Finland-based Spinnova reports it has completed construction on a pilot factory line after just three-and-a-half months. The line, which is a big step on the way to large-scale commercial production, can produce from 100 to 400 tons per year. The pilot line works with Spinnova’s wood-based fiber production, but also may be used with other biobased raw materials the company is considering. Spinnova now seeks commercial partners to run product development trials over the next year.
“This is a greenfield factory in every way imaginable, and yet with a genius idea, careful planning and meticulous implementation, everything has gone as planned,” said Janne Poranen, CEO.
DAK Americas LLC, an Alpek polyester company, has signed an asset purchase agreement with Perpetual Recycling Solutions LLC for its polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recycling facility in Richmond, Ind.
The operation has an approximate capacity of 100 million pounds per year of high-quality, recycled PET (rPET) flake. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The Perpetual acquisition will fit in well with Alpek Polyester’s Argentina-based food-grade PET recycling facility as well as its Fayetteville, N.C.-based fiber-grade recycling joint venture, according to the company.
“The addition of this facility will allow us to expand our sustainability initiatives,” said Jon McNaull, vice president, PET Resins, DAK Americas.
Ascend Performance Materials has announced plans to invest $35.2 million to expand its Greenwood County, S.C., operations. Upgrades to several lines will increase the nylon polymer capacity. This is in addition to 24 million pounds of staple fiber production capacity that was added at the plant last year. The current polymer capacity expansion is expected to create 30 jobs at the facility.
“Thanks to the hard work of our employees and the support of leaders in Greenwood County and South Carolina, this expansion will allow us to increase our polymer production by 50 percent, creating more jobs for local residents,” said Ascend Performance Materials Senior Site Director Hal McCord.
Registration is now open for the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry’s (INDA’s) show IDEA®2019 to be held in Miami Beach, Fla., March 25-28, 2019. Visit idea2019.com to sign up.
Tarkett’s Velvet Fringe carpet is available in 12-foot widths.
Tarkett, Solon, Ohio, has launched the Woven Fringe Collection featuring two woven velvet cut-and-loop solution-dyed nylon carpet styles — Velvet Lines and Velvet Fringe — that have lines of long, uncut face fiber, or fringe, across the weft.
Dalton, Ga.-based Shaw Industries reports it was named one of “The Best Employers for Diversity,” by Forbes Magazine.
Champion®, Winston-Salem, N.C., is celebrating its 100th anniversary. A campaign created to mark the milestone, titled “100 Years for the Team,” explores what it means
to be a team in 2019.
The Lubrizol Corp., Cleveland, has named Osterman and Co. Inc., Cheshire, Conn., a distributor of its thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) portfolio including Estane® TPU polymers, Pearlthane™ TPU, and Pearlthane ECO* TPU. Osterman joins Entec as a U.S.-based representative of Lubrizol’s Estane products.
Cincinnati-based Cintas Corp. has partnered with JW Marriott, part of Marriott International Inc., to launch an apparel collection available at 51 of the brand’s hotels worldwide. In addition, Cintas will manage a garment recycling program to responsibly reuse retired JW Marriott uniforms from U.S.-based properties.
Mara Hoffman was awarded the REPREVE® Champions of Sustainability Leading the Change Award at an exclusive reception during New York Fashion week. The award, presented by Greensboro, N.C.-based Unifi Inc., recognizes the brand’s longtime commitment to reducing environmental impact through conscious fashion.
Germany-based Karl Mayer Textilmaschinenfabrik GmbH recently held an open house at its Changzhou, China, subsidiary to mark the launch of its new TM WEFT warp knitting machine with weft insertion. The company reports guests traveled from all over China to learn about the new machine. Two versions of a 247” E 24 model — one version featuring one guide bar, and a second with two guide bars — were demonstrated producing a traditional interlining fabric at a speed of 1,500 meters per minute. The machine was designed as a basic model machine to complement Karl Mayer’s WEFTTRONIC® II HKS, a machine targeted at the high-end market.
“Our customers were impressed by our focus on the functions, easy operation and reliability of the TM WEFT,” said Hagen Lotzmann, sales director, Karl Mayer Technische Textilien.
Switzerland-based Rieter Group reports it has acquired a 25-percent stake in Electro-Jet S.L., Spain, a producer of overhead traveling cleaners, roving frames, automatic transport system, packing and palletizing equipment, fabric batchers and inspection machines, and auxiliary equipment. The acquisition strengthens Rieter’s ring-spinning systems, and the two companies plan to jointly develop new products for the market. In 2017, Electro-Jet reported sales of approximately 25 million euros.
Germany-based Oerlikon Manmade Fibers segment has joined ADAMOS, an alliance of machine and systems construction companies established in 2019. The alliance was created to advance the Industry 4.0 and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) concepts through the ADAMOS IIoT platform and new business models, as well as establish standards for the textile industry. According to the company, the move helps the segment ramp up its digital strategy and implement its Industry 4.0 solutions. “We are working on a whole range of digital solutions that will offer our customers very concrete added value,” said CEO Georg Stausberg.
Germany-based Oerlikon Neumag introduced the BCF S8 at the recent DOMOTEX 2019 carpet and floor coverings exhibition. The company reports the bulk continuous filament spinning technology can simultaneously spin up to 700 filaments per yarn end and produce fine titers of up to 2.5 denier per filament at speeds of up to 3,700 meters per minute based on winding speed. This results in throughputs of up to 15 percent more than previous technologies. The company also reports energy savings of up to 5 percent per kilogram of yarn are achievable. Oerlikon Neumag’s previous-generation technology, the S+ BCF system produced up to 400 filaments per yarn end. The BCF S8 also features a new human-machine interface-based control system for intelligent control and monitoring.
“We have succeeded in achieving a new level of greater productivity and even broader product diversity,” said Martin Rademacher, vice president, sales. “These allow our clientèle to better cater to changing market requirements and achieve a competitive edge in tough market conditions.”
Pfannenberg USA, Lancaster, N.Y., has introduced the PKS Series Air to Air Heat Exchangers. Featuring the Pfannanberg Kinetic System™ cooling technology, the heat exchangers are designed for cooling electrical enclosures to protect electronics when closed-loop cooling is required — sealing out dust, gas and humidity. The heat exchangers are available in 5 configurations — 22, 45, 64, 150 and 180 Watts per °C.
“The PKS Series Air to Air Heat Exchanger consumes approximately 1/3 of the power compared to a traditional Industrial AC unit,” said James Wong, product manager. It is also compact in size offering best-in-class Cooling Capacity Per Density (CCPC™).”
Roy Whitby was named technical sales manager for Mt. Pocono, Pa.-based Monadock Non-wovens LLC.
Pihl
Mark Pihl, president and COO, Web Industries, Marlborough, Mass., has been promoted to CEO effective January 1, 2019. Pihl succeeds outgoing CEO Donald Romine.
Gastonia, N.C.-based Beverly Knits Inc. has named Jason Defilippis manager of product development and design. The company also named Kenny Golden president, and Jackie Tweedy plant manager of Altus Finishing, a division of Beverly Knits.
Pritchett
Colleen Pritchett has joined Hexcel Corp., Stamford, Conn., as president – Aerospace, Americas.
Fabrice Barthélemy was named CEO and chairman of the Management Board for Paris-based Tarkett.
The Netherlands-based Tanatex Chemicals has announced the following appointments: Jørgen Vendel, CEO; Calvin Qiu, CFO; and Paul Oude Lenferink, CTO.
Nike Inc. has named G. Scott Uzzell president and CEO of Converse Inc., Boston.
CEO Mike Thaman has announced his retirement from Toledo, Ohio-based Owens Corning. He will remain with the company as executive chairman. Thaman will be replaced by current president and COO Brian D. Chambers effective April 18, 2019.
Kohmuench
Eriez, Erie, Pa., has promoted Jaisen Kohmuench to the newly-created position of senior director of Asia-Pacific Operations and Strategy.
Dodgeville, Wis.-based Lands’ End Inc. has appointed Chieh Tsai to the new position of chief product officer.
Albert P. “Al” Carey was appointed non-executive chairman of the Board of Directors at Greensboro, N.C.-based Unifi Inc.
Rochester, N.H.-based Albany International Corp. has named Rick Sharpe senior vice president of Global Customers and Marketing for Albany Engineered Composites.
Austria-based Lenzing has appointed Florian Heubrander vice president of global business management textiles.
The Boston-based Cashmere and Camel Hair Manufacturers Institute (CCMI) has announced new staff. Fabio Garzena was named president replacing Karl Spilhaus, who will continue to counsel the institute as president emeritus. Dave Trumbull was named USA representative and will manage the institute’s U.S. affairs from Boston. Kenneth Shimizu will continue his role as Japan representative, managing the institute’s Asia activities from Tokyo.
Ruppe
Columbia Sportswear Co., Portland, Ore., has appointed Peter Ruppe vice president of Footwear for the Columbia brand. Ruppe reports to Columbia Brand President Joe Boyle.
Greensboro, N.C.-based VF Corp. has named Laurel Krueger vice president, general counsel, of the newly created, independent company Kontoor Brands.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has appointed Charles Sheppard, vice president of Global Sourcing and Distribution at Superior Group of Companies Inc., to serve on the Cotton Board for a three-year term.
Damro
Nate Damro has joined St. Paul, Minn-based Safe Reflections Inc. as vice president of Business Development.
Effective June 1, 2019, Rico Randegger will be responsible for the Business Group After Sales at Switzerland-based Rieter Group.
Jessica Hoopfer has joined Israel-based MySize Inc. as director of U.S. sales.
The Atlanta-based Americas Apparel Producers’ Network named Tony Anzovino, Haggar Clothing Corp., AAPN president for a second term; and Ed Gribbin, Gribbin Strategic LLC, vice president for a one-year term. The following people were named to AAPN’s Board of Directors for a three-year term: Jill Coleman, Alvanon; Aaron Glatman, r-pac International Corp.; Aaron Ledet, VF Corp.; and Hebe Schecter, Kaltex America. Ron Roach, Contempora Fabrics, began his second year in a three-year term on the board.
