Chromatic 3D Materials Secures Series A Financing Led By DSM Venturing

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — April 25, 2018 — Chromatic 3D Materials Inc. announced today the closing of Series A funding round led by DSM Venturing. Unique 3-D printable polyurethanes and foams from Chromatic 3D Materials meet the strength and durability required for finished industrial manufactured goods. With its patented technology, Chromatic 3D Materials opens the industrial use of additive manufacturing in many markets and applications for the first time. The development of this technology was supported by the National Science Foundation SBIR program.

In addition to investment, DSM and Chromatic 3D Materials will partner to introduce the technology to various markets. The first product family includes flexible polyurethane elastomers for a range of applications in the apparel, tooling, automotive, and healthcare markets.

Dr. Cora Leibig, CEO of Chromatic, said: “DSM is an established material supplier in the additive manufacturing market. Together, we share a commitment to deliver the materials and technologies necessary for 3D Printing to transform manufacturing. With this investment, and with our partnership, we will accelerate our market introduction.”

Posted April 26, 2018

Source:  Chromatic 3D Materials

Genesco Reaches Cooperation Agreement With Legion Partners And 4010 Capital

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — April 25, 2018 — Genesco Inc. announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Legion Partners Asset Management LLC and 4010 Capital LLC and certain of their affiliates.  The Investor Group beneficially owns approximately 5.3 percent of the company’s outstanding common stock.

Pursuant to the cooperation agreement, the company has agreed to increase the size of the Board by two directors and immediately appoint two new independent directors, Marjorie L. Bowen and Joshua E. Schechter, to the company’s Board of Directors.  The company has also agreed to nominate Bowen and Schechter at the company’s 2018 annual meeting of shareholders and appoint Bowen and Schechter to the Board’s Strategic Alternatives Committee. The Strategic Alternatives Committee will undertake an updated review of strategic alternatives. The Board has agreed to consider in good faith and with the advice of its financial advisors returning all or a substantial portion of the net proceeds from the sale of Lids Sports Group to shareholders, including through share repurchases and/or a special dividend. The company has also agreed to reduce the size of the Board by one director at the 2018 annual meeting of shareholders so that immediately following the 2018 annual meeting of shareholders, the Board will be fixed at 11 directors.

In addition, pursuant to the cooperation agreement, the Investor Group has agreed to vote its shares in support of any director nominated and recommended by the Board at the company’s 2018 annual meeting of shareholders, in addition to certain customary standstill provisions and other voting agreements. The Investor Group has also agreed to certain non-disparagement obligations.

“We are pleased to welcome Marjorie and Josh to the Company’s Board,” said Robert J. Dennis, Chairman, president and CEO, Genesco Inc. “We look forward to working together as we advance our goal of enhancing shareholder value.”

“We are pleased to have reached this agreement with Genesco,” said Chris Kiper, managing director of Legion Partners Asset Management. “We believe that Marjorie and Josh will work collaboratively with the other directors to reduce the discount that we believe currently exists between the company’s intrinsic value and market price.”

Posted April 26, 2018

Source:  Genesco Inc.

Lands’ End Business Outfitters Celebrates 25 Years And Launches The Beyond Business Contest

DODGEVILLE, Wis. — April 26, 2018 — Lands’ End is celebrating the 25-year anniversary of the company’s uniform and work wear division, Lands’ End Business Outfitters. To commemorate, Lands’ End is launching the Beyond Business Contest, where companies can submit how they give back to their communities for a chance to win $500 in Lands’ End logo’d apparel. The retailer has also curated a special anniversary Lands’ End Business Outfitters collection with some of the top selling items through the years.

“Today, our Business Outfitters division is an integral part of the overall Lands’ End business and we are proud to share the quality and core values of the brand with our vast number of clients and their employees for the past 25 years,” said Jerome Griffith, CEO, Lands’ End Inc. “As we reflect on the history and ongoing success of Lands’ End Business Outfitters in celebration of this milestone anniversary, we are excited to continue to innovate and push the uniform industry forward.”

Anniversary Collection

To celebrate 25 years of outfitting the workplace, Lands’ End Business Outfitters has curated some of the company’s bestsellers from the last 25 years — including products sold from the very beginning — for a special 25th Anniversary Collection. The product collection features the iconic Lands’ End Canvas Tote, bestselling Pima Polo, modern Performance Twill Shirt and cozy ThermaCheck 100 Jacket.

Beyond Business Contest

In addition to outfitting the workplace for 25 years, Lands’ End Business Outfitters has also provided thousands of businesses with apparel for volunteer efforts. In honor of this milestone anniversary, the company is hosting the Beyond Business Contest. Companies are encouraged to submit how they go Beyond Business to give back to the causes and communities they serve. Lands’ End will select 25 notable companies as winners to receive $500 in Lands’ End logo’d apparel for their generous volunteering efforts. Contest ends May 13, 2018. Learn more and enter to win at business.landsend.com/beyondbusiness.

History of Lands’ End Business Outfitters

Lands’ End Business Outfitters was launched in 1993 to fill the gap that existed between the type of clothing provided by traditional uniform rental companies and off the shelf consumer apparel. Built from Lands’ End’s decades of experience in the apparel industry and the brand’s focus on quality and customer service, Business Outfitters began after the retailer received requests from customers who were looking to outfit their businesses with the same high-quality clothing that they purchased for their families.  In the years since its inception, Lands’ End Business Outfitters has continued to expand, by serving some of the most well-known brands and small businesses in America. Lands’ End Business Outfitters can currently be seen on employees of companies such as Delta Airlines, AT&T, and Chase Bank.

Posted April 26, 2018

Source:  Lands’ End

Novozymes Reports Q1 Sales In Line With Expectations, Strong Margins

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — April 25, 2018 — Novozymes today announced its results for the first quarter of 2018. Q1 organic sales growth of 2 percent in line with expectations: Household Care +1 percent, Food & Beverages +5 percent, Bioenergy +9 percent, Agriculture & Feed -5 percent, Technical & Pharma -10 percent. EBIT margin at 28.9 percent. FCF before acquisitions DKK 403 million. 2018 outlook maintained on all parameters.

Peder Holk Nielsen, president & CEO of Novozymes: “We’re well in line to deliver on our full-year sales growth outlook of 4-6 percent, and margins are strong despite a significant currency headwind. We continue to see good progress on our key priorities, including increasing presence with new and existing customers to cater for their individual needs. There is still some uncertainty in the agriculture-related business, including from recent geopolitical tensions. However, with current insight, we remain firm about accelerating sales growth throughout 2018 and beyond.”

Highlights Q1:

  • Organic sales growth of 2 percent and -6 percent in DKK. USD/DKK decline of 13 percent in Q1 y/y;
  • Growth in Household Care, Food & Beverages and Bioenergy;
  • Agriculture & Feed and Technical & Pharma lower, mainly due to continued pressure from certain agriculture markets, as well as timing in pharma;
  • 6% organic growth in emerging markets; developed markets on par with last year
  • Strong product development: launch of first yeast solution — Innova® Drive — for conventional biofuels, EU approval of probiotic solution Alterion® for poultry, approval of microbial corn bioyield product Acceleron® B-360 ST for the US and the EU, and launch of a new enzyme class for automatic dishwash enabling easy removal of dried-in cereals;
  • Strong EBIT margin of 28.9 percent, up due to timing of emerging markets’ ramp-up costs and despite currency headwind. Q1 2017 at 27.0 percent (~29 percent excluding reorganization costs);
  • Free cash flow before acquisitions at DKK 403 million;
  • Dividend payout of DKK 4.50/share. 42% payout ratio; and
  • Full-year 2018 outlook maintained: Organic sales growth 4-6 percent (growth relatively stronger in 2H y/y), EBIT margin ~28 percent, FCF before acquisitions DKK 2.3-2.6 billion, ROIC 24-25 percent.

Novozymes’ executive leadership team will present the results at a conference

Posted April 26, 2018

Source:  Novozymes

Mogul South Carolina Nonwovens Achieves ISO 9001:2015 Certification

GRAY COURT, S.C. — April 26, 2018 — Mogul South Carolina Nonwovens — a fast-growing U.S. manufacturer of spunlace nonwovens for the hygiene, medical, automotive, and wipes industries — announces that they have been certified under ISO 9001:2015 as of April 19, 2018. ISO certification demonstrates Mogul’s commitment to serving markets which require the highest levels of quality assurance.

International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001:2015 is the most updated standard of its kind and focuses on quality management systems and performance. It provides guidelines for developing a management system that aligns quality with the company’s wider business strategy.

“The ISO certification is the result of our focus on risk-based thinking and accountability in all of Mogul’s organizational processes. This is part of how Mogul ensures we’re meeting our customer’s expectations for service, quality, and communication in a manner that promotes long-term competitiveness,” said Mogul SC president Darryl Fournier.

To support ongoing certification, Mogul invested in key staff members with external training to become certified internal auditors. This allows the company to simultaneously complete internal audits in each department throughout the year and prior to the annual recertification audit.

The company selected BSI Group as the registrar, and through extensive preparation was certified with no major findings.

Mogul South Carolina Nonwovens is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mogul Nonwovens.

Posted April 26, 2018

Source:  Mogul South Carolina Nonwovens

Nonwovens Innovation — What Does The Future Hold?

BRIXEN, Italy — April 26, 2018 — In the build up to the International Nonwovens Symposium to be held in Rome next month, EDANA’s General Manager Pierre Wiertz caught up with one of the key speakers, Matthew
 Tipper, business director at the Nonwovens Innovation & Research Institute, to discuss innovation in the nonwovens industry.

Matthew Tipper is Business Director at the Nonwovens Innovation & Research Institute (NIRI) who have a proven track record of helping companies improve their nonwoven product offering, successfully completing over 400 projects for more than 200 clients.

Pierre Wiertz: You are joining us in Rome to examine innovation and the latest technical trends in nonwovens. What do you think is the biggest single driver of change in this area?

Matthew Tipper: I’m very excited to be coming to Rome and I’m looking forward to hearing about the latest innovations in the industry. Nonwovens are increasingly being seen as engineered fabrics and a technology platform with many opportunities for solving the problems of industry today. However, the manufacture of roll-goods requires high levels of capital investment and usually high volumes of output. At NIRI we’re witnessing a current trend of adding value to nonwoven products, not through major changes to the nonwoven roll-good process but through enhancing function after fabric formation. Adjusting function at the end of the manufacturing process leads to greater flexibility through processes such as coating, plasma treatment, laminating, molecular imprinting, adding functional particles or applying topical finishes.

Wiertz: What is the most exciting technical innovation on the horizon for you?

MT: We’re currently developing a new technology for incorporating particles and powders into nonwovens. Particles can often impart performance that isn’t available from fibres so including them within the fabric structure can help to enhance the fabric properties. If conducted using conventional processes the particles may fall out of the fabric during use or their function is reduced because of the binding chemistry that needs to be applied. The new process has been developed to mechanically entrap the particles within the fabric structure, removing the need for any adhesive chemistry, maximising the function of the nonwoven. Nonwoven performance which can be improved include gas and liquid absorption, VOC capture, thermal and acoustic insulation as well as filtration.

Wiertz: And, conversely, the biggest coming challenge for nonwoven producers?

MT: I think the stratification and personalisation of nonwoven products is becoming the greatest challenge for nonwoven companies. In developed markets where the consumers basic needs have largely been provided for by mass-produced products, the greatest profits will be derived from increasingly customised products and services. This trend towards increasingly tailored products and services to the individual customer needs means that the offering from nonwoven companies needs to be designed around flexibility and should include the end-user in the development process. It’s really about getting the right product to the right person at the right time. Late-stage functionalisation is one of the tools that can help nonwoven producers to meet this challenge.

Wiertz: Do you think the nonwovens landscape is changing at a quicker pace now – and what’s driving it if so? How much is the environmental impact of products guiding business practises and strategy?

MT: Change is occurring much more rapidly today than it did say 10 or 15 years ago. The main drivers for this include increasing demand for nonwovens in existing markets and the new applications and opportunities that are opening up every day. The environmental impact of products has re-emerged as an important challenge for the nonwovens industry as the global economy has recovered. The concern over single-use and microplastics is a strong consumer trend which is leading to nonwoven businesses re-evaluating their products. Rapid innovation in raw material research is driving the market away from oil-based synthetics and into biopolymers and natural products. The automotive industry is now using more nonwovens as they seek to reduce overall vehicle weight and increase fuel efficiency. Nonwoven product design is also changing with producers now considering what happens at the end of life and how products can be designed for a second or even third end use.

Wiertz: What other sessions on the agenda in Rome are you most interested in catching?

MT: I’m particularly interested in the session on the Circular Economy and Renewable Resources . There’s some very interesting innovations in raw materials being presented including poly saccharides made by enzymatic polymerisation. I’m also keen to understand the developments in manufacturing and material developments, including details of printing with reactive metals inks.

Posted April 26, 2018

Source: EDANA

Colour Graphics Invests In Durst P10 To Ramp Up Quality For Clients

BRIXEN, Italy — April 26, 2018 — Durst, a manufacturer of advanced digital production technologies, has supplied a Rho P10 250 HS 10-picoliter UV inkjet system to Colour Graphics in a move that will bring in new business and ramp up turnover by 25 percent in the next year.

Family-owned Colour Graphics, which is primarily a trade printer, signed the deal after executives visited the manufacturing base in Lienz, Tyrol, Austria, which is less than two hours from the Durst headquarters in Brixen, northern Italy.

The quality, productivity and reliability benefits are helping to grow business opportunities since the Durst P10 was installed at Colour Graphics headquarters in Walsall in the Midlands. Faster turnaround for work in areas such as banner stands for exhibition and events, poster printing and other signage and outdoor displays are all now benefiting its clients.

James Birch, one of the directors who has been with Colour Graphics since leaving school, said: “We’re always looking at new ideas on how we can expand into new areas. Investing in new technology, such as the Durst P10, is a perfect way to show our capabilities as we continue to move into different areas, including using e-commerce and workflow software developed in-house. By showing your clients you care about quality, you can’t fail to impress potential new clients.

“Durst invited us to Lienz and we were so highly impressed by the quality of the product and the company itself, which is why we took the jump to invest in the P10. It’s going absolutely terrifically — speed, quality and reliability are fantastic. It was up and running within two days of deliver. We’ve never looked back. It takes our business to another level.”

He added: “Our customers have the highest of expectations with quality, speed and, of course, cost, and we are dedicated always to improving our machinery offering and all-round service.”

Colour Graphics employs 18 staff and has a £2 million turnover. Other than trade print work, it also specializes in large format retail Point of Sale, exhibition, agency and retail work.

The Durst P10 increases capacity and flexibility for Colour Graphics across all areas and also opens up new opportunities with applications such as lightbox work, particularly using backlit fabric. End-user canvases, wallpaper and art will also be printed on the P10.

Colour Graphics has chosen a six-colour configuration including white under and over plus spot gloss as well as an advanced application for hapt printing and a roll-to-roll option. The new machine will also be used for for foamex, acrylic, correx, self-adhesive vinyl – also all backlit applications. However, larger roll-to-roll jobs will continue to be produced on its existing Durst 3-meter machine.

Peter Bray, managing director of Durst UK and Ireland, said: “With extremely tight deadlines and ever-more attention being placed on high-quality graphics on all kinds of substrates and papers, Colour Graphics has chosen to invest in Durst again. It will take a quantum step forward with this investment. The P10 has a deserved reputation for providing state-of-the-art, reliable, high volume and extremely high quality products — and this news is bound to create further interest in our market-leading systems.”

Posted April 26, 2018

Source:  Durst

Smart Fabrics Summit Displays Growth, Innovation In Washington

ROSEVILLE , Minn. — April 26, 2018 — The second edition of Smart Fabrics Summit, co-hosted by the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) and the U.S. Department of Commerce, demonstrated the advancements happening in this fast-growing segment of the textile industry. A capacity crowd of public and private experts and innovators filled the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center for the day-long event on April 24, 2018, which included talks and panel discussions on:

  • Solar-powered fabrics;
  • Trends in public/private R&D partnerships;
  • Intellectual property protection and licensing;
  • Data security and privacy issues; and
  • Smart fabric requirements for first responders.

Speakers included the current U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Wilbur Ross, as well as CEO of the Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA) Yoel Fink, and many academic researchers, industry experts and legal professionals.

Amit Kapoor, president of First Line Technology and IFAI Advanced Textiles Products Division Chair joined Secretary Ross for a fireside chat to discuss the challenges, opportunities and top of mind issues surrounding the Smart Fabrics industry.

The following IFAI members were presenters at the Smart Fabrics Summit:

  • Dr. Qaizar Hassonjee, president, Hass Tech Associates;
  • Chris Semonelli, president, Coated Technical Solutions;
  • Stephanie Rodgers, director, Advanced Product Developments, Apex Mills Corp.; and
  • Colin Touhey, CEO, Pvilion.

“The second Smart Fabrics Summit built upon the first one we co-sponsored with the Department of Commerce in 2016,” said IFAI President and CEO Mary Hennessy. “There have been many, many products introduced since then. The industry is exploring the myriad of ways we can use textiles with smart functions such as connectivity, phase changing, bio-microbial and self-cleaning to improve healthcare, public safety, building design, performance apparel — and more.”

Consumer Technology Association served as the Gold Sponsor for this year’s Summit. Followed by Eeonyx, NAMICS Corporation, IQ Textile Ind. Inc. and Schoeller who all sponsored the Summit as well.

If you’re looking for more Smart Fabrics events, IFAI Expo 2018 is October 15-18 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas. IFAI Expo will have numerous education sessions on E-Textiles along with a 3 day E-Textiles workshop on the exhibit show floor, a wealth of Advanced Textiles content spanning 4 days and many exhibitors within the Smart Fabrics arena.

Posted April 26, 2018

Source: Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI)

1,000th Machine Assembled At Shanghai Works — Mayer & Cie. China Celebrates Important Milestone

SHANGHAI, China/ALBSTADT , Germany — April 26, 2018 — Mayer & Cie. China (MCN), a subsidiary of the German circular knitting machine manufacturer Mayer & Cie. (MCT), headquartered in Albstadt, assembled its 1,000th circular knitting machine at the end of this month. Since autumn 2012, the Mayer & Cie. works in Shanghai have handled the final assembly of selected machines and machines specially developed for the Chinese market. The 1,000th machine is an MSC 3.2 II, the best-selling model in the Chinese product line-up. Along with this single jersey machine, two other models are currently assembled in China. An electronic model is due to join them in 2019 as part of Mayer & Cie.’s plan to further develop its position in the Chinese market.

“The assembly of the 1,000th machine at our Chinese works is impressive testimony to the positive progress Mayer & Cie. China has made in recent years,” said Benjamin Mayer, managing director of Mayer & Cie. “Our Shanghai site and our business in China will continue to grow. Our Chinese subsidiary is an important building block for achieving our Group objectives in the years ahead.”

The Mayer & Cie. China success story

Mayer & Cie. began assembling machines in Shanghai in 2012. It was a “real ‘garage solution,’” Benjamin Mayer recalled. The circular knitting machine manufacturer had maintained a Sales & Service unit there since 2003, but “we decided to assemble machines there in 2011. It was an experiment for us. We wanted to see whether machines developed specially for China would be accepted there.”

The adventure got off to a good start. The first model, the MSC 3.2 or “Mayer Single China”, was well received. In late 2014 it was replaced by its successor, the MSC 3.2 II. The MDC 2.2, a double jersey machine, has also been assembled and marketed by Mayer & Cie. China since 2014. In autumn 2017, the company launched the Relanit 3.2 SC at the Shanghaitex trade fair. A member of the well-known Relanit family, it is characterized by high productivity and process reliability.

The knitting heads for all models are imported, but MCN’s 40 or so employees manufacture many of the components required themselves. The machines are all assembled on-site. “In that way we can offer selected models in the price-sensitive Chinese market at a competitive price,” said Mario Kaden, managing director of Mayer & Cie. China, explaining a key benefit of the company’s Chinese presence. It also boosts the flexibility and the speed at which MCN can respond to domestic demand.

The MSC 3.2 II is the most popular model in the Chinese portfolio. The 1,000th machine is also an MSC 3.2 II. It is used especially to manufacture fabrics for leisure- and sportswear. “We have a customer here who has built up a machine park in which 130 machines of this type operate,” Kaden says, citing an example of how popular the MSC 3.2 II is.

Growth strategy for China

As machine production reaches four figures Kaden looks back proudly on what has been achieved. He has worked for Mayer & Cie. in Shanghai since 2003 and he is well aware of the opportunities and challenges in the Chinese market. “To gain a foothold in the world’s largest textile market you must have a presence here,” he says. “Our customers are not going to buy imported machines if we in China can deliver the same quality. We have succeeded in doing that in spite of tough competition and are very proud of our achievement. We have progressed from a ‘garage solution’ to becoming an important building block of the Mayer Group.”

Based on this experience, Mayer & Cie. has identified significant growth potential in China — and beyond. From 2019, an electronic model will join the portfolio of machines assembled in Shanghai. As with the Relanit 3.2 SC, Mayer & Cie. hopes that it will increasingly attract the higher end market segment. In the future, the models assembled in Shanghai will also be available in neighbouring countries. The MSC 3.2 II has already been sold in Bangladesh for several years, and since the beginning of this year, it has also been possible to order Mayer & Cie. machines from India, Thailand, Taiwan and Vietnam. The overall export potential is significant. In 2017 alone, China exported over 10,000 large circular knitting machines. “We must grasp this opportunity and export our quality to other Asian markets,” Kaden said.

Posted April 26, 2018

Source:  Mayer & Cie. (MCT)

Web Industries Announces Capability To Wind Micro-Width Flexible Materials Onto Spools For Greater Production Throughput

MARLBOROUGH, Mass. — April 25, 2018 — Manufacturers in the food, personal care, industrial and alternative energy market segments seeking greater production throughput with materials down to 1-millimeter (mm)-wide can now turn to Web Industries for thin-width precision-slit flexible webs wound on high capacity spools. The announcement comes after more than two years of successful production for a single customer.

According to Web Industries’ Director of Operations James G. Oas, films and laminates can be slit to exacting customer specifications and wound onto spools in lengths exceeding 130,000 linear feet for lay up or inline production in a variety of applications. The extra-long length spools enable manufacturers to save downtime by reducing changeover and splicing requirements.

Examples of micro-width flexible material end uses include package-opening strips in personal care products, food applications such as chewing gum and cheese packaging, and metalized films in industrial and alternative energy equipment.

“The types of materials that can be precision micro-slit and then spooled often depends on factors such as coefficient of friction (COF), tensile strength, cross contamination concerns and other considerations,” Oas says. “At Web Industries, we take a customer’s sample material and quickly determine if it has the necessary qualities for precision micro-slitting and spooling.”

Precision-slit micro-width materials must be wound on spools with sufficient precision to maintain a stable build.

“There’s a lot that goes into spooling,” Oas notes. “To ensure material integrity, we maintain proper tension throughout our process. Traditional processes lack this robustness and often deform or damage the materials during converting. Our attention to material quality, combined with Web’s ability to precisely wind material into a spool form within a .25 mm variation of customer specifications, brings a unique set of precision converting capabilities to the market.”

Spooling of thin micro-width flexible materials is a Web Industries formatting development.

Posted April 25, 2018

Source:  Web Industries Inc.

1...1,4121,4131,414...2,556Page 1,413 of 2,556

Sponsors

Breaking News

Load more

Digital Issue

2025 Quarterly Issue Number III

View Latest Digital Issue

FEATURED ARTICLES

© Copyright 2017 Textile Industries Media Group, LLC.