Lavartex/SEAO Facility Recertified Hygienically Clean 

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — January 5, 2018 —The Lavartex/SEAO laundry serving the Monterrey metropolitan area in Mexico has again achieved Hygienically Clean Healthcare certification, reflecting their commitment to best management practices (BMPs) in laundering as verified by on-site inspection and their capability to produce hygienically clean textiles as quantified by ongoing microbial testing.

The laundry, in Apodaca (state of Nuevo Leon) was first certified in 2014. Recertification confirms the organization’s continuing dedication to infection prevention, compliance with recognized industry standards and processing healthcare textiles using BMPs as described in its quality assurance documentation, a focal point for Hygienically Clean inspectors’ evaluation. The independent, third-party inspection must also confirm essential evidence that:

  • Employees are properly trained and protected;
  • Managers understand regulatory requirements;
  • OSHA-compliant; and
  • Physical plant operates effectively.

To achieve certification initially, laundries pass three rounds of outcome-based microbial testing, indicating that their processes are producing Hygienically Clean Healthcare textiles and zero presence of yeast, mold and harmful bacteria. They also must pass a facility inspection. To maintain their certification, they must pass quarterly testing to ensure that as laundry conditions change, such as water quality, textile fabric composition and wash chemistry, laundered product quality is consistently maintained. Re-inspection occurs every two to three years.

This process eliminates subjectivity by focusing on outcomes and results that verify textiles cleaned in these facilities meet appropriate hygienically clean standards and BMPs for hospitals, surgery centers, medical offices, nursing homes and other medical facilities.

Hygienically Clean Healthcare certification acknowledges laundries’ effectiveness in protecting healthcare operations by verifying quality control procedures in linen, uniform and facility services operations related to the handling of textiles containing blood and other potentially infectious materials.

Certified laundries use processes, chemicals and BMPs acknowledged by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, American National Standards Institute and others. Introduced in 2012, Hygienically Clean Healthcare brought to North America the international cleanliness standards for healthcare linens and garments used worldwide by the Certification Association for Professional Textile Services and the European Committee for Standardization.

Objective experts in epidemiology, infection control, nursing and other healthcare professions work with Hygienically Clean launderers to ensure the certification continues to enforce the highest standards for producing clean healthcare textiles.

“Congratulations to Lavartex/SEAO  on their recertification,” said Joseph Ricci, TRSA president and CEO. “This achievement proves their ongoing commitment to infection prevention and that their laundry takes every step possible to prevent human illness.”

Posted January 5, 2018

Source: TRSA

Engineers Make Wearable Sensors For Plants, Enabling Measurements Of Water Use In Crops

AMES, Iowa — January 3, 2017 — Iowa State University plant scientist Patrick Schnable quickly described how he measured the time it takes for two kinds of corn plants to move water from their roots, to their lower leaves and then to their upper leaves.

This was no technical, precise, poster talk. This was a researcher interested in working with new, low-cost, easily produced, graphene-based, sensors-on-tape that can be attached to plants and can provide new kinds of data to researchers and farmers.

“With a tool like this, we can begin to breed plants that are more efficient in using water,” he said. “That’s exciting. We couldn’t do this before. But, once we can measure something, we can begin to understand it.”

The tool making these water measurements possible is a tiny graphene sensor that can be taped to plants – researchers have dubbed it a “plant tattoo sensor.” Graphene is a wonder material. It’s a carbon honeycomb just an atom thick, it’s great at conducting electricity and heat, and it’s strong and stable. The graphene-on-tape technology in this study has also been used to produce wearable strain and pressure sensors, including sensors built into a “smart glove” that measures hand movements.

Researchers describe the various sensors and the “simple and versatile method for patterning and transferring graphene-based nanomaterials” to create the flexible sensors in a paper featured on the cover of the December 2017 issue of the journal Advanced Materials Technologies.

The research has been primarily supported by the Faculty Scholars Program of Iowa State’s Plant Sciences Institute.

Liang Dong, an Iowa State associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, is the lead author of the paper and developer of the technology. Seval Oren, a doctoral student in electrical and computer engineering, is a co-author who helped develop the sensor-fabrication technology. Co-authors who helped test applications of the sensors are Schnable, director of Iowa State’s Plant Sciences Institute, a Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor in Agriculture and Life Sciences, the Iowa Corn Promotion Board Endowed Chair in Genetics and the Baker Scholar of Agricultural Entrepreneurship; and Halil Ceylan, a professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering.

“We’re trying to make sensors that are cheaper and still high performing,” Dong said.

To do that, the researchers have developed a process for fabricating intricate graphene patterns on tape. Dong said the first step is creating indented patterns on the surface of a polymer block, either with a molding process or with 3-D printing. Engineers apply a liquid graphene solution to the block, filling the indented patterns. They use tape to remove the excess graphene. Then they take another strip of tape to pull away the graphene patterns, creating a sensor on the tape.

The process can produce precise patterns as small as 5 millionths of a meter wide – just a twentieth of the diameter of the average human hair. Dong said making the patterns so small increases the sensitivity of the sensors.

(The process, for example, produced a detailed image of Iowa State’s Cyclone mascot that was less than 2 millimeters across. “I think this is probably the smallest Cyclone,” Dong said.)

“This fabrication process is very simple,” Dong said. “You just use tape to manufacture these sensors. The cost is just cents.”

In the case of plant studies, the sensors are made with graphene oxide, a material very sensitive to water vapor. The presence of water vapor changes the conductivity of the material, and that can be quantified to accurately measure transpiration (the release of water vapor) from a leaf.

The plant sensors have been successfully tested in lab and pilot field experiments, Dong said.

A new three-year, $472,363 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative will support more field testing of water transport in corn plants. Michael Castellano, an Iowa State associate professor of agronomy and William T. Frankenberger Professor in Soil Science, will lead the project. Co-investigators include Dong and Schnable.

The Iowa State University Research Foundation has applied for a patent on the sensor technology. The research foundation has also granted an option to commercialize the technology to EnGeniousAg – an Ames startup company co-founded by Dong, Schnable, Castellano and James Schnable, an assistant professor of agronomy and horticulture at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, a collaborator on another Iowa State sensor project that sparked establishment of the company (and Patrick Schnable’s son).

“The most exciting application of the tape-based sensors we’ve tested so far is the plant sensor,” Dong said. “The concept of wearable electronic sensors for plants is brand new. And the plant sensors are so tiny they can detect transpiration from plants, but they won’t affect plant growth or crop production.”

But that’s not all the sensors can do. The technology could “open a new route” for a wide variety of applications, the authors wrote in their paper, including sensors for biomedical diagnostics, for checking the structural integrity of buildings, for monitoring the environment and, after appropriate modifications, for testing crops for diseases or pesticides.

Posted January 5, 2018

Source: Iowa State University News Service

Designer Viviana Gabeiras Chooses “Not To Comply” With Her New Spring 2018 Collection “Coachella ” For Her Lifestyle Brand

MANHATTAN, N.Y. — January 4, 2018 — Viviana Gabeiras, creative director and owner of the style brand Petit Pois by Viviana G will be presenting at MODA Show on Sunday, January 7th, 8th & 9th at The Javitz Center in New York City, where she will display her entire collection inspired in the music festival of “Coachella Valley.” She is not only celebrating her 18th year with her brand, but also being awarded along with her husband Rafael Gabeiras, with the Key Of The City of Miami by Major Carlos Jimenez and nominated for the 2018 Manufacturer Of The Year Award by SFMA, South Florida Manufacturers Association.

Her Coachella Collection is the inspiration behind the attitude and behavior of people when coming together to celebrate the festival. Is the freedom of expression only possible within the limits of Coachella, where everyone regardless of his or her fashion style, becomes free of their own fashion patterns…..regardless of trends or not trends….they can become a trend that do not “COMPLY”.

“COACHELLA gives me my freedom not to comply but to also express the feelings of free life and acceptance, to actually free myself from any rules and show my true colors with Petit Pois by Viviana G, my American Lifestyle Brand,” said Gabeiras.

Petit Pois by Viviana G is a lifestyle ready to wear collection made out of luxury knits and beautiful mesh and sheer fabrics for the contemporary trendy market. “Ageless”, “Timeless”, “Season-less”, with pure comfort, practical and unique. The true DNA of Viviana Gabeiras, is in her power of presenting amazing prints and color stories mixed together. Today the brand is carried in about 800 stores nationwide and internationally and it is designed, operated, produced and fully-ran in Miami, Florida, in her own manufacturing plant, proudly “Made in USA”.

As she explain herself: she wants with Coachella to bring back that pure, raw, organic excitement as your first collection. “I want to make all things possible and release myself from the pressure to conform.” Coachella collection is about to bring back “the joy of life” and to act and dress up for yourself, to be who you really are and not what you pretend to be to conform. I want you ….to become your own “Avant-garde” in life.

Posted January 5, 2018

Source: Petit Pois Inc.

Boardriders Announces Acquisition of Billabong International

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — January 4, 2018 — Boardriders Inc. — a global action sports and lifestyle company that owns and operates the Quiksilver, Roxy, and DC Shoes brands — announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire all of the shares of Billabong International Limited. The combination of Boardriders and Billabong will create the world’s leading action sports company with sales to over 7,000 wholesale customers in more than 110 countries, owned e-commerce capabilities in 35 countries, and over 630 retail stores in 28 countries. The combined company will include some of the most coveted brands in the industry as Billabong, RVCA, Element, VonZipper, and Xcel are added to the Boardriders family of brands.

The combined business will be highly diversified and will serve the global community of action sports enthusiasts with a full suite of innovative product lines and a range of community-building activities. Importantly, the strength created by the combination will also allow for deeper and more mutually beneficial partnerships with customers and suppliers, and enable additional investment in the brands and in the action sports industry overall.

Under the ownership of funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management L.P., Boardriders has dramatically improved its operational and financial performance since its turnaround began in February, 2016. The company rationalized its distribution, right-sized its cost structure, rewired its product development platform, and invested in a range of growth-enhancing brand, marketing and e-commerce initiatives. The successful turnaround of the company and reconfiguration of the Boardriders platform has created the opportunity to bring the Billabong brands onto the same back-office operating platform to accelerate their growth as well.

Upon closing of the transaction, Dave Tanner, currently Managing Director at Oaktree and Chief Turnaround Officer for Boardriders, will become CEO of Boardriders. Pierre Agnes, currently CEO of Boardriders, will become president of Boardriders, remain a Board member, and lead a substantial portion of the integration of the two companies.

Tanner said: “The combination of these two leading action sports companies, which include a broad range of iconic brands with deep heritage in surf, snow and skate, is very exciting for all of us who share a passion for outdoor action sports. We are committed to preserving the autonomy, creativity, and unique cultures of all the brands while we leverage our best-in-class operating platform to accelerate the growth of the brands globally. We are excited to become one family with the Billabong team, and look forward to working together arm-in-arm to achieve the promise that this combination offers.”

Agnes added: “Creating one integrated global platform will enable the combined company to enhance its investments in product innovation and quality, digital marketing, consumer engagement, and e-commerce, which ultimately will benefit our consumers and strengthen the company and industry. With a larger and stronger platform, we see many exciting opportunities for our employees, customers, suppliers, and athletes. I am excited and honored to pass the leadership baton to Dave and to continue to partner with him to drive the next phase in the evolution of Boardriders.”

Additionally, now that the agreement has been signed, it is appropriate for Boardriders to discuss a potential future role with Neil Fiske, current CEO of the Billabong Group. “We have high regard for Neil and what he has accomplished over the years. I personally have valued his keen strategic thinking and leadership. I very much hope that he will join us for the next leg of this journey and continue his contribution to these great brands,” said Matt Wilson, Chairman of Boardriders and Managing Director and Co-Portfolio Manager at Oaktree.

The acquisition is subject to a number of customary closing conditions, including shareholder, court and regulatory approvals. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2018.

Posted January 5, 2018

Source: Boardriders

Nanowear And The Secant Group Announce Exclusive Supply Chain Partnership For Scaled Manufacturing Of Proprietary Cloth-Based Nanosensor Technology

NEW YORK CITY — January 5, 2018 — Nanowear today announced that it has entered into an exclusive, worldwide supply-chain partnership agreement with The Secant Group for scaled manufacturing and production of its medical-grade cloth-based nanosensor technology. Under the terms of the agreement, Nanowear and The Secant Group will have the collective obligation for marketing the technology and associated products.

Upon receiving FDA 510(k) clearance as the first, and only, cloth-based remote cardiac monitoring technology platform, Nanowear turned its attention to commercialization opportunities and engaging a manufacturing partner that possessed the unique and very specific materials and textile capabilities required for scaled production of its proprietary nanosensor technology. “Since our FDA approval one year ago, we have worked exhaustively to find the right materials technology partner and we could not be happier in this announcement with The Secant Group and their sister company SanaVita Medical. Secant is a perfect fit in terms of design, development, and manufacturing of medical device components and specifically, biomedical textiles, in an ISO 13485 certified facility.  SanaVita Medical brings contract manufacturing and medical device processing services including finishing and assembly, packaging and labeling, and regulatory registration and compliance as an FDA registered facility,” says Nanowear Co-founder & CEO Venk Varadan.

Additionally, Nanowear has continued pre-commercialization development of its undergarment and alert analytics product in Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) management, and The Secant Group’s manufacturing capabilities will be integral for scaling product inventory as the company plans to commence a large clinical trial in 2018.

The Secant Group is a market leader in the manufacturing of medical fabric, medical components, and biomedical structures.  Through their history of creating novel technology platforms and biomedical textile solutions, they have become a highly rated vendor for leading medical device OEMs. “We were immediately excited upon learning about Nanowear’s technological innovation and bold vision in early 2017,” says John D’Ottavio, senior vice president Operational Strategy and Innovation at The Secant Group. “After spending months with the Nanowear team, we are even more enthusiastic about the numerous use cases already identified for a medical-grade cloth-based sensor and analytics platform. Partnering with Nanowear to bring this vision to market is truly what The Secant Group is all about.”

“We now have the opportunity to effect high volume sensor and analytic applications not only in diagnostic and disease management verticals but also in military, industrial safety, automotive, clinical research and beyond,” says Varadan. “Most importantly, Secant truly aligns with Nanowear’s vision in the evolution of the connected-self and materials-based digital health diagnostic solutions.”

Posted January 5, 2018

Source: Nanowear

Northeastern Nonwovens Names Michael Roche As President And CEO

ROCHESTER, N.H. — January 2, 2018 — Northeastern Nonwovens, manufacturer of engineered industrial nonwoven fabrics and composite materials, has appointed Michael Roche as president and CEO, effective August 2017.

“I see Northeastern Nonwovens as leveraging its strengths as a custom manufacturer of engineered, needlepunch nonwovens. What makes us unique is our ability to be flexible with customer demands, on-time delivery, small production runs or customer trials. Our real strengths are our technical and customer service focus and ability. We plan to leverage those strengths and expand our offerings to existing customers as well as new markets. We are only limited by the creativity of our customers’ hopes and wishes. If existing or new customers wish to enter into a conversation to develop unique and exciting new products, we are willing and able to partner with them and use all our resources to help us both be successful.

“Mr. Roche has over 20 years of experience in the nonwoven textile and filtration industries. Prior to joining Northeastern Nonwovens, he was the Sales and Marketing Manager for Duer/Carolina Coil, a leading manufacturer of industrial springs and coils. In this role, Mr. Roche focused on key domestic accounts and international opportunities. Previously, he held key management positions with Ahlstrom Nonwovens and Lantor Advanced Materials Group, including sales, marketing, and business development roles. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Marketing from the University of New Hampshire.

Northeastern Nonwovens, Inc. is a manufacturer of engineered nonwoven fabrics and composite materials offering state-of-the-art, high speed needlepunch production process capabilities, mechanical process finishing, custom slitting and superior technical and service support from its modern 65,000 square foot factory in Rochester, N.H. Northeastern Nonwovens quality systems are ISO 9001:2008 registered and certified and their fiber based nonwoven fabric design capability offers custom fiber blending and multi-layer composite constructions to satisfy the most demanding application requirements.

Posted January 4, 2018

Source: Northeastern Nonwovens

Flexsteel Announces Planned Chief Financial Officer Retirement And Successor Appointment

DUBUQUE, Iowa — January 4, 2017 — Flexsteel Industries Inc. today announced that Timothy E. Hall, CFO, will be retiring from Flexsteel Industries on June 30, 2018, after 23 years of service. Marcus D. Hamilton will join Flexsteel and assume the role of CFO on January 8, 2018.

Hall will assist in the transition of his CFO responsibilities to Hamilton, and will continue working on the business information systems project, the Dubuque Operations building construction project, and will continue serving as Secretary to the Board of Directors until his retirement.

“Tim has been an outstanding CFO since taking that position in 2005, and has been a terrific leader throughout his career at Flexsteel,” said Karel K. Czanderna, president and CEO of Flexsteel. “We are grateful for his contributions to the company.”

Hamilton most recently served as the global vice president – Finance for the $1.7B Valspar Paints business, where his business acumen contributed to their growth and recent sale to Sherwin-Williams. He brings over 20 years of experience as a strategic partner with hands-on operating finance leadership in manufactured and sourced consumer products through his previous roles at Ames True Temper and a decade at Stanley Black & Decker. He comes to Flexsteel with early career experience in the furniture industry, contributions to multiple business system implementations, experience leading IT, sourcing and demand planning teams, and has profitably grown businesses organically and through acquisition. Hamilton earned his MBA at the University of Maryland, and a BBA in finance and commercial law from Western Michigan University.

Posted January 4, 2018

Source: Flexsteel Industries

Lydia’s Uniforms Announces 3-Company Integration

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — January 4, 2018 — Lydia’s Uniforms announces plans to integrate with two other major providers, both long-time sister companies, in an effort to create a one-stop shop for a variety of uniform needs.

Beginning in January, customers of Tafford Uniforms (www.tafford.com) and Uniform Warehouse (www.shopuniformwarehouse.com) will be redirected to Lydia’s Uniforms (www.lydiasuniforms.com). Despite the new website address, customers can largely expect their shopping experience to remain unchanged. The new site will continue to offer Tafford Uniform’s branded line of nursing scrubs as well as the product catalog from Uniform Warehouse.

“This move is about helping us strengthen the brand and better respond to the demands of the market. By joining forces, we can put more resources behind our ‘scrubs experts,’ ‘uniforms experts,’ and our embroidery programs. Customers can also expect an overall improved website shopping experience,” said Senior Vice President of Merchandising Lynn Higgins.

The newly expanded Lydia’s Uniforms site will feature nursing scrubs, medical accessories, shoes, chef’s wear, corporate apparel, and accessories.

Customers can continue to expect the same high-quality products and customer service that all three brands are associated with, including: support from the Lydia’s team of Scrub Experts, who will continue to provide expert recommendations for shoppers, embroidery options, a fully shoppable digital catalog, and the Lydia’s Uniform’s 110% price match guarantee. Additionally, existing Uniform Warehouse and Tafford customers will have their personal accounts and wish lists automatically transferred over to the new Lydia’s site. Bulk and large-group programs will be available for businesses looking to outfit their workforce at scale.

The redirect of customers will happen automatically with no additional effort needed on the part of the customer. This redirect will begin on or about January 8, 2018.

Posted January 4, 2018

Source: Lydia’s Uniforms

Beaulieu Yarns Out To Inspire Bold, Colourful Designs For High-End Contract Carpet Tiles 

WIELSBEKE, Belgium — January 4, 2018 — Beaulieu Yarns, the global supplier of high-quality synthetic polyamide and polypropylene yarns, unveils exciting potential for the high-end carpet tile market to fulfil its boldest colour and multilevel design desires with its series of multi-colour Solution Dyed Yarns.

Featuring at Domotex 2018, the extra-resilient polyamide (PA) yarns meet the highest standards (Class 33) for the strongest and heaviest contract applications, such as in commercial offices, hospitality & leisure, education & healthcare premises. The yarns are produced as multi-colour Solution Dyed Yarns from 2600 to 3200 Dtex. Beaulieu Yarns’ in-house masterbatch department offers customers access to endless colour and contrast possibilities meaning that yarns are fully customizable to suit latest trends and the incorporation of novel design patterns.

To demonstrate the design flexibility, the team focused on “Biophillic Designs”, a trend in the market related to the magnificence of nature, creating two proprietary designs inspired by the coast of Normandy, France and the Australian Barrier Reef. 
Beaulieu Yarns worked closely with key customer TAPIBEL on a project to test out the feasibility and resilience of the new yarns on the new tufting technology machines favoured by tufters serving the high segments of contract carpet. Within the INCATI brand TAPIBEL will launch the resulting new carpet tile range at Domotex 2018 (Hall 11, Booth C43).

Further innovative and structured designs were also produced on new tufting technology in Brazil through Beaulieu do Brazil. It shows a replica of the barrier reef in contract carpet planks set to feature as the central design theme at Beaulieu Yarns’ Domotex booth. In the run-up to Domotex, other key industry players got inspired by the high-quality yarns for their new collections of broadloom contract carpet.

“Supporting our customers’ innovation in new tufting technology is very important to us and we are therefore delighted to offer a broad series of yarns for high-end carpets that really paves the way for them to expand their creativity in tile design and structure,” comments Emmanuel Colchen, Global Sales Director Beaulieu Yarns. “The development project with our key accounts is a great example of our industry-exclusive approach to development support, with customers able to explore colour choice and finalize their collections on-site at our global development centre.”

Beaulieu Yarns invites Domotex visitors to discover its extra-resilient yarns, including new sustainable yarn options, at Hall 11 Booth 56, 12-15 January 2018, Hannover, Germany.

Posted January 4, 2018

Source: Beaulieu Yarns

Clariant’s Judith van Vliet Named President Of Color Marketing Group 

MUTTENZ, Switzerland — January 4, 2018 — Specialty chemical manufacturer Clariant  announces that Judith van Vliet, a designer at its ColorWorks® design and technology center in Merate, Italy, has been appointed president of the Color Marketing Group (CMG).

CMG is a not-for-profit, international association of color design professionals from a wide range of industries who regularly collaborate to interpret, create, forecast, and select colors that enhance the function, value, and appeal of manufactured goods produced worldwide. Before being elected to CMG’s presidency in December 2017, van Vliet had served as the group’s vice president for communications and public relations for the previous three years. Her term as President begins in January 2018.

The election of van Vliet begins a new era for the 56-year-old organization, which is based in Alexandria, Virginia, USA. While the group has always had international members, van Vliet is the first non-American designer to hold CMG’s presidency. Among the principal goals for the Netherlands-born van Vliet, who speaks four languages — English, Italian, French, and German — in addition to her native Dutch, is to lead the expansion of CMG’s membership in European and Asia-Pacific countries.

“CMG membership is a trademark of quality for those who work with color — designers, marketers, color scientists, consultants, educators, and artists,” said van Vliet. “Because CMG’s worldwide gatherings foster an environment that is ‘all about color,’ they create a unique opportunity for like-minded people, including colleagues and competitors alike, to communicate, connect, and collaborate in shaping the future of colors.”

CMG’s outgoing president, Susan Hayes Hoover of Fawn Ridge Studio in St. Paul, Minnesota., USA, said that “with the appointment of our first European president, Judith van Vliet, the Color Marketing Group is entering an exciting new chapter as a truly international organization. Not only does Judith bring visibility to our association through her position with Clariant ColorWorks, but she is also the first CMG president to represent the energy and insight of the vitally important Millennial demographic. With her passion for color and dedication to excellence, I am confident that she will continue the strong leadership that CMG requires to move into the future.”

From a professional standpoint, van Vliet credits her CMG membership for substantial growth. It has fed her passion for color trends analysis and forecasting, a passion she’s pursued for more than a decade. Since 2012, it’s helped her in her role as a leader of the Clariant ColorForward® color-forecasting team, which produces an annual color forecasting guide for designers who utilize plastics in their products and packaging. It has also provided vital insights she uses in working with clients of Clariant’s ColorWorks design and technology centers, which support the design, creation, and execution of precise aesthetics in plastic products from prototype to full production.

Posted January 4, 2018

Source: Clariant

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