American Roller Acquires Nordson’s XALOY DuraShell™ And EquaTherm® Chill Roll Product Lines

UNION GROVE, Wis. — January 11, 2016 — American Roller Co. has expanded its product and technology offering with the acquisition of Nordson’s XALOY DuraShell™ and EquaTherm® chill roll product lines. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“This strategic move enables American Roller to build on its strong industrial roller product line history and expand into additional end markets,” said Dan Cahalane, President of American Roller. “We are committed to serving customers for these high quality product lines while employing our engineering resources to drive further product enhancements.”

American Roller has assumed all quoting, engineering and manufacturing responsibility for the product lines, effective immediately.

“We’re committed to a smooth transition of these product lines to American Roller, whose expertise will drive significant value for customers over the long term,” said Steve Purcell, Nordson Vice President for polymer processing in North America, “Going forward, Nordson will continue to focus its resources on our full line of barrels, screws, pumps, screen changers, dies and other melt stream components for customers in the global polymer processing industry.”

Posted January 20, 2016

Source: American Roller Co.

UCMTF — An Outstanding ITMA 2015 For French Machinery

FRANCE — January 18, 2016 — ITMA 2015, in Milano, has been outstanding despite the global uncertainties. Bruno AMELINE, the President of the French machinery manufacturers association confirms: “the French exhibitors met many more customers than they expected; many historic, long time, new and future customers who came with real projects. ITMA 2015 has been a great opportunity for each machinery manufacturer to show its latest innovations mainly derived from down-to-earth partnerships with its clients”. Thanks to these machines the textile industrialists can introduce new products, sometimes disruptive ones, have reliable and cost efficient, energy saving production processes.

For Evelyne CHOLET, the association’s Secretary General, “it is thanks to the French machinery manufacturers long standing strategy and to the well known and appreciated stability of their teams that peer to peer relationships have been established with their customers worldwide. The latest French technology seminars organized before ITMA in Iran (in 4 textile centers) and Uzbekistan (in 2 textile centers) as well as the cooperation agreement signed with the Russian textile industry have also been very instrumental to confirm the ties with the customers from these countries and attract them to the French booths at ITMA”.

Once again, sustainability was a main theme at ITMA. The textile industry has to be an even better steward of the planet to answer the tremendous forces coming from the final consumers, the retail chains and the governments as the latest United Nations climate change conference hold in Paris just after ITMA has shown. For many years, the French machinery manufacturers have been proactive to help reach this goal and make it compatible with their customer’s financials.

In 2016, the machinery manufacturers and their customers will have many more opportunities to meet, let’s just name: ITM in Istanbul (June), ITMA ASIA in Shanghai (October) and India ITME in Mumbai (December). All year round the French machinery manufacturers can be contacted through the portal www.ucmtf.com

Spinning And Yarn Processing

N. SCHLUMBERGER – NSC Fibre to Yarn

Well located, the 500 square meters, NSC Fibre to Yarn booth was very active.
Slightly more than 1000 textile industrialists visited the booth. They came from 52 different countries, including Turkey (15%), India (10%), Iran (9%), Germany (8%), Italy (7%), and France (4%). They were attracted by the new technical innovations, the latest developments on energy savings as well as the services offered by NSC including the new spare parts warehouses opened in Turkey, Iran and China.
Two projects initiated during the show have already materialized and the machines ordered to NSC
18 January 2016
The chain gills, intersecting and combing machines were of particular interest as well as the carding machines including N. SCHLUMBERGER semi worsted card for all types of long staple chemical fibers, with 2.5 to 3.5m working width, hopper feeder, TRD drafting head, integrated suction, screen control.

Superba

Superba SAS has presented its latest technological innovations on its 320m2 booth, and, for the first time under the ‘VANDEWIELE’ banner, following the acquisition, last July, of the company by the Belgian group.
World leader in the field of the continuous heat treatment of carpet yarns (heat setting), SUPERBA showed its new TVP/3S line with major innovations such as the new MLU Universal laying head enabling to switch from the production of straight-set yarns to friezed yarns within one minute compared to 1 to 2 hours before, or the new automatic doors of the sealing heads, ensuring a maximum safety and an easy access to the head elements, now controlled from a new HMI with a fully redesigned user-oriented interface. All the elements are connected to an ethernet bus, thereby allowing the entire choice of today’s remote communication means.

The carpet and rug manufacturers have also expressed great interest in the new “space-dyeing” functions brought about by the new MCD3 model, and in particular, the possibility of achieving the two-tone yarn as well as combine in one sole continuous process, the dyeing, texturing (thanks to the new friezing box type MF400) and carpet yarn heat setting.

The presentation of the VANDEWIELE extrusion concept, on SUPERBA’s stand, has been a big success in view of the very important number of visitors. This function is logically inserted in the complete chain of carpet manufacturing, from the polymer chip to the end product, such as the VANDEWIELE group can now propose it.

During this ITMA 2015, SUPERBA accompanied several investment projects, especially in the Middle East despite regional political tensions. The general trend is to the work thinner yarns for the manufacturing of acrylic woven carpets, which reinforces the new proposal for setting lines type LV3 which can now treat up to 96 yarns.

Verdol

ITMA 2015 has been a very positive exhibition for VERDOL. Despite a late booking, the booth was located nearby the main entrance of Hall 2 with a very good visibility from the main central visitor’s circulation area.
This fair has been an excellent opportunity for the six VERDOL representatives to update the situation to the company’s customers and clarify the new strategy and orientation.

On the booth the latest release of the CD360, a direct cabler dedicated to embroidery yarns, with new improvements on textile equipment and a fully-electronic drive was demonstrated. Flexibility and performances of these machines have been highly appreciated by all visitors.
In total, around 800 visitors from 37 countries were registered, among these, 220 contacts were described as serious. The most promising contacts came from Turkey, Iran and South-America. The main tendencies are the increasing request of energy savings and big expectations of process control and monitoring.

Fil Control

At ITMA, Fil Control presented a full range of new and innovative products, such as the online tension sensor MYT, the optical sensor MOS-LC and a new Hall Effect Sensor. FIL CONTROL is investing heavily in R & D to increase its technological knowledge and open the door to new range of products and solutions, costs effective solutions for its customers.

The company was fully rewarded with a large affluence on its stand: more than 50 visitors per day, coming from all around the world, such as India (9%), China (8%), Turkey (8%), France and of course
Italy. Moreover, it was not only the number of visitors, but most important, their quality and interest in the new products, that enlightened ITMA 2015.
With the success of this event, FIL CONTROL’s team is more confident than ever, and has already started working with several new important manufacturers to equip their future machines and help them to answer the best way to the global demand.

PETIT

PETIT has a consequent and permanent storage capacity of spare parts with more than 20 000 references multi brand for fine count textile machines especially for ICBT and looms for Saurer Diederichs.
All technical drawings for manufacturing of spare parts compliant with the genuine ones.

An acknowledged know how with a wealth experience in the field of covering, texturizing, twisting. PETIT is the specialist in the trade of accessories for textile machines.
The company is also covering spindles manufacturer with a range for bobbin from 400 grs to 2000 grs and rotation speed from 1000 to 30000 rpm.

Nonwoven/Recycling

Laroche

A very good attendance was registered on LAROCHE booth, particularly from North America, Turkey, India, Uzbekistan. A couple of large orders that were already in the works were finalized and a few medium size orders negotiated during the show.
Meetings with the customers showed again that energy saving from reducing the energy consumption of a given process by a few percent can be significant but recycling products may get into another order of magnitude. For example, when cotton fabrics are recycled back into fibers and then new fabrics processed (woven, knitted or nonwoven), the global benefits of replacing virgin cotton by recycled cotton means less water, pesticides, fertilizers, energy associated to their manufacturing and transportation,… This also frees up land. LAROCHE sees a strong trend to recycle post-consumer wastes (clothings, mattresses, carpets…).

To help its customers in studying their investments, LAROCHE is commissioning two new Airlay lines in its demo room in Cours la Ville (France). Both lines are available for customer trials:
-Airlay type “Flexiloft 1500”+ Schott&Meissner”Topcon” thermobonding oven. All types of fibers (natural, synthetic, recycled and bast fibers) and blends incorporating non fibrous materials such as foam chips, wood, chopped thermoplastic composites can be processed. The high bonding power, precise thickness setting and high compression of the Schott &Meissner oven allows to take full advantage of the “Flexiloft” Airlay.

– Airlay type “Airfelt/Resin felt” 2400. The “Airfelt” is a simpler type of vertical Airlay which retains the advantages of true air forming technology. It is suitable for most products used by the automotive and furniture industries. With the “Resin felt” option it is possible to add phenolic or epoxy resin to the airlaid mat which is then semi cured in a steam oven.

Another “Flexiloft 2400” followed by an Andritz needle loom is also available. Also equipped with waste recycling, bast fiber processing, opening and blending equipment, the LAROCHE demo room allows to explore all the opportunities of innovative airlaid products.

Air conditioning

AESA Air Engineering

AESA CEO, Gilles GRIMAL, was very happy with the booth attendance and thanks the ITMA team for the perfect organization of the exhibition.
AESA is a leader in air engineering for all textile production processes of natural fibers, man-made fibers and filaments in their different stages: spinning, knitting, weaving, hosiery, different types of nonwovens and fiber productions, as well as dyeing and finishing. AESA received many interested
visitors from India, Iran, North America and Europe. They were particularly focusing on better energy and environmental efficiency for which AESAs know-how and experience in design and implementation of air conditioning plants, is well known worldwide.
Demand was strong for AESA-FLXICONTROL in spinning and weaving factories, for WEAVE DIRECT systems which offer substantial reductions in power consumption combined with accurate condition building on weaving looms thanks to a dedicated supply air ducting system with diffusers above each loom and DIGIVENT control and monitoring system.

Weaving

Stäubli

STÄUBLI demonstrated 13 innovations at ITMA, all of which offer greater advantages and are aligned with the needs and expectations of the market. A number of business agreements were made at the show, and the Stäubli sales teams must now convert the significant interest shown at ITMA into concrete business during the forthcoming months. Following this successful trade fair, STÄUBLI is looking forward to 2016 with strong optimism.

Spotlight on some STÄUBLI novelties:
The SAFIR S60 automatic drawing-in machine was successfully launched. Interested visitors watched it in operation and were amazed by the dependable automatic optical yarn & color detection functions. Also launched recently is the SAFIR S40 automatic drawing-in system with mobile drawing- in trucks, which is especially interesting for denim weavers.
From an elevated deck at the booth, visitors could perfectly observe the new SX, LX and LXL Jacquard machines operating in combination with STÄUBLI Jacquard harnesses and healds underlining the profound system understanding STÄUBLI provides to weavers by means of its Jacquard weaving machinery in combination with STÄUBLI Jacquard accessories.
A large part of the booth was dedicated to the newly unveiled ALPHA 500 INNOVATION carpet weaving system with an accessible weavers stand. Another highlight and world premiere was demonstrated by the STÄUBLI product brand SCHÖNHERR carpet systems: Magic Shadow Effect (patent pending) for weaving single-colour carpets featuring astounding designs.
The STÄUBLI product area DEIMO Knitting Solutions presented a world novelty to the knitting industry, which responded with amazement: the D4S fully automatic toe-linking device. Installed directly on the knitting machine, it permits unloading socks on the fly and ensures very short downtimes.

Ebelmann

Established in 1981, specialized in hard materials’ machining, EBELMANN’S devices are designed to offer the weaving industry highly efficient cutting. As more and more customers are asking for specific devices according to their special applications, the company is organized to offer such solutions. The company knows that its future is in that way.

At ITMA, EBELMANN showcased a display of cutting devices with technical fibers. This presentation attracted more than 300 visitors including new contacts from the Americas and France. Since then, some have already sent first orders.
To go even further, at the leading edge of technology, EBELMANN is investing in a new robotized sharpening machine.

Mallein

With 70 years of experience, MALLEIN is a specialist of the beam for warping and weaving, able to answer to all needs of today’s textile activity. The entire integration of its aluminum foundry and all of its production facilities allows MALLEIN to answer to all specifics enquiries particularly thanks to his know-how in special aluminum alloys.

At ITMA, MALLEIN exhibited its new range of aluminum canisters, canisters that are even stronger and with the greatest geometric precision.
Dyeing and Finishing

Rousselet Group/Callebaut de Blicquy

At ITMA, the exclusive new design for continuous fiber treatment (dyeing, bleaching and impregnation) process met a success that overtook even CDB’s the most optimistic expectations. Thanks to this new design for continuous process, the payback results show how this technology is giving a strategic advantage in global competition. Savings are made at every steps of the process, as very little manpower is required for a high production rate, liquor ratio is drastically reduced, quality is constant.
Then, the bath exhaustion measurement product range was highly requested by customers. Indeed, the wish of being able to see what is happening during dyeing process becomes a reality, from laboratory equipment, with ADM (Analyser Dyeing Master) till the monitoring of the customers’ production machine with ADP (Analyser Dyeing Process).
Now, either on light colors or very dark ones, CDB is able to provide a technology that is reproducible and reliable. These innovations will help to understand how to optimize the process with ADM, and how to control it efficiently with ADP.
Batch centrifuges, suitable for any kind of textile, in any form, with its unique range of basket developed to fit any request from ROUSSELET attracted many customers.
The everyday aim of the CDB/ROUSSELET group is to offer a complete line of machines, more profitable for the clients, making this world greener and having an open minded idea of what will be a dyehouse in next generation.

Alliance Machines Textiles

ALLIANCE Machines Textiles has exhibited three machines during ITMA: RIVIERA ECO GREEN low liquor dyeing machine, ROTORA beam dyeing machine and LABOJET laboratory dyeing machine. ALLIANCE machines are highly efficient with minimum water consumptions (low liquor ratio from 1/2 to 1/3) for dyeing treatments in discontinue in order to obtain a perfect quality and according to the environment respect.

Many Turkish customers have been very interested by the machines. Many also from France, Italy, Belgium and the Maghreb. Also from Iran and Egypt and from South America (Mexico, Brazil) and North America. More than 200 customers have been interested. More than 100 offers have already been sent all over the world. Alliance team is going to follow these offers.

Dollfus & Muller

The ITMA Milano 2015 exhibition was way above the expectations for DOLLFUS & MULLER and even “the best ITMA show of all times” according to David Fauconnier, Sales Director. Both the quantity and the quality of visitors were very good.
DOLLFUS & MULLER manufactures endless felts and dryer belts for the textile finishing and nonwovens factories.

A very high interest was noted on the new compacting felt for the finishing of knitted fabrics introduced during this ITMA edition, many orders have already been taken. During the exhibition, this new endless compactor felt was disclosed “in production”.
Furthermore, the company registered a great demand for its sanforizing felts, transfer printing felts, mesh dryer belts for the printing, the relaxation and thermobonding ovens. A significant interest was finally seen for its new range of decatizing satin wrappers for the finishing of woolen fabrics.
The main visitors during the ITMA show at the DOLLFUS & MULLER booth were coming from India, Italy, Turkey, Pakistan, Germany, France, Iran, Egypt, Spain and Portugal.
Cutting – Sealing

SPOOLEX: DECOUP+, ROLL CONCEPT and CALEMARD

The SPOOLEX team welcomed around 300 visitors to present them the lines of products proposed under the well-known brands Calemard, Decoup+ and Roll Concept. These brands attract worldwide textile/technical textiles producers and converters, and this year an increase on the nonwoven market was registered.

Decoup+, the ultrasonic cutting/sealing solutions division, has launched with success its new manual ultrasonic welding station for stitching operations without any additional material, on small and medium size series. Many contacts are now waiting for the motorized version…
Roll Concept has established its competence in designing and assembling all in house, low inertia and economical technical rolls (aluminum, steel or composites rollers).

Calemard, which celebrates its 60 year, is a reference in quality slitting-rewinding/spooling solutions. With numerous promising contacts taken, several standard slitter-rewinders should be delivered in 2016. Thanks to the increasing number of visitors involved in nonwovens, the team also met numerous contacts interested by the spooling line for jumbo spools, the well-known Pegase line and specially the latest version which is fully automated.

The visitors’ interest in SPOOLEX’ new competence in productivity booster solutions has strengthened the company desire to gather its brands skills and know-how to offer complete converting cells with automated operations for higher productivity, flexibility and operator’s safety. All the team is now working to send the information, trials and proposals requested.

Management solutions

Schaeffer Productique

The new management solutions presented (ERP, BPM, SaaS-Cloud and Mobility applications) strongly interested visitors who expressed their enthusiasm.
SCHAEFFER Productique welcomed more than 160 visitors on its stand: customers, prospects, existing and potential partners, institutions, schools, laboratories, colleagues, from 39 countries, mostly from France and Germany-Switzerland-Austria.

SCHAEFFER Productique also received the steering committee of the European standard for textile data interchange (eBIZ), driven by Euratex. Traceability and data exchange, in the heart of the needs of the profession, are also processed by the company’s eBIZ-compatible platform EcolTex®.
Several concrete projects, that integrate ERP components associated with Business Process Management and use of internet technologies, are emerging. This dynamic confirms the acceleration of new uses of digital technology in organizations and in the evolution of textile business models.

Posted January 20, 2016

Source: French Association of Textile Machinery Manufacturers (UCMTF)

Winners Of The Carpet Design Awards Announced At DOMOTEX 2016

HANNOVER, Germany/CHICAGO, Ill. — January 20, 2016 — The world’s finest designer carpets and rugs have just been awarded well-deserved prizes at the 2016 Carpet Design Awards, held at DOMOTEX in Hannover, Germany.

The award ceremony took place on January 17, with winners announced in eight categories. These include Best Studio Artist Design, Best Traditional Design, Best Modern Collection and Best Innovation. The winners were picked from a list of 24 finalists, whittled down from an initial 320 entries from 21 countries.

This was the eleventh successive year that DOMOTEX has hosted the top international award for modern hand-made carpets and rugs.

Under the chairmanship of the British designer Michael Sodeau, the international jury selected designer pieces that really stand out in terms of design, quality and craftsmanship. Entries were judged on design and design concept, materials, execution, texture/structure and quality as well as sustainability and branding. The presentation of the Carpet Design Awards is one of the highlights of the annual DOMOTEX show. Excitement mounts each year when the prizes are presented on the Sunday of the show at a special award ceremony attended by numerous guests from the international carpet industry.

Carpet Design Awards 2016 prize-winners:

  • Best Studio Artist Design

Re Orient – Studio Brieditis & Evans — Statement of the Jury: Combines upcycling with the roots of traditional rug making

  • Best Modern Design Superior

Aleph – Naziri — Statement of the Jury: The judges were attracted to the minimalism and versatility

  • Best Modern Design Deluxe

Electric Taupe – Hossein Rezvani Design — Statement of the Jury: deconstructs traditional Persian design into its essential elements

  • Best Traditional Design

Marta Stripe – Rug and Kilim — Statement of the Jury: reveals the process in the weave and the warm tones of its colors

  • Best Transitional Design

Secret Garden – Naziri — Statement of the Jury: literally embodies the notion of transitional rug design

  • Best Modern Collection

Landscape Collection – Wool and Silk Rugs — Statement of the Jury: for communicating a sense of time and place

  • Best Traditional Collection

Pine Garden Collection – Rug Star by Jürgen Dahlmanns — Statement of the Jury: taking us on a journey through color

  • Best Innovation

Glow – Zollanvari — Statement of the Jury: the potential to have a widespread ecological impact on rug production

Posted January 20, 2016

Source: DOMOTEX

Sold Out Electronics For Imaging (EFI) Connect User Conference Highlights End-to-End Integrated Solutions

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — January 20, 2016 — Electronics For Imaging (EFI) opened its EFI™ Connect event — another sold out users’ conference with 10-percent more pre-registered customer attendees compared to 2015 — yesterday at Wynn, Las Vegas. This year’s event features the debut of several new Productivity Suites — designed, built, validated and integrated workflows from the industry’s leading business and production management software portfolio — along with digital print and industrial inkjet products to assist EFI customers adopting digital printing applications.

The conference, held January 19-22 and is one of the printing industry’s largest and longest-running users’ group events, features a solutions center and more than 200 technical, sales and business management sessions, including hands-on customer labs, interactive Voice of Customer sessions, user meetings for EFI Productivity Suite and MIS/ERP core platforms and a development track conducted by industry analyst group InfoTrends.

As always, networking and information sharing between attendees is a key highlight as well, with the list of Connect 2016 participants representing many of the world’s leading print businesses.

During his opening keynote for the conference, EFI CEO Guy Gecht stressed the need for customers to “bet on changes in the market forces to accelerate.” Successful printing businesses, he added, need to move with the window of opportunity. “You must be willing to take a risk. Doing nothing is a guarantee that you will be unsuccessful.”

Resort industry and Las Vegas business legend Steve Wynn, Chairman and CEO of Wynn Resorts (Nasdaq:WYNN) gave a special keynote presentation at Connect in honor of the conference’s 10th anniversary at Wynn, Las Vegas. Wynn provided a business lesson on his success, which, despite the luxury of his resorts, ultimately depends on creating a culture where employees gain a sense of pride and enhanced self-esteem through their work.

“Underneath every major business franchise is the question of ‘is it better? Is their price really justified?’ ” said Wynn. “What we’ve learned here is that only people make people happy.”

Expansion of the Productivity Suite Strategy

Customers at the conference are learning how the EFI Productivity Suites — a comprehensive, best-of-portfolio workflow platform introduced at Connect 2015 — improves users’ productivity, efficiency and profitability through “Suite Certified” workflows for specific segments. EFI’s commitment to development and advancement for Enterprise and Midmarket Commercial and Packaging Suites are evident in sessions and the solutions center. And, at this year’s conference EFI is continuing that strategy and commitment, doubling its Productivity Suite offerings with three new certified Suites for the quick printing, publication print and corrugated packaging segments.

Connect 2016 also features advanced EFI Fiery® digital front end and software technologies for cut-sheet digital printing, including previews of Fiery Command WorkStation® 5.8 and the newest-version Fiery JobFlow™ digital print workflow automation software. Available this quarter, JobFlow delivers even more powerful digital print workflow automation features for efficient multi-job submission, extended third-party job processing, workflow sharing and enhanced usability.

New inkjet opportunities in ‘The Imaging of Things’

In addition to highlighting advanced workflow technologies, Connect showcases how EFI customers across the globe create profitable opportunities with innovative, high-value and high-quality inkjet imaging applications. These customers are successful participants in the concept of “The Imaging of Things,” delivering greater product customization and appeal in everything from signage and packaging to décor, apparel and industrial manufacturing.

During his keynote, Gecht unveiled the Imaging of Things exchange (www.ImagingofThings.com), an online customer applications gallery designed to help EFI customers and print buyers grow their network and business relationships.

The online exchange is free for EFI customers and provides a venue for them to post images and videos of their work in a forum targeted to print buyers looking for new, unique and innovative application ideas. The Imaging of Things exchange addresses the network effect online communities have in accelerating adoption of new technologies and applications. And, as a result, EFI customers can better promote their EFI print applications and generate new business leads.

Connect’s solutions center features top technologies in the EFI industrial inkjet portfolio, including best-selling, entry-level and new, high-end hybrid LED printers with advanced, variable-drop grayscale imaging and industry-leading white ink. The Connect 2016 exhibit floor also features versatile, roll-to-roll LED printing technology from EFI’s recently acquired Matan product line.

Attendees can see a broader range of print application possibilities within the Imaging of Things with exhibits of jobs produced on EFI’s Cretaprint® ceramic tile printers, Jetrion® narrow-web label printers and the company’s recently acquired line of Reggiani textile printers. Michele Riva, sales and marketing director for EFI Reggiani, will provide added insight into the significant opportunity in printing for fabric graphic display and industrial textile applications during a Jan. 21 keynote speech.

Connect 2016 also features an industry update keynote from Epicomm Chief Economist Andy Paparozzi and keynotes from additional senior EFI executives.

Along with its lineup of technology and business presentations, training sessions and EFI product demonstrations, Connect 2016 features numerous exhibits from partner companies, including platinum sponsors Canon U.S.A. and Xerox; gold sponsor Duplo; and bronze sponsors 3M Commercial Graphics; AccuZIP; BCC Software; BondCote/Heytex Corp.; Esko; Honle UV America; Kodak; Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A. Inc.; Lintec Corp.; the Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation; Progress Software; and Ricoh Production Print.

Posted January 20, 2016

Source: EFI

Cotton’s First Full Traceability System

BREMEN, Germany — January 20, 2016 — ICA Bremen — the international center for cotton testing, research and quality training — is working with some of the biggest names in the industry to be the first to develop a full traceability system.

Significant progress has been made to accurately measure the percentage of marked cotton in final garments simply by scanning it, which involves adding an identifier to fibres at the ginning stage.

Kai Hughes, ICA Bremen Manager Director said: “Our traceability system will be a massive step forward for major brands, retailers and growers, replacing the current ‘tagging’ systems and cutting out the need for supply chain certification processes.

“We know that there are other companies claiming to offer ‘traceability’ services but these just tag the cotton and provide a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer. There are none that can also quantify their results to provide an exact percentage like ours will. The process has already been proved in the laboratory and work is now taking place to identify suitable partners to conduct field trials.”

More developments will be announced in due course.

Posted January 20, 2016

Source ICA Bremen

Top Value Fabrics Delivers Tablecloth Fabric Pro

CARMEL, Ind. — January 19, 2016 — Top Value Fabrics delivers Tablecloth Fabric Pro, a 100-percent polyester fabric that is engineered for creating beautiful corporate and event tablecloths that perform flawlessly event after event.

“Tablecloth Fabric Pro is the newest extension of our Direct Print Textile line, which is designed especially for printers who demand high performance textiles for direct printing,” explains Jeff Nonte, Print Media Program Manager for Top Value Fabrics. Nonte adds, “This fabric has a soft hand, sleek drape and provides an outstanding platform for vibrant color. As a result of these characteristics in addition to the fabric’s wrinkle resistance and the properties that make it travel well, Tablecloth Fabric Pro is versatile. The fabric is outstanding for making eye-catching tablecloths and for printing various retail displays, expo backdrops, banners and popup displays.”

Tablecloth Fabric Pro meets NFPA 701 FR specifications and provides options in ink compatibility including Dye Sub Direct, Dye Sub Transfer, UV and Latex. Available in widths to 126”, this fabric yields outstanding color consistency, excellent image sharpness and a wide color range.

Posted January 20, 2016

Source: Top Value Fabrics

Athleta Announces Launch of Girls’ Clothing Line

PETALUMA, Calif. — January 19, 2016 — Today, Athleta announced it is launching a new girls’ clothing line called “Athleta Girl.” The collection, which will include both performance and lifestyle clothing, launches online and in select Athleta stores across the U.S. this summer.
According to NPD data, the women’s active wear category is continuing to grow at a fast pace, with overall sales increasing 20 percent to $19.6 billion in 2015*. A portion of this growth can be attributed to younger customers, including pre-teens and teens.

“Sporty is how girls are dressing today. Just like their moms, sisters, aunts and friends, they are living more active lives,” said Nancy Green, president, Athleta. “We see Athleta Girl as an opportunity to offer her clothes that are comfortable, stylish, high-quality, built to move and will perform for her.”

At launch, Athleta Girl product offerings will cover a range of sports, including running, soccer, dance, gymnastics and basketball as well as swim. It will also include an active lifestyle category with products that can transition throughout her entire day.

“Similar to our women’s line, we wanted to create pieces that are rooted in performance, but are versatile enough to be worn at any time in a girl’s day,” continued Green. “Her style is already all about sport, even if she’s not playing a sport. The collection will be the go-to pieces for her wardrobe.”

The line is for girls aged 6 to 14 years and will cover a range of activities. It will include key styles from Athleta’s women’s collection, including run shorts, capris and tops, along with new styles designed specifically for a younger customer.

The girls’ category is a natural fit for Athleta as the brand has been active in empowering both women and girls through fitness since its founding in 1998. In 2011, the brand became the national sponsor of Girls on the Run, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping girls build confidence through fitness.

“Athleta Girl is perfectly aligned with our brand mission and values,” said Elisabeth Charles, SVP of Marketing, Athleta. “Our mission is to ignite a community of active, healthy, confident women and girls who empower each other to realize their limitless potential. Our new girls’ clothing line allows us to encourage healthy, active lifestyles and instill a strong sense of confidence with the next generation of girls.”

In select stores, Athleta will create a unique shopping experience for its Athleta Girl customers with tailored bags, clothing tags and mannequins.

Posted January 19, 2016

Source: PRNewswire

LifeThreads Launches Contego Collection of Antimicrobial Medical Apparel

 

NEW YORK — January 19, 2016 — A second generation product line of medical apparel, which offers doctors, nurses and other medical personnel high value, style, comfort and increased protection, is being introduced by LifeThreads® LLC.

The new Contego Collection, which follows last year’s successful introduction of LifeThreads’ Classic Collection, is treated with an EPA-registered antimicrobial active ingredient that protects the fabric from harmful pathogens found within institutional medical environments. All LifeThreads garments are fluid resistant offering healthcare employees protection against blood, urine, vomit and other bodily fluids.

Contego offers new styles with stretch tops, pants and cargo pants that are available now in six different colors – black, pewter, white, wine, royal blue and navy blue with three additional colors – ceil blue, hunter green and eggplant – debuting in March 2016. The cargo pants feature multiple pockets in convenient places for storing and accessing items easily. The premium quality stretch fabric is made out of cotton (55 percent), polyester (41 percent) and spandex (4 percent) and provides an improved fit and greater comfort for healthcare professionals. Sizes range from XS to 3XL.

Worn by doctors, nurses, healthcare professionals and patients, Life Threads’ textiles are designed to prevent the spread of harmful bacteria in healthcare settings where patients are most vulnerable.

“With the introduction of our new Contego Collection, we are challenging the status quo by offering a new line of highly-styled, comfort plus medical apparel with contemporary colors that medical professionals have been requesting for years,” said Karan Jhunjhunwala, founder and CEO of LifeThreads. “Our new wide range of garment colors supports coding schemes used increasingly in institutional settings to make it easier for patients to identify caregivers.

“The Contego Collection not only makes healthcare professionals feel good and look good, these garments also bring them peace of mind with Life Threads’ ‘first of its kind’ antimicrobial, antifungal, fluid resistant and odor control protection,” said Mr. Jhunjhunwala.

Posted January 19, 2016

Source: LifeThreads® LLC

Hexcel to Build Engineered Core Plant in Casablanca, Morocco

STAMFORD, Conn. — January 19, 2016 — Hexcel Corp. announced today that it will expand its global engineered core capacity by building a 117,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Casablanca, Morocco.

The new facility is part of Hexcel’s ongoing worldwide investment to create a diversified and robust global supply chain to support aerospace customers’ growing demand for engineered core. Engineered core is formed and machined honeycomb materials used for light weighting in structural applications such as aircraft secondary structures, nacelles, and helicopter blades. In recent years, Hexcel has increased its capacity at existing plants to support its current engineered core business and plans further expansions to capture additional opportunities in a global market with excellent growth potential.
The new Moroccan plant will be built at the MidParc Free Trade Zone (FTZ) Industrial Park, located close to Morocco’s Mohammed V airport and near several Hexcel customers including Safran (Aircelle), Airbus (STELIA), Matis (a joint venture between Boeing and Safran) and Bombardier. Construction on the $20 million project begins in the spring, and the plant is expected to be fully operational by mid-2017. By 2020, it is expected to employ more than 200 people.

Hexcel’s Chairman, CEO and President, Nick Stanage, said: “We believe engineered core has an excellent growth outlook and global upside potential. This new plant will position us to win new business to supply engineered core for engines and nacelles and other commercial aerostructure applications. We expect to partner more closely with our key customer base in Europe, Middle East, Africa and North America through this new Moroccan center of excellence.”

Bob Noble, Vice President, Partnering for Success, Supplier Management, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said, “Through our joint venture Matis, Boeing has been an anchor of the growing Moroccan aerospace ecosystem since 2000. We welcome Hexcel’s new facility, which will serve to further expand regional capabilities, increasing the value Morocco offers aerospace companies around the world.”

Posted January 19, 2016

Source: Hexcel Corp.

New Twins Chooses Lectra Fashion PLM

PARIS — January 19, 2016 — Lectra, a producer integrated technology solutions dedicated to industries using soft materials — fabrics, leather, technical textiles and composite materials — is pleased to announce that Italian apparel company New Twins has chosen Lectra Fashion PLM to connect its product development team with the creative department at cashmere and knitwear brand Falconeri, part of the Calzedonia Group.

New Twins develops and produces men’s and women’s knitwear for Falconeri, which is currently pursuing an aggressive plan to expand business internationally and increase its market share in Italy and across Europe. As the complexity and volume of orders increase, New Twins needs a way to improve workflow between its own teams and Falconeri’s, so that the two companies can work together efficiently as one cohesive team.

“Our development team is largely technical and follows a very different production model than the one Falconeri uses; we needed a reliable information system that would synchronize processes across different teams, different departments and even different companies. We looked at a few PLM systems but we chose Lectra, not just because their technology suited our needs, but also because we were impressed with the depth of their expertise and the way their recommendations took both people and process into account—they really considered the whole picture,” says Stefano Modena, PLM System Project Manager, New Twins.

New Twins will implement Lectra Fashion PLM in their technical and patternmaking office. The powerful solution allows design, development and production teams to access the same version of a work in progress and communicate in real time on one common platform, so that they can collaborate effectively and make more informed design decisions. By eliminating redundant tasks and problems arising from miscommunication, the technology saves time and minimizes errors so that companies like New Twins and Falconeri can get better products to market faster.

“New Twins needs a solution that will give them visibility over the entire collection lifecycle; this can be especially challenging when the clothing being developed is designed by a completely different entity. Connecting all the teams on Lectra Fashion PLM will help streamline the production cycle so that the company can waste less time going back and forth and focus on creating a quality product,” says Fabio Canali, Managing Director, Lectra Italy.

Posted January 19, 2016

Source: Lectra 

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