Member companies of the Germany-based VMDA’s Textile Machinery Association participated in a B2B Forum in Charlotte to showcase capabilities.

TW Special Report

The Germany-based Mechanical Engineering Industry Association’s (VDMA’s) Textile Machinery Association recently hosted a B2B Forum & Conference event in Charlotte, N.C., and Mexico City to highlight the capabilities of member companies. The event in Charlotte, held at the Sheraton Charlotte Hotel, featured 25 companies who presented practice-oriented technology topics from along the textile value chain including spinning to finishing and dyeing, as well as saving energy and materials, digitization and smart factories. The parallel presentations were supplemented with the opportunity for B2B meetings and a table-top exhibition area. More than 80 decision-makers from the textile, nonwovens and carpet sectors attended the event.
“In the light of the high number of participants and the intensity of the discussions regarding concrete investment intentions, the VDMA events have been a big success for our company,” said Hermann Selker, head of marketing, Trützschler.

The companies who participated:
•    A. Monforts Textilmaschinen;
•    Andritz Küsters, a Division of Andritz Inc.;
•    Autefa Solutions Germany;
•    Brückner Textile Technologies;
•    DILO Systems + Temafa;
•    Erhardt+Leimer;
•    Georg Sahm;
•    Groz-Beckert;
•    Interspare;
•    Karl Mayer Textilmaschinenfabrik;
•    Körting Hannover;
•    Lindauer Dornier;
•    Mahlo;
•    Neuenhauser Maschinenbau;
•    Oerlikon Textile
(Barmag and Neumag);
•    PLEVA;
•    Reseda Binder;
•    Saurer Components
(Saurer Temco);
•    Sedo Treepoint;
•    Textechno Herbert Stein;
•    Thies Corp.;
•    Trützschler; and
•    Welker Vakuum.

View a gallery of event images, including the speakers, here.

January/February 2018

With the next edition of InPrint USA not scheduled to take place until 2019, organizers decided to launch a supporting conference to build on the momentum of the inaugural trade show.

TW Special Report

In 2017, the Mack Brooks Exhibition Group launched the InPrint USA trade show extending its brand into the United States to support the fast-growing world of industrial printing. The next edition of InPrint USA is scheduled for 2019, but the success of the 2017 event and the ensuing momentum led organizers to plan the first InPrint Industrial Inkjet Conference to be held May 1-2, 2018, at the Palmer House Hilton, Chicago.

“The show confirmed that there is a community of innovators looking for information on how to tap into new markets now open to them through digital inkjet technology,” said Melissa Magestro, executive vice president, Mack Brooks Exhibitions Inc. “InPrint USA is the home for this community.

“With the rapid rate at which technologies, products, and services are evolving for the industrial print sector, we needed to give this audience the opportunity to connect and learn from one another before the next InPrint USA show in April 2019 in Louisville, Ky. We are confident that this educational and community building conference will meet the needs of those in the industry.”

Mack Brooks is billing the InPrint Industrial Inkjet Conference as a premier networking and educational forum for the industrial print community that will offer insight in to the myriad of possibilities for industrial inkjet technology within the manufacturing sector. The conference is designed to complement the 2019 show by providing the chance to stay informed and current on the latest trends, network and connect, share knowledge, and foster new relationships.

Program

Organizers have put together a program that will highlight trends, market opportunities, case studies and the latest developments in industrial inkjet technology for functional, decorative and package printing applications. The content is divided into two tracks — one for technical and one for creative applications. The event also will feature interactive roundtable discussions as well as highlight case studies.

Digital printing in the textile industry is a fast-growing market and definitely a trending topic especially in the fashion and home decorating arenas. The InPrint conference will cover this market in greater detail within its creative applications track.

According to organizers, inkjet technology is disrupting virtually every manufacturing industry from flooring to fashion, automotive to electronics, sporting goods and packaging. Some 200 attendees are expected to attend the conference from a cross section of the manufacturing industry including manufacturing production professionals; industrial print production companies; OEMs, integrators, component manufacturers and developers; and traditional printing companies.

Registration for the event is now open, and organizers are offering an early-bird discount for attendees who register by March 30.

For more information about the InPrint Industrial Inkjet Conference 2018, please visit inprintshow.com/usa/conference.

January/February 2018

The latest offerings from digital textile printing solutions providers continue to advance this fast-growing area for textile decoration.

TW Special Report

Digital printing technologies are rapidly increasing and improving, and are slowly changing the face of the textile printing industry. At ITMA 2015 held in Milan, the growth in digital textile printing was apparent as organizers added a chapter dedicated to printing and digital printing technologies, auxiliaries and accessories to the show’s lineup.

In “The Future of Digital Textile Printing to 2021” market report, England-based Smithers Pira forecasts 17.5-percent growth over the next five years for the digital textile printing market to a total market value of $2.66 billion. In the same report, the market intelligence, testing and consulting firm estimates 870 million square meters of fabric worth $1.29 billion were printed in 2016 using digital technologies, which represented just a tiny 2.8-percent slice of the overall volume of printed textiles.

As digital technologies improve, more and more traditional textile printing companies are looking at the benefits of digital printing, which include shorter lead times, customization options, improved design aesthetics, workflow efficiencies and cost reduction.

Supplier Growth, Sector Partnerships

To support the production of digital inks, The Netherlands-based SPGPrints opened a 1,000-square-meter (m²) addition to its headquarters location during the final quarter of 2017. The addition is part of an 8-million-euro total investment plan covering 3,000 m² of additional space, and represents the second expansion at the facility in two years.

“The increase in the volume of our ink production means that we will continue to be able to serve the expanding digital textile printing market that we have helped to build over the last three decades,” said Jos Notermans, commercial manager, digital textiles, SPGPrints. “The global retail markets are now in a position to take advantage of the benefits of digital printing as it moves into the mainstream as a production method.”

The company also opened the Experience Center, a 700 m² demonstration and training facility dedicated to innovation in digital textile printing. The center houses two 1,850-millimeter-wide single-pass PIKE^® printers — SPGPrints’ flagship printer engineered for large or short volume production at speeds of up to 40 meters per minute — in addition to a 3,200-mm-wide JAVELIN^® multi-pass printer for home furnishing applications. According to the company, the center acts as a showcase for suppliers and buyers to learn about digital production using SPGPrints’ technologies.

“Digital printing undoubtedly represents the future for textile printing,” Joustra said. “It is transforming the supply chain, making a wider variety of designs possible, shortening delivery times, delivering major cost savings and eliminating waste. The opening of the Experience Center marks our commitment to driving the adoption of the digital workflow. Not only will this provide the opportunity for brand-owners and printers to gain a first-hand, real-time insight into this technology’s tremendous potential; it will provide a dedicated space for further innovation in quality, productivity and sustainability, complementing our resources for the continued development of traditional rotary screen technologies.”

Italy-based Durst Group recently announced a partnership with England-based fabric printing company Standfast & Barracks for a Centre of Excellence. The center will be located at Standfast & Barracks’ headquarters in Lancashire.

Standfast & Barracks recently installed two Durst Alpha 190 systems, which comprise a super high-performance multi-pass printer and the One-Step Pigment Ink Greentex P. The Alpha 190 can be configured in a variety widths and set-ups for fashion garments and apparel, home textiles and upholstery applications. The environmentally friendly One-Step pigment ink was developed for the Alpha Series and is based on the Durst Water Technology.

“Our investment in Durst’s digital technology has transformed the market dynamics for our business and helped trigger a new wave of innovation,” said Stephen Thomas, managing director, Standfast & Barracks. “The initial trials for the pigment inks have been extremely successful and we are looking forward to driving forward this planned Centre of Excellence. Thanks to the huge advances in our digital fabric printing capabilities with Durst, we are now expanding into further industrial production for our premium quality products. Digital gives us unlimited opportunities and color variations.”

Long Beach, Calif.-based Epson America Inc. recently announced a partnership with Portsmouth, N.H.-based CIT Group to offer streamlined financing options to commercial and digital print customers. According to Epson, this collaboration will simplify the financing process and make for a more straightforward customer experience.

“CIT is pleased to provide Epson dealers with a single online finance solution that enhances the customer experience,” said Mark Boyer, vice president, business development, CIT Direct Capital. “By maximizing efficiency and providing greater transparency on transactions, dealers can focus more attention on their clients and business objectives.”

“Epson strives to provide our customers with every avenue to success and provide support on all aspects of the purchase, from selecting the equipment, purchasing, maintenance and warranty,” said Mark Matthews, vice president, Epson America. “Partnering with CIT Direct Capital provides the ability for Epson to offer a variety of acquisition methods to our customers, ensuring they can select the method that best fits their financial and business needs.”

Machinery Introductions, Advancements

Epson also announced a successor to its SureColor^® F2000 direct-to-garment (DTG) printer, the SureColor^® F2100, which will be available beginning March 2018. This high-performance printer features PrecisionCore^® TFP^® printheads and UltraChrome^® DG garment ink system. Epson reports the machine is capable of printing at speeds that are up to twice as fast as its previous generation DTG printer with a consistent print quality. Features on the F2100 include quick-load platen for increased productivity; Epson Garment Creator software with tools for layout and text, color management, ink control, cost estimation and hot folders; and an integrated self-cleaning system with a fabric wiper and in-line cleaning cartridge to reduce downtime. The machine uses Epson’s UltraChrome DG inks, holding four colors plus white. The machine’s highlight white ink mode permits simultaneous printing of white and color inks on the color pass to offer increased image quality, speed and efficiency. According to the company, to lessen nozzle clogs and reduce downtime, the white ink is triple filtered prior to reaching the printheads.

“We listened to our customers and addressed common direct-to-garment pain points with the new SureColor 2100,” said Tim Check, senior product manager, Professional Imaging, Epson America. “The SC-F2100 delivers on reduced maintenance, while providing increased speed and efficiency with newly developed print modes to help customers increase business needs.”

The SureColor F2100 is suitable for printing on garments — including T-shirts, hoodies, jackets and tote bags — ranging from 100-percent cotton to 50/50 blends, and comes with a one-year limited on-site warranty.

Suwanee, Ga.-based Mimaki USA introduced the 74-inch-wide TX300P-1800B direct-to-textile printer designed for sample runs or short-run pieces. The printer features an advanced belt transport and conveyor system to help feed stretchy and thin fabrics in a stable manner.

According to Mimaki, new print heads with a high gap setting allow printing on thick or thin substrates, dimensionally unstable fabrics, woven substrates or substrates with raised fiber surfaces while maintaining accurate ink droplet placement. The company offers five types of ink that are optimized for the TX300P-1800B — Sb420 for direct-to-fabric sublimation, Ac400 acid dyes, Rc400 reactive dyes, Tp400 textile pigments and Dd400 disperse dyes. In addition, the printer features dual ink capability, which offers the user the option of printing on natural materials using pigment inks, or printing on polyester fabric using sublimation inks, using one machine.

Mimaki also announced the Tiger-1800B printing system now is available in the Americas. The 74.8-inch-wide machine is offered in a direct-to-textile or transfer dye sublimation model and is suitable for large-scale production and high-volume textile runs. The direct-to-textile version features 16 printheads in a staggered arrangement, while the transfer dye sublimation model houses 8 printheads. According to the company, the Tiger-1800B is capable of printing at speeds of up to 4,144 square feet per hour.

Israel-based Kornit Digital has launched a new HD printing technology for its Avalanche direct-to-garment printing systems. The HD6, the successor of the Avalanche Hexa, features Kornit’s HD print engine, NeoPigment^™ Rapid Ink, as well as six color channels plus white for a wider color gamut.

The HDK, which is a HD version of the Avalanche 1000, has four color channels plus white.

Kornit reports that the machines deliver a significant drop in cost-per-print via reductions in ink consumption of up to 46 percent compared to previous recirculated and non-recirculated ink technologies.

The NeoPigment Rapid inks — which were developed especially for its HD technology, and meet environmental standards including Oeko-Tex Standard 100 and GOTS V5 pre-approval — offer improved gamut for spot and brand color matching, increased opacity and saturation of white ink, and improved fabric hand.

Previous versions of the Avalanche Hexa and Avalanche 1000, with or without ink recirculation technology, may be upgraded to the new HD technology to allow customers to take advantage of the NeoPigment Rapid inks.

“Today’s market trends put traditional screen printing service providers under pressure given increased demand for short run production with frequent inventory cycles, coupled with the online and direct-to-customer business models, the demand for personalized garments, and demand for shorter delivery times,” said Omer Kulka, vice president of marketing and product strategy, Kornit Digital. “Kornit’s HD technology, based on our 15 years of digital textile printing experience, provides an excellent and profitable alternative for print runs of one to 500 pieces with quick turnaround times.”

Tustin, Calif.-based Ricoh USA Inc. and AnaJet — a wholly owned subsidiary of Ricoh Printing Systems America Inc. and pioneer in DTG printing — will launch the cost-effective RICOH Ri 100 compact DTG printer in the United States this spring. Small enough to fit on a desk or countertop, the printer — which prints up to 1,200 by 1,200 dots per inch in vivid mode — is geared toward small business-use for branded items such as T-shirts, canvas bags, pillows and other such textile items. According to Ricoh, the printer was created for cost-effective one-off and short run prints to help manage supply and demand. Customers can use Ricoh Design Software to create and print designs, or choose to work with an RPCSdriver to utilize a software program of their choice for printing. The machine also features a heating system that creates a smooth printing surface by removing wrinkles from the fabric, and then cures the ink after printing.

“As Ricoh continues to invest in the industrial print market, we do so with one goal in mind — to make it easier for our customers to grow their businesses,” said John Fulena, vice president, Commercial and Industrial Printing Business Group, Ricoh USA Inc. “The Ricoh Ri 100 fits perfectly into that mission: it’s affordable, it’s easy to use; it works fast to produce quality, unique applications.”

Supporting Technologies

England-based Global Inkjet Systems (GIS) has introduced a new HMB-FD-GMA Head Management Board to support the Samba GMA 33 and GMA 99 printheads manufactured by Santa Clara, Calif.-based Fujifilm Dimatix. GIS reports the board can drive up to 4 printheads, and work in conjunction with the GIS Atlas^® Machine Control Services (MCS) software. The HMB is based on GIS’ new Ethernet platform, which integrate datapath buffering, printhead management and fire waveform generation. Designed for scanning applications including textiles and soft signage, the Samba GMA 33 and GMA 99 printheads offer 300 dpi native resolution, 384/1152 nozzles and a 5 picoliter drop size.

“The new Head Management Board for the GMA printheads presents another step forward in GIS’ Ethernet platform, which we are now using for all new printheads that we support,” said Debbie Thorp, business development director. “The Samba G3L printhead has been very successful in single pass systems, and we expect the GMA printheads to do the same in scanning applications.”

Fremont, Calif.-based Electronics For Imaging Inc. (EFI), a long-time player in the digital printing world, strengthened its portfolio when it acquired Italy-based Reggiani Macchine in 2015. EFI Reggiani has continued to innovate technologies for digital textile printing, and most recently introduced the EFI^™ Fiery^® Textile Bundle design and production workflow products to complement the EFI Reggiani digital inkjet printers. The bundle includes Fiery DesignPro plug-ins compatible with familiar programs Adobe^® Illustrator^® and Photoshop^® to assist with design creation, as well as version 6.5 of EFI’s Fiery proServer digital front end (DFE) for color consistency in production workflows.

“The Fiery Textile bundle brings valuable new tools to further automate and streamline the design and prep process for EFI Reggiani customers looking to stay on the leading edge of innovation,” said Adele Genoni, vice president and general manager, EFI Reggiani. “Now, with this bundle, including the newest Fiery proServer, Reggiani customers get the proven, high-end advantages Fiery technology offers so they can be more efficient, more productive and more profitable.”

Ink Advancements

Kiian Digital, a brand of Italy-based JK Group S.p.A., recently introduced Digistar Bravo disperse inks for direct printing. The range features 11 colors including two blacks with deep intensity, and high rubbing and lightfastness. Kiian reports the inks were created with industrial textile printing needs in mind and they offer high runnability as well as printing performance.

“Digistar Bravo is part of Kiian Digital’s branding strategy to meet the cutting-edge demands of commercial digital textile printing; bringing together the highest quality inks with global support,” said Alessandra Borghi, sales director, Kiian Digital.

Switzerland-based Sensient Imaging Technologies, a division of Sensient Technologies Corp., recently introduced ElvaJet^® Opal digital dye sublimation inks and Xennia^® Emerald PC digital pigment inks.

According to the company, ElvaJet Opal achieves improved color, latency and print performance through a new dispersion technology. The inks also are easy to install and use over long production runs and have low maintenance requirements.

“Our world class team of ink designers created Opal from the bottom up, starting with a revolutionary core dispersion technology,” said Mike Geraghty, president, Sensient Colors. “We have increased the color strength of the Opal inks and maintained the Sensient signature black shade.

According to Sensient, Xennia Emerald PC’s color strength and printing performance are a result of its innovative dispersion and binder technology, which also eliminates the need for a post application fixing polymer. The optimized ink set offers an extended color gamut

The ink is suitable for direct textile printing applications.

“Key to the performance of Emerald PC is including a binder within the ink whilst increasing color strength at the same time as maximizing open time and latency,” said Dr. Ian Whitehead, innovation director, Sensient Inks.

Both ElvaJet Opal and Xennia Emerald PC inks are formulated for Piezo-based printers and may be used for fashion, sports apparel, home textile, and sign and display applications.

Digital Couture

The fourth annual Epson Digital Couture Project was held recently in New York City. Under the theme “Cosmopolitan Couture With Impossible Colors — How Does Your Culture Dress Up?” thirteen designers from North and Latin America created textiles using Epson’s dye-sublimation printing technology and used the fabrics in couture garments. Before the fashion showcase, Epson hosted a Fashion and Technology panel to discuss market trends and how digital technology is evolving the fashion industry.

“The future of fashion is customization — from the colors and prints, to the size and shape of garments — all on demand,” said Keith Kratzberg, president and CEO, Epson America. “This Digital Couture event showcases how the design potential and impact on the fashion marketplace is limitless.”

January/February 2018

The multi-year trend of confidence and investment in U.S. textiles remains

TW Special Report

Investment, new plant and equipment, expansion, and merger and acquisition activity continue to provide evidence of the multi-year trend of confidence in U.S. textiles. The following is a round-up of just some of the reports on the subject featured in Textile World and on

TextileWorld.com.

Fiber, Spinning Announcements

Uxbridge, England-based Coats Group recently announced the acquisition of Patrick Yarn Mill Inc., Kings Mountain, N.C. Coats is a well known industrial thread manufacturer. Patrick Yarn is a manufacturer of high-performance engineered products that specializes in cut-resistant and flame retardant yarns. Patrick was founded in 1963, and in 2016 annual sales totaled $36.5 million.

“Patrick Yarn Mill is an exciting acquisition that supports a key aspect of our growth strategy,” said Rajiv Sharma, group chief executive, Coats.

“Patrick Yarn Mill becoming part of the Coats family creates many opportunities for both companies as there is a lot of synergy between our product offerings and technology,” said Gilbert Patrick, president, Patrick Yarn Mill. “A key one is being able to leverage Coats’ unrivaled global footprint and strong corporate brand to accelerate market growth, which will benefit not only Patrick Yarn Mill, but also our employees and our community.”

Leigh Delaware Holdings — a global company focused on sustainable product engineering through manufactured, traded, and reprocessed fibers and polymers and parent company of Leigh Fibers Inc.— announced that it has signed a non-binding letter of intent to acquire J.E. Herndon Co., a privately held company based in Kings Mountain, N.C. J.E. Herndon reprocesses textile fibers and by-products primarily connected to the cotton industry.

“We are excited to take this next strategic step in our growth journey through the acquisition of J.E. Herndon Company,” said Don Bockoven, president and CEO, Leigh Fibers and ICE Recycling — an affiliated company of Leigh Fibers. “This acquisition complements our overall service and product offerings while adding to our capacity and geographic presence.”

The company stated that the expertise and capability that J.E. Herndon has built over the past 90 years in the cotton area aligns with Leigh’s overarching vision of becoming the global preferred provider of sustainable recycled solutions across diverse markets, materials and product lines.

Wichita, Kan.-based INVISTA reports it has entered into a definitive agreement with China-based Shandong Ruyi Investment Holding for Invista’s Apparel & Advanced Textiles business. Closing is anticipated by the company no later than mid-2018.

Invista reports its apparel brands and fibers including LYCRA®, LYCRA HyFit®, COOLMAX®, THERMOLITE®, ELASPAN®, SUPPLEX® and TACTEL®; TERATHANE® polytetramethylene ether glycol, 1,4 butanediol and tetrahydrofuran production; related global manufacturing assets, research and development centers and sales offices; and approximately 3,000 global employees in technical, operations, commercial and administrative roles are included in the transaction.

Invista has announced it will focus on its three remaining major business units — Intermediates, Performance Solutions and Invista Performance Technologies.

“The Apparel business has always been a strategic and valued part of our portfolio,” said Jeff Gentry, chairman and CEO, Invista. “We engaged the market because we want this business to be owned by the company that can create the greatest value for customers, employees and stockholders. In this case, we believe that Shandong Ruyi Investment Holding has the knowledge and capability that will enable this business to thrive the most and succeed over the long term.”

Houston-based Ascend Performance Materials, a fully-integrated producer of nylon 6,6 resin, announced plans to increase production capacity across its intermediate chemicals and polymers portfolio by 10 to 15 percent to support the continued growth of its customers.

“The global demand for nylon 6,6 and our intermediate chemicals continues to grow at 3 to 4 percent per year in a range of diverse applications,” said Phil McDivitt, Ascend’s president and CEO. “Ascend has cost effective expansion opportunities that allow us to bring additional capacity online as the market needs it.”

Ascend announced it will increase capacity of adiponitrile (ADN), hexamethylene diamine (HMD), adipic acid and polymers through 2018.

“We have consistently added capacity through our entire nylon 6,6 value chain since 2015, increasing our production by 10 to 30 percent depending on the product with no impact on our customers,” McDivitt said.

Unlike many other nylon 6,6 producers, Ascend sells polymers and intermediates into nearly every end use market and geography. “Our more than 60-year history of serving a wide variety of markets has given us an unparalleled understanding of the entire nylon 6,6 value chain,” said Scott Rook, Ascend’s vice president of nylon. “The unique qualities of nylon 6,6 have made it the material of choice in numerous innovative applications.”

In 2017, the company consolidated nylon fiber production at its plant in Greenwood, S.C., and added compounding capacity at its site in Foley, Ala., to better align its business with the market.

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced recently that Triangle Tyre Co. Ltd. has selected Edgecombe County, N.C., as the location for its first manufacturing facility in the United States, Triangle is set to invest nearly $580 million and will create 800 jobs in Kingsboro, N.C. According to press release on the matter, the project is estimated to contribute more than $2.4 billion to North Carolina’s economy.

“Triangle Tire chose North Carolina for its first-ever manufacturing center outside of China because they know our workers share their commitment to innovation, education and excellence,” Governor Cooper said. “I’m excited to see these 800 skilled manufacturing jobs go to Eastern North Carolina where I grew up and raised my family, a place where people have an unshakeable dedication to getting the job done.”

Edgecombe County will become the home of Triangle’s two-phase tire manufacturing facilities — phase one focuses on a passenger tire facility, and phase two focuses on a commercial tire facility — with both phases expected to be complete by 2023. When fully operational, the plant will produce 6 million tires annually. Triangle reports salaries for the new positions will vary, but the average expected annual salary will be $56,450 once all positions are filled. The average wage in Edgecombe County is $32,642.

Nonwovens Developments

Germany-based Dilo Group reports it has received an order from Rome, Ga.-based Foss Floors for a complete Dilo needlepunch line that is suitable for producing floorcovering felts. The line includes a DiloTemafa opening and blending line, 3-meter-wide DiloSpinnbau MC 3-5 carding machine, a DLBS 30/50 DiloMachines crosslapper with CV1 system, two DI-LOOM series needlelooms as well as the DILO-PCS integrated process control system.

Engineered Floors LLC, Dalton, Ga., reports it has completed the purchase of substantially all of the operating assets of Beaulieu Group LLC, Dalton. Beaulieu Group, with a history reaching back to the mid-1970s, had entered bankruptcy proceedings back in the summer to better position itself for the future.

“We are pleased with the quick approval of the bankruptcy court of our purchase agreement,” said Robert E. Shaw, founder and CEO, Engineered Floors. “We can now move forward building an even strong floorcovering industry in our community.”

According to a statement from Engineered Floors, the company: “… is now in the process of determining the integration of Beaulieu America personnel, as well as physical and intellectual property assets and brands for its continued growth. The company will make announcements over the next few months regarding these decisions.”

Humboldt, Tenn.-based Jones Family of Companies, announced new production capabilities and capacity at the Jones Nonwovens plant in North Las Vegas, Nev., position the company to fulfill the rapidly growing demand for natural fiber and other sustainable fiber products for manufacturing and packaging. The new line increases the company’s overall capacity and doubles its capacity in North Las Vegas.

“The investment in new manufacturing technology and innovation at our nonwovens plant in North Las Vegas demonstrates the commitment of the Jones Family of Companies to meeting customer-driven demand for sustainable materials in bedding, packaging, and other markets,” said Richard Ayers, president and CEO, Jones Family of Companies.

Beaver Dam, Ky.-based WPT Nonwovens Corp. has announced a $6 million investment in a second plant to add capacity for materials used in hygiene and filtration products. The new plant, to be located in an existing 60,000-square-foot facility, will house a state-of-the-art nonwovens line and add 40 jobs to the company’s existing 57 employees. WPT completed an expansion on its current facility in 2015, which now is nearing capacity.

“We’re excited to grow our company in Ohio County, and most of all, I’m proud of the hard work and dedication from our team of employees,” said Travis Robbins, plant manager, and grandson of company founder Wayne Robbins. “Without their countless hours, attention to detail and dedication to our customers, this would not be possible. Our new state-of-the-art facility will be online in late March, and we look forward to the opportunity to supply a high-quality product to the region’s and commonwealth’s nonwoven hygiene and filtration markets.”

Technical Textiles News

Summerville, S.C.-based Thrace-LINQ Inc. — a member of The Thrace Group, Greece — has announced an $9 million expansion and equipment investment at its operation in Dorchester County, S.C. Beginning in early 2018, the company will install a state-of-the-art production line, which will create at least 10 jobs. Hiring will begin sometime during the second quarter of 2018.

“This new production line is one of a series of planned investments for our growing company here in South Carolina,”said George Braimis, COO, Thrace Group, and chairman of the board, Thrace-Linq. “The Thrace Group continues to invest in people and technology, and we are excited about the future of Thrace-Linq.”

“The people of Thrace-Linq have worked hard to make this investment become a reality,” said Brian Sparks, general manager, Thrace-Linq. “We look forward to this important milestone in our strategic plan with great anticipation.”

Stamford, Conn.-based Hexcel Corp. completed the acquisition of all of the shares of Structil S.A., a France-based producer and supplier of high-performance composites to the aerospace, defense and industrial markets. Structil is a joint venture between Safran Ceramics, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Safran, and Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. The company employs approximately 70 people at a 68,000-square-foot production plant, and its sales in 2016 totaled approximately $21 million. Structil’s product lines include prepregs, structural adhesives and pultruded profiles used in engine nacelles, aerospace interiors, military jets and more.

“We are pleased to complete the transaction and to welcome the Structil team to Hexcel,” said Nick Stanage, chairman, CEO and president, Hexcel. “Together, we will strengthen our development capability and technologies for next-generation aerospace and industrial applications.”

France-based Chomarat reports it has invested in a new carbon multiaxial machine designed for and by the company to increase line productivity during high-speed carbon fiber placement. According to the company, the machine is

10 times more productive than previous generation machines. The purchase is part of the company’s previously announced 35 million euro ($41.2 million) three-year innovation and upgrade investment plan. The machine allows Chomarat to manufacture its C-PLY™ high-performance multiaxial materials in different widths and large volumes in a variety of constructions including isotropic, specific angles ranging from 22.5 to 90 degrees, and thin plies.

“With this new carbon multiaxial, we are boosting our competitive power in France and abroad to meet the needs and requirements of our markets and customers, and also pursuing our innovation strategy,” said Michel Cognet, managing director, Chomarat.

Home Furnishings, Apparel Investments

In news from the home furnishing area, Home Fashions International (HFI) announced that it is expanding its existing operations in Cherokee County, S.C. The $5.5 million investment is expected to create 60 new jobs. According to HFI, over the past two years the company has experienced exponential growth in the outdoor cushion business. The company has purchased a 350,000-square-foot facility in Gaffney, S.C., to accommodate the new manufacturing and shipping location. The new facility, known as Gaffney Manufacturing, will allow the company to quadruple its business over the next five years and reduce its reliance on imported and out-of-state raw materials.

“I have been very happy with both the caliber of the workforce and the business-friendly environment in Cherokee County, S.C.,” said David Li, owner, HFI. “When the business conditions dictated expansion, we considered other locations, but determined that the best course of action was to stay right here where we knew the labor force and business climate would allow us to be successful.”

In other home furnishings news, Atlanta-based The Home Depot® acquired The Company Store, an online retailer of textiles and home décor products, from Hanover Direct in December 2017. The acquisition does not include The Company Store’s five retail locations. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The Home Depot reports that in addition to its success as an online retailer, The Company Store has strong relationships and industry leading capabilities in the development and sourcing of high quality textiles across bedding, bath, and related categories.

“The acquisition of The Company Store provides product development and sourcing capabilities to help us expand our online décor business into broader categories across the entire home,” said Craig Menear, chairman, CEO and president, The Home Depot.

Greensboro, N.C.-based VF Corp. announced that it will open a new distribution center in Jonestown, Pa., in early 2019. VF stated it will invest up to $52 million in the project, which is expected to bring more than 175 new full-time jobs to the area over the next three years.

“As our direct-to-consumer business continues to grow, we see the consumer-focused opportunity to expand our distribution operations so that we can more quickly service our consumers in the Northeastern U.S.,” said Steve Rendle, VF’s chairman, president and CEO.

VF reports it will lease a 500,000-square foot facility in Jonestown to support the distribution of products for its Vans®, The North Face® and Timberland® brands. The lease will begin in July 2018, and the company expects to begin hiring in mid-2018. It is anticipated that the distribution center will be operational in early 2019.

“Originally founded in Pennsylvania, VF has a long history in our state,” said Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf. “We’re pleased that VF has chosen to expand on this successful foundation by bringing more than 175 good-paying jobs to families in Lebanon County.”

January/February 2018

SuperFabric® is a highly durable, yet very flexible fabric developed out of the need for safety gloves for surgeons.

By Jim Kaufmann, Contributing Editor

There’s an old adage in business that one way for a company to be successful is simply to identify something it can do really well and then sell it into as many different applications as possible. The SuperFabric® line of products — produced by HDM Inc., Oakdale, Minn. — are an example of this business philosophy masterfully executed. Start by developing an innovative and unique technology, continue to improve and enhance it while finding applications for it in a large number of different arenas. Then keep on advancing.

SuperFabric was not yet a concept when in 1992, a trio of problem-solving researchers — physicist Dr. Young-Hwa Kim, chemist Dr. Joel Nelson and Ayron Glynn — left 3M Corp. and opened their own consulting firm Higher Dimension Research Inc. The company was focused on resolving complex issues for a number of different clients and markets until a fateful day in 1996 when an orthopedic surgeon approached them with the challenge of creating a surgical glove that could provide protection from a medical needle or scalpel while still offering a high-level of flexibility to give surgeons the dexterity they required. That question led to the concept and development of SuperFabric, and a new company — Higher Dimension Materials Inc.

Patented Process For Guard Plates

The innovative solution SuperFabric’s current CEO Kim devised focused on creating a system tiny, hard “guard plates” that were then infused onto and effectively linked together by a fabric base.

The notion of employing guard plates along with SuperFabric’s patented process of creating and applying them to textiles is truly what makes this technology unique and incredibly versatile. Composition of the guard plates can be altered to fit specific application requirements. Their thickness, shape, size and geometric orientation when applied to the base fabric can also be engineered to impart different physical attributes. Because of their relatively small size, the guard plates leave micro gaps when positioned on a fabric, which along with their specific orientation, imparts a high degree of flexibility. The guard plates can be processed in a variety of different shapes, sizes and geometric orientations, and may be applied to commercially available fabrics.

“The fundamental premise is that locally the guard plates are hard, but globally they allow for full motion, which gives SuperFabric a feel similar to that of traditional fabrics,” explained Doris Runa, director, SuperFabric. In principle, SuperFabric is comparable to some types of medieval armor where smaller metal plates were fashioned and essentially hooked together by chain links to make the armor more flexible. SuperFabric’s guard plates perform in a similar fashion, but with significantly updated technology. The actual composition of the SuperFabric guard plates is proprietary, but by varying the guard plate composition, size, depth and their arrangement, HDM is able to adapt the fabric’s attributes to meet specific performance needs for highly technical applications.

SuperFabric materials are designed to deliver a range of performance features including abrasion, stain and water resistance, durability, slash and penetration protection, weight reduction, breathability, moisture transport and more, while maintaining flexibility and integrity. “Technology is one thing, but there’s definitely a significant amount of art and craftsmanship employed to make SuperFabric perform,” Runa said. “This technology will continue to evolve and improve as we continue pushing its limits.”

The guard plates typically are applied to woven polyester fabrics, but SuperFabric variations can be created using proprietary materials according to a customer’s specific requirements as well. According to Runa: “We listen to our clients and make every effort to understand their needs. Then we actively work towards those needs and hopefully exceed them.” Following this philosophy, SuperFabric has advanced from a singular use into a suite of products targeting applications throughout the technical and performance textiles arena.

A Core Technology, A Wide Array of Applications

From its original core technology, SuperFabric has established a collection of offerings with specific performance attributes. Current areas of focus include:

• Performance SuperFabric — provides high levels of abrasion resistance, slash resistance and more commonly used for personal protective equipment, industrial and technical applications;
• Lightweight SuperFabric — targets applications where weight is a primary concern while still providing a high level of functionality;
• Reflective SuperFabric — well suited for safety applications requiring high visibility in addition to functionality;
• Stretch SuperFabric — a new offering that incorporates a level of stretch and recovery along with its performance attributes;
• Multi-Colored SuperFabric — delivers numerous color choices suited for many applications through “a deep infusion (sublimation) of color into the guard plates”; and
• Embossed SuperFabric — offers a new level of design, performance and branding possibilities for many applications.

Applications are abundant and vary greatly. “Our biggest challenge really is maintaining focus on specific markets because the applications are vast,” Runa said. “But we’re not being idle either. We’re always looking to improve.”

SuperFabric has found success in a number of different and diverse areas. There is significant use in high abrasion applications such as elbow, shoulder and knees reinforcements for motorcycle gear and outerwear, which also benefit from the breathability, resistance to staining and color options. This also holds true for footwear applications such as skateboarding shoes, hiking shoes and industrial, military and tactical boots. Personal protection equipment continues to be a mainstay and includes brands like HexArmor, who acquired a license for SuperFabric and incorporate it into numerous industrial safety products and gloves. Seating applications are finding that SuperFabric is an ideal replacement for vinyl in commercial transport vehicles as well as lab, office and public use environments. Numerous military and industrial applications continue to incorporate SuperFabric components in targeted areas to enhance performance characteristics and durability.

Strong Customer Relationships

Sweden-based Grundéns, a manufacturer of weatherproof garments for commercial fishermen, began using SuperFabric in its high-end gear where performance is a must in all environments. “Waterproof breathables are generally either super heavy or don’t wear very well, especially given that the conditions and pretty much every surface on a heavy use commercial fishing boat can be abrasive enough to cut fabrics” reasoned Eric Tietje, Grundéns’ Apparel Category director for Grundéns-USA Ltd. “The abrasion resistant plating and overall performance of SuperFabric when used strategically significantly improves our garment’s durability which directly translates into our customer’s satisfaction.” Tietje also likes that SuperFabric is a U.S.-based manufacturer with convenient, excellent customer support. “They’re easy to work with and open to new ideas,” offered Tietje. “They listen to us and their ability to adjust the product’s attributes gives us a solid base to overcome the challenges that our customers present.”

Matt Maxfield, vice president, Development and Operations for Centerville, Utah-based Klymit, a manufacturer of outdoor camping items including sleeping bags and mats, agreed that SuperFabric’s engineers can be very helpful. “We wanted to create an extremely durable sleeping pad that wouldn’t puncture when on rough ground. We wanted to use SuperFabric, but the challenge was figuring out how to laminate it to our inflatable pad material. They were great to work with and instrumental in helping us find the right solution. The result is our new ARMORED V sleeping pad which we are very happy with.”

“The company realized early on that building strong relationships with our customers would be beneficial to both of us because of the unique characteristics of SuperFabric,” offered Runa. In the early days, SuperFabric engineers recognized that the guard plate configurations would present unique challenges to the end product manufacturers. So, through trial and error they developed a Construction Guide that is available to all. The guide offers suggestions on how to cut, sew, cement, laminate and generally construct products using the SuperFabric line. It also includes recommendations on the most appropriate equipment including the types of sewing needles, scissors and thread to use in assembling garments, as well as listing several companies who supply these items.

SuperFabric continues to work closely with its customers by not only offering support, but also providing clients with the opportunity for customized product options specific to their individual needs or application. These can include tailored performance characteristics, colors, patterns and additional branding opportunities. “It’s fun to assist our clients in exceeding their own expectations” professed Runa. “If we can help them improve their product and their marketplace presence, then more power to all of us.”

In this day and age, if a company has the willingness to proclaim their product “super” anything, that company certainly better have the ingredients to live up to the moniker. Fortunately for a wide array of customers and applications that only continue to grow, SuperFabric has what it takes and does deliver.

January/February 2018