Flexsteel Announces Leadership Change

DUBUQUE, Iowa — September 11, 2018 — Flexsteel Industries Inc. announced that Karel Czanderna has retired from her positions as president, CEO and director, effective September 9, 2018.

This decision was not the result of any dispute or disagreement with the company or any matter related to the company’s operations, policies, practices, management or Board of Directors.

Jeff Bertsch, a current Board member and Flexsteel’s former senior vice president of Corporate Services has been appointed interim president. Bertsch will report to an Executive Committee of the Board, which will also help support the management of the company during this interim period until a new president and CEO is appointed. This Executive Committee is chaired by Tom Levine and includes fellow Board members: Mary Bottie, Michael Edwards, and Nancy Uridil. The Board has commenced a search for a permanent president and CEO with the assistance of a national executive search firm.

“The Board is appreciative of Karel’s contributions to Flexsteel during her over six years of service,” said Eric Rangen, Flexsteel’s chairman of the Board. “During her tenure, Karel has overseen a number of significant advancements to Flexsteel’s infrastructure and organization. The Board thanks Karel for the many contributions she made to Flexsteel.” Rangen further commented, “With his over 35 years of involvement with the Company, Jeff Bertsch is taking on the role of Interim President with the support of a strong Flexsteel senior management team, that will continue to focus on Flexsteel’s growth as one of this country’s largest furniture companies.”

Posted September 11, 2018

Source: Flexsteel Industries, Inc.

Point Blank Enterprises Company Awarded CH-53K Armor Development Contract

MIAMI LAKES, Fla. — September 11, 2018 — Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin has awarded The Protective Group (TPG), a Point Blank Enterprises company a contract to provide a high performance, light-weight crew protection kit for the new CH-53K U.S. Marine Corps King Stallion heavy-lift helicopter. The crew protection kit consists of individual ballistic panels installed beneath the cabin and ramp floor and within the cabin side frames.

The CH-53K is a dual-piloted, multi-engine, helicopter that will provide the U.S. Marine Corps with improved heavy lift capability, reduced operating costs, and state of the art interoperability. The CH-53K has been developed to be a safe, survivable, and a reliable weapon systems platform.

“Our experience in rapid development and fielding of reliable light weight aircraft survivability solutions was key to Sikorsky’s decision to select us as their CH-53K program partner,” said Mark Edwards, Executive Vice President of Business Development, Point Blank Enterprises. “We are incredibly proud that Sikorsky selected us to provide a survivability package for such an important and long term program.”

Posted September 11, 2018

Source: Point Blank Enterprises, Inc.

The Newest Release Of Lectra Fashion PLM 4.0 Gives Fashion Companies The Power Of Connectivity

PARIS — September 11, 2018 — Lectra has announced the release of its latest PLM solution, Lectra Fashion PLM 4.0. This enhanced version boasts several new features and tools that make it more readily connected and configurable, helping fashion companies work in a smarter and more agile manner in an IT-friendly environment.

Based on 45 years of experience meeting customer
needs, Lectra has identified connectivity and automation
as key to helping fashion companies achieve operational excellence in a new era marked by digitalization. For the latest version of Lectra Fashion PLM 4.0, the company has developed Lectra Easy Connect, a series of pre-configured connectors that allow the solution to interface with other IT systems such as ERP and CRM. These connectors ensure data integrity by facilitating a smooth and consistent flow of data between internal and external supply chain actors. Lectra has also enhanced connection to the design process by strengthening Adobe Illustrator integration via a new plug-in. Concretely, this means designers benefit from increased access to platform data like bitmap and PDF files and photographs, while continuing to work in their native environments. Access to consistent data stored on the platform and the freedom to work with familiar creative tools makes onboarding new designers much easier.

Lectra has enhanced the user experience by making its PLM solution highly configurable. A star feature is Lectra Easy Configure, a tool that allows users to manage and organize data according to their own profile, company organization and data structure to ensure easy and round-the-clock access. This enables companies to become more agile, as users can access and analyze their data whenever they need to, quickly and without technical hiccups. Lectra Fashion PLM 4.0 streamlines day-to-day activities via an updated interface with new search and notification functions, and a dynamic and configurable portfolio view that allows users to monitor and direct collections with the help of dynamic data display. Users can receive alerts and information about styles and materials, for example, and create to-do lists quickly and easily on a daily basis.

Finally, product developers benefit from enhanced Tech Pack management that allows them more control over how tech packs are edited, extracted and shared with other actors in the supply chain.

“We have already established Lectra Fashion PLM 4.0 as the go-to PLM solution for fashion companies in the digital era. We have entered a brave new world and ever since its launch, we have kept an open ear for our customers. By listening to their feedback and making this version more connectable and configurable, we are actually merging human and artificial intelligence to give them what they need. And they, in turn, will give their consumers the products they want,” says Céline Choussy Bedouet, chief marketing and communications officer, Lectra. “And that’s the beauty of technology.”

Posted September 11, 2018

Source: Lectra

VIVOBAREFOOT Takes Another Major Sustainability Step With Plant-based Shoes

SAN DIEGO — September 10, 2018 — On the heels of its recent Eco line release, leading global barefoot footwear company VIVOBAREFOOT announced today plans to bring a plant-based shoe range to the market. The new Primus Bio range will use a plant-based polymer — a product based on industrial field corn — in its sole and upper and will be the lightest and most environmentally-sound shoe range available to-date. The Primus Bio is Vivobarefoot’s latest step in the quest to use 90 percent sustainable materials across its entire product range by 2020.

Seventh-generation shoemakers Galahad and Asher Clark are firm believers that barefoot shoe-making is sustainable shoe making. The company has already pioneered shoes made of repurposed algae (Ultra 3 BLOOM), and an Eco range made of 50 percent recycled plastic, with 17 recycled bottles per pair. In 2017, Vivobarefoot diverted over 2 million plastic bottles from landfills into barefoot shoes.

60 percent of the outsole and 30 percent of the upper of the Primus Bio is made from Susterra® propanediol based Bio-TPU — making a shoe that we believe to be the least petroleum-reliant performance shoe in the world. Susterra Propanediol is created through a fermentation process using plant-derived glucose from the starch found in field corn and is petroleum-free, non-toxic and 100-percent USDA certified. The material gives shoes greater flexibility in the cold and is incredibly resilient to abrasions and general wear. Susterra propanediol uses 52-percent less energy than the standard petroleum-based materials used by the global footwear industry and 32-percent less greenhouse gas emissions.

“Sustainability is our journey and we believe that the perfect shoe has minimal interference with natural movement and minimal impact on the environment,” said Asher Clark, design director at Vivobarefoot. “The Primus Bio champions the future of sustainable materials which I believe will be largely bio-based. This is an exciting step in the right direction away from the single use petroleum-based alternatives commonly used in athletic footwear and every action counts in our journey of redefining the world’s relationship with environmentally-damaging materials,” added Clark.

The Primus Bio will be available to purchase from the Vivobarefoot website in 2019.

Posted September 11, 2018

Source: DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products Company, LLC

Shaw Industries Ranked Fourth On ELearning! Magazine’s 2018 Learning! 100 List

DALTON, Ga. — September 11, 2018 — Shaw Industries Group Inc., a floorcovering provider, gained national recognition as a high-achieving private sector company through ELearning! Magazine’s® The Learning! 100. Honored for the eighth-consecutive year, Shaw is the only flooring manufacturer to be recognized on the 2018 Learning! 100 List.

Contributing to the company’s high ranking is its dedication to investing in its associates by offering learning opportunities through Shaw Learning Academy (SLA). Shaw provides more than 1 million hours of training annually, offering diverse solutions and platforms to meet the various learning needs of its associates and customers. By promoting innovative thinking and utilizing high-quality learning programs, SLA allows Shaw’s associates and customers to reach their highest potential.

Shaw’s comprehensive, competency-based talent model also supports the company’s superior ranking. The talent model aligns key associate skills and behaviors to strategic business objectives, encouraging leadership development, continuous learning and innovation within the organization while imbuing associates with a sense of empowerment.

“As an associate, from the day you walk in the door to the day you retire, Shaw’s commitment to continuous learning is apparent,” said Torrance Ford, Shaw’s director of talent management. “Investing in our associates and customers through training is the Shaw Way, which enables us to not only achieve our business goals, but deliver on our vision to create a better future.”

The Learning! 100 list is comprised of 60 corporate enterprises and 40 public sector organizations that are evaluated across three criteria: Collaborative Strategies’ Collaboration Index, Darden School’s Learning Culture Index and overall organizational performance. Every submission is evaluated on the same criteria, scores are totaled and ranked to generate the Learning! 100.

Posted September 11, 2018

Source: Shaw Industries Group, Inc.

Monarch And BMSvision Join Forces To Bring Industry 4.0 To The Knitting Industry

KORTRIJK, Belgium — September 11, 2018 — Monarch, a supplier of high-end circular knitting machines and Belgium based BMSvision have entered into a cooperation agreement for the development, marketing, installation and service of a state-of-the-art Manufacturing Execution System (MES) for the circular knitting industry. The system, which is based on the proven BMSvision KnitMaster architecture, is marketed as MMS – Monarch Monitoring System.

Using the LAN interface board of the Monarch machine, all production data is automatically collected and sent to the MMS server for real-time analysis and reporting. An additional interface has been developed with the LGL feeders on the machine providing real-time information of yarn tension and yarn consumption in the MMS monitoring application. Older machines or machines from any other brand are connected by means of one of BMSvision touch screen based data collection terminals.

Powerful analysis tools allow quick identification of bottlenecks resulting in optimal usage of production capacities. In case a problem is detected on a certain machine, such as high stop level, deviation in yarn feed…, automatic alarm messages are sent to the supervisors allowing an immediate reaction and correction of the problem. Managers can build their own personalized dashboards for a quick and transparent analysis and evaluation of their KPIs.

The integrated job scheduling module automatically calculates the time needed for every single job and updates it based on real-time information such as actual speed, efficiency and stop level of the machine. By means of simple “drag & drop” functions, the planner easily assigns jobs to machines.

MMS is available in three versions: MMS Basic for machine monitoring, MMS Plus which includes also a complete scheduling software module and MMS Advanced as the full option MES system.

With this co-operation, Monarch wants to support its customers in their path to digital, paperless production and offer them customized solutions for better utilization of their machines as well as for increasing their overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).

Posted September 11, 2018

Source: BMSvision

Innovation In The Fibre World: Focus Of Talks At GFC

DORNBIRN, Austria — September 12-14, 2018 — For more than 15 years, RadiciGroup has been a constant presence at the Global Fiber Congress, the international meeting on innovation in fibers that takes place in Dornbirn, Austria.

About 700 specialists from 30 countries are taking part in the 57th edition of the event, during which over 100 lectures will take stock of the situation in the evolving fiber world, with particular emphasis on the topics of the circular economy and sustainability. Participants will also have the opportunity to explore special areas of application more in depth, for instance, the automotive sector.

“With these themes as a focus during the three days in Austria,” said Arturo Andreoni, marketing and R&D director of RadiciGroup Performance Yarn, who has been on the GFC program committee for many years, “RadiciGroup brings its experience as a manufacturer of innovative synthetic fibres that meet the needs of a continually evolving market, increasingly more demanding from a performance point of view. And the Group wants to share its circular approach to business. Our message for the entire production chain revolves around the concept of mechanical recycling: synthetic fibres, especially those with high physical-mechanical properties, can be recycled at the end of their useful life, for example, for new technical and industrial uses in the plastics field.”

Recycling is possible if polyamide production is vertically integrated. In Europe, RadiciGroup is the only manufacturer that can guarantee and has full control of its whole production process, from polymer chemicals to synthetic fibres and engineering plastics, including end-of-life recycling.

On Wednesday, 12 September, at 3.10 pm in Hall C, during the Recycling – Circular Economy session, Filippo Servalli, marketing and sustainability director of RadiciGroup, will give a talk entitled “RadiciGroup – Our approach to the Circular Economy”.

As for new products for the automotive sector, the RadiciGroup Performance Yarn Business Area offers a range of yarn increasingly in line with market needs. The products of reference are PA 6 and PA 6.10 BCF yarn, which blend lightness, durability, design, sustainability and reduced costs to meet the requirements of new trends. From electric autos to autopiloted cars, car interiors are studied in great detail with the goal of offering comfortable spaces to enjoy as entertainment centers.

“Based on our experience in the field,” Andreoni concluded, “we are convinced that PA 6 or PA 6.10 BCF tufted carpets are the best solution for the automotive industry, because they ensure quality, performance and easy maintenance with remarkable cost efficiency, thanks to the focused effort of the Performance Yarn Business Area.”

In the “Transportation and Mobility” session, on the morning of 13 September in Hall B, Piero Saragat, Product Manager – Automotive yarn of RadiciGroup Performance Yarn, will present “New trends in automotive carpeting” (11:25 am).

Posted September 11, 2018

Source: RADICIGROUP

Conquering The 3rd Dimension – Sympatex To Introduce Its Revolutionary UTMOSPHERIC™ Shoe Technology At The Lineapelle Milan Trade Show

MUNICH/UNTERFOEHRING, Germany — September 11, 2018 — Using a sophisticated, innovative process, Sympatex Technologies has developed a manufacturing technology that allows lasting three-dimensional shape forming of their laminates. Sympatex *UTMOSPHERIC™ is produced by means of a thermal moulding process, and is a liner that adapts perfectly to the shape of the foot, without seams and creases and without compromising the quality and functionality of the laminate. Combined with appropriate textiles, the sustainable polyester-based high-performance membrane from Sympatex is the perfect base material for this. Utmospheric will be presented to the general public for the first time at the Sympatex booth (Hall 22P M11-M19/N12-N20) at this year’s Lineapelle trade show (September 25-27, 2018, Milan).

With Utmospheric, the traditional process involved in producing a liner can in future be made redundant when manufacturing a waterproof outdoor shoe. Today, a shoe of this nature is pretty much expected to be not only waterproof but also breathable to ensure that your feet stay dry and comfortable even during strenuous hikes and ascents. Manufacturing the interior of such a shoe is, however, generally still a complex manual process. Since the necessary membrane-based functional laminate has until now only been available in two-dimensional form, it takes a great deal of time and effort to create a three-dimensional foot shape. At the same time, the cuts and seams required to achieve this inevitably damage the membrane, which means that water impermeability properties then have to be re-created in the final steps by means of tape. While this has been an accepted method in the industry so far, these times are now finally over. Instead, a thermally moulded three-dimensional Utmospheric liner is optimised to fit the required final shape and can directly be integrated in the existing manufacturing processes.

“It can reasonably be expected that this innovation will open up a completely new chapter in the development of outdoor shoes, as it offers significant improvements both for the manufacturer, on the process side, and for the customer, in terms of added comfort”, says Dr. Rüdiger Fox, CEO at Sympatex Technologies. “We were guided by lean principles in our innovation process, and simply refused to accept that you first have to perforate and cut up waterproof materials, only to then seal them again by means of complex handicraft”, adds Fox.

Prototype series for the first pilot customers have already been in the development phase for several weeks, and will be launched during the course of next year. Due to the overwhelming feedback, production machine development has also already been started, with a view to going into full series production by the end of 2019 at the latest. Plans for modular production facilities in the manufacturing countries are also already in place.

* UTMOSPHERIC™ = utmost + spheric

Posted September 11, 2018

Source: Sympatex Technologies GmbH

ITMA Asia + CITME 2018 Exhibitor Preview: Trützschler

MÖNCHENGLADBACH — September 10, 2018 — In Shanghai, all Trützschler divisions will exhibit current and new products on a 600 m2 area.

Highlights on the stand:

  • TD 10 The new Trützschler autoleveller draw frame – ITMA ASIA marks the launch of the new Draw Frame TD 10. It features increased compactness and has a highly modern regulating system. This results in a significant increase in control dynamics and an improvement in sliver quality.
Despite 20% less space requirement, it was possible to increase the filter once more.
The intelligent SMART CREEL in combination with T-LED offers an unprecedented level of functional reliability and more comfort for the operator and mill manager.

Digitalization and connectivity are not only catchwords at Trützschler: Machines connected to T-Data allow a real-time quality monitoring.

  • TC 15 Benchmark in productivity- A whole range of individual measures ensure performance increases compared to the predecessor machine. In addition to high productivity, the 1.28 m wide Card TC 15 stands for increased sliver evenness and improved running behaviour. Trützschler will demonstrate the high flexibility with five different sliver coiling systems on the stand.
  • TC 10 The most successful card in China – Made in China – for China. The Card TC 10 is the card for the Chinese market. This Trützschler card in the traditional working width of one metre has been specifically designed for the Chinese market.
  • T-MOVE Space saving and increased efficiency – The can filling station does more than just save space. The new moving head allows a can change at high delivery speeds. This improves card efficiency. T-MOVE is also designed for JUMBO CANS with 1,200 mm diameter.
  • T-SCAN Five technologies work hand in hand for highest separation rates – In the Foreign Part Separator T-SCAN TS-T5, five detection technologies ensure an all-time high separation efficiency:
    • F-module
    • G-module
    • P-module
    • UV-module
    • LED-module
  • IDF-Vortex – Shortened preparation system for air-jet yarns – In cooperation with the Japanese company Murata, the leading manufacturer of air-jet spinning machines, Trützschler has developed a new sliver preparation technology. When processing viscose, two of three draw frame passages can be eliminated. This represents an enormous economic advantage.
  • T-WIND Semi-automatic Surface Winder TWW-SD – Robust master roll winders are used when the production of ready-for – sale rolls is decoupled from the nonwovens production. The two-stage configuration with downstream unwinding, slitting and winding increases process stability. The Surface Winder TWW-SD provides an appropriate solution for spunlace systems, for a variety of thermal bonding processes as well as for technical nonwovens. Winding of master rolls up to 1,800 mm diameter and system speeds up to 300 m/min can be realized.
  • GX1 The cylinder clothing that no longer requires grinding – The new GX1 clothing has been specifically developed for all spinning processes in the area of cotton. Improved fibre guidance results in less short fibre content and significantly better nep separation. The clothing is basically maintenance-free, but can also be ground when required.
  • NOVOTOP 30 The very special flat clothing – The flat clothing NOVOTOP 30 has been newly developed for the processing of coarse and/or dyed fibers and reclaimed fibers for rotor spinning.
It is ideally suited for use with yarn counts below Ne 10 and realises high production speeds. The flat type NT 30 is available as MAGNOTOP and CLASSICTOP.

Posted September 11, 2018

Source: Trützschler

Teijin Frontier To Participate In Première Vision Paris

TOKYO — September 10, 2018 — Teijin Frontier Co. Ltd., the Teijin Group’s fibers and products converting company, announced today that it will participate in Première Vision Paris, a major global event for fashion industry professionals that will be held in Paris from September 19 to 21.

The “TEIJINTEX® by TEIJIN FRONTIER” (stand 6G22-6H29) will feature mainly two top-quality materials — SOLOTEX and DELTAPEAK — along with displays of eco-friendly materials and high-functional fabric in daily use for Autumn/Winter.

Exhibits will include:

  • Solotex is a polytrimethylene terephthalate fiber that is soft, stretchable, shape-retaining, dimensionally stable and brightly colored owing to its spring-like molecular structure. Several versions will be presented, including shape memory fabric and wool like fabric. Partially bio-derived Solotex is an environmentally friendly choice for next-generation clothing.
  • Deltapeak is a next-generation polyester fabric that combines excellent physical properties with high levels of functionality and quality. Thanks to its dense, flat-knit surface, Deltapeak is a wonderfully multifunctional material that has been adopted by a range of global sports-apparel brands. 4-dimentional bulky Deltapeak and a new Deltapeak two-in-one sweat-suit fabric that combines water-repelling and sweat-absorbing property are new line in the Deltapeak series. They are an excellent choice as a high-performance material for a wide range of applications including casual, athleisure and more.

Première Vision Paris, held twice yearly, is expecting to attract some 60,000 visitors and over 1,900 exhibiting companies from 57 countries this year. Teijin Frontier, which will mark its seventh appearance in the show, aims to further raise its profile and continue expanding its market, mainly in Europe.

Posted September 10, 2018

Source: Teijin Ltd.

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