American Fiber Manufacturers Association Endorses Trans-Pacific Partnership

ARLINGTON, Va. — February 17, 2016 — At the winter meeting of its Board of Directors in Tampa, FL, the American Fiber Manufacturers Association (AFMA) voted to formally support the Trans- Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement. The final TPP text had been signed at a meeting in Auckland, New Zealand, on February 4, 2016, by the United States and eleven other countries.

AFMA’s Board recognized the special care given to fiber producer’s analysis and advice by United States Trade Representative Michael Froman and his team across more than five years of intense and complicated multi-country negotiations. “Inclusion in the final TPP text of the yarn-forward textile rule of origin so critical to U.S. fiber and yarn producers underpins our endorsement” stated AFMA Chairman William McCrary, Jr. at the conclusion of the Association’s Board meeting. He added “. . . this important trade provision is now intact in U.S. free trade agreements with over twenty countries, a consistent outcome that assures an integrity in U.S trade policy so important to America’s manufactured fiber producers, workers, and communities”.

The AFMA Board took note of the recent TPP endorsement by the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO). AFMA and its members will continue to work with NCTO in the pursuit of public policies important to the success and prosperity of the entire American textile supply chain.

Posted February 18, 2016

Source: AFMA

Clariant Significantly Improves Cash Flow And For The 7th Consecutive Year Increases Margins

MUTTENZ, Switzerland — February 17, 2016 — Clariant, a producer of specialty chemicals, announced full-year 2015 sales of CHF 5.807 billion compared to CHF 6.116 billion in 2014. This corresponds to a 3-percent growth in local currencies mainly driven by higher volumes. Due to the strong currency headwind, sales in Swiss francs decreased by 5 percent.

Growth in the Americas was good, with sales in local currencies up 19 % in Latin America and 4 percent in North America. Europe was 1 percent lower in local currencies impacted by a weaker end-market demand.

Lower growth came from the regions Asia/Pacific and Middle East & Africa. Sales in Asia/Pacific decreased by 1 percent in local currencies and were affected by a weak demand in China, which could not be compensated by the stronger demand of smaller economies in Asia. In the Middle East & Africa region, sales were down 6 percent year-on-year in local currencies.

The improved business performance stemmed primarily from higher growth in the Business Areas Care Chemicals, Catalysis and Natural Resources. In Care Chemicals sales in local currencies were up 4 percent, reaching CHF 1.445 billion. Adjusted for the portfolio change, on a like-for-like basis, growth in local currency was 6 percent year-on-year.

Sales in Catalysis rose by 4 percent in local currencies to CHF 704 million fueled by strong growth in Petrochemicals and Syngas. Sales growth year-on-year was impacted by the divestment of the Energy Storage business in February 2015. On a like-for-like basis sales in Catalysis have grown by 7 percent versus the previous year.

Despite the difficult market environment, sales in Natural Resources grew by 4 percent in local currencies reaching sales of CHF 1.217 billion primarily driven by the Oil and Mining Services business.

In Plastics & Coatings, sales in local currencies grew slightly by 1 percent to CHF 2.441 billion, despite the very challenging environment in Pigments resulting from the weak demand in Europe and China.

The gross margin of 30.8 percent was above the previous year’s level of 29.0 percent, benefiting from a positive mix effect, lower raw material costs and reclassification of costs to SG&A.

The EBITDA before exceptional items from continuing operations reached CHF 853 million up 8 percent in local currencies year-on-year resulting from a favorable volume mix.

The EBITDA b.e.i. margin increased to 14.7 percent by 50 basis points above the previous year’s level. The margin expansion came predominantly from the Business Areas Care Chemicals, Catalysis, as well as Natural Resources, which all significantly increased the EBITDA margins throughout 2015 compared to the previous year. In Plastics & Coatings, margins decreased due to the increasing challenging markets especially in Pigments throughout 2015.

Net income from continuing operations amounted to CHF 227 million comparable to CHF 235 million in the previous year. The lower tax expense could offset the higher financial costs as well as the lower gains from divestments versus 2014. The tax rate in 2015 was 24.3 percent, significantly lower than the previous year.

Operating cash flow rose significantly to CHF 502 million versus CHF 334 million year-on-year stemming from a sustainable net working capital management.

Net debt at CHF 1.312 billion was slightly higher compared to the CHF 1.263 billion recorded at year-end 2014.

Despite the more difficult economic environment as well as the significant appreciation of the Swiss franc, the solid performance allows the board of directors to propose to the Annual General Meeting a dividend of CHF 0.40 per share at the same level as in the previous year following an 11 percent dividend increase the year earlier. The distribution is proposed to be made from the capital contribution reserve that is exempt from Swiss withholding tax.

Fourth quarter 2015 – More margin expansion
In the fourth quarter of 2015, Clariant sales grew by 4 percent in local currency to CHF 1.526 billion. Due to the strong currency headwind, sales decreased by 4 % in Swiss francs. Volumes were up 4 percent compared to the previous year period.

In the fourth quarter, growth stemmed from the higher growth business areas, primarily Catalysis and Natural Resources. Care Chemicals reported sales of CHF 370 million up only 3 percent in local currencies impacted by a very weak de-icing business due to the mild weather in the fourth quarter. Catalysis sales in local currencies grew by 6 percent to CHF 241 million versus the previous year period. Sales in the Natural Resources Business Area were up 7 percent in local currencies to CHF 329 million, and sales in Plastics & Coatings were CHF 586 million, an increase of 3 percent in local currencies.

On a regional level, Latin America achieved double-digit growth in local currencies of 19 percent. North America increased sales by 2 percent in local currency, Europe was up 1 % in local currency, while Asia was down 1 percent versus the previous year.

The gross margin was higher year-on-year, at 30 percent compared to 28.8 percent thanks to a better mix effect, lower raw material costs and reclassification of costs to SG&A. The EBITDA margin before exceptional items expanded to 15.0 percent from 14.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2014 primarily driven by Catalysis and Natural Resources.

Net income from continuing operations was CHF 24 million. This is above the previous year figure on a like-for-like basis adjusting for the one-time book gain from disposals relating to land sales in India in Q4 2014.

Operating cash flow amounted to CHF 306 million, compared to CHF 321 million year-on-year.

Outlook 2016 – to progress EBITDA margin and operating cash flow
Despite the difficult environment in 2015, Clariant could demonstrate its ability to sustainably improve its business performance by continuously launching new innovative products and solutions particularly in its higher margin Business Areas Care Chemicals, Catalysis and Natural Resources.

Clariant expects the uncertain environment, characterized by a high volatility in commodity prices and currencies, to further deteriorate. In emerging markets, we anticipate the economic environment to become more challenging and with increased volatility; we expect moderate growth in the United States, while growth in Europe is expected to remain stable but weak.

For 2016, in spite of the increasingly challenging economic environment, Clariant is confident to achieve growth in local currencies, as well as progression in operating cash flow and EBITDA margin before exceptional items.

Clariant confirms its mid-term target of reaching a position in the top tier of the specialty chemicals industry. This corresponds to an EBITDA margin before exceptional items in the range of 16-19 percent and a return on invested capital (ROIC) above the peer group average.

“Despite the challenging economic environment throughout the year, we continued to improve our performance again and have shown resilience,” said CEO Hariolf Kottmann. “Clariant has significantly improved its cash flow and expanded its EBITDA margin on the back of a good performance of the Business Areas Care Chemicals, Catalysis and Natural Resources. With this positive development we have been able to offset the negative impact of the stronger Swiss franc and deliver a net result comparable to 2014. For 2016, in spite of the economic environment anticipated to become even more demanding, we want to further progress in profitability and cash flow generation by continuously launching new innovative solutions particularly in our higher margin Business Areas.”

Posted February 18, 2016

Source: Clariant

KARL MAYER: Pooling Knowledge In Hybrid Lightweight Technologies

OBERTSHAUSEN, Germany — February 18, 2016 — Lightweight construction is absolutely indispensable when operating in areas that need to conserve resources and, as a construction philosophy, has many supporters – and this also applies to the Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau, VDMA (German Engineering Federation). This is why this well-known professional organisation set up a new Working Group specialising in this field on 22 January 2016. This new platform will be known as Hybrid Lightweight Technologies and will replace the existing Forum Composite Technology, with its 175 VDMA member companies, one of which was KARL MAYER Technische Textilien GmbH. The Managing Director of this company, Jochen Schmidt was present at the inaugural event, and was elected as a member of the board of this new group.

KARL MAYER Technische Textilien GmbH manufactures high-performance machines for the composites industry and is extremely experienced in this field. Its biaxial and multiaxial machines can process all the latest technical yarns, such as glass- and carbon-fibres rovings, to produce reinforcing textiles for classic composites, which are being used successfully in a variety of applications. “We have already made a name for ourselves as a reliable and expert partner in the automotive and wind sectors especially. With our technical know-how and experience, we can make a useful contribution to the Working Group Hybrid Lightweight Technologies,” says Jochen Schmidt. The company’s machines for producing multiaxial and biaxial textiles also offer a great deal of potential for designing advanced material composites and thus for opening up new applications. One of the main aims of KARL MAYER Technische Textilien in participating in the VDMA platform is to evaluate these possibilities and further develop the technologies. “We are a successful pioneer because we are constantly improving and developing our company and our machines to give our customers the edge over their competitors by offering them innovative solutions. We are hoping for industry-wide impulses and completely new ideas in our quest for innovation,” explained the Managing Director of KARL MAYER Technische Textilien when speaking about the reasons for cooperating in the new VDMA technology group.

Posted February 18, 2016

Source: KARL MAYER Textilmaschinenfabrik GmbH

INDA Announces Call For Presentations For Hygienix16

CARY, N.C. — February 18, 2016 — Industry professionals interested in presenting their expertise in absorbent hygiene and personal care nonwovens at Hygienix16 are being called on to submit abstracts to INDA by March 11.

Hygienix — an event for the absorbent hygiene and personal care markets — will be held Oct. 24-26, 2016, at the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel in Orlando. The 2015 inaugural event drew more than 600 industry professionals.

INDA is seeking brief summaries on these topics: materials, product construction, product innovation, packaging, production equipment, test methods and standards, sustainability/life cycle assessment, and marketing. Hygiene encompasses adult incontinence, baby diapers, and feminine hygiene products.

“Based on the huge success of the inaugural conference, presenting at Hygienix is an excellent opportunity for experts to share their latest research and knowledge to a global audience of leaders in the hygiene and personal care markets,” said Dave Rousse, INDA President. “Hygienix speakers will gain recognition for their work amongst the industry, potential partners, and customers.”

The 2015 edition covered market trends and statistics; achieving product thinness in hygiene and personal care products; the refinement of incontinence markets; fit and form; and material and technology advancements. Speakers included researchers, product managers and developers, scientists, technical managers, engineers, and business heads.

Posted February 18, 2016

Source: INDA

VDMA Garment And Leather Technology: Optimistic Expectations Of Texcare International

 

Frankfurt — February 18, 2016 — German and European manufacturers of laundry and textile cleaning technology are optimistic as they look forward to Texcare International which opens its doors from 11 to 15 June 2016 in Frankfurt. This leading international trade fair is globally the most important technology platform for the laundry and textile cleaning sector.

“Across the world there is an ever increasing demand for automation, sustainability and workplace safety and this continues to set the industry new challenges” says Günter Veit, chairman of the VDMA Garment and Leather Technology speaking at the international press conference for Texcare in Frankfurt. “What is more, the textile-care sector is a rapidly growing market all over the world with large growth opportunities, as for example in the areas of textile rental, information technology and inventory management systems,” adds Veit. This increases the demand for new cutting edge technologies.

Texcare International is the ideal platform for the manufacturers of laundry and textile cleaning technology to present their new product innovations to an international audience – this time across an extended floor space in Halls 8 and 9 due to high demand.
Texcare International’s main themes will include, amongst others, Industrie 4.0, sustainability, resource efficiency and hygiene.

Industrie 4.0 will be key to competitive edge

Industrie 4.0 is already ubiquitous in textile-care encompassing themes such as digital logistics and production in textile services and in laundries. In textile services, for example, permanent traceability is already standard practice, with laundry, once cleaned appropriately, being re-assigned to the individual user. Other examples are laundry cupboards which register removal of linen or apps with which it is possible to continuously trace the path the textiles take. The digitalisation of the textile-care sector is dependent on textiles already being labelled and identified at the time they are manufactured, using identification technologies such as RFID, for example. Full interlinking of machines, systems and data is also essential for a smart, self-regulating laundry.

German laundry and textile cleaning technology continues on course for growth
German manufacturers of laundry and textile cleaning technology can reflect on two successful years: in 2014 order intake was in real terms 17 percent above the previous year’s results, with turnover increasing by 34% in real terms. Likewise it was also possible to increase exports by 6 percent from € 466 million in 2013 to € 494 million in 2014. The most important export markets for German laundry and textile cleaning technology in 2014 were China, France and the USA.

It was also possible to increase turnover again in 2015 by 5.5 percent compared to the previous year. Only order intake in 2015 registered a small minus of 2.6 percent, although this is compared with a high base figure for the previous year.

Posted February 18, 2016

Source: VDMA Garment and Leather Technology

Quality Fabric Of The Month: Sustainable Machine-Washable Wool

Südwolle’s eco-friendly Naturetexx® Plasma treatment uses electricity and air rather than chlorine to make machine-washable wool.

By Janet Bealer Rodie, Contributing Editor

For some years, the standard, most cost-effective treatment for producing machine-washable wool has involved the use of chlorine and Hercosett, a thin polymer resin, to prevent the scales, or cuticles, of the wool fiber from interlocking and causing felting and shrinkage. However, adsorbable organohalogens (AOX) can form as a byproduct of the chlorine process, and the AOX, if not properly treated, can pollute the process wastewater.

One environmentally sustainable alternative to the chlorine-Hercosett process is a plasma treatment, branded Naturetexx® Plasma by Germany-based yarn manufacturer Südwolle Group, that uses electricity and air to make the wool machine- washable. This treatment, which has been in development for about 10 years, is already featured in organic Merino wool and wool-blend performance apparel offered in niche markets, and it is on track to become a viable commercial alternative for broader performance apparel markets. It complies with the Global Organic Textile Standard and Naturtextil IVN Best standard for organic use, and the bluesign® system for sustainable textile production. The technology received an Industry GOLD Award at the 2015 OutDoor trade show in Germany, where Naturetexx Plasma yarns were featured in Germany-based Engel GmbH’s Engel Sports collection of Merino wool/silk athleticwear. Südwolle also presented the technology at the latest Outdoor Retailer markets in Salt Lake City and reports serious interest from a number of brands.

QFOM
Engel Sports’ machine-washable activewear collection features Südwolle’s Naturetexx® Plasma yarns in a Merino wool/silk blend.

Hamish Allan, Südwolle’s marketing manager, explained how Naturetexx Plasma differs from the Chlorine-Hercosett process: “In the chlorine treatment, the chlorine basically damages the cuticles to make the surface smoother, and then a resin is added in a wet solution to smooth the fibers so they can move past one another in both directions during washing. The plasma treatment essentially achieves the same outcome, but an electricity discharge between two electrodes creates a field of energy that reacts with the surface of the wool fiber and reduces the scales without damaging the fiber itself.” No resin nor process water is required in the plasma treatment, he added.

Allan said the resulting Naturetexx Plasma wool is more hydrophilic and has a slightly drier hand than conventional Superwash wool, and offers comparable strength and good pilling performance. To add to its ecological credentials, the plasma machine runs using renewable energy. Südwolle also notes that other company facilities generate more solar energy than is needed for the plasma treatment.

Südwolle offers its Naturetexx Plasma yarns in a variety of counts and blends.

The wool top going into those yarns is processed at the company’s dyehouse and treatment plant in Germany, which has sufficient capacity to service customers with supply chains in Europe and in Asia.

For more information about Südwolle’s Naturetexx® Plasma wool, contact Hamish Allan, yarns@suedwolle.de.

 

January/February 2016

PA Group USA Acquires Cloud Nine Solutions

Chattanooga, Tenn.-based PA Group USA has acquired Cloud Nine Solutions, a certified partner for Microsoft Dynamics Customer Relationship Manager (CRM).

“I’m very excited about the acquisition because it gives us entry into key public sector verticals such as economic development and education that are very strategic to our growth,” said Jon Buchan, CEO, PA Group.

In addition, PA Group was accepted into the Microsoft Cloud Solutions Provider program.

January/February 2016

Schlafhorst Sells 1,000th Rotor Spinning Machine

Germany-based Schlafhorst, a Saurer Group company, reports it has sold its 1,000th rotor-spinning machine to Turkey-based Emateks, a member of the Emre Tekstil Textile Group. Emateks is completing its vertical integration with the addition of a spinning mill, and the Schlafhorst Autocoro 9 will be installed in the new facility. The mill will produce approximately 20,000 metric tons of yarn per year in counts ranging from Ne 10 to Ne 40.

“We of course only want to use state-of-the-art rotor-spinning technology in our own yarn production,” said Gürdal Adal, owner, Emateks. “The Autocoro 9 has impressed us in particular with its high flexibility and economic efficiency, as well as through the huge energy savings of more than 20 percent.”

January/February 2016

Oerlikon Reports Orders For Neumag Technologies

Switzerland-based Oerlikon’s Manmade Fibers Segment reports it received orders for Oerlikon Neumag staple-fiber plan engineering technologies totaling more than 50 million Swiss francs ($49.7 million) following ITMA 2015 in Milan. Orders came from Europe, and Asia outside of China. The orders will be fulfilled over the next two years.

“We are pleased that key customers continue to place their trust in our technologies and have selected our latest Neumag solution to expand their staple fiber production,” said Dr. Brice Koch, CEO, Oerlikon Group. “We will continue to develop competitive technologies in order to create more value for our customers, including those in growth markets.”

January/February 2016

Bulletin Board

BBPhifertex1
Phifer’s Phifertex 2015-16 Stock Line Additions Cards

Phifer Inc., Tuscaloosa, Ala., has unveiled its 2015-16 Stock Line Additions Cards. The swatch cards highlight new designs and updated colors for its Phifertex® sling and GeoBella® lines.

Carmel, Ind.-based Top Value Fabrics has introduced eight new fabrics for printed banners, flag, exhibit graphics, backdrops and retail displays. The fabrics are available in widths up to 126-inches-wide and are designed for color consistency and image sharpness.

Safety Components, Greenville, S.C., has introduced an 80-inch-wide WeatherMAX high-performance fabric.

Cleveland-based National Safety Apparel has introduced HYDROlite FR™ Rainwear featuring Gore® Pyrad fabric.

Hong Kong-based Intertek has introduced Chemical Smart Screening, a service designed to detect the presence of restricted substances in chemicals and auxiliaries used in the textile, apparel and footwear manufacturing process.

Brussels-based CIRFS: European Man-made Fibres Association has published the 51st edition of its, “Information on Man-made Fibres” report.

Research Triangle Park, N.C.-based AATCC — the Association of Textile, Apparel and Materials Professionals — has announced its 2016 Metamorphosis Concept 2 Consumer® Student Design and Student Merchandising Competitions. Entries will be accepted until April 8, 2016, and winners will be announced May 24, 2016, for the design competition; and entries are due April 20, 2016, for the merchandising competition with winners announced by May 31.

Trion, Ga.-based Mount Vernon FR has developed a line of flame resistant clothing with Peoria, Ill.-based Caterpillar Inc.’s CAT® Apparel as well as Fort Worth, Texas-based Westmoor Manufacturing Co.’s Rock and Roll Cowboy brand.

January/February 2016

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