World Textile Service Congress Unites Hundreds To Spark Industry Growth

BRUGES, Belgium — November 2, 2016 — Linen and uniform launderers and suppliers from across the globe gathered in Bruges, Belgium, October 5-7, 2017, at the World Textile Services Congress (WTSC) which convened for the first time in 15 years. Nearly 90 executives from more than 50 laundry companies arrived from 12 different countries along with 14 sponsoring suppliers combining for a total of nearly 200 participants to review political, economic and social conditions affecting the industry worldwide.

While delegates were prompted to recognize what makes their businesses and homelands unique, more often they related to each other’s experiences, noting issues they face at home that extend across borders; enabling executives to share strategies for fulfilling common business opportunities.

WTSC presenters discussed these widely observed textile services trends:

  • The industry has yet to thoroughly document the value of its services, indicating the need to reverse perceptions of the business as a commodity;
  • Corporate consolidation of textile services operators continues to decrease their numbers and increase larger chains’ market share, but niches remain for independents;
  • Immigration creates costly public burdens but remains a fertile source of employees;
  • Better analysis of launderers’ databases can improve customer service and drive additional revenue; and
  • More plant processes can be automated to increase operating margins.

These themes emerged from the start when former European Commission President Herman Von Rompuy delivered the keynote address. Attendees continued to recognize similarities when geographic and product market trends were portrayed in panel discussions and Belgian launderers discussed their operations as they opened their doors for participants’ visits on the final day of the Congress.

Belgium contributed the largest segment of launderer attendees, followed by the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom. Also represented: Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Event organizers were the European Textile Services Association (ETSA), FBT (Belgian national association of textile services) and TRSA (international, based in the United States).

One delegate, Santtu Jokinen, senior VP, Western and Central Europe, Lindstrom Oy, Helsinki, Finland, attested to the WTSC’s value for personal interaction. “It’s always beneficial to meet with industry colleagues and suppliers and visit laundries other than ours. To be part of a broad international audience is icing on the cake,” he said.

Bernald Leone, director, Is A Laundry Srl, Rome, Italy, viewed the Congress as an opportunity for launderers to portray worldwide unity for their critical economic cause. “Without us, it’s impossible for businesses such as hospitals, hotels and restaurants to work. I know that Italy doesn’t recognize this importance and I feel I need to be here not just for our company but for all the laundries in Italy,” he said.

Providing the greatest financial support for the WTSC among suppliers were event partners Christeyns (laundry chemistry) and Lapauw International (laundry machinery), both Belgium-based. The next sponsorship tier, supporting keynote speakers, was filled by Jensen (machinery) and Ecolab (chemistry).

The remaining 10 (classified as gold level sponsors) were equipment makers Alliance International, Electrolux, Kannegiesser and Pellerin Milnor; mat manufacturers Kleen-Tex, Millennium, Milliken and Mountville Mills; IT provider ABS Laundry Business Systems; and garment distributor Van Moer (Dickies).

Philip Rebry, FBT president and CEO, Rapid Industry NV, Belgium, welcomed attendees. Executives from textile services companies who spoke to the Congress during panel discussions:

  • Mia Decaestecker, FBT board member; CEO, Malaysse, Belgium;
  • Brian Keegan, senior VP, AmeriPride Services, United States;
  • Juha Laurio, ETSA chair; President/CEO, Lindström Group, Finland;
  • Nagore Marco, group risk manager, Berendsen, United Kingdom;
  • David Potack, TRSA Chair; senior VP, Unitex Textile Rental Services, United States;
  • Chris Sander, CEO, Johnson Service Group, United Kingdom; and
  • Martin Swierzy, managing director, Alsco Berufskleidungs-Service, Germany.

Belgian laundry operators who opened their facilities near Bruges for delegate tours were Aneca, CleanLease, De Reu, Dumoulin, Klaratex, Malysse, Rapid Industry and Sint-Michiel.

Sponsors participating on panels were:

  • Charles Betteridge, VP, Christeyns, Germany;
  • Sam De Boo, VP and general manager, Ecolab Europe, Switzerland;
  • Jesper Jensen, CEO, Jensen Group, Switzerland; and
  • Martin Kannegiesser, owner and CEO, Herbert Kannegiesser, Germany.

The last Congress took place in October 2001 in London, also staged by an international coalition but led by the U.K.’s Textile Services Association (TSA). Rebry dedicated the 2016 edition to Murray Simpson, the TSA chief executive who campaigned for the event’s revival, but lost his life in an auto accident in 2014. Organizers expressed confidence that the next Congress would be no more than several years from now in a location to be determined.

Posted November 3, 2016

Source: TRSA

SGIA Partners With AATCC To Host Digital Textile Printing Conference

FAIRFAX, Va. — November 3, 2016 — AATCC and SGIA have joined forces to offer a unique educational conference — Digital Textile Printing: The Future is Now, December 6–7 at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel in Durham, N.C.

This two-day program will feature the industry’s most well-known and respected experts presenting topics essential for those involved in digital textiles. Conference attendees will leave with a wealth of understanding and inspiration to take back to their respective jobs. This robust event will feature new technology, color management, product performance, testing, design and much more. Topics and speakers include:

  • Digital Textile Printing Technology Overview — Johnny Shell, Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA);
  • Which Ink Do I Use? — David Clark, Huntsman;
  • Fabric Printing: Color 101 — Dave Brewer, Image Options;
  • Now that You’ve Printed the Fabric, What Next? Digital Finishing Pitfalls and Opportunities — Steve Aranoff, Mikkelsen Converting Technologies;
  • How to Know the Inks and Other Chemicals Will Meet Your Customers Sustainability Objectives — Ben Mead, Hohenstein Institute USA and OEKO-TEX USA; and
  • Quality Assurance for Printed Textiles — Diana Wyman, AATCC.

View the full program details and start planning your trip to North Carolina.

Posted November 3, 2016

Souurce: AATCC and SGIA

ITMA Asia + CITME 2016 Attracts Strong Interest With Large Showcase Of Latest Technology For The Textile Machinery Industry

SHANGHAI — November 3, 2016 – Featuring the largest showcase in the series since its launch in 2008, the recently concluded ITMA ASIA + CITME 2016 textile machinery exhibition received a very strong response from visitors.

By the end of the five-day show on October 25, the fifth combined showcase registered a visitorship of more than 100,000 from 102 countries and regions. Twenty percent of the visitors came from outside China.

In terms of visitor numbers, Chinese mainland visitors ranked first, followed by India, Japan, Korea, Taiwan China, Indonesia and Bangladesh, and exhibitors have commented very favourably on the high quality of professional and trade visitors attending the show.

A total of 1,673 exhibitors from 28 countries and regions participated in the exhibition, which covered over 170,000 square meters of gross exhibition space.

Fritz Mayer, CEMATEX president, said: “We are delighted that this was our largest show since its launch back in 2008. The majority of our visitors were serious buyers, and as a result our exhibitors are very happy with the overall quality. We are looking forward to another successful presentation of the next combined show in 2018.”

Wang Shutian, China Textile Machinery Association (CTMA) president, agreed: “The combined show continues to be a ‘must’ for textile machinery manufacturers and their customers, and we are delighted to present the very best technologies from both east and west to Chinese and other Asian buyers.”

With the rapid development of information technology, the organizer provided some brand new services to visitors. Visitors could download an interactive map to navigate the exhibition halls, and visitors were also given the option of registering and paying for their badges via WeChat, a popular mobile app in China.

The next combined show will be held at the National Exhibition and Convention Centre in Shanghai October 26-30, 2018, and will be organized by BJITME, and co-organized by ITMA Services.

Posted November 3, 2016

Source: CEMATEX, CCPIT-Tex, CTMA & CIEC

Alvanon’s Tracy Rickert Will Contribute Insights On “Making Sustainability Profitable” At WGSN Futures 2016

NEW YORK CITY — November 2, 2016 — Alvanon Senior Consultant Tracy Rickert will participate in a panel discussion titled “Cause and Commerce: Making Sustainability Profitable” at WGSN Futures 2016, The vision 2030, a summit that provides insight into how today’s fashion and creative industry leaders envision the world evolving over the next 15 years. During the day-long summit, guests are invited to strategically think about what the world will look like in 2030 — from interactions between brands and consumers, to the future of sexuality.

The event will take place November 10, 2016, 9:45 – 10:15 a.m., Studio 450, New York.

As an Alvanon global apparel and retail business consultant, Rickert has worked with brands and retailers on program initiatives from their inception through to the capture of objectives. At WGSN Futures 2016, she will address the challenges facing companies that are in the early stages of incorporating Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) into their enterprise.

“Fashion is among the ‘dirtiest’ industries in the world,” Rickert says, “and one of the most resistant to change. There is need for innovation, disruption and cultural evolution in the ways we manufacture apparel, employ and manage human resources and bring product to market.

“During our panel discussion, we will discuss how brands and manufacturers can make sustainability profitable,” Rickert continues. “Alvanon clients have improved sustainability practices along multiple points of the supply chain, while adding to bottom line profits. For example, one North American apparel brand was able to adjust the chemistry used in its dying process and reduce chemical and water usage, ultimately reducing cost.”

Joining Rickert on the panel will be industry-leading experts from H&M, Patagonia, Eileen Fisher and ISKO, with the session moderated by Simon Collins, former Dean of Fashion, Parsons The New School for Design.

Posted November 2, 2016

Source: Alvanon

IFAI Expo 2016 Draws Near-record Attendance

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — October 27, 2016 — IFAI Expo 2016 attracted 5,023 participants to the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, N.C., from October 18-21.

Attendees were treated to four days of product demonstrations, education, networking, exhibits and awards recognizing industry achievement.

“We couldn’t be happier with this year’s Expo,” IFAI President/CEO Mary Hennessy said. “Interest in the event has rarely been higher and that’s proven by a record-setting number of exhibitors and huge interest in the event from the industry at large.”

Attendance at this year’s Expo was rivaled only by IFAI’s 100th Anniversary event in Boston in 2012. IFAI Expo is the largest display of specialty fabrics and technical textiles in the Americas.

Exhibitors were pleased with the way Expo unfolded. “It gave us an opportunity to, in a more concentrated way, listen to the customer,” said Leib Oehmig, President/COO of Glen Raven Inc. “It’s something we really look forward to. For us, it’s a slam-dunk.”

Attendees had the chance to meet with a record number of exhibitors. “It’s a good opportunity to mix with our suppliers, a good time to rub shoulders with others in the industry,” said Monte Sharp, President of Sharp’s Tarps, Grant’s Pass, Ore., who attended his 32nd consecutive IFAI Expo last week. “Expo helps us to stay on top of technology…it was a very good show overall.”

Expo highlights included a revamped ShowStopper program which highlighted new products, three times the number of Campfire Session educational opportunities compared to 2015’s show, and excellent participation in both the International Achievement Awards (IAA) and Industrial Fabrics Foundation (IFF) events. Attendees also had the chance to earn Textile Testing Certificates from North Carolina State University after completing a special testing course.

GeoCharlotte, a single-day geosynthetics program, also drew engineers and exhibitors to Charlotte for a day of education and networking ahead of March 2017’s Geotechnical Frontiers event, which will be cohosted by IFAI.

Attendees also heard from a stable of keynote speakers including business ethics expert Chuck Gallagher, author and marketing executive Linda Kaplan Thaler and former Walt Disney World customer service guru Dennis Snow.

IFAI Expo 2017 will take place in New Orleans September 26-29, 2017.

Posted November 1, 2016

Source: IFAI

Emerald Performance Materials Completes Sale of Specialties Business Group to DyStar LP

CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio — October 31, 2016 — Emerald Performance Materials LLC completed the sale of its Emerald Specialties business group to DyStar LP. Emerald Specialties includes Emerald Hilton Davis, Emerald Carolina Chemical and Emerald Foam Control with sites in Cincinnati, Charlotte and Cheyenne, Wyo., respectively. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Thomas M. Holleran, executive director at Emerald Performance Materials, said: “We are pleased that the sale has been completed and appreciate the dedication of all our employees throughout this process. We are also extremely proud of the accomplishments of Emerald Specialties in developing new technologies and delivering value to our customers and organization over the last 10 years. The Specialties business is well-positioned for continued success as part of DyStar.”

Emerald Performance Materials continues to focus on exciting growth opportunities in its Kalama Chemical and CVC Thermoset Specialties business groups, as well as support of its Polymer Additives and Nitriles business group, and has made significant investments to expand its capacity, product offerings and global reach. In accordance with a previous announcement, the company expects to conclude the sale of its Polymer Additives and Nitriles business unit as a separate transaction in the future.

Posted October 31, 2016

Source: Emerald Performance Materials

Stretch, Selvedge And Sustainability Innovations Launched Among US Denim Fashions At Denim Première Vision Paris

LAHORE, Pakistan— October 31, 2016 — MaxFlex extreme stretch, original bistretch selvedge and advances in making jeans more planet-friendly are just some of the US Denim innovations launching at the Denim Première Vision show in Paris next week.

The US denim booth displays the breadth of the mill’s offerings, says the company’s European representative Rinze Koopmans. “And we’re also introducing an number of fabrics that showcase our product, technology and sustainability strengths.”

  • MaxFlex smashes current limits on fabric stretch-ability with stability to unheard-of levels — more than 100-percent stretch with less than 3.5-percent growth.
  • Bidirectional stretch selvedge denim woven on our vast array of specially adapted authentic antique selvedge looms.
  • Planet Friendly Synthetics for denim blends with the advantages of polyester, but with planet-friendly biodegradable fiber that decomposes in a couple of years instead of 100.
  • Airy yarn technology enhancements to give extra breathability and summer comfort in a range of new denims.
  • Ultra-light and Ultra-Comfy blends that use Modal, Tencel, Viscose and special long staple yarns create a luxurious soft feel.

“We’ll have our worldwide representatives at the booth to explain those technologies and answer questions about the fashion possibilities they create,” says Koopmans. Staff from the new US Denim offices in London will be on hand. “We’ll also share news about our progress on sustainable dyeing, seamless garments, recycling and more.”

Posted October 31, 2016

Source: US Denim

Clariant MEVOPUR® Line Adds Color, Functional Additive Options For Nonwoven Medical Products 

MUTTENZ, Switzerland — October 31, 2016 – Clariant and its Masterbatches business unit have announced a specific range of MEVOPUR® color and functional additives for use in high-performance, spunbond fibers used in medical applications.

Nonwoven fibers are used in applications including surgical gowns and masks, sterilization bags, medical filtration products, and a range of sanitary and hygienic pads, and wound-care dressings. Since pigments and additives used to color or modify the polymer potentially increase the risk of extraction and interaction if the products come in contact with bodily fluids, these applications often require extraction and biological evaluation to standards such as US Pharmacopeia (USP) <87>,<88> or similar.

Clariant Mevopur masterbatches and compounds provide the makers of medical and pharmaceutical products with change-controlled, raw material additives and masterbatches, complete with regulatory documentation to support their use in healthcare applications. Every Mevopur product combines excellent application performance with documentation of the biological evaluation of its raw material ingredients to USP chapters (Class VI) and ISO10993 requirements.

Mevopur color and additive masterbatches are now available in seven ISO10993/USP colors (Yellow, Orange, Red, Violet, Dark Blue, Mid Blue, and Green). New Mevopur masterbatch options, including custom colors, are also available for use with polyethylene (PE) bicomponent fibers.

“Our product line continues to expand and evolve, now meeting customer demand for change-controlled raw material ingredients that comply with stringent medical requirements, and helping manufacturers find new alternatives for creating more colorful, comfortable, and functional medical and hygienic products,” said Francis Baud, global fiber marketing head for the Clariant Masterbatches business unit.

Clariant Mevopur products are manufactured in three sites under global quality system ISO13485 to ensuring quick delivery and competitive pricing, with back-up capacity to meet the BCP (Business Continuity Planning) requirements of global customers. All Mevopur products are also free from animal derived substances and phthalates, and are suited for food contact according to EU and FDA norms.

Posted October 31, 2016

Source: Clariant

BASF Declares Force Majeure For The Supply Of Dispersions, Dispersion Powders And Hotmelts On Acrylic Monomer Basis From Sites In Ludwigshafen And Tarragona

LUDWIGSHAFEN, Germany — October 31, 2016 — As a consequence of the fire incident at the North Harbour at BASF SE in Ludwigshafen October 17, 2016, BASF has to declare Force Majeure on deliveries of dispersions, dispersion powders and hotmelts on acrylic monomer basis — Acronal®, acResin®, Acrodur®, ACROSOL® E 20 D, AQAGloss®, Basonal®, Col.9®, Epotal® and Luhydran® — from BASF’s sites in Ludwigshafen and Tarragona until further notice.

While the plants for the above mentioned products are not affected by the incident, impacts on logistics as well as raw materials are given. Because of the fire, the raw material supply of the steam crackers was halted; also other Verbund plants were idled or production reduced. Many plants, such as one of the steam crackers, have resumed operations in the meantime.

As of today product inventories are nearly exhausted and the production output is restricted due to still limited access to key raw materials. Under the current circumstances a delivery via barge, rail or tank car is also limited.

BASF currently is unable to specify how long this situation will last. Meanwhile, BASF is implementing measures to limit the consequences for its customers and will continuously inform them about the development and the details regarding the supply capability with the affected products.

Posted October 31, 2016

Source: BASF

Thrace Group Hires Director Of Engineering – Geosynthetics For The North American Market

ATHENS, Greece – October 28, 2016 – Thrace Group is proud to announce the addition of Steve Lothspeich as Director of Engineering – Geosynthetics for the Thrace Group member companies Thrace Linq, Thrace NG, and Lumite.

An executive leader with extensive experience in corporate management, marketing, distribution, and sales of technically engineered products for the civil construction industry, Steve will support current and future anticipated growth of Thrace Group Geosynthetics in the U.S. market. His previous roles include president for Huesker Inc./Huesker Geocomposites and senior consultant for Strategy Consulting.

The appointment of a high caliber professional as Steve Lothspeich in a critical new position speaks for Thrace Group’s strong commitment to expand its Geosynthetics’ business in the North American market by advancing its products, services, technologies and manufacturing processes while enhancing synergies among member companies.

Posted October 31, 2016

Source: Thrace Group

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