Kimberly-Clark To Expand Production At Its North Carolina Nonwovens Plant

HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. — May 22, 2018 — Kimberly-Clark Corp. has approved $30 million for expansion and improvements to its nonwovens manufacturing facility in Hendersonville, North Carolina. The plant produces nonwoven materials for Kimberly-Clark’s North American adult and feminine care brands including Depend, Poise and U by Kotex.

The two-year project will focus on expanding the plant’s production capacity and efficiency, and is expected to add 14 new jobs at the site, while maintaining current employment.

“The Berkeley Mill team is proud about the role we will play in supporting the future growth of Kimberly-Clark’s adult and feminine care business in North America,” said Ernest Humphries, plant manager, Kimberly-Clark’s Berkeley Mill. “This investment, combined with the commitment of our employees and the support of the local community, will bolster the mill’s competitiveness and position us for continued success.”

“Henderson County is very proud to support Berkeley Mill’s expansion,” said Michael Edney, Chairman of the Henderson County Board of Commissioners. “Kimberly-Clark is a legacy employer in our county, and we are proud to play a key role in the company’s future. We look forward to many more years together.”

Posted May 29, 2018

Source: Kimberly-Clark Corp.

Gulfstream Interiors And Seats Earn Design Awards

SAVANNAH, Ga. — May 29, 2018 — Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. is proud to announce its Interior and Industrial Design teams recently earned 2018 International Yacht & Aviation Awards for the all-new Gulfstream G500 and Gulfstream G600 seat and cabin designs.

“This recognition speaks to the creativity, craftsmanship, quality and customer-centric design focus inherent throughout the Gulfstream product line,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream. “The Gulfstream G500 and Gulfstream G600 showcase our ongoing commitment to a high-quality customer experience that is tailored precisely for our customers’ productivity, comfort and design aesthetic. I am incredibly proud of our very talented team for winning these awards.”

The fully outfitted G600 test aircraft earned the Private Jet Design award for its three-living-area cabin with crew rest, which demonstrates the flexibility that is part of the Gulfstream design DNA. A central focus of the winning G600 design is the mirrored mid-cabin bulkhead, a literal reflection of the customer experience and cabin versatility. Reflection continues in subtle ways, from the layered, mixed grain on the mocca oak veneer that catches the light with understated elegance to the geometric carpet pattern that mimics the herringbone design of the seats’ perforated and quilted inserts. The four-living-area G650ER won the same award in 2017.

Gulfstream’s mission-specific seating, created for the G500 and G600, took home the seating award in the Product Category. The seat styles feature three design aesthetics, Sport, Classic and Minimalist, that serve as starting points for customization. The seating was created in Gulfstream’s Research and Development Center, where industrial and interior designers, the engineering team and upholstery shop collaborated on the aesthetics, ergonomics and functionality that led to the final design.

  • The Classic seat aesthetic offers an elegant design with mid-level bolstering that creates a blend of strong support and generous freedom of movement.
  • Sport provides robust bolstering that evokes high-performance standards and is ideal for long periods of sitting. The Sport seat includes a contoured mattress insert for berthing.
  • The Minimalist seat provides the least amount of bolstering in favor of a comfortable conversion to berthing for the passenger who desires a greater focus on the sleeping surface for long-range flights.

The individual tailoring of all three seat styles starts with additional design details such as quilted inserts; decorative stitching; seat arm accents in leather, fabric, veneer or lacquer; and Gulfstream’s wide variety of fine leathers and upholstery, all custom-crafted for each aircraft.

The G600 interior and seats have been tested as part of Gulfstream’s rigorous flight-test programs for the G500 and G600 to ensure the aircraft perform as they should long before customer deliveries, which are expected later this year and in 2019, respectively.

Posted May 29, 2018

Source: Gulfstream Aerospace Corp.

VDMA Members Successfully Met Indian Textiles And Nonwovens: German Textile Machinery Ranks First

FRANKFURT, Germany/MUMBAI — May 29, 2018 — India is a very important market for the German textile machinery industry, with an export of more than 255 million euros (+8 %) in 2017. Many German machinery builders have longstanding relations with Indian customers and quite a number of them also provide production plants and training centres in India. Not surprisingly, about 370 decision-makers and experts from the textile and nonwoven related industry attended the VDMA conference and B2B event called “German Technology meets Indian Textiles and Nonwovens” in Mumbai on May 15-16, 2018 (www.germantech-indiantextile.de).

According to a survey, both the event and German textile machinery engineering received the highest marks among the visitors. About 57 percent of the visitors stated very good and 38 percent good experience with machines and components from German suppliers. The performance and service promise as well as the high-quality standards have made German machine suppliers as most reliable partners in India and other countries. This positive result has by far not been reached by any other manufacturing nation from Europe or Asia. Asked for future processes, investments in technical textiles and/or nonwoven production seem to be the most favorite sectors in India. Around 74 percent of the visitors plan to expand their production capacities with new machines and components whereas 26 percent intend to replace old machinery by new machines and components. High productivity, after-sales service, end-product quality, low operating and acquisition costs are the decisive machine procurement criteria in this order. The investments plans are based on a positive business and investment outlook in India. Forty-five percent of the visitors surveyed plan to invest more than 10 percent within the next 12 months and 30 percent up to 10 percent. Twenty-five percent of the visitors expect a sales increase by more than 10 percent for the next 12 months and 60 percent anticipate a sales growth of up to 10 percent.

Considering this positive business climate and the high interest from the Indian industry, the 32 well-known VDMA members participated in the conference have good chances to offer the right technologies and to place new orders. The presented technology topics along the entire textile value chain will help the Indian industry to fulfill their expansion plans and to meet the challenges such as rising salary costs and shortage of labor in industrial regions. The major cutting-edge topics of the conference program were as follows:

  • Higher profits throughout the entire textile value chain;
  • Energy, material, water and dyestuff savings for an environmentally friendly production;
  • New applications such as technical textiles, nonwovens (e. g. hygiene products, geotextiles for the infrastructure) or home textiles (e. g. terry towels);
  • Automation, industry 4.0, digital communication and smart factory solutions;
  • Quality improvements e. g. with measurement and control systems;
  • Lower investment costs in spinning preparation with integrated draw frames;
  • New technologies to combine spinning and knitting; and
  • Smart textiles and added value products e. g. with embroidery machines.

The complete program can be found here: www.germantech-indiantextile.de/program.html

Whereas the event on 15-16 May 2018 focused on customers, a training session at the prestigious Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute VJTI in Mumbai on 17 May 2018 was addressed to future engineers. More than 220 textile manufacturing and mechanical engineering students followed the technical presentations. The VDMA’s contribution to improve the education of future customers and partners was very much appreciated. The VDMA Textile Machinery Association and VDMA India Office cordially thank all media partners and supporting Associations involved (see www.germantech-indiantextile.de). In 2018, the Association’s next sales supporting activities take place in Belarus, Brazil, Uzbekistan, Iran, China and Egypt.

Posted May 29, 2018

Source: VDMA

Lectra Unlocks The Real Value Of Automotive Manufacturing Data

PARIS — May 29, 2018 — Lectra, the technological partner for companies using fabrics and leather, welcomed guests from all areas of the automotive leather supply chain at its International Advanced Technology Center (IATC) in Bordeaux-Cestas, France, for two action-packed days of demonstrations, workshops and talks by industry experts during the fourth annual “Go Digital” automotive leather event.

Building on the previous editions’ themes of digitalization of manufacturing processes and the adoption of Industry 4.0 principles, this year’s presentations focused on the value creation enabled by leveraging manufacturing data. A showcase for the innovative applications Lectra is developing based on Industry 4.0 principles, the company’s trade gathering demonstrated how disruptive new technologies are enhancing the onboard experience while reorganizing the automotive interiors supply chain.

Several guest speakers provided insight into the ways industry megatrends are impacting the automotive cockpit of the future. As motorized vehicles become increasingly autonomous, connected and electrified, cementing their place in the shared mobility landscape, suppliers must now devise new strategies to achieve profitable growth. Traditional business models are losing ground to cross-functional collaboration partnerships, making it even more challenging to compete in the fast-moving connected, shared economy.

“It is disruptive for the entire automotive supply chain,” remarked Nathalie Saint Martin, vice president, Group Purchasing, Faurecia. “We are all learning to evolve together and enhance the added value to our end-customers. The level of collaboration we are now seeing among suppliers is unprecedented.”

Other keynote speeches included market research consultancy Frost & Sullivan’s analysis of automotive trends in the data-driven economy, Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) specialist Bureau Veritas’ vision of data protection for automotive and a presentation of industry insights firm WardsAuto’s selection of top 10 best vehicle interiors of 2018.

The event enables a diverse array of supply chain players in automotive interiors to gather with their peers. “Events like this one are a great opportunity to talk face-to-face with other suppliers about industry-wide challenges,” notes Claus Lattner, Director Engineering, Process Management, CoC Cut Sew Wrap Global, Yanfeng Automotive Interiors. “It is not often we find ourselves in the same room to talk about consumer perception and the sustainability of leather, for instance.”

“The event provided a great opportunity to interact with suppliers who have a direct impact on innovation in interior design and manufacturing,” said John Sousanis, managing director of Wards Intelligence.

For Javier Garcia, senior vice-president, Automotive Sales, Lectra, bringing together the automotive leather community is especially important as it rises to new business challenges stemming from continually changing consumer habits and the digitalization of manufacturing processes. “Connectivity and occupant comfort are increasing the amount of high-tech content in automotive interiors, but the up-market appeal of leather makes it a constant,” states Javier Garcia. “By fostering exchange, Lectra is doing its part to help the automotive leather ecosystem evolve to meet new consumer expectations.”

Posted May 29, 2018

Source: Lectra

KARL MAYER Launches The World’s Widest Tricot Machine

OBERTSHAUSEN, Germany — May 28, 2018 — KARL MAYER has extended its successful model in the HKS machine series, the HKS 3-M, by including a version having a wider working width. To complement the current machines having widths of 186″ and 218″, a version having a width of 280″ is now available. The HKS 3-M, 280″, is the widest tricot machine available on the global market, and its wider width delivers greater productivity and flexibility.

Increased flexibility for the same production repertoire

Like all the HKS three-bar machines, this new machine targets a wide variety of end-uses, from car interiors, through furniture and sportswear, to coating/backing substrates and advertising media. Fabrics processed with different widths can now be produced on one machine instead of two, which used to be the case. The simultaneous production of webs can also be increased by a factor of one, i.e. two webs can be produced on a 186″-wide machine compared to three webs on a 280″-wide machine, and three webs can be produced on a 218″-wide machine as opposed to four on the new machine. The finished fabric is wound using standard batching unit no. 6 when using the normal-width, high-speed machines, whereas the new batching unit no. 51A is used with the new machine. Batching unit no. 51A winds the fabric on friction rollers, which are driven by the fabric take-up unit.

Proven performance

As well as its new features, the HKS 3-M also offers all the usual features. For example, this high-speed tricot machine operates with a 3 x 32″ beam mounting arrangement as standard. A mounting configuration with a diameter of 40″ for beam position GB 1, and 32″ each for beam positions GB 2 and GB 3, is available as an option. Just like the machines having a smaller working width, the HKS 3-M, 280″, is available in the gauges of E 28 and E 32.

It can be equipped with the new KAMCOS® 2 efficient computer platform, the LEO® Low Energy Option for energy-efficient running, and a camera monitoring system above or below the web. A face plate under the textile web for monitoring transparent fabrics is also available as an option. The knitting motions and elements are the same as on the existing machines. This machine delivers the dependable quality typical of all KARL MAYER’s machines. It can be supervised easily and operates steadily and reliably with low maintenance requirements. It is also extremely efficient. The HKS 3-M, 280″, operates at a maximum speed of 2,200 min-1.

This extra-wide machine has just been launched onto the market, but a number of modifications are already on the agenda. The developers and engineers at KARL MAYER are currently working on a three-bar, high-speed tricot machine with an intermediate width of 238″ – with the possibility of extending this by 10″.

Posted May 28, 2018

Source: KARL MAYER

CHOMARAT North America Awarded AS 9100 Certification For The Aerospace Industry

PARIS — May 28, 2018 — CHOMARAT North America has just been awarded AS 9100 certification. Chomarat Group’s US facility that specializes in Advanced Composites reinforcements is located in Williamston, S.C. The new certification covers aerospace quality management systems and follows the Group’s development strategy relative to quality and risk management. “Our North American plant’s new AS 9100 certification proves our organisational maturity and provides a vital asset to enable us to become a leading aerospace supplier,” said Michel Cognet, group managing director at CHOMARAT.

Meeting The Demands Of The Aerospace Market

With this certification, Chomarat North America is following in the footsteps of the Group’s French plants that were certified to ES 9100 in 2012. The facility now meets the strict criteria set by the market for high performance composites reinforcements for the aerospace industry. The quality system and risk management standards are recognised by purchasers worldwide and is in line with the Group’s growth strategy for the aerospace market. “We are proud of this AS 9100 certification that clearly demonstrates our commitment to quality management and reliability. This accomplishment now allows us to compete as an international aerospace supplier from multiple continents!” said Brian Laufenberg, President of Chomarat’s NA business.

C-Ply™,
The Chomarat Reinforcement That Has Already Proven Its Worth In The Aerospace Industry

Chomarat has already made a name for itself in the aerospace market with fabrics, tapes and multiaxial carbon reinforcements, particularly its C-PLY™ range. These materials are designed for primary and secondary structures as well as aircraft interior parts. These highly modular materials offer great angle and ply flexibility and open up new opportunities for designing lighter, more efficient and lower cost composite parts. This is a huge advantage in a market with high productivity demands.
This is why C-PLY was recently chosen by VX AEROSPACE for their foldaway drone, which can be stowed inside a cylindrical container and deployed from a tactical aircraft. The carbon multiaxial material is used in the construction of the wing, the horizontal stabilizers, the vertical fin and all of the control surfaces. “There is no better material! The extremely thin multiaxial reinforcement is perfect, because strength and stiffness are tailored according to demand. It offers extremely high performance at a reduced cost.” said VX AEROSPACE Chief Engineer Bob Skillen.

Posted May 28, 2018

Source: CHOMARAT

Archroma Breaks New Ground With New Aniline-Free* Indigo For Denim

REINACH, Switzerland — May 28, 2018 — Archroma, a global supplier of color and specialty chemicals, has presented an aniline-free* denim indigo dye at the recent Planet Textiles 2018 Conference in Vancouver, Canada. The brand new dye provides a non-toxic way to produce the traditional, iconic indigo blue that consumers associate with denim and jeans.

Currently, aniline impurities are an unavoidable element of producing indigo-dyed denim. Unlike other chemical impurities, aniline is locked into the indigo pigment during the dyeing process and therefore cannot be washed off the fabric.

Scientific testing has shown that aniline impurities are toxic to humans, causing skin allergies, damage to major organs and genetic defects, as well as being linked to cancer. Aniline is also toxic to aquatic life, which is an issue as two thirds of the 400 metric tons of aniline waste on an annual basis ends up in the environment as wastewater discharge.

The toxic chemical is therefore starting to feature on the restricted substance lists (RSL) of some major clothing brands and retailers.

“We have tested denim garments and found that aniline concentrations are frequently higher than expected,” said Alexander Wessels, CEO, Archroma. “This could put some manufacturers over the limits agreed on their RSLs.”

True to its commitment to take on innovation challenges, Archroma decided to take a closer look at the issue with its R&D experts, and developed an alternative system that is aniline free*.

“At Archroma, we continuously challenge the status quo in the deep belief that we can make our industry sustainable,” continues Alexander Wessels. “By removing a hazardous impurity from the denim supply chain, we aim to protect the workers who create denim, the consumers who wear denim, and the environment with cleaner waterways.”

The Denisol® Pure Indigo 30 dye is the latest in a long line of sustainable innovations for denim started in 2009. That year, Archroma introduced its ‘Advanced Denim’ technology which uses up to 90-percent less water during the dyeing process. “Being not indigo but sulfur based, ‘Advanced Denim’ itself was an aniline free solution too!”, added Wessels.

For designers and brand owners who long for authentic indigo inspiration, the new Denisol Pure Indigo 30 now also makes it possible to produce indigo-dyed denim without high levels aniline impurities.

Archroma successfully tested Denisol Pure Indigo 30 at Absolute Denim mill in Thailand. “During the testing everything performed exactly the same as it would with conventional indigo,” said Vichai Phromvanich, Board Member, Absolute Denim. “There was just one important difference: no aniline.”

“We’ve had an overwhelming positive reaction from the industry in sneak previews and during the launch at Planet Textiles,” continued Wessels. “As a responsible industry leader, we believe it’s important to actively look for eco-advanced solutions that are attractive and at the same time cost-efficient for clothing brands, retailers and end-consumers.”

Archroma will make the Denisol Pure Indigo 30 dye in the most sustainable way as possible. The new dye will be produced in Archroma’s facility in Pakistan, a plant that made the headlines in 2012 for being what Archroma believed to be the industry’s first zero liquid discharge plant.

* Below limits of detection

Posted May 28, 2018

Source: Archroma

Acquisition Expands Radians’ Portfolio In Flame Resistant (FR) Clothing And Protective Rainwear Markets

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — May 22, 2018 — Safety Supply Corp., a manufacturer of high quality personal protective equipment (PPE) and parent of Radians Inc., announced today they have acquired Neese Industries Inc., an established global leader in FR clothing and protective rainwear for almost 60 years.

Radians and Neese combined will have manufacturing capabilities in Mexico which will improve lead times on several product lines by bringing manufacturing closer to the United States. Owning their plants, equipment and in-house design and production teams allows both companies to respond quickly to unique customer needs.

“FR clothing and protective rainwear are an important growth area in the Radians portfolio,” said Bill England, president, Radians. “The acquisition of Neese bolsters our PPE platform and will build on our combined strengths of manufacturing, distribution, and product innovation. The acquisition allows us to broaden our efforts to be a top-tier, single-source supplier of high quality protective gear.”

“We are looking forward to a mutually beneficial partnership with the management and employees of Radians,” said Bob Riches, Neese product champion of FR clothing. “Radians and Neese share a respected reputation in the safety industry and the mutual mission of ‘Protecting What Matters Most,’ which includes our relationships with workers, consumers, and our customers.”

Riches will continue to lead and manage the 134 employees that work for Neese Industries and will play a major role in the expansion of FR clothing and rainwear at Radians. After systems integration is completed later this year, customers will be able to conveniently order both Radians products and Neese products on a single purchase order.

Posted May 25, 2018

Source: Radians®

 

R2G, The Majority Owner Of Pegas Nonwovens, To Acquire First Quality’s U.S. And China Nonwovens Businesses

GREAT NECK, N.Y./PRAGUE, Czech Republic — May 22, 2018 — R2G, a family office based in Prague, Czech Republic, which owns majority interest in Pegas Nonwovens A.S., and First Quality Enterprises Inc. today announced that the two companies have entered into a definitive agreement under which R2G will acquire 100-percent of First Quality’s nonwovens operations in the United States and China. The transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions, is expected to be completed early in the third calendar quarter of 2018.

R2G’s nonwovens business Pegas Nonwovens is a producer of nonwoven textiles with operations in Europe and Africa. The acquired operations will continue, post transaction, to supply nonwovens to First Quality’s U.S. absorbent hygiene division, which manufactures premium infant care, adult incontinence, and feminine hygiene products for the retail and healthcare markets. This strategic acquisition will expand R2G’s presence into North America and Asia and will act as a fantastic platform for growth in these two important markets.

Michal Smrek, CEO, R2G, said: “We believe strongly in the nonwovens business. This transaction will enable us and our group companies to support our global customers across four continents. Post transaction, we will have state-of-the-art production facilities and unrivalled know-how and R&D expertise to ensure that our customers benefit from the premium products we offer and the joint innovation and synergies that this combination will bring. When we acquired Pegas, we said that this was the first step to building a global platform. This transaction is the second step and we look forward to now investing into our global platform and the people that have made the production companies a success.”

Jim Dodge, CFO, First Quality Enterprises, said: “In the past 21 years, we have built First Quality Nonwovens into a global leader in the nonwovens industry through strategic investments, strong product development, and differentiation; with full commitment to our workforce, customers, and our communities in Hazleton, Pennsylvania and Wuxi, China. We are very pleased to pass along this legacy to a company which shares our principles and values. While it is extremely difficult to part with our nonwovens division and the fantastic team members that work there, we are pleased that, following the completion of the transaction, they will be part of the R2G family of nonwovens companies with similar core values as the First Quality Group. We are also excited about continuing to work closely with them in the years to come as they continue to supply First Quality with premium nonwoven materials. We would like to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude to our entire workforce for their tireless dedication for the last 21 years.”

Goldman, Sachs & Co. LLC served as financial advisor and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen and Katz served as counsel to First Quality. Dentons served as counsel to R2G. CSOB bank, together with KBC Bank N.V branch in New York, arranged debt financing for the acquisition by R2G.

Posted May 25, 2018

Source: First Quality Enterprises

Avery Dennison Joins Forces With Softwear Automation To Enable The Supply Chain Of The Future

ATLANTA — May 21, 2018 — Avery Dennison — a producer of pressure-sensitive, functional materials, branding, weaving and labeling solutions for the retail apparel market — and SoftWear Automation — a  sewing technologies company for manufacturing automation in the home goods, footwear and apparel industries — have teamed up to help apparel manufacturers create a fully-digital supply chain that enables speed in the manufacture of apparel and textile products.

Through this partnership, Avery Dennison is leading a transformative change in the apparel industry, ushering in innovation that is in keeping with the company’s history of pushing boundaries to create positive change across the supply chain.

Sparking Change in the Apparel Industry

Automating and simplifying production processes is key for speed to market and new levels of customization, which are increasingly in demand by consumers. The success of fast fashion retailers is a testament to growing consumer expectation for more choices, at rates greater than ever before.

“At Avery Dennison, we recognize that the apparel industry is changing,” said Michael Colarossi, vice president of Innovation, Product Line Management and Sustainability at Avery Dennison. “As consumers continue to demand fast, customized solutions, the apparel industry is challenged to respond. Innovation is in our DNA, and this partnership, combined with our expertise and unique position in the value chain, is part of our broader strategy to help factories and brands get their customers the products they want, when they want it.”

Avery Dennison’s capabilities in branding, labelling and RFID, combined with SoftWear Automation’s autonomous sewing worklines, enable digitalization and automation within the apparel and textile supply chain to accelerate this progression.

“You can’t make an on-demand, made-to-measure garment if it needs to travel through the global supply chain. It will never be fast enough. We have to rethink how we deliver apparel to customers to match their demand for speed, variation and quality,” said Palaniswamy “Raj” Rajan, chairman & CEO, Softwear Automation.

SoftWear Automation’s revolutionary digital t-shirt SEWBOT® Workline, is a fully autonomous, single operator system that produces one complete t-shirt every 22 seconds — twice as fast as manual sewing. Digitizing the production portion of the supply chain presents exciting new opportunities for manufacturers and suppliers.

Advancing Sustainability Through Automation

In addition to the clear business value delivered by supply chain automation, there is also great potential to advance sustainability. In a world in which garment manufacturers only make product that is needed, and in the markets where it would be consumed, the amount of waste and greenhouse gases generated could’ve be significantly less than what is produced today. Colarossi continued: “ Sustainability is a core value of Avery Dennison, and this partnership aligns with our ongoing efforts to reduce the environmental impact of our operations and the broader industry. Automation allows manufacturers to drive greater productivity and create new, higher-value opportunities for brand owners to better service their consumers.”

“We can solve a lot of what ails fashion if we only make the goods when the order is made. Local, on-demand, made-to-measure manufacturing presents an enormous economic opportunity to tackle the priorities that will help make fashion more sustainable as outlined by the Global Fashion Agenda and The Boston Consulting Group,” said Pete Santora, chief commercial officer for Softwear Automation. “Local-for-local manufacturing is a profitable business model with the opportunity to “bake in” the social and environmental responsibility from the beginning.”

Posted May 25, 2018

Source: Avery Dennison

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