Wilmington, Del.-based DuPont Industrial Biosciences (IB) reports it has completed a renovation at its global business headquarters focused on modernization, consolidation and advanced capabilities. Building E353, as it’s known, is part of DuPont’s Experimental Station — an innovation center for technology over past decades responsible for such products as nylon, DuPont™ Kevlar®, Lycra® and renewably sourced Sorona®. The reopened E353 facility will continue DuPont’s tradition of scientific advancement, and also work to progress sustainable products and processes in the industrial biosciences sector. The upgrades are part of a more than $200 million investment in the Experimental Station campus, which began in 2016.
“At this new facility, we have hundreds of people working toward a more sustainable future by innovating biobased solutions that are better, safer and more renewable,” said William Feehery, president of DuPont Industrial Biosciences. “These technologies go into products that are used in everyday life. The redesigned and upgraded laboratories and office spaces are incubators for some of DuPont’s most groundbreaking work.”
Tokyo-based Teijin Ltd. has broken ground on a new carbon fiber plant in Greenwood, S.C. The plant will be part of its wholly-owned subsidiary Teijin Carbon Fibers Inc. (TCF). The company held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new facility. The total investment is expected around $600 million by 2030, and the TCF facility is expected to employ 220 people.
“We look forward to this new chapter of Teijin’s expansion in the U.S.,” said Yukito Miyajima, president, TCF. “We are strengthening its global upstream-to-downstream carbon fiber business. We have been leveraging research and development to expand carbon fiber business in the aircraft and automotive fields. Throughout this process, we looked at multiple locations, but ultimately, with the support of local and state government officials, we chose Greenwood as the ideal location for our new U.S. carbon fiber facility.
Kimberly-Clark Corp., Irving, Texas, reports it will invest $30 million to expand and improve its Berkley Mill nonwovens plant in Hendersonville, N.C. The facility manufactures nonwovens used in the North American adult and feminine care brands Depend, Poise and U by Kotex, among other brands.
The two-year project is expected to add 14 new jobs at the site.
“The Berkeley Mill team is proud about the role we will play in supporting the future growth of Kimberly-Clark’s adult and feminine care business in North America,” said Ernest Humphries, plant manager, Kimberly-Clark’s Berkeley Mill.
“This investment, combined with the commitment of our employees and the support of the local community, will bolster the mill’s competitiveness and position us for continued success.”
“Henderson County is very proud to support Berkeley Mill’s expansion,” said Michael Edney, chairman of the Henderson County Board of Commissioners. “Kimberly-Clark is a legacy employer in our county, and we are proud to play a key role in the company’s future. We look forward to many more years together.”
CEMATEX, the European Committee of Textile Machinery Manufacturers, has announced ITMA 2023 will be held at the Fiera Milano Rho exhibition center in Milan, Italy, June 8-14, 2023. The 19th edition of the show is returning to Milan based on positive feedback from ITMA 2015 exhibitors and visitors. According to organizers, Milan beat out two other short-listed venues from an initial list of nine trade fair locations.
“Milan has excellent infrastructure for holding large-scale exhibitions like ITMA, which grosses over 200,000 square meters and attracts a global audience,” said Fritz P. Mayer, president, CEMATEX. “It offers an extensive range of hospitality services and air connections to all parts of the world. Italy also has a large textile machinery and textile making industry.”
“We are very pleased that Milan has been selected to host ITMA 2023,” said Alessandro Zucchi, president of ACIMIT, the association of Italian textile machinery manufacturers. “We will work hard with all parties, including government agencies and local partners to ensure another successful show.”
Changes in international trade law always seem to have a destabilizing effect on textile industry growth because they bring risk into investment decisions.
Investments over the past three years have made the headlines with both domestic and foreign companies investing in the United States. The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) has called attention to capital expenditures for textile and apparel production totaling $2.4 billion in 2016, the latest year for which data are available.
The thrust of the trade initiative is for fairness and reciprocity in trade deals.
The industry has had some successes with agreements like the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). As William V. McCrary Jr., outgoing NCTO chairman, recently noted: “America’s most important trading relationship is NAFTA, a pillar upon which the U.S.-Western Hemisphere textile supply chain is built. At almost $12 billion combined, Mexico and Canada are the U.S. textile industry’s largest export markets. (See “2018 State Of The U.S. Textile Industry,” TW, May/June 2018).
“U.S. exports of fiber, yarns, fabrics, made-ups, and apparel were $28.6 billion in 2017,” McCrary continued. “This is nearly a 9-percent increase in export performance over 2016. Shipments to NAFTA and CAFTA-DR countries accounted for 54 percent of all U.S. textile supply chain exports.”
But trade with China is a different story. The recent U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, and China’s retaliation is of concern. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer recently released a statement saying: “…in response to unfair Chinese practices, the United States began imposing tariffs of 25 percent on approximately $34 billion worth of Chinese imports. … The products targeted by the tariffs are those that benefit from China’s industrial policy and forced technology transfer practices.
“China has since retaliated against the United States by imposing tariffs on $34 billion in U.S. exports to China, and threatening tariffs on another $16 billion. It did this without any international legal basis or justification.
“As a result of China’s retaliation and failure to change its practices, the president has ordered USTR to begin the process of imposing tariffs of 10 percent on an additional $200 billion of Chinese imports.”
This sounds like a serious approach to reshaping the trade relationship with China, and there is a lot at stake.
“The Trump administration is right to confront China’s unfair trade practices. Section 301 tariffs show the world that countries who cheat the United States on trade will be held accountable,” said NCTO President and CEO Auggie Tantillo in response to Lighthizer’s comments. “With the inclusion of virtually all fiber, yarn and fabric tariff lines, NCTO’s response will be on a line-by-line basis….”
The U.S. textile industry has consistently found ways to rebound from trade law changes — think China’s World Trade Organization accession, dealing with NAFTA and then CAFTA-DR. It’s never easy but the promise of reshaping U.S. trade relationships couldn’t be more critical.
Spinners and industry insiders say they are optimistic that the continuing surge in orders over the past few months will continue into the third quarter of the year.
“I am comfortable, at least at the moment, about where we are and how the next few months look,” said one multi-national spinner. “We are getting good week-to-week results, and we’ve finally been able to establish a pipeline. It’s not as long as we would like, but it is better than what we had. I think we are all beginning to accept that shorter orders are going to become more and more common.”
Another spinner commented: “It is still hard for customers to get positions in ring spinning. Over the years, as we reduced capacity to be better aligned with demand, we, perhaps, reduced our ring-spinning capacity a bit too much, especially when several of the big players closed in the early part of the decade.”
New Ring Spinning Online
There is at least some relief in sight for ring spinning capacity. Keer America Corp. began ring spinning on two frames in late June. By year’s end, the company is expected to be operating 75,000 spindles on new Rieter and Saurer Zinser ring-spinning frames.
“Keer America is unbelievably proud to be part of this revival,” a Keer spokesman said in an interview. “We want nothing more than to take full advantage of American-grown cotton and partner with the American workforce in order to produce the highest quality of spinning yarn.”
Keer’s second South Carolina plant is expected to have an annual yarn capacity of 40 million pounds, with a count range from Ne 6 to Ne 40 for both carded and combed yarns.
Other than ring-spun combed and carded cotton yarns, spinners report that specialty yarns are still moving well. “They’ve been solid all year, and continue to account for a lot of volume,” said one spinner.
Overall, spinners have reported an increased interest in cotton yarns across the board this year. But that doesn’t mean blends have suffered. “There are still a lot of customers who moved to blends when cotton prices went crazy a few years ago, and a lot of them decided they were happy and stuck with the blends,” said one spinner.
Into The Future
Despite the resurgence in the U.S. industry over the past few years, industry experts and observers say that there is still plenty of room for improvement. “It’s all about research and development,” said one industry observer. “Opportunities abound for those companies willing to invest in developing new applications for yarns, new yarn properties or new solutions for old problems.”
One spinner said: “The ability to innovate is key to future growth, especially for technical and specialty applications.” Added another executive: “We have been working to further develop better fire-retardant products, for example. And there are new opportunities in high-performance sportswear, medical applications and other areas. As economies and industries mature — especially in Asian countries where low-cost production is now an asset — the entire dynamics of the industry are likely to change. The selling point will change from “what does it cost?” to “what can it do?”
Trade Wars
In the continuing escalation of back-and-forth tariff increases between the United States and China, the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) is asking that products from the fiber/textile/apparel complex be included. “NCTO is convinced that the Trump administration’s Section 301 tariffs would be far more effective if Chinese apparel and sewn non-apparel end products were included in the 301 list because that would benefit the entire U.S. textile and apparel supply chain,” said NCTO President Auggie Tantillo, noting that these products were not included on the U.S. government’s latest proposed tariff list.
Cotton Prices
For the week ending July 12, the price for the base quality of cotton (color 41, leaf 4, staple 34, mike 35-36 and 43-49, strength 27.0-28.9, uniformity 81.0-81.9) in the seven designated markets measured by the USDA averaged 83.34 cents per pound. The weekly average was up from 80.42 the previous week, but up from 65.52 cents reported the corresponding period a year ago. The ICE October settlement prices ended the week at 89.24cents, compared to 82.71 cents the previous week.
AAPN’s Mike Todaro chats with Jesus Canahuati, general manager, Honduras-based Elcatex
By Mike Todaro
The Atlanta-based Americas Apparel Producers’ Network (AAPN) is hosting the Apparel Summit of the Americas in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, November 27-29, 2018. This supply chain event will include a program of speakers and plenty of networking opportunities as well as tours of brand new state-of-the-art mills built to address the need for agile manufacturing.
Honduras has a country development program, known as Honduras 2020. This private sector initiative is complemented by the public sector and was developed to grow the country both socially and economically. Honduras 2020 focuses on six strategic areas of the economy, one of which is textiles and apparel. One of the goals for the textile sector is to increase annual exports to $7.4 billion and add 200,000 jobs to the country’s existing 150,000 jobs by the year 2020. Another goal is to surpass Indonesia and Mexico to become the United States’ fifth most important apparel provider.
Honduran textile companies are ramping up synthetics output in Honduras. One such company is Elcatex, a company dedicated to producing knit fabrics, cut parts and full-package programs. Founded in 1984, the 500,000-square-foot mill has a capacity of 2 million pounds per week. In addition to its textile manufacturing investments, Elcatex operates Latin America’s largest above-ground photovoltaic generator that has a capacity of 7.5 megawatts, and also uses other forms of renewable energy including biomass.
Ahead of the Apparel Summit of the Americas in Honduras, AAPN’s Mike Todaro chatted with Jesus Canahuati, general manager, Elcatex, about his company and the Honduras 2020 initiative.
Mike Todaro: Why are you working in this industry?
Jesus Canahuati: I was born into this industry. In 1959, my father, Juan Canahuati, and his wife traveled to the United States where they met the brand Lovable. That same year, he obtained the line’s distribution rights in Honduras.
In 1965, he took the first step from distribution to actual production in what would become his own factory, Lovable of Honduras. Seeing the need for raw material within the country, in 1984 he created the company Elásticos Centroamericanos y Textiles, or ELCATEX.
I was born, raised and went to high school here in Honduras. I was fortunate to be accepted into the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta where I earned my engineering degree in 1987. When I returned to Honduras, my father encouraged me to build a small textile company within Elcatex in order to supply the fabric needed in his sewing facilities.
Todaro: Can you name a person who has had a tremendous impact on you as a leader?
Canahuati: My father, of course. On a trip to Asia, he saw the need to make the industrial parks come true in Honduras.
In 1989, with the law of Industrial Processing Zones, he created the first industrial park in the country, Zip Choloma S.A. In 1990, he signed the contract and proceeded to build the fourth building of Zip Choloma, where the brand HBI remains to date. In 1992, ELCATEX moved to Choloma, where it currently produces 1.6 million pounds of fabric a week.
Todaro: How did you build your knowledge of the U.S. market?
Canahuati: Our customer base today includes highly recognized companies such as JC Penney, SanMar, Nordstrom, Dickies and HBI. We manufacture a range of products including basic T-shirts, underwear programs, fleece sweatshirts with hoods and zippers, and polo pique shirts for men, women and children. Honduras has grown into an epicenter of high-volume production of blanks and underwear for the giants of that market in the US. They arrived with a full package business model and we have learned from working beside them and supplying them for decades.
Today, Honduras has very impressive trade numbers:
Honduras apparel exports to the United States are up 13 percent in Jan 2018 over the last year, same period;
U.S. yarn exports to Honduras up 2 percent for 2017 over 2016;
Demand is way up, investor traffic robust; and
Sourcing volumes are increasing.
Todaro: How do you compete as a supply chain? What links of the chain are you involved in, or are collocated in-country?
Canahuati: We are able to produce full package programs today for polo shirts, t-shirts, briefs and boxers. We perform the knitting dyeing, finishing, printing, cutting, sewing, packaging and logistic entirely within our enterprise.
Just within Elcatex, we maintain 99 sewing lines producing 78,000 dozen garments per week. The input fabric comes from the 500 knitting machines we operate, producing 2 million pounds a week. Dyeing is done in our 43 dyeing machines.
Another example is Stretchline. We invested in this Sri Lanka-based company, which is the world’s largest and only branded narrow fabric manufacturer. This 150-year-old company supports major fashion brands in eight countries on three continents. This gives Honduras true global brand power.
Todaro: What on-going investments are being made in your supply chain?
Canahuati: There are two answers to that question. First let me answer on behalf of our country. Our Honduras 2020 project seeks to generate 600,000 jobs and sharply boost exports by expanding and adding value to the key textiles, manufacturing, tourism, and business services sectors. The development plan was partly drafted by global consultant McKinsey. It is a country development program, which emerges as a transformational initiative from the private sector, being complemented and strengthened by the public sector in order to foster the socio-economic growth of our country.
The plan is completely comprehensive — public and private sector funding programs in education; housing; infrastructure; energy; construction; port expansion; everything. There is no national plan like it in this entire hemisphere.
When opened, the $73 million United Textiles of America (Unitexa) man-made yarn plant will have a capacity of more than 25,000 tons per year.
Within the Elcatex enterprise, we are building a new $73 million synthetic yarn production plant we have named United Textiles of America (Unitexa) Co. Several of the largest textile groups in the region have joined forces to create this new synthetic yarn production plant that will add a capacity of more than 25,000 tons per year.
This will be the first production plant of its size and nature in Central America opening Honduras’ doors to a new textile segment, attracting more specialized manufacturing industries, especially in activewear. The draw texturized yarn will then be used for the production of synthetic garments, sportswear, clothing resistant to stain, among others.
Because of the need for a greater specialization in the production of synthetic yarn, Unitexa will continuously seek to develop the personnel it employs, generating a total of 250 direct jobs and approximately 300 indirect jobs.
Todaro: In addition to your proximity to the United States, what are the other factors in your speed to market, such as front-end pre-production infrastructure through to production, logistics and transit times?
Canahuati: Many buyers are consolidating their accounts because of the recession. Our customers want to place their orders with fewer contractors to reduce manufacturing costs and still get good prices, fast delivery and great quality. This presents an interesting opportunity that Honduran textile companies can exploit because of other advantages the country offers.
Honduras’ advantages are apparent when we compete with Pakistan and other Asian countries. In addition to proximity to the U.S. market, which reduces the time and cost of product delivery, Honduras offers competitive wages and just-in-time delivery, an inventory strategy technique much in demand these days. Orders placed for goods produced in Honduras take 12 weeks to reach U.S. stores, compared with four months for orders placed with companies in China and Pakistan. Honduran textile products account for almost 6 percent of the market share in the United States currently.
These advantages include:
Vertical integration;
Free trade agreements with the United States, Canada, European Union and the Central American region; and
Strategic location — only three days away from the most important ports in the southeast coast of the United States.
Todaro: How do you compete on costs?
Canahuati: We compete on costs by owning the costs. We’ve made significant investments in yarn spinning, textile facilities, apparel sewing plants, Industrial Free Zones, a biomass steam facility, hydroelectric facility, and thermal cogeneration plant.
Several years ago, we got a program out of the blue. A brand member of the AAPN contacted the organization for help bringing a high needle program back from Asia. We got that business.
After three months of production, AAPN asked the brand member how it was going. Their answer was that sourcing from Honduras was easier, better, faster and even cheaper because there was less product in the pipeline.
Todaro: How easy is it to do business with your company?
Canahuati: Elcatex started operations in 1984 with the objective of becoming an integrated textile center that would offer products of high quality to both national and international markets. Every step we made from the start was to get it right from the start. We invested, we studied, we partnered, we innovated and above all else we asked questions.
We’re in the same time zone as our U.S. customers, we speak English and we were educated in the United States. Our values, cultures, management beliefs and leadership values are the same as those held in the United States. Since Honduras is one of the most bi-lingual nations in this hemisphere, we understand our suppliers, our customers and our industry.
Todaro: Give examples of leadership in social compliance and sustainability?
Canahuati: We are WRAP certified and also certified by Hohenstein as a company that fulfills the specific requirements for product class II of Oeko-Tex Standard 100.
We have from the start been innovative, which is why we are a pioneer in the region for energy generation thru renewable process, like the biomass and water recycling process better known as Dyeclean, an innovative process that helps to reduce water consumption by up to 80 percent and chemical consumption by up to 50 percent.
We were able to reduce 30,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year with the Biomass Steam Generation facility, which produces 30 tons of steam per hour. We have also been a key player on three hydroelectric projects with a capacity of 8 megawatts with a future expansion to 26 megawatts. Today, I am the CEO of two new companies — Honduran Green Power Corporation and Sula Valley Biogas — built to generate 43 megawatts of energy with biomass and 5 megawatts with biogas.
On the social front, we contribute to the social housing program of the Honduran government, with the project of building 2,000 houses, and plans to expand in the future. In fact, as you drive past our biomass energy plant on a new paved two-lane road, you quickly arrive at a development of 1,500 new houses. These are bought by our workers under very favorable terms.
My parents instilled in me a strong belief in social responsibility and community work. I have served on the Board of Directors of the Saint Vincent’s Foundation for more than 23 years. This foundation manages various centers that protect the livelihood of orphans, youth, seniors, terminally ill patients and recovering alcoholics. Furthermore, the foundation provides education and physical health services to low income families through a school and a clinic.
Todaro: Where does Honduras stand in risk assessment?
Canahuati: Honduras is no different than the United States or any other country caught in the emotions of populism. Still, Honduras follows its rule of law. For example, during the presidential crisis on September 2009, when a former president attempted to take over his former office, the entire country — including the legislature, courts, government and even his own party — followed our laws.
The best way to stop migration and deter crime is work. Nothing stops a bullet like a job and Honduras 2020’s goal is to create 600,000 jobs, 200,000 of them in our textile/ apparel sector. Clearly, we are well on our way.
Todaro: When it’s all over, how do you want to be remembered?
Canahuati: My driving force is my family, having the complete support of my wife and our five lovely children. Professionally, I want to be known as a visionary who saw an opportunity and raised a commitment to be the best in this hemisphere.
I want to be known as someone who helped give a broad range of options to our customers, outperforming the competition in quality, technology, production and export of the same, and with better working conditions and quality of life for our staff.
In fact, every goal of Honduras 2020 is a goal of mine and our company.
Editor’s Note: Mike Todaro is the managing director of the Atlanta-based Americas Apparel Producers’ Network (AAPN). AAPN is a private sector, non-profit, members-only apparel industry business network of more than 600 company owners and senior executives from 200 companies across the apparel supply chain.
Photo courtesy of Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, Dallas
Industrial fabrics, geosynthetics and composites industries will be represented at collocated trade shows in Dallas this October.
TW Special Report
Organized by the Roseville, Minn.-based Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI), IFAI Expo 2018 will collocate with CAMX and GeoDallas this fall in Dallas. To be held October 15-18 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, the conference promises access to a combined show floor featuring more than 800 total exhibitors, as well as networking opportunities with other specialty fabrics, advanced textiles, composites, and shade and weather professionals at a variety of informal events during the expo. More than 15,000 people are expected to attend the combined event.
IFAI Expo serves all aspects of the industry, and highlights segments targeted to specific markets including specialty fabrics, advanced textiles, smart fabrics, shade and weather protection, military, marine, geosynthetics, and fabrics structures, among other markets.
“We’re excited to be in Dallas this year for IFAI Expo 2018 where we will be co-locating with CAMX, the composites and advanced materials Expo,” said Steve Schiffman, president and CEO, IFAI. “Attendees will enjoy a great value and have access to all six exhibit halls, an expanded array of market segments and over 800 exhibitors for one price. Our Pre-Expo Conference will feature six different tracks and over 60 training courses.”
IFAI has revamped the Opening Reception event. This year, the offsite party to be held at the 2616 Commerce Event Center — a unique tri-level venue with rooftop space offering skyline views — from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 16, will feature drinks, appetizer stations and live entertainment including the IFAI’s member band Hangin’ by a Thread. Tickets will be required for entry. Full registrations and GeoDallas registrations include a ticket. Otherwise, tickets can be purchased by members for $35 and non-members for $85. IFAI is offering an early bird discount of $10 off tickets purchased by September 17.
Show Floor Activities
This year’s Expo features a show floor packed with exhibitors as well equipment workshops and education demonstrations, campfire sessions, Advanced Textiles Lounge, IFAI Hub/Membership Lounge, Fabric Sourcing Center, Testing Demo Zone and Industry Awards Gallery.
The 2018 expo will feature five areas of education on the show floor: Campfire: Shade; Campfire: Specialty; Campfire: Advanced Textiles; Testing Q&A; and e-Textiles Workshop and Discussions. Organizers report the show floor education opportunities are a great way to pick up business-building tips, learn from experts and share best practices.
Mentor Meetings return to IFAI Expo 2018. Both attendees and exhibitors may schedule 30-minute appointments in advance to meet with independent experts during the show to seek confidential advice.
The IFAI Expo Testing Program in collaboration with North Carolina State University’s (NC State’s) College of Textiles will again be available to expo attendees on and off the show floor. The Pre-Expo Conference features a testing curriculum designed to educate on the methodology and interpretation of standard test procedures. Participants who complete the Testing Track at the conference in addition to lab requirements in the Testing Demo Zone on the show floor will earn a Textile Testing Certificate, which can be applied toward NC State’s Textile Technology Certificate Program.
The Testing Demo Zone will gather the latest-generation testing equipment from exhibitors. Attendees are invited to watch live demonstrations and videos, as well as participate in question and answer sessions and the Intro to Testing Seminar to learn more about textile testing, current research, product development and product claims. Those who complete the Intro to Testing Seminar as well as additional lab requirements at the Testing Zone can earn an Intro to Testing Certificate, which can be applied toward a NC State Textile Technology Certificate Program.
A new feature at IFAI Expo 2018 is the Manufacturing for Good demonstration booth. Attendees will be able to watch equipment demonstrations and follow the manufacturing process as duffel bags are made on the show floor. This live charity event supports the Bridge North Texas, a multi-service center for people experiencing homelessness. IFAI member companies will donate the materials as well as manufacturing expertise to make the bags, which will be used by people served by The Bridge.
For a complete list of all the events and happenings surrounding the 4-day expo, please see the “Schedule at a Glance.”
Educational Events, Awards
This year’s Expo features an extensive educational preshow conference schedule. In contrast to past years, the Pre-Expo Conference will only be held Monday from 8 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. No conference sessions will occur once the show floor opens on Tuesday.
There are 48 total sessions to choose from with topics ranging from shade, marine, sewing, automation and green practices, to advancements in knitting and business operations. Each 50-minute session is structured as a lecture, panel or discussion, and will focus on case studies, best practices, how tos, research and industry issues. Participants may move between session rooms throughout the day and are encouraged to tailor their own curriculum. Full registration is required to participate in the Pre-Expo Conference.
IFAI will again recognize new and innovative products and services found on the show floor with the Show Stopper program. The annual International Achievement Awards (IAA) — judged by industry experts, editors, architects, educators and design professionals — will honor innovation, technical skill and design excellence. In addition, the four Student Design Competitions sponsored by four IFAI divisions will recognize student talent in Advanced Textiles, Awning and Canopy, Fabric Graphics and Fabric Structures. The Industrial Fabrics Foundation also will present Innovation Awards in six categories with one achievement honored with a top overall prize.
Keynote Address
This year’s keynote speaker will be featured Tuesday, October 16, 2018, from 8:30-9:45 a.m. prior to the show floor opening. All exhibitors and visitors are invited to attend Mark Scharenbroich’s talk titled, “Nice Bike — Making Connections That Move People.” According to IFAI, Scharenbroich will focus on how to effectively make meaningful connections in both professional and personal situations through three strong actions: Acknowledge, honor and connect.
Collocated Events
IFAI’s GeoDallas Conference is a two-day regional conference featuring short courses, panel discussions, case studies and training lectures for geotechnical, civil and environmental engineers. Participants will earn 14 professional development hours, and also gain access to the Geosynthetics Pavilion show floor.
CAMX — the Composites and Advanced Materials Expo, is produced by the American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA) and the Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering (SAMPE). The show bills itself as the “event that connects and advances the world’s composites and advanced materials communities — the go-to place for products, solutions, networking and advanced industry thinking.”
CAMX features a conference program with more than 300 conference and technical sessions as well as a poster session. The conference is arranged into eight tracks: Additive Manufacturing; Advances in Materials; Business, Regulatory & Workforce Development; Design, Analysis & Simulation; Green & Sustainability; Manufacturing and Processing Technologies; Market Applications; Non-Destructive Evaluation and Testing.
The three collocated events offer something for everyone involved in the industrial, geosynthetic and composites industries. Dallas is the place to be this October!
Dave Rousse (left), INDA president, and Dr. Bernd Kunze, CEO, Reifenhäuser Reicofil, at RISE® 2017
INDA’s RISE® conference focuses on connecting emerging technologies with real-world applications.
TW Special Report
RISE® — The Research, Innovation & Science For Engineered Fabrics Conference, will be held September 11-13, 2018, at the Raleigh Marriott City Center hotel, Raleigh, N.C. The conference, now in its eighth year and organized by the Cary, N.C.-based Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA), focuses on innovations in global plastics extrusion, multifunctional fabric technologies, innovative apparel manufacturing and disruptive engineered materials with the aim of connecting innovations with real-world applications.
INDA staff assembled the RISE Distinguished Advisory Committee — a group of experts from scientific and technical arenas — who combined their insights and knowledge of the industry to curate a conference schedule full of cutting edge and innovative developments in engineered fabrics, nonwovens and related applications. This year’s advisory committee is comprised of some 12 industry experts and is chaired by Davis Lee, senior managing scientist, Exponent. Topics to be covered at the conference are broad and include biomimicry, e-standards and regulations, microfibers in the marine environment, reflecting fibers for nonwoven applications, and nanofibrillated cellulose for improved filter media, among other topics.
Speakers at this year’s event include: Jeffrey Bates, University of Utah; John Bradshaw, Shaw Industries; Seth Casden, Hologenix LLC; Alasdair Carmichael, National Association for PET Container Resources; Katherine McDonnell, Gingko Bioworks Inc.; Molly Morse, Mango Materials; Gurminder Minhas, Performance BioFilaments Inc.; Jeff Dugan, Fiber Innovation Technology; Gisela Goldhalm, Lenzing AG; and INDA’s own Director of Market Research and Statistics Brad Kalil, among many speakers.
The event’s keynote speaker is Mark Vitner, managing director and senior economist, Wells Fargo. His “Market Dynamics, North American Economic Forecast,” presentation will give attendees some insight into the current economic climate in the United States.
“The RISE conference offers a clear and unique view of opportunities for the engineered fabrics industry,” said Dr. Jim Loftus, director of Education and Technical Affairs, INDA. “This event provides a predictive glimpse of the technology and areas where developers and researchers in our industry may not typically look. The simple goal is to present new ideas, experiences and concepts that attendees may never see elsewhere.”
INDA also will announce the winner of the annual RISE Innovation Award, which recognizes “innovation in areas and on the periphery of the nonwovens industry which utilizes advanced science and engineering principles to develop unique or intricate solutions to advance the usage of nonwovens.” Finalists — selected from disposable and durable product categories including raw material advances, advances in process or manufacturing technologies, new products, or application development — will present their technologies to attendees on the first day of the conference. Attendees will vote on a winner, which will be announced on Thursday afternoon.
“The RISE Conference embraces INDA’s mission to stimulate and recognize innovation in engineered materials,” said Dave Rousse, president, INDA. “We organize content for like-minded, forward-thinking technology professionals looking for a new approach to a material science challenge. This is THE conference for technology scouts and new product innovators looking to advance their material science toolkit, and is an event not to be missed.”
For more information about RISE® — The Research, Innovation & Science For Engineered Fabrics Conference, please visit inda.org/events/rise18.
