IVL To Acquire Plastics Recycler Sorepla

Bangkok-based Indorama Ventures Public Co. Ltd. (IVL) has entered into an agreement to acquire France-based plastics recycler Sorepla Industrie S.A. Sorepla, with a capacity of 52,000 metric tons per year, produces recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET), recycled high density polyethylene (rHDPE) as well as food grade pellets. IVL reports the“acquisition is strategically in line with the company’s objectives of long-term sustainability.”

“Indorama Ventures plays a key role in promoting the circular economy and environmental sustainability globally,” said Aloke Lohia, Group CEO, Indorama Ventures. “We believe that the recycling of PET packaging is one of the most responsible solutions for the preservation of resources and the reduction of PET containers in landfills. Indorama Ventures is playing its part and investing in recycling solutions globally. With a comprehensive European network for bottle sourcing and good supply chain efficiencies, we feel that this acquisition will contribute as an attractive platform for strong future growth in the sustainable recycling business with the potential to expand globally.”

September/October 2018

Spinnova Receives Financing, New Investors

Finland-based Spinnova reports it has secured financing totaling 7.5 million euros ($8.7 million) from OP Bank and public funding agency Business Finland to help ramp up production at its sustainable textile fiber pilot facility.

In related company news, VTT Ventures, an early investor in the company, has given up its ownership share according to an exit strategy. VTT was replaced by two new investors — venture capital firm Maki.vc and Beata Domus. Spinnova’s majority shareholder remains Brazil-based Fibria.

“Thanks to our financers, starting the pilot factory and the product development work are moving full speed ahead,” said Janne Poranen, CEO, Spinnova. “Licensing the technology now being developed in Finland is our most likely future business model, so piloting the technology concept on an industrial scale is now our main priority.”

September/October 2018

Invista To Construct ADN Plant In China

Wichita, Kan.-based Invista has announced it will invest more than $1 billion in a 300,000-ton adiponitrile (ADN) facility in China to meet the local demand for the nylon 6,6 intermediate chemical. Construction will begin in 2020 and production is expected to come online in 2023.

“We are pleased by the feedback we have received in the market and are confident we will reach agreements with selected partners over the next few months; so our shareholders have agreed to proceed with the project,” said Bill Greenfield, president, Invista Intermediates. “Combined with the significant investments being made in our existing ADN plants, this decision further demonstrates Invista’s commitment to the global industry.”

“Invista supplies more of the merchant market than any other ADN producer, so we want to ensure those customers have the best technology available,” said Kyle Redinger, vice president of Invista Intermediates, Asia Pacific, and 2017 Magnolia Silver Award Winner. “The last world-scale plant was constructed more than 35 years ago, so this is a special time for the industry, and I am extremely proud to lead Invista’s efforts to deliver this new facility.”

September/October 2018

Unifi Unveils New Branding, Ends Guatemala JV Discussion

Greensboro, N.C.-based Unifi Inc. recently unveiled new branding and positioning for its products. According to the company, the “True Innovation Starts in the Fiber” branding highlights its “commitment to the development of innovative and sustainable performance fibers backed by a flexible, global supply chain.” In addition, the new PROFIBER™ brand offers options for integrating multiple performance “Tru-technologies” into polyester and nylon yarns to deliver increased fabric comfort, performance and functionality. The Tru-technologies — which offer a wide range of performance attributes including wicking, thermal comfort, full coverage, bounce, stretch, sun protection and water resistance — include TruTemp365™, TruDry™, TruCover™, TruFlexx™, TruCool™ and TruTouch™.

“By offering a wide range of products focused on benefits, we can help our customers create innovative fabrics that solve everyday problems and meet and exceed their consumers’ expectations,” said Jay Hertwig, group vice president of global brand sales.

In other Unifi news, the company has ended previously announced negotiations with Complast S.A. and Technologia Textil Avanzada for a joint venture in Guatemala. “Our commitment to the Central American region remains unchanged and we continue to see growth opportunities for REPREVE® and our branded portfolio both in the region and across the globe,” said Tom Caudle, president and COO, Unifi. “We will continue to seek future strategic growth opportunities across the Americas that leverage our assets and deliver shareholder value.”

September/October 2018

HP, Stahl Partner For Durable Printing Solutions

The Netherlands-based Stahl has announced a partnership with Palo Alto, Calif.-based Hewlett-Packard (HP) to increase the durability of printed man-made materials.  Water-based HP Latex Inks preserve the flexibility of the material, while the Stahl’s EVO® coatings enhance the durability of the printed apparel, upholstery, bags or shoes.

“The partnership with Stahl enables us to reach new markets and help our customers to quickly adapt to new market trends while reducing costly stocks,” said François Tanière, worldwide marketing business developer at HP Inc. Large Format Printing Division.

September/October 2018

Monforts Introduces Easy Compact Range For Knits

Germany-based A. Monforts  Textilmaschinen GmbH & Co. KG has introduced to all global markets the Easy Compact range for advanced compacting of open-width knitted fabrics. A vertical chain return and 100-percent Nomex® durable twin felts in the stretching field offer controlled shrinkage and the lowest possible shrinkage values, according to the company. A sturdy pinning-in unit, motorized selvage uncurling device, and stainless steel tandem supporting bar for mark-free center support are other notable features of the Easy Compact reported by Monforts. In addition, a non-stop winder at the end of the range may be fitted with a fabric cooling device on the adjustable speed conveyor belt. Easy Compact is equipped with Monforts’ Qualitex PLC system.

September/October 2018

Huntsman Launches HIGH-IQ® Sun Protect

Singapore-based Huntsman Textile Effects recently added HIGH IQ® Sun Protect, to its High IQ range of products. According to Huntsman, High IQ Sun Protect provides an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of up to 50 or more against both UV-A and UV-B rays for the lifetime of a garment, and after repeated exposure to sunlight and through multiple launderings. The product complies with both the bluesign™ system and Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex®.

September/October 2018

VF Corp To Relocate HQ, Split Company

Greensboro, N.C.-based VF Corp. reports it will relocate its global headquarters to Denver. Approximately 85 VF Corp. leaders will move to Colorado beginning in the spring of 2019. Over the next two years, VF brands including The North Face®, JanSport®, Smartwool®, Eagle Creek®, and Altra® will also relocate to Denver, moving some 800 VF employees to the Denver area. The Vans®, Timberland® and workwear brands such as Dickies® are not impacted by the relocation.

“We believe that the creation of our new headquarters in the area will help us to unlock collaboration across our outdoor brands, attract and retain talent, and accelerate innovation,” said Steve Rendle, VF Corp.’s chairman, president and CEO.

In other VF news, the company’s Board of Directors announced plans to split the company into two independent publicly-traded companies via a tax-free spin-off of a new company to VF’s shareholders. The resulting two companies will be known as VF Corp., and a yet-to-be-named company that will hold VF’s Jeans and VF Outlet businesses.

“In alignment with our strategic plan, the decision to separate these businesses will allow VF to sharpen its focus as a consumer-centric and retail-minded organization anchored in activity-based lifestyle brands,” Rendle said.

September/October 2018

Reebok Launches Cotton + Corn Athletic Shoe

Boston-based Reebok recently launched the first product in its Cotton + Corn sustainable product line. The plant-based NPC UK Cotton + Corn shoes feature a 100-percent cotton upper and a corn-based thermoplastic polyurethane sole made using Loudon, Tenn.-based DuPont Tate & Lyle’s Susterra® propanediol — a petroleum-free, non-toxic product that contains 100-percent U.S. Department of Agriculture-certified biobased content. Insoles in the shoe are derived from castor bean oil, and the shoe is sold in packaging that is 100-percent recycled.

“At Reebok, we thought ‘what if we start with materials that grow, and use plants rather than oil-based materials?’” said Bill McInnis, head of Rebook Future. “By using sustainable resources as our foundation, and then through ongoing testing and development, we were able to create a plant-based sneaker that performs and feels like any other shoe.”

September/October 2018

September/October 2018

Charlotte, N.C.-based Color Solutions International, a member of the DyStar® Group, has issued its Spring/Summer 2020 Color Analysis report. This is the fifth edition of the report, which features 54 ColorWall™ colors as well as additional color validation, color evolution and direction by hue.

New York City-based Teijin Frontier (U.S.A.) Inc., a subsidiary of Japan-based Teijin Frontier Co., has opened a showroom in New York to display a variety of products designed for the U.S. market with the goal of increasing awareness of the company’s products.

Germany-based Stoll GmbH + Co. KG is celebrating its 145th anniversary.

Inquisalva and Pettenati Centro América S.A. de C.V., both based in El Salvador; Guatemala-based Eltitex Group; Collegeville, Pa.-based Dow Microbial Control’s SILVADUR™ Antimicrobials; and the DuPont™ Sorona® brand all recently became bluesign® system partners. The system, implemented by Switzerland-based bluesign technologies ag, ensures finished textile products meet very stringent consumer safety requirements and are produced in a sustainable manner.

The Cary, N.C.-based Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA) has issued a call for presentations for the World of Wipes® (WOW) International Conference to be held June 25-27, 2019, at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis Hotel. Interested speakers should submit a bio, photograph and brief summary of their talk and its connection to wipes or wipe manufacturing to Deanna Lovell, dlovell@inda.org, by October 22, 2018.

Celanese Corp., Dallas, has raised the price of its acetate flake grades by 50 cents per kilogram. The price increase affects all end-use applications including plastics, textile filament, film, coatings, nonwovens and medical, among other applications.

Bannockburn, Ill.-based IPC — the Association Connecting Electronics Industries — reports its D-70 E-Textiles Committee has released the IPC WP-024, IPC White Paper on Reliability and Washability of Smart Textile Structures – Readiness for the Market. The paper includes e-textile washability testing parameters and initial results from those tests.

Biomaterials start-up Algiknit Inc. — a New York City-based company that makes sustainable, biodegradable kelp fibers that can be spun into yarns — is one of five finalists in the Postcode Lottery Green Challenge, an annual international competition in the field of sustainability innovation.

Atlanta-based Exposition Development Co. Inc. and Progressive Business Media have announced the third Home Furnishings Manufacturing Solutions Expo (HFMSE) will take place July 17-18, 2019, at the Hickory Metro Convention Center, Hickory, N.C.

Minneapolis-based Airtex Group — a designer and producer of custom home textile goods and sewn products — recently celebrated its 100th anniversary.

Atlanta-based Messe Frankfurt Inc. reports the Raleigh-based North Carolina State University’s (NC State’s) College of Textiles is the first-ever official academic partner for Techtextil North America to be held February 26-28, 2019, at the Raleigh Convention Center, Raleigh, N.C.

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) recently designated an original Moench tufting machine located at Shaw Industries Group Inc.’s Dalton, Ga., headquarters a historic mechanical engineering landmark. The device — introduced by Ernest J. Moench in 1928 — is credited with spurring the growth of carpet manufacturing in Georgia, and ASME estimates machinery descended from the Moench machine today tufts more than 75 percent of all U.S.-produced carpet.

Ravenna, Ohio-based Duracote Corp. has earned AS9100 Rev D certification from the International Aerospace Quality Group.

Forbes magazine has recognized HanesBrands, Winston-Salem, N.C., as one of the most-admired companies in Central America and the Caribbean.

Switzerland-based Oeko-Tex® reports its Eco Passport certification has been recognized as a Level 3 ZDHC MRSL (Manufacturing Restricted Substances List) Conformance Indicator for the ZDHC Roadmap To Zero program. In related news, Fall River, Mass.-based Bolger & O’Hearn Specialty Chemicals reports its stormproof/Breathable™ OmniBloq™ and Altopel F3 water repellent products are listed on the official ZDHC list of sustainable, approved textile industry chemistries.

Atlanta-based Dynamic Modifiers LLC has launched a new website located at dynamicmodifiers.com.

September/October 2018

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