CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio — March 23, 2016 — Americhem Group, a global provider of color and additive and engineered compound solutions for the polymer industry, has announced the acquisition of Vi-Chem Corp., a supplier of specialty engineered compounds used in injection molding, extrusion and blow molding applications. The sale was completed on March 18, 2016, and the resulting company will be known as Vi-Chem, an Americhem Group company.

“The Vi-Chem team has built a leadership position in specialty TPE and PVC compounds for the automotive industry,” remarked Rick Juve, CEO of Americhem Group. “We look forward to providing further resources to expand the business geographically and also into Americhem’s other current vertical markets. This is about bringing continual innovation and broadened solutions to our customers across the globe.”

Vi-Chem, based in Grand Rapids, Mich., employs 85 people. In addition to the automotive market, they serve customers in the industrial, building and construction, medical, consumer, and electrical and electronic industries. The company’s headquarters in Grand Rapids encompasses 170,000 square feet and will serve as Americhem Group’s center of excellence for TPE and PVC compound solutions.

“The consolidation of our companies will create a broad portfolio of products for our customers,” said Bryan Kazmer, vice president and general manager, Vi-Chem. “Our companies focus on technological solutions, deep relationships and customized products for our combined customer base. Together, we’ll give our customers more choices than ever before.”

Vi-Chem also houses research and development laboratories that are certified to the ISO/IEC 17025:2005 standard, an accreditation that certifies the capabilities of testing and calibration laboratories. The company is also accredited to the ISO/TS 16949:2009 automotive specific manufacturing standard.

“The addition of Vi-Chem is strategic and further expands our automotive portfolio of products and services,” said John Deignan, president, Americhem. “The automotive and transportation industry is already one of the pillars of our business, and this move adds capabilities and technological innovations that will benefit Americhem Group’s customers and the industry as a whole.”

Americhem Group’s portfolio includes Americhem color and additive solutions, Infinity LTL engineered compounds and now Vi-Chem TPE and PVC compounds. The Group employs approximately 800 people across ten manufacturing and technical service sites across the Americas, Europe and Asia.

Posted March 23, 2016

Source: Americhem Group

MÜNSTER, Germany — March 15, 2016 — Saurer Components will showcase its new Accotex^® 518 SF glass forming apron at the JEC Europe exhibition in Paris. The newest glass forming apron meets the industry’s growing demand for finer filaments and is designed to produce fine and ultrafine filaments which can be used in a range of finished goods including electronic devices.

The market for electronic devices has focused on miniaturization whilst also incorporating increased lightweight and space-saving functionality — for use in laptops, tablets and mobile phones for example. To meet this growing trend, Saurer Components has focused on a new type of glass fiber apron — the Accotex 518 SF — specifically designed for creating fine and ultra-fine filaments like D (5 μm), C (4.5 μm) and BC (4 μm).

The basic function of a glass forming apron is to transport the sizing towards the glass fiber. But the finer a filament ́s diameter, the more attention is required to prevent defects like broken filaments or hairiness.

Due to the extraordinary low surface roughness of the Accotex® 518 SF (<0.2 μm Ra), a very smooth and homogeneous surface is achieved. This prevents “dancing fibers” and “hairiness” which reduces interruption of the continuous sizing film resulting in properly coated filaments. With the new chemical composition and the uniform surface quality a sufficient binder pickup as well as a constant running performance of fiber filaments is ensured.

The new Accotex 518 SF Glass Forming Apron from Saurer Components provides the best choice for preventing defects in glass fibers.

Posted March 22, 2016

Source: Saurer Components

NEW YORK CITY — March 22, 2016 — Alvanon president and apparel industry business authority Ed Gribbin will chair a three-person panel addressing “innovation” at The World Retail Congress being held April 12–14, 2016, Madinat Jumeirah Hotel, Dubai. The panel’s topic is titled “Inside out and upside down: Creating internal teams and cultures that drive company innovation.”  In addition to leading the panel discussion, Alvanon’s Gribbin will offer expert insights on fashion industry issues and best practice apparel solutions ranging from innovation and supply chain consulting through to strategic merchandising and customer engagement. The event will take place April 14, 2016, 11:30 a.m.

Joining Gribbin on the panel will be Antonia Jermendy, head of innovation & test at Swarovski, and Allan MacDonald, COO at Canadian Tire.

Says Alvanon’s Gribbin, “Just as the panel topic ‘Inside out and upside down …’ implies, expect the unexpected in this session. In the past, apparel brands and retailers have typically followed predictable, time-honored paths to develop new products, often with exceptionally long calendar lead times, but the very familiarity of the processes tends to stifle innovation. With Alvanon’s global supply chain consulting expertise, we are accustomed to turning processes, practices and ideas inside out and upside down to reveal the best, most innovative apparel solutions.”

Gribbin adds that customer engagement is a key challenge in today’s industry. “Customer engagement is at the heart of the World Retail Congress’s overall theme this year:  ‘Attracting and Engaging with the Modern Customer.’  Technology is continually evolving in ways that increase shoppers’ expectations.  In fashion, customers’ standards for product quality, availability and service grow ever higher, and their preferences are ever more discerning. Retailers must find ways to satisfy these expectations, and traditional processes will not work.”

Visitors attending the panel discussion are encouraged to bring along their most challenging questions regarding any aspect of their business, from design through production, from marketing, to point of sale and customer satisfaction after the sale.  “Every step in the customer engagement and product development process cries out for innovation,” Gribbin says. “Acting on that will enable companies to realize their ultimate goal: to grow their businesses.”

Posted March 22, 2016

Source: Alvanon