CASCADE — A KARL MAYER GROUP Solution For Verifiable Inline Energy Recycling On Sizing Machines And Dyeing Systems

OBERTSHAUSEN, Germany — June 7, 2024 — Energy consumption is an important success factor for textile companies. For finishing companies, it can lead to costs of up to 15 percent of turnover. The industry average for energy expenditure is around 5 percent.

For both economic and sustainability reasons, manufacturers are increasingly looking for innovative technical solutions. When it comes to the energy-intensive drying processes in warp preparation, the KARL MAYER GROUP has the answer: The global player has developed a sophisticated system for considerable energy savings when operating the cylinder dryers in its PROSIZE® sizing machines and BLUEDYE dyeing plant.

Saving costs with inline energy recycling

The innovation is called CASCADE and focuses on steam as a heating medium in cylinder dryers. And for good reason: according to the IPCC report by ITMF Zurich, one tonne of steam cost between $20 and just under $27 internationally in 2021. The new solution relies on reuse to reduce the amount of process energy required.

Karl Heinz Vaassen

“CASCADE recirculates parts of the process steam in cylinder dryers, enabling genuine, efficient energy recycling within the machine,” explained Karl-Heinz Vaassen, head of Textile Drying at KARL MAYER.

The customer benefits from significantly lower energy costs and CO2 emissions. With a view to the Asian market, a dryer with 14 cylinders and a running time of 7,000 working hours can achieve cost savings of up to $17,000 per year.

Precise, real savings values are available when looking at the machine dashboard. A sensor provides real-time data on the amount of steam circulating in the circuit, from which the corresponding reduction in CO2 equivalents can be calculated.

Utilizing the pressure drop

CASCADE reuses part of the invested process energy and uses the flash-steam in conjunction with the pressure ratios, which — nomen est omen — decrease in cascades in the different zones of the cylinder dryer.

The highest working pressure prevails in the first cylinder section. The heat transfer medium steam emits large amounts of energy for yarn drying and condenses without temperature loss.

The resulting hot condensate is not immediately discharged from the machine, but is instead fed into a flash tank, where vapor exhaust is formed as a result of the pressure reduction. In conventional systems, the carrier medium for gases is only created in the return line towards the boiler house and is eliminated as undesirable. Instead of being utilized in the process, it escapes into the environment. With the CASCADE system, this “freshly recycled steam” is used for the heat supply in the second cylinder section, but not without prior treatment.

In the system patented by KARL MAYER, the recycled steam is intelligently mixed with live steam and thus raised to the level of the required process conditions for use in the cylinder section at the end of the dryer. Here, the fabric moisture is reduced to the desired residual value at medium pressure and temperature conditions.

Market launch is underway

CASCADE was filed for patent by the KARL MAYER GROUP. It was published in September 2023.

The innovative solution at no extra charge was presented at ITM 2024 in Istanbul and was a visitor highlight at the KARL MAYER GROUP stand.

PROSIZE

From January 2024, CASCADE will be part of the PROSIZE® as standard. The first sizing machine with the upgrade for greater energy efficiency will be delivered in the second quarter of this year. It will go to a manufacturer in Europe. In the next step, CASCADE will be integrated into other dryer types and will also be available for the BLUEDYE.

Posted: June 7, 2024

Source: KARL MAYER GROUP

Celebrating The Printing Industry: Record Number Of Deals Signed At drupa 2024

CHICAGO — June 7, 2024 — drupa 2024 exceeded all expectations. It received top marks from visitors from all over the world, who left the trade fair with new ideas and clear prospects for the future. Numerous contracts signed and technological innovations inspired the printing and packaging industry.

drupa 2024, the world’s trade fair for printing technologies, came to a successful close on June 7 after 11 days in Düsseldorf, Germany. It impressively demonstrated the progress of an entire sector and demonstrated the operational excellence of the industry. A total of 1,643 exhibitors from 52 nations presented an outstanding showcase of innovations in the Düsseldorf exhibition halls and inspired the trade visitors with unforgettable performances.  The international share of the visitors was 80 percent, with attendees coming from 174 countries — a record figure. After Europe, Asia was the most strongly represented region with 22 percent, followed by America with 12 percent.

Asia as well as Latin America and the MENA region are markets with great growth potential, which was reflected in the significant increase in exhibitor participation and order books. Many key players, such as Bobst, Canon, Fujifilm, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen, HP, Horizon, Koenig & Bauer, Komori Konica Minolta, Kurz and Landa, reported having signed contracts that significantly exceeded expectations. In some cases, the sales targets set were already achieved in the first few days of the trade fair.

Erhard Wienkamp, Managing Director at Messe Düsseldorf, is highly satisfied with the course of the trade fair: “drupa has underpinned its position as the industry’s leading trade fair and its unique appeal in a remarkable way. The impressive international flair and, above all, the high decision-making competence of the visitors ensured in-depth and well-founded technical discussions at the trade fair stands on the one hand and many direct investment decisions on the other. Our exhibitors told us about large-volume purchase agreements.”

Dr. Andreas Pleßke, Chairman of the drupa Committee, emphasized the exceptional position and relevance of drupa: “drupa stands for new approaches and new technologies like no other trade fair. It is not only the largest, but also the most important global platform for our industry, because the entire printing and post-press industry meets at this the world-leading trade fair. It has been invaluable for generating leads. Nowhere else offers the opportunity to make so many new international contacts from all over the world in such a short space of time in one place.”

Industry decision-makers highly satisfied

Exhibitors praised the high level of decision-making authority of the visitors. They, in turn,  gave top marks to the range of products and services on offer in the 18 exhibition halls. Around 96 percent of all visitors confirmed that they had fully achieved the objectives associated with their visit. More than 50 percent came from the printing industry, followed by the packaging industry, whose share has increased significantly and which was the focus of many exhibitors as a growth driver. Many well-known brand owners were welcomed at the trade fair stands. Overall, 170,000 trade visitors attended drupa 2024.

Digitalization as a determining factor 

Automation took center stage at this year’s drupa, with a strong focus on AI and smart workflows, including software solutions. It became evident  that digital and analogue technologies ideally complement and benefit from each other. Traditional industry leaders presented a wide range of digital solutions, while digital pioneers integrated conventional components into their offerings. Robotics played an important role in the exhibition halls and illustrated the path towards the smart factory.

Transformation and growth

drupa made it very clear that the industry has great potential for the future, even against the backdrop of many challenges and that the prospects are promising. In the last financial year, the global printing industry achieved a turnover of around 840 billion euros (source: Smithers) and continues to develop at varying pace worldwide.

 “At drupa 2024, we experienced firsthand just how relevant and resilient this industry is,” summarizes Sabine Geldermann, director drupa, Portfolio Print Technologies. “The community is determined to set the course for the future together. Exchanging ideas with people from all continents and from all areas of the industry was extremely enriching and inspiring. We were able to welcome around 50 large delegations from various nations, and numerous globally active associations and organizations chose drupa as the ideal setting for their conferences and board meetings.”

Together we are stronger. Many new strategic alliances concluded at the trade fair reflected the opportunities that are only possible in such a concentrated form at drupa: meeting market players from other countries around the world in person, using core competences as synergy effects, forming networks and driving the market forward together

Sustainable technologies in focus 

Technology is the key to achieving sustainability goals — exhibitors at drupa illustrated this with numerous practice-orientated developments and concrete solutions. Top priority is given to resource efficiency and the path to a functioning circular economy. In addition, Touchpoint Sustainability from the German Machinery and Equipment Manufacturers’ Association (VDMA) showcased current state of the art innovations, presented best-practice use cases and gave a far-reaching outlook into the future of a sustainable printing industry.

Valuable knowledge transfer 

The extensive supporting program with its five high-caliber special forums drupa cube, drupa next age (dna) and the Touchpoints Packaging, Textile and Sustainability was very well received. In times of constant change and the resulting new business models, they ensured an intensive transfer of knowledge and provided important guidance. Together with its partners, drupa focused on impressive industry expertise and the future topics of its target groups. Guided tours on various key topics rounded off the trade fair experience.

The next staging of drupa will be in 2028 in Düsseldorf, Germany. For further information on visiting or exhibiting at  drupa 2028, contact Messe Düsseldorf North America; E-mail: info@mdna.com; Visit www.drupa.com and www.mdna.com.

Posted: June 7, 2024

Source: Messe Düsseldorf North America

ITM 2024: Visitors From 94 Countries On The Third day Of The Istanbul Exhibition

ISTANBUL, Turkey — June 7, 2024 — Bringing together the world’s textile technology leaders in Istanbul, ITM 2024 Exhibition has achieved a great success by hosting thousands of visitors from 94 countries in its first 3 days. Professional visitors and investors from countries such as Sri Lanka, Uruguay, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, Rwanda, Mauritius, Mongolia, Tuvalu, Taiwan, Singapore, Rwanda, Mauritius, Mongolia, Tuvalu, Taiwan, Singapore once again demonstrated the global attraction power of the exhibition.

Organized by Teknik Fuarcılık A.Ş. and Tüyap Tüm Fuarcılık Yapım A.Ş. in partnership with TEMSAD, ITM 2024 International Textile Machinery Exhibition opened its doors to its visitors on 4 June. Hosting the innovative technologies of textile technology leaders, ITM 2024 Exhibition offered unique opportunities to exhibitors by providing an excellent platform for world launches and new collaborations. ITM 2024 Exhibition attracted attention with thousands of visitors from 94 countries who flocked to the exhibition to see the innovations in the field of textile technologies from the first day. ITM 2024 Exhibition, which hosts visitors from a wide geography from Asia to Europe, Africa to America, Middle East to Turkic Republics, is preparing to break new records with both the number of exhibitors and visitors and the diversity of countries.

ITM 2024 Exhibitors Satisfied with Country Diversity

Organising ITM 2024 in Istanbul provided an ideal environment for global collaborations by increasing visitor diversity. While Turkey stands out as an important market in the textile industry, this diversity further reinforced the strategic importance of the exhibition. Exhibitors welcomed visitors from all over the world during the exhibition and expressed their satisfaction for meeting their customers from countries that cannot go to exhibitions in Europe due to visa problems at ITM 2024 Exhibition. Many company executives said that they hosted visitors from countries such as Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Bangladesh, Egypt and Iran, realised machinery sales and signed strong collaborations since the first day of the exhibition

Posted: June 7, 2024

Source: Tüyap Tüm Fuarcılık Yapım A.Ş. and Teknik Fuarcılık A.Ş.

TextileGenesis, The Textile Traceability Platform, Joins Forces With The Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®)

PARIS  — May 30, 2024 — TextileGenesis, offers a pioneering platform for fashion and textile players to ensure the traceability of the materials they use. The Lectra Group company today announced a major new collaboration with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®). It will enable the implementation, via the TextileGenesis platform, of new solutions to ensure the traceability of cellulose fibers from responsibly managed forests.

In fashion, many textiles such as viscose, lyocell and modal use man-made cellulose fibers. These fibers are themselves made from wood pulp, the production of which can contribute to deforestation.

Founded in 1994, FSC is an international NGO whose mission is to promote responsible forest management worldwide. In particular, the organization offers certification for products and raw materials which have been obtained from wood grown in responsibly managed forests, and comes from supply chains where social rights of workers, communities and indigenous peoples have been safeguarded.

Amit Gautam, founder and CEO of TextileGenesis, explained: “We’ve already been working with Man Made Cellulosic Fiber Producers for several years to facilitate, thanks to our blockchain-inspired technology, the traceability of fibers manufactured by the most virtuous producers, and we’ve integrated their analysis criteria into our platform. By also becoming an FSC® partner today, we’re taking things a step further. This new collaboration will support companies in the traceability of FSC certified fibers and support the administration and data management of FSC Chain of Custody certification. All players in the value chain will benefit from increased transparency and much more reliable upstream data. Fashion brands will be able to demonstrate much more easily that their garments use textiles made from responsibly sourced man-made cellulose fibers.”

Fabian Farkas, FSC International chief commercial director, added: “We are seeing a rapid increase in interest in FSC certification from the textile industry, marking a very positive trend. Through this collaboration with TextileGenesis, we aim to simplify the administrative part of FSC certification for companies within the textile supply chain by automating many required data processes. Our goal is to empower brands to identify opportunities for seamless progress in meeting their FSC procurement policies.”

Following the signature in October 2023 of a memorandum of understanding with the International Cotton Association (ICA) and the launch last January of two consortiums with footwear and leather players, and more recently the announcement of its partnership with the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF), the initiator of The Good Cashmere Standard® (GCS), TextileGenesis confirms, with this new collaboration with the FSC, its central place in the ecosystem of players mobilizing for more sustainable and responsible fashion.

Posted: June 7, 2024

Source: TextileGenesis, a Lectra company

JLA Home Expands Leadership With Industry Veteran Brett Rife To Lead New Hospitality Division

CHICAGO — June 6, 2024 — JLA — a supplier of textiles, décor and furniture — is thrilled to announce the addition of Brett Rife as president of Sales and Divisional Leader of Hospitality. Reporting directly to CEO Edmund Jin, Rife will spearhead the company’s efforts to build and grow its presence in the hospitality sector. Jin commented, “Brett’s extensive experience in textiles and hospitality, along with his deep product knowledge and esteemed industry reputation, make him the ideal choice to lead this new venture.”

The hospitality industry has long been a target for many textile companies. JLA is uniquely positioned to thrive in this space thanks to its established businesses and robust e-commerce platform. Rife will oversee the Hospitality division, acting as a conduit to all avenues of hospitality, from international brands to small independent hotels, and the distribution networks that serve them. He will also explore innovative ways to integrate hospitality with JLA’s other businesses. Extending into the hospitality category is a natural progression for JLA. “We are excited to have Brett Rife join the JLA Home family to build and lead this new division with the strong backing of JLA’s financial and sourcing capacity. We will give 100% support to ensure its success,” said CEO Edmund Jin.

Rife brings nearly 25 years in textiles and 23 years in hospitality to his new role, having most recently served as VP of Sales for Keeco. He successfully led the hospitality division through Keeco’s merger with Hollander in late 2022. Additionally, Rife has been an active board member for the Home Fashion Products Association (HFPA) and Chairman of the American Down and Feather Council (a subsection of the HFPA). Rife remarked, “The hospitality industry is dynamic, showing resilience and growth across various product categories as it recovers from the pandemic. There are numerous unexplored intersections between hospitality and retail, institutional, healthcare, e-commerce, and more. I look forward to exploring these avenues with JLA.”

Continuing to be based in Chicago, Rife will collaborate with JLA’s global offices to develop the business. He expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “Joining JLA combines my passions for product development and knowledge, with the opportunity to deepen relationships with industry experts and leaders. JLA’s innovation and growth across categories are impressive, and I am excited to join their journey.”

Posted: June 6, 2024

Source: E&E Co., Ltd (DBA JLA Home)

HanesBrands Signs Agreement To Sell Global Champion business To Authentic Brands Group

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — June 5, 2024 — HanesBrands (HBI), a global supplier of iconic apparel brands, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell the intellectual property and certain operating assets of the company’s global Champion business to Authentic Brands Group (Authentic) for a transaction value of $1.2 billion, with the potential to reach up to $1.5 billion through an additional contingent cash consideration of up to $300 million based on achievement of performance thresholds.

This agreement, which has been unanimously approved by the HanesBrands board of directors, is the successful conclusion of the company’s previously announced evaluation of a range of strategic options for the global Champion business.

HanesBrands has made significant progress in recent years to reignite its innerwear business, increase market share, attract younger consumers, and strengthen its operating model. Upon completion of the transaction, the Company intends to focus on extending its leadership position in the innerwear category and generating above-market growth through continued consumer-centric product innovation and increased investment across its portfolio of leading brands, including Hanes, Bonds, Maidenform and Bali.

Bill Simon, chairman of the board, said: “Following a thorough review of options for the global Champion business with the support of our financial and legal advisors, we are pleased to have reached this agreement with Authentic Brands Group that we believe maximizes value for Champion and best positions HanesBrands for long-term success. Importantly, we believe this transaction will enable the Company to accelerate its debt reduction while positioning HanesBrands to deliver consistent growth and cash flow generation through a focused strategy on advancing its leading innerwear brands and optimizing its world-class supply chain.”

Steve Bratspies, CEO, said: “Today’s announcement is the culmination of significant effort by our teams to position all of our brands on the optimal path for the future. Over the past three years, we have taken necessary actions to enhance the Company’s operations and financial performance — returning to historical gross margins, reducing our cost structure, lowering our debt levels, and generating consistent cash flow. The successful completion of this transaction further simplifies our business, deleverages our balance sheet and enhances the Company’s operations and financial performance. As we begin the next chapter for HanesBrands, we believe we’re in an even stronger position to further extend our leadership in innerwear, pursue new cost reduction opportunities as we ensure we have the right operating structure in place, and advance our multi-year flywheel to drive strong shareholder returns.”

Transaction Details and Use of Proceeds

The transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to be completed in the second half of 2024. Subsequent to the closing, HanesBrands will provide certain transition services for Champion, including operating the business in select regions through a transition period.

HanesBrands expects net proceeds from the transaction of approximately $900 million, including working capital adjustments and other customary transaction costs and excluding the contingent cash consideration. In line with HanesBrands’ commitment to debt reduction, the Company will utilize all net proceeds from the transaction to accelerate its reduction of debt and expects meaningful deleveraging on a net debt-to-adjusted EBITDA basis.

On a trailing 12-month basis as of the end of the first quarter 2024, the global Champion business generated approximately $75 million of adjusted EBITDA, which is net of approximately $60 million of stranded costs. The company has specific plans to remove all stranded costs within a year of the transaction closing as it completes the transition of the business.

The Company intends to classify Champion as discontinued operations in the second quarter of 2024 and as a result, expects to update its full-year 2024 guidance in conjunction with the release of its second-quarter earnings results.

Advisors

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Evercore are serving as financial advisors to HanesBrands, and Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Jones Day are serving as its legal advisors.

Posted: June 6, 2024

Source: HanesBrands (HBI)

Jaanuu Appoints Michael Alexander As New CEO: The Brand Enters Its Next Phase In The Premium Medical Apparel Space

LOS ANGELES — June 5, 2024 — Pioneering medical apparel brand Jaanuu has appointed Michael Alexander as its new CEO. Alexander brings more than fifteen years of leadership experience and a proven track record to Jaanuu as the company moves into its next phase of growth.

JAANUU’s newly appointed CEO Michael Alexander brings a sharp focus on product evolution that’s healthcare-professional centric, a company culture that empowers employees and unwavering customer satisfaction. Photo – Business Wire

In the last decade, Jaanuu has earned its reputation as a disrupter in the fast growing, multi-billion-dollar medical apparel market. The company’s focus on fashionable styles has resulted in a product line with exceptional fit, fabrics and functionality.

In his new role, Alexander will focus on primary objectives including product evolution that’s healthcare-professional centric, strengthening company culture by empowering employees and unwavering customer satisfaction.

“Jaanuu has made tremendous strides in its first ten years and I’m humbled by the opportunity to lead such a strong brand,” Alexander said. “We’re excited to build on that momentum and further leverage the advantage we have of being a physician-founded company. That gives us a unique understanding of what healthcare professionals need while working with patients.”

Alexander comes to the Los Angeles-based company after serving as president of Next Level Apparel (NLA), a wholesale producer and seller of premium quality blank apparel. At NLA, he provided leadership to sales, marketing, and product management, with a focus on implementing strategic initiatives that delivered a cohesive, cross-functional go-to-market approach aimed at growing the company’s top line. Previously, he was executive vice president at Careismatic Brands Inc. where he worked for more than 10 years in various leadership roles responsible for profitable revenue growth across all channels.

Shaan Sethi who co-founded Jaanuu along with his sister, Dr. Neela Sethi, helped lead the search for his successor and remains on the company’s board.

“It’s been an amazing journey for Jaanuu and I couldn’t be more excited for Mike to take the company even further,” Sethi said.

Jill Granoff, senior advisor of Eurazeo and lead investor said, “Shaan has been instrumental in building the brand and we’re confident Mike’s leadership, vision and strong connections in the apparel space will elevate Jaanuu to even greater heights.”

Alexander graduated with an MBA from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, after earning his bachelor’s degree in business administration from National University in La Jolla, Calif.

 Posted: June 6, 2024

Source: Jaanuu

Latest Global Carpet Tile And LVT Collections From Interface Explore Crafted Textiles And Natural Forms

ATLANTA — June 6, 2024 — Interface Inc., a global flooring solutions company, today unveiled its latest global carpet tile and luxury vinyl tile (LVT) collections. The Etched & Threaded™ carpet tile and Earthen Forms™ LVT collections push the boundaries of design while continuing the company’s commitment to creating flooring solutions made for purpose and without compromise. The products offer innovative, modular tiles that fit together effortlessly and combine eye-catching textures, natural patterns, and neutral tones that can be mixed and matched, offering more ways to create high-performing, beautiful spaces.

“We’re challenging how we think about flooring and its role in creating amazing spaces. Flooring can and should be Made for More™ — made to do more, made to support more, and made to stand for more,” said Kelly Simcox, head of Global Design at Interface. “Interface designed these two global collections with this thinking in mind, helping architects and designers create dynamic spaces that encourage end-users to use the space to support their specific needs, from focused work to a moment for relaxation, and beyond. We created these collections to stand out and match the performance and sustainability needs of any space.”

Etched & Threaded: Carpet Tile Crafted for Comfort

Designed to bring the warmth of luxury textiles into commercial spaces, Etched & Threaded provides textured carpet tile products that fit together effortlessly. The collection features seven styles available in 12 neutral colorways that take cues from the geometric flow of natural stone to create serene environments.

Etched & Threaded includes:

  • Two bold, geometric styles that draw inspiration from natural stone formations and polished pebbles. They are offered as 50 cm x 50 cm formats in four colorways.
  • Two timeless, textured styles, featuring large geometric patterns to create movement and pattern. They are offered as 25 cm x 1 m formats in eight colorways.
  • Three texture-heavy products in cable knit, tweed, and threaded patterns that are perfect for large-scale use in commercial settings. They are available as 25 cm x 1 m formats in eight colorways.

Interface has a 30-year history of taking the necessary steps to restore the planet and make progress toward its bold sustainability targets. Through innovations across its products, factories, and supply chain, the company has achieved the lowest carbon footprint carpet tile in the industry.

Earthen Forms: LVT Designed for More

Tapping into the warmth of natural woodgrain and the cool textures of travertine stone, Earthen Forms helps bring the outdoors in. With three styles available in a range of neutral hues and modular tile shapes, the collection features on-trend aesthetics with all the performance benefits designers expect from Interface LVT.

The Earthen Forms styles include:

  • Hearth, the collection’s stone and travertine-inspired style, adds soft texture to any space. It is offered in a 50 cm x 1 m format in four colorways.
  • Crossroads, featuring a fusion of woodgrain and concrete aesthetics, provides a distinct, mixed material look to interiors. It is offered in a 25 cm x 1 m format in four colorways.
  • On Grain, the true woodgrain style of the collection, features a warm, resilient design in a variety of light oak to rich wood hues. It is offered in a 25 cm x 1 m format in eight colorways.

All three styles of the Earthen Forms collection feature Interface’s Ceramor+® ceramic bead coating, which minimizes everyday scratching and scuffing and provides enhanced slip resistance. This is the first Interface LVT collection with Ceramor+ available in all markets globally. In addition, as part of the company’s commitment to decarbonizing the built environment through product and supply chain innovation, Earthen Forms, like all Interface LVT, is made with 39% recycled content.

Experience Why Interface Flooring is Made for More

With Etched & Threaded and Earthen Forms, Interface continues its commitment to creating flooring solutions that never compromise on innovation, design, sustainability, and performance. The collections are complementary, offering choice and flexibility to designers looking to define space through texture, pattern, or color. Both are available now and can be experienced in Interface showrooms and at leading design industry events globally.

Etched & Threaded and Earthen Forms will be featured in Interface’s Chicago showroom at 345 North Wells Street during NeoCon and Fulton Market Design Days. Visitors are invited to explore the space for a curated design experience where flooring applications, textures, and patterns are explored to spur creativity and excitement. The showroom features the new collections, plus products from FLOR and nora® rubber flooring, showing how Interface solutions are made for more inspiration, more climate progress, more performance, and for more ways to create purposeful spaces.

Posted: June 6, 2024

Source: Interface Inc.

FibreTrace® Announces Innovative Partnership With Target And Cargill, Paving The Way For Real-Time Verification Of U.S. And Brazilian Cotton

NEW YORK CITY — June 6, 2024 — FibreTrace®, a real-time verification solution for fiber integrity, today announces an innovative partnership with Target Corp. and Cargill.

Cotton ginning is the initial stage of cotton processing, where FibreTrace integrates luminescent pigments into the raw cotton, creating a unique signature where the pigments are then tracked and identified across the global supply chain. By leveraging FibreTrace’s technology, Target Corp. can trace and verify the origin of fiber in real-time, promoting accountability throughout the global textile supply chain, and increasing the value of digital-only traceability solutions.

The partnership will mark 50,000 metric tons of U.S. and Brazilian raw cotton in the first year, after first marking U.S. cotton in November 2023. This collaboration is set to pave the way for real-time verification of U.S. and Brazilian cotton, ensuring trust and credibility throughout the entire production lifecycle.

“FibreTrace is thrilled to partner with Target and Cargill to deliver innovation, transparency, and fibre integrity for U.S and Brazilian cotton,” said Mitch Standen, head of Americas for FibreTrace.

“We hope that this partnership will inspire a ripple effect of change, demonstrating to other companies what is possible,” said Danielle Statham, founder & managing director of FibreTrace. “We encourage the level of traceability this partnership provides to customers for other brands to follow our lead.”

The partnership between FibreTrace, Target, and Cargill underscores a shared commitment to sustainability and transparency in the apparel and home products industries.

“Achieving full visibility to where the cotton used to produce our products is grown is among the top priorities of our sustainability goals,” said Bill Foudy, senior vice president, and president, Owned Brands, at Target. “Our partnership with FibreTrace and Cargill is an important step to improve traceability for the industry and will enable us to accelerate those efforts with our suppliers.”

FibreTrace uniquely connects physical and digital traceability to provide unparalleled results, starting with the integration of patent luminescent pigments into the raw cotton at ginning, imparting a unique signature on the fiber. Pigments are then scanned and tracked at each point across the supply chain, with real-time onsite identification and verification. Data is securely uploaded to Blockchain and shared through the FibreTrace platform, or a digital platform of the brand’s choice.

“Cargill plays a crucial role as the supply chain partner, ensuring FibreTrace is implemented in our process at the gin and then delivering that specific cotton to Target,” said Matt Dunbar, managing director, Cargill Cotton. “We are excited to have the opportunity to build a traceable supply chain that helps Target pinpoint where their cotton is sourced building on the technology provided by FibreTrace.”

The three-way collaboration represents a significant milestone for the cotton and textile industries, opening a pathway for brands to gain access to real-time verification, enabling substantiation of U.S. and Brazilian cotton claims, authenticating the origin of the fiber, and instilling trust and confidence in consumers.

Posted: June 6, 2024

Source: FibreTrace®/Cargill

ECOHUES™ Waterless Dyeing Technology: Lenzing And Cobalt Fashion Partner With Exponent Envirotech

ECOHUES™, an waterless dyeing technology developed by technology start-up Exponent Envirotech, features a recyclable non-aqueous solvent that reduces water usage and dye usage by 95 percent and 40 percent, respectively.1

TW Special Report

Lenzing Group, a global producer of wood-based specialty fibers, has partnered with technology start-up Exponent Envirotech to introduce ECOHUES™, a waterless dyeing technology to wood-based cellulosic fibers. The technology, regarded as a possible alternative to conventional water-based dyeing, can be applicable to cotton and linen yarns. Through collaboration with Lenzing, for the first time, ECOHUES is applied to cellulosic fibers, namely TENCEL™ branded lyocell and modal fibers, as well as LENZING™ branded viscose fibers, which are certified with the EU Ecolabel for environmental excellence2. Joining forces with Hong Kong-based innovative knitwear manufacturer Cobalt Fashion, the dynamic trio is setto bring the scientific breakthrough to the mainstream textile market.

“At Lenzing, we are constantly collaborating with partners to identify innovative solutions that not only ensure product quality but also strive to reduce usage of our planet’s resources. The collaboration with Exponent Envirotech and Cobalt Fashion is a testament to such dedication, as we bring scalable innovations to the textile value chain,” said Rex Mok, director of Technical Marketing and Development, Global Textiles Business, Lenzing. “We are excited to incorporate ECOHUES a revolutionary dyeing technique, to lyocell, modal and viscose fibers for the first time. With the availability of such technology, we are taking a crucial step towards systematically reforming conventional practices within the textile value chain.”

ECOHUES™: an innovative solution that improves resource efficiency and ensures color vibrancy3

For every ton of yarn, 120 tons of water is required in the traditional dyeing process. This usually involves pretreatment, water-based dyeing, washing, and finishing under a chemically intensive environment. ECOHUES technology effectively replaces the use of water in the dyeing process with a non-aqueous solvent that is 99.8 percent reusable and streamlines the pretreatment and finishing processes by nearly removing the need for soap washing after dyeing. This helps to reduce the overall water usage by 95 percent compared to traditional dyeing methods. The simplified process not only lowers water and energy consumption but also boosts cost-effectiveness and production efficiency by significantly reducing the traditional dyeing duration from 12 hours to 6-8 hours.

Additionally, ECOHUES eliminates the use of salt as a common dyeing assistant to address the industry’s long-standing issue of high salinity in textile wastewater. With a 40 percent dyestuff saving, ECOHUES greatly reduces the amount of dye required while ensuring a color fixation rate of over 97 percent which outperforms the average rate of traditional water bath dyeing by more than 30 percent, maintaining a stable color performance of the yarn. Complementing the use of yarns made of TENCEL and LENZING ECOVERO™ fibers which are made with at least 50-percent less carbon emissions and water consumption4 and further reduce the overall energy and chemical usage compared to cotton by skipping the bleaching process with its natural white color, it offers a more responsible choice for customers and brand partners.

“As a company dedicated to sustainable and energy-optimization solutions for the industry, Exponent Envirotech has been a champion of environmental-friendly innovation since day one,” said Wesley Choi, chairman, Exponent Envirotech.

“This project integrates sustainable production practices with responsible materials, forging a new standard for resource-efficient and environmentally friendly fashion production within the industry.”

Power Of Collaboration To Systematically Reform To Conventional Practices Within The Textile Value Chain

While the ECOHUES technology could be applied to almost all segments including innerwear, ready-to-wear, activewear and footwear in which cellulosic fibers are widely used, knitwear has been chosen as the application to bring the results of the collaboration to life. Produced by Cobalt Fashion, the knitwear collection is crafted with yarns made with Lenzing fibers dyed with ECOHUES technology demonstrating how Lenzing’s cellulosic fibers, when combined with the technology, can enhance the performance of knitwear, meeting the demands of consumers who seek both style and sustainability.

“As we strive to lead in sustainable fashion, Cobalt Fashion relentlessly pursues innovative yarns that reduce carbon emissions and water usage while maintaining performance and affordability,” remarked Andrew Dixon, senior vice president, Merchandising, Cobalt Fashion. “Non-water dyeing methods often require less energy when compared to conventional dyeing techniques. This energy efficiency can lead to cost savings for textile manufacturers and contribute to a more sustainable industry. This partnership is an important first step as we join hands to create far-reaching impact and bring systematic change across the textile industry.”

1 When compared to conventional water-based dyeing processes.

2 EU Ecolabel for textile products (license no. AT/016/001).

3 https://ecohues.earth

4 Compared to generic (unbranded) lyocell, modal and viscose. The results were calculated according to LCA standards (ISO 14040/44) and are made available via the Higg Materials Sustainability Index (MSI) by the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (Version 3.7).

June 24, 2024

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