Greenboro, N.C.-based Unifi Inc. reports its operating subsidiary Unifi Manufacturing Inc. entered into an agreement to acquire the dyed yarn business and other assets of Washington, N.C.-based National Spinning Co. Inc. The transaction adds acrylic and wool products to Unifi’s dyed yarn portfolio, and is expected to close in May. Unifi reports it will transition the dyed yarn business from Burlington, N.C., to Unifi’s dye house in Reidsville, N.C., and expects to run the dye house on a seven-day schedule. National Spinning employees will be offered positions at Unifi including those in key sales, technical and operations positions.

“This acquisition will better position Unifi for growth in key market segments such as sweaters, hosiery and apparel, as our expanded dyed yarn portfolio will help strengthen our relationship with existing customers and brings opportunities to attract new customers as we become an even greater solutions provider,” said Tom Caudle, president and COO, Unifi. “Additionally, our customers continue to focus on shortening product development and production lead times, and thus we expect that these new capabilities will allow us to provide flexible and responsive dyed yarn solutions to meet this demand. Expanding our product portfolio will also bring additional innovation to the dyed yarn supply chain, and will provide more sourcing flexibility for customers while assuring continued capability and expertise.”

“We believe this transaction best serves the long-term interests of both our employees and our customers,” said Jim Booterbaugh, president and COO, National Spinning. “Customers will receive world-class innovation and technical support from Unifi, and employees that join Unifi will benefit from the career opportunities provided by a larger portfolio of products, services and solutions.

May/June 2018

Fruit of the Loom Inc., Bowling Green, Ky., recently was honored with the Offsite Renewable Energy Award for its Merendon Power Plant during the 2018 Smart Energy Decisions Innovation Summit. The awards recognize creative technologies and forward-thinking practices by large electric power users. Recognizing a need for a renewable energy source at its manufacturing facilities in Honduras, Fruit of the Loom established the Merendon plant, which operates as part of the Fruit of the Loom corporation. The plant helped the company reduce its carbon footprint by more than 51,500 metric tons each year, which is the equivalent to removing 11,028 passenger cars from the road for one year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Fruit of the Loom is committed to socially responsible efforts and also recently joined The Sustainability Consortium. The company also received the Corporate Social Responsibility Seal from FUNDAHRSE in 2017.

May/June 2018

Winston-Salem, N.C.-based HanesBrands reports it has earned its ninth consecutive U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Energy Star Partner of the Year award for sustained excellence in energy conservation, carbon emissions reduction and environmental sustainability.

In 2017, the company’s accomplishments included lowering year-over-year energy use per pound of production by 6 percent, saving more than $4 million; implementing environmental stewardship initiatives such as the startup of a heat and power biomass plant in El Salvador; using programs to encourage employees to engage in the company’s energy management culture; and partnerships with multiple universities to educate future business leaders about the importance of environmental stewarship in business.

“HanesBrands is incredibly honored to earn our ninth consecutive Energy Star Partner of the Year award and will accept it on behalf of our approximately 70,000 worldwide employees who are committed to energy management and environmental responsibility,” said Javier Chacon, chief global manufacturing officer for HanesBrands. “Thanks to our employees’ steadfast commitment, Hanes is the only apparel company to be honored for sustained excellence by the EPA Energy Star program in its 26-year history and continues to demonstrate that companies from all industries can make a difference in energy conservation, carbon emissions reduction and environmental sustainability.”

May/June 2018

Stony Brook, N.Y.-based Applied DNA Sciences Inc. reports it has signed a multi-year license with WestPoint Home LLC. The deal grants WestPoint Home the exclusive right to use Applied DNA’s CertainT® platform for its blended duvets, towels, sheets, pillow cases, bed skirts, shams and decorative pillows sold for hospitality in Canada, Mexico and the United States. The agreement also gives WestPoint non-exclusive CertainT platform rights for various hospitaility opportunities.

Applied DNA’s molecular tags embedded into the source materials will certify that any of WestPoint’s hospitality textile products featuring polyester (PET) or recycled PET contain the original source raw materials to ensure origin and authenticity.

“Our partnership with Applied DNA adds to our already extensive assortment of environmentally sustainable products and processes,” said Normand Savaria, president and CEO, WestPoint Home.

“As leaders in supply chain transparency and accuracy we are excited to be adding the CertainT platform and technology to our product offerings.”

May/June 2018