COLUMBUS, Ohio — November 5, 2018 — Under a grant from the Office of Naval Research, Battelle will launch the Manufacturing & Engineering Externship Program to place teachers in two states inside manufacturing and engineering businesses to create new problem-based lessons for their classrooms. The $1.03 million award funds stipends to educators and recruitment through the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network and Ohio STEM Learning Network.

An initial pilot group of Tennessee teachers will test the program during the summer of 2019. Full recruitment in Tennessee begins the 2019-2020 school year. Ohio educators will join the following year. In total, the program will reach 160 educators.

“Great educators work constantly to bring connections to the world outside of the classroom into their teaching,” said Aimee Kennedy, senior vice president for Education and Philanthropy at Battelle. “With this award, teachers will find and share new connections between academic content and real-world solutions.”

Over the course of the externship experience, each teacher will embed at a local manufacturing or engineering business. Following their experiences at their industry host site, the teacher will design and pilot a new problem-based learning experience for students. Battelle will support participating teachers with year-long training on problem-based learning. The program was designed to address the growing skills gap in STEM industries, with a focus on the advanced manufacturing field.

“Bridging the gap between the demands of industry and the content and skills taught in the classroom is the key to developing a robust manufacturing workforce,” said Denise Rice, director of the Tennessee Manufacturer’s Association. “Through the unique Project Based Learning approach, Battelle will ensure that students are exposed to the manufacturing technologies and develop the problem-solving skills and careers interests to successfully pursue post-secondary manufacturing opportunities.”

The Office of Naval Research issued the award to Battelle Education, a nonprofit subsidiary of Battelle, created to drive innovation in education. Battelle Education and the STEM networks support Battelle’s commitment to quality STEM education.

Posted November 5, 2018

Source: Battelle

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. — November 5, 2018 — Serge Ferrari has launched its 2019 collection for two of its sling mesh fabrics: Batyline® Duo and Batyline® Iso. The company consulted with European designers and color experts to produce a more sophisticated and trend-setting color palette compatible with all design styles. The 28 colors of the Batyline Duo range and the 31 colors of the Batyline Iso range are now stocked and available in the Pompano Beach, Fla., warehouse.

Batyline Iso is Serge Ferrari’s original sling fabric and a standard in the industry for the last 30 years. Coated high-tenacity polyester yarns are threaded one in warp and one in weft for a square-weave pragmatic construction. Most fabrics in the Batyline Iso range continue to use a single color in the weave to further accentuate the simplicity. The 2019 collection is the first launch in the range to offer a two-color weave. Raffia, in green and white, and Mist, in blue and white, offer a checkered pattern within a simple construction.

Batyline Duo provides a fabric with more complexity and artistry. Colorists carefully chose two or three colors per fabric and these coated high-tenacity polyester yarns are woven one thread in warp and two in weft. The result is a distinctive, more complex look with three dimensional depth. The Twist range creates even more interest and depth by twisting the threads for a random weave, speckled effect. Serge Ferrari has pushed the envelope to create unique works of art: Duck combines brown, blue and teal; Avocado combines both a light and dark green with beige; Cruise combines blue and dark grey.

“Designers and furniture manufacturers that have previewed this collection are very excited”, says Laurent Pellequer, market manager for Furniture and Hospitality. “Innovative designers are asking for innovative fabrics. Our team has worked hard to deliver this.”

Posted November 5, 2018

Source: Serge Ferrari

STONY BROOK, N.Y — November 5, 2018 — Results of a new study published in the September/October 2018 issue of the AATCC Review confirmed that DNA molecular tagging is an effective tool to authenticate denim and maintains its integrity even after exposed to the rigors of bleaching and abrasion.

The study was conducted by: Applied DNA Sciences Inc. and the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). It was published in the AATCC Review, a highly regarded publication of the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists.

At the FIT labs in New York, denim swatches were treated with unique DNA molecular tags produced by Applied DNA, then subjected to stone and bleach washings. The samples were then analyzed at Applied DNA’s laboratories in Stony Brook, where it was proven that the DNA tags remained intact and suitable for high quality forensic scale analysis. Based on the observed stability, DNA tags of this kind may soon be ready for testing at a full manufacturing facility to verify the authenticity of the finished denim garment.

“This technology will enable brands and manufacturers to track their fibers from the farm through to the finished product, allowing for a more transparent supply chain. Traceability can also help verify certain sustainability claims about commodities and products, helping ensure good practices and respect for people and the environment in supply chains,” Sean Cormier, FIT Assistant Professor, Textile Development and Manufacturing.

“A denim fabric was chosen because it is a unique product, distinguished by its washed styles and distressed look,” said Dr. James A. Hayward, president and CEO of Applied DNA Sciences. “Denim jeans are typically exposed to a stone and bleach wash, which is the harshest type of treatment made to any apparel product. If we could identify our DNA markers after this type of wash, we believe any cotton product could be identified at any stage in the supply chain.”

Applied DNA has developed a technology to produce small DNA fragments or identifiers on an industrial scale. Purified enzymes are used to manufacture DNA fragments, each one containing enough information to be used as a DNA-bead or “molecular bar code,” much like an ordinary ink bar code on a label. DNA tags are applied during the cotton ginning phase, enabling the fiber to be tracked and authenticated throughout the entire supply chain.

There has been a lack of commercially available test methods to determine where denim fibers were grown. This is a concern to manufacturers, as global counterfeiting continues to escalate — rising from $1.2 trillion in 2017 to an anticipated $1.82 trillion by 2020 (Global Brand Counterfeiting Report 2018). The denim authentication problem is significant since most American cotton, including Upland cotton used to produce denim, is shipped overseas and combined with other cotton where it can lose its identity.

“The denim study has opened the door to a world of possibilities,” Hayward added. “These results suggest that it is now possible to assign several unique DNA molecular tags to any cotton product, regardless of finish. Future projects will tag cotton intended for denim use, as well as other premium fibers such as wool, cashmere, as well as man-made fibers like viscose, nylon, recycled polyester and also biobased fibers and recycled materials,” he explained.

Posted November 5, 2018

Source: Applied DNA Sciences

CINCINNATI — November 5, 2018 — Standard Textile Co. Inc. announced today it has reached an agreement to acquire the global hospitality business of Mascioni S.p.A., Italy, including the Mascioni Hotel Collection brand. The Mascioni Hotel Collection brand markets bed, bath, table and spa products to luxury hotel properties worldwide. The acquisition of the Mascioni global hospitality business advances Standard Textile’s strategy of expanding its leadership position in the hospitality market globally and positions the company for future growth.

Gary Heiman, president and CEO of Standard Textile said: “We are pleased to acquire the Mascioni hospitality business. The Mascioni Hotel Collection brand embodies the notable craftsmanship and innovative artistry of Mascioni, one of Italy’s leading textile design and finishing manufacturers. The Mascioni Hotel Collection broadens our brand portfolio to satisfy the characteristics and values of today’s luxury hotel customer.”

Francesco Russo, CDO of Mascioni said: “Since Mascioni’s founding in 1957, the company has gained a strong worldwide reputation for creating luxury quality linens. We believe Standard Textile’s strong distribution network in North America and globally will accelerate the growth of the Mascioni hospitality business and the Mascioni Hotel Collection brand.”

Standard Textile indicated there will be a design and supply agreement with Mascioni to provide the company an opportunity to manufacture products through Mascioni in Italy along with Standard Textile’s global manufacturing infrastructure.

“This partnership and complete control of our entire supply chain allows us to innovate at each stage of the process, ensuring consistency in superior quality and service,” Heiman said. “The Mascioni Hotel Collection offers luxury properties the distinguished products desired by guests, supported by a robust global manufacturing and distribution network.”

Heiman noted the Mascioni Hotel Collection will continue to operate as an independent brand with headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio. The transaction is expected to close in November 2018.

Standard Textile entered the hospitality market with products exclusively engineered to address the needs and desires of hoteliers, from limited to full-service, boutique, lifestyle and luxury. The company supplies linen to many of the world’s largest, most recognizable hotel brands.

Standard Textile has also executed a license agreement with Mascioni that provides Standard Textile the exclusive right to manufacture, market, and sell Mascioni branded products in the U.S. consumer market.

Posted November 5, 2018

Source: Standard Textile Co. Inc.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — November 2, 2018 — Dempsey Uniform and Linen Supply, headquartered in Jessup, Pa., and serving the mid-Atlantic and Northeastern parts of the United States, has been recertified Clean Green, reflecting the company’s dedication to standards for operational efficiency and sustainability. The certification quantifies linen, uniform and facility services’ environmentally friendly performance by confirming an operation launders within TRSA-designated water and energy use thresholds; and verifies use of best management practices (BMPs) in line with the ASTM International environmental laundering standard.

Dempsey Uniform and Linen Supply’s customers can be assured its reusable healthcare textiles are washed, dried and finished with processes that maximize sustainability and reduce greenhouse emissions. Clean Green certified operations demonstrate significant commitment to conservation and green operations through these BMPs:

• Recovering heat from drained hot water and heat dispersed from the process of warming water;
• Recapturing drained water from rinses for reuse;
• Using environmentally friendly detergents;
• Removing solids and liquids from wastewater;
• Solar energy and energy-efficient lighting;
• Recycling programs;
• Re-routing trucks to save vehicle fuel; and
• Spill prevention plans.

Dempsey Uniform and Linen Supply earned Clean Green certification initially in 2015. The designation is valid for three years at a time. TRSA inspects laundry facilities seeking certification and approves documentation of their water and energy use and BMP deployment through production reports they submit to auditors during the inspections. TRSA’s certification management protocol includes auditor training by the association’s inspection program administrator.

Clean Green aligns with the ASTM International standard, Guide for Sustainable Laundry Practices, which recognizes key criteria for the certification as universal indicators of maximum sustainability in commercial laundry work. ASTM’s review of TRSA BMPs verified these as the most effective and practical techniques for a laundry to achieve green objectives.

TRSA members prompted development of the standard, which was vetted in the sustainability subcommittee of the ASTM Committee on Textiles. Top technical experts, scientists and environmental professionals from outside the linen, uniform and facility services industry reviewed the BMPs. ASTM is the global leader in developing and delivering voluntary consensus standards unparalleled in building consumer confidence in product and service quality.

“I applaud Dempsey Uniform and Linen Supply for their ongoing sustainability efforts and maintaining the highest standards in their production and delivery operations,” said Joseph Ricci, TRSA president and CEO. “Meeting all the criteria for certification is not easy, but the company is committed to industry-leading processes and technologies.”

Posted November 2, 2018

Source: TRSA