SPGPrints Presents Digital And Rotary Screen Solutions For Decorative Applications At Heimtextil 2018

BOXMEER, The Netherlands — December 20, 2017 — Supporting the growth of the home furnishings and interior decor markets, SPGPrints will be presenting its digital and rotary screen solutions for a wide range of applications from textiles and laminates printing to wall coverings at Heimtextil 2018 (Hall 3, Level 1, Stand B17), January 9-12, Messe Frankfurt, Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany.

A digital solution for laminates

The latest platform utilizing SPGPrints’ unique Archer® inkjet technology is the PIKE 700 UV-inkjet hybrid press for laminates (decor) and other industrial applications. Using the power of digital printing in the home decor market means that designers and decorators can have custom or mass-market products quickly and cost-effectively, no matter what the volume.

At the SPGPrints stand, there will be video presentations of the PIKE 700, a 700-millimeter-wide roll-to-roll machine, featuring up to 10 color positions around a central cylinder, with CMYK plus white as standard. The printer uses SPGPrints’ own inks that are optimized for the print head and the machine’s treatment processes. PIKE 700 produces excellent vignettes that outperform conventional printing technology; it also enables consistent colour uniformity on both supported and unsupported paper and film materials up to 450µm thickness.

Depending on customer specifications, the PIKE 700 printer can print the full range of textiles, papers, films, foils and boards at resolutions up to 1200 dpi. Image crispness is assured by inter-color LED pinning. Used in conjunction with rotary screen printing units for added value high-impact “look and feel” effects, a complete single-pass production line may be created from priming or corona treatment through to finished product.

SPGPrints’ continuing leadership in rotary screen technology

Rotary screen printing remains the dominant method of printing for the wallcovering industry and SPGPrints provides solutions for optimizing application quality and workflow efficiency. Tailored solutions for every stage in the rotary screen workflow, including complete printing lines, like the PD5 hybrid printing line, are available for use with SPGPrints’ nickel rotary screens, and direct laser engraving and exposing systems.

SPGPrints’ SpecialScreen® screen program unlocks the creative potential for wallcovering designers and producers with seamless nickel rotary screens that combine a high mesh-count with a large hole size, enabling fine and detailed printing with large paste particles, without risk of blockage. For excellent reproduction with smooth tonal gradations, fine outline printing, as well as puff, 3D tactile, glitter and reflective effects that offer enhanced sensual appeal, SpecialScreen screens set a new standard.

Highlights of the range include the 100SP/ 40 percent and 130SP/ 33 percent customized screens for water-based paste for creating 3-D designs. For halftone printing, the 250SP screen achieves a raster of up to 60 l/cm, and is ideal for fine detail printing. Multiple color runs that use special effects like metallic gold and silver or Iriodine for a high-luster finish add value and create the unique looks favored by high-end designers and retailers.

Information on SPGPrints’ wide range of screens and laser engraving systems for textile applications will be available on the Hall 3 stand, enabling visitors to compare the options and receive guidance on selecting the best solution for their specific requirements.

Posted December 20, 2017

Source: SPGPrints

USTER® STATISTICS : Evolution Of A Unique Invention For Textile Quality

USTER, Switzerland — December 20, 2017 — This year, USTER® STATISTICS celebrates its 60th anniversary — so it is fitting to review the origins of this textile benchmarking tool. And what better way than to hear the story first hand from someone who was closely involved right from the start? Peter Hättenschwiler, who devoted his entire working life to USTER, reveals the facts behind the remarkable success of a concept which was never actually intended to become quite so famous.

Hättenschwiler celebrated his 90th birthday on September 26. He was born in St. Gallen, Switzerland, a city dubbed the lace capital. Demand for lace and embroidery fluctuated during the 20th Century, but the industry was badly hit by the after-effects of the First World War and then by global economic crisis of the late 1920s. Fashion trends were also turning away from the decorative look at this time. Hättenschwiler’s father was among many who lost their jobs in the downturn, and the family moved to Wald, in the Zurich highlands, where companies in other textile sectors were still prospering.

Even so, university was still not an option for Hättenschwiler. Instead, he started work as an apprentice in the precision engineering department of Zellweger Uster, a well-established and sizeable company which had a good reputation as a breeding ground for mechanics. Located in the nearby city of Uster, the company was then producing a range of textile machines for domestic and export markets. World War Two saw the collapse of the export business, and Zellweger Uster began to diversify into other product areas, including coffee refiners, electric cheese grinders and radio equipment.

The step forward into new technology in the emerging field of electronics was a logical advance from the radio expertise, boosted by the availability of a new generation of well-educated engineers as businesses shifted their focus from wartime defense-oriented activities. Zellweger took advantage of the trend by growing as a technology enterprise, with an extensive portfolio of product inventions and patents.

Cornerstone of USTER® STATISTICS

One such innovation began when Hans Locher — a young radio operator officer and engineer with experience in wireless signaling — was inspired by the idea of developing a machine to measure yarn evenness. Peter Hättenschwiler was his assistant at Zellweger. Local spinners provided the impetus, with their request to have measurable data on the evenness of their yarns — and on those of their competitors. They saw this as an aid to accurate pricing, improved quality and forecasting the weavability of material made from their yarns.

The first evenness tester was based on a radio field, with a sender and a receiver. The yarn was passed through this field, and any defect would cause a disturbance in transmission. This enabled thick and thin places in yarns to be measured by an electronic signal and illustrated by a line showing deflections.

This ability to visualize yarn evenness was a big success, but the next step was even more important: to describe yarn evenness objectively in figures. For this, Zellweger applied the principles of the planimeter, used by architects to calculate floorplan dimensions, to work out the space between deflection lines. This was the foundation for the original Uster STANDARDS, published in 1957.

Values and benchmarks

Locher collected a large number of textile samples, from Switzerland and from abroad. Along with Hättenschwiler and a lab assistant, he measured these in the textile laboratory and developed quality standards. These standards have since become recognized by official national and international organizations for standardization. “Hans Locher received a doctorate of technical sciences honoraris causa from the ETH Zurich for this work, as well as for other achievements. With these standards it was possible to determine the quality of a textile cross-section on a global scale for the first time,” recalls Hättenschwiler.

The textile industry was impressed when the first of these reference values were published over three pages of the Melliand textile magazine 60 years ago, and soon began to ask for more like silk and bast fibers. The extended standards were given the name Uster Statistics.

Over the years, the demand for yarn reference values increased with every new kind of yarn being developed, with the growth of man-made fiber types such as polyamid and viscose becoming very popular. Zellweger Uster continued to collect yarn quality values worldwide and the mass of data available was continuously increasing. “Of course a lot of manpower was needed to elaborate the Uster Statistics, but the spinners and also the machine manufacturers appreciated the free reference values,” says Hättenschwiler.

The sheer volume of data for comparing yarn quality parameters was becoming quite difficult to handle but this also presented a new opportunity. Uster Statistics was transformed into a benchmarking tool. This innovation meant that the values were not actually listed but were instead bundled in standard categories of 5%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 95%. These were known as the Uster Statistics Percentile figures, used to rate a particular parameter based on comparisons of quality levels for each yarn type and blend being produced by mills globally.

The Uster Statistics are an undoubtedly a wonderful invention — even though they were not actually invented as such. In fact they evolved as vital benchmark values out of an urgent need by the industry to compare yarn quality. That process of evolution in response to industry requirements might well be the secret of their success during the past six decades. “We were proud of the Statistics because it was genius as well as helpful at that time. That’s all. We were much too modest to believe that what we made could have a big impact on the company’s reputation as a technological leader,” says Hättenschwiler.

Posted December 20, 2017

Source: Uster Technologies Ltd.

Trident Global Expands North American Division With Addition of Brian Rogers As Vice President

NEW YORK CITY — December 18, 2017 — Trident Global Inc., the U.S. division of the home textiles manufacturer Trident Group, has announced the appointment of Brian Rogers as vice president of Sales and Marketing. His primary focus will be the company’s sheet and fashion bedding business, overseeing the sales and marketing efforts for strategic accounts in the U.S. and Canadian markets. An experienced veteran in the home textiles industry, Rogers was most recently at Springs Global and has previously held positions at Hollander Home Fashions and WestPoint Home.

“We are excited to welcome Brian to our New York team” said Jeffrey Kambak, CEO of U.S. Operations for the Trident Group. “He is a proven strategist and level-headed individual, which adds another dimension to our team. In this new structure, Brian will have a team reporting to him in India to ensure he is ingrained in our manufacturing operation and supply chain” added Kambak.

After seeing successful results through hiring a U.S.-based Vice President of Sales earlier this year to oversee specific accounts within the towel division, the Trident Group made the tactical decision to mirror this position with the sheets and bedding categories. Adding this role allows the company to best serve its current accounts and expand upon its sustainable model for U.S. sales and marketing efforts in the designated sector.

Through Rogers’ proven track record of understanding and identifying changing customer needs, the Trident Group looks forward to the additional opportunities that will arise through his newly created position and the overall growth of the company as it continues to build its U.S. presence.

Posted December 19, 2017

Source: Trident

Fashion Positive Launches Innovators Hub To Accelerate Circular Materials Development

OAKLAND, Calif. — December 19, 2017 — The Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute’s Fashion Positive Initiative has launched the Innovators Hub, a resource center for the growing circular fashion movement.

“At a time when resource scarcity and growing global population make positive change ever more urgent, the rapid innovation of safer, healthier materials offers one of the fastest routes to achieving a circular economy,” said Lewis Perkins, president of the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute. “The Fashion Positive Innovation Hub aims to accelerate this process for the fashion industry.”

Created with funding from the non-profit H&M Foundation, the Innovators Hub provides one-stop access to critical resources for material innovators working to drive circular materials development — through the innovation of safer, healthier materials developed in accordance with the principles of the Cradle to Cradle Certified product standard.

“Until now, creating safe, healthy circular materials that also meet designers’ requirements for performance, quality and aesthetics has been a notoriously challenging process,” said Annie Gullingsrud, director – textiles and apparel sector for the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute. “The Fashion Positive Innovators Hub has been designed to simplify the material innovation process by addressing the three biggest challenges currently faced by material innovators in fashion: education and know-how, technical assistance, and funding opportunities.”

“The momentum for a better future for fashion is growing quickly. Finding ways to improve the health, safety and recyclability of materials already in production, as well as innovate new materials made for the circular economy, will transform the fashion industry from the designer’s drawing board to the supply chain and consumer. This ultimately benefits the global environment, people and communities,” said Erik Bang, Innovation Lead at H&M Foundation. “We are excited to support the Fashion Positive Innovators Hub to help material innovators understand and use Cradle to Cradle methodology to create and scale circular fashion for a growing world population.”

The Fashion Positive Innovators Hub offers:

● Circular economy know-how, including a library of videos and interactive tools demonstrating how to apply the principles of the Cradle to Cradle Certified product standard to fashion.

● Chemical and material screening using the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute MaterialWise tool, which allows users to screen for known hazards with free access to the Cradle to Cradle Certified v3 banned list and v4 restricted substances list, as well as the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) manufacturing restricted substances list v1.1.

● Access to investors, accelerators, brands and manufacturers via the Fashion Positive network, created to connect material innovators with the resources and support necessary to bring high-potential material innovation projects to scale.

Innovators Hub resources are available to users free of charge at https://www.fashionpositive.org/get-started/innovators.

Posted December 19, 2017

Source: Fashion Positive

Smith, Gambrell & Russell Represents Patrick Yarn Mill In Acquisition By Coats 

ATLANTA — December 19, 2017 — Smith, Gambrell & Russell LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce the firm served as legal counsel to Patrick Yarn Mill Inc., a manufacturer of high performance industrial yarns, in its acquisition by Coats Group PLC, an industrial thread manufacturer. Benefitting from Coats’ strong corporate brand and global footprint, the acquisition creates market growth opportunities for Patrick Yarns while enhancing Coats’ capabilities in the engineered textile industry.

Based in North Carolina, Patrick Yarns uses innovative technology and “green” processes such as solar installation along with recycled earth-friendly materials, including its EarthSpun® yarns to produce quality textile solutions for its clients. Since its founding in 1963, the engineered yarn manufacturer has successfully delivered flexible, cutting edge textile applications which exceed the ever-changing needs of the market. With its synergies in product offerings and technological innovation coupled with its recent strategic acquisitions, England-based Coats is a natural complement to Patrick Yarns.

The SGR Atlanta legal team included John C. Ethridge, Jr., Nicholas Rueter, and Nicholas Flint in the Mergers & Acquisitions Practice.

Posted December 19, 2017

Source: Smith, Gambrell & Russell LLP

Littlejohn & Co. Backed Alphabroder Closes Acquisition Of Prime Line

TREVOSE, Pa. — December 18, 2017 — Alphabroder, the North American distributor of imprintable sportswear and accessories and portfolio company Littlejohn & Co. LLC, closed its acquisition of Prime Line, a manufacturer and supplier of promotional products for more than three decades.

Since its founding in 1980, Prime Line has introduced many innovative products and services and today offers more than 1700 products across 16 categories. It features exclusive brands such as MopToppers™, Leeman New York, Rubik’s® and BUILT® as well as numerous product collections. In 2016, it acquired Jetline, which was rebranded as Prime Line’s value line. Source Abroad by Prime is the company’s custom and overseas sourcing division offering fully custom products as well as fast turn import items. A founding member of QCA, Prime Line has an industry leading focus on product safety and regulatory compliance. The company will remain headquartered in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

“I have long known and respected Prime Line and its family leadership. This is a significant acquisition and the combination of our companies will create the industry’s first true ‘one-stop-shop’ offering our customers a new level of convenience, service and solutions,” said Norman Hullinger, CEO, alphabroder.

“We strongly believe in the evolving mission of alphabroder as a value added distributor of a complete assortment of imprintable products, both soft, and now hard goods,” said Drew Greenwood, principal of Littlejohn & Co. “With hard goods being a larger market that is even more fragmented than apparel, alphabroder is well positioned to continue growing both organically and through additional acquisitions,” added David Simon, managing director of Littlejohn & Co.

Prime Line is alphabroder’s third strategic acquisition in recent years having added Bodek and Rhodes in 2015 and Ash City in 2014, each of which were leading manufacturers and distributors of promotional apparel in North America.

Jeff Lederer, along with the Prime Line management team, will join the alphabroder management team and continue to operate Prime Line.

Posted December 18, 2017

Source: alphabroder

Felix Schoeller Digital Media And DATAPLOT Seal A Strategic Partnership

OSNABRÜCK, Germany — December 2017 —Two companies — the Felix Schoeller Group and DATAPLOT GmbH — have agreed on a strategic partnership that combines the strengths of the two partners. With immediate effect, Felix Schoeller Digital Media’s STYLine® brand —  digitally printable nonwoven wallpaper — will be marketed in 40 countries throughout Europe by DATAPLOT and its sales network. Conversely, the Felix Schoeller Group will take care of the development and production side of things, and manufacture both partners’ non-woven wallpapers that have been specially developed for digital printing. Customers can now choose between two strong brands: DATAPLOT’s EMBLEM based on Felix Schoeller brand and Felix Schoeller Digital Media’s STYLine®. Both brands have been certified by HP Latex and Xeikon, which guarantees their outstanding quality of conversion on those systems.

Fast service in 40 countries guaranteed

“We are very pleased about the collaboration with DATAPLOT,” said Florian vom Bruch, general manager, Felix Schoeller Digital Media. “It will enable us to offer our customers even better service around all aspects of our STYLine®-wallpaper. DATAPLOT has a high degree of expertise in slitting and marketing digitally printable nonwoven wallpapers. And their direct contact to specialist retailers and the advertising and printing industry in over 40 countries is another advantage we will benefit from.”

As well selling the products, DATAPLOT will also be responsible for slitting and logistics. DATAPLOT will also ensure that customers receive competent support in all aspects of converting the products. Schoeller will provide the necessary product quality and expertise.

“Felix Schoeller Digital Media offers the very highest quality products, from development through to production,” said Karsten Werther, CEO of DATAPLOT GmbH. “This expertise is an excellent fit for EMBLEM. That is why we see this partnership as the ideal way of complementing our competencies and ensuring that we continue to offer our distributors and partners nothing less than the very best quality.”

Standard rolls are available in widths of 75 centimeters (cm) and 155 cm and, with run lengths of 55 meters to 75 meters, they are optimally suited to the needs of the market. Special widths and lengths are also available on request. Customers who would like to see the quality of these non-woven products for themselves are welcome to request sample rolls at info@dataplot.de or get in touch with their key contact partners at Felix Schoeller Digital Media.

Felix Schoeller and DATAPLOT experts will be at Heimtextil 2018 working together to answer questions about digital printable non-woven wallpaper. The Felix Schoeller Group will be showcasing its STYLine® wallpaper in all its different facets at Stand F51, Hall 3.1.

Posted December 18, 2017

Source: the Felix Schoeller Group

Polyfab Australia Announces Acquisition By Nolan Group

MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. — December 3, 2017 — Chris Nolan of Nolan.UDA Pty. Ltd. and Barry Jamieson of Polyfab Australia Pty. Ltd. have announced the acquisition of Polyfab Australia by the Nolan Group. Barry Jamieson is one of the originators of developing heavy duty knitted HDPE shadecloth for the protection of people from the damaging rays of the sun more than 25 years ago, and had established Polyfab Australia, Polyfab Middle East and Polyfab USA (Polyfab Middle East and Polyfab USA were spun off a few years ago as separate companies). Barry will continue to play an active role in management of Polyfab Australia.

The Nolan Group

The Nolan Group is one of Australia’s largest suppliers of commercial & industrial textiles, with six branches strategically located in capital cities throughout Australia.  They have a rich history dating back to 1881 and pride themselves on operating in adherence to their core business principles of integrity, innovation and value for money.  Over these years, the Nolan Group has established a solid and reputable network of trading partners from around the world, providing them with a comprehensive portfolio of products.  Each product has been put through rigorous testing to ensure performance, longevity and customer satisfaction.  “I am sure some of these products will find their way into the USA market, through our new strategic partnership with Polyfab USA”, according to Chris Nolan, Managing Director of Nolan Group.  “Initially we will be concentrating on shadecloth and related products, providing additional technical and marketing support to the USA team”.

Product Line

All Polyfab-brand shadecloth is 100% recyclable, lead and phthalate free.

POLYTEX® — A 7 oz. per square yard superior fire rated knitted HDPE shade fabric designed for use in modular shade structures and shade sails. Recommended for residential and small commercial installations with unsupported spans of 25 feet or less.  Available in 19 colors and meets the FR specifications of NFPA-701 and ASTM E-84.

COMTEX® — A 10 oz. per square yard superior fire rated knitted HDPE shade fabric designed for large tension membrane structures and architectural shade sails.  Recommended for larger commercial installations or any job if preferred. Available in 17 colors and meets the FR specifications of NFPA-701 and ASTM E-84.

ARCHITEC 400® — A 12 oz. per square yard premium extra heavy duty knitted HDPE shade fabric designed for larger tension membrane structures and architectural shade sails.  Shades using this fabric should be well designed and engineered to hold the fabric under the tension it deserves. Available in 12 colors and meets the FR specifications of ASTM E-84.

FR COMSHADE® — A 8.25 oz. per square yard premium fire rated knitted HDPE shade fabric with a next generation FR additive, registered with the California State Fire Marshal #F-59002.

COMSHADE XTRA — A 12 oz. per square yard premium extra heavy duty knitted HDPE shadecloth designed for larger tension membrane structures and architectural shade sails, which significantly exceeds other shade fabric on the market for UV protection and strength to weight ratio.  Available in 10 designer colors.

POLYFAB PRO™ SHADE SAIL HARDWARE — A full line of professional-grade stainless steel and other metal fittings for fabricating and installing shade sails, used by fabricators in Australia and the Americas for the finest look of their finished shade products.

Posted December 18, 2017

Source: Polyfab USA

KARL MAYER Relies On Digitization, And Sets Up A New Company

OBERTSHAUSEN, Germany — December 6, 2017 — KARL MAYER founded a new enterprise on November 3, 2017. The company’s name is KARL MAYER Digital Factory GmbH with registered office in Frankfurt/Main. For Karl Mayer digitization is an important success factor.

With this new business, the Karl Mayer Group wants to build up further-reaching digital competences with an agile environment. Main aim is a fast and flexible development of new digital solutions, offering perceptible added value for the customers. The targeted business models, products and services — as part of Karl Mayer’s digitization strategy — are meant to support the clients in their markets. “In the digital world, too, only those offers are successful which can best satisfy the consumer demands,” said Antonia Gottschalk, head of digitization, Karl Mayer, and managing director, Karl Mayer Digital Factory. “This is the reason why we consistently focus on customer benefits, and combine our long-standing experience as leading textile machinery manufacturer with new, digital know-how.”

Besides, the new company’s capacities are intended to complement the ongoing and planned activities in Karl Mayer’s core organization.

Posted December 18, 2017

Source: Karl Mayer

Disinfectant Wipes With Viscose: Kelheim Fibres Sets Quats Free

KELHEIM, Germany — December 18, 2017 — With the newly developed viscose fiber speciality Danufil® QR, Kelheim Fibres has mastered a challenge in the area of disinfection wipes. So far, the use of viscose fibers in these antiseptic wipes has posed a significant problem in spite of their excellent fluid handling properties: the fibers bind certain disinfectant substances which severely interferes with the wipes’ function.

The active substances are quaternary ammonium compounds. These so-called “quats” are positively charged. Standard viscose fibers are negatively charged which is why up to 80 percent of the quats are tightly bound to the fiber — meaning they are no longer available for their actual purpose.

With the viscose speciality Danufil QR, Kelheim has developed a positively charged viscose fiber that can reduce this undesired effect to less than 10 percent. As a result, by far the largest proportion of the quats is available for effective cleaning.

Danufil QR receives its functionality through the incorporation of a completely bio-degradable additive into the fiber’s core. Therefore, the functionality is evenly distributed and cannot migrate from the material.

While viscose fibers are long established raw materials for other hygiene, medical or food applications, Danufil QR offers all the well-known benefits of viscose fibers such as absorbency, softness and skin- friendliness for disinfectant wipes.

Kelheim’s viscose fibers also score high points for eco-friendliness, particularly in convenient disposable products: Danufil QR is made of 100-percent renewable raw materials. The cellulose used for these fibers comes exclusively from FSC- or PEFC-certified sources.

In addition to this, Danufil QR has successfully taken its first steps in practice. Sample quantities for tests are immediately available.

Posted December 18, 2017 

Source: Kelheim Fibres

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