Frost & Sullivan Experts Identify Key IoT Innovations Bringing Smart Factories To Life

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — February 1, 2018 — Frost & Sullivan’s analysis, Industrial IoT Driving Manufacturing Innovations, reveals the most impactful technologies that are transforming factories into a smarter environment through the whole platform of connectivity. With cyber-physical system advancements transforming the manufacturing sector, Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) will create a high impact in the near future. The whole concept is advancing in terms of functionalities and user-friendly software solutions, enabling multiple applications to serve the rapidly changing demands of end users in diverse industries.

“The ability of IIoT to provide real-time data and perform monitoring and tracking functionalities will lead to smart factories of the future that are fully connected, eco-friendly, and driven by improved productivity and efficiency,” explained Ranjana Lakshmi, TechVision Research Analyst at Frost & Sullivan. “IIoT establishes a strong connectivity between the operational and digital platforms.”

Highlights of this analysis include:

  • Key technologies and influencing trends include: hybrid sensors, predictive analytics, wearables, digital twin, mass customization, 3D printing, edge computing, collaborative robots, asset monitoring, smart grids, and natural processing language;
  • Both batch production and mass customization of products are achievable by adopting the concept of IoT, advanced technologies and solutions;
  • High investment is evident for companies focusing in developing data monitoring systems, security and smart equipment’s;
  • Implementation challenges includes: device footprint, need for increased security, and lack of awareness;
  • Standardization of communication networks has been gaining importance. Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are key technology platforms in IIoT and enabling technologies include: sensor fusion and analytics;
  • Some of the companies disrupting the market include 3D Signals, Denodo Technologies, Pivotal, Stanley Black & Decker.

“Self-powered sensors, collaborative infrastructures and other advanced IoT technologies are all going to play a significant role in driving the concept of connected, smart factories of the future,” said Lakshmi. “Manufacturers must have an awareness of these new technologies and seek ways to incorporate them into their systems to increase the company’s productivity, competitiveness, and future likelihood of success.”

Industrial IoT Driving Manufacturing Innovations is part of Frost & Sullivan’s global TechVision – Emerging Technologies Services program.

Posted February 2, 2018

Source: Frost & Sullivan

Orion Engineered Carbons Announces Specialty Carbon Black Price Increase

LUXEMBOURG — February 2, 2018 — Orion Engineered Carbons announced today that it began implementing price increases on all Specialty Carbon Blacks worldwide beginning January 1, 2018.

The increases vary depending on the grade, the sales region and the end market. These price increases support Orion’s ability to maintain the service levels and technical support required for high quality Specialty Carbon Blacks for its customers.

Orion is committed to an ongoing review of costs and markets and will continue to keep customers informed of any changes that may occur. In case of questions, please contact your local Orion sales representative.

Posted February 2, 2018

Source: Orion Engineered Carbons

Applied DNA’s SigNature® DNA Evidence Puts Father and Son Team Behind Bars

STONY BROOK, N.Y. — February 1, 2018 — Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. is pleased to report that SigNature DNA evidence has resulted in two new convictions, bringing the company’s total to 117.

Shaun Howard and his son Charlie Howard both pleaded guilty at Woolwich Crown Court, London, in January 2018 and were convicted and sentenced to a total of 8 years imprisonment.

The father-son team committed a cash-in-transit attack against Loomis UK Ltd. on December 28, 2017, where they took possession of a cash box containing approximately £10,000 ($14,000). The criminals escaped in a van belonging to Shaun Howard.

They did not realize that the box also contained a security ink inoculated with SigNature DNA. Thanks to quick detective work and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology, police were able to track the van and arrest the suspects.

Detectives collected evidential samples of ink stains from the suspects, which were analyzed by Applied DNA’s forensic laboratories. Within 5 working days, Kent Police received an Expert Witness report from Applied DNA that forensically linked the samples to the robbery. Nearly all of the stolen cash was recovered.

“The evidence Applied DNA has provided was invaluable and obviously assisted with the defendants entering early guilty pleas, saving time and money,” commented Detective Constable David Bull from Kent Police Serious Crime Directorate.

Tony Benson, managing director EMEA, added: “This is the quickest conviction I have ever heard of using our SigNature DNA evidence. The number of days elapsed from the date of robbery to the criminals being sentenced was only 29, and let’s not forget Christmas and New Year holidays fell within this timeframe. This outcome is the result of excellent teamwork by police, Loomis and our forensic experts.”

This news comes hot on the heels of another conviction issued in late 2017. Clement O’Doherty was charged with handling stolen cash containing SigNature DNA, and was subsequently sentenced to 18 months for his role in a Loomis robbery at a London Tesco store in February 2017. On the same day, O’Doherty was given an additional 8 year sentence for grievous bodily harm inflicted in an unrelated case.

SigNature DNA evidence has helped to convict 117 criminals to date, with total sentences of over 550 years and many more cases in the pipeline.

Posted February 2, 2018

Source: Applied DNA Sciences

Christopher & Banks Announces Appointment Of Keri Jones As Chief Executive Officer And A Member Of The Board Of Directors

MINNEAPOLIS — February 1, 2018 — Christopher & Banks Corp., a specialty women’s apparel retailer, today announced that it has completed its search for a successor to interim CEO and President Joel Waller. The company’s Board of Directors has appointed Keri Jones as the company’s CEO and as a member of its board effective upon her first day of employment, which is anticipated to be on March 12, 2018. In order to ensure a smooth transition, Waller will continue as a board member and in a consulting capacity for the near future.

Jones is a proven executive with over 30 years’ experience at leading premier retail businesses including Dick’s Sporting Goods and Target Corp. In her most recent role as executive vice president, chief merchant at Dick’s Sporting Goods, Jones was responsible for the strategy and execution of Merchandising, Product Development and Planning, Allocation & Replenishment. Prior to Dick’s, Jones spent 27 years at Target, where she served in a variety of leadership roles, including, executive vice president of Global Supply Chain; executive vice president of Merchandising Planning and Operations; senior vice president of Health and Beauty; and vice president, General Merchandise Manager, Toys and Sporting Goods.

Kent Kleeberger, chairman of the Board of Directors stated: “We are extremely pleased that Keri has agreed to join the company as CEO and we welcome her to the CBK team. She is a versatile global executive displaying outstanding leadership with a proven record of driving results through consumer-focused strategy development. We conducted an extensive search and Keri distinguished herself as our top choice having the deep industry experience, leadership skills and passion for the specialty retail business we were seeking.”

Jones said: “It’s an honor to be named CEO and I am very excited to be joining Christopher & Banks and working with Joel Waller, the Board of Directors and the rest of the organization to build upon the current momentum and drive the company to consistent profitability. I share their passion for this business and focus on customer service and look forward to leveraging the company’s brand strengths to deliver improved operating results for the company’s shareholders.”

Kleeberger indicated on behalf of the board: “We want to thank Joel for his stewardship and contributions as interim president and CEO and for his agreement to continue as a Board member while serving in a consultant role to Keri in order to ensure a smooth transition. Joel joined us during a difficult time and provided stability to the business, empowered our executives and put in place the executional merchandise strategy to move the company forward.”

Waller said, “I want to thank the board for the opportunity to serve as the company’s interim president and chief executive officer and am very pleased with the progress that the current management team and I were able to achieve thus far. I am excited to have Keri join us and I look forward to working with her to ensure a smooth transition and the continuation of the company’s current turnaround.”

Posted February 2, 2018

Source: Christopher & Banks

Toyoda Gosei And Nippon Kayaku To Form Capital Alliance For Greater Cooperation In Airbag Business

KIYOSU, Japan — February 2, 2018 — Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd. and Nippon Kayaku Co. Ltd. have agreed to a capital alliance for greater cooperation in their airbag business. Each company will hold approximately 1 billion yen ($9.14 million) of the other company’s common shares.

Toyoda Gosei has purchased inflators, a key component in airbags, and other products from Nippon Kayaku for decades, and the two companies have built an outstanding business relationship. Today the demand for airbags is growing rapidly as safety regulations become stricter around the world, and this capital alliance will help the two companies in their aim to strengthen stable supply and quality assurance systems for airbags globally.

The environment in the automobile industry is undergoing major changes with progress in autonomous driving and the move toward electric vehicles, and the two companies will also work together in the field of new materials as well as safety, collaborating in the development of new products with a view to the future.

Posted February 2, 2018

Source: Toyoda Gosei Co.

Reem Acra Presents her 2019 Collection at Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week

BARCELONA, Spain — February 2, 2018 — Born in Lebanon and living in New York, Reem Acra is one of the most prominent bridal and eveningwear designers in the world. Responsible for the look of international celebrities such as Angelina Jolie, Taylor Swift, and Jennifer Lopez, Acra will participate in this year’s Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week. The event will take place April 23-29 at the Barcelona Montjuïc de Fira venue. Acra will present her spring 2019 bridal collection at Barcelona Bridal Night, the gala event of Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week.

Discovered by a fashion editor while studying at the American University of Beirut, Acra decided to dedicate herself to design and continued her education at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, and later at the École Supérieure des Arts et techniques de la Mode (ESMOD) in Paris.

In 1997 she launched the Reem Acra New York brand, and in 2001 her ready to wear line. Since then, members of royalty, heads of state, and celebrities such as Angelina Jolie, Beyoncé, and Halle Berry have worn her designs on the red carpets of the Oscars, Grammys, and Golden Globes, among other events. Her carefully crafted creations, of delicate lines and impeccable embroideries, are sold in the most exclusive stores in the world, such as Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, and Saks Fifth Avenue in the United States, as well as more than 20 countries.

“I am thrilled to show my Spring 2019 bridal collection in Barcelona, a place of beauty and culture like the women who embody my designs,” said Acra. The fashion show, which will present a total of 30 outfits, will take place during the hall’s gala evening on April 25.

Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week, organized by Fira de Barcelona, thus continues its strategy for reinforcing its brands and contents at an international level, and for attracting creators, companies, and purchasers from the main bridal fashion global markets.

Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week is preparing its first major and most international edition with the fashion shows of some 25 wedding and gala fashion companies, and with the presence -according to projections- of more than 300 exhibitors, 60 percent of them international exhibitors, who will show the 2019 collections to purchasers, media, and guests from all over the world.

Posted February 2, 2018

Source: Fira de Barcelona

Unifrax Launches Next-Generation Insulfrax® LTX Products

TONAWANDA, N.Y. — February 1, 2018 — Unifrax I LLC today unveiled its next-generation Insulfrax® LTX Products with enhanced physical properties to improve both thermal performance and product handling. These lightweight needled blankets combine innovative proprietary technology with Insulfrax proven performance to create the best low-biopersistent Insulfrax blanket available from Unifrax today. Insulfrax LTX blankets outperform both Insulfrax LT and S blankets in a variety of thermal management industrial applications.

The new Insulfrax LTX products help customers reduce costs. The enhanced LTX fiber performance helps companies reduce their energy costs and meet increasingly strict carbon emission targets, without increasing the amount of insulation required. Alternatively, customers can save on material costs by using less insulation to achieve the same performance as standard AES blankets. Customers can save money by reducing their lining thickness up to 25 percent, freeing up valuable space in furnaces and ovens.

Insulfrax LTX Blankets are inorganic and binder-free with less dust and have a noticeable improved surface finish. The blanket is easier to handle and cut resulting in faster installation, with less skin irritation and reduced waste of material. The blankets are also printed for easier identification of material and installation tracking on the job.

Unifrax innovation and manufacturing expertise are at the heart of these next-generation thermal insulation products. First introduced in 1992, the Insulfrax brand is recognized worldwide for helping companies radically reduce their energy costs and reduce pollution.

“Unifrax is very excited to launch this next level of quality to our customers using Insulfrax blankets,” said Phillip Armstrong, product manager, Unifrax Rainford. “This superior new product has been designed to offer significantly lower thermal conductivity than our current Insulfrax S blanket product, and as much as 20 percent lower when compared to other “standard” insulation wools. This is the best Insulfrax blanket we make today and is a game-changer for us. Insulfrax LTX is designed to exceed our customers’ expectations around the world with an unparalleled product offering. This latest Insulfrax technology comes on the heels of our Isofrax® 1400 introduction last September, our other high-temperature low-biopersistent brand of products, and clearly places Unifrax as a worldwide leader in high temperature thermal management products,” Armstrong added.

Unifrax is the only vertically integrated fiber manufacturer that can provide customers with a range of fiber chemistries and product offerings with various thicknesses and weight, to operate at various use temperatures effectively and efficiently, while delivering outstanding technical, application engineering and customer service support.

Insulfrax LTX blankets are manufactured and available today throughout Europe, with a limited availability in the United States. The new Insulfrax LTX products will be widely available in the United States beginning in July 2018.

Posted February 2, 2018

Source: Unifrax I LLC

Digitization — Creating Real Opportunities For The Apparel Industry

MORRISVILLE/LOS ANGELES — February 2, 2018 — Current fashion trends are changing rapidly, and the demand for individualized products is rising — these are the challenges faced by apparel manufacturers today. Now is the time to exploit the benefits of digitization to the full — not in individual phases of product development, however, but throughout the entire process chain right down to the finished product in the store — and Human Solutions will show just how this can be done at the PI Apparel show February 12-13 in Los Angeles.

Digitization is currently occupying the industry across all sectors. “Many companies are recently defining their way towards digitization,” said Andre Luebke, general manager of Human Solutions of North America Inc. “There’s a heady feeling of sweeping change and optimism in the air. When we are talking to our customers and partners, we see that digitization is no longer being challenged and doubted — companies know that digitization offers new opportunities and creates new business models.”

However, the question is, where do you start to get into digital work? And how do you reap the benefits of working digitally during the different phases of a product and connect this to information in such a way as to create added value? “3-D is the key to more speed. We offer a simulation that is so close to reality, that you think you can touch the garment. Our software Vidya can replace physical prototypes. The drafts can also be used for order and webshops,” Luebke said. At the PI Apparel, Human Solutions will showcase how 3D is changing the way of product development in the apparel industry. Together with Matthew Cochran, vice president of Business Development, On- Point Manufacturing Inc., Luebke will offer a session “Adapting your Design, Development and Manufacturing Processes to the New Shop- ping Habits of the Ever-changing Consumer”.

Size North America: An interim report

Human Solutions will also inform visitors about “Size North America.” This is the most extensive measurement survey project on the North American continent to date, which started in 2017. It is carried out by Human Solutions in collaboration with many partners. During the survey, body measurements, proportions and demographic data of 18,000 men, women and children will be collected. At the PI Apparel, Human Solutions presents first results and tendencies.

Posted February 2, 2018

Source: Human Solutions Group

Retailers See Tax Reform Boost, But 2018 Could Be Make-Or-Break For Brands – BDO Survey

CHICAGO — February 1, 2018 — Industry disruption, mounting debt, and tax reform’s sweeping changes continue to widen the gap between traditional economic predictors and the retail industry’s current financial reality. Retailers’ expectations for the year ahead remain moderate, with C-suite executives forecasting a 3.2 percent increase in total sales for 2018, according to a mix of 100 retail CEOs, CFOs, and CIOs in the first annual 2018 BDO Retail Compass Survey of CxOs.

At the same time, the industry is generally bullish for tax reform. When considering tax changes, more than one third (34 percent) of retailers agree that a reduction in the U.S. corporate tax rate would have the greatest impact on their business, followed by a reduction in the U.S. individual income tax rate, changes to state and local taxes, and cross-border tariffs. The ways retailers adjust their financial and tax strategies to maximize returns will define how much money they will be able to spend on initiatives that can help them compete.

“The reduced corporate rate from 35 percent to a flat rate of 21 percent is the most obvious win—the savings will be valuable for the already cash-strapped industry,” says Scott Ziemer, tax partner in BDO’s Retail and Consumer Products practice. “However, the limitations on interest deductibility, for instance, could impact retailers who are using debt to fund new store openings within the same taxable entity, possibly resulting in higher taxable income.”

Brands Invest to Meet New Standards

Demanding, tech-enabled consumers and aggressive competition are driving retailers to make operational improvements. To do so, some are tapping public or private capital, and others are absorbing businesses to fill gaps in their offerings. On the other end of the spectrum, highly-leveraged and underperforming retailers are filing for bankruptcy as sales and margins fizzle.

“In 2018, retailers need to focus on their differentiators, or invest to secure one,” said Natalie Kotlyar, national leader of BDO’s Retail & Consumer Products Practice. “Positive economic trends are not translating into huge sales increases, and the industry is being squeezed on all sides. Many retailers are seeking PE investment or acquiring outside companies with complementary capabilities, while others are throwing in the towel. There’s no room for brands to coast.”

The in-store-online balancing act. Just over half (51 percent) of executives surveyed say they intend to invest more capital in e-commerce and mobile commerce in 2018 than 2017. At the same time, 39 percent of retailers will invest more in redesigning or remodeling their stores.

Digital investments rise. For businesses, both consumer-facing and in-house innovation is a mandate, not an amenity. As brands are expected to offer unprecedented degrees of convenience and speed, over one-third of retailers are planning to invest in initiatives that enable Internet of Things (40 percent) and automation (34 percent) adoption in the year ahead.

CIOs lead cybersecurity charge. As retailers plan to invest in more digital transformation, they’re also allocating more dollars to secure these initiatives in the year ahead. Seventy-three percent of CIOs surveyed say they used new software security tools in the last twelve months, while fifty-nine percent of CIOs created a response plan for security breaches and twenty-six percent hired an external security consultant.

The 2018 BDO Retail Compass Survey of CxOs is a national telephone survey conducted by Market Measurement Inc., an independent market research consulting firm, whose executive interviewers spoke directly with 100 chief executive officers, chief information officers and chief operating officers in Q4 2017. The survey was conducted within a scientifically developed, pure random sample of the nation’s leading retailers.

Posted February 1, 2018

Source: BDO USA

INDA’s Professional Development Center Offers New Comprehensive Absorbent Hygiene Products Training Course


CARY, N.C. — February 1, 2018 — Product designers, developers and managers wanting to further their knowledge and expertise in absorbent hygiene products now have a comprehensive advanced training course available to them through INDA’s Professional Development Center. Full details can be found on inda.org/education, including the course syllabus and instructor backgrounds.

The new Absorbent Hygiene Products Training Course will take a deep dive into the nonwoven industry’s largest end market. The first edition will be offered May 22-24 at INDA headquarters in Cary, N.C. It will be led by Terry Young, a former Research Fellow in hygienic materials at Proctor & Gamble, and supplemented with industry experts on SAP (BASF-retired), fluff pulp (Georgia-Pacific), films (Tredegar Films), and converting machinery (Curt G. Joa Inc.).

INDA launched this new 2.5-day course to meet the need in the industry for structured, well-organized training focused on product design, components and materials, taught by an experienced sector leader.

Diapers, incontinence products and feminine care pads/liners will be covered in the course. It will look at the design elements and functions of the product parts, materials composition and performance tiers, and converting considerations for product design.

“We saw an unmet need for training that goes beyond a one-day seminar and covers the design and function of absorbent hygiene products more comprehensively since it is such an important sector for our industry,” said Dave Rousse, INDA president. “We are truly delighted to have Terry Young, with a long career at P&G in this area, as our lead instructor, and the support of four other industry experts. Participants will have much to gain from the experience and engaging presentations of all five instructors.”

Young is retired from a 38-year career at P&G where he was the company’s expert in nonwovens. He spent the majority of his career developing or improving P&G’s major disposable diaper brands. Young developed one of the first in-house material training courses for P&G’s baby diaper category and has trained hundreds of people from all levels. He was awarded INDA’s Lifetime Technical Achievement Award in 2011.

Participants will learn about the major components that are common to diapers and other hygiene products, including the Acquisition-Absorbent System, Chassis Containment Systems, and how materials are selected to enhance a component. Students will learn about the function of each component and how each one influences a product’s final design. They will also be presented information on testing, product claims, and the converting and manufacturing process. The course will conclude with a discussion on the knowledge and skills needed to continue the innovation in absorbent hygiene products for consumer markets.

The Absorbent Hygiene Course further builds on the offerings at INDA’s Professional Development Center, which was launched a year ago as a hub for training excellence by INDA with content from North Carolina State University’s The Nonwovens Institute (NWI).

The course will include a reception the first evening and breakfasts and lunches.

Posted February 1, 2018

Source: INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry

1...1,4351,4361,437...2,532Page 1,436 of 2,532

Sponsors

Breaking News

Load more

Digital Issue

2025 Quarterly Issue Number II

View Latest Digital Issue

FEATURED ARTICLES

© Copyright 2017 Textile Industries Media Group, LLC.