WASHINGTON — June 15, 2018 — The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) praised the Trump administration’s announcement imposing Section 301 tariffs on China in response to China’s unfair trade practices related to the forced transfer of American technology and intellectual property. NCTO also called on the Trump administration to include finished textile and apparel products on any future lists of imports from China to be made subject to Section 301 tariffs.

“The Trump administration is to be commended for taking decisive action against China’s unfair trade practices.  Section 301 tariffs deter trade cheats,” said NCTO president & CEO Auggie Tantillo.

“As per our recommendation, NCTO is pleased that almost all textile machinery products were removed from the final list of tariff lines subject to immediate 301 duties because tariffs on textile machinery hinder the competitiveness of U.S. textile manufacturers,” Tantillo continued.

“While appreciative of today’s actions, NCTO is convinced that the Trump administration’s efforts to deter China’s unfair trade practices would be even more effective if textile and apparel end products from China were made subject to Section 301 tariffs,” Tantillo said as he referred to NCTO’s China 301 public comments filed on May 11.

Noting that the Trump administration proposed an additional list of Chinese products for Section 301 tariffs as part of today’s announcement, Tantillo concluded, “NCTO is pleased that some textile products are on the second list. It would have a greater deterring effect, however, if more textile and apparel end products were included. As such, NCTO looks forward to working closely with the Trump administration to refine it.”

NCTO is a Washington, DC-based trade association that represents domestic textile manufacturers, including artificial and synthetic filament and fiber producers.

• U.S. employment in the textile supply chain was 550,500 in 2017.
• The value of shipments for U.S. textiles and apparel was $77.9 billion in 2017.
• U.S. exports of fiber, textiles and apparel were $28.6 billion in 2017.
• Capital expenditures for textile and apparel production totaled $2.4 billion in 2016, the last year for which data is available.

Posted June 15, 2018

Source: National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO)

NOVARA, Italy — June 14, 2018 — An exchange of experiences on safety between major Italian and international industrial enterprises headquartered in Italy. Today, Radici Chimica S.p.A. in Novara, Italy, hosted a meeting of top managers from some of the best known companies with operations in Italy, members of the Large Organization Prevention Club [Club della Prevenzione nelle Grandi Organizzazioni (CPGO)], founded as part of the Italian Professional Association for Environment and Safety [Associazione Professionale Italiana Ambiente e Sicurezza – AIAS].

It was a full day of presentations and speeches from, among others, representatives of public institutions, such as the Council Member for Urban Planning of the City of Novara, Federico Perugini, and the president of the Novara Industrial Association, Fabio Ravanelli. Moreover, the participants had the opportunity to visit the Radici Chimica plant and experience management safety procedures “in the field” at this RadiciGroup company, which operates according a Safety Management System in compliance with Law Decree [D.Lgs.]105/2015.

The meeting was opened by Angelo Radici, president of RadiciGroup , who, during the 1980s, experienced first hand, together with his father, Gianni, the start-up of the plant, formerly a Montedison production site: “We have always put special emphasis on products, processes and people. For us, safety has always come first: full safety for people, the environment and the surrounding community is an essential condition for working as well as possible and for ensuring business prosperity. For this reason, we have set up an organization-wide safety programme called RadiciGroup for Safety, with the objective of developing a true corporate culture of accident prevention.”

Speaking for the Club della Prevenzione nelle Grandi Organizzazioni (CPGO) was President Simone Cencetti (who is also the head of EHS EMEA Manufacturing of FCA Italy): ”Through our Club we try to team up and integrate people and companies that have a lot of objectives in common and manage complex systems. I am convinced that by sharing experiences it is possible to make our work more effective and improve the environment in which we work. This day is going to strengthen our knowledge of safety matters, and all of us will go back to our companies and institutions enriched and more aware.”

CPGO is a network that brings together the EHS (Environment, Health and Safety) managers of large Italian and international public and private organizations with their headquarters in Italy. Today’s meeting at Radici Chimica saw the participation of numerous companies engaged in a variety of different  businesses: Akzo, Granarolo, Salini-Impregilo, Galbusera, Ariston Thermo Group, Siad, Bracco and many others.

Posted June 15, 2018

Source: Radici Chimica

MINNEAPOLIS — JUNE 14, 2018 — Attendees of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) expo confirmed Thursday the value of effective guidelines for properly handling clean linen, substantiating Hygienically Clean Healthcare certified operators’ efforts to help them ensure linen remains safe and clean when it reaches patients.

Visitors to the Hygienically Clean exhibit at APIC’s Annual Conference were supported in this respect by receiving Handling Clean Linen in a Healthcare Environment, a guide produced by these certified linen, uniform and facility services operators. APIC attendees shared anecdotes of mishandling clean linen in their workplaces including:

• Employees holding and carrying stacks of bed linen and towels touching their chests
• Commingling clean and soiled linen
• Storing linen in closets in guest rooms instead of a secure linen room

Certified operators’ certification fees provided funding for creating and distributing the guide (and other resources for healthcare facilities), manifesting the Hygienically Clean program’s philosophy of addressing healthcare providers’ operational needs outside the scope of outsourced laundries’ traditional functions.

Angela Freeman, Hygienically Clean program manager, explained the importance of such laundries partnering with healthcare providers to create and implement plans to ensure clean textiles are delivered to patients. “When healthcare textiles (HCTs) reach a facility’s doors, an outsourced laundry’s role in maintaining their hygiene depends greatly on how the service agreement addresses linen distribution. Hygienically Clean’s resources for healthcare providers reflect the willingness of our certified operators to partner with their customers.”

A video version of the clean linen guide is in the works. TRSA, the global association for the linen and uniform services industry and Hygienically Clean administrator, continues to build the industry’s appreciation for partnering with healthcare customers.

In May, TRSA introduced Producing Hygienically Clean Textiles, an e-learning class to help laundry employees understand their roles in the processes, procedures and policies necessary to produce clean linens and uniforms. TRSA’s annual Healthcare Conference has guided industry managers in progressive linen distribution techniques to aid their training of their customers in these.

The clean linen handling guide identifies best practices for transportation, storage, distribution, cross-contamination prevention and more. Linen room and bed-changing practices are scrutinized.

Posted June 14, 2018

Source: TRSA