the need for cleaning. And because the spray cassettes are removable, all maintenance can be performed off line.

After applying the dye dispersion the fabric is rolled onto a shaft and moved to the autoclave for deep dye fixation via heat and pressure.”

The savings in treatment water the Dye-Max achieves are due to the extremely low liquor ratio of 0.5 liters per kilo of fabric Stenflo adds.

“At the same time, the low liquor ratio and the spray process require considerably less auxiliary chemistry to start with, and all of it is used in the process, which also greatly reduces the production of waste water, with only 20 liters being required for wash at changeovers. The low liquid content in the fabric meanwhile minimizes the energy needed for fixation.”

The Dye-Max has a working speed of up to 50m/min with the practical speed determined by the fabric weight and application volume.

Mini-Max

The application volumes and speeds can be pre-determined by running tests in the Mini-Max laboratory unit.

“With the Mini-Max it is possible to run miniature production tests to set the precise colour recipe,” Stenflo explains. “This frees up valuable production time by avoiding wasteful pre-runs. The user simply sets the recipe with the Mini-Max and transfers the parameters to the Dye-Max recipe database for the system to be fully production ready.”

Imogo is partnering with fellow Swedish company ACG Kinna to build the first Dye-Max line and will be present at the ACG Kinna Automatic stand at ITMA 2019 (H3 D239) from Sunday 23rd June onwards.

“We have conducted full testing of the system at the University of Borås here in Sweden and we have been more than satisfied with the quality which has been achieved,” Stenflo concludes. “There can be no doubt that the textile industry will transition to more sustainable production processes and it’s not a question of if this will happen, but what will replace the current established process technologies and how quickly new solutions will be accepted.

“There is often a hesitancy to be a pioneer in adopting and advocating new technology due to the risks involved, and government regulations and consumer pressure are still necessary to force brands and producers to adopt new technology. It is the willing pioneers, however, with whom we hope to have fruitful discussions at ITMA 2019.”

Posted May 2, 2019

Source: imogo AB

Techtextil 2019 Exhibitor Preview: Uster

USTER, Switzerland — May 2, 2019 — Technical textiles is the most quality-sensitive sector of the entire industry, and many products for specialized and performance end-uses are at the highest level of this requirement. For ultimate control and security of quality, fabric manufacturers need a top technology solution which takes the guesswork out of producing the quality their customers need. That’s where the USTER® EVS automated fabric inspection systems offer enormous benefits, proven in numerous installations worldwide – and presented at upcoming Techtextil.

Automated visual fabric inspection is an essential asset in optimizing quality for a wide range of technical textiles and performance apparel. Applications in architecture, automotive, construction, hazard protection, medicine, aviation and aerospace have some of the most stringent quality criteria. But fabrics for furnishings, sports and functional clothing must also meet the perfect standards that major brands need to uphold their reputation and satisfy customer expectations.

All fabric producers aim to deliver the quality their customers specify, while also minimizing scrap and seconds to protect their own efficiency and profitability. The different fabric production and finishing processes contain plenty of opportunities for fabric faults to arise. USTER’s automated fabric inspection system bring quality under control, regardless of the complexities of the manufacturing stages. Fallible human judgment and varying levels of operative ability and experience are no longer critical to the production of consistent, reliable quality. Accurate automatic quality control becomes an integral part of manufacturing.

Early-stage control with Uster EVS Q-BAR eliminates the need for manual inspection after production. Uster EVS FABRIQ VISION ensures reliable monitoring, using automated control during intermediate and final inspection. The system’s ability to capture any visible faults – with a proven and consistently high rate of defect detection – and its optimized fabric grading protect the producer from the risk of damaging claims.

Dyed fabrics present the particular extra challenge of color uniformity. Uster EVS FABRIQ SHADE has the solution, monitoring in-line shade variation in virtually any process where color is critical, without the need to cut fabric swatches for laboratory tests.

Optimizing profit

Automatic fabric inspection is the way to achieve optimum quality, to reduce below-par and scrap fabrics and to maximize fabric yield. The cut optimization software module of Uster EVS FABRIQ VISION and Uster EVS FABRIQ SHADE optimizes fabric yield per class, according to the settings. The system works by marking any defects in the fabric during inspection. The position of each defect is synchronized with Optimized Cut Control (OCC), which stops the cutting table at precisely the right place, guaranteeing error-free cutting. OCC can also identify and highlight defects which require operator action, making the process more efficient.

Only one operator is needed to oversee the entire production, reviewing defects and rejecting or accepting them. The system is self-learning, reducing unnecessary alarms over time. The operator sends the fabric roll, with its defect report, to the cutting station, where faults can be marked, mended or removed as required. This saves time, as the operator has only to manage roll processing, rather than actually inspecting the fabric.

Proven results

Uster EVS automatic fabric inspection technology is founded on more than 25 years of pioneering development in the field. Today, more than 1,000 installations in wide-ranging textile segments worldwide acknowledge it as the key to cost savings and enhanced market competitiveness.

Uster EVS customers currently inspect over 60 million meters of fabric per day. Many companies which installed EVS lines in the mid-Nineties have recently upgraded their automatic fabric inspection systems with Uster EVS FABRIQ VISION and Uster EVS FABRIQ SHADE.

Some users have provided valuable feedback on major benefits of the systems. A German fabric finisher reports that in the first six months after installation of Uster EVS FABRIQ VISION, it was able to produce 1.2 million meters of fabric without a single customer claim. Another firm, a European leader in protective clothing, purchased two systems of Uster EVS FABRIQ VISION and Uster EVS FABRIQ SHADE in 2017. As well as reducing claims, the company also managed to decrease labor costs by saving 14 operators.

An Italian customer installed Uster EVS FABRIQ VISION and Uster EVS FABRIQ SHADE alongside automatic cutting and packaging machines, replacing manual inspection. Within three years, off-quality and scrap decreased by more than 3 percent

For more details and to discuss individual requirements, interested parties are recommended to meet the experts at Techtextil. Fabric producers and finishers are welcome to present booth staff with any challenges regarding automatic fabric inspection at the forthcoming event, in Frankfurt, Germany, from May 14-17. The Uster EVS Q-BAR, as well as other members of the Uster EVS fabric inspection family, will be presented. Visit Uster at booth D05 in Hall 3.0, together with German agent Elmatex.

Posted May 2, 2019

Source: Uster Technologies Ltd.

ITMA 2019 Exhibitor Preview: Kelheim Fibres

KELHEIM, Germany — May 2, 2019 — After a large fire in October 2018, the long-established Bavarian fiber manufacturer Kelheim Fibres is currently rebuilding the heart of its viscose fiber production. In the process, the focus lies on modern state-of-the-art equipment and particularly on resource-saving and environmentally friendly production technology. 
Kelheim’s viscose specialty fibers consist of 100-percent cellulose, a renewable raw material, and are therefore completely biodegradable. These fibers offer an eco-friendly alternative to mineral-oil-based fibers, in particular for end products — like many nonwovens or hygiene applications — intended for convenient one-time use.

Kelheim’s specialty fibers for this area include not only the well-known fiber Galaxy®, the world’s leading viscose fiber for the tampon production, but also short cut fibers that have been specifically designed for processing in modern wet laid plants. These fibers enable the manufacturing of completely plastic-free and even flushable wipes from 100-percent cellulose.

In textiles, too, consumers value natural materials. Kelheim’s range of specialty fibers for textile applications comprises spun-dyed fibers, as well as the renowned brand names VILOFT® and VISETA®:
 In yarns, the flat fiber VILOFT creates small air pockets, that make the textile highly breathable and comfortable — an ideal fiber for warm, close-to-the-skin feel-good clothes.

VISETA is 50-percent finer than silk and gives clothes a flowing drape and a soft and naturally luxurious touch. Kelheim Fibres will present these and more viscose specialty fibers at ITMA in hall H3 at stand no. D213.

Posted May 2, 2019

Source: Kelheim Fibres GmbH

DyStar® Intensifies Interaction With Brands At Performance Days In Munich

SINGAPORE — May 2, 2019 — DyStar®, a  dyestuff and solution provider, for the first time will use the Performance Days in Munich May 8-9 as a platform to showcase its innovative new products and processes, partly developed in collaboration with selected partners.

Located at Hall C6, Booth P08, show visitors will have a chance to participate in several workshops that allow direct interaction with the specialists from DyStar Group on environmental and technical solutions to improve efficiency and significantly reduce waste of valuable resources.

The workshop on the Cadira® Polyester module, for example, will highlight that reductions of 50 percent water usage and more than 40 percent of energy consumption are possible with optimized processing.

As a market leading supplier of high-quality water-based inks for digital printing, DyStar will present their renowned Jettex® reactive, acid, disperse and vat ink ranges that enable digital printers to achieve digital prints with high fastness levels, outstanding depth and sustainable processing results.

Being fully committed to sustainability, DyStar will leverage on the Performance Days fair to reach out to more brands and retailers with similar goals for potential collaboration in the areas of color, color inspiration, communication and realization tools.

Two of the five workshops conducted per day will also highlight examples of successful collaborations that provided innovation and efficiency to the textile industry.

Experts from LENZING™ will present Lenzing Lyocell, a sustainable cellulosic fiber that provides innovative solutions for workwear.

Additionally, Datacolor® will present the new ColorReader Pro, a new Ultra-Portable Color Measurement Tool for the textile and apparel industry.

DyStar cordially invites you to Performance Days Functional Fabrics Fair, where the latest trends in fabric development for the functional textile industry will be showcased.

Posted May 2, 2019

Source: The DyStar Group

SGL Carbon Enters Into Partnership With The UK’s National Composites Centre

WIESBADEN, Germany — May 2, 2019 — The UK’s National Composites Centre (NCC) and SGL Carbon have entered into a new partnership to jointly develop future composite technologies for different applications in aerospace, transportation, as well as oil & gas. A development area is the improvement of material utilization for primary and secondary structure components.

To this end, the two partners are currently setting up a development program for the advanced processing of carbon fiber-based textiles like Non-Crimp Fabrics (NCF) at the NCC’s research and technology facility in Bristol. Over the course of this year, they will produce demonstrator components and prototypes of new composite airplane wings using NCF materials based on carbon fibers from SGL Carbon. The fabrics are developed for efficient processing of composite components and are produced at the SGL Carbon site in Wackersdorf, Germany. The carbon fibers used are being produced by SGL Carbon in their UK manufacturing site at Muir of Ord, in the Scottish Highlands and their Moses Lake site in the USA.

Andreas Wüllner, president of Composites – Fibers & Materials of SGL Carbon, said: “The NCC is a highly experienced partner driving future composite concepts, especially in the aerospace industry. We are glad to join the UK centre for strategic projects and to become a member of the NCC. With the partnership, we generate knowhow around efficient usage of composite materials and technologies. Furthermore, we will strengthen our footprint in the UK with the new office at the NCC.”

Richard Oldfield, CEO of the National Composites Centre: “We are delighted that SGL Carbon has joined the NCC’s rapidly growing innovation network. We share a commitment to technical excellence and a bold vision for the potential future applications of carbon fiber technology. We are looking forward to welcoming the SGL Carbon team to our Bristol technology centre to start, what we believe will be, a series of successful and ground-breaking innovation programs.”

SGL Carbon has many years of experience in carbon fibers and composite materials covering the entire value chain — from precursor, carbon fibers, textiles, and pre-impregnated materials to finished components made from fiber-reinforced plastics. As a reliable and innovative partner to its customers, SGL uses this experience to offer tailored composite solutions across industries helping not only to produce lighter components, but also boost performance thanks to greater durability of individual components or improved overall architectures.

Posted May 2, 2019

Source: SGL Carbon SE

Making Quality Of Nonwovens Measurable — Hanwha Advanced Materials Germany Gmbh Utilizes Mahlo Quality Control

SAAL/DONAU, Germany — May 2, 2019 — Hanwha Advanced Materials Germany GmbH has broken new ground with an inhouse nonwoven production facility for its components. In order to optimize the production processes, the manufacturer of high-performance materials uses a quality measuring system from Mahlo.

The headquarters of Hanwha Advanced Materials Germany GmbH is located in the heart of Bavaria, in the Sieben-Täler town of Dietfurt. The manufacturer of high-quality, acoustically effective solutions for automotive engineering belongs to the Korean Hanwha Group, a conglomerate with around 60,000 employees worldwide and a turnover of $55 billion. The German site currently employs around 250 people who, as Tier 1 suppliers (direct suppliers) for all well-known German automotive manufacturers, primarily produce acoustically effective components such as vehicle underbody panels and textile wheel arch liners. The multilayer structure of the vehicle parts, typical for Hanwha, ensures that noise generated by splash water and road surface is minimised. Up to seven different material layers are required for the desired result. This demands a lot from production.

Own nonwoven fabric ensures top quality

“The particular challenge with textile wheel arch liners is to achieve high acoustic absorption without neglecting robust mechanical requirements,” explained Martin Hering, head of materials development at Hanwha. In order to offer customers maximum quality, Hanwha already wanted to influence the use of materials, Hering continues. Therefore, it was decided to produce its own nonwovens in order to guarantee top quality from the very first fibre. For this project, the Hanwha managers were also looking for a partner who could help make the production processes as reliable and efficient as possible. They came across Mahlo GmbH + Co KG in Saal an der Donau less than 50 kilometers from the company’s site. The traditional company from Lower Bavaria is known for its high-quality systems for measuring and controlling important quality parameters for web materials. With the Qualiscan QMS-12 quality measuring system, Mahlo not only presented the perfect solution for Hanwha – the corporate culture of the two companies also fits together.

Hanwha was founded in 1952 after the Korean War with the ambitious goal of reviving the economy of the battered country. Seven years earlier, the engineer Dr. Heinz Mahlo laid the foundation stone for Mahlo GmbH with his “electrotechnical workshops”. Both companies have continuously developed over the past decades and have written unparalleled success stories. Hanwha has integrated more and more areas into the group and thus developed into a global corporation. The most recent addition was Hanwha Advanced Materials Germany GmbH in 2015. In addition to market leadership in the field of automatic textile straightening systems, Mahlo has also assumed a leading position in process and quality control and expanded this position over the years. The accumulated know-how and experience of the machine manufacturer convinced his partner in this case as well. “The system impresses with its reliability and variability as well as simple operation and integration into the production line,” describes Hering.

In order to reliably meet the requirements of the automotive sector, Hanwha has set itself high standards for the process. This means that very narrow tolerance limits are used in production. In nonwoven production as a preliminary stage for the forming process of textile wheel arch liners, the nonwoven normally consists of a mixture of PP and PET fibers. “Here, in addition to the primary determination of the material mixture and the fiber use, the design of the carding machine and the needling technique influence the final nonwoven product,” explains the head of material development. The possibility of minimizing product fluctuations in the company’s own production helps to achieve low reject rates in the subsequent process steps.

Minimize process fluctuations – optimize lateral profile

Mahlo’s experts have installed a Qualiscan QMS-12 quality measurement system with the Gravimat DFI sensor, tailored to Hanwha’s needs, to determine the basis weight of the nonwoven blend. This allows the supplier to determine whether the longitudinal and transverse profiles of the goods comply with the specifications. “We installed our Webpro M measuring frame at the point in the line after the webs were laid crosswise and continued into the needling machine,” describes Mahlo sales manager Thomas Höpfl. The integrated Gravimat DFI sensor traverses the running web continuously. A multi-channel receiver with double ionization chamber evaluates the incoming measuring radiation and determines the basis weight of the fabric by exact calculation of the measured values. Due to the optimized sensor design, temperature fluctuations in the measuring gap and the position of the web in the measuring gap (pass-line effect) have no influence on the measured value or can be compensated. The recorded measurement data is transmitted via an interface to adapt the incoming profile in the needle machine. Höpfl is certain: “To obtain such a uniform product is only possible with our device. This is because not only is the weight determined in the longitudinal direction, but an even lateral profile is also ensured.”

The results also convince those responsible at Hanwha. “The Mahlo QMS helps to ensure continuous product monitoring in nonwoven production,” says Hering. In this way, one can reliably monitor and control whether the specified basis weight is adhered to. “As a result, the reject rate is consistently at a very low level. But it wasn’t just the machine performance that convinced the global player. “Due to the Korean mentality, Hanwha is not only interested in short-term decisions, but also in long-term planning,” says Hering. Mahlo’s service principle fits the concept perfectly. The service center can be reached 365 days a year. The Team Viewer Tool makes it possible to remotely assess the condition of the Mahlo system, locate errors, update software or perform data backups. This allows problems to be solved quickly and without travel costs. “Thanks to the high degree of in-house production, we can ensure a supply of spare parts well beyond the specified periods,” adds Höpfl.

The high demands that Hanwha places on its own products were also evident in the Mahlo systems. “The system reliably supplies exactly the data that we need to optimize our production processes.” This creates the best conditions for a long-term, successful business relationship.

Posted May 2, 2019

Source: Mahlo GmbH + Co. KG

Bulk Apparel Is Revolutionizing The Wholesale Apparel Industry

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — May 1, 2019 — The innovative ideas and prowess of Bulk Apparel’s business model are positioning the apparel wholesaler as a new industry leader. Bulk Apparel is not a rookie in the wholesale T-shirt industry. They distribute popular blank T-shirts, sweatshirts, polos, athletic clothing, and much more. Because of the perfect blend of cutting-edge technology, unbeatable prices, and constant stock of all possible colors and sizes, Bulk Apparel is the ideal wholesale clothing distributor for men, women, and kids.

When it comes to distributing highly demanded products like Gildan 5000, Bella Canvas 3001, and Next Level 3600, apparel wholesaling is a competitive industry. But that doesn’t mean the industry doesn’t have plenty of areas to provide an elevated shopping experience to retailers. According to Bulk Apparel, “we specialize in industries from retail stores to gyms and screen printers, to schools that need to buy spirit wear by the hundreds.”

So how is Bulk Apparel different from the competition? Their goal is to “make buying apparel in large quantities accessible, easy, and intuitive,” and they have done just that. By integrating proprietary software, Bulk Apparel displays the available inventory in real time. This means customers won’t be able to place orders if there isn’t inventory to support it. With 12 warehouses strategically located across the USA, Bulk Apparel is able to deliver orders in 1-2 business days. Not only does Bulk Apparel offer a stress-free buying experience through its innovative and easy-to-use website, but it also provides the lowest prices on the market on all the top brands.

To top it off, Bulk Apparel caters to large orders and offers free shipping on bulk purchases.

Posted May 1, 2019

Source: Bulk Apparel

Brooks Running Announces Partnership With International Front Runners

SEATTLE — May 1, 2019 — Brooks Running Co. and International Front Runners — the global network of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ+) running clubs — today announced a two-year partnership to promote inclusion in running. Together, the two organizations will support the growth of Front Runners clubs in cities beginning in the U.S. and Canada, inviting more runners to join the community and experience the power of the run.

International Front Runners, which began in San Francisco in the 1970s, is one of the oldest and largest LGBTQ+ athletic organizations in the world. It is today comprised of more than 110 running clubs in 20 countries including the U.S., South Africa, Germany, China and beyond.

“I’m very proud Brooks is partnering with International Front Runners. We have always believed running is the most inclusive sport ever known — all are welcome. That’s why we’re excited to work with International Front Runners to cultivate opportunities to celebrate and support the LGBTQ+ running community,” said Brooks Running CEO Jim Weber. “International Front Runners has a strong reputation of creating community for runners and using the run to build bridges; their history and tradition are impactful, and we look forward to furthering their mission.”

As part of the partnership, Brooks and International Front Runners will work collaboratively to find and fund opportunities with local clubs to enable more runners to experience the run and take part in the Front Runners community; examples include hosting membership drives and community fun runs, organizing local events, and more. Brooks will provide donations this year and next, beginning with support for its hometown club, Seattle Front Runners. Donations will be announced on a rolling basis through 2020.

“Brooks Running has always encouraged the world to Run Happy and this remarkable partnership extends that message to the LGBTQ+ community. We are elated to have the support from such an inspiring brand to elevate representation for LGBTQ+ runners and walkers around the globe to highlight diversity in athletics,” said Danny Luong, president of International Front Runners.

In celebration of the partnership with Front Runners, Brooks will debut a limited-edition Run Proud Collection of apparel and accessories featuring designs that honor LGBTQ+ runners and champion the inclusivity of running. The collection, which launches May 15, gives runners a way to express themselves and the value of inclusion throughout the year.

Posted May 1, 2019

Source: Brooks Running Company

Morbern’s New Surf And Bayside Are Made For Water, Sun And Fun

HIGH POINT, N.C. — May 1, 2019 — Surf and Bayside are apt names for two new vinyls from Morbern designed to handle all the challenges that long exposure to sun and water bring. These durable, colorful, high performance products work just as well in contract and hospitality settings as they do in the marine applications for which they were designed.

Both Surf and Bayside employ Morbern’s Splash construction, a pink-stain resistant vinyl formulation, the gold standard in the marine industry. With UV protection, crack resistance and 4-way stretch, they are ideal materials for boat interiors and exteriors. While originally designed for the marine market, the wide range of colors, excellent tailorability and significant wear resistance make them a great choice for contract interiors as well.

They can handle the weather with their mildew resistance, 1,000 hours of exposure under WeatherOmeter testing, and a cold crack rating of -25 degrees Fahrenheit. And this product handles 100,000 double rubs without significant wear.

Bayside

Bayside features a smooth, matte linen grain in a range of 28 colors including a wide range of neutrals plus rich, rustic and earthy shades of reds, blues, yellows and greens.

Surf

The wavy lines in Surf’s deeply grained surface mimic the flow of the sea. The matte finish keeps it feeling casual, as do the 23 colorways in a palette of neutrals plus earthy reds, greens, oranges and blues.

Posted May 1, 2019

Source: Morbern

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