Ascena Retail Group Appoints Wendy L. Hufford Senior Vice President, General Counsel

MAHWAH, N.J. — October 1, 2018 — Ascena retail group inc. today announced the appointment of Wendy L. Hufford as senior vice president and general counsel, effective immediately. Hufford will oversee all legal matters for the company and will serve on the company’s leadership team, reporting to David Jaffe, chairman and CEO.

Hufford joins the company from Boehringer Ingelheim USA, where she was the COO, Legal Department & vice president, U.S. Litigation, Risk Management & Human Resources. Prior to that, she held executive leadership positions at ITT Corp. and Cardinal Health, as well as in-house roles at GE Consumer Finance and Credit Suisse First Boston.

Earlier in her career, Hufford was in private practice at Davis, Polk & Wardwell in New York, and served as a law clerk for the Honorable Robert J. Ward on the U.S. District Court of the Southern District Court of New York. She is a graduate of Colgate University and The Yale Law School.

“We are thrilled to welcome Wendy to our team,” said David Jaffe. “In addition to her impressive legal career, she is passionate about leading initiatives to help working women and families in the workplace and has been recognized for her dedication to mentoring and leadership development. This made Wendy the right person for this important role.”

Hufford, a mother of eight, received a 2017 Working Mother of the Year award from Working Mother magazine. She has led women’s leadership programming throughout her career and in 2016 received a Transformation Leadership Award from Inside Counsel magazine for advancing the empowerment of women in corporate law. Hufford also designed and co-founded the Women’s Initiative Network at Cardinal Health, for which the company won an ACE Award in 2012 from the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association.

Posted October 1, 2018

Source: Ascena retail group inc.

DPW Holdings Names Kenneth S. Cragun Chief Accounting Officer

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — October 1, 2018 — DPW Holdings Inc., a diversified holding company, announced it hired Kenneth S. Cragun to fill the new position of chief accounting officer. Cragun will report to the company’s CFO William B. Horne.

DPW’s CEO and Chairman, Milton “Todd” Ault, III said: “With over 30 years’ experience serving a wide variety of public and private multi-national businesses, Ken is a great fit for DPW. He is a strategic thinker who is comfortable in fast-growth and dynamic environments, building great teams and providing solid financial and accounting infrastructure. His expertise includes SEC reporting, cash management and sophisticated technical accounting. We believe his financial acumen will enhance our ability to continue to build and monetize our diversified portfolio.”

Cragun stated, “With its current portfolio, DPW has significant opportunities to drive growth and create value. And, with a strong financial infrastructure, we can leverage our foundation and expand our reach with additional investments. I am excited to partner with the team to drive long-term shareholder value.”

Cragun most recently was a CFO Partner at Hardesty LLC, a national executive services firm since October 2016. His assignments included serving as CFO of CorVel Corporation, a publicly traded nationwide leader in technology driven risk management programs and of RISA Tech, Inc. a private structural design and optimization software company. Cragun was also CFO of two NASDAQ-listed companies: Local Corp., from April 2009 to September 2016, which operated Local.com, a U.S. top 100 website; and Modtech Holdings Inc., from June 2006 to March 2009, a supplier of modular buildings. Prior, he had financial leadership roles with increasing responsibilities at MIVA Inc., ImproveNet Inc., NetCharge Inc., C-Cube Microsystems Inc, and 3-Com Corp. Cragun began his professional career at Deloitte. Currently, Cragun is on the board of directors of nFusz Inc.

Cragun, a CPA, earned his BS in Accounting from Colorado State University-Pueblo and his AAS in Business Management from Brigham Young University-Idaho. He is also a two-time finalist for the Orange County Business Journal “CFO of the Year – Public Companies”.

Posted October 1, 2018

Source: DPW Holdings Inc.

Sonoco Completes Acquisition Of Conitex Sonoco Joint Venture

HARTSVILLE, S.C. — October 1, 2018 — Sonoco today announced it has completed the acquisition of the remaining 70-percent interest in the joint venture of Conitex Sonoco, a vertically integrated manufacturer of paper-based cones and tubes used in the textile industry.

The Conitex Sonoco joint venture was formed in 1998 between Texpack Inc., a Spain-based global provider of paper-based packaging products, and Sonoco’s former North America textile cone business. Sonoco acquired the remaining 70-percent interest from Texpack, along with a composite can plant in Spain for $143 million in cash. In 2017, the joint venture produced total sales of approximately $245 million and produced more than 300,000 tons of uncoated recycled paperboard, which was used to produce approximately 1.4 billion tubes and cones for the global spun yarn industry. The joint venture has approximately 1,250 employees and 13 manufacturing locations in 10 countries, including four paper mills and seven cone and tube converting operations and two other production facilities.

“The Conitex Sonoco relationship has been very successful over the past 20 years, and we see even further opportunity to grow Sonoco’s existing global paper-based tube and core business through this combination, especially in faster-growing emerging markets in Asia where we will be substantially increasing our manufacturing presence while more than doubling our current annual sales in the region,” said Rob Tiede, Sonoco president and CEO.

Conitex Sonoco’s COO Michel Schmidlin and members of his global leadership team will remain with Sonoco, and there are no expected changes to customer relationships. Conitex Sonoco’s financial results will be reported within Sonoco’s Paper/Industrial Converted Products segment and the Spanish composite can operations reported in the Company’s Consumer Packaging segment.

Posted October 1, 2018

Source: Sonoco

Startup T-Shirt Company Expands Reach With Addition Of Women Tees

DETROIT — October 1, 2018 — GETTEES, Michigan-based garment manufacturer, has expanded its repertoire with the addition of quality women’s T-shirts. The company has been producing luxury quality products at affordable prices, entirely sourced and manufactured in Michigan, since 2015. Detroit native and GETTEES creator, Mathew Hunt, began studying the history of the garment industry and discovered a lack of evolution and progress despite current opportunities for innovation. He decided to take action, seeking to disrupt the current standards of the garment industry and invest everything into not only the products being made, but the people who make them.

“After four years of perfecting the classic male T-shirt, my team is ready to offer the same for women,” Hunt said. “We have been working to perfect our women’s T-shirt design for over a year. After a lot of trial and error, we are ready to share this quality product that will help to add a new staple to every woman’s closet.”

The women’s T-shirt is the perfect balance between throwing on an old vintage tee and the sophistication of a slightly tailored silhouette with a curved bottom. It’s not too tight, not too loose, extremely versatile and is as soft as can be without being see-through. Most importantly, it is crafted for quality and entirely sourced and manufactured in the United States.

The three women’s t-shirts, include:

Heavyweight Crew

  • Our first-ever women’s tee, designed to perfect the classic women’s crew-neck tee;
  • Made with a custom 6.4 oz. 100% supima cotton interlock fabric;
  • Will easily be the softest and most durable shirt in your closet;
  • The slightly heavier fabric means it’s never see-through;
  • Available short-sleeved in 8 original colors;
  • Incorporates a slightly tailored body, crew neck-line, tagless label, a single-crush stitch, flat seams, reinforced seams, a curved bottom hem and a slightly longer torso; and
  • Designed to be the perfect balance of fitted and loose, casual and sophisticated.

Heavyweight Box Tee

  • Designed with the same shape of the men’s heavyweight crew short-sleeve but shortened for a more updated and versatile look;
  • Made with a custom 6.4 oz. 100% supima cotton interlock fabric;
  • Will easily be the softest and most durable shirt in your closet;
  • The slightly heavier fabric means it’s never see-through;
  • Available in 8 original colors; and
  • Incorporates a box shape, fitted collar, tagless label, a single-crush stitch and reinforced seams.

Heavyweight Crop Tee

  • The classic women’s crop top redesigned to last;
  • A trendy alternative to classic crew tees;
  • Made with a custom 6.4 oz. 100% supima cotton interlock fabric;
  • Will easily be the softest and most durable shirt in your closet;
  • The slightly heavier fabric means it’s never see-through;
  • Available in 4 original colors; and
  • Incorporates a slightly tailored body, fitted collar, tagless label, a single-crush stitch flat seams and reinforced seams.

“As a woman, I know I can speak for many when I say it is a struggle to find a shirt that is not see-through,” said Emily Dahuron, creative director at GETTEES. “Being able to help support a product that is not only something I wear almost every day, but that is made by women who are treated fairly and paid a living wage, makes me believe that GETTEES can really make a noticeable change in the garment industry.”

These new additions to the GETTEES product line will help bring in a new audience of supporters to spread the GETTEES mission further, and call attention to the importance of the emerging luxe ethical market.

After a successful summer stint at the downtown Detroit Markets in Capitol Park, GETTEES is thrilled to return to the winter markets located in Campus Martius to sell their full line, including women’s wear.

Posted October 1, 2018

Source: GETTEES

PMI® At 59.8%; September Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business®

TEMPE, Ariz. — October 1, 2018 — Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in September, and the overall economy grew for the 113th consecutive month, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business®.

The report was issued today by Timothy R. Fiore, CPSM, C.P.M., chair of the Institute for Supply Management® (ISM®) Manufacturing Business Survey Committee: “The September PMI® registered 59.8 percent, a decrease of 1.5 percentage points from the August reading of 61.3 percent. The New Orders Index registered 61.8 percent, a decrease of 3.3 percentage points from the August reading of 65.1 percent. The Production Index registered 63.9 percent, a 0.6 percentage point increase compared to the August reading of 63.3 percent. The Employment Index registered 58.8 percent, an increase of 0.3 percentage point from the August reading of 58.5 percent. The Supplier Deliveries Index registered 61.1 percent, a 3.4-percentage point decrease from the August reading of 64.5 percent. The Inventories Index registered 53.3 percent, a decrease of 2.1 percentage points from the August reading of 55.4 percent. The Prices Index registered 66.9 percent in September, a 5.2-percentage point decrease from the August reading of 72.1 percent, indicating higher raw materials prices for the 31st consecutive month.

“Comments from the panel reflect continued expanding business strength. Demand remains strong, with the New Orders Index at 60 percent or above for the 17th straight month, and the Customers’ Inventories Index remaining low. The Backlog of Orders Index continued to expand, but at lower levels compared to the previous month. Consumption improved, with production and employment continuing to expand, at higher levels compared to August, despite shortages in labor and materials. Inputs — expressed as supplier deliveries (decreased), inventories and imports — improved compared to prior month’s activity. But continued supply chain inefficiencies led to an increased consumption of inventory and a slight expansion of imports, which adequately supported production output.  Lead-time extensions, steel and aluminum disruptions, supplier labor issues, and transportation difficulties continue to limit potential, but at more manageable levels.

“Export orders expanded, but four major industries are no longer contributing. Price pressure continues, but the index softened for the fourth straight month and dropped below 70 for the first time since December 2017. Demand remains robust, but employment resources and supply chains continue to struggle, but to a lesser degree. Respondents are again overwhelmingly concerned about tariff-related activity, including how reciprocal tariffs will impact company revenue and current manufacturing locations,” says Fiore.

Of the 18 manufacturing industries, 15 reported growth in September, in the following order: Textile Mills; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Plastics & Rubber Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Machinery; Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Paper Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Chemical Products; Petroleum & Coal Products; Transportation Equipment; Furniture & Related Products; Fabricated Metal Products; and Nonmetallic Mineral Products. The only industry reporting contraction in September is Primary Metals.

Comments:

“The market is in a state of chaos with the latest round of tariffs. As an electronics original equipment manufacturer, component prices have been impacted almost across the board. The tariffs have caused a mass rush to buy up inventories of affected products in order to minimize the long-term financial impact. This in turn, is causing market constraints which further drive-up the cost and increase lead times.” (Computer & Electronic Products)

“Tariffs starting to take a bite out of profitability.” (Chemical Products)

“Business is strong and relatively stable. Tariffs are putting pressure on Chinese imports. Labor rates are increasing as it is very difficult to find help.” (Furniture & Related Products)

“The economy’s strength is holding, [and] outlook for the industry is positive, although continuing margin compression in consumer packaged goods is restricting general growth momentum from the greater economy.” (Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products)

“Still extremely strong through November; starting to see a decline for steel prices for December.” (Fabricated Metal Products)

“General available capacity at suppliers continues to decrease, creating supply issues.” (Machinery)

“Tariffs are creating a drag on some of our export opportunities.” (Plastics & Rubber Products)

“Sourcing hourly workers for remote locations continues to be a challenge for both full-time and part-time opportunities. Have implemented a wide variety of recruiting techniques and suppliers to aid us in sourcing this hard-to-find talent.” (Paper Products)

“Orders are coming in, but from a limited number of customers. The future looks very promising.” (Primary Metals)

“Suppliers are impacted by China tariffs, [which is] delaying or cancelling manufacturing transfer projects.” (Miscellaneous Manufacturing)

Posted October 1, 2018

Source: Institute for Supply Management

DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products Opens New Warehouse, Distribution Center

LOUDON, Tenn. — October 1, 2018 — DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products Co. LLC, a manufacturer of natural and renewably sourced ingredients, opened a new warehouse and distribution center located at its world-class manufacturing site in Loudon, Tenn. The new facility will create a streamlined approach to servicing global customers who require various packaging sizes and bolster service around the world to consumers looking for bio-based solutions. The warehouse and distribution center increases DuPont Tate & Lyle’s ability in delivering high-quality products, ensuring customers focused on plant-based ingredients will continue to have access to products when and where they need it.

The on-site warehouse is one of many initiatives demonstrating that DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products is committed to servicing the growing global demand for Susterra® and Zemea® propanediol. The warehouse is designed for anticipated future capacity expansions and will support the current capacity of 135 million pounds as well as the additional 35 million pounds of bio-based 1,3 propanediol coming online mid-2019.

According to Todd Sutton, president, DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products: “Investing in the warehouse and distribution center enables our company to move forward with the industry and allows us to ensure our customers have access to high-quality products in a timely fashion. “We received no special incentives on these expansions, but we have worked closely with the state and local economic development agencies in the past. Their support in helping our Loudon operation remain cost competitive on a global scale has been extremely important.”

Previously only bulk shipments were fulfilled from the manufacturing facility with package goods being handled off-site by a third-party provider. The new warehouse and distribution center allows for packaged goods such as pails, drums and totes to be directly filled, stored and shipped from the manufacturing facility to any destination around the world and simplifies the global supply chain.

DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products is a joint venture between DuPont, a global science innovator, and Tate & Lyle, a world-leading renewable food and industrial ingredients company. DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products provides natural and renewably sourced ingredients that enhance product performance.

Posted October 1, 2018

Source: DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products Co.

ITMA Asia + CITME 2018 Exhibitor Preview: TMAS, Textile Machinery Association Of Sweden

STOCKHOLM, Sweden — October 1, 2018 — The highly inspiring, exciting platform for the world to view the latest technological developments, ITMA Asia + CITME is happening in Shanghai, China. This time, Swedish machinery producers will be proudly represented by four TMAS members: IRO, Eltex, Eton systems and ES Automatex. TMAS, the Textile Machine Association of Sweden, has nine members, each at the forefront of their own specific segment, and with a long and successful history and a passion for textile manufacturing.

China has been and is an increasingly important market for the Swedish machinery producers. Not surprising, since the country is one of the most important production hubs in the world today. The dramatic technology drive shaping the Chinese textile industry is setting the agenda with automation and sustainability being the key drivers. As TMAS member companies are at the forefront of automatization and innovative production processes, they look forward to working closely with Chinese customers on this exciting journey towards next-generation solutions.

Swedish producers invest heavily in R&D especially because technological innovation is so inbuilt in the corporate culture of Swedish companies. At the show we will see inbuilt intelligence and utilization of data for customized production developed to meet real customer needs.

“We know and understand the Chinese market, and we realize the trends for the future that will shape the Chinese textile and garment industry. We work in close collaboration with our customers and understand the market drivers. This enables us to constantly drive innovative breakthroughs in order for our customers to stay competitive,” said Mikael Äremann, president, TMAS.

The demands on machine producers are much more than just supplying a machine or technology. As a supplier you must understand and be prepared to integrate interface with procurement, administration, production and stock handling systems in order to create a complete, intelligent system and efficient processes for the customer. This means that, as a machine builder, you have to work closely with your customers to find the best solutions for all the different products and processes within the textile and garment industry, which Swedish companies have proven themselves to be very good at. We have been able to give the Chinese customers ideas on efficiency, quality improvements, reduced waste and how products can be adopted to fit automation.

“Swedish machines always deliver groundbreaking technology that will allow the customers in China to be flexible and innovative in their solutions to their customers. Local production and assembly of machinery are other Swedish ways to improve the customer experience and increasing demand for customized solutions,” said Therese Premler-Andersson, secretary general, TMAS.

IRO (H3 C01) will be displaying their wide range of yarn feeding equipment, that are optimized to meet the demands of advanced modern weaving machinery. The feeders incorporate innovative energy efficient permanent magnet motor design and incorporate developments such as easy “plug and play” for connecting intelligent accessories and an improved threading-up system.

Eltex (H3 C10) will have their new Eltex EyE™ Yarn Tension Monitoring System on display. The system monitors the yarn tension on all positions in real-time and you are able to immediately detect any fault position. Eltex EyE greatly helps increase the quality of warp beams. The result is fewer problems, not only when warping, but also in the next step when weaving or tufting. The system is suitable for applications such as warping, winding, etc.

Eton Systems (HS B14) will show their unique concept for material handling, developed to create efficiency, increase production and full traceability. The machines incorporate a real-time information system and the necessary tools to improve the manufacturing processes through powerful software programs. When visiting their stand at ITMA Asia + CITME you will also understand how the Eton systems are integrated on the mill floor.

ES Automatex (H5 D04) deliver high performance automated systems with high reliability, designed to meet specific customer requests. Are you looking for intelligent, automated sewing units for home textile, bags or garments then make sure you visit ES Automatex.

The Swedish companies are very excited to be participating in the ITMA Asia + CITME show.  The show is an excellent platform to view the latest technological developments. Furthermore, the show offers an excellent marketplace for making valuable business contacts with new partners and customers as well as strengthening existing ones. TMAS has been a part of the show in the past and we have been very happy with the results. We are certainly looking forward to this year’s show in Shanghai.

Posted October 1, 2018

Source: TMAS, Textile Machinery Association of Sweden

Chicago’s Roscoe Company Earns Hygienically Clean Food Safety Certification

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — September 28, 2018 — Roscoe Company, a Chicago-based independent industrial textile service facility, has earned the Hygienically Clean Food Safety designation, reflecting its commitment to best management practices (BMPs) in laundering as verified by on-site inspection and its capability to produce hygienically clean textiles as quantified by ongoing microbial testing.

The certification confirms the laundry’s dedication to compliance and processing linens and garments using BMPs as described in its quality assurance documentation, the focal point for Hygienically Clean inspectors’ evaluation of critical control points (CCPs) that minimize risk. The independent, third-party inspection must confirm essential evidence that:

  • Employees are properly trained and protected;
  • Managers understand legal requirements;
  • OSHA-compliant; and
  • Physical plant operates effectively.

In addition, Roscoe’s facility passed three rounds of outcome-based microbial testing, indicating that their processes are producing Hygienically Clean uniforms, garments and linens and diminished presence of harmful bacteria. To maintain their certification, laundry plants must pass quarterly testing to ensure that as laundry conditions change, such as water quality, textile fabric composition and wash chemistry, laundered product quality is consistently maintained.

This process eliminates subjectivity by focusing on outcomes and results that verify textiles cleaned in these facilities meet appropriate hygienically clean standards and BMPs for full- and limited-service restaurants and other food service operations.

Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) practices are examined in the Hygienically Clean Food Safety inspection process, evaluating the plant’s techniques for:

  • Conducting hazard analysis;
  • Determining CCPs, monitoring their control, correcting them if not under control;
  • Validating and verifying HACCP system effectiveness; and
  • Documenting and record-keeping to show ongoing conformance.

Inspections also evaluate practices relevant to handling and processing textile products used in food manufacturing/processing establishments for adherence to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) directives. Introduced in 2014, Hygienically Clean Food Safety brought to linen and uniform service laundering in North America the international cleanliness standards used worldwide by the Certification Association for Professional Textile Services and the European Committee for Standardization.

“Congratulations to Roscoe on their certification,” said Joseph Ricci, TRSA president and CEO. “This achievement proves their commitment to infection prevention and that their laundry takes every step possible to prevent human illness.”

This achievement complements Roscoe’s Clean Green certification, which they’ve held since 2012, proving their commitment to customers that their laundry is dedicated to standards for operational efficiency and sustainability. Clean Green certification underscores ongoing sustainability efforts and adherence to the highest standards in their production and delivery operations.

Posted October 1, 2018

Source: TRSA

ITMA Asia + CITME 2018 Exhibitor Preview: Oerlikon Manmade Fibers Segment

SHANGHAI, China — October 1, 2018 — “From Melt to Yarn, Fibers and Nonwovens – Bring it to Life” — is the motto under which the Oerlikon Manmade Fibers Segment will transform itself into a digital machinery and plant manufacturing company showcasing its power as one of the innovation leaders for the production of chemical fibers. ITMA ASIA + CITME 2018, taking place in Shanghai from October 15th to 19th, is the world’s biggest textile machinery exhibition this year and with over 750 square meter exhibition space will be a virtual show for trendsetting digital products and services “From Melt to Yarn, Fibers and Nonwovens”. En route to the digital yarn factory, technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning or innovative HMI (Human Machine Interface) solutions promise the bridging between material and data flow – for customer value. These topics are also the central point of the “Oerlikon Innovation Forum” at which presentations in English and Chinese will be held several times a day for visitors of the exhibition booth.

The scenario of the future: textile production — from the supply chain through to dispatch — is autonomously controlled in the fully-networked Factory 4.0. The product being created controls and monitors the processes itself using embedded sensors. The manufacturing or order status is known at all times, raw materials are automatically reordered, wear and maintenance are planned as integral parts of the production process and error processes are identified, alleviated or displayed. This should cut costs, convert production lines more flexibly and help reduce downtimes and waste. For this, the machine construction sector has to provide correspondingly intelligent and Web-enabled production systems. No easy feat, as this requires interfaces between all systems involved and the collation, channeling and evaluation of tremendous volumes of data in real time.

Oerlikon Manmade Fibers Segment wants to face those technical development challenges and has high standards. “We want to become the textile machine construction trendsetter for technologies of this kind,” said CEO Georg Stausberg. The first steps on this journey have already been taken. The Plant Operation Center (POC) for process monitoring enables the collation of existing production data in a central location and to make these data available. HMI based services such as process monitoring via a service online app on smart phones and tablets were introduced as well as an assistance system based on mixed-reality glasses (Microsoft HoloLens). The system supports predictive maintenance concepts and enables virtual 360-degree tours through spinning systems.

AIM 4DTY: Automated detection of error cause

At ITMA Asia + CITME 2018 the company gives an insight to this as well as an outlook for new developments for the digitization of the process chain “From Melt to Yarn, Fibers and Nonwoven”. The digital future solution AIM4DTY provides help with the identification of possible error causes in texturing machines to help reduce quality risks. Here, machine learning is being used: The system recognizes and is being “trained” using trend charts and their respective errors. An example: In the texturing machine, the UNITENS monitoring sensor continually measures the yarn tension at all positions. An error is generated if a measurement value does not lie within the prescribed tolerances. In a lot of cases, the form of the graphs can provide information on the error causes and ultimately provide targeted and efficient response to these. A manual analysis and optimization is nearly impossible with more than 125,000 graphs per day. With the automated solution AIM4DTY the information is instantly available to customers, therefore allowing them to immediately optimize the quality during running production. It also ensures that predictive maintenance is now a reality.

Here, data security, data minimization and transparency are extremely important. This means that the data are utilized at the customer site as far as possible and only transferred to the Oerlikon central customer data center if required – and only following customer approval. “We process all data in accordance with the new European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), taking all further international data protection standards into account. Our customers always know which data we use and why”, explains Mario Arcidiacono, Business Intelligence & Data Warehouse specialist for the Oerlikon Manmade Fibers Segment.

Wiping robot with intelligent control system

The crucial advantage of the wiping robot used for the cleaning of the spinnerets is automation: intelligent control system which connects machines and processes. The information relating to all wiping positions, cycles and times can be saved in the management system. The robot accesses the saved wiping intervals in an automated and safety-relevant manner. To this end, the robot can cope with up to 48 positions, corresponding to one entire production line. However, more decisive here is the impact of the intelligent control system, with whose help the spinning pump can be moved up and down in an automated and ‘in-time’ manner. To this end, pump stops can be kept to the absolute minimum using a robot, considerably reducing the impact of the wiping on both the polycondensation system process stability and on the yarn data of the spun yarn. The advantages over the manual process are for example extended cleaning cycles, less silicon use, more production time, less operating costs as well as advantages for human resources and health management. The wiping robot has been operating at two major yarn manufacturers in China now.

World premiere: Staple FORCE S1100

There are even more news regarding the exhibition to come: The Staple FORCE S1100 is a one-step plant, which spins, draws, crimps, cuts and bales in a single process step, produces small batches (up to 15 tons per day) and can be swiftly reconfigured for various requirements, including polymer, dye and titer changes. Its process control system for easy operation is absolutely unique.

The service for repair-coating from Oerlikon Barmag for thread-handling parts such as godet jackets also includes the expert’s know-how to identify and review abrasion in order to recreate the correct surface structure at the location. This way they can provide all important requirements to creating optimal plant and yarn quality.

News from the PA6/66 sector

With the acquisition of the PE Polymer Engineering Plant Construction GmbH, based in Thuringia, Germany, Oerlikon Manmade Fibers Segment expanded its now completed polyamide process chain for fibers and filaments. The now available and tested technologies in the melt preparation process include the entire polyamide 6 polycondensation systems division and its PA6/66 co-polymer and the patented dimer-hydrolysis procedures for feeding recycled-lactam with the very highest end-product quality.

En route to digitization with a new mindset

To show its direction towards digitization, the company wants to offer its visitors at the exhibition booth in hall 2, B24 alongside machine exhibits mostly virtual experiences. They will be deploying playful solutions to present the topic of artificial intelligence as well as a virtual showroom to allow visitors to experience complex systems live in 3D. “We want to show that the ‘digital factory’ is already in part becoming a reality in conjunction with our machine exhibits and that we are in a good position to further optimize the efficiency of our equipment and quality of their end products — with digital solutions” affirmed Stausberg.

According the CEO the Oerlikon Manmade Fibers Segment already started establishing new ideas and mindsets a few years ago, are working between disciplines, departments, areas and companies. An important step was the acquisition of the newly integrated partner AC-Automation who has substantiated know-how in large-scale automation, transport, packaging and warehouse logistics and end product automated quality control. “Together with our process competencies and digital data handling we not only want but will offer further innovative Industrie 4.0 solutions for our customers — all the way to the digitization of the complete process chain,” promised Stausberg.

Posted October 1, 2018

Source:  Oerlikon

NCTO Welcomes United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Announcement

WASHINGTON — October 1, 2018 — The United States, Mexico and Canada have concluded negotiations on a trade agreement to replace NAFTA. The text of the deal, now referred to as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, was released by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative last night.

“The U.S. textile industry is pleased the United States, Mexico and Canada have reached an agreement because Canada and Mexico are its largest trading partners,” said National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) President and CEO Auggie Tantillo as he noted that products from the textile and apparel supply chain accounted for nearly $12 billion in U.S. exports to Canada and Mexico in 2017.

“Unlike the original NAFTA, the new agreement includes a separate textile and apparel chapter. This outcome is a tangible recognition by all three parties of the importance of textile manufacturing to the regional economy,” Tantillo added as he explained that NCTO would not be making any further comment with respect to the deal until the substance of the agreement could be carefully analyzed by NCTO.

NCTO is a Washington, DC-based trade association that represents domestic textile manufacturers, including artificial and synthetic filament and fiber producers.

  • U.S. employment in the textile supply chain was 550,500 in 2017.
  • The value of shipments for U.S. textiles and apparel was $77.9 billion in 2017.
  • U.S. exports of fiber, textiles and apparel were $28.6 billion in 2017.
  • Capital expenditures for textile and apparel production totaled $2.4 billion in 2016, the last year for which data is available.

Posted October 1, 2018

Source:  National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO)

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