Techtextil 2017 Exhibitor Preview: STINGbye

BARCELONA, Spain — April 7, 2017 — At Techtextil in Frankfurt, from May 9-12, 2017, STINGbye will present new developments of its woven anti-mosquito fabrics that were on sale for two years. The brand is famous for the elaboration of clothes bathed in permethrin, a substance that prevents that the mosquitoes bite in the skin which is applied in each of its articles. They have an efficacy up to 100 washes, are odourless and have a guarantee of 94 percent success certified by laboratories of international recognition.

STINGbye S.L. is a textile company with more than 20 years of experience in the sector. Their goal is to work on tissue efficiency to prevent that vectors are attacking us. Vectors in the medical field is everything that can transmit a disease by itching. STINGbye clothes protect of the tiger mosquito or common, lice, bedbugs and ticks. As an effect the fabrics act as a barrier against diseases like dengue fever, yellow fever or Zika.

The past 2016 STINGbye went a step further and put on sale hair ties lice protectors. “Our tie is designed to save a lot of headaches for parents and their children,” said Silvia Oviedo, general manager of STINGbye. “We saw a clear need in the market and so we decided to develop this article.” The hair tie lice protector has the same effectiveness as all STINGbye clothes and like all other fabrics they manufacture, they are 50-percent polyester and 50-percent cotton and do not cause allergies.

STINGbye items are suitable for people of all ages and are perfect clothes to enjoy outdoor activities or trips to areas exposed to mosquitoes and other vectors in complete safety.

Expanding horizons, STINGbye recently has also introduced pet clothing, such as handkerchiefs to protect dogs from vector bites.

The fabrics are certified by OEKO-TEX class I, the Swiss Tropical Institute SWISS TPH and AITEX.

Data sheet:

  • Composition: 50-percent polyester/50-percent cotton
  • Characteristics: Antiallergic, odourless, protective barrier of lice and vectors, lasting up to one hundred washes, 94-percent demonstrated efficacy.
  • Colors: Kaki, Marine, Red, Black, Pink.
  • Weight: 145 g/m²
  • Technical specifications: Woven fabric treated with permethrin.
  • Certificates: OEKO-TEX Class I, Swiss Tropical Institute SWISS TPH, AITEX

Please check out this technical breakthrough at Techtextil in Hall 6.1, Stand B59

Posted April 11, 2017

Source: StingBye

India’s Premier Fine Linens Increases Quality With Monforts Debut

MONCHENGLADBACH, Germany — April 8, 2017 — Premier Fine Linens, India’s leading producer of 100-percent fine cotton bed and table linen, is investing in a new Monforts Monfortex Sanforiser 8000 and a Thermex E-Control to enhance even further the quality and innovative potential of its production.

The company is part of the Premier Group, one of India’s oldest and largest textiles producers and, although other divisions are long-time users of Monforts technology, this is the first Monforts installation for the Fine Linens division.

The machines are being installed at the Fine Linens mill in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. They will handle widths of 3,200 millimeters and typically be handling weights of between 125 and 250 grams per square meter (g/m²), although heavier fabrics of up to 450 g/m² can also be handled.

Monforts’ representative in India, ATE Enterprises Private Ltd, is installing the new units.

The new installation will greatly enhance quality control of the production, which is at the very top of the fine quality segment of this market.

Premier Group is India’s largest importer of Egyptian cotton, and also uses the finest American cotton and superfine Indian cottons.

Premier Fine Linens specializes 100 percent in products made from very fine cotton yarn, which are for export only.

The company operates 375,000 spindles. Fabric production for its own in-house production and brands is 450,000 meters per month, with another 400,000 meters for contract weaving.

Vice President for Fine Linens’ production, R. Mathiyazhagan, confirmed that the division uses 100-percent cotton, organic cotton, Supima and Egyptian and Supima Tencel blend.

“All of our dyeing is done in-house, using organic dyes and low-impact chemicals. We recover, process and recirculate our own wastewater, using 99 percent of our own supplies.

“For us, and for our customers, environmental protection alongside product quality sets our standards and we like to think this is a benchmark that few other producers can match.

“Monforts will also allow us to increase the innovations and product potential that we offer to our customers. We can offer better color control, and better shrinkage.

“Much of our production is based on producing exactly what the customer wants, to the customer’s demand, and although the specifications are always naturally very exacting, our lead times can mean success or not for the customer’s concept.”

Posted April 11, 2017

Source: A. Monforts Textilmaschinen

2017 Shows Promise Following Energized Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics

HONG KONG — April 9, 2017 — Any uncertainty about the state of the global apparel fabrics and accessories industry in the coming year was widely dispelled at last month’s Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Spring Edition, with many exhibitors reporting strong increases in the number of contacts and enquiries they received compared to last year. While the visitor number was up slightly on last year — 71,450 from 103 countries and regions attended (2016: 71,163 from 100 countries and regions) — what was clearly evident in the feedback from exhibitors was that the quality of buyers sourcing at the fair continues to increase. Many exhibitors also commented that they received a healthy spread of buyers to their booths, both from China as well as from key markets in Asia and Europe, and that a satisfying proportion of these buyers were new potential customers.

Reflecting the fact that Intertextile Shanghai’s reputation as the industry’s leading event to conduct business each March & October has been steadily increasing over recent years, the exhibitor number grew by 5.9 percent this edition to 3,341 from 26 countries and regions (2016: 3,155 from 27 countries and regions). New exhibitor countries included Denmark, Malaysia and Poland. The top 10 visitor countries and regions, excluding Mainland China, were Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, the US, Taiwan, India, Russia, Turkey, Indonesia and the UK.

Intertextile Shanghai: Where the global industry comes to do business

As a barometer for the global market, the positive signs from exhibitors at this March’s Intertextile Shanghai bode well for the industry this year. Once again, it was not just the quantity of buyers pleasing exhibitors, but the quality also. “The level of the visitors seems much more professional and actually much more competent about textiles and fashion trends,” Marco Borio, General Manager of Miroglio (Jiaxing) Trading, a 20-year veteran of the fair commented. “Definitely it is [a leading platform for the industry in Asia], because for us as an Italian company, it is very important to be at the show to introduce our collection to such a wide selection of customers.” The organisers of a dedicated Hong Kong area, H.K. & Kln. Textile Fabrics Wholesalers Assn., shared a similar sentiment. “We are very pleased with the overall result this year. Not only was there a strong visitor flow, but there were also many more genuine and quality enquiries,” Alan Lee, Hon. Secretary said. “We expect we will receive up to 400 enquiries by the end of the fair which is an ideal result for us. Besides a large number of Chinese buyers, we also met buyers from Europe, the Americas and Southeast Asia.”

Korean company Gyeonggi Textile Center was most pleased that the fair could attract their target buyers, including “a number of renowned clothing brands,” Jung Wan Ryu, company representative explained. He continued: “Intertextile Shanghai is the largest fair of its kind and most influential platform in the region; there is no other show that is more effective. Every year it is able to draw the right target clients for us. We are pleased to say that the results this edition were better than the previous spring fair.”

Japanese company Moririn was equally satisfied with their participation, particularly as they could meet existing as well as potential customers. “Many buyers, both existing and new clients came to our booth. Combining the first two days, we recorded more than 130 prospective buyers from around the world. In the past, our company has met many new clients from the fair, and this year will be no exception,” Li Jiang, representative from the Fabric Materials Department of Shanghai Moririn Textile said.

Taiwan’s Paltex also noted results from the fair were better this year, while also receiving a substantial amount of new contacts. “We’ve received so many genuine enquiries from our target buyers, and we think many of them will turn into further cooperation. Around 90 percent of these are new buyers from China,” Steven Wu explained. After more than 10 years of operating in the Mainland China market, Paltex are in a strong position to notice changes in buyer preferences. “Although economic growth in China has slowed down, designers are still very eager to buy from us,” Wu continued. “We see the Chinese brands getting much more international now, and we’ve noticed this week some domestic brands have even hired Italian designers to source together with at the fair. As in previous years there are still many domestic visitors at Intertextile, but they’re now more interested in buying mid to high-end products.”

Premium brands report positive signs in the Chinese market

This sentiment shared by Paltex regarding the continued demand in China for high-end overseas brands was echoed by a number of other exhibitors, including a first-time participant from Peru, Creditex. “In the first two days of the fair we collected nearly 60 contacts. However, we are more interested in the quality of the buyers than the quantity, and I’m confident that we will be able to build business relationships with the quality contacts that we’ve made here. People who came to our booth were looking specifically for our Pima cotton-woven fabrics, and I think in the foreseeable future there will always be demand in China for quality fabrics such as these,” Renzo Koch Mazure, Commercial Manager said.

Swiss company weba Weberei Appenzell has been working with high-end European brands for over a decade, and after extensive market research decided to introduce their line of shirting fabrics to the Chinese market. “During the three days we have obtained very good contacts. Of all the buyers we met, we found 20 quality clients from high-end Chinese brands, and I think this is a good start for our company in this region,” explained Alexander Barberi from the Marketing Department. Fellow European exhibitor Lanerie Agnona from Italy, taking part in the Milano Unica Pavilion, has experience operating in the premium segment in China. Marcello Baldi, marketing manager expressed: “Some of our customers in China are really trying to expand their markets by putting high-end products into their collections. For example, we work with Youngor to help them target the high-end market which is increasing in China. Buyers here like to have good quality fabric with a well-known label nowadays.”

Another fast-moving trend in the domestic market, which is mirrored in the buyer profile of the fair, is that of boutique online brands, and despite their small size, many were on the lookout for premium fabrics at the fair. Bulong Xu from Japan’s Uni Textile explained: “In this edition, the new buyers we met were mainly young designer brands and fashion garment brands that are revamping their image, as well as e-commerce fashion brands. This included ladieswear brands selling on Taobao that will use our products to attract new customers.”

Functional Lab grows substantially as demand in this sector shows no sign of slowing down

Part of the fair’s recent success has been its ability to evolve to meet the changing needs of the market. The Functional Lab is one such example of this with the number of exhibitors nearly doubling this edition to 22, mirroring the continued strong demand for functional fabrics in both China and elsewhere. MDM NT from Poland was a first-time participant at the fair and in the Functional Lab, and confirmed that, “There’s really huge potential in China for technical textiles, and Chinese buyers are definitely looking for overseas brands,” Tomasz Piechaczek, vice-president of the Board said. Other functional fabrics suppliers at the fair agreed, including Handseltex from Taiwan. “The demand for functional fabrics is rising in China, while the demand for our products is also growing both in the market and at this fair. There are more buyers here from both overseas and China showing interest, and these buyers are all good quality. Nearly 50 percent of our existing customers we met at Intertextile, so it is definitely one of the most important trade fairs for us,” General Manager Jenny Wu said.

Chinese buyers also confirmed the domestic demand for functional fabrics remains high. “Because of the boom in the fitness industry in China in recent years, there is strong sales growth in sportswear, so we have more demand for functional fabrics,” Wei Songlin from sportswear producer High Hope Group Jiangsu Tongtai explained. “The quality of functional fabrics exhibitors at Intertextile has improved, so we’ve had a satisfied sourcing experience here.”

Denim continues its rise in China

The fair’s Beyond Denim area also grew in size this edition, further cementing its place as the leading sourcing event for denim fabrics in China. A long-term exhibitor of the fair and participant in Beyond Denim, Orta Anadolu from Turkey also reported what many other exhibitors did: an increase in contacts this year. “We met more domestic Chinese brands as well as potential customers from other countries at this edition,” Ayşe Eda Dikmen, marketing specialist said. “Local brands are getting used to doing business with import fabric mills now, so this makes it easier for us to grow in China. Demand for denim in China is increasing remarkably, and I believe that this trend will continue for many more years.”

Lenzing and Hohenstein make a splash at the fair

Celebrating their 10-year anniversary in China at the fair with a special event, Hohenstein reported another successful edition of Intertextile Shanghai. “We are very happy with this year’s exhibition results, and the 10-year anniversary event helped promote our company onsite,” Charles Nie, Head of Sales, Hohenstein Institute China said. “The visitor flow also improved this edition. Buyers to the fair are very focused and in my opinion, over the years, the show has earned a name for being one of the most professional textile platforms in the world with a high level of influence on the industry.”

Lenzing is another renowned European company with a long presence in China, as well as at Intertextile. This edition they organised their own pavilion for the first time at the spring fair, and as Echo Mok, head of Marketing Communication, Asia, Lenzing Fibres (Hong Kong) explained, they did so due to the strong requests from their partner clients. “The exhibitors in the Lenzing Pavilion have always participated in this fair, but they believe exhibiting together in one pavilion is more effective as it’s easier to attract their target customers. For us, Intertextile is an important fair to participate in; it’s a key marketplace to find new clients.”

Industry’s biggest companies choose Intertextile for sourcing

Amongst the more than 71,000 trade buyers sourcing at this year’s fair were a number of well-known global brands taking advantage of the show’s unrivalled product range. This included Under Armour, represented by John Hardy, director, Sportswear, for UA Global Sourcing. “This is my first time to Intertextile Shanghai, and I’m here to source functional fabrics for a sportswear line we are currently developing. The fair is very beneficial and it is great to see all the fashion fabrics offered from different countries. I’m very happy with the selection here. Coming to the fair is easy and hassle free, and I will be back in future editions.” A veteran of around 15 years sourcing at the fair, Katie R Drummond, the menswear technical lead for Marks & Spencer, commented: “The product variety and exhibitor quality are really good. We like the way the fair is laid out where you categorize the products into different zones and pavilions. I’ve seen a significant improvement in the quality of the suppliers here too.”

Fringe program enhances the fair experience for exhibitors and buyers

Apart from being the industry’s largest sourcing platform for the spring / summer season, the fair’s fringe program of trend forums, seminars, panel discussions and more is highly valued by both the content providers and the buyers eager to soak it up. The NellyRodi Agency from France once again conducted a highly popular seminar on the spring / summer 2018 trends, led by Michael Bonzom, Manager Studio, who explained: “Intertextile Shanghai is a very important platform for me to show our clients our new designs, products and more importantly to open their minds to new concepts. Seminars are always a valuable tool to get in direct contact with the Chinese market, and are an essential way for the attendees to get inspired. The energy at the seminar was great, and overall it was a great success.” This was confirmed by an audience member of this seminar. “My main purpose in attending is to discover new fabrics and learn possible trends. Every year NellyRodi will release the popular colors for next season which brings me a lot of inspiration,” Yu Waxuan, General Manager, Xin Yi Xin Textile said, also commenting she would source from international exhibitors at the fair.

For exhibitors participating in the fringe program, it is an excellent way to drive more buyers to their booths. “I am very glad that the topic on trends, our specialty, was able to draw a large crowd of people. The panel discussion helped us attract prospective clients. The audience enjoyed the topics discussed, and then found their way to our booth afterwards to learn more,” Nancy Kelly, creative account director of Trendstop from the UK, and panel discussion moderator, said. Her colleague, Jaana Jatyri, CEO of the company, precisely summed up the benefits for exhibitors of participating in the fair’s trend forums, where she was discovering the latest fabrics. “The idea of the trend forum is great because you can see the summaries of the great options at the fair, and then visit the exhibitors directly. I found many new and interesting trends here,” she said.

Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Spring Edition 2017 was co-organized by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd; the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT; and the China Textile Information Centre. The next edition, Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Autumn Edition 2017, will take place from October 11-13.

Posted April 11, 2017

Source: Messe Frankfurt HK

MAS Holdings To Establish Manufacturing And Development Center In Asheboro, N.C.; Acme-McCrary Acquisition Pending

RALEIGH, N.C. — MAS Holdings, a global apparel technology and manufacturing company, will locate its first manufacturing and development center in the United States in Randolph County, creating 133 new jobs, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company plans to invest nearly $20 million in a facility located in Asheboro, N.C., providing additional payroll impact exceeding $4 million annually.
“North Carolina enjoys a worldwide reputation as a center for textile research and workers,” Governor Cooper said. “Our excellent business climate and location offer international firms an ideal place to reach and serve customers in the United States.”
MAS is an innovative textile company headquartered in Sri Lanka, employing more than 85,000 associates worldwide, operating 48 state-of-the-art facilities in 15 countries including design offices, apparel and component manufacturing plants and private industrial parks. MAS also provides technology solutions to the apparel and footwear industry. Recently, the company has been working to integrate technology into clothing, partnering with startup companies in the Silicon Valley region of California and in New York in the fields of wearable technology and health & wellness.
MAS Holdings’ selection of a North Carolina location includes a pending acquisition of Acme-McCrary, a 108-year-old textile manufacturer currently located in Asheboro with additional facilities in Chatham County and the Republic of Honduras. The company produces legwear and activewear for large U.S. retailers.

Mahesh Amalean, chairman of MAS Holdings, stated: “We are delighted to be associated with Acme-McCrary, whose values and philosophy are very much in alignment with MAS. Our presence in the Western Hemisphere enables us to strengthen our value propositions of speed and flexibility offered through on-shore and near-shore operations to our customers. It also enables us to engage and strengthen our continued association with academia and research institutions in the U.S. We are appreciative of the support and assistance extended to us by the State, County, City and its officials and look forward to integrating and contributing to the community in North Carolina.”

W.H. Redding Jr., Chairman of Acme-McCrary stated, “We are pleased to be a part of MAS Holdings’ location of a manufacturing facility in our hemisphere. MAS Holdings brings to North Carolina an exemplary corporate culture and a growing business. Their concern for environmental impact is world class and keeping and growing textile jobs in North Carolina is exciting.”

A performance-based grant of $575,000 from the One North Carolina Fund will help facilitate MAS Holdings’ location into Randolph County. The One NC Fund provides financial assistance to support local government efforts to attract economic investment and create jobs. Companies receive no money upfront and must meet job creation and capital investment targets to qualify for payment. In the case of MAS Holdings’ grant, in addition to its new job-creation target, the company is also required to retain 374 existing jobs currently located in North Carolina at Acme-McCrary. All One NC grants are also contingent upon a matching grant from local governments.

“This decision reinforces our region’s strengths as a business location for this industry,” said N.C. Representative Pat Hurley. “We look forward to MAS Holdings’ contributions to our community.”

N.C. Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of N.C. led the state’s response to the company’s search for a business location.

Other key partners in the project include the North Carolina General Assembly, the North Carolina Community College System, North Carolina State University, Duke Energy, the City of Asheboro, Randolph County, and the Randolph County Economic Development Corp.

Posted April 11, 2017

Source: North Carolina Office of the Governor

UNT Researcher’s Walmart Foundation Grant Aims To Bring Jobs Back To U.S.

DENTON, Texas — April 10, 2017 — A nearly $350,000 grant awarded to a University of North Texas researcher by the Walmart Foundation and the U.S. Conference of Mayors is helping to bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S.

Bugao Xu, a professor and chair of the Department of Merchandising and Digital Retailing, received one of five grants in 2016 from the U.S. Manufacturing Innovation Fund to develop digital technology to detect flaws in fabric at domestic textile mills — saving companies time and money.

“U.S. competitiveness in the textile industry lags behind other nations because of high labor costs,” said Xu. “This is a solution that could save manufacturing companies big money, improve the quality of fabrics, reduce labor costs and boost textile production in the U.S.”

Defects are a big problem and can reduce fabric price by 45 to 65 percent, said Xu. Most fabric defects are preventable and correctable if discovered on the loom on time.

“Detecting weave defects is an integral part of modern weaving. While some devices are able to spot flaws, many are extremely difficult to be used on loom,” said Xu, adding that most fabric inspection systems are designed for post-weaving detections and don’t capture problems in real time.

Instead of relying on machines, human workers are still needed for quality assurance checks during and after the weaving process.

Xu aims to fix this costly problem by creating an on-loom fabric defect inspection system that uses contact image sensors to detect flaws, automatically stop the loom and alert workers to fix the cause of defects. Currently, his team is working on a prototype with the capability to rapidly capture high-resolution images as fabric passes beneath the machine and then use machine-learning algorithms to locate fabric flaws in those images.

The key is, however, to make the system affordable so that it can be used on individual weaving machines. A single textile mill can own several hundred modern looms, which results in a heavy capital cost, said Xu.

“It has to be a practical solution,” he continued. “There are already commercial systems in the world that do something similar, but those are very complex, expensive machines, and almost price-inhibitive to many textile manufacturers.”

The grant, which Xu was awarded while working at the University of Texas, was among a total of $2.84 million in grants that were given to five research and academic institutions in 2016. A total of $10 million in grants will be awarded during the next five years.

“Through these grants, we hope to help remove the barriers to revitalizing and growing U.S. apparel manufacturing, while creating more sustainable production processes,” said Kathleen McLaughlin, president of the Walmart Foundation and chief sustainability officer for Walmart. “The U.S. Manufacturing Innovation Fund is part of Walmart and the Walmart Foundation’s broader commitment to foster new economic growth and opportunity and create stronger communities.”

Posted April 11, 2017

Source: University of North Texas

Techtextil 2017 Exhibitor Preview: Kelheim Fibres

KELHEIM, Germany — April 11, 2017 — The broad range of types of products and application areas is, according to its own statement, the winning formula of Techtextil, the leading international trade fair for technical textiles and nonwovens.

The Bavarian viscose speciality fibres manufacturer Kelheim Fibres offers a solid basis for both of these: their exceptionally wide spectrum of the most varied functional fiber products is the perfect raw material for a whole range of technical applications, from nonwovens applications to functional apparel, and from sportswear to filtration.

Commercial Director Matthew North describes the unique characteristic of Kelheim Fibres as follows: “Our core strength is the exact matching of our fibers to our customer’s specific needs, to their final product or to their production process. This way we generate added value for the customer and that is the best foundation for a long-lasting and successful partnership.”

Customers can choose from a constantly growing variety of well-established Kelheim brands — for example the extremely versatile Danufil® — and innovative new fiber developments: At Techtextil, the Bavarians will present Olea, the world’s first viscose fiber with inherent hydrophobic properties, as well as the fibre speciality Bramante, which — in contrast to Olea — delivers significantly increased levels of absorbency relative to standard viscose fibres: Bramante can store liquids in the segmented hollow structure inside the fiber and keep it there even under pressure. Thus, Bramante is the ideal raw material for re-usable incontinence products and other hygienic applications.

Danufil® BF, a flame retardant viscose specialty, serves a completely different purpose: used as a protective barrier nonwoven in mattresses or furniture Danufil BF can help to prevent a fire from spreading.

All these specialty fibers have one thing in common: By precisely controlling fiber dimensions and cross sections or by incorporating additional functionalities in the fiber matrix, Kelheim’s fiber experts not only create a fibre with additional new functionalities but at the same time, they can preserve the typical properties of a viscose fibre such as softness, skin-friendliness and wearer comfort.

Kelheim products are also clear winners in terms of sustainability, as they are produced completely from cellulose that is sustainably farmed and certified by both the FSC® and PEFC® organizations.

And after use, the consumer does not need to worry about the safety of disposal of the products – the fibers are biodegradeable and certified as compostable.

Meet Kelheim Fibres at Techtextil – from May 9-12, 2017, in Frankfurt, Hall 3, Stand F23 (with Bayern Innovativ)!

Posted April 11, 2017

Source: Kelheim Fibres

New Global Network For Absorbent Hygiene Sector Launched

BRUSSELS —  April 11, 2017 — AHP (Absorbent Hygiene Products) Global is a newly created global network of industry associations representing the absorbent hygiene sector by providing a platform to share information and resources. Initiated by EDANA, the international association for nonwovens and related industries, the network brings together 10 national and international industry associations representing producers of absorbent hygiene products. Together, members of the network represent producers of baby diapers, tampons, pads and adult incontinence products, covering most of the world’s markets. In addition to international organisations such as EDANA and INDA, and regional associations like CASIC representing Latin America, the network brings together national associations from China, France, Japan, Russia, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Pierre Wiertz, General Manager of EDANA, said: “Although associations diverge in their nature and the scope of products they represent, they all seek to represent the interests of their members in regulatory affairs and media relations. Industry associations often face issues already confronted by their colleagues in other parts of the world and today we have launched a platform that can leverage this experience, to share information, learn from each other’s experience and build on our mutual strengths.”

Pierre Conrath, external relations and sustainability director at EDANA, commented: “In the context of global supply chains and the extremely fast evolution of policies and market trends, it is only natural that industry associations supporting this sector join forces to make the most of opportunities and develop common solutions to challenges. Beyond the exchange of information,  I hope the network will enable many projects that would otherwise not have been possible and contribute to a more consistent and predictable environment for companies operating in this sector.”

Meeting for the first time in Geneva just before INDEX 2017, the world’s largest nonwovens exhibition, members of the AHP Global network discussed current challenges in the hygiene industry and explored opportunities for cooperation. In addition to facilitating the sharing of scientific and regulatory information, AHP Global creates unprecedented combined resources and expertise, opens up potential for common and consistent approaches and positions, and supports regular and efficient networking between industry associations.

AHP Global is made up of the following associations:

  • China — China National Household Paper Industry Association (CNHPIA);
  • France — French Association of producers of single-use products for health, hygiene and wiping (Group’Hygiène);
  • International – International association serving the nonwovens and related industries (EDANA);
  • International — Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA);
  • Japan   — Japan Hygiene Products Industry Association (JHPIA);
  • Latin America – Latin American Cosmetics, Toiletry and Perfumery Association (CASIC);
  • Russia — Association of Perfumery, Cosmetics and Household Chemistry Manufacturers (APCoHM);
  • Turkey — Cosmetics and cleaning products association (KTSD);
  • United Kingdom — Trade organization for UK manufacturers of disposable nappies, feminine hygiene products and continence care products (AHPMA); and
  • United States — Center for Baby & Adult Hygiene Products (BAHP).

Posted April 11, 2017

Source: EDANA

Klopman Celebrates 50 Years And Focuses On New Records

FROSINONE, Italy — April 11, 2017 — Forty million meters of fabric manufactured last year, a distance equivalent to the earth’s circumference; a plant as big as ten football pitches in Frosinone; customers spread over 64 countries; more than 400 employees; a turnover of more than 120 million euro; one in three workwear garments in Europe made using its own fabrics; and a colour range of over 4,000 shades. These are the striking numbers of Klopman, a European leader in workwear fabrics celebrating 50 years of activity and today one of the major manufacturing companies of central Italy.

Klopman’s history began in 1967 when the US fabrics businessman Bill Klopman developed the first polyester and cotton blend fabric for workwear to be industrially washed. After laboratory testing, the best blend combination was obtained: 65-percent polyester and 35-percent cotton, which is very much in use today.

Hailed since its inception with great enthusiasm by the US Laundry Association, Bill Klopman’s fabric has been continuously improved over the years and the production plant in Frosinone now has some of the world’s most advanced weaving systems. The company also boasts the most important quality certifications available, with over 4,000 process controls taking about two seconds to verify all parameters, based on a sophisticated electronic mapping system.

Acquired in December 2016 by the French textile company TDV, Klopman had already embarked upon a global expansion plan in 2014 with the opening of a production site in Jakarta to serve the Asian market directly. Klopman is now ready to grow further with a 15 million euro development plan for the next five years.

From the automotive industry to healthcare to the armed forces, a large number of companies use Klopman fabrics, which are available in over 130 different styles, even designed exclusively according to customer needs.

Klopman’s Research & Development department has now developed a new range of flame-retardant fabrics – K-Flame – designed to guarantee the utmost protection from heat, flame and welding, as well as offering antistatic and electric arc protection. K-Flame is the latest fabric innovation in the market, combining protection, comfort and durability, even in hot climates.

“50 years is a very important milestone for a company and Klopman is celebrating its anniversary in good shape, ready to achieve other important goals thanks to human skill and technical assets possessed by very few in the world,” stated Alfonso Marra, Klopman’s CEO. “Our company represents excellence in the Italian manufacturing industry and operates worldwide. Our intention is that our headquarter in Frosinone, Italy, becomes more and more an economic and social reference point. Klopman’s example demonstrates that attention to its own people and to customers, together with constant innovation in terms of processes and products, is the best way to approach an increasingly competitive and globalized market.”

Posted April 11, 2017

Source: Klopman

Lectra Delivers Industry 4.0 To Athletic Footwear Market With VectorFootwear Launch

PARIS — April 11, 2017 — Lectra is rolling out revolutionary digital technology at the forefront of Industry 4.0 to transform traditional cutting rooms into state-of-the-art digitalized domains for athletic footwear.

When compared with traditional die presses, Lectra’s VectorFootwear not only guarantees that manufacturers and brands are compliant with Industry 4.0 principles, it also provides major gains, including fabric optimization, maximum flexibility, optimized productivity and performance, as well as improved quality and operational excellence.

“Lectra’s Industry 4.0 credentials are revolutionizing manufacturing, in particular for the labor intensive athletic footwear market today. Firmly rooted in digitalization and automation, VectorFootwear enables shorter time to market, to produce more pairs of shoes per hour and to handle more types of fabric; and successfully meets growing technical challenges,” underlines Céline Choussy Bedouet, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Lectra.

Connected to Lectra’s call centers, VectorFootwear’s 180 embedded sensors and counters allow predictive maintenance to avoid costly downtime. With up to 98-percent uptime, VectorFootwear is one of the most reliable cutting solutions on the marketplace.

VectorFootwear can replace between four and eight die presses depending on the model. Compared to traditional die press production, Lectra’s digital solution saves up to 6 percent in fabric by minimizing the gap between cut parts, combining several nestings together and cutting with accuracy.

Complementing VectorFootwear, Lectra has launched a nesting solution dedicated to footwear: DiaminoFootwear. In just a few minutes, it processes the optimal placement for fabrics in order to maximize material consumption. Fully automated, it also allows for quick and accurate cost simulations for fabric purchases.

In addition, Lectra’s professional service team provides support to ensure change management during the manufacturing process.

Posted April 11, 2017

Source: Lectra

SPGPrints Shows Cost-Efficient, High-Performance Rotary Screen And Digital Textile Printing Solutions At Indo Intertex 2017

BOXMEER, Netherlands — April 11, 2017 — SPGPrints will highlight the long-term savings and reliability of its reusable nickel rotary screen printing solutions plus the high performance of its inkjet technology for textile printing, at Indo Intertex 2017. The company will exhibit in conjunction with its regional distribution partner, PT. Nutek Kawan Mas (Hall A, Stands 63 / 130, 19-21 April, Jakarta International Expo, Kemayoran, Indonesia).

SPGPrints offers a fully controllable, efficient rotary screen process, with solutions covering every step in the workflow. The nickel electroformed NovaScreen® and RandomScreen® screens are capable of faster print speeds and achieve even paste transfer with relatively low squeegee pressure, resulting in improved paste yields.

The NovaScreen, available in mesh counts from 135 to 245 holes per inch, combines high resolution with high open area, thanks to a unique mesh and hole shape.

The RandomScreen features an irregular hole distribution that eliminates moiré that can be caused by clashing patterns. With a 125 mesh and 79µm hole size, the screen contributes to paste savings, especially when printing pigment.

Thanks to their strength, NovaScreen and RandomScreen screens can withstand the rigours of relatively fast production speeds, handling and multiple re-engraving cycles. As a result, SPGPrints’ textile rotary screen customers in Indonesia report being able to re-use the company’s screens for several different designs, thereby saving consumable costs. New water-based stripping technologies that contain no corrosive chemicals can extend the life of SPGPrints’ screens further and provide a lower-risk, environmentally responsible way of stripping.

Additionally, SPGPrints offers digital imaging solutions for fast rotary screen preparation, with a fast return on investment. SPGPrints’ smartLEX 7043 direct laser exposing system, with its unique multi-beam diode technology, combines long life, economical use of energy, high productivity and resolutions of up to 2540dpi. Using an intuitive Smart-GUI, smartLEX 7043 exposes screens between 300mm and 3500mm length, in exposing cycles as short as 12 minutes.

Information on SPGPrints’ digital printing solutions will be available from SPGPrints and Nutek personnel at both stands. SPGPrints’ digital printing machine offerings include its high productivity, fixed-array PIKE® printer, capable of printing up to 13 million linear metres per year, and its scanning head JAVELIN® printer for outputting up to 2 million linear metres annually.

Both printers feature SPGPrints’ unique Archer® technology. With nozzles 4mm from the substrate, a wider range of substrates can be run, and the chance of print head damage is reduced. Using only six colours, Archer technology enables a gamut wider than the HD-gamut of other digital textile printing solutions. In addition, SPGPrints’ ‘Archer Print Head Program’, provides a two-and-a-half-year guarantee on the print heads in combination with the use of accredited inks.

SPGPrints has invested significantly in the development of digital inks that ensure unattended printing, with unrivalled quality and runnability.

The PIKE and JAVELIN printers may be configured for use with acid, disperse and reactive inks, all manufactured by SPGPrints. These inks are 100 per cent compatible with Archer technology used in these printers, based on the Fujifilm Dimatix Samba print heads.

SPGPrints manufactures inks that are specially formulated for the leading industrial print heads and fabrics, through its NEBULA, QUASAR and FLARE ink ranges.

“SPGPrints’ solutions are well-suited to the Indonesian market with its high use of cotton, rayon and polyester fabrics,” says Yuwenta Hendrika, managing partner, Nutek Kawan Mas. “The company’s dedication to innovation and technological development, as well as its commitment to local markets have given SPGPrints a leadership position in global textile printing.”

Ronald Meuffels, senior area sales manager at SPGPrints, comments: “In a market that is increasingly characterised by fast-turnarounds, price-sensitivity, and online sales, the ability of textile printers to respond as quickly as possible with the highest quality at the right price is essential. SPGPrints offers the latest solutions for the entire workflow, whether digital or conventional. Its worldwide service, support and applications expertise makes it an ideal partner in challenging times.”

Posted April 11, 2017

Source: SPGPrints

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