VF Corp. To Acquire Williamson-Dickie

VF Corp., Greensboro, N.C., and Williamson-Dickie Mfg. Co., Fort Worth, Texas, have signed a definitive merger agreement. VF will pay Williamson-Dickie shareholders approximately $820 million in cash, and the deal is expected to be completed during the fourth quarter of 2017. Upon closing, Williamson-Dickie will become part of VF’s Imagewear coalition, and its Dickies®, Workrite®, Kodiak®, Terra® and Walls® brands will join VF’s workwear brands portfolio. Philip Williamson, Williamson-Dickie CEO, will remain with the company.

“When we introduced our 2021 global business strategy earlier this year, reshaping our portfolio to accelerate growth was our highest priority,” said Steve Rendle, president and CEO, VF. “The acquisition of Williamson-Dickie is another meaningful step that delivers on that commitment and further demonstrates our focus on being an active portfolio manager to drive transformative growth for VF and value creation for our shareholders.

“This acquisition combines two great companies and a group of iconic brands to create a global leader in workwear with approximately $1.7 billion in annual revenue,” Rendle added.

September/October 2017

DNA Introduces FYnesse® Denim

KAFYnesse
DNA North America has introduced FYnesse Denim featuring air covered FYnesse yarns (bottom).

Columbus, Ga.-based Denim North America (DNA), a division of DNA Textile Group, recently introduced FYnesse® Denim made using FYnesse yarn produced by Fiber & Yarn Products, a division of where-based Poole Co. The air covered polyester yarn features spandex, which is introduced at the point of maximum dynamic bulk to conceal the spandex deep into the yarn and create a performance stretch product that retains power, resilience and bulk.

Denim produced using the yarn offers almost half the shrinkage associated with traditional stretch denims for shape retention and consistency in garment sizing, according to DNA.

September/October 2017

Unifi Announces Plans For JV In Guatemala

Unifi Inc. has signed a non-binding letter of intent to form a joint venture (JV) with the owners of Complast S.A. and Technologia Textil Avanzada (TTA) both based in Guatemala. Unifi will own 51 percent of the JV and the Complast and TTA owners will hold the remaining 49 percent. Complast owns a bottle processing plant and produces flake and chip under the EuroPET name; and TTA manufactures partially oriented polyester yarns as well as textured yarns under the EuroFIL name. These two business will be contributed to the JV under the current proposal and the intention is to expand the operations if the JV goes ahead.

“Central America has been a region of focus for brands and retailers over the past few years, as apparel programs are sourced closer to the U.S.,” said Tom Caudle, president, Unifi. “The growth in the region is key to our strategy of building our Repreve and other value-added brands.”

September/October 2017

Fiber Industries To Restart Former Wellman Plant

Fiber Industries LLC has announced plans to open a new polyester fiber operation in the former Wellman Palmetto facility in Darlington, S.C. New York City-based investment firm MHR Fund Management LLC created Fiber Industries in order to restart the plant. The at least $30 million investment is expected to create jobs for 135 people, and should be in production in early 2018. The operation will be led by Andrew Rosenfeld and Leandro Carboni.

“Fiber Industries is excited about the opportunity to restart the Palmetto Plant and bring jobs to the Darlington area,” said Rosenfeld and Carboni. “The management team has been very impressed with the local workforce capabilities observed during its due diligence process.”

September/October 2017

Teijin Grows Twaron Capacity

The Netherlands-based Teijin Aramid has announced it will invest in new spinning technology to expand production of its Twaron fiber beginning in the first quarter of 2019.
In April this year, Teijin merged all of its aramid activities into one global business unit. Teijin aramid now has aramid plants in the Netherlands, Thailand and Japan.

September/October 2017

September/October 2017

PeopleGorgaJoseph L. Gorga (1952-2017)

Joseph L. “Joe” Gorga recently passed away at the age of 65. Gorga earned a B.S. degree in textile engineering from Philadelphia University and later an M.S. in textile engineering from the Institute of Textile Technology.

His long career in the industry began at Milliken & Company where he progressed from a management trainee to plant manager to director of manufacturing. After leaving Milliken, Gorga joined CMI Industries as president of its Elastic Fabrics of America and Finished Fabrics divisions. He later became chairman and CEO of CMI. In 2002, he joined Burlington Industries as executive vice president, North American Operations. Gorga was named president, CEO and member of the Board of Directors of the International Textile Group from its inception in 2004, where he remained until his retirement in 2014.

His contributions to the industry were many. During his career, Gorga was involved with the American Textile Manufacturing Institute, National Textile Association and National Council of Textile Organizations.

“Joe was a friend to us all and a great presence and leader in our industry worldwide,” said Kenneth Kunberger, president and CEO, ITG. “Joe’s leadership and integrity set a foundation in the company that continues today. He will be sorely missed, both personally and professionally.”

 

Greensboro, N.C.-based Unifi Inc. has named Richard E. Gerstein executive vice president, global branded Premium Value Added products and chief marketing officer. John Vegas was appointed executive vice president, global chief human resources officer.

France-based Lectra has named Rodrigo Siza regional director of Spain And Portugal.

Olivier Janin has joined the Netherlands-based DSM as vice president of marketing and sales, DSM Dyneema.

September/October 2017

Stäubli Is 125

Switzerland-based Stäubli is celebrating 125 years in business. The company has grown from its small beginnings back in 1892 into a company offering mechatronic solutions to the connectors, robotics and textile industrial sectors. Founded by Rudolph Schelling and Hermann Stäubli as Schelling & Stäubli in Horgen, Switzerland, the company introduced its first dobby in 1893. In 1900, the company launched the world’s first paper-card dobby, which was equipped with a warp-leasing system still in use today. After the death of Schelling in 1909, the company was renamed Stäubli.

“The spirit of innovation has defined our company from the beginning — it’s rooted deeply in the nature of Stäubli”, said Rolf Strebel, Stäubli CEO. “Our aspiration is to constantly improve — on a human, professional, and technical level — and to remain just as successful during the next 125 years.”

September/October 2017

Allertex Partners With Klieverik

Cornelius, N.C.-based Allertex of America Ltd. is now the exclusive representative for the Netherlands-based Klieverik Heli B.V. in the United States. Klieverik specializes in industrial rotary thermo processing equipment such as calenders and heat presses for technical textiles, nonwovens, carpet, digital dye sublimation transfer and direct printing applications. Its technology is suitable for laminating and coating a wide variety of substrates using a dry process with or without the use of thermoplastic adhesives; and also is used for thermobonding nonwovens.

September/October 2017

Fi-Tech Inc. Is New U.S. Representative For Mayer & Cie

Richmond, Va.-based Fi-Tech Inc. has replaced Mayer Industries as the sales, spare parts and service representative in the United States for Germany-based Mayer & Cie. Mayer Industries is now solely focused on manufacturing braiding machines.

“Today, Mayer Industries’ main focus lies in another area,” said Wolfgang Müller, sales director, Mayer & Cie. “So now is the right time, especially with several employees in the circular knitting department leaving the company as retirees, to hand over our U.S. representation to a well-established, professional agency.”

September/October 2017

Standard Textile To Market Vestagen’s VESTEX® Garments

Cincinnati-based Standard Textile Co. Inc. has entered into a strategic sales and marketing agreement with Vestagen Protective Technologies Inc. Orlando, Fla., to market its VESTEX® Active Barrier garments designed to protect healthcare workers and minimize risks associated with exposure to body fluids. The deal includes acute post-acute healthcare facilities in the United States and Canada.

“With VESTEX, we are offering breakthrough technology for healthcare workers that complements our existing specialty product lines designed to address the unique needs of healthcare institutions,” said said Norman Frankel, executive vice president/sales at Standard Textile. “The growing environmental risks to workers and patients in the healthcare setting are well-documented. Vestagen is a pioneer in the development of‘active barrier’ fabric that incorporates multiple technologies to help minimize these risks while being comfortable and durable for everyday use. We are delighted to partner with Vestagen to bring garments made with this outstanding product to our American and Canadian customers.”

September/October 2017

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