Xaar 5601 Drives New Product Development At Neos

PITTSBURGH — November 27, 2018 — A newly formed company with a well-established inkjet heritage has chosen to develop its new inkjet print systems with the Xaar 5601 printhead, whose full commercialization Xaar is currently celebrating at InPrint 2018.

Based in Modena, Italy, Neos is the brainchild of Vincenzo Palumbo, well known in the ceramics industry and founder of Projecta Engineering. The company, which employs a number of inkjet specialists with many years’ experience in working with Xaar’s Bulk technology, is developing print systems with the Thin Film Silicon MEMS Xaar 5601 for a variety of applications such as packaging and décor.

In order to determine whether the Xaar 5601 would be the right printhead to meet the needs of the markets it is looking to serve, Neos used the Xaar 5601 dedicated multi-color evaluation kit which enabled it to rapidly produce multi-color print samples, and assess print quality and reliability.

“We were impressed when we first saw the printhead in action during a visit to Xaar and have been working closely with Xaar since then,” commented Vincenzo Palumbo, who has an enviable reputation for delivering well-designed tailor-made print systems. “We made the decision to work with the Xaar 5601 based on its exceptional performance and also because it has some unique features, such as AcuDrp for print uniformity and software-only alignment capability for ease of use. These features will allow us to address key pain points of our target markets.”

In addition, to help with reducing the development time in order to get to market quickly, Neos has also used the Xaar 5601 Head Management Card (HMC) jointly provided by Xaar and Global Inkjet Systems, which helps to unlock the full capabilities of the printhead.

“Neos was quick to see the advantages and flexibility delivered by the Xaar 5601,” says Jason Remnant, Senior Product Manager at Xaar. “While Neos is a small company, its size means the team can be agile and were able to move quickly using the evaluation kit with their assessment of the printhead. I’m delighted to see the significant progress they have made since then.”

Posted November 27, 2018

Source: Xaar

PPG And Lomon Billions Extend And Expand Titanium-Dioxide Supply Relationship

PITTSBURGH — November 27, 2018 — PPG and Lomon Billions today announced an expanded, multi-year titanium-dioxide (TiO2) supply agreement. Under the agreement, Lomon Billions will supply additional quantities of chloride- and sulfate-based TiO2 to PPG from Lomon Billions’ existing manufacturing capacity. In addition, PPG has committed to purchasing additional supplies of chloride-based TiO2 from new manufacturing capacity that is currently being constructed by Lomon Billions and is expected to be on line in 2019.  Commercial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

“Over the past six years, Lomon Billions has been an excellent partner as the company has become the fourth largest global supplier of TiO2,” said Tim Knavish, PPG senior vice president, who oversees PPG’s global supply management function. “This multi-year expansion of our supply agreement is a reflection of our continued confidence in the growing capability of Lomon Billions and their commitment to make ongoing investments in additional TiO2 manufacturing capacity. We look forward to continuing our work with Lomon Billions.”

“As Lomon Billions continues its growth through investing in innovative manufacturing of chloride- and sulfate-based TiO2, PPG has been one of our most important partners,” said Ruiqing Tan, Vice Chairman of Lomon Billions, who oversees the company’s supply and sales functions. “This multi-year expansion agreement will create additional value for both companies. We look forward to continuing our partnership with PPG.”

TiO2 is an important raw material widely used by PPG and other paint and coatings manufacturers as a pigment to provide hiding, durability and whiteness characteristics.

Posted November 27, 2018

Source: PPG

INVISTA to Launch New LYCRA® FREEF!T® Technology Combining Soft Stretch With Lasting Shape Retention

WILMINGTON, Del. — November 27, 2018 — INVISTA, owners of the LYCRA® brand and portfolio of products, will launch its new patented LYCRA® FREEF!T® Technology in North America at the Kingpins NYC show November 28-29. Lycra FREEF!T technology provides denim and woven fabrics with soft, easy stretch and excellent recovery.

The Lycra FREEF!T technology was born out of consumer research* which showed that while more than 65 percent of female respondents across five countries desire jeans that are easy to move in, only 25 percent of respondents indicated the last pair of jeans they purchased allowed them to move comfortably. Further, only 22 percent of respondents said the last pair they purchased held their shape, despite 56 percent of respondents wanting jeans that would do so.

According to Jean Hegedus, Invista’s Global Director for Denim and Wovens, the results represented a real consumer need gap which the Invista team believed LYCRA technologies could address. “It’s a bit like trying to fool the laws of nature,” Hegedus said. “Typically, when you have soft, easy stretch, fabric recovery is compromised. What makes this technology so unique is that it combines two opposing concepts — soft stretch and excellent shape retention.”

Lycra FREEF!T fabrics are made using Invista patented and patent pending technologies covering yarn, textile processing, and fabric structure. The fabrics use Lycra dualFX® yarns which are specially treated, and then woven in specific constructions to provide the soft stretch.

In addition to easy stretch, these fabrics also provide a wider fit window because they are less compressive than typical stretch fabrics. Visitors to the Invista stand are invited to see demonstrations of the Lycra FREEF!T® Technology, along with a preview of a new COOLMAX® offering – Coolmax Natural Touch™ Technology. This technology combines two unique types of Coolmax fiber with cotton and Lycra fiber for cool comfort with a soft, natural hand and authentic aesthetic.

The Kingpins NYC show will be held November 28-29 at Pier 36/Basketball City. Invited guests may attend from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday.

Posted November 27, 2018

Source: INVISTA

Columbia Sportswear Company Announces Appointment Of John Soh As Vice President And General Manager Of China

PORTLAND, Ore. — November 27, 2018 — Columbia Sportswear Co. today announced the appointment of John Soh as vice president and general manager of China, effective February 2019.

In his new role, John will report to Doug Morse, senior vice president of Emerging Brands and APAC. John joins Columbia Sportswear from LEGO, where he was a senior commercial director in the Asia Pacific region, based in Singapore. Prior to that, John was with Nike for two decades, working his way up as a product trainer to senior sales director in Greater China and Southeast Asia. He has broad commercial management experience that includes category, retail and country management.

“John’s long experience in footwear and apparel in Asia, and particularly in China, are a perfect fit for our growing China market,” said Tim Boyle, president and CEO of Columbia Sportswear. “I look forward to John’s leadership contributions as we continue to evolve our brands to meet the needs of consumers around the globe.”

“I’m excited to join Columbia Sportswear Company,” said John Soh. “This is a great opportunity, and I am happy to contribute to the growth of the business in China.”

John’s start date will be mid-February 2019, after the Chinese Lunar New Year.

Posted November 27, 2018

Source: Columbia Sportswear Co.

Prime Medical Turns Hospital Curtains, Lab Coats And Scrubs Into Germ-Fighting Shields

LARGO, Fla. — November 27, 2018 — Soft surfaces have traditionally been one of the bigger challenges to sanitize in the health care environment. One study found that 92 percent of privacy curtains have been found contaminated with infectious bacteria within one week of laundering.[1] Yet another study cites that as much as 60 percent of nursing and physician attire can be a source of nosocomial infections.[2]

Now, Prime Medical, in partnership with Clorox Professional Products Co., is introducing hospital privacy curtains, scrubs and lab coats that harness the sanitizing effects of sodium hypochlorite-based bleach to help make these soft surfaces part of the solution in reducing health care-associated infections (HAIs).

“The fabric of our privacy curtains, scrubs and lab coats will provide another tool for those in the health care environment to fight HAIs, making soft surfaces an asset rather than a liability,” said Jim Sampey, CEO of Prime Medical. “Together, Prime Medical and Clorox Professional Products Company will fight HAIs and change the fabric of healthcare.”

The new Prime Medical privacy curtains, scrubs and lab coats will feature the Clorox Healthcare and CloroxPro™ brand equities and provide unprecedented bactericidal protection, leading to safer patient environments. The fabric works by enabling bacteria-fighting molecules to bind to the fabric’s surface for up to 12 weeks after washing with bleach, inhibiting the growth and spread of viruses. The fabric recharges during each washing, and the antimicrobial capability is durable for a minimum of 75 industrial washes.

When laundered per the label instructions with the EPA-registered bleach, lab tests have shown the activated fabric can kill bacteria and viruses with 99.9 percent effectiveness, according to a study by the fabric’s manufacturer.[3] This means that as health care providers move between patient rooms, they can reduce the risk of spreading unseen pathogens via their scrubs and lab coats. And, for privacy curtains that are often touched and rarely changed, the fabric’s antimicrobial capability provides an additional layer of protection to prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses.

“When we first saw the technology that Prime Medical was bringing to market, we knew it was one more example of a bundled approach to infection prevention and reducing pathogens in patient environments,” said Amy Harmon, associate director – marketing, Clorox Healthcare. “That’s what we look for in partners — like-minded companies that are as focused as we are on creating innovative solutions for cleaner, safer health care settings.”

The privacy curtains are a two-part system consisting of a six-foot modular privacy panel that easily snaps onto a mesh top. Each privacy panel weighs just 1.4 pounds, making it easy for one person to change a curtain in as little as 40 seconds without a ladder. The fabric on all three products is fade-resistant to bleach so they will retain their original color wash after wash.

The Clorox Healthcare privacy curtains will be available December 2018 and the CloroxPro scrubs and lab coats February 2019.

[1] Ohl, M., et al. (2011). Hospital privacy curtains are frequently and rapidly contaminated with potentially pathogenic bacteria. Am J Infect Control. 2012 Dec; 40(10):904-6

[2]Wierner-Well et al. Nursing and physician attire as possible source of nosocomial infections, Am J Infect Control 2011, 39: 555-9

[3] Laboratory conditions using AATCC 100 test method.

Posted November 27, 2018

Source: Prime Medical & Clorox Professional Products Co.

Shaw Industries Named A Finalist For Ethical Corporation 2018 Responsible Business Awards

DALTON, Ga./LONDON — November 27, 2018 — As a finalist, Shaw Industries Group Inc. (Shaw) was recognized by Ethical Corp. at its ninth-annual Responsible Business Awards for promoting a corporate culture of diversity and inclusion.

The aim of the Responsible Business Awards is to showcase leading responsible business strategies from across the globe. Among the 400 entries, Shaw was recognized among the top three finalists in the Diversity and Inclusion category.

Mike Fromm, chief human resources officer at Shaw, noted: “Shaw recognizes our people are our competitive advantage. We’re dedicated to fostering a culture that empowers our associates to bring their diverse, whole selves — with unique experiences and talents — to work. This enables us to attract and retain top talent who will drive business results and propel the company forward through innovation and thought leadership.”

Lucia Cook, corporate diversity and inclusion leader at Shaw, stated, “Shaw’s initiatives to embrace diversity and cultivate an inclusive culture are part of our comprehensive approach to talent management and overall business strategy.”

Shaw perpetually incorporates inclusive practices in both talent acquisition and internal business functions.

Shaw’s commitment to fostering an inclusive and diverse corporate culture is supported by the development of associate resource groups (ARGs). These associate-led groups drive engagement within the company by connecting associates with both similar and different perspectives to ultimately spark growth through inclusive leadership.

Most recently, Shaw has:

  • connected more than 2,000 associates involved in its ARGs with networking and professional development opportunities;
  • shaped new talent acquisition and retention practices to reduce unconscious bias in the hiring and promotion processes; and
  • educated its associate base on cultural competence.

Liam Dowd, managing director at Ethical Corp., indicated: “This year several judges remarked on how impressed they were with the standard of entries and the impacts that they’re making. It’s clear gains are being made across the globe and that’s only going to increase in the coming years.”

Posted November 27, 2018

Source: Shaw Industries Group

Clear Automation Names Tom Hesse As COO

SOUTHINGTON, Conn. — November 27, 2018 — Clear Automation announced the appointment of Tom Hesse as COO, effective October 29, 2018. He is responsible for increasing the organization’s’ talent, quality, and efficiency, while improving our customers experience through transparent clear communication.

Tom has 28 years of experience developing custom automation machines for global corporations in heavily regulated industries, and has held positions in Project Engineering, Project Management, Application Engineering, and Senior Leadership. Most recently, Tom was President of Automation Connection — formerly Windham Automated Machine — located in Mansfield, Conn.

Tom earned his Master’s degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Bachelor’s Degree from Albertus Magnus College. Tom has also attended Harvard Law Schools “Program on Negotiation.”

John DeBlasio, CEO of Clear Automation, said: “We are excited to have Tom join the Clear Automation team. His wealth of experience and understanding of how to build a culture of performance are welcome additions to our team. Tom comes to us with over 20 years of experience building machines for medical and consumer product clients and is very well versed in automation solutions that will further Clear Automation’s mission to continue leading the manufacturing industry in robotics systems integration.”

Posted November 27, 2018

Source: Clear Automation

Felix Schoeller Group Enters Into A Newly Formed JV In India

OSNABRUECK, Germany — November 27, 2018 — The Felix Schoeller Group — manufacturer of high-quality specialty papers headquartered in Osnabrueck, Germany — and the owners of New (India) Imaging Industries have entered into a newly formed joint venture (JV) in India.

This long-standing partnership between the Felix Schoeller Group and the owners of New (India) Imaging Industries exists since 1996 and has always been focused on the converting and selling of high quality digital printing papers. The JV will operate under “Felix Schoeller India,” and the legal entity will be called “Schoeller India Industries Pvt. Ltd.” It is planned to increase and further develop the existing sales and marketing efforts. In addition, the JV will invest in a new converting plant in Mumbai.

The future product portfolio will include a wide range of products from photo papers and sublimation papers to nonwoven wallpaper as well as solvent and latex papers.

“We are delighted to be able to step up our activities in the Indian market with a long-standing partner whom we trust.”, says Jörg Borker, general manager with Felix Schoeller Digital Media.

“This is an important step for both partners, we are convinced about the market potential in India and particularly from the strength of our partnership with the Vaswani family.”, says Guido Hofmeyer, CFO of the Felix Schoeller Group.

Posted November 27, 2018

Source: Felix Schoeller Group

Top Italian Team Sportswear Company Macron Teams Up With Centric Software

CAMPBELL, Calif. — November 27, 2018 — Macron — a sportswear company based in Bologna, Italy, that clothes top sports teams across the world — has successfully implemented Centric Software’s Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solution. Centric Software provides the most innovative enterprise solutions to fashion, retail, footwear, outdoor, luxury and consumer goods companies to achieve strategic and operational digital transformation goals.

Macron was established in 1971 and has risen to success over the past two decades as a maker of technical apparel for team sports. Sponsoring high profile football teams in top divisions across the globe — Lazio, Sporting Lisbon, Stoke City, Nottingham Forest, Real Sociedad, Bruges — Macron is ranked by UEFA as the third most popular football brand in Europe and Macron is also making strides in the rugby arena, recently sponsoring the Italian and Scottish national teams in the Six Nations tournament. Macron’s core business is the production of team wear for amateur sports teams, as well as official kits and merchandise for professional clubs. In addition, the company makes athleisure and running lines for individual consumers. Macron retails in over 140 own-brand stores and 800 multi-brand stores worldwide.

Macron has grown at a rapid pace. Taking just one aspect of their business, Macron sponsored one team in 2001 — their local Bologna FC — and now sponsors 70 professional sports clubs. As Paolo Guizzardi, COO at Macron explained, Macron’s rapid growth has brought challenges.

“We’re not a standard fashion or apparel company although our smaller lines run on a traditional seasonal basis,” he said. “In our core business, team sports, all styles are 4-5 years lifecycle carry-over items with a new annual collection of over 100 new styles. Each of the 70 clubs we sponsor has their own unique collection each year. We differentiate ourselves from other players in this market by offering full customized designs and getting to market twice as fast as our competitors. The biggest challenge is to maintain our competitive time to market in the face of increasing complexity and growth in our team sports business.”

Until now, Macron was using a system of Excel spreadsheets, emails and online chat communication to organize design, product development and merchandising across its Bologna headquarters, Italian distribution center and office in China. Macron outsources production to factories across the world so tracking raw material and supplier information was becoming difficult.

Guizzardi said: “Information was not shared correctly, completely or on time. Finding information was difficult enough in our Italian office, where people are next to each other – imagine how it was for our employees in China, 9,000 kilometers and six time zones away! We needed PLM to give us a single, unique database, updated in real time, that everyone could use. We also wanted to standardize our coding for materials and accessories, rather than relying on people to remember what we used last year. With 15,000 SKUs in our catalog for team sports alone, we needed to make it easier for people to quickly find exact, reliable information. The push for PLM very much came from the ground — from our users.”

Macron selected Centric PLM after considering several options, pinpointing Centric’s apparel experience as a deciding factor in their decision.

“We’re an unusual business, because unlike a fashion company, our core business is not seasonal,” explains Guizzardi. “However, Centric was born in apparel. Making clothing is in Centric’s DNA, and we’re a fast-growing sportswear company that needs a long-term partner to change and grow with us. Centric is a reliable company that we know will be around to support us for many years to come. When we saw the demo, we were very impressed by the fact that Centric requires no customization to suit our present needs. We’re more than happy with Centric’s offering as it is and it was possible to implement in just 5 months.”

“We are very pleased to welcome Macron as our latest partner,” says Chris Groves, President and CEO of Centric Software. “Macron’s meteoric rise in the world of team sportswear has seen them challenge large, established sports brands in Europe and around the world. We’re looking forward to working with Macron to support their continued growth with a strong digital platform.”

Posted November 27, 2018

Source: Centric Software

Westex By Milliken, Teijin Aramid Join Forces In Asia Pacific To Revolutionize Aramid FR Fabric Market

SPARTANBURG, S.C./ARNHEM, The Netherlands — November 26, 2018 — Today, U.S. flame resistant (FR) textiles brand Westex™ by Milliken™ and global aramid fiber producer Teijin Aramid announced a joint technology and commercial partnership for Southeast Asia and Australasia.

“For Milliken, a collaboration with Teijin Aramid is a meeting of minds,” according to Steve Layton, vice president of sales and marketing for Westex by Milliken. “Our reliance on research and development, paired with more than 60 years of manufacturing and supplying expert FR solutions, is bolstered by Teijin’s world-class technological capabilities and standing as a trusted global leader in inherent FR aramid fibers. Within a short time, this partnership has produced technologically advanced FR fabric for our customers facing jobsite hazards such as flash fires, and this is only the beginning.”

Combining more than 100 years of FR innovation, Westex by Milliken and Teijin Aramid look to improve the reputable aramid-based FR solutions in the Asian market. As a brand of Milliken & Company, a global protective and performance textiles, chemical and floor covering manufacturer, Westex by Milliken fabrics underpin FR garments relied upon every day around the world — illustrating a trusted track record of performance and dependability. Westex by Milliken utilizes Milliken’s legacy of more than 150 years of innovation and a strong commitment to research and development to produce branded FR textiles that are leaders in a variety of protection industries. As the world’s number one aramid producer, Teijin brought the first aramid fibers to market in the early 1970s and continues to be a leader in best-in-class FR fiber technologies. Teijin has demonstrated its dedication to performance-driven, aramid-based solutions markets worldwide over the course of the past century.

“Teijin Aramid is delighted to team-up with Milliken. We look forward to jointly exploring opportunities to better serve customers, combining our technical brains as well as commercial power. The vast experience and know-how of Teijin Aramid, combined with the expertise of Westex by Milliken makes for a powerful and winning combination,” said Bernd Steinmann, Teijin Aramid’s global business manager protective apparel.

As a result of the partnership, Westex by Milliken and Teijin Aramid proudly present Westex™ Synergy™ Pro, a cutting-edge aramid FR fabric. Compliant to NFPA 2112 and NFPA 70E, and certified to EN ISO 11611 and EN ISO 11612 for oil and gas industry flash fire hazards, Westex Synergy Pro offers the highest comfort level in a reputable protective aramid fabric for daily wear FR apparel. Exclusive to the Southeast Asia and Australasian markets, Westex Synergy Pro is available for purchase beginning November 27, 2018.

Powered by Teijinconex® meta-aramid staple fibers, Westex Synergy Pro builds on Westex by Milliken’s award-winning FR expertise to create a performance-driven aramid fabric with guaranteed FR protection. Westex Synergy Pro features superior softness and six times better moisture-wicking capabilities compared to other leading aramid FR fabrics. Available in a variety of colors and in both 160 g/m2 and 200 g/m2 weights, Westex Synergy Pro makes FR daily wear uniforms a simple and attractive safety solution for the Asia Pacific oil and gas industry.

“This Westex by Milliken and Teijin Aramid partnership ushers in a new era of possibilities for FR apparel for Southeast Asia and Australasia, for which we are honored to lead the charge,” Layton adds.

“We see this partnership with Milliken in Asia Pacific as an important stepping stone for future growth together,” underlines Erik Delnoij, vice president of sales and marketing for Teijin Aramid.

Attendees at OSEA 2018 in Singapore can learn more about this partnership and Westex Synergy Pro at show stand 1Q4-10 and BT3-07.

Posted November 26, 2018

Source: Westex by Milliken, a Milliken & Company business

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