AIS Gauging Introduces Its Gemini FWM: Non-Traversing Array Web Inspection And Thickness Or Weight Measurement System

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — December 26, 2017 — AIS Gauging announces its new Gemini Full Width Measurement system for the web industries. The Gemini FWM system brings a completely new measurement approach that gives an entirely new perspective to product quality. This unique non-traversing x-ray array measurement system combines web inspection and web gauging into a single platform for full-width, instantaneous, 100-percent product inspection and measurement without electromechanical scanners that sample just a fraction of the total product. The Gemini system starts measuring at the product’s surface and continues through the entire material to construct and analyze a complete picture of quality.

The system is a non-scanning, non-contact, full-width measurement array platform utilizing multiple x-ray sources and receivers. Gemini’s x-ray technology is able to immediately detect, display and report non-visible defects that are embedded within the product using high-speed, continuous measurement that can detect defects down to <1 millimeter.

The system includes intuitive quality maps that show data in a video format, including 3-D analysis software, so that defects both on the surface and within the product can be quickly identified for later removal. Real-time displays and alarms show defect sizes and their location for easy downstream removal. Defect information is captured, categorized and saved locally and can be exported and archived for further analysis.

With instantaneous thickness or weight measurement, the Gemini FWM system offers the ultimate in high-speed quality visibility without data filtering or measurement delays as experienced with conventional scanning equipment. Gemini’s instantaneous true weight or thickness measurement is processed with ultra-fast high-resolution, to provide a “never-seen-before” insight into quality. This level of performance brings a new dimension to web product measurement and advanced control capability. Current applications include fiberglass insulation, rubber tires and TPO roofing with more to follow.

AIS Gauging is a recognized industry leader in web gauging technologies, providing its customers with the most advanced, precise quality measurements for thickness, coat weight, basis weight, moisture and web inspection.

Posted December 27, 2017

Source: AIS Gauging

Cotton Incorporated’s Professional Curriculum Expands With Focus On Technical Textiles

CARY, N.C. — December 20, 2017 — Cotton Incorporated, the research and promotion company for U.S. cotton producers and importers, expands offerings on its Cotton University™ platform with four new courses in the College of Nonwovens section. Cotton University™ is an online resource aimed at supporting today’s industry professionals, while nurturing the next generation through education and engagement.

“The ‘Introduction to Nonwovens’ lectures received more than 2,600 page views in the past year, teaching viewers about unique nonwoven materials, applications and cotton’s ever-growing role in this market,” said Jan O’Regan, director of nonwovens marketing for Cotton Incorporated. “Today, we expand the content offerings of technical videos paired with exclusive interviews from industry experts, including Dr. Behnam Pourdeyhimi.”

New courses for the College of Nonwovens are:

  • Raw Materials Used in Nonwovens — Reviews the various materials used in the nonwovens market including how they affect processing, fabric properties, and end use applications.
  • Nonwoven Materials & Structures: Fiber Orientation and Basis Weight — addresses the unique structural aspects of nonwovens beginning with fiber orientation and basis weight. Including, how they affect material strength, permeability and uniformity.
  • Nonwoven Materials & Structures: Fiber Shape and Size — explores fiber geometry in terms of fiber fineness, cross-sectional shape, crimp, and fiber length. Also, the impact they have on properties such as softness, absorbency, and filtration ability.
  • Nonwoven Materials & Structures: Bicomponent Fibers and Pore Structures — provides a look into various types of bicomponent fibers and how they are tied to characteristics such as pore structures which affect fluid management. This course demonstrates how this is an important factor for many applications including filtration, diapers, and wipes.

“Cotton Incorporated’s education series is an invaluable resource, whether you’re a newcomer or industry veteran across the nonwovens supply chain,” explained Pourdeyhimi, founding executive director of The Nonwovens Institute at North Carolina State University. “The series offers an instructive overview and a view of lab testing in action to understand why we study nonwovens — in less than 30 minutes.”

The College of Nonwovens courses debuted in 2016 providing an overview of the industry. A nonwoven is a sheet or web structure bonded together by entangling fibers or filaments by machine, heat or chemical. A variety of raw materials including natural fibers such as cotton are used to engineer specific performance characteristics such as wipes, diapers, feminine hygiene and adult incontinence products.

Posted December 27, 2017

Source: Cotton Incorporated

American Textile Co. Hires Carlo Morgano

DUQUESNE, Pa. — December 26, 2017 — Pittsburgh-based American Textile Co., a provider of sleep solutions since 1925, today announced the addition of Carlo Morgano as senior vice president of Information Technology. The new role was created in part to support American Textile’s growing supply chain and rapidly expanding e-commerce business, which has seen nearly 50 percent year-over-year growth.

The company credits its AllerEase allergen-barrier bedding for much of the increase, along with new technology to meet same-day shipping demands from its manufacturing and distribution centers. American Textile will ship millions of pillows and other bedding items by the end of this holiday season.

“Shipping orders within 24-hours is key for all our retailers, and a critical expectation of the end consumer, and we deliver this business value through innovative technology,” said Morgano. “When we see particular items driving growth, we’re able to scale manufacturing and distribution rapidly.”

In the new role, Morgano oversees American Textile’s worldwide investment in technology, advancing the company’s information technology strategy to complement its growth. He brings a proven track record of strategic IT leadership, with significant achievements leveraging technology to create business value. Morgano will report to American Textile President and CEO Lance Ruttenberg.

Morgano comes to American Textile Company from CIO Ventures, where he consulted with local technology incubators and venture capital firms, in addition to advising start-ups in various industries including cybersecurity, transportation, legal, and social media. Prior to partnering with the start-up community, Morgano led IT at EQT Corp. and consulted for Fortune 1000 clients at Andersen and Protiviti.

Morgano serves on the board of the Mentoring Partnership of Southwest Pennsylvania and the board of trustees of the Homeless Children’s Education Fund. He holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and a Master of Science in Management Information Systems from Duquesne University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pittsburgh.

Posted December 27, 2017

Source: American Textile Co.

While Iron’s Hot, TRSA Members To Advance Advocacy Agenda In DC In March

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — December 22, 2017 — With mid-term federal elections on the horizon, it’s an especially important time for members of Congress to demonstrate to their constituents their leadership skills and levelheadedness. Linen, uniform and facility services industry executives will help by giving them ideas for keeping the economy and nation strong when TRSA’s conducts its 8th Annual Leadership and Legislative Conference in the nation’s capital March 21-22, 2018.

In the days leading up to this event, TRSA staff will organize and schedule visits to congressional offices by small groups of conference attendees. They will inform incumbents seeking re-election and other members of Congress about tax, environment, labor and other issues that the industry shares with many other types of businesses. Conference attendees will urge representatives to emphasize these matters in their campaigns to improve their chances for re-election.

Your participation in this TRSA members-only conference enables you to practice your own leadership skills as well by attending TRSA committee meetings, which prompt TRSA to act on the operational and management issues that benefit you most. You’ll relate to other industry operators’ perspectives and collaborate on industrywide best practices.

Participation in the conference delivers immediate and long-term personal, professional and civic benefits. Speaking out in TRSA committee and Hill Day meetings on Thursday, March 22, improves your team’s skills as educators and company representatives. In both leadership and legislative sessions, you share your professional expertise and experience to improve others’ understanding of the industry.

Guiding you in these endeavors will be Commander Kirk Lippold, the conference keynoter, who will describe his five pillars of leadership and share his experience in making time-critical decisions under pressure with integrity. Commander Lippold, U.S. Navy (retired), was in command of the USS Cole when attacked by al Qaeda in 2000.

Committee discussions will enhance TRSA’s core services:

  • Professional development programs;
  • Research projects;
  • Certification standards;
  • Publications, videos and webinars; and
  • Industry customer outreach.

Multiple executives and management from the same member operator (launderer) company may join different committees. Each of the following committees will meet at the conference to guide TRSA’s Board of Directors in offering TRSA services related to their committee missions:

  • Education;
  • Environmental & Sustainability;
  • Food & Beverage;
  • Government Affairs;
  • Healthcare;
  • Hospitality;
  • Human Resources;
  • Industrial/Uniform;
  • Marketing/PR;
  • Safety; and
  • Women in Textile Services.

Attendees will also see the presentation of TRSA’s highest honors for individuals and companies at a dinner on Wednesday evening, March 21. These will include Lifetime Achievement Awards to:

  • The late Ronald Croatti, CEO of Boston-based UniFirst Corp., who served in a variety of association roles as he grew the company to annual sales to $1.5 billion from $100 million in 1991
  • Jim Pellerin, president and CEO, Pellerin Milnor Corp., New Orleans, veteran of TRSA’s Board of Directors and committees, who built his family laundry equipment manufacturing operation into a major exporter

Preceding the dinner, the conference begins Wednesday afternoon with the keynote, issue briefing to prepare for Hill Day visits and the TRSAPAC reception for current PAC members and those who wish to join that evening. Hill visits take place Thursday morning followed by committee meetings in the afternoon and an early-evening closing reception.

Posted December 22, 2017

Source: TRSA

L.L.Bean Explores Blockchain Applications For Outerwear With LOOMIA Smart Textiles; Loomia Announces Fashion Executive Joins Team

NEW YORK CITY — December 21, 2017 — Outdoor retailer L.L.Bean today announced that it will be exploring the applications of blockchain technology with LOOMIA, a technology company adding intelligence to everyday objects. The companies will explore how data from Loomia-enabled L.L. Bean apparel can assess the extended use and performance of the outdoor retailer’s products, and provide valuable insight on the use rate of products returned under L.L.Bean’s 100-percent satisfaction guarantee.

“Working with Loomia will enable L.L.Bean to continue it’s 106 year-old mission of utilizing the latest advancements and technologies to design durable, functionally innovative products that help to further folks’ enjoyment of the outdoors,” said Chad Leeder, L.L.Bean’s innovation specialist.

This partnership will first be tested with L.LBean’s outerwear products by incorporating Loomia Electronic Layer (LEL) into merchandise such as jackets and boots. The LEL — which is composed of a flexible circuitry — can heat, light, and sense, all while remaining washable, dryable, and discreet. L.L.Bean will research implementing Loomia’s circuitry to collect data from apparel including information around temperature, motion, and frequency of wear. Once this data is collected, consumers will be able to share it back with the brand for rewards via the Loomia TILE — a component that allows for the secure and anonymous transfer of data.

Other use cases include the incorporation of Loomia’s heating elements into L.L.Bean signature products, such as enabling them to warm hikers’ toes or provide an extra layer of warmth on the coldest winter days. These solutions will present some of the first tech-enabled products to conquer the rigid and bulky design typically seen with other heating and sensing applications that have restricted wearable tech from advancing.

Janett Liriano, CEO of Loomia said: “L.L.Bean exemplifies quality and focused innovation, centered on functionality and user experience. We are thrilled to be working with this legacy brand as we develop TILE. Loomia is committed to delivering meaningful experiences to both brands and buyers and look forward to advancing that cause with L.L.Bean.

Loomia’s groundbreaking technology centered on the human experience is building an economy where consumers and brands are aligned on making better products through analyzing consumer-generated data. These innovative data insights are secured through blockchain technology and are governed by the expressive consent of consumers to share their data in a mutually beneficial and seamless exchange.

Today Loomia also announces that Carole Kerner, former president of Donna Karan Collection with more than 25 years experience in the fashion industry, will be joining the team as an advisor. Kerner has previously held the positions of president of DKNY, and a senior executive within the companies of Abercrombie and Fitch, and J Crew.

“I am inspired and motivated to work with Loomia, a company that provides innovative technology that can not only lend unique properties to specific products, but that also carries data that can inform a brand,” said Kerner. “Through the years, I’ve seen fashion’s need for innovation firsthand. The integration of a seamless and sophisticated technology such as Loomia’s will help solve a multitude of pain points that have previously been a barrier to this innovation, such as having a deeper understanding of how garments are used once they leave the store, and then using those insights to actually offer consumers better products.”

Loomia’s technology has been integrated by clients such as Google, The North Face, Zac Posen, and Calvin Klein. Loomia is led by Founder and Technical Lead Madison Maxey and CEO Janett Liriano. Maxey, a Forbes 30 Under 30 and 2013 Thiel Fellow, and Liriano are joined by LOOMIA’s core team members and advisors including Sol Lederer, Blockchain director; Ezgi Ucar, director of Product Development; Marco Paúl, vice president of Operations and Supply Chain; and Paul Raffin, a former executive at J. Crew and The Frye Co.

Posted December 21, 2017

Source: LOOMIA

Mi9 Retail Forms Specialty And Luxury Group Practice To Meet The Unique Needs Of This Market

MIAMI — December 21, 2017 — Mi9 Retail, a provider of omni-channel retail software, announced today that it has formed a new practice focused on the specific needs of specialty, luxury, and jewelry retailers. This practice includes dedicated account management, sales, technical presales, consulting and support personnel who are focused on meeting the needs of these retail segments throughout every interaction with Mi9.

According to analyst firm SMB Group, 72 percent of decision makers say that technology solutions can help them significantly improve business outcomes and run their businesses better, and 53 percent plan to increase their technology investments. Although smaller retailers don’t have the internal IT resources required to take advantage of technology innovation, the cloud has become the backbone to enable this. These companies are increasingly opting to put new workloads in the cloud, relying on cloud providers to supply, manage and maintain IT infrastructure and applications for them.

“We have identified an opportunity and a need to cater to our specialty retail clients, including jewelry and luxury, in a focused and highly differentiated manner that is sensitive to market nuances,” said Neil Moses, CEO, Mi9 Retail. “These clients typically run smaller-scale operations and have unique product and services needs from other markets we serve, such as hardware or fashion and apparel.”

When a leading fashion retailer decided to invest in an aggressive rollout of their new specialty brand concept targeted at millennials, they selected Mi9 Retail for a complete point-of-sale and customer engagement solution for their stores. Critical to their decision was the commitment from Mi9 to implement the initial store systems in less than 60 days in order to meet their rollout deadlines. “We were really impressed that the Mi9 team could implement their solution so quickly,” said the retailer’s project leader. “The Mi9 team was available to us throughout the project and into the pilot, giving us reassurance we’d hit our critical deliverables.  Now that we’re up and running, we’re even more impressed with the store solution and how easy to use it is for our associates.”

Mi9 Retail continues to make new investments that bolster its ability to deliver outstanding sales and service support to its rapidly growing global customer and prospect base. The recent additions of operations executive, Ernie Eichenbaum, and sales executive, Robert Barbour, along with a strategic investment from General Atlantic earlier this year, are part of the company’s stated goal of building a world-class operating platform for retail technology.

“We are putting our customers first by delivering the right product and delivery services to fit the way they run their businesses,” said Moses. “We’ve packaged our solutions, based on our experience serving hundreds of jewelry and specialty retailers, so they can be installed quickly and deliver value immediately. This approach is resonating with our customers and prospects, and we’ll continue to invest in the processes, organizational alignment, and product innovations to help our customers delight their customers in turn.”

Posted December 21, 2017

Source: Mi9 Retail

Grunt Style Signs Multi-Year Deal To Become Official Apparel Partner Of Warrior Dash

CHICAGO — December 21, 2017 — Warrior Dash, the 5K obstacle course race that more than 3 million people have completed since 2009, today announced Grunt Style as its official apparel partner.

Grunt Style is a military, patriotic apparel company and lifestyle brand with a perennial goal of instilling a sense of pride in everyone they reach through their products. Each Warrior Dash participant will receive a co-branded Warrior Dash and Grunt Style finisher t-shirt and Grunt Style will be on-site at each event adding to the Warrior Dash festival experience. Participants will also tackle a Grunt Style obstacle along the Warrior Dash course.

“We’re excited to partner with Warrior Dash and provide their hundreds of thousands of participants with finishers t-shirts they’re proud to wear,” said Mike Birt, chief marketing officer at Grunt Style. “We look forward to our partnership and continuing to set the bar high for the experience Warrior Dash participants expect.”

“Warrior Dash and Grunt Style share the vision of providing quality products and experiences to consumers,” said Scott Howard, vice president of Sales and Marketing for Red Frog Events. “We’re excited to have them on board and achieve our common goals in order to benefit Warrior Dash participants nationwide.”

Warrior Dash will kick off its 10th season in February 2018.

Posted December 21, 2017

Source: Warrior Dash

Destination Maternity Appoints New Board Member Peter Longo

MOORESTOWN, N.J. — December 21, 2017 — Destination Maternity today announced the addition of Peter Longo, previously president of Macy’s Logistics/Operations, to its Board of Directors, effective immediately.

“As a Board, we have been actively evaluating our composition and size,” said Barry Erdos, Chairman of Destination Maternity. “Following significant study and engagement with stockholders, we decided to recruit individuals who possess diverse skills and experience, to help further the company’s turnaround and drive long term profitable growth. With this in mind, we are pleased to welcome Peter to the Destination Maternity Board. We believe Peter’s strong operational and e-commerce background bring important capabilities and wisdom that will be highly valuable to the company as it implements the strategies that are expected to position the company for success. We also believe the addition of Peter to our Board will further build upon the strength and expertise of our current members and is aligned with our strategy to drive shareholder value.”

Longo most recently served as president of Macy’s Logistics/Operations, a position he held since 2000. In this role, he was pivotal in leading the business plan development and implementation for the logistics and technology infrastructure to support Macy’s e-commerce efforts as well as the company’s transition to omnichannel involving the analytics, operations, and systems for a flexible fulfillment network. Prior to this role, Longo functioned in a senior level capacity during the significant integrations of then Federated Department Stores with Macy’s and the May Company, and the administrative and organizational restructuring of the company. Along with his work with Macy’s, Longo has also served as Co-Chair of VICS (Voluntary Industry Collaboration & Solutions) and served on the Board of Governors for GS1-US and GS1-Global. In 2015, he received the Roger Milliken Award for outstanding contribution to industry collaboration and for his leadership in bringing RFID technology to the retail supply chain. Longo is a graduate of Villanova University with a B.S. in Economics and New York University with an MBA in Finance.

Following this announcement, the Board will consist of five members, four of whom are independent, and each of whom possesses significant professional experience, particularly in retail, e-commerce, marketing and finance.

Posted December 21, 2017

Source: Destination Maternity

Registration Has Officially Opened For Techtextil North America And Texprocess Americas 2018

ATLANTA — December 21, 2017 — Registration for the 15th edition of Techtextil North America, and the fourth edition of Texprocess Americas is now open. The 2018 events will take place May 22-24 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia. The co-located shows are known for creating a dynamic synergy between industries, and show the largest technical textiles, nonwovens, textile machinery, sewn products and equipment offering in the United States.

The events bring together product innovators, industry associations and research institutions to deliver a robust offering of networking and educational opportunities. With 500+ exhibiting companies, international media outlets and pavilions representing Germany, Italy, Taiwan, Belgium, China and Supply Chain USA to name a few, both visitors and exhibitors alike gain exposure to new opportunities and outlets to market their businesses.

The co-located events will bring decision makers from all of the major industries that touch technical textiles, sewn products, their equipment and technology together in one place to experience the latest in innovation. Techtextil North America and Texprocess Americas are expected to draw visitors in the realm of top industry executives, buyers, engineers, technical directors, plant managers, product development managers, and more.

The 2016 events hosted over 500 exhibitors from 33 countries attracting over 9,000 visitors.

“Each year, the co-location of Techtextil North America and Texprocess Americas provides a diverse offering of products, services and technologies that represent the entire value chain for technical textiles and sewn products. We look forward to returning to Atlanta with an expanded show agenda and even more features and networking opportunities for visitors to take advantage of,” said Dennis Smith, President of Messe Frankfurt, Inc.

Program Highlights

Press Tour: During Techtextil North America and Texprocess Americas, organized tours will be conducted to visit exhibitor booths who have submitted exceptional new technologies and products. Photographers and journalists from a variety of trade press will be invited to attend, and follow-up activities facilitated by the Show Team to ensure maximum exposure.

Premier Symposia: The highly-acclaimed symposia give attendees the opportunity to listen and learn from industry leaders and subject matter experts as they discuss some of the most pivotal advancements in research and technology and shed light on the current global economic state and its effects across industries. Those who purchase symposium passes will attend sessions on today’s hot topics including smart textiles, advancements in nonwovens, new technology and its integration across industries, manufacturing and reshoring, cutting and sewing floor innovations, testing and regulatory expectations, and more.

Graduate Program: A must visit show floor attraction is the annual Graduate Student Poster Program Posters. Graduate students from around the world will have a platform to share their research findings with peers and potential employers/sponsors. Students have the ability to present their research in front of a captive audience during the three days of Tech Talks, which will be located on the floor of each show.

Networking Reception: For the first time in show history, Techtextil North America and Texprocess Americas will hold a joint reception open to both exhibitors and visitors. With the goal of encouraging more networking and business interactions across shows, the reception will take place on the evening of Wednesday, May 23rd and provide ticketholders with food, drinks and entertainment. Tickets are currently available as an add-on to all registration types, and will be available for purchase on-site for an increased price.

Early bird registration is $50 for a 3-day exhibition hall pass and $450 or $600 for a 1 or 2 day symposium pass until May 20, 2018. Visitors are encouraged to register in advance to ensure minimal wait times on-site for their badge. Networking Reception does have a capacity limit, so all parties are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance.

Posted December 21, 2017

Source: Messe Frankfurt, Inc.

The Home Depot Acquires The Company Store, Broadening Capabilities In Home Textile Categories

ATLANTA — December 21, 2017 — The Home Depot® announced today that it has acquired The Company Store, an online retailer of textiles and home décor products, from Hanover Direct. The deal closed on December 19 and terms were not disclosed.

In addition to its success as an online retailer, The Company Store has strong relationships and industry leading capabilities in the development and sourcing of high quality textiles across bedding, bath, and related categories. Founded in 1911, The Company Store has a rich history of providing products that are highly sought after by customers as they put the finishing touches on a room.

“The acquisition of The Company Store provides product development and sourcing capabilities to help us expand our online décor business into broader categories across the entire home,” said Craig Menear, chairman, CEO and president, The Home Depot.  “On behalf of our 400,000-plus associates, I want to welcome The Company Store’s talented associates into The Home Depot family.”

The acquisition does not include The Company Store’s five retail locations.

The Home Depot is the world’s largest home improvement specialty retailer, with 2,284 retail stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, 10 Canadian provinces and Mexico. In fiscal 2016, The Home Depot had sales of $94.6 billion and earnings of $8.0 billion. The Company employs more than 400,000 associates. The Home Depot’s stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: HD) and is included in the Dow Jones industrial average and Standard & Poor’s 500 index.

Posted December 21, 2017

Source: The Home Depot

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