WICHITA, Kan. — November 18, 2024 — Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. has announced a purchase agreement to sell Fiber Materials, Inc (FMI) business based in Biddeford, Maine, and Woonsocket, R.I., to Tex-Tech Industries Inc. for $165,000,000 in cash, subject to customary adjustment.
FMI is an industry leader in high-temperature materials and reinforced composites, with a focus on Carbon/Carbon and related composites. FMI’s applications include thermal protection systems, re-entry vehicle nose tips, and rocket motor throats and nozzles. FMI’s products are installed on critical defense platforms as well as NASA programs such as Stardust, Mars Curiosity, Orion, and Mars 2020. The program employs approximately 400 engineers and production personnel.
“Tex-Tech is excited to add FMI’s unique array of high-performance products to our existing portfolio of offerings for the rapidly growing space and defense industry,” said Scott Burkhart, Tex-Tech CEO. “Our customers demand world-class solutions, and the integration of FMI bolsters our ability to meet those demands.”
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC is serving as lead financial advisor to Spirit. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is serving as legal counsel to Spirit. Lincoln International LLC is serving as financial advisor and Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP is serving as legal advisor to Tex-Tech.
SALT LAKE CITY — November 19, 2024 — EVŌQ Nano, a nanoscience company that engineers novel nanoparticles for the life, material, and textile science industries, today announced its antimicrobial medical device platform is demonstrating success in a range of applications aimed at combating healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and improving the performance of implantable medical devices.
The company’s proprietary nanoparticle, EVQ-218, is successfully demonstrating antimicrobial efficacy when tested against multiple biofilm and proliferation assays in four unique application methods:
Integrated during the synthesis process of raw materials
Incorporated into polymer pellets for material production
Applied to finished medical devices postproduction
Added to surface modification coatings to enhance performance
“Existing antimicrobial solutions for medical devices have not met critical needs,” said Shaun Rothwell, EVŌQ Nano CEO. “By incorporating EVQ-218 into various phases of the manufacturing process, the next generation of medical devices has the potential to be equipped with antimicrobial protection to safeguard against infections and complications.”
HAIs affect over 1 million hospital patients annually,1 leading to significant morbidity, mortality, and approximately $10 billion in yearly healthcare costs.2 Extensive lab testing on catheters, luers, fittings, and coatings utilizing EVQ-218 shows strong antimicrobial protection with a >4-log reduction (99.99%) against leading pathogens implicated in HAIs. Importantly, the integration of EVQ-218 preserves the original materials’ mechanical and functional properties, ensuring finished products perform as engineered.3
Novel Mechanism of Action
EVQ-218 is the first stable, nonemissive, pure silver nanoparticle, opening opportunity for widespread therapeutic use.4 Unlike conventional nanosilvers that often trigger antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by rupturing bacterial cell walls, EVQ-218 employs a novel mechanism of action that kills bacteria from the inside.4
EVQ-218 stops bacterial growth by sequestering sulfur.
The sequestration of sulfur inhibits metabolic activity within the bacterial cell without compromising cell structures or lysing the cell wall. This avoids activation of bacterial mutations that contribute to antimicrobial resistance.
In contrast, nanoparticles with silver ions rupture cell walls, triggering activation of resistance pathways.
Characterized as a new form of silver by the journal of the American Chemical Society, ACS Omega, EVQ-218 is the first and only non-ionic silver nanoparticle with effective antimicrobial action devoid of cytotoxicity.4 The discovery and development of a non-ionic silver nanoparticle represents a pivotal innovation, unlocking the full therapeutic potential of silver without its detrimental trade-offs.
Zimlichman E, Henderson D, Tamir O, et al. Health care-associated infections: a meta-analysis of costs and financial impact on the US health care system. JAMA Intern Med. 2013;173(22):2039-2046. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.9763
Data on file.
Kennon BS, Niedermeyer WH. EVQ-218: Characterization of high-energy nanoparticles that measure up to NIST standards. ACS Omega. 2024;9(7):7891–7903. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.3c07745.
HONG KONG — November 19, 2024 — Li & Fung Limited (“Li & Fung”), supply chain solutions partner for consumer brands and retailers, today announced a licensing and distribution agreement with Pendleton Woolen Mills, the global lifestyle brand headquartered in Portland, Oregon. Pendleton has signed with Li & Fung to launch the brand’s new line of swim and beachwear, featuring men’s and women’s styles sporting iconic Pendleton patterns and colors. The new line will be available to shop in Pendleton retail stores and catalogs, and at pendleton-usa.com starting in December 2024, and will also be available for wholesale distribution to retailers nationwide.
By drawing on Li & Fung’s global expertise and leadership in swimwear, Pendleton will offer customers a new category of apparel featuring sustainable materials and the brand’s trademark durability and classic American style. The collection will debut a range of items perfect for an active outdoor lifestyle: women’s reversible one-piece suits, strappy maxi dresses, and dolman sleeve kimonos and matching shorts, men’s trunks in 6” and 7” inseams, and unisex hooded rash guards. All styles will be available in multiple colorways, including classic Pendleton patterns such as Century Harding, Fire Legend, Highland Peak, Nehalem, and Wildland Heroes, among other designs. Sizes will range from XS-XXL, and items will be retailed at price points starting at $74.50.
The entry into swimwear adds to Pendleton’s portfolio of licensed products. Beloved by consumers for quality products including blankets, wool shirts, and outerwear, the launch of a swim and beachwear collection will expand Pendleton’s warm weather offerings. The collection is a fitting call-back to Pendleton’s popularity within California surf culture, dating back to The Pendletones, the original band name for the Beach Boys. Inspired by the surf uniform of the day — Pendleton shirts worn over tee shirts with khakis — the band would define surf music while wearing Pendleton plaid shirts on the covers of 45s and LPs throughout the early 1960s.
“We’re excited to partner with Li & Fung on our new swim and beachwear collection,” said Bob Christnacht, EVP of Sales and Marketing at Pendleton. “Li & Fung will help us expertly navigate the waters of this new category as we broaden our offering. Pendleton has a rich connection to surf culture, and we cannot wait to bring a new way of experiencing Pendleton products to the market.”
The partnership with Pendleton also marks the continued expansion of Li & Fung’s licensing division. Building on a decades-durable reputation as a leading private label and branded partner in swimwear, Li & Fung is now rapidly growing a robust portfolio of licensing partners, spanning national brands across varying price points and categories.
“As long-time fans of the brand, we’re honored to partner with Pendleton in pioneering the next chapter of its rich history,” said Mel Limoncelli, Senior Vice President and Divisional Head, Li & Fung Brands and Private Label. “At Li & Fung, we excel in weaving a brand’s DNA into market-leading collections, ensuring each category we develop is an authentic extension of our partners. This new collection will honor Pendleton’s heritage with sustainable styles, ageless fits, and the Pacific Northwest aesthetic that has defined the brand’s iconic legacy.”
Retailers interested in the new Pendleton swim line can contact PenSwimSales@lifung.com to learn more.
FARMINGTON, Conn. — November 19, 2024 — DeBogy Molecular, Inc, a privately held biotech that specializes in antimicrobial surface modification, announced their Board of Directors has approved a new capital raise to support the Company’s plans to seek FDA approval and marketing of its patented technology with their medical device industry partners.
Founded in 2019, the DeBogy proprietary platform modifies surface structures to safely destroy bacterial, viral and fungal cells on contact. Results of the DeBogy landmark study were first published in the Journal of Orthopedic Research https://doi.org/10.1002/jor.25638, where it reported a reduction in dangerous bacterial biofilm on medical implants in mice by 99.9%, without the use of antibiotics or toxic chemicals.
“We’re excited about the next stage of DeBogy as we collaborate with established market leaders to deliver a powerful antibacterial enhancement for their products that protects the health of their customers and delivers significant advantage to their companies,” said Wayne Gattinella, CEO of DeBogy Molecular.
DeBogy intends this pre-seed offering to fund the necessary steps to bring their technology to market in advance of a future priced equity round. The Company plans to close the round by January 15, 2025.
OBERTSHAUSEN, Germany — November 19, 2024 — The KARL MAYER Academy is delighted about the successful training of the important STOLL customer Accord Knits in its branch at KARL MAYER (CHINA).
Based in Madagascar, the company is one of the leading manufacturers and the largest in the southern hemisphere of fully-fashion knitwear for men, women and children. Founded in 2001, it now employs 6,000 people and collaborates with many well-known fashion brands and department stores worldwide. Its recipe for success includes a multifunctional machine park. In the modern factory buildings in the cities of Antsirabe and Antananarivo, the latest generation of digitalized flat knitting machines including STOLL’s CMS and ADF series produce knitwear with the maximum possible flexibility.
Lutz Vogel, STOLL Area Sales Manager
“We have been working together for more than fourteen years now and made a lot of progress together. We are very proud to be partner of Accord Knits”, says Lutz Vogel, STOLL Area Sales Manager of the KARL MAYER GROUP.
Support through know-how also promotes intensive cooperation, as the training from 21 October to 15 November 2024 at KARL MAYER (CHINA) showed. The course for M1plus® switchers was booked as part of an investments in new machines. Four Accord Knits programmers have been taught how to use CREATE PLUS professionally. The participants learnt about various knitting techniques – structure, jacquard, intarsia, STOLL-multi gauge® and 1×1 technique – based on the many possible applications of the new patterning software. They also have learnt more about the new options for creating fully fashioned patterns and how to work with the various knitting element types on which CREATE PLUS is founded. The pattern programs created during the course could be tested directly on the Academy’s STOLL machines.
The balanced mix of theory and practice quickly led to learning effects. The advantages of CREATE PLUS rapidly became clear. “We save a lot of time when developing knitting programs with CREATE PLUS”, summarized one of the participants.
KARL MAYER’s STOLL business unit and Accord Knits are prepared to master the future.
If you want to learn more about Accord Knits / Flexknit and its other fields of businesses, especially also about their social responsibility for the people of Madagascar, please check their website www.flexknit.com.
Pictured during her visit to ETV is Germany’s Economics and Climate Protection Minister Mona Neubaur (third from left), with members of the ETV and Monforts management teams, including Dirk Tunney (far left) and Gunnar Meyer (far right). (Image courtesy of ETV)
At a time when European commission finishers are finding it increasingly difficult to operate due to extremely high overheads, Germany-based ETV is going from strength-to-strength, alert to new opportunities going forward.
By Adrian Wilson
Founded in 1950, ETV Eing Textil-Veredlung GmbH & Co. KG —a privately held company based in Germany — is currently installing a third Monforts Montex 8500 finishing range with a working width of 3.2 meters, fully equipped with a Montex®Coat coating unit, an EcoBooster heat recovery unit, crash calender and computer-controlled winders and unwinders engineered by Germany-based A. Monforts Textilmaschinen GmbH & Co. KG.
Longevity
For ETV Managing Director Dirk Tunney, the company’s longevity is in part due to a timely move away from traditional textile applications such as clothing and home textiles 25 years ago, to focus on adding value and functionality to technical textiles, films and membranes.
“The large discounters now dominate the procurement markets, particularly in the home textiles sector,” Tunney said. “Stationary retail hardly exists anymore, and the market is characterized by the price structure of cheap imports from non-European countries.”
Since repositioning itself in 1999, ETV has grown into a powerhouse in its selected fields, dyeing and finishing around 1,500 tons of yarn and 1.6 million linear meters of fabric each year. In addition, the company annually prints around 4 million linear meters of fabrics, foils and membranes, along with coating up to 40 million linear meters of fabrics and nonwovens.
ETV also was early in addressing the need for sustainable processes with a thermal exhaust air aftertreatment unit, a printing paste recycling station and the use of 100-percent recycled industrial water as a result of its own in-house water and sewage treatment plant.
Energy Costs
Escalating energy costs in Germany, however, have understandably been a cause for concern for the company.
“Up to and including 2020, our energy expenditure was less than 10 percent of our total overheads which ensured we were competitive on the market, but at their peak in 2022, gas prices in Germany had increased tenfold and electricity prices increased fivefold,” Tunney noted. “Our industry today has to live with electricity prices that are approximately twice as high and gas prices that are approximately three-and-a-half times higher than before 2021. In the future, we are assuming a level of 12 to 13 percent so we are talking about additional expenditure of up to 400,000 euros depending on our future product production program, which as a contract processor we have only a limited influence on.
“Energy is certainly no longer cheap in Germany, and we have moved from being an exporter of electricity to an importer and will no longer be able to supply ourselves in the future if we don’t change anything. It’s worrying that without our European neighbors our lights would sometimes go out.”
Industry Standard
Monforts Montex tenters are now industry standard for the fabric finishing industry, providing many advantages in terms of production throughput and especially in energy efficiency and savings.
The Monforts Eco Booster, integrated into the chamber design of ETV’s Montex tenter, is a single heat recovery system with automatic cleaning that can further save up to 35 percent in energy costs. The Eco Booster consumes only minimal amounts of water during the cleaning cycle and the entire process is controlled and monitored automatically.
The Montex Coat serves a very diverse number of markets and enables full coatings, pigment dyeing or minimal application surface and low penetration treatments to be carried out. Knife coating, roller coating or screen printing can also all be accommodated with this system. In addition, the Montex Coat provides the ultimate in flexibility and the ability to switch quickly from one fabric run to the next, without com-promising on the economical use of energy or raw materials.
“We certainly anticipate energy savings in addition to increased productivity and process reliability with this latest line and in addition, we will be working with Monforts on alternative energy options,” Tunney said.
Green Hydrogen
Monforts currently is leading a consortium of industrial partners and universities in the three-year WasserSTOFF project, launched in November 2022, to explore all aspects of this fast-rising new industrial energy option.
The target of the government-funded project is to establish to what extent hydrogen can be used in the future as an alternative heating source for textile finishing processes. This will first involve tests on laboratory equipment together with associated partners and the results will then be transferred to a tenter frame at the Monforts Advanced Technology Center in Mönchengladbach, Germany.
“Green hydrogen’s potential as a clean fuel source is tremendous, but there is much we need to explore when considering its use in the textile finishing processes carried out globally on our tenter dryers and other machines,” said Monforts’ Managing Director Gunnar Meyer. “Everybody knows that textile finishing is a high energy consuming process and to make the processes more efficient, we already offer several solutions, but as a technology leader we are also rising to the challenge of exploring alternative heating options to be ready for the future.”
ETV’s relative proximity to the Monforts headquarters in Mönchen-gladbach makes it an ideal site for the WasserSTOFF project.
“The project for a hydrogen-powered coating tenter frame is very suit-able for our region,” Tunney said. “Germany’s textile industry has a long tradition and with more than 1,400 companies, is not unimportant to the country, but without support from politics, both ideologically and financially, something like this cannot be done.
“If we want decarbonization, paths must be identified and funds made available. We absolutely have to remain open to technology in order to position ourselves in the best possible way. Otherwise, it will result in deindustrialization, which none of us want. We look forward to a closer collaboration with Monforts and its project partners going forward.”
On September 6 this year, Germany’s Economics and Climate Protection Minister Mona Neubaur visited ETV to get a first-hand view of how the textile industry is rapidly adapting to a changing landscape.
“The future of German industry will be decided in North Rhine-Westphalia,” Neubaur said. “This requires courageous companies to move forward. Innovative ideas strengthen our competitiveness and make a significant contribution to becoming the first climate-neutral industrial region in Europe. Green hydrogen will play an important role in this, and I am very pleased that through companies like ETV and Monforts and their partners, we are now moving quickly from preparation to action.”
Editor’s Note: Adrian Wilson is an England-based analyst and writer specializing in the technical textiles, nonwovens and composites industries. He is the owner of AWOL Media.
VIENNA, Austria — November 19, 2024 — Austrian Starlinger & Co Gesellschaft m.b.H. takes over the woven packaging division from German machinery producer Windmöller & Hölscher (W&H), based in Lengerich/Germany, as well as its Viennese subsidiary company “W&H Machinery GmbH” which specialises in woven packaging.
With this acquisition, Starlinger further strengthens its position as world-leading supplier of machinery for woven plastic packaging. The integration of the related technologies holds significant potential for synergy effects in engineering, service, and sales.
Starlinger Factory Weissenbach
“The acquisition of W&H’s woven packaging division means that we can extend our portfolio and offer even more individual solutions to producers of sustainable woven plastic packaging,” said Angelika Huemer, CEO and Managing Partner of Starlinger. “We expect synergy effects and advantages for our customers not only with regard to technology, but also through our well-developed worldwide sales and service network.”
Starlinger woven bags
“The decision to part with our woven sack division allows us to focus our resources on growth in the paper and film packaging market,” explained Dr. Falco Paepenmüller, CEO of W&H Group. “Woven packaging products, on the other hand, fit perfectly into the existing portfolio and infrastructure of Starlinger. When we chose the buyer, it was especially important for us that our customers in the woven packaging market continue to receive excellent and reliable service and support,” he added.
The products of W&H’s woven packaging portfolio will be marketed by Starlinger in future. The rest of W&H’s product portfolio remains unaffected by this. With regard to service and spare parts, Starlinger takes over the worldwide support of the customers.
The financial details of the transaction are subject to contractual confidentiality.
CEO Randy Carr talks to Textile World about the use of AI at embroidered patch maker World Emblem and how it has helped his company.
TW Special Report
World Emblem, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., was founded in 1993 by Jerold Carr. Led today by Carr’s two sons — Randy and Jamie — this family-owned business has blossomed into one of the largest patch and emblem producers in the world. World Emblem manufactures and ships some 250 million products each year that are produced on its 4,250 embroidery heads located in 1 million square feet of manufacturing space in the United States, Mexico, Canada and Europe. The company employs 1,200 associates, and its embroidered patches are used for sports headwear, footwear, sports garments and uniforms, among other applications.
Randy Carr became World Emblem’s president in 1998. As the current CEO, he said: “I try to embody passion, insight, and a forward-thinking approach that I believe has helped transform the industry and positions World Emblem at the forefront of innovation. I strive to be more than just a CEO, but also a driver of motivation— a testament to what one can achieve with hard work, a supportive family, and the will to always aim higher.”
Part of Carr’s forward-thinking approach includes the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in his business. More and more textile companies are beginning to embrace the use of AI to give them a competitive edge, and industry organizations such as the Atlanta-based Americas Apparel Producers’ Network are encouraging their members to jump in and get started using AI sooner, rather than later (See “Generative AI: Understanding Fears & Embracing The Innovations,” TW, this issue).
Carr recently spoke with TW about World Emblem’s use of AI and the ways it helps the company.
World Emblem operates some 4,250 embroidery heads to produce embroidered patches.
TW: You’ve stated that AI will make the manufacturing apparel industry unrecognizable in the next three to five years. Can you share specific examples of how you foresee AI transforming key processes within the industry?
Carr: Absolutely. AI will indeed dramatically transform the manufacturing apparel industry. Firstly, AI-powered predictive maintenance tools will analyze machine data in real time to predict equipment failures before they occur. AI also will revolutionize supply chain management by optimizing inventory levels, predicting demand, and identifying potential disruptions. The industry also will be able to make use of robotic process automation (RPA) and cobots to take over repetitive, manual tasks. AI-driven computer vision systems will enhance quality control processes by automatically detecting defects in products on production lines. In addition, AI will enable hyper-personalized and on-demand manufacturing by analyzing customer preferences, market trends, and product feedback in real time.
TW: What areas of apparel manufacturing have you already integrated AI into, and what measurable impacts have you observed so far?
Carr: For starters, all of this is still very new. However, we have selected four areas of the business we are enhancing using AI:
Customer experience— AI chatbots and virtual assistants are used to handle customer inquiries, provide real time access, assist in ordering processes and offer personalized product recommendations based on past orders.
Production efficiency and automation —AI will be crucial in connecting production machines, sensors, and systems to analyze performance data in real time. This can help optimize production lines, reduce defects and adjust for bottlenecks.
Quality control — AI-based computer vision systems can inspect emblems and labels for imperfections in real time. These systems are capable of detecting misprints, alignment issues, and color mismatches at a faster rate than human inspection, leading to fewer rejected batches and higher product consistency.
Customization —AI is already enabling our designers to use intelligent software for creating custom emblems and labels.
TW: Can you talk about backend processes that AI can optimize, and how that translates into cost savings or operational efficiencies?
Carr: AI is revolutionizing backend processes in numerous ways, from demand forecasting to personalized customer interactions. By predicting inventory needs and optimizing pricing through data analysis, AI enhances inventory and supplier management. Production schedules are now generated automatically based on order priorities, machine availability, and workforce capacity, streamlining operations. Predictive maintenance enables machinery performance monitoring, addressing issues before they result in downtime. Financial tasks such as bookkeeping, cash flow forecasting, and man-aging accounts payable and receivable are automated, reducing errors and ensuring timely payments. Customer communication is more personalized, with automated follow-ups and tailored recommendations. In human resources, AI scans resumés, shortlists candidates, and even assesses interview responses, expediting the hiring process. Real-time data analysis and reporting offer decision-makers valuable insights, while business intelligence tools identify trends and inefficiencies. Through predictive analytics, companies can anticipate future production, sales, and market conditions. Order processing, fulfillment, and tracking are fully automated, minimizing errors and providing real-time updates to both customers and teams, ensuring a smoother, more efficient operation overall.
TW: How do you think AI will impact the speed-to-market in the apparel industry?
Carr: Logo design to completion is already get-ting disrupted. However, we believe that rather than taking anywhere from one to two weeks, sometimes even longer, for a client to complete their logo project, this will be done in real time.
TW: What key advantages do you think companies leveraging AI will have over those that don’t, and how soon do you expect this divide to become apparent?
Carr: Companies that leverage AI will reap several advantages over those that do not. Operational efficiency advantages include streamlined repetitive tasks, reduced human error and improved speed of processes across the board using AI-driven automation. Companies using AI can reduce costs and improve productivity by optimizing resource allocation and minimizing downtime.
There also is a data advantage that improves decision making. AI enables companies to process and analyze large amounts of data in real-time, offering insights that lead to better decision making.
AI provides a personalization and customer experience advantage since it allows businesses to offer personalized experiences at scale.There also is a cost reduction and scalability advantage because AI can reduce labor costs by automating manual tasks and enabling scalability.
The impact of these advantages is immediate.
AI can be used to greatly enhance the customer service experience.
TW: In terms of customer satisfaction, on what specific AI-driven innovations are you focusing?
Carr: At World Emblem, we are implementing several AI-driven initiatives to greatly enhance the customer experience. We can offer automated order tracking and notifications using AI. Real-time order tracking and status updates can be powered using
AI giving customers more transparency throughout production and shipping.
AI also can analyze past customer interactions to predict when customers might need help and preemptively offer solutions. Chatbots or virtual assistants can answer common questions, resolve simple issues and escalate more complex problems to human agents efficiently.
In addition, AI tools can assist customers in the design and customization process, offering suggestions for colors, layouts, and patterns based on current trends or customer preferences. AI can also generate previews in real-time to show what the finished product will look like.
TW: Why have you chosen to invest heavily in AI technology?
Carr: World Emblem has always been about investing in the best technologies to improve the customer experience and drive our business forward. We believe our investment in AI will reap benefits in operational efficiency and automation, an enhanced customer experience, data-driven decision making, and in product innovation and customization.
AI-powered design tools allow for greater customization giving our clients more control over the final product.
World Emblem’s associates help create patches that are used in garment, headgear and footwear applications among other end-uses.
TW: What challenges have you faced in adopting AI and how have you overcome these hurdles?
Carr: World Emblem, like most forward-looking companies, has experienced some minor challenges with the adoption of AI. We have experienced some issues with technical implementation. Challenges integrating AI systems with existing infrastructure and processes is complex. Data quality and availability is also a hurdle as AI models need vast amounts of high-quality data to be effective. However, we are overcoming it with phased rollouts, improved data management, and partnering with experts.
Employees also resist AI adoption due to fears of job loss or a lack of understanding of how AI will impact their roles. However, we are overcoming the same with education and training, clear communication, and involvement in the process.
AI adoption often requires a cultural shift in how decisions are made, and this cultural change has been challenging.
Additionally, there are cost and return on investment (ROI) concerns. These upfront costs of AI technology and the uncertainty around the ROI were overcome through pilot projects with measurable outcomes, focusing on high-impact areas.
TW: Looking ahead, what new technologies or AI-driven solutions are you excited about that have the potential to reshape the industry?
Carr: We are very excited about the potential of AI and see great promise for its utilization in areas such as AI-powered sustainable manufacturing, AI-driven customization and on-demand production, 3D design, smart supply chains with AI and blockchain, and generative design and AI creativity tools. AI can optimize the use of materials and energy leading to more sustainable manufacturing practices. It also can enable hyper-personalized products and on-demand manufacturing allowing customers to design and order customized labels and emblems in real time. AI-powered 3D design tools are already making an impact by enabling designers to create virtual prototypes and run simulations. In addition, AI tools that use generative design algorithms can assist in creating new designs by exploring all possible combinations of shapes, materials, and patterns based on certain design constraints. AI can also learn from historical design data and customer feedback to suggest new trends.
TW: For companies that are hesitant or slow to adopt AI, what do you think are the most significant risks they face over the next few years?
Carr: Companies must continually adapt to the times, including changing customer preferences and technical innovations. They must always be for-ward-looking, otherwise they will fall behind. Those that don’t change could face the following issues: loss of competitive advantage; decreased operational efficiency; missed opportunities for data-driven decision making; inefficiency in customer experience and personalization; and an inability to scale effectively. Companies not embracing AI also may have to find themselves competing with a company like World Emblem that is embracing the technology.
AMSTERDAM— November 19, 2024 — Innovation through collaboration is a mantra for Mimaki. By partnering with industry and creative professionals, Mimaki leverages diverse expertise and perspectives, fostering a culture of creativity, customization and responsiveness to market demands. When applying this approach to the fashion industry, the result couldn’t be anything but exciting!
At the prestigious Icona d’Or 2024 awards ceremony in Paris, Julia Nojac, President of FESPA France, wore a one-of-a-kind, eye-catching dress. In fact, this dress was the result of a successful collaboration, featuring an all-female team that combined the creativity of artists, the expertise and accuracy of technology experts and the ingenuity of Mimaki’s advanced digital printing.
Julia Nojac, President of FESPA France, wearing a beautiful, custom dress made from a combination of fashion design, artistic creativity, and ingenuity in technology.
Under the creative and technical direction of FESPA France and Mimaki, a team of artists and professionals helped turn an idea into a unique evening dress. The iconic print design was created by Madrid-based visual artist Kinda Youssef and, with the expertise of Rosanne Kooijman, Mimaki’s youngest female application specialist, the print was turned into a vibrant, detailed fabric. The elegant tailoring, done by French couturier Cécile Derouin, brought the dress to life.
Mimaki pushes the boundaries of creativity and technology in this collaboration.
Current trends, that see self-expression, high levels of personalisation and the desire to stand out of the crowd more important than ever, mean that advanced printing technology plays an increasingly more important role in this industry. Leveraging Mimaki’s inkjet printing, designers and creators are now able to explore new application opportunities that were not accessible before. Not only can they achieve high levels of customisation, but also, they can start from an idea on paper and get their final unique item through a process that is accessible, easy-to-handle and yet top-level in terms of quality.
Talking technology, the Mimaki TS330-1600 dye sublimation inkjet printer served as the backbone of this creative project. The machine delivers on-demand printing with high-quality results, enabling the efficient production of the unique, one-off dress with minimal waste compared to conventional printing methods. Once again, with this successful partnership with FESPA France, Mimaki demonstrates how technology can be applied towards excellence in creativity.
Arguably, this dress marks an outstanding example of what young professionals coming from various sectors and areas of expertise are capable of doing to push the boundaries of creativity using print. It also is a fantastic achievement in the application of personalisation in digital printing, furthering Mimaki’s vision of high-quality capabilities for universal application.
S. Mohamed Suhil, managing director, MKAS Textile Pvt. Ltd., reports he is highly satisfied with the Autoconer X6 Multilink installation.
MKAS Textile selected the Autoconer X6 Multilink from Rieter for an economical boost to production.
TW Special Report
India-based MKAS Textile Pvt. Ltd. entered the country’s fine yarn spinning business in 2021 and now achieves a production capacity of 4.5 tons per day. The company sells 100-percent cotton yarns made from high-quality cotton fibers in the yarn count range between Ne 80 to 100 for weaving applications. As part of its strategy to establish itself in this market, MKAS Textile chose Switzerland-based Rieter’s winding machine Autoconer X6, type V Multilink as a highly economical, energy-saving automation solution.
Given limited resources like skilled operators and high-quality raw materials, it is a major challenge to ensure a consistently high level of quality. Rising energy costs further make it difficult to achieve acceptable production costs when meeting the demanding requirements of the market.
Optimal Space Utilization
MKAS Textile opted for a high degree of automation with the Autoconer X6 Multilink system. To plan the most effective and optimal spinning mill layout, Rieter experts discussed the requirements with the company’s management and technicians. Due to the attractive benefit on investment and operating costs, MKAS chose eight winding machines Autoconer X6, type V with automatic material flow as 2:1 Multilink for 52 winding units each. This means that two ring spinning machines are linked to one Autoconer. To respond to MKAS Textile’s individual needs for maximum space utilization one winding machine was added as 1:1 direct single-link — 26 winding units. On specification, the company chose the underfloor link where the cops and spinning tubes move underground between the ring spinning machine and the winding machine. This creates a passageway for operators between the two machines and makes the machine handling easily manageable.
Lower Energy And Investment Costs
The spinning mill now runs at full production. Mohamed Suhil, MKAS Textile’s managing director, stated that he is highly satisfied with the Autoconer X6 Multilink installation. “The lower investment costs and, above all, up to 25 percent lower energy costs in operation, are extremely important aspects for us, for a profitable business,” Suhil added. “This allows us to establish ourselves as a new spinning company with high-quality products in a difficult and demanding market.”
The investment costs of 2:1 Multilink mill installation of 442 winding units, tailored to their layout specification, were significantly lower than as 1:1 direct single-link of 442 winding units, due to optimum quantities of machines, components and aggregates.
Twenty-Five Percent Lower Energy Consumption
Recently, MKAS Textile conducted an energy study comparing its 1:1 single-link machine and 2:1 Multi-link system. Around 25 percent lower energy consumption in favor of the Multilink machines was measured. This means savings of 238,750 kilo-Watt hours (kWh) per year, which corresponds to an annual energy cost saving of 1,910,000 Indian rupees ($22,630) based on the company’s daily production of 4.5 tons, 362 working days per year, and 8 rupees per kWh.
Bigger Working Area For Operators
Furthermore, the Multilink system achieves major benefits in terms of labor saving thanks to the longer winding machines and optimized mill layout. Instead of four operators, it now only takes two operators to man-age the tasks for the eight Multilink winding machines. This means one operator can handle four Autoconers — seven 296 ring spinning spindle production — which translates into a doubling of the working area.
WICHITA, Kan. — November 18, 2024 — Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. has announced a purchase agreement to sell Fiber Materials, Inc (FMI) business based in Biddeford, Maine, and Woonsocket, R.I., to Tex-Tech Industries Inc. for $165,000,000 in cash, subject to customary adjustment.
