GASTONIA, N.C. — March 10, 2016 — After 10 years in the bedding industry, Creative Ticking has unveiled a new look and branding initiative featuring a new logo, tagline and website. Demonstrating its commitment to bringing the industry fresh and unique sleep solutions, the new tagline — Knitting the Fabric of Dreams — speaks to the depth and breadth of technical expertise behind Creative Ticking.

“Our new branding is intended to communicate Creative Ticking’s ability to combine imaginative style and design with our advanced technical expertise to create innovative solutions for the bedding industry” said Ron Sytz, CEO, Creative Ticking. “There is really no limit for us; we are knitting the fabrics our customers only dream about.”

The company is leveraging relationships and experience from its parent company, Beverly Knits, one of the largest circular knitters in the United States. With more than 35 years of experience in the knitting industry, Beverly Knits is the technology center behind Creative Ticking, developing fabrics not only for the bedding category, but for a diverse mix of other industries, including active wear, intimate apparel, outdoor products, automotive, medical and industrial. Creative Ticking uses ideas, perspectives and knowledge from working with leading non-mattress brands to help create newness within the bedding market.

Part of the company’s new look is a revamped website, www.creativeticking.com, designed to showcase Creative Ticking’s integrated operation and many in-house capabilities, as well as make it easier for customers to access information about the company’s products, services and team.

“The new site allows us to tell our story so our customers understand the added value we bring” added Sytz “We are the best kept secret in the knitting industry, but we want others to see what’s possible in partnering with us.”

Posted March 11, 2016

Source: Creative Ticking

BURGDORF, Switzerland — March 11, 2016 — In a move to expand its innovative capacities, Sanitized AG, provider of the most extensive portfolio of antimicrobial products for the plastics and textile industries, has opened the new Sanitized TecCenter at its Burgdorf, Switzerland, head office. Customers benefit from active product development and optimization support for premium hygiene function and material protection, tailored to each individual production process. R&D Support for odor management in textiles is a further key priority.

Which Sanitized® technology is best suited to the application technology employed in polymer or textile production and provides the best antimicrobial effect and material protection, for instance for mattresses, kitchen utensils, clothes, technical textiles or floor coverings? This is the type of question that the new Sanitized TecCenter will answer using a professional, cooperative and efficient approach. Support for application technology issues, microbiological tests and a range of analyses are all delivered from one source.

Tailor-made solutions for optimum antimicrobial protection

SANITIZED helps customers develop new products with integrated hygiene function, material protection against defined aggressors, such as UV irradiation or mold, and odor management in textiles.

The enhanced innovation capabilities include testing facilities for polymer and textile coatings. The new Sanitized TecCenter has the equipment required to manufacture plastic films or coating support systems and textiles, benefitting manufacturers of industrial textiles and geotextiles.

Repellent plastics and textiles can be subjected to extensive endurance tests, including thermo gravimetric analysis, thermo tests for PVC, heat and cold (jungle test), tension, exposure (QUV/spray, QUV/Se, Sun test XLS+), wash resistance and watering. Textiles can be finished using the pad transfer technique, extraction technique or dye bath method.
“The equipment in our new Sanitized TecCenter, allows us to conduct application tests at laboratory level to advance product developments and optimization which, so far, had to be carried out in customers’ manufacturing processes at great expense in terms of machinery, time and energy,” summarizes Urs Stalder, CEO, Sanitized AG, in describing the benefits for polymer and textile manufacturers. “In close cooperation with our customers, we can now effectively advance their R&D projects,” continues Urs Stalder.

The Sanitized TecCenter is also equipped to carry out all relevant microbiological laboratory tests. Depending on the envisaged type of protection and applied Sanitized technology, the center can test for mold formation, odor development, material deterioration, dust mites or bacteria growth – either individually or in combination.

Technology transfer promoting efficiency and sustainability

A further objective of the new Sanitized TecCenter consists of testing proven Sanitized products for new types of application. Customers will derive various benefits: Application of one single Sanitized product for several different articles not only reduces logistic expenses and transport costs but also allows customers to avoid converting their machinery and vehicle fleets.

Posted March 11, 2016

Source: SANITIZED AG

MINNEAPOLIS — March 7, 2016 — AmeriPride Services announced the launch of its newly redesigned company website at www.AmeriPride.com. The streamlined, mobile-friendly site was designed to improve the customer experience and features a fresh, modern look consistent with the company’s other new digital tools.

Customers can now fully access the site from a smart phone, tablet or computer. The site also features a prominent introductory video providing a ‘behind-the-scenes’ look at the company’s service offerings, as well as easier navigation and simple, image-based menus that make it easier to browse the company’s wide range of products.

“We’re always listening to our customers’ feedback on how we can improve their experience with us and we used this input when designing our new site,” said Andrew Steiner, Vice President of Marketing and Customer Operations. “We knew it was a priority for our website to be accessible wherever and whenever customers need it so they could access information on the fly. We also built the site on an optimized platform and we are now able to make updates more quickly so customers always have access to the latest information.”

Steiner added that the new site is also more consistent with the look and feel of the company’s suite of digital tools, including the new Customer Portal,Web Store, Custom eStores and Focused eStores. “Customers will now have a consistent, cohesive experience no matter which of our digital tools they are accessing,” said Steiner.

Easily found at the top of the homepage, the new Customer Portal allows customers to access account information, discover new products and services, and communicate with their service team. Meanwhile, the Web Store allows users to purchase customized products and services online, and Custom and Focused eStores are unique online stores created for specific customers to help manage their uniform program and allow employees to order approved, branded products.

The updated web site and other digital tools are a part of the company’s Complete Customer Care (C3) program, which launched in 2009 with the goal of improving customer satisfaction through better technology, service excellence and improved training for managers and drivers.

Posted March 10, 2016

Source: AmeriPride Services

SHELBY, N.C. — March 10, 2016 — Governor Pat McCrory, North Carolina Commerce Secretary John E. Skvarla, III and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) today announced the arrival of Uniquetex LLC to Cleveland County. The company intends to build a 150-person workforce in the town of Grover over the coming five years. Uniquetex is investing $31.6 million in a production facility there, its first in the United States.

“Textile manufacturing is one of North Carolina’s greatest traditional industries, and it is still growing,” said Governor McCrory. “Our state is the ideal destination for globally-positioned, innovation-driven textile companies like Uniquetex.”

Uniquetex LLC manufactures nonwoven fabrics for use by medical and healthcare providers, as well as other industries. The company is a joint venture between Foshan Nanhai Beautiful Nonwoven Co., Ltd., one of China’s largest nonwoven textile businesses and Wenzhou Chaolong Textile Machinery Co., Ltd., a Zhejiang, China-based developer of equipment and technologies for nonwoven textile manufacturing.

“Uniquetex’s selection of Cleveland County highlights all the reasons North Carolina leads the Southeast in manufacturing employment,” said Secretary Skvarla. “I am confident that our state’s productive workforce, competitive costs and ready access to global markets will strongly support the company’s ambitious growth strategy.”

Uniquetex intends to hire 150 workers at its Cleveland County operations. Positions will include machine operators, technicians, customer service representatives and others. Salaries will vary by position but will average $36,313 per year. Cleveland County’s overall average wage is currently $35,885 per year.

“We are extremely excited to start up our first U.S. operations in Cleveland County, N.C. The combination of a skilled workforce, access for quality transportation infrastructure and the pro-business attitude of the community is what attracted us here,” said Benny Deng, company CEO/President.

The project was made possible in part by a performance-based grant of up to $800,000 from the One North Carolina Fund. The One NC Fund provides financial assistance, through local governments, to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state. Companies receive no money up front and must meet job creation and investment performance standards to qualify for grant funds. One NC grants also require and are contingent on financial matches from local governments.

Since Governor McCrory took office in January of 2013, North Carolina has witnessed the net creation of more than 260,000 private-sector jobs.

“Congratulations to this promising international company on its choice of Cleveland County for this important investment,” said N.C. Speaker of the House Tim Moore. “I look forward to working with with Governor McCrory and Secretary Skvarla to ensure our state has the tools to make our manufacturing economy even stronger.”

“Cleveland County is a welcoming environment for great companies from all over the world,” said N.C. Senator Warren Daniel. “We look forward to Uniquetex joining our business community.”

Numerous state and local allies worked with EDPNC and N.C. Commerce in supporting Uniquetex’s location plans. They include the North Carolina General Assembly, the North Carolina Community College System, Cleveland County, the Cleveland County Economic Development Partnership, and Gardner Webb University.

Posted March 10, 2016

Source: Governor of North Carolina Press Office

BETHESDA, Md. — March 10, 2016 — In a first for the U.S. hospitality industry, Marriott International announced that it will provide “Made in USA” towels and bath mats in every guest bathroom in nearly 3,000 U.S. hotels. Buying “Made in USA” towels and bath mats benefits U.S. manufacturing communities such as Thomaston, Ga., and Union, S.C., where manufacturing company Standard Textile is producing them with 100 percent cotton fiber grown in the U.S.

Marriott’s commitment to buy “Made in USA” guestroom terry products creates 150 new jobs in Standard Textile’s facilities in Thomaston and Union, as well as at the company’s Cincinnati headquarters and through its supply chain.

“As a global company based in the USA, we’re proud to be the first hospitality company to commit to providing our guests with ‘Made in USA’ bathroom towels in our U.S. hotels,” said Marriott President and CEO Arne Sorenson.

“We believe our guests will appreciate knowing that even simple items they use every day in our hotels represent progress for the U.S. economy,” said Marriott Executive Chairman Bill Marriott. “We also hope this sends a message to other businesses that buying locally can make business sense.”

Overall, this commitment will mean the annual production of 2.6 million bath towels and 4.9 million hand towels – the equivalent of as much as 5.6 million pounds of textiles. If laid end-to-end, the textiles Marriott will purchase in one year would stretch more than 4,300 miles. The commitment to manufacture these textiles in the U.S., also reduces greenhouse gas emissions by eliminating more than 300 ocean going container shipments annually.

Marriott’s “Made in USA” commitment with Standard Textile expands the two companies’ long-standing relationship. Last year, Marriott recognized Standard Textile’s commitment to continuous collaboration, innovative new products and superior service by giving the company its 2015 Americas Recognition Award.

“Marriott’s desire to provide guests with terry bath products made by U.S. textile artisans speaks to the heart of why Standard Textile is thriving and creating new jobs after 76 years,” said Gary Heiman, President and CEO.  “Our commitment to technology driven manufacturing and innovation has enabled us to expand our operations in the U.S., creating a sustainable infrastructure for Marriott’s ‘Made in USA’ products.”

Customers can find “Made in USA” towels and bath mats in some hotels today, though ultimately most U.S. hotels across all of Marriott’s brands – ranging from moderate to luxury – will provide the items. To provide hotel operators with innovative solutions that control costs while delivering high quality products and services, Marriott partners with Avendra, North America’s leading procurement services provider serving the hospitality industry.

Posted March 10, 2016

Source: Marriott International, Inc.

BAD ZURZACH, Switzerland — March 9, 2016 — Switzerland-based textile technology innovator HeiQ is introducing the textile finishing technology HeiQ Real Silk to market. Based on its recently developed and patented manufacturing technology platform for short polymer fibers a perfect treatment for the fashion industry was created. WithHeiQ Real Silk the key properties of silk are replicated by applying a minute amount of this precious natural raw material to the surface of any fabric.

HeiQ Real Silk finish for any fabric type

Silk is one of the most exclusive and expensive fibers available due to the complex production of this natural raw material. The significant cost of silk has created the sense of exclusivity around silk fabrics and garments, and conveys an image of luxury. Silk is also sought after for its classic timeless appeal, comfort and beautiful luster — making this natural material in high demand by the fashion segment worldwide.

Silk is a truly unique material – soft, temperature-regulating, highly absorbent and fast-drying, highly tear-resistant and virtually wrinkle-free. HeiQ’s innovative finishing technology “HeiQ Real Silk” transfers the prized characteristics and the luxurious feel of silk to other fabric types like polyamide, polyester, cotton or its blends. Traditionally, silk use has been limited to yarns, subsequently also limiting design flexibility and engendering high costs. The “HeiQ Real Silk” treatment makes use of formulated short silk fibers which are applied by standard textile finishing processes onto the surface of any kind of fabric. By applying silk to the surface, the tactile properties of silk are reproduced in a cost effective manner. New cost-sensitive market segments can be tapped — wrapping people in Real Silk and bringing a touch of luxury to everyone.

The fashion industry in particular will benefit from HeiQ’s latest development. However, the first adopter of this innovative technology is HeiQ’s long standing partner Bekaert Deslee, the world leader in mattress ticking. Bekaert Deslee aims at creating a comfortable, luxurious and indulgent sleeping environment. Bekaert Deslee will launch its mattress ticking with HeiQ Real Silk during ISPA (International Sleep Products Association) in Orlando.

Innovative and patented Short Polymer Fiber manufacturing technology platform

This HeiQ Real Silk technology makes use of short polymer fibers which are created in the newly developed pilot production plant at HeiQ’s R&D subsidiary in Geelong, Australia. It is a patented manufacturing process where a thin fiber is formed by a coagulation process. This advanced functional fiber material opens new opportunities for innovative textile technologies, enabling HeiQ to enlarge its wide range of high-performance textile finishes.

HeiQ Real Silk – Sample Policy

HeiQ is still in full process of scaling up its innovative manufacturing plant for the manufacture of short polymer fibers. Therefore, HeiQ has selected its long standing innovation partners as first adopters. Samples to third party are available staring from 1st July 2016. Interested brands are kindly asked to announce their interest in HeiQ Real Silk.

Posted March 9, 2016

Source: HeiQ Materials