New Mogul Introduction — Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU)

GAZIANTEP, Turkey — April 21, 2016 — Mogul has announced the launch of a new product line comprising polyester based thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) fabrics under its ELASTEX® brand of nonwovens.

Mogul Elastex® TPU products are designed to provide maximum elongation and maximum elastic recovery. Elastex® TPU is a highly elastic product for use where good stretching capability is needed. Besides its elastic characteristics Elastex® TP has high air permeability and is resilient to abrasion, puncture, ageing and UV. It will be available in various colors.

Leading areas of TPU nonwovens application include medical, pharmaceutical, hygiene, healthcare, sportswear, food packaging, beverage filters, automobile interior components, cable wraps, films and many others. Elastic nonwovens applications are expanding rapidly due to their value adding technical attributes.

The Mogul TPU product range is 40 to 400 grams per square meter and has a glass transition temperature of -34°C. (the temperature region at which the polymer transitions from hard glassy material to soft rubbery material). With a melt temperature greater than 200°C. It is intended to offer good flexibility from -34°C. to 125 °C.

The TPU products are made without solvents thereby kind to the skin when used in clothing, as protective covering for mattresses and other healthcare applications.  Generally, TPU provides good bonding to different substrates.

TPU is a material that falls between rubbers and plastics.  It softens when heated and solidifies when cooled and has a unique molecular structure that provides good compression set, elasticity, transparency, high resilience to mechanical impact and resistance to weather, oils and greases.

Posted April 21, 2016

Source: Mogul

Strategic Focus Of Sympatex And Strengthening Of Ploucquet’s Market Position Through Acquisition By Kufner Group

MUNICH/ZITTAU, Germany — April 21, 2016 — The Munich-based Kufner Group will take over Ploucquet GmbH from Smart Solutions Holding GmbH (formerly Sympatex Holding GmbH) with effect from April 20, 2016. The sale of the company and the production site in Zittau is also the beginning of a long-term production partnership between the two well-established textile companies and Sympatex. The lamination as well as the finishing of technical textiles will also be carried out for Sympatex by the Kufner Group at the acquired site in Upper Lusatia. The integration of the Ploucquet brand into the Kufner Group will strengthen the competitiveness of the company in Zittau with 124 employees in the long run.

The Kufner Group, one of the world’s leading companies for interlining and technical textiles, will take over an important treatment provider with a modern production in Saxony by acquiring the Ploucquet GmbH. The company was founded in 1806 and looks back on a long tradition as part of the international textile industry. Today, Ploucquet is a market leader regarding the production and the distribution of lining material and a specialist for the treatment of technical textiles. “It has been our target to find a perfect partner for Ploucquet in order to secure the efficient production site Zittau in Central Europe, which is important to us, and to offer the employees in Upper Lusatia a solid perspective for the further development there. Kufner meets all of our demands in an almost ideal way,” explained Michael Kamm, managing director of Sympatex. “We have complementary products that can be perfectly combined with each other in the segment of fashion textiles as well as technical textiles,” added Kamm.

Ulrich Sogl, managing director of the Kufner Group, added: “We share the same values, we have the same goals and serve identical markets. Moreover, Kufner is very well positioned on the international market. With our international distribution structure, we will strengthen the Ploucquet brand and use the capacity of the production site in Zittau even more.”

For the Smart Solutions Holding GmbH as the parent company of Sympatex Technologies GmbH, the sale is a decisive strategic requirement for the future focus on the Sympatex brand and its important growing market of sustainable functional textiles. “With the additional resources that we gain from selling the Ploucquet GmbH, we will keep developing the internationalisation within our three main business areas Footwear, Apparel as well as Contract & Workwear,” said Kamm. “Thus, we can increase the chances of reaching our turnover and profit targets.”

Posted April 21, 2016

Source: Sympatex

Lands’ End Grows Its “Lands’ Friendly” Sustainability Initiatives For Earth Day 2016

DODGEVILLE, Wis. — April 21, 2016 — Sustainability partnerships, ENERGY STAR certified buildings, a comprehensive recycling program, Earth-friendly vendor policies — Lands’ End has been building upon the environmental stewardship of the company’s founder Gary Comer. Federica Marchionni, Lands’ End CEO, launched the “Lands’ Friendly” mission and is dedicated to growing the Company’s efforts by encouraging customers to “Take the Pledge to Plant” on Earth Day and introduces a new, post-consumer clothing recycling program starting with Business Outfitters customers.

“We constantly strive to create a better environment for future generations, while honoring our core values of quality, value and great customer service,” said Federica Marchionni, CEO, Lands’ End. “We’ve combined our sustainability efforts and corporate social responsibility to create something more meaningful — our ‘Lands’ Friendly’ initiative — that elevates our work to lead with purpose.”

You Plant, We Plant: “Take the Pledge to Plant”
On Earth Day, Lands’ End is encouraging its customers to “Take the Pledge to Plant.” The company will give a free, tree “grow kit” with every purchase on Friday, April 22, to its direct and retail customers while supplies last. For every tree that customers plant and register at ForestNation.com/LandsEnd, the company will plant a tree in a developing nation through ForestNation.

“Take the Pledge to Plant” furthers Lands’ End’s efforts to plant trees. In 2012, Lands’ End began a partnership with the National Forest Foundation(NFF) — the official nonprofit partner of the U.S. Forest Service. Since then, Lands’ End has been part of large-scale plantings in U.S. forests resulting in the planting of 1,087,122 trees to date with plans for 100,000 more with the NFF in 2016.

“We are proud of our long-term partnership with Lands’ End and admire their ‘Lands’ Friendly’ approach to corporate sustainability. Together we are addressing reforestation needs on America’s treasured national forests to enhance the many benefits they provide,” said Bill Possiel, President of the National Forest Foundation.

Working Toward Zero Landfill
Most Americans probably don’t know that they’re driving around with others’ t-shirts in their cars – as automotive shoddy that is. Shoddy, the material used as noise insulation in automobiles, is made from post-consumer, recycled fibers. Lands’ End has launched a new, post-consumer clothing recycling effort through a partnership with Martex Fiber for clothing that cannot be sold or donated, starting with Lands’ End Business Outfitters customers. The post-consumer clothing is bundled at Lands’ End and sent to Martex Fiber for processing into high-quality automotive shoddy.

“Martex Fiber has a ‘No Fiber Left Behind’ Zero Landfill Pledge, which means that all the textile waste or obsolete apparel we obtain will be recycled,” said Steve Lister, CEO of Martex Fiber. “With our waste services division, companies can realize operational efficiencies while knowing that they’re working toward minimizing their impact on the environment. There aren’t many in the retail business undertaking such an effort as Lands’ End. We applaud their initiative and commitment.”

“We create high quality clothing that will last. Now, we’re extending the life of many items even beyond their consumer use,” said Marchionni. “We have been searching for a responsible way to handle clothing that we just can’t sell or donate. Finding Martex Fiber and utilizing their expertise has been instrumental in helping Lands’ End continue to chart the course towards sustainability.”

Posted April 21, 2016

Source: Lands’ End

EFI’s Sign Expo Exhibit Offers Customers Greater Innovation With Four New Printers And New MIS Software For Signage Production

FREMONT, Calif. — April 21, 2016 — Electronics For Imaging (EFI) is helping customers create a stronger competitive edge in signage and graphics production with four new printers at the 2016 ISA International Sign Expo. The EFI™ exhibit – one of the largest offerings of new print technologies at the show – highlights the better profit and efficiency possibilities customers can gain with EFI products, and includes the North American debut of a new VUTEk® FabriVU® aqueous-ink soft-signage printer series that provides the highest speed and print resolution quality in its class. Show attendees can also see how they can further automate and streamline their operations with an advanced software workflow – shown for the very first time – that expands EFI’s advanced Productivity Suite technologies to the display graphics market.

The new inkjet products on display include:
The 3.2-meter EFI VUTEk LX3 Pro hybrid roll/flatbed LED inkjet printer, a leader in production-class LED inkjet graphics print engine speeds with fast throughput of up to 3,420 square feet (318 square meters) per hour. The printer also offers high-resolution grayscale imaging, and its “cool cure” LED technology is a greener solution that reduces energy usage and costs while giving users the ability to print on a wider range of media, including media that cannot withstand the heat of other curing or drying methods.

The EFI Quantum LXr LED printer, a dedicated roll-to-roll printer offering a superb price/speed/quality ratio for exceptional versatility, the widest range of substrates, and the lowest total cost of ownership in its class. This economical alternative to latex printers has 7-picoliter imaging, and print resolutions up to 1,200 dpi in four colors with optional white for high-quality printing. Unique productivity options for the printer, including ink and media efficiencies and advanced roll handling technologies, increase productivity, minimize waste, reduce labor and allow for exceptional ease of use.

The EFI H1625-SD, an entry-level, 65-inch UV hybrid production printer that uses award-winning EFI SuperDraw UV ink for near-photographic imaging direct to thermoformable substrates. The printer runs four colors plus white with high-quality grayscale imaging.

The EFI VUTEk FabriVU 340 – a 3.4-meter dispersed dye-sublimation ink printer developed by EFI Reggiani – a global leader in aqueous-based textile print technology based in Italy that EFI acquired in 2015. The new FabriVU product line, which is also available in a 1.8-meter size, runs environmentally friendly water-based inks and help users produce stunning soft signage and banner applications.

The EFI booth also includes “The Printed Home of the Future,” a unique display of high-quality, innovative applications printed with EFI technologies that expands the realm of industrial inkjet possibilities and profit opportunities for customers. Items featured in the Printed Home of the Future display illustrate inkjet’s versatility beyond traditional signage, and includes labels printed with EFI Jetrion® narrow-web printers, ceramic tiles produced on EFI Cretaprint™ ceramic printers and home textiles and apparel produced with EFI Reggiani industrial textile technologies.

Fabric graphics and Imaging of Things

EFI’s portfolio gives customers profitable opportunities for “Imaging of Things” – technology’s rapidly advancing ability to deliver greater product customization and appeal in everything from signage and packaging to décor, apparel and industrial manufacturing. There are few limits to the types of things that can be printed digitally, and EFI’s booth at the show will include examples of both signage and display staples and promising newer applications.

In the fast-growing market for fabric-printed soft signage, the new VUTEk FabriVU printer on display offers reliable, accurate printing at speeds up to 5,000 square feet (464 square meters). The printer gives customers a remarkable competitive advantage, as it has the highest productivity in its class, as well as the highest quality with ultra-high resolutions up to 2,400 dpi. A patented ink circulation system on the printer prevents nozzles from drying out, reducing ink costs by up to 15%.

Last month, Kent, UK-based company Prompt Side Theatrical Drapery purchased one of the first of the 3.4-meter EFI VUTEk FabriVU printers to further advance its textile imaging operations with a productive, cost-effective industrial solution offering high image quality. Prompt Side Managing Director Peter Baker said of the purchase: “I am delighted to be at the vanguard of theatrical digital print. This is an exciting time for Prompt Side as we expand our range of products and massively increase the creative opportunities available to designers.”

Advanced workflow for leading-edge, integrated efficiency

The newest-version EFI Fiery® proServer driving the VUTEk printers in EFI’s booth deliver productivity and quality well beyond a typical printer RIP. This upgraded Fiery digital front end (DFE) platform gives VUTEk customers the power to process print files 60 percent faster than earlier versions of proServer.

A new, major release of the EFI Midmarket Print Suite MIS workflow, version 4.0, is being presented for the first time at the show. The new workflow software suite edition is especially beneficial for the signage and graphics community, as it offers new features specifically designed to meet the needs of display graphics/superwide-format print providers.

The suite features EFI’s Pace™ MIS software at its core and includes a range of out-of-the-box, integrated systems that are certified by EFI. In addition, the suite edition addresses product-specific applications unique to the superwide-format print space, such as fleet and vehicle wraps, point-of-purchase (POP) signage and outdoor graphics. The enhanced capabilities in the Midmarket 4.0 suite also integrate with EFI Fiery DFE systems for wide- and superwide-format production. A multiple object import tool in the software also helps simplify management tasks on recurring chain store POP campaigns and similar projects.

EFI’s complete ecosystem of workflow products, DFEs and high-quality inkjet wide- and superwide-format printers provide a complete, reliable production offering for higher-quality, more-efficient printing, with intriguing new possibilities for businesses looking to expand into new vertical markets.

“Operators of signage and display graphics businesses have an unprecedented range of applications to pursue today,” said Scott Schinlever, senior vice president and general manager, EFI Inkjet Solutions, “and EFI is proud to be the partner that can help them bring these opportunities to life. At the International Sign Expo, visitors will truly see the Imaging of Things concept brought to life and are guaranteed to leave with many ideas for business growth and improved profitability.”

EFI’s exhibit at the April 21-23 ISA International Sign Expo is in booth 2507 at the Orange County Convention Center. For more information about EFI products for signage and graphics production, visit www.efi.com.

Innovation drives strong customer demand for EFI Industrial Inkjet portfolio

EFI last night reported record Q1 revenue, with EFI’s Industrial Inkjet technology being its strongest driver, showing 44% growth in that segment of the company’s business, or 47% without the impact of currency. The Reggiani and Matan businesses have been significant factors in this growth: if those businesses had been part of EFI last year, the company would have reported low double-digit growth in the Industrial Inkjet segment. Even without the acquisitions, EFI’s Industrial Inkjet segment would have seen high single-digit organic growth without taking into account the effect of foreign exchange rates.

Posted April 21, 2016

Source: Electronics For Imaging 

iNTERSPARE Is Pleased With Its ITMA Participation

REINBEK, Germany— April 21, 2016 — The German iNTERSPARE, a textile finishing machine manufacturer, is looking back very positively at the ITMA 2015 in Milan at the end of the first quarter 2016. This relates to both the number of visitors to the exhibition stand as well as successful follow-up business. The shrink dryer, exhibited as the main showpiece at the world’s largest textile machinery fair, was successfully sold shortly after the fair to a customer in India. And there are numerous other order inquiries for Syncro and other systems.

At the ITMA in Milan, iNTERSPARE showcased itself at a large exhibition stand and with a new CI as a manufacturer of textile finishing machines for fitting the Artos and Krantz product lines. iNTERSPARE had acquired the relevant trademarks, designs and patents in the year 2007 and in recent years has developed gradually from a supplier of spare parts to a manufacturer of textile finishing machines.

Many company decision-makers, who have been using Krantz und Artos machines for years, visited the booth and were very pleased about the fact that they could continue to acquire new machinery of the Artos and Krantz product lines in the proven quality of iNTERSPARE.

“The ITMA and above all the feedback on our stand and our presentation as a textile finishing machine manufacturer was simply overwhelming“, says iNTERSPARE director Dirk Polchow. „For us it was really an enormous recognition of our work just to see so many happy faces. All visitors to our stand were full of praise on how we tie in with the tradition of Artos and Krantz and can offer these high-quality machines in quantities again. And they were also surprised at how we have now established ourselves as a machinery manufacturer“, he added.

iNTERSPARE had used the ITMA, as the showcasing platform of the textile machinery industry, to present the latest version of the legendary Krantz Syncro. The shrink dryer – as a further development of the Haas Aerovar shrink dryer – has always been an excellent example for German engineering creations.

The exhibited advanced next-generation iNTERSPARE Krantz Syncro was adapted to current market trends and customer requirements by iNTERSPARE. An example are next-generation circuits and control units which improve operation even further. Another is the newly developed lifting doors which significantly facilitate the cleaning of the machine, thus reducing maintenance costs and which are available as an option for the Syncro. Further modifications address the increased demands for sustainability and energy efficiency. Here, iNTERSPARE has expanded the Syncro with numerous particularly energy-efficient next-generation components. A particular mention should be made to the state-of-the art motors in EU energy efficiency class IE3 (Premium) and also next-generation control cabinets which are not yet available on the open market.

In particular, the extraordinary quality of the results and the high production rate, based on the optimal interplay of many sophisticated and patented components, cause the Syncro is considered by experts as the best shrink dryer in the world.

The Syncro’ s unbeatable performance can be admired especially during the drying of knitted fabrics in tubular or open width form up to all fabric weights. Also in drying of woven fabrics outstanding results will be achieved. The diversity of the Syncro is unique. Without problems it is possible to drive with one or more slim or wide fabric layers side by side. Additionally processes such as drying, shrinking, intermediate drying or drying for formation of fabric can be proceeded here on only one production line.

The shrink dryer allows long reaction times and high overfeeds up to 200 % on the screen belt. This causes a slowly and gentle drying with an optimal stress relieving in the fabric. The drying can be regulated exactly for each special requirement of the fabric because of different selection possibilities of many parameters.

“The many advantages of Syncro are of course well-known all over the world and are even acknowledged by our competitors “, says Dirk Polchow in reference to the quality of the machine. “Therefore the interest of the visitor is often focussed on questions relating to availability, delivery times, to our production and also to the price. From the supply of spare parts our customers know that we do not make any compromises regarding quality and for our machines it is exactly the same. What’s important to us is that our customers believe in us and know that we are already well established as a textile finishing machine manufacturer and that we wish to further develop ourselves as well as our machinery portfolio. And I think we were able to underline this impressively at the ITMA.“

Announcement of new construction project at the ITMA press conference

The interest in iNTERSPARE and the iNTERSPARE Krantz Syncro that was exhibited was also very intense at the first ever press conference to be carried out. Around twenty journalists from key media in the global textile industry attended the conference and wanted to know how the company had developed from a successful supplier of spare parts to an established manufacturer of textile finishing machines in recent years and how the vision for the future looks. In response to this, director Polchow announced among other things the new construction of an assembly hall at the iNTERSPARE premises in Reinbek (Germany) which should be completed in summer 2016 and in which the machines shall be manufactured in the future as the available space no longer suffices.

Current machinery range

The current machinery range of iNTERSPARE Textilmaschinen includes the Krantz Syncro shrink dryer and the Krantz K30 stenter, both belonging to the Krantz product line. In the Artos product line, iNTERSPARE Textilmaschinen offers the Artos Unistar stenter, the Artos Vari-Flex dyeing padder and the Artos Uni-Flex impregnation padder.

Extensions, modernizations and upgrading of existing installations

Another topic which took up a large part of discussions at the IMTA stand was the modification, upgrade and modernisation of existing installations of the product lines Artos und Krantz. There is a 5-digit number of existing systems from the Artos, Babcock Krantz, Stentex, Hacoba, Müller und Famatex product lines at textile companies in 116 countries. A lot of these systems, installed by Artos, Krantz, Deutsche Babcock Textilmaschinen and Moenus over the past 50 years, are still used for drying and finishing textiles. Based on a growing need for productivity as well as sustainability, modifications and upgrades offer textile companies an excellent alternative to jumping to the current state of the art with manageable investments.

iNTERSPARE has already carried out upgrades successfully in recent years, for example a tenter frame in the iNTERSPARE product line Artos for Dutch textile company Vlisco Group.

A consequence of a modification may be for example improved energy efficiency. Not only is greater economy attained but also an improved ecological performance – very important for sustainability strategies by textile producers and the satisfaction of the demands of larger brands and retailers. Other modifications include for example the extension of the machine for enlarging production capacity. Alternatively, supplementary component sets increase flexibility and economic efficiency.

Equally interesting are conversions enabling installations to be adjusted to changed specifications. Examples of these are conversions of heaters from oil circulation systems to gas heating or exchanging lubricated tension chains for modern lubrication-free chain systems. More extensive alterations such as the conversion of stenter frames for woven goods for the use of knitted fabrics are also possible.

Updating can also prove economically advisable. This can be achieved by converting from S5 to S7 controls or replacing a PIV transmission with individual drives.

INTERSPARE has all the technical drawings of the machines available and is subsequently able to submit constructive and well-informed proposals.

Smart Order System: an app for ordering spare parts

The visitors to the stand also took pleasure in the new version of the „Smart Order System“ smartphone app and were impressed by how easy it is to use. The iNTERSPARE app liberates customers from all research for the correct spare part allowing the customer to save time and money. The only thing the customer has to do is to install the app and to send a picture of the part which needs to be replaced. Shortly after the customer gets any Information and an offer by iNTERSPARE.

Posted April 21, 2016

Source: iNTERSPARE GmbH 

Lectra’s Strategic Customer Global Safety Textiles (GST) Chooses FocusQuantum® OPW Airbag Cutting Solution In China

PARIS — April 21, 2016 — Daniel Harari, Lectra CEO, and Christophe Dervyn, Global Safety Textiles (GST) CEO, are pleased to announce that GST has chosen the Lectra FocusQuantum solution for mass production of one-piece woven (OPW) airbags in China, to meet the increasingly stringent requirements of global tier-1 automotive suppliers.
Lectra shares a very close relationship with German group GST, the leading independent producer of textiles and cushions designed specifically for the airbag industry and supplier to the majority of airbag manufacturers. Following six months of successful testing of Lectra’s new generation of airbag cutting technology in a real production environment in Poland, the group has now decided to acquire a FocusQuantum OPW for immediate implementation in China.

To address GST’s main business challenges and meet their demanding manufacturing specifications, the group evaluated FocusQuantum OPW’s performance together with Lectra in the pre-launch phase of the revolutionary new technology. The extensive testing enabled GST’s experts to certify FocusQuantum as a proven platform for the mass production of airbags. The collaboration has enabled GST to gain a competitive advantage by significantly lowering overall cost per airbag and tripling production capacity compared to the performance of the previous generation of Focus cutters.

Designed to conform to the contours of individual vehicle models, OPW side-curtain airbags ensure effective occupant restraint in the event of multiple impacts in a rollover accident. The nature of the complex weave makes fabric distortion commonplace, however, requiring complex intervention in the program sequence. When deployed in combination with FocusQuantum Suite, FocusQuantum OPW enables airbag manufacturers to benefit from SmartCutting to easily and effectively manage cut orders even when dealing with highly distorted materials. The SmartCutting functionality was a major factor in GST’s decision, as it contributes to increased overall process capability and quality approaching zero defects for these life-saving devices.

For Uwe Zimmermann, GST COO, the two companies’ shared culture of R&D-driven innovation lies at the heart of a mutually beneficial partnership of trust. “We have long anticipated the launch of a new generation of laser airbag technologies from Lectra,” remarks Uwe Zimmermann. “Naturally, we jumped at the opportunity to test it on our premises and provide input to improve and perfect the new solution. Lectra is the leading authority on operational excellence in the cutting room. Because of our open relationship, we were able to achieve a shared vision enabling both companies to assert their industry leadership.”

“GST’s leading position in the automotive industry makes it the ideal partner to validate the core technology of the FocusQuantum platform,” adds Javier Garcia, Global Sales Director, Automotive, Lectra. “Because airbags are subject to increasingly strict quality control to ensure passenger safety, it is essential for Lectra to maintain its close working relationship with innovative companies like GST. Together, we can incorporate road safety into the airbag value chain.”

FocusQuantum is Lectra’s comprehensive airbag solution range, combining high-performance laser cutters for both OPW and flat airbags, as well as a purpose-built software suite and a full range of value-added professional services covering implementation, change management and support, to ensure operational excellence in the cutting room. Acquisition of the new FocusQuantum OPW marks the entry into GST’s installed base of their 40 Lectra laser cutter worldwide, and their fifth in China. Other GST plants equipped with Lectra laser cutters include Germany, Poland, Romania, the United States, Mexico and South Africa.

Posted April 21, 2016

Source: Lectra

Virent BioFormPX® Paraxylene Used To Produce World’s First 100-Percent Plant-Based Polyester Shirts

MADISON, Wis. — April 21, 2016 — Virent announced today that its BioFormPX® paraxylene was used to produce the world’s first 100-percent plant-based polyester shirts. This important project demonstrates the potential of Virent’s technology to produce demonstration quantities of biobased, crude oil free polyester for production of garments and textiles.

Polyester is the largest and one of the fastest growing man-made fibers in the world. A key raw material for the production of polyester is paraxylene, which today comes exclusively from crude oil. Virent’s technology produces BioFormPX paraxylene from plant-based materials, resulting in much lower greenhouse gas emissions, yet with the same versatility and performance as its petroleum counterpart. Based on the success of this project, Virent has proven that 100-percent plant-based polyester fabrics and petroleum-free polyester garments are achievable and a lower carbon footprint alternative to current petroleum-based fabrics.

“Virent’s BioFormPX paraxylene has previously been used to produce 100% plant-based PET plastic bottles.   This project demonstrates how our technology and products can also be used to produce crude oil free polyester for use in everyday fabric and fiber applications” said Lee Edwards, Virent CEO. “The fabric and shirts produced from plant-based polyester are identical in all aspects to petroleum polyester, with the important exception that they have a much lower carbon footprint.”  Far Eastern New Century (FENC) worked with Virent to convert the BioFormPX to bio-polyester, and to produce the bio-polyester fabric and shirts.

In the course of its development work over the last few years, Virent has progressed its BioFormPX paraxylene technology to commercial readiness and improved the process economics.  Virent has run its demonstration system to fulfill customer orders for both fuels and chemicals since it started operation in 2010. Virent currently has the capability to produce large quantities of BioFormPX paraxylene and other bio-based aromatic chemicals (benzene, toluene, and mixed xylenes) for application development in areas such as packaging, fabrics, and textiles.  Virent also has produced sizable biofuels samples (gasoline, jet and diesel) for customer sampling and product development.

Posted April 21, 2016

Source: Virent

GIS Adds New Features And Capabilities To Its Atlas Software Platform

CAMBRIDGE, England — April 18, 2016 — Global Inkjet Systems (GIS) has launched new features and capabilities to its Atlas User Interface (UI) and Machine Control software development kit (SDK).

Atlas provides OEM system builders with a modern UI which can be customized to incorporate branding, different color schemes, languages and customer-specific functionality.

Built on Microsoft industry standard .NET and WPF platforms, the Atlas UI now provides two different interface control options for its tools. At InPrint 2015, Atlas was initially launched with a Window control option. This interface gives the operator/user access to many different commands and features — and this level of access may not be suitable for all applications.

GIS has now added a Kiosk control option, which provides a simpler UI where system builders can “lock down” access to specific tools making the UI suitable for applications where operator access must be tightly controlled — for example as part of a multi-stage manufacturing process or for high security pharmaceutical applications.

In a further development of Atlas, GIS is now offering a choice of Themes for the UI — available for both Window and Kiosk options. Each Theme has a different style and background color allowing GIS customers to immediately differentiate their UI. System builders then have the option to customize the Theme they have selected by adding branding, changing function keys, colors and languages as desired. GIS will add new design Themes regularly, building up a library of options for machines builders.

A new Ink Cost Calculator has also been added to the standard tools offered by Atlas. This tool provides details on ink consumption by color and drop size.

“These latest features are just part of our ongoing investment into our Atlas software platform” comments Nick Geddes, CEO, adding “we will continue to add more options, tools and functionality into the Atlas UI and we will also be announcing the next stage of the Atlas Machine Control SDK soon.”

GIS is now shipping Atlas as standard to all new customers and assisting existing customers to upgrade to the new platform.

Posted April 18, 2016

Source: GIS

Sustainable Fashion Industry Becomes A Reality In Sweden

KRISTINEHAMN, Sweden — April 18, 2016 — re:newcell AB has, in its Stockholm lab, developed a technology that makes it possible to take waste from the textile industry and from it produce new pulp. Such pulp is called dissolving pulp, and is today made from trees by companies including Lenzing, Södra and AdityaBirla. Dissolving pulp is mainly used to manufacture textile fiber materials such as viscose or lyocell. Until today it has not been possible to make new high quality textiles from recycled fabric.

The global textile demand is currently some 90 million tons per year. Natural materials such as cotton and viscose represent only about one-third. The remaining fibers are mainly oil-based materials such as polyester, elastane and nylon. Being able to increase the amount of natural materials by extending the life of already available resources is a top priority both among consumers and among the big fashion companies. Until now, it has not been possible to recycle cotton into the quality that fashion industry demands, but with re:newcell pulp this becomes possible.

The technology development has been ongoing since 2012 and now the process has matured to such a degree that the company is investing 8 million euros to build an initial production line. The construction takes place inside the AkzoNobel facility in Kristinehamn, Sweden, some two hours from Stockholm.

“We are very pleased to now be able to move forward and contribute to realizing the dream of a sustainable textile industry,” said Malcolm Norlin, chairman, re:newcell. “Kristinehamn is located in the Paper Province in Värmland and gives us access to great skills when it comes to resource-efficient mass production. We consider it very positive that we can operate from a first-class facility such as AkzoNobel’s in Kristinehamn.”

Posred April 18, 2016

Source: re:newcell

Texo Trade Services Supplies 5-Meter-Wide Protective Film For 5-Meter-Wide Sublimation Printers

WADDINXVEEN, The Netherlands — April 18, 2016 — Texo Trade Services is the only company in the world to supply 5-meter-wide protective paper for sublimation calendars of the same width. The first of these printer models, the Durst Rhotex 500, was launched at last month’s FESPA DIGITAL 2016, held in Amsterdam. The current generation of sublimation printers can only accommodate a width of around 3.2 meters. The protective paper inside the Durst Rhotex 500 printer tracks the printed textiles in the calendar and ensures that the calendar’s Nomex® band remains clean and in good condition. The protective paper called PPX, produced and converted by Texo Trade Services, enables printers to fixate their 5-meter-wide prints on their calendars to achieve superior print results.

The introduction of PPX by Texo Trade Services is extraordinary because it enables printers to fix the ink on the printed canvas using a traditional calendar, without any risk. When printed textiles are fixed to what is known as a beltless calender, there is always a risk that certain types of textile end up shrinking uncontrollably and lose contact with the heated cylinder, rendering them useless. The good news is that the world’s largest sublimation printer can be used not only for large-scale and seamless printing, but is also equipped to produce the best results.

The Durst Rhotex 500 printer model prints directly on textile while using direct printable sublimation inks. Up to now, printing 5-meter-wide surfaces was possible only using UV and solvent technologies where the textile needed to be coated in order to facilitate printing. Sublimation printing is the technique that produces the best results on textiles. Since the ink penetrates deeply into the fabric (i.e. into polyester yarn) and the fabric is uncoated, the canvas can easily be stretched while remaining absolutely wrinkle-free and keeping its soft hand. The sublimation technique creates an exceptionally wide range of colours. These colours are deep, vivid and sharp and remain that way, because the ink is absorbed into the polyester yarn, making it absolutely wear-resistant. Additional benefits are that the ink is more environmentally friendly and odourless, while sublimated textiles are easy to fold. This requires less volume than the process of rolling up large-format prints, making packaging and transport more efficient and sustainable. XXL visuals are now within reach of almost anyone!

In addition to PPX, Texo Trade Services stocks a wide range of 5-meter-wide textiles for direct sublimation printing. These textiles are manufactured to B1, M1 and Euroclass fire retardancy standards, contain no heavy metals or PVC, and are Oeko-Tex®-certified and REACH-compliant. This makes Texo Trade Services the perfect one-stop shop for printing companies that have purchased, or are considering the purchase of, a 5-meter-wide sublimation printer so as to provide even better services to their customers.

Posted April 18, 2016

Source: Texo Trade Services

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