Arnold Wilkie received the INDA Lifetime Technical Achievement Award (far left) and Matthew Mead, founder and CEO, Hempitecture Inc., with the 2024 RISE Innovation Award (far right).
The 14th RISE® conference brought new innovations to light, conferred awards and highlighted student research.
TW Special Report
The Cary, N.C.-based Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA) recently held the 14th iteration of its RISE® — Research, Innovation & Science for Engineered Fabrics — conference at a new location on the NC State cam-pus — the James B. Hunt Jr. Library on Centennial Campus, Raleigh, N.C. The two-day event was co-organized by INDA and The Nonwo-vens Institute (NWI).
RISE focuses on emerging technologies and ideas with the aim of connecting innovations with real-world applications for professionals in the nonwoven/engineered fabrics industry.
Speakers included experienced industry, government and academic personnel. Topics covered sustainability and biobased materials, plastic regulation, circular economy strategies, and process technologies and product design, among other topics.
“Two highlights really stood out at this year’s RISE conference,” said Matt O’Sickey, director of Education & Technical Affairs. “The program brought together presenters that shared varied but surprisingly complementary views on end-of-life considerations for fabrics. They emphasized that there is no ‘silver bullet’ solution for all end-of-life questions and that some combination of mechanical recycling, chemical recycling, advanced recycling, up-cycling, biodegradation and compostability will be necessary to most advantageously address and utilize the end-of-life input streams.”
Award Winners
Hempitecture Inc. was the winner of the 2024 RISE Innovation Award for its PlantPanel™ insulation material made using 100-percent biobased and recycled material. INDA also conferred its Lifetime Technical Achievement Award to Arnold Wilkie, president and owner of Hills Inc., Melbourne, Fla. Wilkie has more than 40 patents and applications relating to yarns, fibers, filaments, nonwovens and polymer processing innovations.
Event Highlights
Other RISE related events included a golf tournament, tour of The Nonwovens Institute to view the analytical labs and pilot lines, and an evening reception featuring graduate student posters. The students — who came from a variety of nonwoven, textile and fiber programs — had the opportunity to share their work and engage in attendees about their research.
“An exciting addition to RISE was inclusion of more than 30 posters from students & faculty from multiple leading universities,” O’Sickey said. “RISE is unique in sharing both immediately actionable innovation as well as fundamental enabling research.”
“While environmental responsibility is frequently highlighted in marketing materials, RISE provided direct access to the scientists and thought leaders — from innovative startups and emerging companies to established Fortune 500 firms — who are driving meaningful change from a technical perspective,” said Rishi Gurnani, director of Software Engineering & Algorithms, Atlanta-based Matmerize; first time RISE attendee and speaker. “The conference offered invaluable learning and networking opportunities. I believe Artificial Intelligence will play a significant role in addressing the ongoing challenges in the nonwovens sector, particularly in advancing sustainable solutions.”
“I was honored to be an invited speaker at the INDA RISE conference,” said Aaron Hall, founder and CEO, Intropic Materials Corp., Oakland, Calif. “At Intropic Materials, we are developing enzyme-based additives enabling plastics and fibers to self-degrade at end of life without producing microplastics — unlocking high performance and more sustainable products. The crowd at RISE was engaged, motivated, and so many wonderful innovations were show-cased. It was my first time attending, and I’m excited for continued collaboration with INDA, the Nonwovens Institute, and companies in the space.”
RISE will return to NC State University for the 15th edition of the event October 14-15, 2025.
ARCO, Italy — November 20, 2024 — Aquafil Group, the company that produces ECONYL® regenerated nylon, has launched a new collection of sustainable yarns in finishes inspired by natural materials. The ECONYL Bespoke Collection is a tailored product portfolio offering a rich variety of textures and finishes inspired by natural materials available in both solution-dyed and dyed regenerated nylon 6 yarns.
The collection is designed to meet the highest standards and performance demands of contract, hospitality, and residential spaces. Applications include handmade and machine-made rugs, tufted and woven rugs, and residential and commercial wall-to-wall carpets.
There are three finishes available of ECONYL Bespoke:
ECONYL ReLana — Inspired by the classic and timeless appeal of wool, ECONYL ReLana is a 2-ply dyed twist yarn.
ECONYL ReSeta — Recalling the softness and luster of silk, ECONYL ReSeta is a 2-ply dyed twist nylon available in bright and dull finishes.
ECONYL Terra — A sustainable and durable alternative to natural raw fiber, ECONYL Terra is a high-count air-entangled solution-dyed nylon with a unique collection of colors in stock.
“We are excited to bring a new collection of ECONYL nylon finishes to our global customer base,” said Giulio Bonazzi, chairman and CEO of Aquafil Group. “Our team has done a great job of finding innovative ways to reimagine our ECONYL yarn to meet the growing demands for sustainable, luxury materials. We’ve already seen a positive response to the Bespoke Collection, and we look forward to seeing the beautiful rugs and carpets that are created with our circular yarn.”
Key performance elements of the Bespoke Collection yarn include:
Long-lasting texture and appearance retention;
Easy-to-clean, with inherent stain resistance;
Superior colorfastness against light, bleach, peroxides, and other chemicals;
Efficiency in tufting and weaving; and
Excellent dyeing capabilities.
India is one of the world’s largest rug suppliers, and Aquafil has strengthened its presence here by locally stocking ECONYL Bespoke finishes. With a dedicated technical support team and robust traceability measures, Aquafil ensures the authenticity of ECONYL nylon at every stage of a rug’s life cycle. These rigorous certification processes protect against counterfeits, verifying that each rug and carpet is made with genuine ECONYL nylon.
Carpet and rug makers can create beautiful flooring that has the aesthetic beauty of natural materials, the performance attributes of ECONYL regenerated nylon, and a lower impact on the environment. All ECONYL nylon is made from 100 percent pre- and post-consumer nylon waste, is 100 percent recycled and infinitely regenerable. ECONYL also offers traceability, is certified by OekoTex® and Cradle to Cradle (C2C®), and contributes to LEED v4, BREEAM, and WELL.
The CAMX show floor was busy with visitors who came to view the latest the composites industry has to offer.
The composites industry benefited from three composites-related events that recently took place in the space of four weeks.
By Jim Kaufmann, Contributing Editor
Given the continuing growth and expansion of North America’s composites industry it would stand to reason that a bevy of local and international conferences, expos and related industry events would also emerge to provide avenues for interested parties to converge and engage in the related opportunities provided. This fall saw several events staged in quick succession. CAMX, the largest composites trade event in North America led the procession, followed by the IBEX “boat” show, and then the Carbon Fiber Conference, as well as other regional events held the fol-lowing week.
CAMX In San Diego
CAMX, the Composites and Advanced Materials Expo, held this year held in San Diego, Calif., was organized jointly by the American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA) and the Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering (SAMPE). It was an all-encompassing event highlighting virtually all facets of the composites and advanced materials marketplace. Similar in scope to JEC World, which is held annually in Paris (see “A Legitimate Glimpse into the Future of Composites,” TW, May/June 2023), the markets and applications on display targeted aerospace, marine, wind energy, construction and infrastructure, medical and sports and leisure segments, among other exhibits.
The 2024 event, CAMX’s 10th anniversary, comprised of more than 500 exhibitors and more than 6,300 attendees — an 11-percent increase from 2023’s attendance numbers. Much has happened in the 10 years since the first CAMX in 2014. Since the inaugural event, the composites industry and the CAMX show have not rested on their laurels. Both have continued along a journey of evolution, driven by the continued acceptance and growth of composites as legitimate structural materials and versatile design elements both in North America and globally.
Perhaps fittingly given its 10th anniversary, the expo kicked off with a forward-thinking keynote speaker, Maurice Conte, a futurist and advisor to several Fortune 500 companies. Conte’s commentary around the “Augmented Age” that we all find ourselves living and doing business in, centered on how the increasing presence of artificial intelligence (AI) in industry feels relevant to the issues, challenges, fears and concerns that many face. Conte made the point that AI is simply another tool in the toolbox created to augment, complement and enhance work that is already being done.
That “work already being done” was again demonstrated by the wide array of products and technologies on display along with the technical conference offering a full array of topical presentations and various education sessions held throughout on the CAMX show floor. The diversity of technologies, applications and conversations competing for favor to a wide array of potential customers attending was apparent in most every direction. Campfire Sessions, technical papers and poster presentations were geared to growing one’s knowledge about various industry aspects and developments.
(clockwise from top): CAMX wrapped up with the Good Day CAMX session in the exhibit hall, featured a conference with more than 130 speakers, and also conferred CAMX Awards across a variety of categories.
A popular feature of the CAMX show floor, Composites One’s “Closed Mold Alliance Demo Zone” and learning space, once again presented expertly hosted demonstrations of molding techniques and new technologies while showcasing numerous featured products.
Observations and discussions generated while wandering through the show floor included:
This year’s West Coast location, as in previous West Coast expos, produced a noticeable increase in attendees from the Silicone Valley technology sector and the West Coast-based aerospace industries that effectively mixed in well with the usual general industries regulars.
In general, the vibe on the show floor was very positive in regards to the direction, stability and continued growth of the composites industry in North America, however concerns persist which included:
The pending U.S. election and general uncertainty it brings regardless of any political leanings;
Influx of low-cost imports that has again risen as the world comes out of the COVID crisis with travel and shipping restric-tions easing; and
Increasing shipping costs and logistics issues both within North America and interna-tionally.
Sustainability, circularity and recyclability continues to make inroads into the composites industry and its applications in North America and is finally receiving a growing level of the attention that it deserves. Unfortunately, many questions, concerns and technology issues still persist, but encouraging signs abound.
The competition between thermoplastic and thermoset resin systems also continues to evolve as thermoplastics are finding preference by drafting upon recycling and sustainability’s inroads. In many applications, thermoplastics are viewed as the future because of their increased flexibility, improved processability and greater potential for recyclability over thermosets. According to one knowledgeable composites industry veteran, “Thermosets currently have 70 percent of the market compared to thermoplastics, but the trend is definitely moving quickly in the other direction towards thermoplastics.”
Processing technologies continue to advance in ongoing efforts to reduce the manufacturing costs and efficiencies associated with all aspects of composite part produc-tion. Robotics, automated placement technologies, AI augmented systems for not only production but also for product design, advanced chemistries and good old-fashioned creativity are all directly contributing to these efforts.
Natural fibers and plant-based resin systems are gaining more visibility with improvements in performance and cost, while slowly gaining a toehold in composite applications. Again, these advances are being fueled by the drive for sustainability.
More and more colleges and universities are developing and promoting their materials engineering and composites programs and platforms, not to mention prototyping and development laboratories to fill the growing needs for materials sciences and composites engineers, which is encouraging to see.
The CAMX website suggests “We Form the Future,” which seems appropriate given the breadth of thoughts that fill one’s brain when exploring all there was to see at this 10th anniversary event. Over the past 10 years, CAMX, like the industry it represents has only continued to grow and evolve. Given the industry and its potential, there doesn’t appear to be an end in sight for the advancements CAMX continues to showcase. It really is all about the journey.
The 2025 iteration of CAMX will be held September 8-11, 2025, in Orlando, Fla., and will undoubtedly provide the opportunity to address any curiosities and perhaps generate a few business opportunities, not to mention getting a further glimpse of the future.
Scenes from the 2024 International Boat Builders’ Exhibition and Conference (IBEX).
IBEX
The International Boat Builders’ Exhibition and Conference (IBEX) —held in Tampa, Fla., and organized by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and RAI Amsterdam — is simply all about boats and the marine industry. Just about any related component of work and leisure watercrafts were in some way represented during the event. IBEX took place this year the week in-between two devastating hurricanes that originated in the Gulf of Mexico and created havoc in various locations across the Southeastern states. Somehow, both storms man-aged to skirt the Tampa area allowing the show to go on as originally planned to the surprise of many.
The IBEX show floor and education halls sported many components that involve the use of composites. Several of the exhibitors — including Chomarat, Composites One, Metyx, SAERTEX, V2 Composites, Vectorply, Wolff Industries — had to quickly pack up most all or parts of their CAMX booths and ship them to Tampa, only to reassemble them again in the IBEX Composites Pavilion, which was a segment of the show floor devoted to the composites industry. Various other textile products were also represented on the show floor including Sunbrella’s Marine fabrics line.
Similar to the CAMX show, it is obvious that IBEX has continued to evolve and grow in depth, breadth and content from previous iterations. Every possible item that can be found on or added to a boat was represented at one or more of the display booths and/or boats avail-able throughout the grounds. This included the IBEX Docks conveniently located at the estuary of the Hillsborough River with the Hills-borough Bay, just outside and behind the convention center. Featuring live demos and “test it for yourself” opportunities, the IBEX Docks allowed attendees to see the new technologies in action and on the water.
Also similar to the CAMX show, numerous speakers and learning opportunities flourished throughout. An industry breakfast, the first of several planned networking events, opened the first day. Charlie Cook, a non-partisan political analyst provided an intriguing keynote address regarding the run up to the election.
Time will tell how correct his comments turned out to be. In addition, NMMA President and CEO Frank Hugelmeyer presented a “State of the Industry” address during the breakfast. He outlined trends, sales data and reaching untapped audiences in the recreational boating industry, among other topics.
After the breakfast, the show floor opened and the seminar series began, leaving attendees free to listen, wander and wonder.
As with most events like this, there was a lot of catching up to do by the industry regulars, while the first-time visitors could be seen coveting many of the products on display. The election was again a popular topic, as was the state of the boating industry and how it may be affected by whoever won the assorted local, state and national races. On the bright side, the weather held out throughout the show and all present seemed to remain in good spirits throughout. Next year’s event is scheduled to take place again in Tampa October 7-9, weather permitting, of course.
The Carbon Fiber Conference addressed a variety of carbon fiber/composites related topics, markets, processing technologies and applications.
Carbon Fiber Conference
The three-day Carbon Fiber Conference, held in Charleston, S.C., addressed a variety of carbon fiber/composites related topics, markets, processing technologies and applications. There was an adjacent room for tabletop displays that featured 22 different exhibitors and was available to attendees during breaks and meals.
A scheduling quirk had some of the attendees shuttling in and out of the conference because as luck would have it, two additional composite industry events — the SAMPE Carolinas Chapter’s Material Expo and the Fall Technical Exchange Meeting of The Composites Consortium (TCC) — also were held on the same dates in the same city. This scheduling boon made it easier to be in two places at the same time for attendees.
A pre-conference seminar featured two sessions specifically addressing the supply and demand of carbon fiber. The first session highlighted the quickly increasing Chinese manufacturing capacity for carbon fiber, while the second focused more on the dynamics of the global carbon fiber market. Attendees found both sessions to be informative, but more than a few came away with increased concerns about a possible future glut of low cost, and presumably lower quality, carbon products entering the marketplace as additional projected capacity begins to come online.
Richard Apps and Joanne Zhang from Counterpoint Market Intelligence kicked off the formal conference sessions with a keynote address focusing on carbon fiber usage in the aerospace industry. Their commentary also provided several interesting contrasts between Boeing and Airbus, by far the biggest players in the aerospace industry. Several in the audience later remarked about the directness of their comments specific to the issues Boeing in particular is facing due to recent quality and labor issues. The speakers also offered that Airbus has recovered faster than Boeing from the industry and travel slowdowns resulting from the COVID pandemic. Two standout comments in particular were that: “Composites usage is not only about reducing weight, it is also directly about optimizing the entire structure’s design” and “Composite structures are currently 40- to 100-percent more expensive than metal counterparts, but this delta is partially offset by the fact that a 20-percent reduction in weight translates into 1 to 2 percent in fuel cost savings,” which translates into a rather large number over the aircraft’s lifetime. Definitely one of the more interesting and informative keynote presentations encountered in years.
Additional facts from the 16 conference presentations and panel discussion sessions included the following:
India and Southeast Asia combined have more than 1.9 billion people with a young and growing population. This results in a trend for labor intense composites manufacturing to be moved to the lower labor cost markets found there.
Interest in carbon fiber composites only continues to grow. Aerospace markets are the primary driver, though commercial segments also are gaining traction. Carbon fiber composite growth is projected to be five to seven percent, while the carbon fiber market shows a projected growth of seven to 10 percent over the next seven to 10 years.
A potential oversupply of carbon fiber capacity could push prices down, though this is not expected to be equal across all market segments based on quality, consistency and performance parameters.
Basalt fiber continues to be presented as an alternative to carbon fiber though issues still persist in finding a consistent quality and reliable sourcing for the raw material inputs and manufacturing of the actual fiber.
Pressure vessels for hydrogen and compressed natural gas storage remain growing markets for car-bon fiber because of its performance characteristics as these alternative fuel sources realize increased usage. “Hydrogen is not yet ready for mass adoption, but compressed natural gas is,” said one speaker.
The wind industry is seen as a potential growth market for carbon fiber because of the continued increases in turbine blade size — now approaching 140-meter blade lengths for off-shore applications— requiring carbon fiber’s high strength and stiffness to weight ratios compared to other materials. “There’s just not enough car-bon fiber available yet for the wind market,” noted one speaker.
“The overall trend is that consumers do generally care about sustainability, but ‘sustainability’ still lacks the substance to legitimately move forward.”
“Cost is still king!” and “Cost remains a big deal!”
The next Carbon Fiber Conference is scheduled for November 4-6, 2025, in Wichita, Kan. and is surely a should attend event for those interested in learning more about the carbon fiber industry and its premier status in the composites world.
Three-plus national events in the span of four weeks can certainly be challenging, not to mention tiring. Fortunately, for exhibitors and attendees alike, the products seen, people met, stories told and lessons learned were ultimately all beneficial to those involved in the composites industry. Most wouldn’t have it any other way.
GOTHENBURG, Sweden — November 20, 2024 — AB Svenskt Konstsilke (SKS), a Swedish global supplier of single-end cords for tires and MRG reinforcement, is thrilled to announce the acquisition of the assets from Mehler EP’s 153,500-square-foot Martinsville plant in Virginia. The equipment will significantly enhance SKS’s production capacity at its facilities in Estonia, China, and Mexico, adding an additional 3,000 tons of SEC capacity annually. The assets include multiple dipping lines, twisting machines, winders, and a fully equipped laboratory.
Urban Olsson, CEO
“This is a good step forward for SKS,” said Urban Olsson, CEO. “By integrating these assets into our global operations, we’re not only increasing capacity but also improving flexibility and efficiency. It’s all about delivering the best solutions for our customers.”
The acquisition comes at a time of rapid growth for SKS, which has doubled its turnover over the past three years. This remarkable achievement reflects the company’s focus on innovation, operational excellence, and meeting customer needs with high-quality, reliable solutions.
(left to right): SYFA President Meredith Boyd; Brian Moore, Unifi’s executive vice president and president of Unifi Manufacturing Inc.; Symtech Owner Per Olofsson; and Aquafil O’Mara President Jason Hickman, participated in an “Industry Leader Panel” during the recent SYFA meeting, which attracted 96 attendees.
The conference, under the theme “Innovation: A Catalyst for the Future,” offered a broad range of presentations, as well as a panel discussion all relevant to the synthetic fiber and fabric industry.
TW Special Report
Meredith Boyd, president of the Synthetic Yarn and Fabric Association (SYFA), gave an impassioned speech to kick off the recent fall conference held at the Sheraton Charlotte Airport Hotel in Charlotte, N.C. She spoke of the industry’s resilience, adaptability and innovation, as well as the pressures and challenges. In addition, Boyd touched on the future opportunities, sustainability, digital transformation and artificial intelligence — all topics that carried over into an “Industry Leader Panel” discussion — among Brian Moore, Unifi, Per Olofsson, Symtech, and Jason Hickman, Aquafil-O’Mara with Boyd as the moderator — held at the end of the first day of proceedings. The panel also talked about ways to attract talent, an often-dis-cussed topic in the textile industry as the workforce is aging out.
The first day’s presentations began with a “Fiber and Yarn Update” from Consultant Laura Murphy. She was followed by Jenn Hanna, director of Innegra Sales, Quantum Materials LLC, who discussed Innegra, a high-performance lightweight fiber featuring patented micro voids and nano bridges for enhanced performance.
The second day of proceedings included a focus on water-repellent finishes by Jerrod Flanagan, R&D manager, Staple and Nonwovens, Goulston Technologies, who presented “Novel Solutions for Fluorine-Free Water Repellency;” a look at a more sustainable elastane fiber from Lycra Consultant Jean Hegedus who offered a talk on “From Farm to Fiber: Developing Elastane with 70% Renewable Content;” and least, but not least, a presentation by Andrew Fraser with e.dye Americas, who presented the “e.dye Waterless Color System” to attendees.
Conference sponsors included Diamond Sponsor Premier Fibers Inc.; Gold Sponsors Goulston Technologies and Jomar Softcorp International Inc.; Silver Sponsors Pulcra Chemicals LLC and Unifi Inc.; Bronze Sponsor Polyspintex; and Patron Sponsors Milliken & Company and the Economic Partnership Development of North Carolina.
“The SYFA conference was a solid success,” Boyd said after the event. “Our theme, ‘Innovation: A Catalyst for the Future,’ was felt throughout all of the presentations. The membership offered a great reception to the technical presentations on new materials, the fiber market update, and the panel that highlighted leaders from their industry. The conference left me energized and determined to find even more opportunities to leverage innovation and collaboration to promote our industry and our capabilities among our membership.”
The next edition of the SYFA conference will be held April 10-11, 2025, at the Sheraton Charlotte Airport Hotel. The association also will host its third annual golf outing the day before the conference, on April 9, to raise money for the SYFA Scholarship Fund for Gaston Community College’s textile program. Mark your calendar!
Editor’s Note: Also see “Executive Forum: Meredith Boyd: Unifi Leader & SYFA President, TW,, this issue” to learn more about Boyd and her role as president of the SYFA, as well as her career at Unifi.
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. & CONOVER, N.C. — November 20, 2024 — Clothing 2.0, a company that delivers doses of a natural, pain-relieving active ingredient through clothing, and The Marena Group LLC, a provider of medical-grade post-surgical compression garments, announce their alliance to bring groundbreaking innovation to assist patients undergoing invasive and minimally-invasive aesthetic and plastic surgery procedures.
This partnership creates the world’s first line of post-surgical garments infused with consistent over-the-counter pain-relieving active ingredients. They give clinicians and patients enhanced control of the post-surgical recovery process simply by wearing them. The garments are reusable and laundry-safe.
Dale Clendon, CEO of the Marena Group, said: “This exciting partnership represents our ongoing commitment to enhance the recovery experience of patients by offering unique products that feature the convergence of textiles and natural, active ingredients infused into the fabric. We have always been patient-centric, and we remain focused on exploring innovative ways to improve patients’ post-operative experience through highly differentiated products.”
“This exclusive global alliance with Clothing 2.0 enables Marena to safely deliver active, natural ingredients to the body via skin contact in our high-quality Marena Recovery garments. Marena has been known as the innovators in the space, and this revolutionary technology enables us to leap into the future” added Colin Marafko, chief commercial officer at Marena.
“We couldn’t be more excited about this partnership. It’s simple: the biggest problem in modern health and wellness is user compliance, which is especially prevalent following invasive and non-invasive aesthetic and sculpting procedures. It is often a challenge for patients to apply topical creams and consistently wearing compression. Adding pain-relieving natural ingredients directly into garments is a game changer for patients, care givers and, above all, recovery outcomes,” said Jordan Schindler, CEO and founder of Clothing 2.0. “It’s time we all leave 1.0 post-surgical recovery behind.”
Now is the time push away fears and embrace artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.
TW Special Report
For some, the mere idea of Artificial Intelligence (AI) conjures up fears of robots and computers taking over the world in some future dystopian nightmare. This futuristic idea seems less and less far-fetched as generative AI (GenAI) technologies —a subset of AI that creates text, images, videos or other forms of content based on data it has learned — are starting to take off. GenAI often produces output as a response to specific prompts, or requests, given by a user, with Chat-GPT one example of such a technology.
But in the shorter term, perhaps the most common fear expressed is a more basic, “Will AI take my job?” Half of regular AI users think their job may disappear within the next decade according to a report, “AI at Work: Friend and Foe,” released by the Boston-based Boston Consulting Group. The company’s BCG X Tech Build and Design Division surveyed 13,000 employees in 15 countries and regions about AI use and adoption.
“Our survey exposes the double-edged nature of GenAI,” said the report’s co-author Sylvain Duranton, a managing director and senior partner at BCG. “Familiarity correlates with both comfort and fear. GenAI is a revolutionary technology, so these opposing reactions should not be surprising. By recognizing the complex ways in which humans understand and interact with GenAI, leaders can reshape their organizations to maximize the strengths and value of both their human and machine workers.”
BCG’s survey also revealed that engagement with AI in the work-place is increasing. Almost two-thirds of leaders report they are beginning to use GenAI tools in their organizations and more than twice as many frontline employees reported using AI tools on a regular basis this year compared to 2023.
AAPN Embraces AI, Hosts Workshop
Joe Parrish, founder of Winston-Salem, N.C.-based award-winning ad agency The Variable Agency, doesn’t think AI will take jobs. “However, a big qualifier to that is a person with AI experience may take your job,” Parrish conjectured during his presentation “Leveraging AI In Your Business— Apparel or Otherwise,” given at an AI Executive Workshop hosted recently by the Atlanta-based Americas Apparel Producers’ Network (AAPN) for its members. AAPN is a huge proponent of using AI and wants its members to embrace the technology sooner rather than later (See sidebar).
Parrish views AI as a transformative technology, with the potential to be more impactful than steam power was during the industrial revolution. “If programmers were to stop developing the current AI technologies tomorrow, I predict it could still take a good 10 years to fully realize the capabilities of the existing technology,” he said. “We have tons of capability at our fingertips, but we have a utility problem. Generally, people don’t know how to use AI. But I truly believe there isn’t a problem that AI as it exists today couldn’t help us solve.”
Fast-Changing Technology
AI technology is evolving rapidly, and to illustrate the rapid pace of change, Parrish introduced Chat-GPT’s brand new voice feature to the audience during his presentation.
Because of this rapidly changing technology landscape, Parrish recommends jumping in and using AI now. Start small, and grow with the technology. “The best time to dive into AI was yesterday.” But the good news according to Parrish is that the second-best time to jump in is today. “There will never be a smaller gap between an AI beginner and an AI expert than there is right now,” Parrish added.
Transformative Technology
AI may be used in a variety of ways in industry, academia and even one’s personal life. Some of the applications include image generation and recognition, language translation and processing, machine learning, computer vision, and decision making — analyzing data to find patterns and offer insights to aid informed decisions — among many, many applications for AI.
Ethan R. Mollick, associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, collaborated with a team of social scientists at BCG on an experiment to assess the future of professional work in the age of AI. Mollick shared that when consultants were given 18 different tasks designed as realistic examples of the type of work performed at elite consulting companies, “… consultants using ChatGPT-4 outperformed those who did not, by a lot,” Mollick said. “On every dimension. Every way we measured performance.”
Specifically, consultants using AI completed 12 percent more tasks on average, were 25 percent faster and produced 40 percent higher quality results than consultants not using AI.
As a comparison, steam power increased productivity by approximately 18 to 22 percent. And today, companies spend huge amounts of money on massive software installations to see perhaps a 3 to 4 percent increase in productivity. In studies such as the one from The Wharton School, AI is exceeding these productivity gains. By a lot.
Parrish recommends assuming AI can help whatever the situation. “Try it, and let it prove you wrong,” he said. He notes it can take at least 10 hours to understand what the technology can do and how it can help. “But too many people try using AI a few times, don’t like what they see and give up,” Parrish said. “Use AI as a thought partner. Let AI take on tasks that take you lots of time, sort of like a grad school intern.”
He also suggests taking work tasks that are time consuming and creating a ChatGPT to solve the problem or reduce the time needed for a task.
What Type Of AI
Two of the biggest AI breakthroughs, according to Parrish, are ChatGPT and Midjourney. “There are other facets to AI, but these are more expensive and more specific,” Parrish said. “Chat GPT and Midjourney are tools everyone can see value in.”
During the AAPN workshop, Parrish talked in-depth about both technologies and how and when to use them, among other AI technology options (See Figure 1).
Figure 1
Different AI technologies have certain strengths, and the ultimate end result may be best generated using multiple GenAI technologies. For example, “ChatGPT 4o is fairly terrible at generating images, but is great for creating prompts to give to Mid-journey,” Parrish said. According to Parrish, Midjourney is one of the best AI image generation tools to choose. But a user can utilize ChatGPT to create a prompt for an image, then take that prompt over to Midjourney to obtain a different, better result.
According to Parrish, ChatGPT 01 is very good at math as well as thought and reasoning, and step-by-step problem solving. Claude AI is a great all round Gen AI tool; Complexity is adept for research; and Google’s NotebookLM is great at condensing and summarizing lots of information into study guides, FAQs, timelines or even a podcast you can listen to, among other ideas.
GenAI also is popping up in software that is already commonly used. Gemini is Google’s AI. It may be used to write text or to create images within a Google slides presentation, for example. Microsoft Edge also now includes a button for Copilot — the name for its GenAI technology — in the browser. Save time reading a long article and use Copilot to summarize a story, for example.
Some GenAI technologies are free, or have a free version, while others are paid only or offer additional services with a paid subscription. Most are available with low monthly fees or team/group rates for a company wishing to offer access to all its employees.
Using AI: How To Engineer A Prompt
Engineering a prompt for GenAI is a skill that needs to be developed. AI is intelligent, but the wrong prompt may not generate the answer that is sought. An individual’s value comes from the ability to write the correct prompt. “No two people will get the same result from AI, because the inputs are not the same,” Parrish said. In addition, the more a person can incorporate expertise from their vertical, the better a prompt will be.
To start, break down any job into a series of smaller tasks. AI cannot write an entire movie, but it can generate ideas for a scene in a movie, for example.
Parrish introduced an analytical method of writing a prompt he defined using the RTEF acronym, which stands for Role, Task, Example and Format. The mnemonic “Robots Teach Everything Funny” is a helpful way to remember these four prompt requirements.
Role — who. Give AI a role —teacher, engineer or writer, for example.
Task — what is the problem, what is needed?
Example — perhaps suggest some examples to consider.
Format — state the desired out-put format. For example, “Give me a title for the story and a one paragraph summary.”
Prompts also may simply be conversational in nature. Conversational prompting lets you build expertise by uncovering insights gradually, adapting questions based on responses. “It’s a longer process that deepens your understanding over time, allowing you to refine your knowledge through each interaction,” Parrish said.
Parrish breaks down Midjourney prompts for images into three levels of Atomic Prompting. The first, or organism level, level is a basic image prompting consisting of an art direction and the subject of your prompt. The second, or molecular level, is a more detailed approach to prompting that includes descriptors like inspiration and shot type for reference. The third, or atomic, prompt is a highly specific prompt to control every aspect of your image from environment to styling. He demonstrated the quality of the images generated as he refined and perfected his Midjourney prompts during the AAPN AI workshop.
If Midjourney isn’t producing what you are looking for, reprocess the prompt. Parrish showed that Midjourney will produce images that are very different given the same prompt (See Figure 2).
Figure 2: Midjourney generated this collection of images using the same prompt illustrating it is capable of presenting variations on an idea without the need to modify the prompt.
AI Misconceptions
AI is generally viewed as an analytical tool that is not creative. “But it’s not true,” Parrish said. “If AI is not creative, that’s because the user is not giving it the right prompt.” To illustrate this, he noted that the best test is an alternative uses test.
When asked for ideas of things a pencil can do other than its basic function of writing, on the low end, humans can come up with three to five mostly obvious uses. On average humans generate between 5 and 10 ideas, while a few exceptional people specifically trained in divergent thinking may manage to exceed 15 ideas. When asked, AI suggested 100 alternate uses, far surpassing humans in this creative task. “Given the right prompt, AI can be very creative,” Parrish said.
Perhaps this may not appear to be creative in a human sense, however, answering a prompt decisively is AI’s relentless mission.
Specific Apparel Industry Ways To Use AI
During the workshop, Parrish spent some time explaining popular AI tools, showing participants ways to exploit the technologies in various aspects of the apparel industry.
AI can be used to create trend presentations, mood boards and even apparel designs. Parrish created a theoretical apparel collection using a variety of AI tools all the way to photographic-like images of a model wearing the designs (See Figure 3).
Figure 3: Using AI, an idea for a clothing line was developed including concept, mood boards, designs and “photography” that could be used in a presentation.
Ad agency executive Parrish also demonstrated using AI to develop a new product including brand name, logo, related photographic images, a song generated using Suno or udio AI, and finally a video to showcase just some of the capabilities of GenAI. “AI can create commercials from start to finish and it’s only getting better,” Parrish said.
Analyzing Data
ChatGPT can handle the mammoth task of analyzing data sets such as shirt sales for the year, for example. Once the data is uploaded, ask ChatGPT questions like: “What are the different ways I can analyze this data,” “Let’s do a comprehensive analysis of stock turnover and back orders,” or “I have to prepare a report using this data. Outline the report and create the charts I will need to look great in front of my boss.” AI can examine the numbers and see patterns, trends and outliers quickly and effectively.
It may feel daunting to share large, private data sets with AI technologies, but the data is safe. AI uses the data to learn and analyze, but does not share this information with anyone else.
Getting Started
Bringing a company into the AI era may at first seem daunting. But apply the proverbial “eating the elephant” idea and start with small “bites” applying AI to small tasks. As a company or an individual, breaking down a collective fear of AI may ease the transition and spark a broader corporate adoption.
Parrish suggests companies can think about the following five things to encourage the adoption of AI:
Cultivate curiosity — In the age of AI, foster a culture of continuous questioning and exploration. Employees should be encouraged to ask “what if” and “why not,” pushing boundaries and seeking new applications for AI rather than settling for the status quo.
Reward innovation — Recognize and incentivize employees who propose novel ways to leverage AI, even if not all ideas are implemented. This encourages a culture of forward-thinking and helps the organization stay ahead of AI trends.
Focus on augmenting, not replacing, humans — Frame AI adoption as a way to enhance human capabilities rather than a threat to jobs. This approach not only eases adoption but also leads to more effective human-AI collaboration, leveraging the strengths of both.
Prioritize adaptability —AI technologies evolve rapidly. Companies need to build flexibility into their workflows and be ready to pivot quickly. This means valuing employees who can learn and adapt swiftly, and creating systems that can be easily modified as new AI capabilities emerge.
Value skills that complement, not compete, with AI — Rather than focusing solely on technical skills that AI might replicate, organizations should prize uniquely human abilities like emotional intelligence, creative problem-solving, and ethical decision-making. These skills work in tandem with AI to produce superior outcomes.
Parrish suggest individuals consider the following four things related to AI:
Value the impact, not work hours — Working hard is important — it offers the experience to learn and become an expert at something. But once a task is learned, the path to scaling impact without scaling work hours is significantly clearer thanks to AI. When deciding what to work on, it’s increasingly important to find the areas that create the most value.
Assume the skills to solve the problem are present — Consider learning something new from ChatGPT. It may be surprising how AI cuts the time required to learn a new skill down to a fraction, or even a fraction of a fraction, of previous efforts. With the explosion of content online and the accessibility that AI offers, learning a new skill and solving a problem has never been easier.”
Be resourceful — When resourcefulness is present, AI serves as the ultimate resource. Thanks to AI, the primary limitation to achieving dreams is likely internal. People are launching software companies without prior coding experience. What accomplishments could AI support?”
Specialize and dig in deep —Expertise is rising in value as AI commoditizes average. By design, AI generates the average of human intelligence on any task. Being a generalist may become easier, leading to an average skill level in everything with minimal effort. This trend will likely apply universally.
Leveraging AI For The Future
“We are entering a new era for GenAI which is less about optimism and curiosity and more about confidence and value realization,” said Vinciane Beauchene, a managing director and partner at BCG and a coauthor of the “AI at Work: Friend and Foe” report. “Adoption has increased, and individuals are starting to see the benefits. Companies are also starting to realize that get-ting the value out of their investment will require them to think beyond productivity and take a more holistic and proactive approach to redirect the time saved to the most valuable and joyful activities, to reskill their employees to do so, and to reshape their organizations and operating models as a consequence.”
Some companies in the textile industry are already embracing the use of AI in their day-to-day operations such as World Emblem, an embroidered patch manufacturer based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (See “World Emblem: Embracing AI,” TW, this issue). And AAPN hopes many more textile companies will take the leap and at least dabble to get more comfortable with the idea of using AI in their businesses.
And maybe, just maybe, GenAI contributed to this article.
AAPN Encourages Its Members To Embrace AI
The Americas Apparel Producers’ Network (AAPN) is an Atlanta-based association serving the apparel industry supply chain “from the dirt to the shirt”. Its member companies are located in North America, the Caribbean, Central and South America, as well as Europe and Asia. AAPN believes sourcing in this hemisphere makes sense — it’s easier, faster, safer and more stable, among other benefits.
AAPN is looking at ways to integrate and use AI in the apparel industry. It wants its members to embrace, implement and use AI to its benefit. To AAPN, it’s not about taking jobs away, but about making them better.
“AI represents a pivotal moment for our membership, many of whom are leaders in the textile and apparel industry,” said Lynsey Jones, executive director, AAPN. “At the AAPN, we view AI as a powerful tool that can provide a competitive edge, helping our members further solidify their leader-ship positions. Whether it’s automating routine tasks to free up time for more meaningful work or leveraging AI to enhance customer experiences and support data-driven decision-making, the potential is vast. Importantly, we don’t see AI as a replacement for people, but as a catalyst for productivity, creating opportunities for members to focus on higher-impact initiatives.”
Jones scheduled a call with Joe Parrish and his team after a conversation with an AAPN member who had engaged him to walk their company through the AI revolution. “From my very first conversation with the team, I was captivated,” Jones said. “Their enthusiasm for AI and its practical applications was contagious. Joe made something as complex and daunting as AI feel accessible and approachable.”
AAPN initially brought Parrish in as a speaker at its 2024 pro:Americas Annual Conference. “The entire room was just as impressed and inspired as I had been during that initial call,” Jones noted. The feedback and response prompted AAPN to put together the AI workshop to continue the learning.
Editor’s Note: This feature is based on information presented by Joe Parrish at the Americas Apparel Producers’ Network (AAPN) AI Executive Workshop— “Leveraging AI In Your Business —Apparel or Otherwise.” Parrish is the founder of The Variable Agency in Winston-Salem, N.C.
NEW YORK CITY — November 20, 2024 — UNCAGED Innovations, the world’s first biomaterial company to create sustainable leather from grains has launched ELEVATE, a new luxury leather alternative. UNCAGED is partnering with 10 independent global fashion brands to launch ELEVATE as part of The UNCAGED Collective, giving them access to their bio-based leather. The partnerships will bring ELEVATE to market to showcase how the material can be used in various applications from wallets to watch straps. The brands have been selected due to their commitment to sustainability and desire to use less animal products in manufacturing, and span nine countries including the United Kingdom, Germany, Argentina, Mexico, Africa, India, Australia, South Africa, and the United States.
UNCAGED has combined its proprietary technology platform, BioFuze, with biomaterial manufacturing to create a sustainable and customizable leather alternative that mimics the texture and performance of traditional leather. While other companies are focusing on carbohydrates as the primary input, which are not molecularly structured to behave like skin, ELEVATE leverages grain proteins and fuses them with other plant-based elements that provide similar scaffolding functions to collagen, the main protein in animal hides.
Historically in the next-gen material industry, only large brands could gain initial access to new innovations. The UNCAGED Collective is breaking this barrier and launching with boutique brands that each bring a unique piece to market, including jewelry, handbags, wallets, and more.
Stephanie Downs, CEO and co-founder of UNCAGED, said: “Sustainability is now rightfully at the top of businesses and consumers’ agendas, and we’re seeing more partnerships between large household names and innovative start-ups to bring sustainable solutions to the consumer. However, even though partnerships are announced, they take time to come to market. With The UNCAGED Collective, our mission is to make UNCAGED’s bio-based leather alternative available to smaller brands, who move quickly to bring their products to market. ELEVATE is designed to help end the environmental devastation of traditional leather, and we believe that these innovative, sustainable solutions should be accessible to all brands.”
Marco Dal Maso, Design director and founder of MARCO DAL MASO, said: “It was important for us to find an innovative material that was not just sustainable but also luxurious for our high-end designs. UNCAGED offers that and more, with an alternative leather product that can be customized to tune the fragrance, stretch, and even down to the biodegradation of the product itself, all while matching the luxurious aesthetic of traditional leather.”
Melina Bucher, founder of Meline Bucher, added: “The leather and fashion industry is notorious for devastating the environment, from the methane emitted in cattle production (which is known to be 80 times more harmful than carbon dioxide) and the energy-intensive chemicals used in the finishing and tanning processes. The fashion industry is slowly taking action to embrace innovative solutions and alternatives, but there is a barrier to entry for smaller brands to access and use these materials. We’re excited to partner with UNCAGED to use their game-changing leather alternative for good and bring our products to market.”
SARASOTA, FL — November 20, 2024 — MoistTech Corp., a global supplier of moisture measurement and control, highlights its cutting-edge IR3000 series moisture sensors for the textile and nonwoven industries. These state-of-the-art sensors, featuring Near Infrared (NIR) technology, offer unparalleled accuracy and reliability in moisture analysis, significantly enhancing product quality, productivity, and energy efficiency throughout the textile manufacturing process.
MoistTech textile fiber application
The IR3000 series sensors provide instant, continuous moisture measurement, allowing textile manufacturers to maintain precise control over moisture content from fiber production to finished fabrics. This capability is crucial for ensuring optimal product quality and manufacturing efficiency as water can greatly impact textile production lines. Many fabrics rapidly absorb and release moisture due to their hygroscopic nature. Consequently, the water context of a fabric greatly affects its physical properties, including length, dimension, strength, elasticity, and electrical resistance.
One of the key advantages of the IR3000 series is its ability to measure moisture in a wide range of materials, including natural fibers like cotton and wool, synthetic fibers, and blended fabrics. In industries where mold is a concern, particularly in the cotton ginning sector, the IR3000 effectively maintains moisture content below 8 percent, thereby preventing losses caused by mold.
The IR3000’s non-contact design allows for continuous operation without interfering with the manufacturing process, minimizing contamination and maintenance requirements. This feature is particularly beneficial in high-speed textile production environments where continuous monitoring is essential.
MoistTech’s advanced NIR technology ensures that the IR3000 sensors deliver true, repeatable results year after year with minimal maintenance. Pre-calibrated at the factory, these sensors are guaranteed to maintain their accuracy without drifting or requiring recalibration, unlike competing technologies that often necessitate frequent adjustments.
Furthermore, the IR3000 series is designed for easy integration into existing production lines. The sensors can be seamlessly incorporated into process control systems, allowing for real-time adjustments based on moisture data. This capability enables manufacturers to maintain consistent product quality and optimize production efficiency.
As the textile industry continues to evolve, with increasing emphasis on quality control and sustainable manufacturing practices, MoistTech’s IR3000 series moisture sensors offer acutting-edge solution to meet these challenges. By providing accurate, real-time moisture data, these sensors empower manufacturers to maintain the highest standards of product quality while optimizing their production processes.
For more information about the IR3000 series moisture sensors and their applications in the textile and nonwoven industries, visit https://www.moisttech.com/applications/textile-moisture-control/
Mohawk Textiles recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new greenfield plant. (images courtesy of Honey & Bee Photography unless otherwise noted)
Mohawk Textiles aims to follow in the footsteps of Mohawk Fabric Co. as it begins its journey as a 100-year-old technical textile “start up.”
By James M. Borneman, Editor In Chief
Spend five minutes speaking with Dominic Wade, president, Gallatin, Tenn.-based Mohawk Textiles, and you’ll very quickly learn that you are speaking with a driven and relatively fearless individual. He is passionate about his family, the people he works with, investing in the future of textiles and cares deeply about the country he’s served.
After attending Lafayette College where he earned a degree in business economics on an Army ROTC scholarship, Wade was assigned to the 118th Military Police Company Air-borne located at Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, N.C. Post 9/11, Wade served two years overseas in the Iraqi Theater supporting anti-terrorism and was responsible for high-value detainees. After his first deployment from 2002-2003 Wade attended Lehigh University and earned an MBA with a concentration in entrepreneurship.
In January 2006, Wade started at Mohawk Fabric Co., in Amsterdam, N.Y., as general manager and minority owner. And so, the journey began — a journey that forms a compelling story of a textile business with a long history with Wade’s determined eye on the future.
A New Company With Deep Roots
Mohawk Fabric Co. was founded in 1922 in the Mohawk Valley of Upstate New York. The tricot warp knitter focused on processing yarn with twisting and warping, as well as knitting, in the city of Amsterdam where it still operates today.
Under Wade’s leadership, the company has embarked on an ambitious expansion and Wade has been instrumental in shaping the company’s growth.
Supported by his brother Schuyler Wade and fellow army veteran Blaine Harvey, the team envisioned building a state-of-the-art greenfield facility in Middle Tennessee. After a decade of dreaming, Mohawk Textiles was founded in 2020 in Gallatin, Tenn., as a sister company to the deeply rooted Mohawk Fabric.
The team added the technically gifted Christopher Ripp, who migrated South to bolster Mohawk’s capabilities and drive the Mohawk vision forward.
Today, Mohawk Textiles specializes in knitting and weaving technical textiles with a focus on single-step twisting, warping, knitting, weaving, braiding and finishing. The new venture marks a significant milestone in Mohawk’s journey of expansion and reflects its commitment to innovation and quality.
The groundbreaking in August 2020 for Mohawk Textiles’ greenfield facility (image courtesy of City of Gallatin)
Commitment Beyond The Company Walls
Harvey, Ripp, the Wade brothers, and their families now gladly call Sumner County, Middle Tennessee, home. It’s more than just a job. According to Wade, Mohawk Textiles is a “family first” business for all stakeholders and has constructed a “Bold Facility” in the community. Wade eagerly explained the numerous amenities established for Mohawk team members and their families to enjoy that go above and beyond the traditional workplace.
To Wade it is all a function of the founding business principles that drive the Mohawk forward: “Treat all people the way you want to be treated. Communicate often and truthfully. Produce the highest quality product possible. Operate at a fair and sustainable profit. Innovate products with customer collaboration.” And the most important principle: “Invest in and develop your people.”
“With these guidelines, we manufacture knit and woven technical textile products that support the most important American and global industries,” Wade. “They are core to who we are and how we are.”
(left to right): Tennessee State Represen-tative William Slater (Rep.-Gallatin), Gallatin Mayor Paige Brown, and Dominic Wade, president, Mohawk Textiles at the grand opening celebration.
Getting Technical
Mohawk Textiles’ products are, in Wades words, “critical” to technical applications globally. As a manufacturing center of excellence, Mohawk Textiles focuses on production of high-quality fabrics that meet their customers rigorous demands. “We support all major industries in the USA manufacturing arena — automotive, industrial, medical, aerospace, and military — and are developing soon-to-be-released braided products that focus on recycled, reused, and upcycled waste,” Wade added.
Celebrating The Expansion
During the opening ceremony for the Mohawk Textiles greenfield facility in the Gallatin Industrial Center, Wade described the experience of committing to a greenfield expansion.
“Four years ago today, we were 100 yards from here for our ground-breaking,” Wade recalled.
“I know some of you were here that day. Going back in time to that day, we were at the height of COVID with new mask protocols, millions of companies hemorrhaging cash by the day, if they were allowed to operate at all. As I woke up that morning 1,000 miles from home, contemplating the future, and if this was the right time for the Mohawk Textiles expansion to Middle Tennessee, I was scared, nervous, and questioned if I was out of my mind.
“But I had planned, checked it over with everyone that would listen — it was sound in normal times — but these were not normal times. They were challenging times. And I made commitments to team members, banks, and customers, as well as the City of Gallatin.
“So, my family and I drove from New York to the Gallatin Industrial Center for our groundbreaking,” Wade continued. “My plan was to hide my fears and face the challenges as they came — I was expecting about 10 people I knew, and possibly a few others — but boy, was I wrong! The Southern Hospitality was strong that day, and almost 100 people were present. The grit and grace of Gallatin’s business community was in full force.
“Mayor Brown’s welcoming and inspiring words made all the fear, worry and anxiety disappear in an instant, I knew we had made the right choice — the millions of dollars earmarked and spent for state-of-the-art equipment, a cutting-edge facility that spoke to anyone who would visit — that focused on the best experience for employees possible, seemed so right.
“And through the chaos of the pandemic, I could see the opportunities that would be there in the future,” Wade said.
Robert Norris demonstrates the Ratti R325 NF twisting machine.
Commitment To Community
Tennessee was one of about six states that were considered for the new Mohawk facility.
“In other states we could have gotten a free building, but Gallatin had the perfect blend of work, play, and quality of life standards — all 30 minutes from downtown Nashville,” Wade said. “The schools and amenities that are in Sumner County are so family friendly and community oriented that it made sense to give it a try. It also was a growing community that our employees could also afford to live.”
When asked her thoughts on the matter, Gallatin Mayor Paige Brown noted: “Mohawk has a culture that fits so well in our city and in the state of Tennessee. Mohawk exemplifies the Made in Tennessee spirit, and we are grateful they chose Gallatin. Our philosophy, much like Mohawk’s, is when Gallatin does well by our businesses, our businesses do well and that helps everyone.”
Director of Operations, Blaine L. Harvey, U.S. Army retired, discusses a Karl Mayer HKS-2-M with EL Drive during the grand opening.
Economic Development Matters
Gallatin Economic Development Agency Executive Director Rosemary Bates shed some light on shared economic goals. “Mohawk represents the type of manufacturing we envisioned several years ago in our strategic planning — high tech and visionary with an emphasis on taking care of their employees,” she said.
“My predecessor, James Fenton, deserves much of the credit for forging an initial relationship with Mohawk, visiting them in New York to better understand their operations and, of course, to share how Gallatin would like to be a second home for them. When James walked around the shop there with Dominic, he noticed that Dominic knew every employee by name and usually something about their families. That is the type of employer we embrace in Gallatin.
“Mohawk’s facility here is a neighbor to Beretta USA, a meta hyperscale data center, and Axem, which is a company that pursues advanced technology like Mohawk does. Gallatin is also home to Gap Inc.’s Southeast distribution center — also focused on advancing technology.
“Dominic and Mohawk think in big ideas, creative ideas and innovation. They speak our language. The Gallatin Economic Development Agency, Tennessee’s Department of Economic and Community Development, along with TVA — our regional power provider and partner in economic development — also pursue innovation, collaboration, and ingenuity to create a better environment for manufacturing, research and development.”
A Tennessee Welcome
Tennessee State Representative William Slater (Rep.-Gallatin) offered his thoughts on the selection and commitment by Mohawk to Gallatin. “I am extremely proud that a time-tested business-like Mohawk has expanded to Gallatin,” Slater said. “Our skilled workforce and booming economy have helped many companies flourish, and I’m confident Mohawk will similarly thrive here.
“Working with Dominic has been a pleasure, and I appreciate his for-ward-thinking approach and dedication to innovation and precision.
“Tennessee’s business-friendly environment has proven once again to be a powerful draw for top-tier companies, and I’m grateful that Dominic decided to invest in our community,” said Slater, who spoke at the grand opening celebration and was joined by suppliers that were key to executing Wade’s plan for the new plant.
A Force To Be Reckoned With
Of course, when setting up a new manufacturing plant, machinery and technology companies play a key role in providing guidance. “Mohawk comes across as a very modern-led organization that not only talks about being customer-centric and employee-friendly but actually is so to its core,” said Per Olofsson, CEO of Spartanburg, S.C.-based Symtech Inc., a distributor of textile machinery and equipment in the United States and Canada. “Mohawk is very open to customers’ requirements and finds ways to deliver them,” he said. “With the new facility, a very skilled and motivated team and investments in world-class technology, Mohawk is a force to be reckoned with.
“At SYMTECH, we are convinced that Dominic and his team are just at the beginning of their growth journey, and we are excited to do as much as we can to support them.”
During plant tours at the grand opening, Director of Operations Blaine Harvey presented the Karl Mayer Direct Warper
A New Standard
Greensboro, N.C.-based textile machinery manufacturer KARL MAYER North America president Mariano Amezcua echoed Olofsson’s sentiments. “Dominic Wade and the Mohawk team have established the new standard for textile mills in North America in collaboration with Karl Mayer,” Amezcua said. “Through the years, Mohawk has steadily moved towards making that vision a reality. Mohawk remains at the forefront of Karl Mayer technology by continually investing in the latest cloud-connected warp knitting machines. Mohawk is firmly recognized as a sustainable and innovative leader through ensuring a warp knit infrastructure prepared for the market demands of today and the future demands of tomorrow.”
Weaving technician Julia Whitaker shared details on a Picanol OptiMax-i weaving machine during plant tours offered at the grand opening celebration.
Weaving Gets Technical
Tom Johnston, sales manager, Greenville S.C.-based weaving machinery manufacturer Picanol of America, offered some insight into Mohawks commitment to innovation. “I was impressed from the first time that I met Dominic in June 2019,” Johnston said. “The vision he has of building a company with total employee involvement and family values is part of the reason for the company’s success. Dominic is not afraid of change. He and his team are willing to work outside of the box of his current product line. This is why he and his company are a success.
On the challenges of investing Johnston offered: “Not only did Dominic invest in a greenfield plant, but as he grows, he continues to invest back into the company. Dominic has made multiple weaving investments with Picanol and has the state-of-the-art weaving machines with the capability of producing fabrics for many different segments.”
Future Focus
Mohawk Textiles aims to follow in the footsteps of Mohawk Fabric Co. as it begins its journey as a 100-year-old start-up. At the opening celebration, Wade punctuated his remarks, saying: “I believe conducting business better is the only path to ensure our success in the future. That future is founded in taking care of Mohawk’s team members while also supporting their families. I’m honored to have this opportunity to share with you, my fellow business partners, and leaders, that there is a better way to treat people in the workplace com-pared to that of the past.”
Wade follows the motto “lead by example, join an amazing community, add more than we take.”
“I followed this path and as a result we are here together, celebrating the hard work of the Mohawk Team — North and South, and all our partners,” Wade said. “I am grateful to have this opportunity showcase our version of the future workplace that prioritizes its people, community, and business relationships.”
An Ambitious Plan
While finishing his MBA, Wade wrote a white paper outlining a 10-year plan putting himself in the shoes of the Mohawk Fabric Co. owner. These ideas in the white paper have continued to influence and guide Wade after he earned his diploma. The highlights of the plan were:
Engage and understand customer needs and why they buy from us and what we can do together to improve;
Understand the textile manufacturing process and modernize to current standards from the working museum that we were in 2005;
Build stronger relationships with suppliers and vendors and leverage their knowledge and resources to grow and better the company; and Get to know the employee base and invest in them and provide the resources for them to build a stronger foundation for the future of the company.
In 2014, when Blaine Harvey and Schuyler Wade joined the company, together they worked on another 10-year plan, which formed the basis for Mohawk Textiles.
