Culp Announces Definitive Agreement To Acquire Source For Custom Window Treatments Designed For Hospitality Market

HIGH POINT, N.C. — March 8, 2018 — Culp Inc. announced today that it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire Read Window Products Inc., a source for custom window treatments and other products for the hospitality and commercial industries. Based in Knoxville, Tenn., Read Window Products is a turn-key provider of window treatments offering measuring, sourcing, fabrication and installation services. Read Window Products’ primary custom product line includes motorization, shades, drapery and shower curtains. In addition, they supply soft goods such as decorative top sheets, coverlets, duvet covers, bed skirts, bolsters and pillows, for leading hospitality brands worldwide. Read Window Products has been in business since 1981, with annual revenues of approximately $11.0 million in 2017. Culp currently expects to fund the acquisition with cash and investments on hand without incurring any additional debt, with closing currently expected to occur at the end of March, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

Commenting on the acquisition announcement, Frank Saxon, president and CEO, Culp said: “We have been seeking the right strategic business opportunity to support our growing sales of upholstery fabrics designed for the hospitality market. Today, we are pleased to announce a definitive agreement to acquire Read Window Products. We believe this additional product line will complement our existing upholstery fabrics business and enhance our ability to expand our sales and reach additional customers in the hospitality market. Read Window Products is already solidly profitable with operating margins in line with our current upholstery fabrics business. We have a unique opportunity to combine our outstanding design capabilities with another established business that enjoys a solid reputation in the hospitality market. This proposed acquisition supports our diversification strategy for both products and customers, and we look forward to the opportunities ahead to integrate Read Window Products’ operations with our existing upholstery fabrics business.”

Boyd Chumbley, president of Culp’s upholstery fabrics division, added: “As we continue to diversify our customer base, we believe the hospitality market offers significant growth opportunities for Culp. The proposed acquisition of Read Window Products supports this strategy, and we are pleased to welcome a proven market leader to Culp’s upholstery fabrics business. Adding window treatments to our product line is a logical step in Culp’s evolution as a complete source of fabrics for the hospitality market. The opportunity to work with an established source will allow us to respond to customer demand in an efficient manner. We are excited about the potential to leverage Culp’s global platform, product innovation and outstanding customer service with the added expertise of Read Window Products as we extend our market reach.”

Dale Read, CEO, Read Window Products, added: “We believe this is a great opportunity for Read Window Products, and we look forward to joining the Culp team. Our companies have similar family cultures and values with a shared commitment to product excellence and outstanding customer service. Together, we will be uniquely positioned to offer the full complement of high quality, decorative fabrics used inside a hotel room. We are excited about the growth potential this proposed business combination brings to the hospitality market.”

Posted March 9, 2018

Source: Culp

Beating The Buzzer: Hanesbrands Flexes Quick-Turn Muscle To Deliver More Than Half A Million Pieces Of March Madness Apparel

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — March 9, 2018 — Let the madness begin. Win or go home. Full-court press. Beat the clock. Nail biters. Turns out, that is the challenge on and off the college basketball court in March.

For the 20th consecutive year, HanesBrands’ graphic design, screen-printing and logistics teams in Lenexa, Kan., will begin a month-long mad dash to create art, print and ship almost half a million pieces of tournament-specific apparel to game sites across the country as soon as the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee reveals on Selection Sunday this weekend which 68 college basketball teams will take the dance floor.

“They call it March Madness for a reason,” said John Fryer, HanesBrands president, sports and graphic apparel. “Come Sunday, we will begin an absolute frenzy of activity to meet the daunting apparel needs of one of the world’s greatest sporting events. We will need to refresh the graphic artwork and print more shirts and hats each week as teams advance, and we’ll do it with as little as 48 hours’ notice for three consecutive weeks. March Madness is one of the most exhilarating, exhausting and satisfying business challenges of the year.”

And come Selection Monday for the Division I women’s national tournament, the madness of March will double with another 64 teams announced.

HanesBrands’ Event 1 business, part of the company’s Sports Apparel division, has served as the NCAA’s onsite apparel concessionaire for the national tournaments since 1998. The company will operate multiple sales concessions at the 14 different game locations for the men’s tournament and 21 game locations for the women’s tournament.

T-shirts and hats account for about 80 percent of sales, but fans also expect the availability of fleece, hoodies and up to 150 other items to be available at each stage of the events.

The company’s Sports Apparel division’s retail business operations will get in on the action as well. To provide tournament-specific apparel to thousands of local mass merchant and department stores seeking to stock fanwear for their area’s favorite teams, the company will utilize local screen-printers around the country to provide specialized quick-turn service.

“Onsite at the tournament games and in stores around the country, many fans not only want apparel representing their favorite collegiate team, they also want apparel specifically designed for a regional final, Sweet 16, Elite 8 or Final Four appearance,” Fryer said.

The March Madness magic for HanesBrands comes from utilizing the scale of its largely self-owned manufacturing — including scores of in-house graphic designers and direct-to-garment printing operations — along with in-market contract screen printers that allow the company to customize, produce, ship and sell apparel within 48 hours as teams advance in the tournament, eventually whittling down the 9.2 quintillion matchup possibilities at the start of the tournament to the certainty of just one at the end.

The work begins ahead of Selection Sunday as the more than 50-member graphic design team begins design work as teams automatically qualify for the tournament. Immediately after the regional seedings are announced on Selection Sunday, the team has just two days to create apparel for the tournament’s play-in games.

More than 100 different pieces of art are produced during and immediately following the announcement of the 68-team field, and every approved design will be on press Monday and delivered in advance of the first-round games. This process is repeated during each round, culminating in the Final Four where HanesBrands has exclusive rights this year to sell licensed fanwear at the Alamodome in San Antonio, along with 15 NCAA sanctioned hotels, the March Madness Music Festival and Fan Fest during the men’s tournament, and at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, as well as at six NCAA sanctioned hotels and Tourney Town during the women’s tournament.

“The championship shirt adds an extra level of complexity to our process,” Fryer said. “We produce shirts for both schools and, as the final buzzer sounds, we begin stocking the shelves. So while close games and buzzer beaters can be exciting for fans, our team typically hopes that they can predict the winner a few minutes ahead of the game’s end.”

The tournament ends in a flourish as excitement builds throughout the month. Approximately 25 percent of all the apparel sold during the tournament is bought at the Final Four semifinal and National Championship games.

Posted March 9, 2018

Source: HanesBrands

Kuraray Completes Acquisition Of Calgon Carbon

TOKYO/PITTSBURGH — March 9, 2018 — Kuraray Co. Ltd. announced it has completed its acquisition of Calgon Carbon Corp.

As a separate subsidiary, Calgon Carbon will be reported as part of the Functional Materials Company of Kuraray, along with Kuraray’s Carbon Material Business Division. The Functional Materials company includes the Methacrylate Division and Medical Division.

Randy Dearth, Calgon Carbon’s President and CEO, said of the completion of the merger: “This is an exciting beginning. For over 75 years, Calgon Carbon’s products, technologies, and commitment to our customers were the driving force of our business. And now, when combined with the support of Kuraray, there is no limit to what we can achieve.” Dearth and other members of the Calgon Carbon executive management team will continue in their roles after the closing of the transaction.

Masaaki Ito, Kuraray’s Representative director and president said: “Today, Kuraray takes its carbon materials business farther than ever before with the addition of a global focus on activated carbon, activated carbon services, and filtration media. We are delighted to have the Calgon Carbon team joining Kuraray. We believe that this complementary combination will enable significant synergies and growth opportunities, and we aim to further expand the business as one of our future core businesses.”

Kuraray and Calgon Carbon have complementary products and services, and the combined organization will continue to focus on the highest quality activated carbon and filtration media products, equipment, and services. The combination will strengthen Kuraray’s focus on contributing to human health and the sustainability of the environment through innovative and high quality products around the world.

Posted March 9, 2018

Source: Calgon Carbon Corp.

American Textile Co. Expands Georgia Operations To Meet Expanding Retail And E-Commerce Demand 

DUQUESNE, Pa. — March 9, 2018 — American Textile Co., a provider of sleep solutions, officially opened its newest location in Tifton, Ga., on March 7. Local and state officials including Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp were among those in attendance. The new 400,000-square-foot state-of-the-art warehousing and distribution facility more than doubles the company’s distribution capacity.

The textile maker has grown more than 10 percent annually for the last 10 years, driven by increased consumer demand for its innovative technologies and brands, including AllerEase®, Sealy® and Tempur-Pedic bedding. American Textile’s expanding e-commerce business has been a key contributor, growing an impressive 50 percent year-over-year.

American Textile’s growth has also created job opportunity; the company has embraced a role in talent development and training future workers in the communities in which it operates through contributions to scholarship and skills development programs like the Pittsburgh Promise and the Tifton College & Career Academy. The Tifton opening event concluded with a $35,000 grant to the Tifton College & Career Academy.

American Textile Company’s full range of bedding products will be on display at the New York Home Fashions Market March 19-22, 2018.

Posted March 9, 2018

Source: American Textile Co.

JEC World 2018 Gathered The Whole Composites Industry In Paris

PARIS — March 8, 2018 — JEC World 2018, closes its doors on March 8 with a record increase in attendance resuming three days of vibrant networking and knowledge sharing.

The show welcomed
 more than 1,300 exhibitors from every continent and counted 42,445 professional
 visits from 115 countries. “The ability of JEC Group to gather the whole composites
 industry under one roof over three days lies in the fact that we always initiate new
 precursory programs to the service of composites professionals,” said Frédérique Mutel, JECGroup President & CEO.

“This year we initiated new programs, for instance
 the Composite Challenge allowing 10 Ph.D. students to pitch their thesis in front of the 
industry, thus facilitating connections between students and industrialists. In the same 
spirit, we increased in power our Start Up Booster and Innovation Award Programs to
 accelerate relations between young or innovative companies with investors or
 established enterprises. We also introduced one new planet called “Make it Real” along with the Aero, Auto and Construction planets. In this planet, we could discover astonishing futuristic products for example the Aeromobil, a flying car that would revolutionize urban transportation in the near future,“ she adds. “We launched our new Book on Natural Fibers: Flax and Hemp. We had strong communications on Composites Environmental Input and Recycling.”

The event was the first event to promote and host the new “French Fab”, a French government initiative to internationally promote the French Industry and Manufacture. Also, JEC World welcomed the French Secretary of State to the Minister of Economy and Finance Delphine Gény-Stephann, visit that demonstrates the growing role of composites in the industry.

Inspiring Keynotes To Foster Composites Disruption

Dirk Ahlborn, CEO of Hyperloop, opened the Startup Booster ceremony by supporting the spirit of ingenuity in the Industry. Dayton Horvath, industry expert and consultant in additive manufacturing presented his vision of how to apply artificial intelligence to composite Materials and Manufacturing. Finally, Yves Rossy, the “jetman” using the latest carbon-fiber wings for flight introduced the JEC Innovation awards ceremony, motivating the audience to pursue their dreams and explaining how composites could made his dreams come true.

The Public Choice Awards Winnters

A first at the show this year was the introduction of the public votes to elect their favorite projects among two JEC programs promoting innovation. “The goal to create the “public choice awards” was to involve and embark our community to make their innovation loud. Our vision at JEC is to demonstrate and to make understand towards a broader scope the vast range of possibilities that composite materials offer,” commented Anne-Manuèle Hébert, director for JEC World and European Events for JEC Group.

PUBLIC CHOICE AWARD FOR STARTUP BOOSTER: Inca-Fiber (Germany) with 62.36% of the 2,221 votes

PUBLIC CHOICE AWARD FOR JEC INNOVATION AWARDS: Infusion technology for an aircraft wing by AeroComposit JSC (Russia) gaining 20.96% of the 4,126 votes.

Posted March 9, 2018

Source: JEC Group

Archroma Appoints New Leader For Its Brand & Performance Textile Specialties Business

REINACH, Switzerland — March 8, 2018 — Archroma today announced the appointment of Marcos Furrer to the post of president Brand & Performance Textile Specialties, and Innovation, based in Archroma’s headquarters in Reinach, Switzerland.

Furrer will take over from Thomas Winkler who will retire at the end of March 2018 after more than 30 years in the textile industry, among which 12 years at the helm of the business.

Announcing the appointment, Archroma CEO Alexander Wessels said: “Marcos Furrer was rather an obvious choice when we started to look for a potential successor for Thomas Winkler. He has the right combination of strong textile expertise and leadership skills that we need to drive the business in line with Archroma’s ambitious growth strategy.”

A Swiss national with a 20 years career, Furrer has earned a strong reputation as a well-rounded business manager with excellent leadership skills and a taste for delivering on targets.

Biography

A Chemical Engineer from the Ingenieurschule Beider Basel, Furrer started his career with Clariant in Switzerland as Product Manager Sulphur Dyes, Textile Business, in 1997. He then grew in the organization as Head of Continuous Dyeing Cellulosic (1999 to 2001); Head of Business Unit (BU) Textile Dyes and Textile Chemicals in México (2001 to 2005); Global Head for the Product Group Cellulosic Dyes (2005 to 2007), Head of BU Textile Chemicals Latin America (2007 to 2009); Head of BU Textile Chemicals Americas (2009 to 2012); Head of Emulsions (January 2012 to June 2012); and Head of Marketing and Sales Plastic and Special Applications, BU Pigments (January 2013 to 2015).

His latest role as Head of Regional Business Line Europe, BU Pigments, Strategic Plastics, brought him back to Switzerland in January 2015, with the mission to implement the new BU Pigments regional structure in Europe.

Furrer speaks five languages: English, German, Spanish, Portuguese and French.

Posted March 8, 2018

Source: Archroma

APV Engineered Coatings Celebrates 140 Years Of Partnerships And Performance

TW Special Report

Rutherford B. Hayes was president and Thomas Edison was granted a patent for the phonograph the year two Akron-area businessmen, J. Martin Beck and Edward G. Kubler, founded APV Engineered Coatings under the name Akron Varnish Works. From a small manufacturing site in the heart of downtown Akron, the company produced a small line of wood varnishes and black enamels for a variety of goods.

Today, 140 years after its 1878 founding, the company that is now APV Engineered Coatings has evolved to become one of the nation’s leading manufacturers and engineers of niche industrial coatings and advanced chemical products for factory- and field-applied applications. The company also contract-manufactures products for some of the largest paint and coating manufacturers. APV creates products that touch virtually every aspect of people’s lives.

“We are proud of our roots in Akron and in our continued growth as we invent, manufacture and provide unique solutions for just about every industry on the planet, from aerospace and automotive, to building products, government applications, and other niche markets,” said Thomas Venarge, president, APV Engineered Coatings.

Early Growth

Two seminal events in the transportation industry fueled the company’s growth around the turn of the 20th century: the 1893 invention of the “safety bicycle” and the introduction of Ford®’s Model-T in 1912. APV reaped the benefits of the bicycle boom as more than half of the nation’s bikes were finished with enamel from Akron Varnish Works. The company also enjoyed outstanding prosperity supplying a black “Japan”, a high-temperature baking enamel that provided a shiny aesthetic to the Ford® Model-T.

In 1912, the company moved from downtown Akron to its current site in South Akron, where over the years, it has increased its footprint, adding laboratory, warehouse and office space. In 1935, company stockholders changed the firm’s name to The Akron Paint & Varnish Company to reflect its new line of paints and varnishes and expanding sales into the tire industry, airline industry and products for government applications.

A New Identity

In 1982, David Venarge purchased Akron Paint & Varnish and became the company’s president. The company started focusing more on the engineered coatings market and in the 1990s, once again altered its name to APV Engineered Coatings, a fitting recognition for its continued research, development and engineering orientation. In 2010, David Venarge became chairman of APV and appointed Thomas Venarge president.

“Our philosophy is simple: mutually beneficial partnerships,” said Thomas Venarge. “We work as true partners with our customers, providing not only advanced industrial coating and chemical formulations, but also custom equipment engineering, contract manufacturing and global product distribution. We’re ready for any challenge and enjoy working with our customer partners from the R&D stage, to testing and production trials, through full commercial production.”

While the company directly markets most of the products it manufactures, it also has a successful contract manufacturing business that produces formulations under private label for both small firms and some of the largest companies in the world.

“We play a crucial role in helping these companies get their products to market on time and on budget,” Venarge said. “We have the manufacturing capacity and quick turnaround times they need, the process control and engineering expertise to bring it all together, custom packaging and worldwide distribution services, and the ability to retain inventory and batch history for as long as customers request. We put as much care into the contract formulas we manufacture as we put into the formulas we develop for our own brands.”

“Fewer and fewer companies are offering the type of service we do,” Venarge added. “Back in the 1960s, there were probably 3,500 paint manufacturers in the country. As the industry became more regulated, and the barriers to entry grew, the number of manufacturers reduced considerably. APV is still privately held and has remained strong and committed to the industry.”

Manufacturing Capabilities

APV Engineered Coatings has more than doubled in size and tripled in capacity over the past 20 years, with more than 50 percent capacity increase in the last five years alone. On average, the company currently produces about 1.5 million gallons of product a year from a 15-acre R&D and manufacturing facility in South Akron.

With more than 300 pieces of manufacturing equipment over 150,000 square feet of manufacturing space, the company can accommodate everything from pint-sized samples and small batch runs to large-scale, tanker-truck-sized production output.

Products OEM and after market applications currently produced at APV Engineered Coatings include:

  • Adhesives;
  • Binders, concentrates and slurries;
  • Industrial crayons;
  • Screen-printed decals;
  • Dyes;
  • Forging lubricants;
  • Industrial Inks;
  • Inspection markers;
  • Maskant materials for aerospace components;
  • Custom engineered paints and coatings;
  • High performance architectural coatings;
  • Custom primers;
  • Tire and rubber paints and lubricants; and
  • Supporting the Akron Manufacturing Community.

APV Engineered Coatings’ ability to meet quick turn-around times for contract customers while also maintaining production capacity for its own brands is a testament to the investments the company has made in recent years. It currently employs between 100-120 people at its Akron plant, with about 10 percent of its staff working as chemists.

“We continue to invest in our facilities to meet the future demands of our customers,” Venarge said. “We’re also investing in the future of the manufacturing industry here in Akron. We’re currently renovating a 32,000-square-foot addition for more warehouse space and have plans on the drawing board for another 44,000-square-foot manufacturing and warehouse facility.”

“Akron, and especially the newly coined Firestone Business Park, is a perfect location for creating manufacturing jobs,” Venarge added. “It’s close to interstates and rail access, and there are several opportunities for re-development. We’re committed to Akron, and are working to keep existing industrial companies in the area as well as attract new ones. Our vision at APV is to be the model home in a vibrant new neighborhood.”

Source: APV Engineered Coatings

Haggar’s Tony Anzovino Named President Of Americas Apparel Producers’ Network

DALLAS — March 8, 2018 — Americas Apparel Producers’ Network (AAPN) has appointed Tony Anzovino, chief Sourcing and Merchandising officer at Dallas-based Haggar Clothing Co., as its 2018-2019 president.

AAPN is the international trade network that connects the entire textile and apparel supply chain of the Western Hemisphere, with more than 200 members that include some of the most prominent brands, companies and manufacturers in the industry.

Anzovino has led product development, sourcing and licensing teams at Haggar since 2012 and is an apparel industry veteran with nearly 20 years’ experience in manufacturing, sourcing and technical development. He has served on the AAPN Executive Board since 2015 and was vice president before being appointed president in 2018.

“AAPN is the most important and active organization representing the interests of the apparel supply chain in the U.S. and throughout the entire Americas, and I look forward to continuing and strengthening its mission to support and inform members,” Anzovino said. “I appreciate the vote of confidence from the organization, and the support of Haggar, which is a longtime member.”

“Tony’s appointment as AAPN president is a significant accomplishment and a well-deserved recognition of his deep understanding of our industry and his leadership position within it,” said Haggar Chief Executive Officer Michael Stitt. “We know that AAPN will benefit from his skills and knowledge just as Haggar has and continues to benefit, and we congratulate him on this honor.”

During Anzovino’s tenure at Haggar, the brand has been recognized with multiple honors, including receiving a Repreve Champions of Sustainability award and being named the nation’s No. 1-selling dress pant brand style and No. 1-selling casual pant style by NPD Group Inc.’s Retail Tracking Service.*

*Rankings based on the NPD Group’s Retail Tracking Service/POS Sales Data, Unit Rank, Continental U.S. Department Store/National Chain Channel, Quarterly Data: Q1, Q2 and Q3 data from 2017; Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4 data from 2016; and Q4 data from 2015.

Posted March 8, 2018

Source: Americas Apparel Producers’ Network (AAPN)

Bolger & O’Hearn Launches OmniBloq™, A Durable Water Repellant Reinventing A Category

FALL RIVER, Mass. — March 8, 2018 — Bolger & O’Hearn (B&O), the leading developer of specialty chemicals for textiles, has launched OmniBloq, a revolutionary Stormproof/Breathable performance finish.

OmniBloq provides laminate-like resistance to the harshest storms without inhibiting comfort or breathability. It recently had its debut in Boulder in late January, at the Meteorite Winter Adventure Camp, where media and outdoor apparel brands received a sneak peek at the capabilities of this new textile finish.

“The reception was overwhelmingly positive,” said Shaun O’Hearn, president at B&O. “We sparked some big excitement for outdoor garment and sportswear media and manufacturers because everyone is looking for innovation while minimizing risk to brand equity. B&O is proving to be the bridge between innovation and risk management that brands need.

The most well-known water proof/breathable constructions on the market today are made from a maze of at least six layers including fabrics, films, glues, and tapes. This is an incredible amount of resources for such a small return. Yes, complex laminate-constructed garments can keep the water out effectively but let’s face it, even with minimal activity you will get “sweat wet”. Once you step back from the magical world of marketing claims you realize that you are still getting wet and you paid for and used an incredible amount of resources to do so. OmniBloq is different; it is specially designed to deliver greater performance than traditional DWRs while only using one layer, making it a uniquely stormproof-breathable option.

Other notable features of OmniBloq include its:

  • Responsible use of resources;
  • Garment recyclability;
  • Breathable-Really!;
  • Non-PFOA technology; and
  • Defense against water, oils & stains.

“When we say OmniBloq is stormproof, we’re guaranteeing that it can withstand the harshest elements,” said Frank Keohan, chief chemist at B&O. “And this is absolutely critical for outdoor adventurers. They shouldn’t overheat. They shouldn’t get drenched from rain or sweat; they should remain comfortable even in the worst storms. So that’s why OmniBloq was made.”

OmniBloq Stormproof/Breathable finish is applied to fabrics at textile mills. To date, major brands and the US Military have adopted OmniBloq for their next generation product launches. OmniBloq is proving to be the most advanced resource-conscious and effective protective finish available. In addition, other industries such as workwear and upholstery are also starting to look to OmniBloq for its comfort, breathability, and stormproof protection.

Posted March 8, 2018

Source: Bolger & O’Hearn

Techtextil North America 2019 Sets Its Sights On Raleigh

ATLANTA — March 8, 2018 — The 16th edition of Techtextil North America announces the 2019 premier trade show for technical textiles and nonwovens will be held in Raleigh, N.C. The relocation to Raleigh brings the show back to the heart of the North American Textile Industry, with drive-in access for many leading global companies and within minutes of one of the best airports in the United States, Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

North Carolina’s rich history in textile production dates back to the 1800s and today serves as the location of several of the most important global textile companies, industry associations and educational resources. North Carolina leads the U.S. in the textile mill industry with over 700 textile manufacturing establishments and over 42,000 industry workers.

In addition, North Carolina State University’s College of Textiles, located in downtown Raleigh, serves as a hub for textile research and development and as a primary supplier to the industry talent pipeline nationwide.

“We are thrilled to announce Raleigh as the Destination City for Techtextil North America 2019,” said Dennis Smith, president, Messe Frankfurt North America. “Not only is North Carolina an international hub for industry and innovation in textiles, but the city of Raleigh has become one of the fastest growing, more forward-thinking in the nation. Techtextil North America 2019 aims to provide a regional platform for the global textile industry to conduct business, and the concentration of companies, associations, and educational institutions in the area makes Raleigh the perfect location for our exhibitors and visitors to come together to do so.”

Posted March 8, 2018

Source: Messe Frankfurt

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