Russia Wallcovering Manufacturer Arteks Cuts Ink Waste And Assures Quality At Expanding Facility With GSE Colorsat Compact Dispensing System And Software

BRUMMEN, The Netherlands — January 16, 2018 — Arteks, a major Russian wallcovering manufacturer, has installed a Colorsat Compact High ink dispensing system from GSE Dispensing, in order to ensure repeatable quality, instant availability of water-based gravure colours in high volumes, and minimized waste at its new, rapidly expanding St. Petersburg plant. The installation is GSE’s 100th in Russia.

Originally a distributor of wallcovering since 2004, Arteks decided to begin manufacturing, to meet growing demand in Russia and former Soviet Union states, in a market with relatively few large suppliers. The company’s purpose-built 14,000 square meter factory will have a combined annual output of approximately 28 million rolls of wallcovering by 2019, when the last of six Olbrich printing presses will be installed.

Supplied by four 1,000-liter base containers for binders and eight 200-liter pigment barrels, the GSE Colorsat Compact dispensing system has the speed and capacity to manage the colour requirements of all six presses once they are fully operational. This is expected to be 1.8 metric tons of water-based colorants and binders, and up to 120 dispensing cycles of 50 kilogram (kg) batches, per day.

Aleksandr Komirenko, automation engineer at Arteks, comments: “As Arteks enters a phase of sharp output growth, we recognised that a high-performance ink logistics system is critical for ensuring process efficiency, productivity and for meeting the quality demands of our customers across the region. To become a market leader in Russia, you need the best tools and the best people. It was clear that GSE, with 100 installations across our country, offered a proven solution. We were delighted with the company’s customer-oriented approach in providing both a tailored, comprehensive solution to meet expectations of colour accuracy, dispensing time, return ink reuse, safety and user-friendliness, as well as a reliable support programme.”

The Colorsat Compact High dispensing system’s capability for high-speed dispensing keeps setup times at a minimum. A four-component recipe of 175 kg is ready within 10 minutes; GSE’s intuitive Ink Management Software enables fast, automated calculation of batch sizes and storage of recipes, for instant recall without data entry, when repeat orders are requested. Dispensing accuracy of 1 gram not only reduces ink waste but also ensures color targets are met. Waste is significantly reduced as the dispenser allows inks returned from previous production runs to be reused in new jobs.

Fast flow of high-viscosity binder material, which can comprise up to 99 percent of a wallcovering ink recipe, is achieved because some containers supplying the Compact at Arteks feature valves with a maximum 32-millimeter (mm) diameter, instead of the standard 18 mm. All valves are cleaned automatically and have a proven two-stage valve design, for coarse flows and fine flows and drops.

The installation includes an integrated semi-automatic Colormix blender to mix the ink batch after dispensing. The Compact is extendible and can accommodate up to 34 components. Also installed is a stand-alone IBC blender, to mix inks in the containers and prevent heavier particles from sinking to the bottom of the mixture.

GSE’s Ink Management Software will eventually connect with Arteks’s ERP system, to facilitate efficient ordering of ink stocks.

Since the installation, the Colorsat Compact has been supplying the ink requirements of two Olbrich printing lines, which has a daily water-based ink consumption of 700 kg water-based colorants and binders. The five operators who are currently trained to use the dispenser and software report a fast learning curve.

Komirenko added: “By investing in a long-term ink logistics solution as early as possible, our operators will have the necessary training and experience to deal with a succession of productivity level increases as the new manufacturing lines enter operation in the coming months. Already, based on our experience with just one operational press, we have significantly reduced colour preparation times and waste levels thanks to the Colorsat Compact. We have high expectations for the future.”

Posted January 16, 2018

Source: GSE Dispensing

Hohenstein Group — The UV STANDARD 801 Celebrates Its 20th Anniversary

BÖNNIGHEIM, Germany — January 15, 2018 — The year 2018 marks the 20th anniversary since the introduction of UV STANDARD 801. This test process calculates the UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor), which is used to specify the sun protection factor of textiles. The standard was developed and founded in 1998 by three testing institutes: the Hohenstein Group, the Swiss textile testing institute TESTEX and the Austrian textile research institute OETI.

The three founding members had already recognized the need for a practice-focused and significantly more realistic testing and certification of clothing and shading textiles. This is because the other methods and standards, which are still used internationally today, are limited to only testing the UV protection factor of textiles in their brand-new condition. The conditions, strains and stresses that occur with respective use are not considered in these tests.

Unlike in the UV STANDARD 801: It tests the UPF of a textile in a defined manner, even under typical usage conditions. For swimwear and sports clothings, this could be, for example, aspects like the stretching and dampening of the textile, the wear and tear caused by washing and the age of the textile. For shading textiles such as blinds, diverse weather conditions must be considered.

Only a textile that has been tested with UV STANDARD 801 can therefore offer reliable sun protection, even in its everyday usage condition. With textiles labelled with the UV STANDARD 801, consumers can thus be sure that they are purchasing high quality products and will be protected even in the “worst-case scenario”.

Textiles are almost predestined as UV protection: By using a suitable material composition and construction, i.e particularly closely woven special fibres, they can effectively protect children’s sensitive skin from intense UV rays, for example. This is beneficial, as children only first develop their own, complete UV protection mechanisms during puberty.

When spending longer periods outdoors, prevention is generally offered – not just during sport and leisure activities. Furthermore, people who frequently work outdoors have a significantly higher risk than other professional groups of contracting so-called “white skin cancer”, which is caused by solar radiation and is officially recognised as an occupational disease. Indeed, there are already prominent, forward-thinking manufacturers that offer appropriate workwear. Yet this potential has not yet been fully exploited.

The issue of UV prevention is gaining increasing priority due to measurable and noticeable global climate change. The intensity of solar radiation is steadily increasing, even in European latitudes. Tested “clothing with integrated sun protection factor” is now no longer a niche product. Heightened consumer awareness means that the demand for effective protective measures is continuously increasing.

On this jubilee year, the Hohenstein Group would like to sincerely thank all partners and loyal customers that have helped to establish this unique global standard over the last two decades. Throughout this time, the UV STANDARD 801 testing community also has grown strong. It now comprises 8 testing institutes throughout Europe. The following have joined the 3 founding members: CITEVE (Portugal), AITEX (Spain), IFTH (France), The CENTRO TESSILE COTONIERO E ABBIGLIAMENTO (Italy) as well as the Danish Technological Institute (Denmark)

Posted January 15, 2018

Source: Hohenstein Group

SATO Global Solutions Partners With UNTUCKit to Optimize Inventory Through RFID And Inventory Visibility

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. — January 15, 2018 — Brick-and-mortar stores are making a comeback, but only the digitally re-defined will thrive. Luckily, tools such as IoT, RFID, beacons and analytics are giving retailers insights into operations that can give their merchandise a boost.

SATO Global Solutions, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SATO Holdings, and fast-growing retail brand UNTUCKit are working on a pilot that will use data collected by RFID chips on men’s shirts, traffic counters and other in-store data points to identify the optimal merchandising mix. But the only thing customers will notice is an improvement in merchandise availability and personal service – so they get exactly what they want, when they want it, delivering on the UNTUCKit customer service promise.

UNTUCKit’s retail model provides a unique and seamless shopping experience for the customer. When a customer enters the store, store associates help them choose shirts from a selection of “try-on” shirts. Once a customer has decided on size, style and fit, the store associate can retrieve a fresh shirt for purchase. With a large volume of SKUs, UNTUCKit needs to ensure that it is stocking just the right number of garments in each SKU, based on demand.

The pilot at UNTUCKit’s recently opened Fifth Avenue, New York store will give managers visibility into merchandise movement, to better determine customer demand. Tiny RFID tags placed on the “try-on” shirts will collect real-time data on merchandise movement from showroom to fitting room (and back). Using a combination of the chip data, overhead traffic counters from RetailNext and POS data, sales managers can identify which shirts (exact sizes and styles) are being tried on and purchased, allowing UNTUCKit to continue to improve customer service in their stores.

This data sheds light on which SKUs are bestsellers so store managers can optimize inventory levels in real time based on shopper behavior. It also suggests which sizes or styles can be reduced in volume due to low demand, reducing inventory cost and allowing for UNTUCKit to redirect their investments toward more popular SKUs, or new offerings.

“Having visibility into shopper behavior is just one way we create a better experience in our physical stores. It allows us to meet expectations and retain customer loyalty,” said Chris Riccobono, UNTUCKit founder and executive chairman. “Moving from e-tail to multi-channel has its challenges, but we’ve found that our online experience helps us apply digital strategies to our physical stores and reimagine retail in a way that other traditional retailers are not yet even considering.”

Beacon-based traffic counters from RetailNext will allow UNTUCKit to accurately count, observe and measure the traffic paths of shoppers and store associates. They can also gather data on when shopper-associate interactions occur, how often, in what duration, and how they impact shopper behavior. With its high-touch approach, understanding how associate behavior influences shoppers is a valuable training and service insight for UNTUCKit.

“When people ask about examples of IoT in retail, I talk about this pilot. We have the ability to “upgrade” the physical store in a way that captures the same kind of data we get during online interactions,” said Keith Sherry, COO of SATO Global Solutions. “Retailers looking to compete in brick-and-mortar have more tools than ever to understand shopper behavior. The key is then applying these insights to align the customer experience with expectations across all channels.”

Posted January 15, 2018

Source: Sato Global Solutions

Indorama Ventures, Huvis To Form JV To Produce High Value-Added Products In United States

BANGKOK, Thailand — January 16, 2018 — Indorama Ventures Public Co. Ltd. (IVL), a global chemical producer, and South Korea-based Huvis Corp. (HC) announced their intention to establish a 50:50 joint venture for the development, construction and operation of a Low Melting Fiber (LMF) plant in the United States. The location is being finalized and the joint venture is expected to be established in 2018, and will be operational in 2019, subject to various agreements and regulatory approvals as may be applicable.

The new state-of-the-art plant will manufacture LMF with an annual capacity of 60,000 metric tons. LMF is commonly used as a binder fiber in core-sheath constructions to produce HVA applications for automotive and industrial composites, such as wadding, insulation, filtration, automotive acoustic insulation material and other products where heat is used to bond the fibers. The initial volumes of LMF will be sold in the United States, with its new low tax environment and the potential to significantly expand its scope into neighboring regions over time. LMF sales are expanding at a rate of 8-percent a year as manufacturers have been converting from conventional chemical adhesives to a thermobonding method.

The decision to form a joint venture builds upon IVL’s successful feedstock integration strategy and a continued focus on expanding High Value-added (HVA) portfolio. The JV will leverage Huvis’s best-of-breed technology and its strong customer base in the region as well as IVL’s global management capabilities and its strong manufacturing and cost position. With this joint venture, both companies will be able to offer the best value to customers through depth and scale using the new company’s combined capabilities and expertise. Customers will be assured of better security of supply and excellent service.

Commenting on this collaboration, Aloke Lohia, IVL group CEO, said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to partner with Huvis, and looking forward to further develop a strong relationship. Our partnership will be a strategic step for both Indorama Ventures and Huvis to emerge as a regional leader and position us well to take advantage of the robust growth potential in the region. This is an exceptional opportunity for both companies to provide unique value for customers, and bring new exciting fibers and composites solutions to market.”

Shin, You Dong, CEO, Huvis said: “We are so pleased to work with Indorama Ventures to build stronger market presence in North America, one of our core markets for LMF business. As one of leaders in LMF, we are pursuing “Glocalization strategy” to better serve our key customers’ needs based on more efficient and cost-competitive platform. We will continue to collaborate and extend our relationship with Indorama Ventures to seek more synergies in other interesting polyester fiber markets with strong growth potential.”

Posted January 15, 2018

Source: IVL

Unifrax Announces Senior Leadership Change

TONAWANDA, N.Y. — January 15, 2018 — John C. Dandolph, president and CEO of Unifrax I LLC, headquartered in Tonawanda, N.Y., has announced the following change to the Unifrax Senior Leadership team today.

James Olchawski has been promoted to vice president, Thermal Management – Sales & Marketing.

Olchawski will be responsible for leading the Unifrax global Thermal Management sales and marketing efforts, including strategy development and execution and customer service. He will partner closely with other functional leaders to drive innovation quality improvement.

In his statements, Dandolph commented: “The company conducted a lengthy internal and external search and felt that Jim was the best candidate for the role. The Leadership Team, Board of Directors, and I have every confidence that Jim will excel in this role and lead Thermal Management to new heights.”

Originally hired in 1992, Olchawski has held various increasingly responsible positions at Unifrax including Fire Protection Sales & Marketing Manager; Business Manager, Director of Business Development; Worldwide General Manager of Specialty Fibers; and most recently, Director, Industrial TM Marketing.

Olchawski has an MBA degree in Marketing from Canisius College and a B.A. in Statistics from the University at Buffalo.

Unifrax is a global supplier of specialty products that are used in many industrial, filtration, automotive and fire protection applications where they save energy, reduce pollution, and improve fire safety. The company has 26 manufacturing facilities in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Russia, Asia, South Africa and Latin America and employs approximately 2,300 people worldwide.

Posted January 15, 2018

Source: Unifrax I

Affluent Consumers Shopping More At Discount Retailers As Industry Disruptors Influence Behavior

NEW YORK CITY — January 15, 2018 — Affluent consumers — those making more than $100,000 annually — are becoming more price sensitive as they embrace industry disruptors such as artificial intelligence (AI), Amazon and mobile technology to compare prices, according to the results of a new survey by First Insight, a technology company transforming how leading retailers make product investment and pricing decisions. In fact, 42 percent of affluent shoppers now frequently shop at discount retailers versus only 27 percent at full price retailers, with 36 percent saying their discount shopping has increased. Twenty-one percent of affluent respondents also reported they were more inclined to visit online discount retailers, compared to only 12 percent of overall respondents.

“The results of the survey indicate that industry disruptors are impacting the behavior of affluent consumers and changing the way they make purchase decisions,“ said Greg Petro, CEO and founder of First Insight. “A growing number of affluent consumers shopping at discount retailers over full priced retailers is an important finding, as it indicates they have already become more price sensitive. It is more critical than ever that retailers and brands offer differentiated products at the right price in order to attract the informed, affluent shopper on the hunt for deals both in-store and online.”

Results of the survey, which queried 1,000 participants in the U.S. on their shopping habits, purchase behavior and influences driving purchase decisions, were announced today during the NRF Big Show 2018 in New York City.

Click to view a graphic showing key findings in the survey

Other significant findings of the survey include:

Affluent Shoppers Check Amazon Before They Look Anywhere Else, But Won’t Pay For Two-Day Shipping

According to the findings, a vast majority of affluent consumers (74 percent) check Amazon.com for products and pricing before looking elsewhere, versus 60 percent of overall consumers. This is likely driven by the affluent shopper’s view that product pricing online is better. Half of affluent respondents felt that prices of products in physical retail stores are increasing, while slightly less (46 percent) felt online retail stores’ pricing was increasing.

Of note, while 61 percent of affluent respondents said their number of Amazon purchases increased in the past year, 80 percent said they were unwilling to pay more for two-day shipping, underscoring growing sensitivity to prices.

Affluent Shoppers Are Using AI to Research Electronics and Apparel Pricing Most

Forty percent of affluent respondents surveyed own a smart speaker such as Amazon Alexa or Google Home, compared to only 24 percent of overall survey participants. Amazon Alexa or Echo is the most popular smart speaker among affluent shoppers, owned by 24 percent. More than half (53 percent) of affluent users are utilizing their smart speakers’ AI technology to research pricing, with the most popular items being electronics (65 percent), apparel (48 percent), shoes (42 percent), home appliances (38 percent) and jewelry (31 percent).

Affluent Shoppers Are More Likely to Price Compare at Full Price Retailers Than Discount Retailers

Affluent shoppers are also much more likely to price compare using mobile devices while at full-priced retail stores. According to the study, 44 percent of affluent respondents (compared to 38 percent overall) are more likely to price compare at full priced retail stores, while only 19 percent are more likely to price compare at discount retailers (versus 15 percent overall).

Favorite discount retailers include TJ Maxx (30 percent), Marshalls (28 percent) and HomeGoods (23 percent).

In-Store Price Comparing on Mobile Devices Is Growing With Affluent Shoppers

Thirty-nine percent of affluent shoppers are using their mobile devices to price compare while in-store, compared to only 26 percent overall, and the need is growing. The result of the study indicated that more than half (52 percent) of affluent respondents noted that their need to price compare while physically in-store is increasing, versus 46 percent overall.

Price Promotions Don’t Bring Affluent Shoppers In-Store

While the affluent are price checking in-store, the survey found that the two most important factors that would make them want to shop in a physical store versus buying online are being able to see and touch the product (36 percent) and being able to take a product home (26 percent). Price promotions and coupon availability were important to only 10 percent of affluent respondents, and only 12 percent said they felt they’d find better prices in-store, compared to 17 percent overall.

Notes on Survey Methodology and Analysis

First Insight’s findings are based on a targeted sample of 1,000 respondents. The survey was fielded in December of 2017, and was completed through proprietary sample sources amongst panels who participate in online surveys.

Posted January 15, 2018

Source: First Insight

True Fit Closes $55 Million Series C Investment

BOSTON — January 15, 2018 — True Fit, the retail industry’s data-driven personalization platform for apparel and footwear, today announced a new $55 million Series C investment, led by Georgian Partners with participation from existing investors Jump Capital, Signal Peak Ventures, Intel Capital, and new investor Cross Creek Capital.

The new funding will further develop True Fit’s robust AI data platform, as well as advance innovation of its personalized style, fit, and analytics solutions. It will also expand the company’s offerings to include more robust open APIs, new AI-driven integrations, and new capabilities such as personal outfitting, chatbot virtual stylists, and enhanced visualizations.

The investment underscores the rapid growth of True Fit’s vast network of retailers and partners in North America, the United Kingdom and European Union markets, while expanding into new global markets including Asia and South America.

To help retailers and brands expand their growth even further, True Fit is also making its APIs available to the broad ecosystem of retail service providers. True Fit’s unique understanding of consumer preferences and garment attributes helps retailers to better personalize all touchpoints of the consumer journey from top-of-funnel search and display, to on site discovery and inspiration, to conversion confidence and return reduction, reengagement with personalized emails, retargeting, chat and voice applications, and new in-store experiences. Rich analytics and insights from True Fit help retailers and brands make smarter merchandising, marketing, and manufacturing decisions.

True Fit’s Series C financing comes at a time of hyper growth for the company. The company tripled its commercial growth YoY in 2017, seeing its presence top 200 major global enterprise retail sites, while in parallel the network of registered users surpassed 55 million.

“The retail industry is experiencing an exciting and profound shift toward great, personal experiences, and rich, data-driven personalization is at the core driving the growth,” said William R. Adler, CEO, True Fit. “ We are grateful to steward this special data collective on behalf of thousands of brands and the world’s leading retailers, while supporting them with the innovative tools required to successfully compete.” Adler continued, “We’re thrilled to welcome Georgian Partners to our investor group and Board of Directors. The Georgian team is extraordinary, and their thesis for building the world’s best AI-driven data platforms makes this a very natural partnership. This round and their leadership underscores and accelerates our vision to be the intelligence inside every footwear and apparel shopping experience.”

“As a trusted partner for the apparel industry, True Fit has developed a truly unique dataset,” said Justin LaFayette, Managing Partner, Georgian Partners. “We’re very excited to be partnering with what is a world-class team to help further develop their applied AI capabilities.”

Posted January 15, 2018

Source: True Fit

Avery Dennison’s Intelligent Label Technology Is Changing The Retail Game At NRF Expo

GLENDALE, Calif. — January 15, 2018 — Avery Dennison Corp. will showcase how its RFID applications play an integral role in enabling a fully omnichannel experience at the 2018 National Retail Federation’s (NRF) Annual Convention and Expo. Building on its expertise in digital solutions for the retail industry, the company will also launch its Dynamic Window Display Advertising System at the event.

Avery Dennison will host an Exhibitor Insights discussion with performance brand adidas and multi-brand retailer SONAE about how RFID is changing the game in retail, and will present some of its latest innovations in RFID solutions, designer partnerships, and more.

“As innovators in intelligent labeling technology, we are leveraging our key learnings in the apparel industry to make advancements in other categories, such as food and beauty retail, where we see great opportunities for RFID,” said Francisco Melo, vice president and general manager, Global RFID, Avery Dennison. “Implementing RFID contributes to better inventory accuracy, more transparency in the supply chain and greater loss visibility, all of which ultimately leads to an enhanced consumer experience.”

Panel Discussion: Changing the Game with RFID

Avery Dennison will host the Exhibitor Big Ideas panel discussion on Monday, January 15, 2018 from 10:15-11:00 a.m. ET in Level 1 – TT2 at the Javits Convention Center. The panel, “Changing the Game with RFID,” will explore the increasingly critical role of RFID in retailers’ digital strategies in this rapidly changing marketplace.

Francisco Melo will moderate the panel, which consists of retail leaders and RFID experts, including:

  • Tsvetan Dimitrov, director, Business Solutions, adidas Group;
  • Marco Cunha, director, Supply Chain, SONAE; and
  • Dr. Bill C. Hardgrave Ph.D., vice president, Auburn University.

Expo Booth 1633

Through its intelligent labeling solutions, Avery Dennison connects the physical and digital worlds, providing tangible benefits for retailers in supply chain management and improving the consumer experience. The company will present its latest solutions at NRF’s EXPO through “Changing the Game with Intelligent Labeling Solutions,” which provides a compelling view of how RFID is used across retail verticals, as well as the company’s vision for the future, including:

  • Consumer Engagement – Avery Dennison’s new FLOW campaign supports omnichannel retailers in their quest to meet consumer expectations for a frictionless experience. By using intelligent label technology within a digital emotional intelligence (DEQ) framework, retailers can create “bridges” between touchpoints, platforms, devices, and apps to predict and seek to nurture consumer shopping behavior, increase consumer loyalty, and improve the consumer experience. A collaboration with Mishi Pay will demonstrate how products with a unique digital identity can enable mobile checkout in-store to create a truly frictionless shopping experience.
  • Designer Partnerships – Avery Dennison’s latest designer partnership for its Janela™ Smart Products Platform, the #AlwaysOn handbags from Rebecca Minkoff, will be demonstrated at the booth. With this technology, the designer’s customers are able to interactively engage with their handbags through a QR code to access personalized content, special offers, recommendations and other loyalty rewards, creating conversations at levels that encourage repeated interaction.
  • Dynamic Display Window Advertising System – Avery Dennison will launch its Dynamic Display Window Advertising System, the turnkey digital advertising solution based on technology developed by Gauzy, a leading provider of liquid-crystal-based materials, films, applications and solutions, with software provided by YCD Multimedia, a leading global provider of advanced digital signage software solutions. This innovative window film technology enables retailers to turn display windows into digital advertising screens by projecting campaigns, promotional offers and brand content to engage and enhance the consumer experience.
  • Food Safety – RFID has been proven to increase inventory accuracy to 99%+ and reduce waste by around 20% across the food industry, improving safety due to increased visibility of use-by dates. To deliver a true end-to-end solution for the food industry, Avery Dennison will launch its first microwave safe UHF RFID inlay. Designed specifically for the food industry, the UHF RFID inlay avoids arcing or excessive heating when used as recommended if subjected to a microwave environment, ensuring food safety and compliance. In addition, the company’s Freshmarx® solutions offer a complete food safety and intelligent labeling solution for the food industry through temperature-tracking, RFID inventory visibility and automated food labeling for ingredient prep and prepared foods.

Posted January 15, 2018

Source: Avery Dennison

Meeting the Unique Challenges of the Automotive Industry’s E-Mobility Era

DETROIT — January 15, 2018 — For the second year in a row, visitors attending the North American International Auto Show in Detroit will be able to experience some of the newest developments in Mobility and E-Mobility at the Automobili-D exposition at Cobo Center. The event offers confirmation that groundbreaking changes are taking place in the automotive industry, and as advanced electric vehicle systems gain traction, Freudenberg Sealing Technologies is working to meet current customer needs while also preparing for what the future may hold.

Although both the internal combustion engine and electrified powertrains are expected to grow, Freudenberg is planning on electric vehicles reaching significant volumes by 2025 and beyond. This means that automakers and suppliers are already getting immersed in the product and solution needs specific to E-Mobility advancement.

“Our current focus is two-fold,” said Claus Möhlenkamp, CEO of Freudenberg Sealing Technologies. “We want to help make internal combustion engines more efficient with our solutions, but dually, we are channeling a serious amount of focus into developing components for the new powertrain technologies that will shape the mobility of the future.”

To achieve this, Freudenberg has tapped into its global network of material, engineering and manufacturing experts to design seals that address crucial requirements for optimal E-Mobility powertrains, including thermal management, power efficiency, friction and weight reduction, and compact installation spaces.

“Batteries with a high power density will have a corresponding need for cooling,” said Möhlenkamp. “Having a variety of seal types is indispensable for the transmissions of electrically-driven vehicles. Not to mention, the housings for sophisticated control electronics must be sealed as well.”

With its expertise in battery safety, Freudenberg has created several sealing solutions in a wide range of materials for lithium-ion batteries that address flammability standards and installation challenges.

Recently, the company also introduced a new housing seal for batteries that optimizes pressure compensation. DIAvent provides ideal pressure management in large-scale batteries used in electric and hybrid vehicles.

DIAvent is made up of multiple layers of a nonwoven fabric and an umbrella membrane that provide extremely high gas permeation during normal operation. The seal also has a reversible, emergency degassing function in case of a cell malfunction. DIAvent is water tight and oil resistant, meets multiple protection category requirements for dust, water and particle contamination and can be quickly assembled and installed in the battery.

Freudenberg is also addressing the concern of keeping small volume production of electric vehicles cost-effective by offering a seal for traction battery housings. The patented “Profile to Gasket” concept (P2G) was developed for production volumes of up to 5,000 batteries annually.

Dynamic seals are also needed in electric motors, and Simmerring® Shaft Seals remain indispensable in the transmissions of electrically-powered vehicles. A Simmerring Shaft Seal featuring a conductive nonwoven element not only saves weight and space but also reduces the risk of a shaft becoming electrically charged and damaging the gearbox.

Freudenberg’s innovative products are also assisting manufacturers with optimization of traditional internal combustion engines. The company provides solutions such as the Energy Saving Seal (ESS), which can lower friction by up to 40 percent in multi-directional applications, and its Low Friction Simmerring Shaft Seal (LFS), which reduces friction by as much as 20 percent.

In addition, the benefits of Freudenberg’s 2K Plug & Seal for electric vehicles and hybrids are numerous, offering a reduction in system weight, design customization, complex sealing geometries and chemical bonding between the component’s hard and soft materials, which eliminates potential leakage. The company also offers Encoders, Edge Bonded Seals, Plug and Seal components and Coated Embossed Gaskets for all powertrain technologies.

Posted January 15, 2018

Source: Freudenberg Sealing Technologies

Checkpoint Systems Announces Its First In-Store Underfloor RFID Solution to Improve Retail Inventory Management

NEW YORK CITY — January 15, 2018 — Checkpoint Systems, a global supplier of Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) and RFID solutions for the retail industry, today announced here at the NRF Big Show an underfloor RFID antenna, UF-1.

Delivering the same market-leading quality as Checkpoint’s more traditional EAS antennas, but using unique, patented RFID reader technology, the UF-1 system offers a large read range, with the added benefit of harnessing the power of RFID data to improve inventory management within a completely invisible solution.

UF-1 is suited to a wide array of projects, from those wanting aesthetically pleasing, open entrances to malls that restrict the use of traditional EAS antennas across their openings, to retailers that need wide, obstruction free store doorways.

Using patented Checkpoint Wirama Radar™ technology, the underfloor RFID-enabled solution can identify the direction of a tag passing over the antenna, whether into the store, out of the store, or along the door. It is also able to determine if an item is simply located nearby the exit or potentially being stolen — minimizing false alarms.

According to Carl Rysdon, vice president of Inventory Control Solutions for Checkpoint Systems, “As physical stores look to push the boundaries of retail design, demand for non-intrusive security systems at the store entrance/exit is growing. We’re excited to launch this underfloor RFID solution, which will enable retailers to become even more creative with their store designs and help them improve their customers’ in-store experience. UF-1 is advanced floor-based solution and we expect it to be extremely popular among RFID adopters.”

Posted January 15, 2018

Source: Checkpoint Systems

1...1,4401,4411,442...2,519Page 1,441 of 2,519

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.