KARL MAYER At Composite Europe

OBERTSHAUSEN, Germany — September 30, 2016 — KARL MAYER will be presenting itself at Composite Europe as an innovative machine manufacturer for producing bi- and multiaxial textiles, 11/29 — 12/1/2016, Messe Düsseldorf, stand 8 B / D21_E

KARL MAYER Technische Textilien GmbH is a globally successful textile machinery manufacturer, which was formed by merging KARL MAYER Malimo with KARL MAYER LIBA – combining many years of know-how between them. This innovative, pioneering company supplies highly efficient bi- and multiaxial warp knitting machines for producing dry, non-crimp fabrics (NCFs) for the composites sector, as well as fibre spreading machines for the production of unidirectional fibre tapes made from a wide range of technical filament yarns. The machines are finely tuned to meet customer needs. The various individual systems are, therefore, produced on the basis of close partnerships.

KARL MAYER will be showing its possibilities for producing composite materials at Composite Europe, from 29 November to 1 December 2016 in Düsseldorf. The company can be found on the exhibition site in hall 8 B on stand D21_E in the pavilion of the trade association Composites Germany.

Posted October 4, 2016

Source: KARL MAYER

Polartec Partners With Open Style Lab To Create Clothing For People Of All Abilities

LAWRENCE, Mass. — September 30, 2016 — Polartec, the premium provider of innovative textile solutions, is proud to announce the culmination of the Open Style Lab summer program, a research program that teams designers, engineers, and occupational therapists to create functional yet stylish wearable solutions with and for people with disabilities. Polartec works with Open Style Lab to solve problems with fabric technology.

Now in its third year, the lab takes an interdisciplinary approach to developing adaptive wear for people with disabilities, a market traditionally underserved by the apparel industry. The lab divides students into groups and matches them with local clients to develop clothing that meets their specific needs.

The program celebrates universal design to create a more beautiful and inclusive world, and the 2016 summer program produced wearable solutions for four clients. A final presentation will be given 11am Saturday, October 1, 2016, at the Museum of Science in Boston.

Posted October 4, 2016

Source: Polartec

Weathermax 80 Fabric Warranty Extended To 10 Years

GREENVILLE, S.C. — September 30, 2016 — Safety Components has extended the limited warranty of its innovative technical fabric WeatherMAX 80 to 10 years. The change becomes effective October 1, 2016.

“With over 12 years in the field, WeatherMAX has proven to hold up to the harshest environments and withstand long-term exposure,” said John Pierce, WeatherMAX product manager. “We extended our warranty on WeatherMAX 80 because of its proven longevity and reliability, and to demonstrate to our customers our firm commitment to producing only the highest quality fabrics.”

UV-resistant WeatherMAX 80 is woven from 100% pigment solution-dyed fibers. It has a breathable finish that resists water, dirt and mildew. At 8.0 oz per sq/yd, the high-performance outdoor fabric out-performs acrylic and polyester for strength, color-fastness and abrasion-resistance. Safety Components’ WeatherMAX holds US and Canadian patents, and has been in the field for over 12 years with over half a million installations worldwide.

Safety Components manufactures technical fabrics for the marine, fire, military, aerospace, automotive and outdoor industries. The company weaves stock and custom fabrics for a wide range of applications.

Posted October 4, 2016

Source: Safety Components

IAC Launches New Mobile Training Center — Antimicrobial Testing Goes On The Road

SAGINAW, Mich. — September 29, 2016 — The International Antimicrobial Council (IAC) is going mobile, literally. The IAC is taking it to the streets with its new Mobile Training Center. First stop is the IFAI Expo in Charlotte, N.C., to be held October 19-21, where the new Mobile Training Center will be part of the IFAI Expo Testing Program of which IAC is a sponsor.

The IAC Mobile Training Center is housed in a 40-foot customized RV. The layout includes laboratory space to demonstrate antimicrobial test procedures and perform basic odor testing as well as a separate conference area for meetings and classroom style training.

“The Mobile Training Center is one way that the IAC is raising the awareness of how antimicrobials are being used responsibly to control microbial growth in everyday products. It also is being used to promote the use of uniform test procedures among testing laboratories, provide on-site certification services for laboratories, and detect the presence of antimicrobials in real time,” says Jim Krueger, Co-Founder and Managing Director of the IAC.  “The IFAI Expo is the perfect place to debut this new service. IFAI attendees know how important independent assessments are for proving performance and ensuring that products deliver the intended benefits to customers.”

IFAI Expo attendees will also get the opportunity to suggest a name for the new Mobile Training Center. The IAC will host a contest and select the winning name at the show. In addition, IFAI Expo attendees will receive a coupon good for a free fabric odor test at the IAC’s booth in the Testing Demo Area on the show floor.

After IFAI Expo, the IAC Mobile Training Center will roll on down the highway to visit several textile and apparel companies in North Carolina that are IAC members.

The IAC is committed to improving the consistency and reproducibility of antimicrobial test results to assist companies with effective product development. The IAC Certified Lab Program trains lab personnel to select the most appropriate standards and test methods for particular antimicrobial and substrate applications. The IAC also instructs technicians in the use of uniform testing techniques and reporting protocol in compliance with industry and international standards.  The IAC Test Verification Program confirms that these recommended best practices are used and provides an IAC Verification number for every test series that adheres to the program. By encouraging better test method consistency within and across laboratories, the IAC intends to increase confidence in antimicrobial and odor control technologies.

Posted October 4, 2016

Source: IAC

ITM 2018 Exhibition Registration Now Open

ISTANBUL, Turkey — September 30, 2016 — Being one of the most important meetings of the global textile industry, ITM 2018 International Textile Machinery Exhibition’s attendance applications started on September 20, 2016. To meet the most important manufacturers of textile technologies from Turkey and around the world, ITM 2018 Exhibition is going to be held at İstanbul Büyükçekmece Tüyap Fair and Congress Center on April 14-17,2018.

Held between June 1-4, 2016, 1,200 firms exhibited their latest technologies ITM 2016 Exhibition. The fair, where 49.730 professionals visited from 77 countries, showed that it is the first and most important event in Turkey and the region by being organized in an area of 120,000 square meters and 13 halls.

Posted October 4, 2016

Source: ITM

ITMA Asia + CITME 2016 Exhibitor Preview: Itema

COLZATE, Italy/SHANGHAI — September 2016 — Itema, the world’s largest privately held provider of advanced weaving solutions, including best-in-class weaving machines, spare parts and integrated services, has prepared an impressive product line-up for ITMA ASIA+CITME 2016 in Shanghai on October 21-25, 2016. Itema will leverage the biggest textile engineering expo in Asia to showcase exciting, brand-new evolutions in both rapier and airjet product portfolios and officially present to the dynamic Asian markets the highly acclaimed ITMA novelties. Importantly, Itema will also demonstrate the technological and geographical proximity in the stronger-than-ever commitment to go above and beyond when it comes to Customer satisfaction.

Visitors to ITMA ASIA will have a total of 15 Itema weaving machines on display, of which 6 in Itema booth (Hall 3 Booth E01) and the rest in Partner booths across Hall 3.

In Shanghai, Itema will unveil the R9500denim – the brand-new product concept dedicated exclusively and especially to denim mills in search of customized solutions to enable them to respond faster, more effectively and efficiently to changing denim trends with versatile, high-performance, ad-hoc machinery. The R9500terry, already a big favourite of sophisticated premium terry weavers worldwide after its debut in Milan in 2015, will be officially presented for the first time in Asia. In airjet, a much-expected, all-new Jacquard application for the already successful Itema A9500p, weaving African Damask on show will, no doubt, be highly appreciated by devoted Itema airjet Customers worldwide.

In an unprecedented move, Itema releases a manifesto to match even better than before the exact weaving requirements of Customers with latest and most advanced technology, designed with Customer needs in mind and delivered in faster-than-ever delivery times.  This commitment is supported by the Company’s move to assemble the latest generation machinery in the world-class manufacturing sites both in Europe, as well as in China, with the same attention to detail and quality, reliability and performance guarantee that Itema Customers look for when they purchase Itema machines.

“We want to completely redefine how the loom manufacturing industry currently responds to the needs of the diverse and constantly evolving fabric mills with tailor-made, latest-generation equipment assembled closer to where the Customers are located,” declared Itema CEO, Carlo Rogora.  “We want Itema Customers to be sure that no matter where they are in the world, no matter what fabric they weave, when choosing an Itema loom, they get the guarantee of the absolute best in the market, better and faster than they would expect.  Once again, we are challenging ourselves and the status quo with special looms, produced exactly how and where Customers want. Less rigidity, faster delivery, better machinery. Everything to increase the value for the Customer.”

Itema’s ITMA ASIA booth offers the best highlights of the Company’s latest technological advancements, spare parts and after-sales service.

The Italian-headquartered Itema Group closed the first quarter 2016 with increased revenues and well-filled order book, consolidating a four-year growth trend since the change in the Company management in 2012.

Itema Group is present in China since 2003 with extensive sales and after-sales teams, world-class production and assembly facilities with a mission to ensure the highest possible standard of weaving solutions and a complete product and service offering available for all Itema Customers. In fact, the Italian technology major has invested in the optimization, process improvement and overhaul of all the manufacturing sites across the world (N.B. the Company produces in Italy, Switzerland and China) with a clear strategy in mind to offer the very latest, most advanced, and highest  guarantee weaving technology close to where Itema Customers are.

ITEMA TECHNOLOGY HIGHLIGHTS ON SHOW AT ITMA ASIA-CITME 2016:

ITEMA WEAVING MACHINES AT ITMA ASIA-CITME 2016 (Hall 3, Booth E01):

  • Rapier R9500denim – 230cm – Fancy Knit-Effect Denim
  • Rapier R9500terry – 260cm – Terry
  • Rapier R9500p – 190cm – Shirting
  • Rapier R9500p – 220cm – Heavy Denim 14 oz.
  • Airjet A9500p – 190cm – African Damask
  • Airjet A9500 – 230 cm – Grey Cotton

ITEMA WEAVING MACHINES AT ITMA ASIA-CITME 2016 IN PARTNER BOOTHS:

BONAS (Hall 3, Booth C01):

  • Rapier R9000 – 340 cm – Home Textile
  • Rapier R9000 – 190 cm – Label

MEI INTERNATIONAL

(Hall 3, Booth A40):

  • Rapier R9500 – 190 cm – Label

SENHUI (Hall 3, Booth B06):

  • Rapier R9000 – 340 cm – Home Textile

XIANDAI JULIBAO (Hall 3, Booth A11):

  • Rapier R9500 – 190 cm – Label
  • Rapier R9000 – 190 cm – Sports Shoe Fabric

TONGXIANG (Hall 3, Booth E14):

  • Rapier R9500 – 190 cm – Label

CHANGFANG (Hall 3, Booth D17):

  • Rapier R9000 – 340 cm – Home Textile

XIAMEN LAIBAO (aka Century Way) (Hall 3, Booth A42):

  • Rapier R9500 – 190 cm – Label

Posted October 4, 2016

Source: Itema

Lifetime Achievement Award Winners Top Slate Of TRSA Honorees

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — September 30, 2016 — A veteran of management of textile services operations from national chains to local independents and the owner-operator of an international floor mat manufacturer have been honored with the highest accolades for industry service awarded by TRSA.

Steve Bryant, CEO emeritus of Wildman Business Group, Warsaw Ind., received the Operator Lifetime Achievement Award on Sept. 20 at the Annual Conference & Executive Exchange in Phoenix. Ralph W. Howard Jr., founder and director, Kleen-Tex Industries, La Grange, Ga., took home the Maglin/Biggie Associate Lifetime Achievement Award from the same occasion. Both honorees are 40-plus-year veterans of the industry.

Bryant started in the business in 1974 as sales manager for Spalding’s, Louisville, Ky., advancing to general manager. He was executive VP for another independent, Chin’s, New Orleans. His experience with multi-plant operations included serving as chief operating officer for Initial USA (U.K.-based) and Service Control Corp. (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and CEO of Apparelmaster (Harrison, Ohio), overseeing seven corporate-owned laundries and serving 155 franchisees.

More recently, while in semiretirement, he began consulting with Wildman and developed a 5-year strategic plan for the company. That turned into the CEO’s position. In 2000, the company had $3 million in annual sales and more debt than revenue. But “the finest textile company and leadership team in my career,” Bryant says, expanded the business into a $40-million operation with 31 percent profit in textile rental. Wildman has donated more than $3 million to Christian organizations.

Howard has been an innovator and advocate for the industrial laundry industry for more than 45 years. He developed the first rubber-backed mat in 1970, giving launderers a truly washable floorcovering product. He moved quickly to offer washable mats abroad, first establishing a joint venture in the United Kingdom, then opening a manufacturing plant in Japan. Subsequently, Kleen-Tex would do business in many countries, with strongholds in Brazil and South Africa.

He served on industry government relations committees from 1980 to 2008, helping to articulate to federal, state and local agencies the economic and social benefits of textile services. Howard has long been a strong supporter of TRSA professional development programs, sending staff to educational institutes, summits, conferences and the Clean Show.

Also feted at the Annual Conference:

Outgoing Chairman Douglas Waldman. Completing his 2-year term in TRSA’s top elected post, Waldman, president, Superior Linen Service, Tulsa, Okla., was honored with donations to his charity of choice, the Folds of Honor foundation. TRSA members gave more than $15,000 to this group, which provides educational support to families of fallen U.S. soldiers.

Service Awards. This year TRSA is honoring more than 200 individuals from member companies who have worked for 25 years or more in the industry. Two 50-year honorees, L.K. McCullough, Linen King, Tulsa, Okla., and Michael Potack, Unitex Textile Rental Services, Mount Vernon, N.Y., received their Service Awards at the conference. Others who have worked at least 45 years in the industry:

  • 45+: David Drolet, General Linen Service, LLC, Somersworth, N.H.; Jaime Garcia, Othella Johnson, Rigoberto Rincon, Morgan Services, Inc., Chicago.
  • 50+: Nelson Shrager, Budget Uniform Rental, Inc., Gardena, Calif.; John Spence, Hamilton Linen, Denver.
  • 55+: Shirley Rosenberg, Australian Uniform Service, Virginia, Queensland
    60+: Raymond Ventura, Ventura Uniform Service, Kenner, La.

Officers and Directors. These individuals completed their terms on the Board of Directors and/or its Executive Committee:

  • Carl Bjorkman, Hr Bjorkmans Entremattor, Arlov, Sweden
  • David DiFillippo, UniFirst Corp., Wilmington, Mass.
  • Jim Doro, Doritex Corp., Alden, N.Y.
  • Bill Evans, AmeriPride Services, Minnetonka, Minn.
  • Ed Kwasnick, ARCO/Murray, Downers Grove, Ill.

Volunteer Leadership. Serving as TRSA committee chairs and in other roles, these individuals are commended for sharing knowledge and experience to support specific TRSA programs.

  • Steve Florence, Starr Textile Services, Foley, Ala., Education Committee chair, Production Management Institute (PMI) faculty.
  • Russell Holt, Superior Linen Service, Tulsa, Okla., Safety Committee chair
  • Kelly Saliba, Economy Linen & Towel Service, Dayton, Ohio, Human Resources Committee chair, PMI faculty.
  • Zach Sonnenklar, Iron City Workplace Services, Pittsburgh, Marketing/PR Committee chair

Changing of the Guard. Acknowledged for previous service on the Executive Committee and elected to new top leadership posts: Unitex’s David Potack, who succeeds Waldman as chairman through 2018 and Jim Buik, Roscoe Co., Chicago, who succeeds Potack as vice chairman over the same term. Waldman remains with them on the Executive Committee. Joining this committee as TRSA’s new treasurer and, like the others, continuing on the Board, is Noel Richardson, Shasta Linen Supply, Sacramento, Calif.

Elected to the Board were:

  • Baba Devani, Berendsen PLC, London
  • Jim Lee, Aramark Uniform & Career Apparel, Burbank, Calif.
  • Milton M. Magnus III, M&B Hangers, Leeds, Ala.
  • James Vaudreuil, Huebsch Services, Eau Claire, Wis.
  • Tom Watts, Prudential Overall Supply, Irvine, Calif.

Posted October 4, 2016

Source: TRSA

Archroma Marks Three Years Of Progress In Growing Sustainability

REINACH, Switzerland — October 3, 2016 — Archroma, a producer of color and specialty chemicals, turned three on October 1. “Even though it is still very young, Archroma has accomplished a great deal”, said CEO Alexander Wessels. He also has big plans for the future.

“Archroma is already a leader in driving sustainability in the value chain,” says Wessels. “We intend to build on that position, making use of innovations we have developed and continue to develop for implementation use across our markets.”

Basel, Switzerland-based Archroma started life in 2013 when private investment firm SK Capital Partners acquired Clariant’s textile, paper and emulsions businesses. In 2014, Archroma acquired 49% of M. Dohmen, an international group specializing in the production of textile dyes and chemicals for the automotive, carpet and apparel sectors, and in July 2015 it added the global textile chemicals business of BASF. Archroma now has 25 production facilities: 11 in Americas, eight in the EMEA region, and six in Asia.

Archroma supplies the textile supply chain with chemicals for pre-treatment, dyeing, printing and finishing of textiles. It serves the paper market with its expertise in the management of whiteness, coloration, special coatings and strength for all kind of papers. Archroma also supplies emulsions products used in paints, adhesives, construction, as well as in the textile, leather and paper industries.

“Archroma is now on a strong top and bottom line growth curve”, says Wessels, “and we have been rapidly expanding innovation expenditure since we carved out the business from its previous owner.”

A typical example of the company’s efforts to improve sustainability in the textiles industry is its work in dyeing systems for denim under the brand “Advanced Denim”. Patagonia, one of the most forward thinking of the major clothes brands, was the first last year to announce a new dyeing and manufacturing process developed using Archroma’s Advanced Denim technology.

Advanced Denim uses dyestuffs that bond more easily to cotton, minimizing the resource usage of traditional dyeing of denim. As a result, Patagonia is using 84% less water, 30% less energy and emitting 25% less CO2 than conventional synthetic indigo denim dyeing processes. (www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpwndvzzbWo)

Denim production normally requires the use of massive amounts of water. “If all the world’s jeans were made using our Advanced Denim dyeing technology, we could save the same amount of water as that used by several large European cities,” Wessels claims. “Our Advanced Denim solution is now increasingly being adopted by various brands across the world.”

Since its inception, Archroma has been bringing onto the market new products and services aimed at improving product quality and sustainability at its customers while boosting its own business. In 2014, for example, it launched a new range of “biosynthetic” dyes for cotton and cellulose-based fabrics named “EarthColors” and designed to provide rich red, brown and green colors to denim and casualwear. In this patent-pending process, Archroma makes use of almond shells, saw palmetto, rosemary leaves, and other natural non-edible agricultural waste products that would otherwise be sent to landfill.

In March 2015, Archroma introduced a new water repellency agent for outdoor clothing in cotton and synthetic fibers: Its “Smartrepel® Hydro” range based on non-fluorine chemistry. As such, it supports the increasing adoption of eco-advanced materials and production processes by textile producers and brand owners adhering to industry initiatives such as the Joint Roadmap towards Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC), and eco-label standards such as bluesign((1) and Oeko-Tex(2).

This spring, the company also introduced eco-advanced solutions in its range of optical brightening agents (OBAs) for printing and writing papers. Both innovations, marketed under the names Leucophor® ACS and “Advanced Whitening”, aim to offer solutions that require reduced dosage for papermakers, thereby lowering their transport costs and carbon footprint.

“It is a misconception that innovation and sustainability need to come necessarily at a premium,” concludes Wessels. “Eventually for any solution or product to find acceptance in the mainstream of business it cannot command a high premium. There is value to be absorbed and derived in every part of the supply chain. Technologies and innovation eventually need to be created in a manner that it is made affordable to everyone. In its first three years, it is a mindset to challenge the status quo and everyday try to make our customers’ products and processes more sustainable. Archroma has shown that this is possible, and we intend to continue on this path well into the future.”

Posted October 4, 2016

Source: Archroma

Fashion SVP Announces Collaboration With Enterprise Mauritius

LONDON — September 28, 2016 — The organizer of Fashion SVP, the United Kingdom’s unique sourcing event, announced it has secured the support of the Mauritian textile industry which is bringing a group of producers from Mauritius to the show for the first time in November, (London Olympia, 15-16 November).

The group, being organized by the government export association Enterprise Mauritius, comprises 12 high quality manufacturers of knitwear, woven and jersey products, and joins the show along with 15 other countries, including the UK, the Baltics, Portugal, Romania, Turkey, Tunisia, Morocco, Poland, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Bulgaria.

“We’re delighted to be working collaboratively with Enterprise Mauritius and their impressive garment manufacturers, many of whom are already working in the UK and northern Europe”, said event director Buzz Carter. “We’re looking forward to a great show featuring many new features and we’re sure this new Mauritian addition will be of great interest to show visitors.”

The CEO of Enterprise Mauritius (EM), Arvind Radhakrishna said: “Mauritius and the United Kingdom have a long trade and business relationship of more than 100 years. In the last four decades, our island has been supplying apparel to major brands globally. Mauritian exhibitors are keen to showcase their collections at Fashion SVP – our presence at this event is testimony of the loyal and dedicated relationship nurtured with UK brands and retailers”

Posted October 4, 2016

Source: Fashion SVP 

Shopfloor Support Bolsters Sales And Customer Support Throughout The Americas

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — October 3, 2016 — Shopfloor Support LLC announced two recently formed strategic alliances designed to accelerate growth and enhance support for the company’s breakthrough Shop Floor Control (SFC) solution in North, Central and South America. Based in Medellin, Colombia, fashion industry consultant and educator Felipe Gómez is providing pre- and post-sales support for manufacturers throughout South America.

Ulises Barahona Ayestas works from his base in Honduras to manage business development and technical support in the CAFTA-DR region (Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic), Mexico and the United States. Both agents have been fully trained on the popular, Android™-based Shopfloor Eye™ real-time shop floor control solution and are already providing customer services for the past several months.

“We are excited to have these two experienced and talented professionals on the Shopfloor team,” noted Shopfloor Partner Justin Hershoran. “Both bring the industry knowledge and training skillset needed to help a fast-growing number of apparel and sewn products manufacturers in Latin America quickly achieve and optimize the benefits of this leading-edge production management technology. Having hit the ground running by contributing to new customer implementations, we look forward to these mutually rewarding partnerships and expanded growth in these regions.”

Mr. Gómez brings more than 20 years of apparel industry experience to Shopfloor. He has served in a variety of production planning and management roles for a number of Colombian apparel brands, as a production and modular/lean manufacturing consultant to many regional manufacturers and industry organizations (Inexmoda, Interact, PROEXPORT), and as a professor and course coordinator for University EAFIT® in Medellin. Felipe also serves as a sales agent and trainer for engineering and costing technology provider Methods Workshop.

Mr. Barahona Ayestas has more than 13 years of industry experience in business development, software development, software implementation, technical and sales support. In addition to his responsibilities in Central America, he will also provide Shopfloor implementation and training services in North America. Ulises is currently part of the implementation team for a multi-plant operation in Honduras and El Salvador. He also serves as Latin American Sales Representative for production supplies provider R.T. Barbee Company and holds a computer science and engineering degree from Universidad Tecnológica de Honduras.

Posted October 4, 2016

Source: Shopfloor Support LLC.

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