WASHINGTON — June 5, 2017 — Paul O’Day, president of the American Fiber Manufacturing Association (AFMA) since 1984, died on June 1. He was 82.

“It is a sad day for the U.S. textile industry,” said National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) Chairman William V. McCrary Jr., chairman and CEO of Spartanburg, S.C.-based William Barnet & Son LLC, a synthetic fiber/yarn/polymer firm with plants and/or offices in the Americas, Europe, and Asia.

“I’ve been proud to call Paul a friend for decades and worked with him closely during my two-year stint as AFMA chairman. He was a strategic thinker who safeguarded the U.S. fiber industry’s interests in Washington during very tumultuous times,” McCrary continued.

“Many important policy issues arose during Paul’s three decades as president at AFMA that would not have been resolved favorably without his wise counsel and resolute, steady leadership,” McCrary added.

NCTO President and CEO Auggie Tantillo, who worked directly with O’Day since the early 1980s said, “For 33 years, Paul O’Day exhibited an unmatched dedication to AFMA and the industry he loved.”

“Paul represented his constituency with a style and level of decorum virtually unheard of in the current Washington environment. Famously courteous and humble, Paul won heated policy debates through the power of his extraordinary intellect, his expansive institutional knowledge and his total command of the subject matter at hand. Completely secure in his role and the critical contribution he made to every project, Paul was always quick to defer credit and to shower praise on his colleagues,” Tantillo added.

“Fiber manufacturers and the U.S. textile industry lost a priceless asset who will be greatly and deservedly missed,” Tantillo finished.

AMFA’s press statement on Paul O’Day’s passing is at this link, and his obituary can be found here.

Posted June 5, 2017

Source: NCTO

TEMPE, Ariz. — June 1, 2017 — Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in May, and the overall economygrew for the 96th consecutive month, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business®.

The report was issued today by Timothy R. Fiore, CPSM, C.P.M., Chair of the Institute for Supply Management® (ISM) Manufacturing Business Survey Committee: “The May PMI® registered 54.9 percent, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from the April reading of 54.8 percent. The New Orders Index registered 59.5 percent, an increase of 2 percentage points from the April reading of 57.5 percent. The Production Index registered 57.1 percent, a 1.5 percentage points decrease compared to the April reading of 58.6 percent. The Employment Index registered 53.5 percent, an increase of 1.5 percentage points from the April reading of 52 percent. The Inventories Index registered 51.5 percent, an increase of 0.5 percentage point from the April reading of 51 percent. The Prices Index registered 60.5 percent in May, a decrease of 8 percentage points from the April reading of 68.5 percent, indicating higher raw materials prices for the 15th consecutive month, but at a noticeably slower rate of increase in May compared with April. Comments from the panel generally reflect stable to growing business conditions, with new orders, employment and inventories of raw materials all growing in May compared to April. The slowing of pricing pressure, especially in basic commodities, should have a positive impact on margins and buying policies as this moderation moves up the value chain.”

Of the 18 manufacturing industries, 15 reported growth in May in the following order: Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Furniture & Related Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Machinery; Primary Metals; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Paper Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Computer & Electronic Products; Transportation Equipment; Chemical Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Petroleum & Coal Products; and Printing & Related Support Activities. Two industries reported contraction in May compared to April: Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; and Textile Mills.

WHAT RESPONDENTS ARE SAYING …

• “Sales have picked up compared to the last two months. Customer demand has increased.” (Plastics & Rubber Products)
• “Economy is still strong, but [the] political climate can change things very quickly.” (Transportation Equipment)
• “Global price increases for commodities.” (Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components)
• “Business (sales/production) is steady. Pricing pressures on raw materials. Skilled labor in short supply.” (Furniture & Related Products)
• “Agricultural demand very strong.” (Chemical Products)
• “Our business is definitely paying attention to developments with the Canadian lumber tariff announcement. The final outcome could change our fiber pricing.” (Paper Products)
• “OEM longer lead parts possibly longer lead time due to more orders.” (Nonmetallic Mineral Products)
• “Business conditions are steady, and with competition increasing, it’s making negotiations even more intense to reduce costs.” (Machinery)
• “Business is booming, and getting direct employees is increasingly difficult.” (Fabricated Metal Products)
• “Difficult to find qualified labor for factory positions.” (Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products)

Posted June 5, 2017

Source: Institute for Supply Management

RICHMOND, Va. — June 5, 2017 — For any stage curtain company, landing a job for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Any follow-up project goes down as an honorary mark of achievement. In May 2017, Richmond, Va.-based LuXout Stage Curtains was bestowed with such an honor, when the company was contracted to produce 23 curtains for a $125-million renovation.

“It’s rare that we get to work on any venue more than once, due to the longevity of our stage curtains,” says Tony Lovette, LuXout’s president. “In this case, we previously provided expert cleaning services. To step foot into the Kennedy Center once is an honor. Twice is a testament to the expertise of our employees.”

In 2010, while replacing the center’s 60-ft.-tall windows, Davis Construction Corp. called on LuXout to provide expert cleaning services for draperies—a project so grand in scale that any minor misstep could have been catastrophic. Following a flawless performance, in 2017, the company was awarded an “encore,” this time manufacturing acoustic curtains. The company’s curtains are part of a revamping that adds increased flexibility of spaces, facilitating collaboration among artists and audiences. Comprised of multiple layers of hand-selected fabrics and produced from a unique combination of materials, the up to 24-ft.-tall and 66-ft.-wide, highly durable curtain panels will add world-class acoustic control for decades to come. Meanwhile, concealed track systems placed inside of decorative piping and a uniquely reflective textured curtain add to the center’s aesthetics.

Lovette admits that the Kennedy Center will no doubt receive LuXout’s royal treatment, but he also says that his company provides the same quality nationwide to everything from elementary schools to local theaters.

“Yes, it’s the Kennedy Center,” says Ned Dunford, the salesperson who landed the project. “But this is also just how we do business.”

Posted June 5, 2017

Source: LuXout Stage Curtains

ATLANTA — June 5, 2017 — Interface was recognized for the 20th consecutive year in GlobeScan and SustainAbility’s annual Sustainability Leaders Survey. Earning third place in the 20th anniversary of the survey, Interface is the only company to appear on the list each year since the study began in 1997. Additionally, Interface has held its place in the top four amidst an evolving set of companies represented in the report since 1998.

“This year’s survey respondents used words like ‘visionary,’ ‘pioneer,’ and ‘change agent’ to describe Interface and its sustainability efforts. We’ve tracked the trends in this space now for two decades; Interface is unique for evolving its own approach to drive industry and the practice of sustainability forward,” stated GlobeScan Director Eric Whan. “With Interface’s bold new Climate Take Back mission to address global warming, the company is demonstrating how integrated sustainability strategy and vision, innovation, and transparency can and will define leading organizations over the next 10 years.”

Since 1997, the Sustainability Leaders Survey has tracked expert opinions on corporate sustainability, along with views about organizations leading the movement. It has become one of the most highly respected sustainability surveys and is used to track trends and provide industry insights to leaders in non-government organizations and the public and private sectors.

This year, GlobeScan and SustainAbility asked more than 1,000 experts in 79 countries, unprompted, “what specific companies do you think are leaders in integrating sustainability into their business strategy?” Eleven percent mentioned Interface, making it the third most mentioned company behind Unilever and Patagonia, the companies ranked as first and second, respectively.

Recognition For Climate Take Back Efforts

This year’s respondents ranked leading companies highly in the survey based on perceived vision, goals and brand. Interface specifically was recognized for its long-term commitment to sustainability through its Mission Zero® goal to eliminate any negative environmental impact, and closing the technical loop with ReEntry®, which reclaims and recycles used carpet. Most notably, respondents named Interface’s next 20-year sustainability mission, Climate Take Back™, which aims to address global warming, as reason for recognition as a leader.

Interface continues to strive toward creating a positive impact on the environment, not only through its efforts surrounding Climate Take Back, but also through the continuation of programs such as ReEntry and Net-Works®. Net-Works empowers people in coastal communities in the developing world to collect and sell discarded nylon fishing nets. The program has collected 142 metric tons of waste fishing nets since its 2012 inception, removing harmful waste from the ocean and providing 1,500 families with access to finance.

“It is an honor to be recognized for our sustainability approach by global sustainability experts across a variety of sectors, including academia, corporations, and government,” said Jay Gould, CEO of Interface. “We are building on the leadership of our founder, Ray Anderson, who set a course for Interface more than two decades ago. Though we have made significant progress to achieve our Mission Zero goal, we acknowledge there is still more work to be done. But, we are incredibly optimistic that with the help of industry and our sustainability peers, together we can create a climate fit for life.”

Posted June 5, 2017

Source: Interface

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — June 2, 2017 — Angelica Textile Services Inc.’s laundry facility in Henderson, N.V., is the company’s newest recipient of Hygienically Clean (HC) 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 certification confirms Angelica’s 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
• Physical plant operates effectively

Angelica now has 16 TRSA Hygienically Clean Healthcare certified facilities, which is the most in United States. In addition to the two newest designees, Angelica has secured the certification at various other facilities including Austin, Texas; Batavia, N.Y.; Chicago, Ill.; Colton, Calif.; Columbia, S.C.; Durham, N.C.; Fresno, Calif.; Lorain, Ohio; Memphis and Ooltewah, Tenn.; Phoenix, Ariz.; Pittsburg, Calif.; Rockmart, Ga.; Safety Harbor, Fla.; and Worcester, Mass. Angelica is in the process of certifying its remaining facilities by the end of 2017.

Certified facilities 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. To maintain their certification, laundry plants 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.

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 through testing and inspections that scrutinize quality control procedures in textile 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 Angelica on their certifications,” said Joseph Ricci, TRSA president and CEO. “This achievement proves their ongoing commitment to infection prevention and that their laundry facilities take every step possible to prevent human illness.”

Posted June 2, 2017

Source: TRSA