New Technology Positions Meridian As the Leading Package Dye House in North America

VALDESE, N.C. — May 31, 2016 — Meridian Specialty Yarn Group (MSYG) today announced the investment in a new generation of technology, machines, controls and robotics for package, top and tow dyeing. The new machinery and supporting technologies will be installed later this year in Meridian’s new manufacturing plant in Valdese. Construction on that facility began this spring and is expected to be complete by first quarter 2017.

Meridian’s multi-million-dollar purchase represents one of the first major investments in state-of-the-art package, top and tow dyeing equipment in North America in decades and positions MSYG as North America’s most modern manufacturing operation with regard to dyeing technology and robotic support equipment. The purchase includes state-of-the-art dye equipment from Italy-based Galvanin S.p.A.; a patented automatic dosing system for dispensing chemicals and auxiliaries from Italy-based Color Service Dosing Technologies; and new monitoring and control systems for all of the new dyeing equipment from Adaptive Controls, Huntersville, N.C. MSYG is also installing a new Galvanin skein printing machine along with support equipment.

The new machinery and equipment will increase MSYG’s production capabilities to 16 million pounds of yarn per year (based on a five-day week) and expands the markets Meridian can serve.

The package dye machines are vertical, air pad, low liquor machines, which will dye all substrates of yarn and replace all of MSYG’s existing package dye equipment. The new low liquor dye machines will be used to process cotton, rayon, wool, spun and textured polyester and other fibers. The equipment will improve production speeds and all quality aspects of dyeing while at the same time significantly reducing energy, water and chemical consumption.

The new acrylic tow dyeing capabilities will support the raw material needs at MSYG’s plant in Ranlo, N.C. The skein printed yarns will go into craft yarns, apparel products and some home furnishings. The top dyed wool capability will support worsted spinners supplying high-end apparel, hosiery and home furnishings.

“Our new technology gives us the capability to process every dyeable substrate, which is very unusual in the dyed yarn world,” said Tim Manson, president, MSYG. “Most dye houses specialize in certain products, but we will be in a position to source from all over the world, from every type of textile fiber, supporting a wide array of end uses.”

“We are very pleased to have been chosen as the supplier for all of the package, tow, tops and hank dyeing machinery for this important project and it is a pleasure to work with such an experienced team of professionals as that at Meridian,” said Marcello Galvanin, president of Galvanin. “We look forward to seeing this project through and see it as a showcase for next generation yarn dyeing operations.”

Manson added that he and his management team conducted extensive research before making the decision to invest in Galvanin machines and robotics, automatic dosing systems from Color Service Dosing Technologies and monitoring and control systems from Adaptive Controls. “They are all highly respected,” he said. This investment in state-of-the-art technologies opens many possibilities for both Meridian Specialty Yarns Group and the textile industry’s US supply chain,” he added. “This is the dye house technology of the future and we are delighted to be at the forefront of bringing this new technology to North America in such a comprehensive manner.”

Posted May 31, 2016

Source: Meridian Specialty Yarn Group (MSYG)

Lands’ End Recognized With 2016 StellaService Elite Award For Exceptional Customer Service

DODGEVILLE, Wis. — May 31, 2016 — Lands’ End Inc.  today announced that StellaService, an independent company that measures the customer service performance of online businesses, recently recognized Lands’ End with the 2016 StellaService Elite Award for exceptional customer service.

StellaService recognized Lands’ End for excelling in phone, chat and email, with a phone response time of less than 45 seconds. In 2015, Lands’ End received an Elite Award for overall excellence in customer service.

StellaService’s Elite Awards recognize retailers on an annual basis for best-in-class customer service across phone, email, chat, shipping and returns. The 2016 Awards were given following analysis of thousands of customer service data points collected by StellaService shopping analysts throughout 2015. To qualify for an Elite Award, retailers’ annual service performance must meet or exceed the performance of the top five retailers in the StellaService Ecommerce Index, which includes 30 companies recognized as service leaders.

“At Lands’ End, demonstrating an outstanding level of customer service has always been a cornerstone of the company,” said Federica Marchionni, CEO, Lands’ End. “Our customer care specialists are renowned for their helpfulness and product knowledge and we are honored to be recognized by StellaService.  We can’t thank our customer care team enough for the dedication and attention they provide our customers every day, across all shopping channels.”

“Based on the rigorous qualifications and continuous analysis by StellaService, Lands’ End delivered a continuously outstanding customer service experience throughout 2015, and we are excited to announce them as the recipient of our 2016 Elite Award for phone, email and chat,” said Jordy Leiser, Co-Founder and CEO, StellaService. “We are honored to continue to bring awareness and attention to companies, like Lands’ End, who are setting standards and paving the road for superior quality customer service.”

Posted May 31, 2016

Source: Land’s End

INDA Seeks Nominations Of Novel And Unique Hygiene Products And Technologies For New Hygienix Innovation Award

CARY, N.C. — May 31, 2016 — INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, has opened the nomination process for industry professionals to submit hygiene product and technology innovations that use nonwoven fabrics in novel, technically sophisticated, uniquely creative and expansive ways for its first-ever Hygienix Innovation Award™.

Formerly the Visionary Award®, the prestigious honor will be presented at Hygienix 2016, Oct. 24-27, at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Universal Studios, in Orlando, Fla. Nominations can be submitted online by July 29 to www.inda.org/events/hygienix16.

INDA is seeking submissions of new (since Oct. 2014) commercially available disposable and durable hygiene products, end product components, fabrication techniques, or use of a nonwoven technology during manufacturing.

Specific categories that will be considered for the award include feminine hygiene products, diapers, incontinence products, raw materials, equipment technology, reusable products or technologies, and composites or laminates that use nonwovens.

Finalists will present their innovations to attendees at Hygienix, the premier event for the absorbent hygiene and personal care markets. The winner will be announced on Oct. 27.

Last year’s Visionary Award was presented to Sienabena, LLC for BabyBackups™, a diaper extender made of superabsorbent materials that adheres to an existing diaper to contain diaper explosions.

The 2015 inaugural event in St. Petersburg, Fla. drew more than 600 industry professionals to advance their businesses. Presentations of new products, the educational program, and scheduled events foster face-to-face interactions designed to provide attendees with valuable market intelligence and product insights that advance their business.

“Hygienix 2016 promises to again be a must-attend event for the entire supply chain of absorbent hygiene and personal care products,” said Dave Rousse, INDA president. “The Hygienix Innovation Award is an important element of the conference intended to recognize and therefore stimulate excellence in product innovation.”

Keynote speaker Bruce Lavash, Research Fellow, Vic Mills Society, The Procter & Gamble Company will speak on Consumer Research Insights & Adventures. Other Hygienix highlights will include educational sessions covering: Product End-of Life Options for Disposables; Trends and Market Data; Haptics as a Competitive Advantage; Materials and Technical Advancements; Incontinence Absorbency; Smart Materials; and Printing: High Speed Options for Nonwovens.

The event also will feature Dining with Thought Leaders, where attendees dine in small groups with their selected speaker of choice; networking opportunities to connect with other attendees; and tabletop displays with two evening receptions.

Posted May 31, 2016

Source: INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry

DyStar® Launching Cadira™ Polyester

SINGAPORE — May 31, 2016 — DyStar® Group is introducing Cadira Polyester as the second concept of their new Resource Efficiency Program.

The Cadira concepts considerably reduce water, waste and energy consumption. Cadira will help brands and retailers and their production partners to save valuable resources, to reduce the carbon footprint of their textile goods and to increase productivity by improving the utilization of machinery. As the first concept of the Cadira Module, Cadira Reactive was launched at Interdye Shanghai in April 2016.

The second program is Cadira Polyester. Cadira Polyester combines Dianix® dyes and Sera® auxiliaries with the eliot™ process optimization tool Optidye® PES. The resource efficiency effects are achieved through 3 different components:

  • Optidye PES – Improves Right-First-Time performance and reduces energy, water, and chemical consumption and the effluent load
  • Scour/dyeing and in-bath reduction clearing to reduce energy and water consumption – Alternatives in reduction clearing to reduce the effluent load.
  • Cadira Polyester additionally reduces the processing time which improves the utilization of the machinery. The benefits of a full optimization through Cadira Polyester can be up to 58 percent of productivity increase.

DyStar will soon provide additional components for more resource efficiency and productivity in the textile production.

Posted May 31, 2016

Source: DyStar Singapore Pte. Ltd.

Integration Of Synteen & Luckenhaus Operations Into Olbo & Mehler Allows Business Expansion To New Markets And Markets Segments

FULDA, Germany — May 30, 2016 — Olbo & Mehler Tex (OMT) and Synteen & Luckenhaus (SL) will join activities and business operations under the leadership of a management team led by the Portuguese Alberto Tavares, leader of Olbo & Mehler Tex. Both companies are part of KAP group, listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, and both are dedicated to the production of technical textiles, complementing each other.

Syntenn & Lückenhaus is dedicated to the production of technical textiles and has a production unit in the Czech Republic and sales offices in Germany and the United States of America. This operation means the merger of two businesses into one in order to enhance market synergies and increase turnover. The consolidated turnover should be around 60 million euros.

This operation opens new possibilities to Olbo & Mehler Tex on new market segments, namely in the market of textiles used in the construction of swimming pools, protective or shading barriers, in the automotive industry, the oil industry and in the construction industry, among other areas.

One of the main goals of this operation is the matching of know-how and the capabilities to develop customized solutions and innovative products to apply in diversified areas. On the other hand, this operation will allow an elevation of the service level through optimization of the logistic and the storing space.

Alberto Tavares comments: “We are very excited with this operation. The combination of these two businesses will define new benchmarks in regards to customer experience and increasing our standards in terms of innovation, efficiency and competitiveness.”

Olbo & Mehler is one of the world leaders of technical textile production for the automobile, pharmaceutical, mining, and security and defense industry. The company is originated from Germany in 1930, but in 2014 moved her factory to Vila Nova de Famalicão in Portugal, where create innovative products exclusively for exportation.

Posted May 31,2016

Source: Olbo & Mehler Tex

BASF Raises Prices For Formic Acid In Europe And In The Americas

LUDWIGSHAFEN, Germany — May 31, 2016 — BASF is raising prices for Formic Acid 85% by 30 EUR per metric ton or $35 per metric ton in Europe and South America with immediate effect or as existing contracts permit. Prices for Formic Acid 94% will be increased accordingly on a pro rata basis. In North America, BASF is raising prices by $0.02 per pound or $44 per metric ton for Formic Acid 85%. Prices for all other concentrations of Formic Acid will be increased accordingly on a pro rata basis.

Formic acid is a high-quality intermediate used in a broad range of applications. In animal nutrition, for example, it is used as a feed preservative. Potassium formate, a salt of formic acid, is an environmentally acceptable and highly efficient de-icing agent used on roads and airport runways. Both formic acid and potassium formate are also used in the oilfield industry as part of the drilling and completion process, as well as in shale gas exploration. Moreover, formic acid is a powerful descaling agent and disinfectant. BASF is the world’s leading producer of formic acid, with production plants at its integrated Verbund sites in Ludwigshafen, Germany; Nanjing, China; and Geismar, Louisiana.

Posted May 31, 2016

Source: BASF

 

Santoni Sells Warp Knitting Technology To Karl Mayer

BRESCIA, Italy — May 31, 2016 — Santoni and Karl Mayer agreed on May 30th, 2016 that Santoni will transfer its SWD technology to Nippon Mayer. Nippon Mayer will take over the complete range of products including patents, the relevant manufacturing equipment as well as the entire stock of machines and spare parts.

The after sales service for the installed base of machines will be taken over by Nippon Mayer effective June 1st, 2016.

Santoni has been active in seamless warp knitting since 2004. The company developed its own range of compact machines for the application of seamless garments, medical- and lately shoe-fabrics. They hold a number of patents for machines as well as textile technology. Santoni will concentrate on and further develop its core business circular knitting.

Karl Mayer will integrate the SWD technology into its Double Needle Bar competence center at Japan-based Nippon Mayer and extend the relevant product range.

Posted May 31, 2016

Source: Santoni

Oeko-Tex® Presents Its New Brand Strategy

ZURICH, Switzerland — May 31, 2016 — From product certification in accordance with the OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, which was first introduced in 1992, the International OEKO-TEX Association has now, through the continuous further development and expansion of their portfolio, established itself as a full-service provider for independent certifications and services for greater sustainability along the textile value-creation chain. OEKO-TEX is now also taking account of this strategic change from niche provider for human-ecological product safety to a global system solution for brands, retailers and manufacturers with a new brand architecture. The focus is on the OEKO-TEX logo and the claim “Confidence in Textiles”, which over the past almost 25 years has become known across the industry — an international synonym for effective consumer protection, responsible handling of chemicals and the use of environmentally friendly production technologies and compliance with fair working conditions.

“The theme of sustainability has represented increasing challenges for our customers from industry and trade for years and they are looking for suitable solutions”, explains OEKO-TEX General Secretary Georg Dieners. “With our product portfolio we are able to provide wide-ranging assistance for this. We offer practical tools that they can use to successfully overcome the varied requirements at all operational levels. For our customers, however, it does not matter what the individual solutions are called. The important thing for them is that OEKO-TEX is a reliable and competent partner. Therefore,” summarises Dieners, “in our future communication, the umbrella brand “OEKO-TEX” and our slogan “Confidence in Textiles” will be in the foreground. Our individual product modules, or rather the sufficiently known brands within the OEKO-TEX system, are arranged under the umbrella brand to strengthen this and meet the needs of our customers.”

OEKO-TEX has already presented the new brand design during the market launch of the MySTeP database, the MADE IN GREEN product label and the ECO PASSPORT certification for textile chemicals. Beginning in autumn 2016, the modernised appearance will also be used with the most well-known OEKO-TEX brand, the STANDARD 100, and the STeP certification. At that point, the new STANDARD 100 product label and the refreshed STeP logo for B2B communication will also be available to more than 10,000 partner companies around the world.

Also as part of these changes, the OEKO-TEX certification centre in Frankfurt (Main) will cease operations on June 30th. “Germany is the only country within the OEKO-TEX Association in which the laboratory tests and the issue of the certificates in accordance with the OEKO-TEX Standard 100 have previously been carried out by two separate institutions”, states Dieners to explain the closure of the certification centre. “However, globally standardised processes and structures relating to the certification process as per the STANDARD 100 do not just simplify the work for us,” says Dieners, “they also simplify the work for our customers. They will have a central contact person in the future with whom they can discuss all issues relating to the certification.” As an official OEKO-TEX member institute in Germany, the Hohenstein Textile Testing

Institute GmbH & Co. KG will take on the laboratory tests as well as the issue of STANDARD 100 certificates.

Oekotexgraphic-2
With the new umbrella logo, the OEKO-TEX® Association is conveying its importance as a global full-service partner for the implementation of greater sustainability along the textile value-creation chain. The current OEKO-TEX® portfolio consists of five certifications and services for manufacturers, brands and retailers along the textile supply chain. Beginning in autumn 2016, companies with the OEKO-TEX® certificate can also use the new STANDARD 100 label for product labeling and other commercial purposes. The OEKO-TEX® partner companies will receive more detailed information over the course of the year. Production facilities certified in accordance with STeP by OEKO-TEX® will also receive the refreshed STeP logo for their B2B communication in good time.

Posted May 31, 2016

Source: Oeko-Tex

Leading European Meltblown Producer Invests In Oerlikon Neumag Equipment

NEUMÜNSTER, Germany — May 31, 2016 — Following the recent investment by Scotland-based Don & Low, another leading western European nonwoven manufacturer has invested in an Oerlikon Neumag meltblown plant. The now signed contract comprises a system for the production of nonwovens made from polyolefins and other raw materials. The commercial production launch has been scheduled for the first half of 2017.

This investment marks the second nonwoven plant that Oerlikon Neumag has been able to place with leading European meltblown nonwoven manufacturers in a period of just a few months. “The successes of the last few years demonstrate that we have not only secured our pioneering role with the constant further development of our market-leading meltblown technology, we have actually managed to expand it”, explains Axel Becker, Sales Director Nonwoven at Oerlikon Neumag. “With our technology, our cus- tomers develop trailblazing products, hence strengthening their position within the global market and developing the products of the future with this technology.”

Meltblown technology as stand-alone or as upgrade solutions for even better product quality

The market for meltblown nonwovens is expanding by an average of 6-percent per annum. The Oerlikon Neumag meltblown technology enables the cost-efficient manufacture of high-end meltblown and SMS (spunbond-meltblown-spunbond) products. Stand-alone monocomponent and bicomponent meltblown plants produce nonwovens for a whole range of filtration, insulation and sorption applications. As ‘plug & produce’ installations in already existing and new third-party composite systems, the meltblown tech- nology is deployed for a whole range of medical and hygiene products. This solution permits the cost- efficient upgrading of new or existing spunbond systems and offers nonwoven manufacturers access to markets with especially high quality requirements. In addition to standard polymers, such as polyester and polypropylene, for example, promising polymers such as fluoropolymers can also be optimally processed.

Posted May 31, 2016

Source: Oerlikon

Chicago Brings Change In Location For Techtextil North America 2017: Atlanta Dates Set For Techtextil North America And Texprocess Americas 2018

ATLANTA — May 31, 2016 — The 14th edition of Techtextil North America announces the 2017 premier trade show for technical textiles and nonwovens will be held in Chicago. The 2017 event will be co-located with JEC Americas with an expected attendance of 3,000+ visitors June 20-22 at McCormick Place, Lakeside Center in Chicago. By repositioning to Chicago, the accessibility to a larger audience can be achieved with their two major international airports and easy drive in abilities.

“We are happy to announce Chicago as the destination City for Techtextil North America 2017, said Dennis Smith, president, Messe Frankfurt North America. “Our exhibitors and attendees have both requested this location and we delivered with a venue that has new approach to inviting exhibitors and visitors to this center of the Midwest. Our intention is to present a B2B regional platform so that our exhibitors and visitors can reconnect or establish new business relationships as this industry continues to show strong growth.  Education is very important to us and we will continue our successful offering of symposiums that aim to provide fresh information with many new take-a-ways adding to the overall experience”.

Chicago’s 4 million strong private sector workforce puts a dynamic and thriving business community within steps of the Lakeside Center at McCormick Place. Home to more than 270,000 businesses, more than 400 major corporate headquarters, 300+ corporate R&D facilities and 31 Fortune 500 companies, including 8 in the city, Chicago is an economic powerhouse of thriving industries.

Techtextil North America and Texprocess Americas 2018

Messe Frankfurt Inc. is pleased to announce the show dates for Techtextil North America and Texprocess Americas co-produced by SPESA and incorporated with ATME-I, which will take place May 22-24, 2018, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. The events will once again co-locate creating the largest show in the Western Hemisphere for the technical textile, nonwovens, textile machinery, sewn products and equipment.

Posted May 31, 2016

Source: Messe Frankfurt Inc.

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