The Next Industrial Transformation Is Here: Rockwell Automation Is Helping Businesses Prepare To Succeed At Automation Fair 2018

PHILADELPHIA — November 14, 2018 — Today, at its annual Automation Fair, Rockwell Automation unveiled its new brand promise: Expanding Human Possibility by combining the imaginations of people with the intelligence of machines. The brand promise supports the company’s emphasis on bringing The Connected Enterprise to life and how, by linking people, machines and data across an entire business, manufacturers become more effective and productive.

“The new Rockwell Automation brand emphasizes the central role that people play in advanced manufacturing and underscores our focus on ways we maximize performance, advance innovation and drive growth,” said Blake Moret, chairman and CEO, Rockwell Automation. “Together with our partners at Automation Fair, we are demonstrating how to bring The Connected Enterprise to life, empowering our customers to build more efficient, nimble and productive businesses.”

Thousands of global manufacturing leaders gather in Philadelphia to experience the latest technology and discuss industry trends impacting today’s manufacturing climate such as cybersecurity, female leadership, the skills gap and STEM. Much of this compelling conversation will be shared over Facebook Live broadcasts featuring Rockwell Automation and other thought leaders.

Throughout the event, Rockwell Automation and members of its PartnerNetwork will showcase how new products and solutions support:

The Connected Enterprise: New analytics and digital solutions can help transform data into understandable information, empowering users to confidently make more informed decisions – from the plant floor to the enterprise.

Data Analytics and Augmented Reality: Learn how Rockwell Automation is expanding its portfolio and tapping into its partnership with PTC to help customers increase productivity and plant efficiency, reduce operational risk and provide better system interoperability.

Innovation: Customers will get an early look at how new technologies will change manufacturing and production, including artificial intelligence, augmented reality, wearables and other disruptive technologies.

Posted November 14, 2018

Source: Rockwell Automation

NIKE, Inc. Names Craig A. Williams President Of Jordan Brand

BEAVERTON, Ore.— November 13, 2018 — NIKE Inc. announced today that effective Jan. 14, 2019, Craig A. Williams will become president of Jordan Brand. Williams joins Jordan Brand from The Coca-Cola Co., where he most recently served as senior vice president, The Coca-Cola Co. and president of The McDonald’s Division (TMD) Worldwide and was responsible for growing brands and beverages categories. Larry Miller, current Jordan Brand president, will become chairman for the newly created Jordan Brand Advisory Board.

“We are excited to have Craig lead Jordan Brand into its next phase of growth globally,” said Elliott Hill, Nike’s president, Consumer and Marketplace. “His experience driving global strategy and growth will help continue to build a premium brand that connects deeply with consumers.”

Williams joined Coca-Cola in 2005 and was responsible for leading and growing the company’s business and strategic partnership with McDonald’s in more than 37,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries. Prior to that, Craig held positions of increasing responsibility within TMD, including senior vice president and COO, vice president U.S., assistant vice president of U.S. Marketing and group director of U.S. Marketing.

Prior to his tenure at Coca-Cola, Williams spent three years in the eye care industry with CIBA Vision Corp. in global marketing. He also spent seven years with Kraft Foods Inc., working in brand management and new product development, and five years in the U.S. Navy as a Naval Nuclear Power Officer.

“It’s a unique moment to bring on a talented leader like Craig and to also be able to retain the knowledge, passion and guidance of a seasoned leader like Larry,” said Michael Jordan. “Larry has helped guide Jordan Brand to long term momentum and helped reset us for the next phase of global growth. We are incredibly grateful for his leadership and I am confident that his knowledge, in partnership with Craig’s vision, will continue to expand the Jordan Brand’s market leadership.”

Miller has served as President of Jordan Brand since 2012; he previously held the role from 1999 to 2006. In the interim, he served as President of the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers. Prior to that, he served as VP, GM of Nike Basketball.

As president of Jordan Brand, Miller helped build and expand the brand both domestically and around the world. His leadership has driven the Jordan Brand into new areas, including the Jordan women’s line of footwear, partnerships with college football teams, an increasing global presence with Jordan stores around the world and a game-changing partnership with Paris Saint-Germain Football Club.

Posted November 14, 2018

Source: NIKE Inc.

November/December 2018

Italy-based RadiciGroup reports its R-Radyarn® and r-Starlight® post-consumer recycled polyester content yarns have been certified to the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) by the Textile Exchange. The certification covers two families of products — raw and yarn-dyed 95-percent r-PETand solution-dyed 85-percent r-PET.

DuPont Advanced Printing, Wilmington, Del., has achieved ECO PASSPORT by Oeko-Tex® certifications for its DuPont™ Artistri® textile digital inks from the Germany-based Hohenstein Institute.

Dalton, Ga.-based Shaw Floors has announced five hushed neutral colors — Glacier Ice, Clay Blush, Mist and Dustry Lilac — form its 2019 Color of the Year: Whisper palette.

Easthampton, Mass.-based National Nonwovens has earned ISO 9001: 2015 certification for successfully applying a quality system for the design, application development, manufacturing and sale of technical nonwoven textiles.

Web Industries, Marlborough, Mass., has embarked on a rebranding campaign, which includes a newly designed website located at webindustries.com.

Bolger & O’Hearn Specialty Chemicals, Fall River, Mass., now represents DSM Coating Resin’s textile products in the United States.

Switzerland-based Uster Technologies reports its USTER® STATISTICS 2018 now is available, and for the first time also is available as a free mobile application. The app is compatible with all PCs and mobile devices, and features extended yarn count ranges and novel yarn types.

Universal Fibers®, Abingdon, Va., reports was awarded Environmental Excellence and Community Impact honors from the Southwest Virginia Alliance of Manufacturers.

Knoll Inc., East Greenville, Pa., recently opened the Knoll Japan Tokyo showroom.

Singapore-based DyStar recently released its Sustainability Performance Report 2017-18, which is the eighth edition of the report.

November/December 2018

INVISTA Honors 60th Anniversary of LYCRA® Fiber With Donation To Collegiate Inventors Competition®

WILMINGTON, Del. — November 14, 2018 — INVISTA, owner of the LYCRA® brand of spandex (elastane) fiber, today announced its support of the 2018 Collegiate Inventors Competition (CIC) being held November 14-16, at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in Alexandria, Virginia. A donation is being made in honor of Lycra fiber, which is celebrating 60 years of adding comfort, fit and performance to apparel, and its inventor, Joseph C. Shivers, who was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame (NIHF) last May.

The CIC celebrates innovation and entrepreneurship by showcasing the latest inventions by some of the brightest minds at the college level today. Finalists have the opportunity to present their research and prototypes to renowned NIHF Inductees and USPTO experts who provide feedback on how to optimize their invention. A panel of expert judges determines the top three winners at both the undergraduate and graduate level. In addition, anyone in the U.S. can vote online for the People’s Choice award winner.

“Innovation and continuous improvement are part of our brand’s DNA—it explains how we’ve grown from one resilient fiber to more than 200 fibers engineered to improve fabric aesthetics and performance,” said Robert Kirkwood, executive vice president – technology and marketing, Invista Apparel & Advanced Textiles. “We’re excited to pay it forward and support the next generation of innovators with this donation.”

Lycra fiber has been transforming apparel since 1958 when Shivers, a DuPont chemist, invented it to replace rubber threads that would cause girdles to lose their shape and fit over time. The new fiber not only revolutionized shapewear, but went on to transform all types of clothing and the way they are worn. From innerwear to outerwear and everything in between, Lycra fiber has been a catalyst for change in fashion and continues to drive innovation in the industry today.

Posted November 14, 2018

Source: Invista

Indorama Ventures Acquires 74% In Medco Plast For Packing And Packaging Systems S.A.E From Middle East Glass Manufacturing Co. And The Samaha Family

CAIRO, Egypt/BANGKOK, Thailand — November 14, 2018 — Indorama Ventures Public Co. Ltd. (IVL) has completed the acquisition of 74 percent of the share capital of Medco Plast for Packing and Packaging Systems S.A.E. (Medco Plast) from Middle East Glass Manufacturing Co. S.A.E. (MEG) and the Samaha family. Following the acquisition, MEG will retain a 16% shareholding in Medco Plast, and the Samaha family 10 percent.

Medco Plast is the largest manufacturer of recyclable PET preforms, injection molded products, and closures to all the multinational soft drink and water manufacturers operating in Egypt, with a 25 percent market share. Medco Plast currently has 11 state-of-the-art production lines with a combined annual production capacity of 70,000 metric tons of PET preforms.

Egypt is one of the most developed and diversified economies in the Middle East, with economic growth of around 5 percent. Egypt’s membership of COMESA regional economic bloc, coupled with its strategic location linking the EMEA and Asia, makes the country the gateway to the East and North African markets with favorable trade agreements. This acquisition will provide Indorama Ventures exposure to the East African PET packaging market, complementing its existing footprint in West Africa, where the company has presence in Nigeria and Ghana.

Indorama Ventures will bring best-in-class knowhow capabilities as well as supply chain economies to further enhance Medco Plast’s leadership position and grow it into the leading regional player.

Aloke Lohia, Group CEO of Indorama Ventures, commented: “The acquisition of Medco aligns with Indorama Ventures’ strategic focus, which includes capitalizing on growth opportunities in emerging markets. Medco’s strong presence in the domestic market and a longstanding customer relationship with all beverage majors operating in Egypt will enable the Company to support growing local customers’ demand and provide a platform for further growth in the Middle East and African regions.”

Abdul Galil Besher, chairman of MEG, stated: “We are delighted to announce this transaction with Indorama Ventures which will add considerable depth to the existing technical strengths and business and management capabilities that Medco needs to enable its transformation to a world class supplier to the beverage, pharmaceutical and personal care sectors in the region.  Importantly, this transaction will also allow MEG to deleverage following the aggressive acquisition program started in 2014 and focus ever more closely on driving the efficiency and performance of our core glass container business.”

Mohamed Samaha, founder, CEO, and a shareholder in Medco commented: “I strongly believe the partnership with Indorama Ventures will help Medco fuel and advance its ambitious business plan. We look forward to working hand in hand with Indorama to unlock Medco’s full potential”

HC Securities and Investment acted as the sole financial advisor to MEG and the Samaha family, Matouk Bassiouny & Hennawy acted as legal counsel to MEG, Shehata Law firm acted as legal counsel to the Samaha family, while Baker & McKenzie acted as the legal counsel to Indorama Ventures.

Posted November 14, 2018

Source:  IVL

ANDRITZ And BCNonwovens Celebrate Successful Long-Term Partnership

GRAZ, Austria — November 14, 2018 — International technology Group ANDRITZ and BCNonwovens, Spain, have been working together successfully as business partners for the past 15 years. This cooperation started in early 2003 right after BCNonwovens was founded.

By offering state-of-the-art technology, including tests and trial runs at Andritz’s technical center, and providing comprehensive expert know-how, Andritz has supported and helped the family-owned company BCNonwovens to become one of the leading producers of spunlace fabrics for the wipes market as well as for medical and industrial applications.

BCNonwovens is now running two Andritz spunlace lines successfully, producing high-quality products that are sold globally. To cope with the demand for higher productivity and product quality as well as for lighter products and patterned webs, BCNonwovens’ R&D team and Andritz process engineers were able to retrofit the existing lines to bring products up to the standard currently requested by the markets. Sergio Rosales, R&D director of BCNonwovens says: “Thanks to Andritz, we have been able to test the latest innovations available on the market and adapt them to our production lines.” As BCNonwovens has always been commited to responsible and sustainable production, the company has installed Andritz’s proven neXecodry system, thus achieving a significant reduction in consumption of water and gas.

Didier Vulliet, general director of Andritz Perfojet, says: “For years we have been building a strong partnership with BCNonwovens. They used our Andritz spunlace pilot line for validation of new products or implementation of new fibers, and we were able to test new developments under industrial conditions.”

Andritz is accompanying BCNonwovens in the development of new products with new fibers and features that are increasingly innovative or meet the demands of converters with ever more relevant end-products. Miguel Vinas Pich, CEO of BCNonwovens, concludes: “Andritz has been supporting us for years in our development, which has been allowing us to offer our customers some of the most competitive and highest quality products in the world.”

Posted November 14, 2018

Source:  ANDRITZ AG

Durst And Printronics Combine Expertise For Labelexpo India

BRIXEN, Italy — November 13, 2018 — Durst and Indian partner Printronics will present the successful Tau 330 RSC high speed, UV inkjet label press and the new OMET XJet – powered by Durst – digital-flexo hybrid press on its Booth N18 at Labelexpo India in Delhi from November 22-25.

Printers visiting the largest show for labels and package printing in south Asia in 2018 will learn how inkjet technology is helping grow new market opportunities. Among the highlights of the Durst Tau 330 RSC are its high printing resolution of 1200 x 1200 dpi, unmatched printing speed of 78 linear meters/min (245 ft/min) and 8 colour printing stations for the highest panton color coverage.

After the completion of a highly successfully beta test of the Tau 330 RSC at The Label Makers – known as Labmak – in the UK, the firm’s Managing Director David Webster has confirmed that he will be investing in a second machine to further grow business. Listen here to Labmak Mr Webster’s verdict on the RSC’s performance. Shipping of the RSC started in May and a projected 20 machines will have been installed across the world by the end of 2018.

A wide array of samples printed on the machine will be available at the Durst/Printronics booth at Labelexpo India. Another highlight will be discussions on the OMET XJet – powered by Durst – a true Made-in-Italy digital-flexo hybrid printing press that combines the Durst Tau RSC technology with OMET’s XFlex series of conventional finishing options.

“Labelexpo India is an extremely important platform for us to show how our knowledge market expertise provides increased value for customers and accelerates the digitization of the label & packaging market,” said Helmuth Munter, Global Durst’s Segment Manager for Labels and Print Packaging. “Together with our partner Printronics, we look forward to welcoming visitors to our stand who will be able to benefit from this inkjet technology in the future.”

Posted November 14, 2018

Source:  Durst

Successful Hygienix 2018 Reveals New Technologies In Absorbent Hygiene & Personal Care

CARY, N.C. — November 14, 2018 — Over 500 absorbent hygiene and personal care professionals from over 24 countries and throughout the supply chain participated in INDA’s fourth edition of Hygienix ­— the premier event for absorbent hygiene & personal care markets — held in Orlando, Florida, November 5-8.

The successful three-day conference delivered program content, education, networking, awards, and an opening welcome reception at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville on the Universal CityWalk.

A keynote presentation from Diana Sheehan, vice president Retail & Shopper Insights, Kantar Consulting, addressed The Amazon Effect – Retail Disruption that revealed emerging online developments with actionable insights to accelerate consumer retail growth. The event also included presentations from 23 industry experts and 14 hours of scheduled networking.

“Having attended 100’s of health care and medical device trade shows over my last 25 years as a vendor and attendee, I found last week’s Hygienix Conference in Orlando to be extremely well-organized, efficient, comfortable, informative, and productive in a compressed venue of events. This was my first INDA conference, but not my last!” said Palmer Dinkel, vice president, G&G Medical Products LLC.

The program content focused on innovations in product design, incontinence, patient needs, nonwovens/engineered fabrics markets, economic trends, skin health, technical updates and sustainability. Participants also had the opportunity to meet industry leading companies at 53 tabletop exhibits held during two informal evening receptions.

“Hygienix delivered valuable insights on markets, consumer needs, and technology developments that are forcing change in the absorbent hygiene industry. The industry’s senior leadership convenes at Hygienix at one place at one time. Participants were able to advance their business interests with both the leading edge conference content and over 19 hours of scheduled face-to-face interaction time,” said Dave Rousse, INDA president.

“It was a fantastic event that brings information, ideas and the community together,” said Dr. Han Xu, Principal Scientist, Nonwoven Innovation Commercialization, Global Material Development & Supply, The Procter & Gamble Company.

An event highlight was the presentation of INDA’s coveted Hygienix Innovation Award™ to Callaly Tampliner®, an organic cotton tampon with a built-in mini-liner with a patented virtual applicator for clean insertion, removal and protection against leaks.

“We’re honored and excited that our Tampliner won this year’s Hygienix Innovation Award. It’s a real achievement for a start-up working to improve product choice in the Femcare industry. We’re privileged to be recognized by such a supportive and forward-thinking industry body and we thank INDA – and the wider industry – for welcoming our product so enthusiastically,” said Thang Vo-Ta, co-founder and CEO of Callaly.

Other finalists for the award were Avgol Nonwovens for BeneFIT™ Control, a next generation antimicrobial solution for absorbent hygiene, and Bostik for Brilliance™, the world’s first high-performance polyolefin-based elastic attachment adhesive.

EDUCATION:

An optional absorbent hygiene three-hour workshop attracted 66 strong business leaders. The focus of the workshop was baby diapers and led by former P&G Research Fellow Terry Young. The workshop covered key information on diaper components, performance, differentiation and trends in recycling, sustainability and environmental friendliness. Mr. Young developed one of the first in-house material training courses for P&G’s baby diaper category.  The complete 2.5-day absorbent hygiene training course is scheduled Nov 27-29, 2018 and is led by Terry Young.

RECOGNITION

The Hygienix Conference presented the 2018 INDA Lifetime Technical Award to Ralph Moody, PE, Senior Director of R&D, Berry Global, Inc. for his long established technical career and key innovations in the nonwovens industry.

Hygienix 2019 will be held Nov 11-14, in Houston, Texas.

Posted November 14, 2018

Source:  INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry

Aurora Sets Standard For Sustainable Manufacturing In North American Plant

YORKVILLE, Ill. — November 14, 2018 — Building a successful business by doing the right thing has always been a core value at Aurora Specialty Textiles Group and this includes taking care of the environment. With that in mind, Aurora launched a massive program in 2009 to integrate state-of-the-art sustainability measures into the company’s facilities, operations and manufacturing processes.

That program involved investing over $1 million  in new equipment, moving from the former plant in Aurora, Ill. to a new manufacturing facility in nearby Yorkville, Ill.,  and spending millions more retrofitting and redesigning the new plant with sustainability upgrades. It also involved making a commitment to developing and executing a comprehensive,  ongoing Environmental Management System (EMS) that involved the participation of employees at all levels of the organization.

As it turns out, the right thing was also the smart thing. Today, nine years later, Aurora’s new plant in Yorkville is a global model for sustainable manufacturing:

  1. The new plant is ISO.14001:2015 certified. ISO.14001:2015 is the most recent version.  ISO:14001 is a comprehensive, globally-accepted standard and framework for establishing, implementing and maintaining an ongoing Environmental Management System.
  2. The natural gas and electricity components of Aurora’s new plant were designed to significantly reduce Aurora’s manufacturing carbon footprint. This resulted in reductions in  electricity and natural gas consumption that add up to an annual equivalent of reducing 465,178 gallons of gasoline or 4,523,015 pounds of coal burned.
  3. The new plant exclusively uses LED lighting, which is both energy-efficient and long-lasting and reduces landfill waste. This includes 75+ exterior lights and 500+ interior lights.
  4. Water usage in the new plant is currently 50% less than the amount of water used annually in the Aurora plant.
  5. Other measures are being taken to reduce or eliminate pollution including programs to recycle water, reduce effluent, reduce landfill waste and find additional ways to reduce energy consumption and water consumption.

Aurora is also helping other North American manufacturers learn how to integrate sustainability measures into their operations.

As members of the Valley Industrial Association (VIA) in Northern Illinois, Aurora has developed presentations dedicated to sharing state-of-the-art sustainability management ideas with other manufacturing operations. One example is the sustainability round table held at Aurora in August 2018 for members of the Valley Industrial Association in Illinois.

At that workshop, Aurora managers shared details of Aurora’s EMS plan and provided tips and advice to attendees on how to begin reducing energy consumption, pollution and environmental impact at their plants. The August workshop included a Q&A session where Aurora managers helped attendees address sustainability issues in their plants.

“We are very proud of the work we have done here building a sustainable plant and the active role we are taking helping other manufacturers in Northern Illinois learn how to make similar upgrades to their operations,” said Dan LaTurno, president of Aurora Specialty Textiles Group. “It’s taken a great deal of work and a deep commitment on the part of all of our employees to get to this point. But it’s very gratifying.”

He added that Aurora’s Yorkville plant is better for the environment than, say, a plant in a country with no similar laws and guidelines.

“The Aurora plant operates under an EPA-regulated and approved air permit designed to protect air quality. This includes significant limits on volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) and hazardous air pollutants (HAP’s) that might be released by a manufacturing operation,” he said. “The plant also operates under a water discharge permit which sets strict standards for the content and amount of effluent discharged.”

Treated effluent discharged from a plant in the US, such as Aurora’s, which follows EPA guidelines, is significantly kinder to water regional water resources than effluent discharged by manufacturers in countries with no (or limited) environmental enforcement agencies.

Aurora’s sustainability program also benefits their customers.

“Increasingly, consumers are looking for products made by manufacturers who are committed to using manufacturing processes that are enhanced to protect the environment,” said LaTurno. “In turn, many brands are looking for supply chain partners that have verifiable sustainability programs. Aurora is a supply chain partner with a verifiable sustainability commitment their customers can count on.”

Posted November 14, 2018

Source:  Aurora Specialty Textiles Group

Echelon Materials Launches Crowd Funding Campaign To Produce Revolutionary New Armor Textile To Save Police Lives

STAMFORD, Conn. — November 14, 2018 — Echelon Materials today announced the launch of its Indiegogo campaign to fund the production of their proprietary loom required to produce TiTek, the world’s first and only patented, lightweight, flexible fabric designed to shred high-powered conical/rifle rounds and be comfortably worn or carried all day.

TiTek rendering
TiTek rendering

With today’s increasing threats of high-powered rifles, and with heavy, rigid and uncomfortable armor as the norm, TiTek is finally the protection those in Law Enforcement deserve. The Indiegogo campaign has a funding goal of $825,000.00 USD which will go towards the manufacturing of the only loom able to mass produce the TiTek fabric for the marketplace. Supporters of the campaign will be able to claim a vest, shield and/or backpack infused with TiTek fabric as a reward.

TiTek’s defeat mechanism is cutting-edge — it’s a patented fabric that weaves tiny, sharp-edged titanium discs into the plane of the fabric using the very kevlar threads that comprise the fabric. These discs present their sharp edges to the incoming round and cut it to shreds as it passes. Once shredded by the TiTek fabric, debris from bullets is easily captured by the armor package’s backing layers that employ existing materials, such as aramids or polyethylenes. Compared to traditional armor that “stops” the bullet by applying counter-force; TiTek-infused armor uses the bullet’s own energy to cut it apart, destroying it and making it easier to stop.

Heavy, inflexible ceramic plates can dig into an officer’s back, sink into their femoral arteries, or choke their throat. TiTek is flexible, and conforms to a body that needs to move, making it the perfect choice for both male and female officers, to not only protect, but also allow for a greater range of motion, coverage area and comfort for long-term use.

“In testing the TiTek material, we have seen 7.62 x 59 FMJ M80 rounds turned into shrapnel – not a piece over the size of a 17-caliber BB – with bits and pieces spread over a 9-inch diameter in an armor pack weighing 1.9 lbs. per square foot,” said Bob Muller, Echelon Materials’ CEO. “This means that lightweight, flexible, breathable, rifle protection weighing up to 75% less than current Level IV+ plates is possible with TiTek, making that protection easier and more comfortable to wear,” added Muller.

Posted November 14, 2018

Source:  Echelon Materials, LLC

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