Industry Unites In The Fight Against Microplastic Release From The Washing Of Synthetic Textiles

BRUSSELS  — January 16, 2018 — A new industry agreement for the prevention of microplastic release from synthetic textiles washing was officially launched today and endorsed by the European Commission.

The European Textile and Apparel Confederation (EURATEX), the International Association for Soaps, Detergents and Maintenance Products (A.I.S.E.), the European Outdoor Group (EOG), the European Man Made Fibres Association (CIRFS) and the Federation of European Sporting Goods Industry (FESI) struck an agreement to address the release of microplastic in the aquatic environment.

The group of European industry associations, representing the global value chain of garments and their associated maintenance, agreed that viable solutions need to be found to the release of microplastic into global marine and freshwater during the entire lifecycle of textiles; which is highlighted as one of the sources of microplastic.

In the agreement the associations commit to a cross-industry coordination and stakeholder support through a set of effective and economically feasible measures:

  1. Define common measurement methods — Agree on reliable and harmonized test methods to identify and quantify the type of microplastic present in water and in the environment
  2. Share Knowledge — Call for collaboration across all relevant industry sectors and other organisations, including research, to share information, define common priorities to fill knowledge gaps and advise on mid and long- term measures
  3. Industrial research — Support and participate in industrial research activities to investigate feasible options to tackle the release of microplastic and to contribute towards addressing a global problem.

The industry associations believe that through mutual work and better understanding of the issue feasible solutions can be found that can be effectively applied by industry, consumers, and authorities.

Through the agreement the industries would like to tackle this issue that is potentially affecting billions of people worldwide.

The first half of 2018 foresees the mapping of actions on test methods and on-going research, discussions on potential harmonization methodologies and conceivable cross-industry collaborations. The goal, for the end of 2018, will be to draft a proposal for the European Commission. This proposal aims to fill knowledge gaps to identify and quantify sources of microplastic pollution in order to work on possible solutions.

Posted January 16, 2018

Source: EURATEX

Kansai University And Teijin Develop Piezoelectric Wearable Sensors Featuring Fashionable Stitch Designs

TOKYO — January 16, 2018 — Kansai University and Teijin Frontier Co. Ltd., the Teijin Group’s fiber-product converting company, announced today that Professor Yoshiro Tajitsu of Kansai University’s Faculty of Engineering Science and Teijin Frontier have developed e-stitch, a series of fashionable piezoelectric wearable sensors with stitch designs that measure body motions such as extension, contraction, bending and twisting. Soft, flexible e-stitch sensors are largely unrestricted in terms of fabric types and embroidery patterns, allowing them to be produced in highly fashionable designs.

The new series is based on piezoelectric kumihimo wearable sensors that Kansai University and Teijin Ltd. announced in January 2017. For demonstration purposes, those sensors were incorporated in Japanese-style braided cords, known as kumihimo. The technologies embodied in soft, flexible e-stitch sensors represent a break from preconceived ideas about wearable sensors because they offer new levels of sensing convenience and fashion.

Kansai University and Teijin Frontier will exhibit their e-stitch sensors and examples of their application at The 4th Wearable Expo (booth No. W15-5, West Hall), the world’s largest exhibition of wearable devices and products, which will take place at Tokyo Big Site from January 17 to 19. The booth will showcase samples of e-stitch sensors featuring traditional designs that have been incorporated in ladies’ modern denim wear made by Japanese designer Homay, the producer of Kyoto Denim clothing. Samples of e-stitch sensors incorporated in pet wear and athletic-shoe insoles also will be displayed.

Going forward, Kansai University and the Teijin Group will continue to explore the potential of polylactic-acid (PLA). Through industry-academia collaborations, they aim to create highly added-value sensing technologies for augmented-reality applications in the Internet of Things.

Piezoelectricity is the generation of electric charges by certain dielectric materials in response to mechanical stress. Piezoelectricity also can be used to apply electric voltage to produce mechanical strain in materials. Both effects can be measured, enabling piezoelectric materials to be used for both sensors and actuators.

Kansai University and Teijin have been jointly developing eco-conscious PLA piezoelectric materials for a number of years. They introduced a flexible piezoelectric film by alternately laminating poly-L-lactide (PLLA) and the optical isomer poly-D-lactide (PDLA) in 2012, PLA fiber- and carbon-fiber-based piezoelectric fabrics in 2015, piezoelectric roll for load-dependent voltage generation and attenuation in 2016, and piezoelectric kumihimo wearable sensors that detect body motions such as elongation and contraction, bending and extension, and twisting in 2017.

Posted January 16, 2018

Source: Teijin Group

BRÜCKNER: TAYAL — Textile Mega Project In Algeria

LEONBERG, Germany — January 16, 2018 — A joint venture between the state-owned Algerian companies Groupe C&H, TEXALG, SNTA and the Turkish Group TAY with more than forty years of experience in the textile area, founded to build one of the biggest textile mills of the world.

This mega project comprises several stages which will be realized within the next years. The project has far-reaching and multi-purpose aims: Algeria shall become as independent as possible of the textile imports in medium terms and this project will create a great number of jobs.

On a ground of about 2,500,000 square meters and with an investment volume of $800,000,000, several vertically structured textile plants will be built in the next years, specializing in various categories of textile end products. What is especially great is that the new company is going to have also a huge internal service and training centre for many new workers.

It was a long way before BRÜCKNER was awarded the contract for the supply, installation and commissioning of so many machines for dry finishing. The coordination team for the project was selected very carefully. The result was a highly experienced and competent crew, compiled with the aim to select the suppliers according to many different criteria and always striving for the highest standards.

First of all, the technological concept, the number and the individual specifications of the required machines had to be chosen. Many meetings and a comprehensive exchange of opinions and experiences led to an optimization of specifications. On the one hand, the machines should allow an easy operation and on the other hand they have to be able to offer many possibilities for automation, quality control and remote maintenance.

The selection of possible machine suppliers was made according to three main criteria: productivity, quality of the products and highest possible energy efficiency. In addition, the team focused on the available local service as well as on fast and flexible after sales services.

Brückner was chosen in dry finishing as best option in all the above mentioned points and could convince the coordinators with a long-lasting and reliable cooperation in the past. As family-owned and family-run company Brückner imparts trust and confidence in a faithful cooperation in future, too.

The first step of the project has been divided into a Denim, a non-Denim and a knitwear section. The machinery in question are complete, fully integrated production lines for the production of 12 million trousers, 6 million shirts and 12 million t-shirts each year. The scope of supply comprises several stenters, sanfor ranges, thermosol dyeing and highly flexible Denim finishing lines. All these machines are custom-made and are provided with many options.

The preparations to realize the next stage, which comprises the production of home textiles, are already under way.

Posted January 16, 2018

Source: Brückner

Lectra Appoints Akihiko Tanaka As Managing Director Of Lectra Japan

PARIS — January 16, 2018 — Lectra is pleased to announce the appointment of Akihiko Tanaka to the role of managing director, Lectra Japan. Based in Osaka, Akihiko Tanaka’s role is to support Lectra’s Japanese fashion & apparel and automotive customers as they undergo transformations related to Industry 4.0.

For more than 30 years, Lectra has given prestigious names in the fashion industry in the archipelago and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) the means to meet their ambitions in global markets.

“Japan’s automotive industry is one of the most important in the world:
its ecosystem radiates internationally,” said Akihiko Tanaka. “I am proud to promote Lectra’s
solutions, designed to facilitate the co-ordination of all actors in the
production chain, whether they are based in Japan, the ASEAN
countries, Europe or North America. Japan is
also a land of fashion, which benefits from an active local market and also has a strong position on the world stage. Our solutions, rooted at the heart of our customers’ transformation, enable them to respond rapidly to both the digitalization of their respective industries and to their evolving relationships with consumers.”

“Akihiko Tanaka’s international experience, and his robust knowledge of technological professions, are a major asset to reinforce our value proposition,” underlines Daniel Harari, Lectra chairman and CEO. “The major challenge facing our Japanese customers is accelerating development cycles for their products within a fast-evolving automotive market and a fashion industry on a quest for greater agility.”

Akihiko Tanaka has over 20 years of experience as a sales director in the automotive and electronic industries. From 1994 to 2000, he worked in France as sales director of Matsushita Electric Industrial (Panasonic) in charge of commercializing automation equipment to the automotive and electronic industries, and then went back to Japan in early 2000. In 2001, he joined INCS, a consulting and engineering company, to develop the footprint of a 3-D CAD offer, initially within Japanese markets, then elsewhere in Asia, and Europe. In 2005, Akihiko Tanaka joined Dassault Systèmes where he successively held the roles of Business Developer for PLM solutions, then Sales and Marketing Director for the design solution 3D CATIA, and finally as Director, academic programs.

Akihiko Tanaka has a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Hitotsubashi in Japan. He also followed the Concordia program delivered by ESCP Europe.

Posted January 16, 2018

Source: Lectra

Successful Conference Entitled “Additive Manufacturing For The Textile Industry“ Held At Karl Mayer

OBERTSHAUSEN, Germany — January 16, 2018 — The organizer of this event was the Textile Research Institute Thüringen-Vogtland e.V. (TITV), the cooperation partner was KARL MAYER. With this meeting the two innovation drivers of the textile industry have really hit the mark. “We want to create the exchange between the two worlds, namely between the additive manufacture as a young discipline of production and the textile sector as an industrial branch with a long tradition“, explained Karl Mayer Product Manager Michael Kieren, in the run-up to this event. Together with his team, he organized a programme that attracted roughly 100 specialists from different fields to Obertshausen.

The invited guests included manufacturers of textiles for the automotive, sports and medical sectors, finishing professionals and yarn manufacturers as well as experts from science and research. The interest in the meeting exceeded all expectations. “I am very surprised by the high response to our conference and by the wide range of different areas from which our guests come. Both aspects show the importance of this topic, and the significance of events of this kind“, said Arno Gärtner, Karl Mayer’s CEO, during the conference.

Dr. Uwe Möhring, managing director of TITV, also expressed his satisfaction with the course of the meeting. “I think it’s great that so many people have come , and that so many different discussions arise, especially in view of the high event density at the beginning of the year. The contributions with real topics but also the size and mix of the audience encourage a successful exchange.“

The agenda included lectures held by 3D-printer manufacturers as well as by companies that have already been working with additive manufacturing methods; they informed about their experiences with various possibilities but also about still existing limitations. Two experts presented first combinations of textile and 3D-print. Besides, a service provider in this business also took the floor: Tatcraft from Frankfurt presented with Maker Space its capacities for 3D-print, wood working, water jet cutting and other technologies to experiment and explore different possibilities without major investments.

Posted January 16, 2018

Source: Karl Mayer Textilmaschinenfabrik GmbH

Azonprinter And modico Expand Their Collaboration To North America

ZAGREB, Croatia — January 16, 2018 — Azonprinter, a worldwide manufacturer of digital inkjet solutions and Modico US, a leader in production and distribution of stamping and marking products, expanded their cooperation and strengthened their presence in the US market. After years of collaboration in Europe, Azon and modico US began demonstrating the Matrix series wide format flatbed digital inkjet printers at trade shows in North America starting the fall of 2017.

The award-winning Azon Matrix UV series offers UV-LED inkjet printing solutions with optional bed sizes of 22.4” x 47.2” / 22.4” x 70.9” / 42.1” x 94.5” which are capable of handling heavy materials up to 220 pounds for indoor, outdoor and industrial applications. Azon MATRIX series extends productivity and creativity by printing directly onto any type of material such as PET, ABS, polycarbonate, TPU, PVC, wood, stone, glass, canvas, ceramic, aluminum and leather.

Azon MATRIX series features monoblock construction for unmatched rigidity and durability, which offers numerous advantages including simple installation to the flexibility of relocating the printer to optimize printing and production needs. The high precision leadscrew provides greater reliability and repeatability and increased performance and accuracy. The structural integrity and robust design of Azon MATRIX delivers high-quality results and increased productivity.

The Dual-Security mode offers automatic thickness detection and protects the print heads from unseen damage, while the powerful zoned vacuum system keeps material flat and allows printing on soft and thin materials with remarkable precision. In order to maintain accurate high-quality printing even during long production runs, Azonprinter incorporated six specially designed 500ml bulk ink tanks with monitoring sensors which are built to meet the demands of high volume operations.

Azon MATRIX supports sign makers, printing houses, commercial customers, gift stores, photographers and all other in their creative and inventive ideas with innovative technology and years of experience. With an outstanding resolution of 2880 dpi, it is highly versatile in a variety of industries that require high volume output while maintaining outstanding imaging.

Everything from full featured Azon RIP software to the new revolutionary Azon TurboJet inks provides productive printing and innovative ideas to customers. The versatility of white ink as a base for high-density CMYK layer delivers unusual and creative textures on all materials. Azon Rotax adapter for cylindrical printing further expands the possibilities of digital printing while enhanced media pre-sets included for added convenience will open doors to endless business areas.

Posted January 16, 2018

Source: Azonprinter d.o.o.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posted January 16, 2018

Source: GSE Dispensing

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posted January 15, 2018

Source: Hohenstein Group

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posted January 15, 2018

Source: Sato Global Solutions

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posted January 15, 2018

Source: IVL

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