Mario Levi Increases Production, Agility With Lectra

PARIS — October 20, 2015 — Over the past four years, Mario Levi has experienced a steady increase in the acquisition of new contracts and customers. However, the productivity levels of their die press system were not sufficient to keep pace with the increase in demand. The team was therefore looking for a solution that would enable them to boost productivity, improve material use and accelerate time to market, while being flexible enough to handle growing demand from an expanding market.

“The die press system we were using required constant monitoring, because dies can break or become warped. This is a major problem because it leads to longer processes, and therefore it takes longer to fulfill orders. It was essential for us to take a different approach in order to meet market demand,” explains Gianfranco Tinini, Manager of one of Mario Levi’s cutting plants.

Harness The Power Of Automation
Based on previous experiences and industry expertise, Lectra was Mario Levi’s first choice once they decided to equip their mass-production plants with automated cutting technology. Lele Ogliaro, Mario Levi’s Director, especially appreciated Lectra’s holistic approach.

“Working with Lectra is very stimulating. They help you to improve your process and improve generally. They also make sure to leave the company in the condition to be self-sufficient. I never felt afraid that I would be left high and dry halfway through.”

Integrating Versalis® into the production process introduced a major change from the die press system Mario Levi had been using. Lectra experts collaborated with the executive team from Mario Levi to organize its processes around the new solution.

The Lectra team worked with Mario Levi to understand their operations, analyze their processes, and identify where improvements could be made.

Reaping The Benefits Of Change
With the Versalis in place, Mario Levi is now able to efficiently and quickly manage the variety of products, and especially, the complex production processes that are becoming more commonplace as market demands for flexibility and leather seating increase. “Implementing automatic cutting with Lectra has allowed us to increase our response times and production flexibility,” adds Lele Ogliaro. “We have seen an increase in productivity and hide yield, of up to 20% and 3-4%, respectively.”

“With Versalis, we have reduced order processing times by 20%,” states Gianfranco Tinini. “Our production now runs smoothly, which is critical for us.”

As it becomes more difficult to find personnel with the unique skills and experience to evaluate hide characteristics, Versalis also enables Mario Levi to ensure the consistent quality of its products. “The knowledge that is usually possessed by people is built into Versalis. It is the best you can get in interpreting leather,” says Gianfranco Tinini.

Keeping Performance On Track
Versalis’ integrated software suite and productivity analysis reports have become essential elements in the company’s continuous improvement initiatives, allowing them to monitor hide consumption, evaluate system performance and compare productivity with set objectives.

“Using the monitors, we can systematically evaluate hide yield and get immediate feedback on performance expectations,” explains Gianfranco. “With the Leather Reporting software, we can also assess performance in terms of quantity, the level of machine use, the time worked and the products made. As a result, we can make comparisons and discuss with the operators, with a focus on continuous improvement.”

Mario Levi has begun a Lean Manufacturing consulting project with Lectra, which will allow the company to further optimize their processes.

“We are sowing the seeds of success domestically and abroad. I hope to equip our sites with lots of new innovative technology that everyone will be excited about,” concludes Guido Levi, Chairman, Mario Levi.

Posted October 26, 2015

Source: Lectra
 

Worldwide Protective Products Adds Dyneema® Diamond Technology in Spun Yarn Form to Protective Gloves Portfolio

WILKESBORO, N.C. and HEERLEN, The Netherlands — October 21, 2015 — Worldwide Protective Products and DSM Dyneema today announce completion of a technology licensing agreement enabling Worldwide to bring to market protective work gloves made with Dyneema® Diamond Technology, the world’s most advanced material for cut protection.

Working with Dyneema Diamond Technology allows Worldwide to capitalize on the material’s unique properties that deliver extreme cut resistance and abrasion durability, while also enabling enhanced wearer comfort. Combining this revolutionary fiber innovation with Worldwide’s market knowledge and unique knitting and yarn integration capabilities will result in styles that help establish a new standardin cut protection compared to current market offerings. In fact, the first new gloves introduced with spun yarn Dyneema Diamond Technology material will offer improved cut resistance and as much as four times the usable life of gloves currently serving the bulk of certain industry segments.

“Our partnership with DSM Dyneema means a significant step forward in workplace hand safety,” says Kerry Dyer, managing director, Worldwide Protective Products. “Bringing gloves made with Dyneema Diamond Technology to the market segments we intend to target has clear advantages.”

In addition to the ultra high level of cut protection, the new glove will keep hands cool and comfortable due to the inherent cooling properties of Dyneema Diamond Technology that does not trap heat as do many other cut resistant materials.

With the licensing agreement in place with DSM Dyneema, Worldwide becomes the preeminent U.S. supplier of straight knit protective gloves made from spun yarn Dyneema Diamond Technology material. The gloves will be knitted at the company’s North Carolina factory, enabling a new option in innovative cut protection for companies that prefer to source products made in the United States.

Dyneema Diamond Technology offers a number of advantages over other materials used to make cut resistant gloves. In some material deniers the proprietary DSM Dyneema science behind Dyneema Diamond Technology enables glove manufacturers to choose one of two options: a higher level of cut resistance at the same weight and comfort level as existing gloves within that range of cut protection; or, a thinner and more comfortable glove that provides the same level of cut protection as current gloves. Dyneema Diamond Technology also offers superior abrasion resistance, enabling longer usable glove life without sacrificing cut protection as happens with some other materials over time or when laundered.

Workplace hand injuries – with cuts and lacerations forming the majority of reportable cases – continue to be among the most prevalent safety issues in manufacturing operations globally. A significant number of these cuts occurring in workplaces happen to workers not wearing protective gloves or sleeves at the time of the incident, with lack of comfort or the perception thereof the most commonly cited reasons employees give for not wearing proper protective equipment. These factors present particular opportunities for segments Worldwide plans to target with its new products, as many existing gloves prevalent in those applications depend on technologies that hold heat and cause wearer discomfort.

“Improving comfort in gloves that provide exceptional cut protection is critical for companies who want to make a real difference in employee safety and health,” says Olivier Boubeaud, global business segment director, high performance textiles, DSM Dyneema. “Spun fiber made from Dyneema Diamond Technology clearly provides advantages in this area. Offering protective equipment market leaders like Worldwide Protective Products access to this technology will improve availability of gloves with Dyneema Diamond Technology for employers and better enable us to deliver on our objective to create the world’s safest hands.”

Posted October 27, 2015

Source: DSM Dyneema
 

Covestro Further Expands INSQIN® Partner Manufacturer Program

SHANGHAI, China — October 20, 2015 —  World-leading polymer materials supplier Covestro is extending its INSQIN® Partner Manufacturer Program with the newly signed partner, Kunshan Xiefu New Material Co. Ltd., a China-based producer of polyurethane (PU) coated fabric for global markets. The two companies will collaborate to promote sustainable PU materials in sectors such as fashion apparel and footwear, to name a few.
 
Launched in July 2015, the INSQIN Partner Manufacturer Program connects manufacturers and brand owners across the polyurethane (PU)-coated fabric supply chain. Partners must demonstrate an ongoing commitment to sustainability and transparency, using Covestro’s waterborne, PU coating technology and industry-leading processes to meet the emerging sustainability needs of brand owners.
 
Xeifu is the second company to earn a place in the prestigious Program, after Korean PU synthetic materials manufacturer Duksung Co. Ltd. It is also the first Chinese company joining the Program.
 
“A growing number of brands and retailers are becoming interested in sourcing sustainable materials, and further, they need more assurances about the origins and integrity of those materials,” said Nick Smith, Global Head of Textile Coatings, Covestro. “The Program was developed to link these brands with manufacturers capable of efficiently delivering innovative materials and sustainability best practice. We are proud to welcome Xiefu to the Program and look forward to supporting the growth of sustainable PU-coated textiles for the fashion apparel and footwear market worldwide.”

Under the Program, Covestro will provide world-class technical support to help Xiefu further develop its use of the INSQIN technology. Xiefu will also receive verification of its production processes and management systems via a globally recognized third-party audit.
 
“Xiefu is committed to customer-centric innovation and sustainability to serve the world’s most demanding brands. We are pleased to be recognized as a key partner of Covestro, with the technology, processes and skills to deliver exciting new PU products through sustainable manufacturing,” said Sun Guohao, chairman of Kunshan Xiefu New Material Co. “As a mark of our quality and professionalism, our validation as an INSQIN Partner Manufacturer will help bring new business opportunities by connecting us with brand owners and retailers that want to source sustainable PU-coated materials.”
 
Posted October 27, 2015

Source: Covestro
 

Suominen Launches Fibrella® Move Nonwoven For The Global Hygiene Market

HELSINKI, Finland — October 27, 2015 — Suominen, a nonwovens supplier, has announced the launch of its new product FIBRELLA® Move, developed for the global hygiene market. The introduction of Fibrella Move supports Suominen’s strategic goal to develop and introduce high-value added nonwovens that help accelerate Suominen’s customers’ businesses.

The material, which uses state-of-the-art forming, bonding and finishing technologies, is a major step forward in fluid acquisition and management for feminine care and other absorbent hygiene applications.

Fibrella Move enhances wearer comfort and body fit, while at the same time, gives convertors a new nonwoven which easily runs on high speed converting lines and is highly compatible with other components.

Speaking at the product introduction at Hygienix 2015 in St. Petersburg, Fla.; Lynda A. Kelly, Senior Vice President, Care business area said: “Fibrella Move is another new statement product from Suominen which raises the bar of expectations for materials in the construction of absorbent hygiene products. This launch is a further step in our company’s vision to offer new, high performance nonwovens in our Care business, meeting the important standards of our converters and consumers.”

“Fibrella Move is a great addition to our portfolio of hygiene products. This uniquely designed fit-for-purpose structure delivers tailored stiffness, high loft and outstanding softness. Our new product range is a perfect example of how to differentiate with spunlaced technology. The key properties like quick acquisition and superior masking make this new launch very exciting” concludes Marjo Kuisma, Global Hygiene Product Manager.

Posted October 27, 2015

Source: Suominen
 

Milliken Publishes Inaugural Floor Covering Division Sustainability Report

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – October 27, 2015 — Today, Milliken’s floor covering division launched its first-ever sustainability report to provide transparency and detailed insight into the company’s global operations and product offering.
 
“To Milliken, success is grounded in intentional environmental stewardship and has been for more than a century,” noted Jim McCallum, president of the global Milliken floor covering division. “This report sheds light on the lofty expectations of a holistic approach to sustainability that we set for our company to create innovations that ‘do good’ for the world.”
 
Material issues addressed include: chemical and human health impacts, recycled content and recyclability, resource consumption, supply chain impacts of products and employer of choice.
 
Key highlights from the report include:

  • Achieving zero waste to landfill goals for 22 years
  • Reducing Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 17.5 percent and 6.4 percent, respectively
  • Reducing energy consumption by 13.6 percent
  • Reducing water consumption by 35.7 percent
  • Reducing waste generation by 11.2 percent
  • Completing Declare transparency labels for Milliken PVC-free broadloom and modular carpet to now provide three third-party-verified environmental certifications/labels
  • Supporting charities around the world with volunteer commitments and monetary and product donations  

Notably, the report meets the requirements of LEED V.4 MRc3 credit and precedes advancements across multiple components of Milliken’s sustainability program, which will be announced throughout the remainder of 2015.
 
Philip Ivey, global sustainability leader for the Milliken floor covering division, noted: “We’re holding ourselves both publicly and privately accountable for our impact on the world. We’re excited to share our division’s work to live out Milliken & Company’s Environmental Policy and role in the Milliken family of companies’ recognition as a carbon-negative manufacturer by the Leonardo Academy Cleaner and Greener® program.”

Posted October 27, 2015

Source: Milliken & Company
 

Navis Tubetex Launches New Technology For Spirality Control In Knit Fabrics

LEXINGTON, N.C. — October 22, 2015 — Navis TubeTex, a supplier of high technology finishing machinery to the global textile industry has announced the launch of an all new technology for controlling spirality in knit fabrics. Also referred to as “torque”, spirality is one of the most difficult challenges in finishing knit fabrics. Common problems associated with spirality are lay-up twisting, cutting misalignment, mismatched patterns, sewing problems, shifting side seams, garment distortions, and print or stripe movement after sewing.

The Navis TubeTex Spirality Control System (SCS) is a patented technology originally developed by Geo Energy Solutions P.C. Navis TubeTex and GEO have formed a partnership to market the current technology as well as work together on future improvements and new technologies. Navis TubeTex will be responsible for all worldwide sales, marketing, installation, spare parts, and after sales service. Navis TubeTex President and CEO Will Motchar commented “We are very excited to launch this new technology to the industry. It is one of the most significant developments for finishing knit fabrics in many years. This process absolutely fixes one of the most difficult problems faced by manufacturers. The technology is proven with machines running in production for over a year now”.

How SCS Controls Spirality
The patented SCS technology utilizes a specially designed correction chamber and sophisticated control parameters.  Information for a given fabric’s spirality percentage, direction of rotation, and tubular width is input and the SCS’s control system, using sophisticated and proprietary algorithms, will impart the correct amount and direction of correction to control spirality. 

The correction chamber is designed to give correction to the tube with very limited friction to prevent any damage to the finished fabric. A “hole” detection safety shut-off is included to prevent damage to the fabric or machine.

Key Features using the SCS:

  • Controlled Spirality to meet Quality Standards
  • Spirality Correction to less than 4% after Processing
  • Stable Correction
  • Works on all Tubular Knitted Fabrics
  • Efficient and Automatic Operation for Correction
  • Reduce Sewing and Cutting Problems from Spirality 

The SCS machine will be on display at the Navis TubeTex booth at ITMA 2015 in Milan, Italy from November 12-19, located in Hall 14, Booth D104.

Posted October 27, 2015

Source: Navis TubeTex
 

Coolcore® Receives US Patent 9,121,642 for Cooling Towel Activation

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. — October 22, 2015 — Coolcore has announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office issued the company a patent (U.S. Patent No. 9,121,642) for “Method of Cooling an Object with a Fabric.” The patent covers activation that includes wetting the item, wringing out excess liquid, and snapping or waving the fabric to activate the moisture control through the fabric.  Even more specifically, the present invention is for a fabric that becomes cool when activated by liquid and remains cool for an extended period of time thereafter.

“As the original innovator of chemical-free cooling fabrics, our intellectual property and the on-going commitment to innovation continues to reinforce our position in the market today,” stated Coolcore Chief Executive Officer and President Kevin McCarthy.  “Coolcore is the leader in chemical-free instant cooling towels, accessories, and headwear … imitators should note that we will vigilantly protect our intellectual property in the marketplace.”

Coolcore also owns U.S Patent No. 8,440,119 for its cooling material innovation. The patent covers the manufacturing of any chemical-free cooling fabric that transfers moisture away from the skin, while regulating the movement and evaporation of that moisture throughout the fabric as described in the patent.

Coolcore fabric formulations have earned the prestigious “Innovative Technology” recognition from the Hohenstein Institute, a first for a U.S. company, and the only company globally to be awarded this recognition for “Cooling Power.” Additionally, it was recently announced that Coolcore is a finalist in two categories for the 2015 ITMA Future Materials Awards – “Groundbreaking Partnership” and “Best Innovation – Sports Textiles” for our cooling fabric innovations.

Coolcore develops and provides private label cooling towels to its brand and retail partners globally, as well as cooling apparel and accessories. Coolcore also markets its cooling towels, accessories and headwear under the Dr. Cool brand name and distributes domestically and internationally. Aside from finished products, Coolcore develops fabrics for several global consumer brands.

Posted October 27, 2015

Source: Coolcore
 

Philadelphia University Establishes Fashion and Textiles Futures Center

Philadelphia — October 23, 2015 — Philadelphia University has announced it will establish a Fashion and Textiles Futures Center. The Futures Center, which will include a $3 million investment in facilities, will advance the University’s innovative and highly regarded fashion and textiles curricula and enhance partnerships with industry leaders to more closely connect students to current and future jobs in an evolving marketplace.

The Philadelphia University Fashion and Textiles Futures Center will focus on the University’s unique integration of education, research and practice. It will provide state-of-the-art facilities to support student learning and foster collaboration, facilitate industry-sponsored projects, increase research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students and help attract and retain world-class faculty. Work on the physical space will begin in late spring and will be completed by the start of the fall 2016 semester.

“The Fashion and Textiles Futures Center will expand experience for our students, faculty and partners,” said Ron Kander, executive dean of the Kanbar College of Design, Engineering and Commerce. “PhilaU fashion programs are internationally ranked and our programs in textiles and textile engineering are regarded as among the best in the nation. The new Center will enable us to continue our leadership in providing the best possible 21st-century professional education for our students and helping to define the industry needs of the future.”

The plan includes enhanced collaborative design studios for students, fabrication laboratories, computer-aided design facilities and flexible active-learning classrooms. The educational programming will be further supported by the University’s advanced digital printing facilities, among the best in the world, and the Grundy Materials Evaluation Laboratory.

The Fashion and Textiles Futures Center will include a retail-like space designed to mirror the workings of modern fashion and textile design firms and reflect the industry environments that students will work in after graduation. This area will be used to showcase the creative work of students and the University’s industry partners and give fashion merchandising and management students the opportunity to hone marketing and merchandising skills by working on displays and presentations.

“Customers are always looking for new and innovative products and, as the apparel industry evolves, speed and flexibility are key factors that drive today’s successes,” said Matt Mandracchia, vice president for design technologies and process for PVH Corp., one of the world’s largest apparel firms that includes such brands as Calvin KIein and Tommy Hilfiger. “Philadelphia University’s Futures Center seeks to capitalize on these factors, providing a learning environment that promotes innovative thinking. Innovation supports speed and flexibility, helping students to learn and prepare for a fast-changing, product-centric career.”

The physical space will reflect and support the innovative curricula of these programs as part of the University’s signature Nexus Learning approach: teaching and learning that is active, collaborative, tied to the real world and infused with the liberal arts. A critical component of Nexus Learning is the development of learning spaces that support interdisciplinary collaboration.

“The Fashion and Textiles Futures Center creates excellent educational opportunities for our students, modeling industry transdisciplinary trends as well as forward-looking projects,” said Marcia Weiss, the Harold Neuman Textile Design Chair and director of PhilaU textile design programs, who has been named director of the Center. “In the Futures Center, our students will benefit from world-class curricula, access to the latest technologies that support the creation of new knowledge and increased opportunities to work with industry partners on real-world projects.”

More than 700 PhilaU students—20 percent of the student body—major in eight academic programs related to the Futures Center, including bachelor’s programs in fashion design, fashion merchandising and management, textile design and textile materials technology; master’s programs in global fashion enterprise, textile design and textile engineering; and a doctoral program in textile engineering and science.

“The Fashion and Textiles Futures Center will reinforce Philadelphia University’s prominence in the world of fashion and in textiles,” said Mike Leonard, academic dean of the Kanbar College School of Design and Engineering. “The Futures Center will further enable our students to collaborate in state-of-the-art open studios, which will enhance research on materials and techniques to advance the fashion and textiles industries,” Leonard said.

Philadelphia University, which was established in 1884 as the nation’s first textiles school, has received many accolades for its fashion and textiles programs. These programs have been ranked among the best in the world by the Business of Fashion and Fashionista. The New York Immersion program, now in its second year, provides students with the opportunity to study in an international fashion capital and work on real-world projects with leading fashion and design firms. Fashion design students showcase their collections at the famed New York Fashion Week twice a year, while merchandising and management students help prepare for the runway.

Collaboration between students in their own and across disciplines is a critical component of a PhilaU education. That’s why the U.S. space agency NASA chose to partner with PhilaU fashion and engineering students to develop a fashion-forward, technologically advanced spacesuit design. Each year, textile design students work with fashion design students to develop innovative, one-of-a-kind textiles for the fashion collections. Beyond apparel, students work on projects for home furnishings, automotive and other industries that utilize the latest in textile technologies. Three graduate students in textile engineering and textile design recently won first place in the 2015 Fabric Graphics Student Design Challenge for their project that incorporated the health benefits of antimicrobial textiles to artwork that could be used in healthcare settings.

“There is a culture of collaboration at PhilaU that sets us apart and gives our graduates an unparalleled advantage in industry,” said Sheila Connelly, fashion design program director.  “Our students get experience in the “bigger picture” of fashion. When designing senior collections, they work across disciplines to incorporate digital printing, surface imaging, laser-cutting, screenprinting, 3D printing, wearable technology and custom fabrics into their designs. The Futures Center will further facilitate these opportunities.”

A fundraising campaign to support the Fashion and Textiles Futures Center has been initiated, and top industry executives from such firms as PVH, Waterworks and Weitzer are leading the effort. The campaign has been kicked off with a $500,000 donation from PhilaU benefactor Maurice Kanbar ’52 H’03.

In addition, a Leadership Committee representing diverse industry sectors and faculty members is being formed to guide and support the Fashion and Textiles Futures Center.

Posted October 27, 2015

Source: PhilaU
 

Azon Welcomes New Mason: Evolutionary A1 Machine Originated From The Generation Of UV LED Printers With Azon Conti And New Azon RIP Solutions

ZAGREB, Croatia — October 22, 2015 — MASON is the new generation of AZON wide format UV LED machines with maximum printing area 590×700 mm. It can print on unbelievable range of materials with maximum thickness up to 100 mm. Specially designed bulk ink tanks with ink monitoring sensor are to increase printing capacity of MASON. Each out of six bulk ink tanks holds 500 ml of ink and is extremely easy to handle. Out of box installation provides safety while refilling ink tanks from the bottles so the running costs for the machine are lower.  

MASON with new Azon CONTI upgrade features single pass printing technology in CMYK and white color with great speed and resolution. It produces incredibly crisp text and vibrant, full – color images on a variety of substrates and 3D objects, from wood to canvas, ceramic tiles, plastics and more. The new sophisticated Azon RIP software enables the outstanding reproducing quality of 1440 dpi and produces the finest image details.  

Unlike the previous generation of printers with belt system, this machine has implemented servo motor and ball screw system, enabling the forward-backward movement of the printed object with maximum accuracy. Outstanding durability of UV LED pigmented inks are up to 5 years with the possibility of gloss ink and multi-coat effects. This new machine with bulk ink tank option meets high customer demands and masters the technology of both UV LED ink and UV LED printing.

Posted October 27, 2015

Source: Azon Printer
 

Tandematic Systems Inc. To Acquire Tandematic Assets

SPARTANBURG — October 26, 2015 — Tandematic Systems LLC, a sister company to Consultex Systems Inc., has purchased Tandematic Inc.’s operations. As part of the purchase, Tandematic Inc.’s founder, William “Bill” Young, will lend his 40-plus-years of textile machinery engineering experience to Tandematic Systems in an effort to smoothly transition ownership and production. In addition to Young’s assistance, Tandematic Systems will also be gaining the experience and knowhow of long-time Tandematic employees, Mark Cox, Keith McCollum and others.

Young’s work experience began at DuPont, but after 14 years he left to start a small engineering firm in Spartanburg, then known as Young Engineering. Ten years later, Young Engineering adopted the name Tandematic, and so began the development and manufacture of new web processing machines, machines that would eventually be accepted in the industry as state of the art and the template for other manufacturers who have unsuccessfully tried to imitate for years.

Young’s innovative product line will continue under the leadership of Arne Niemann, himself a “product” of the textile industry. Niemann’s father, Frederic Niemann, came to the United States from Germany as a textile engineer.  The senior Niemann and Young found themselves both in the textile machinery business less than a mile apart in what was then a booming textile town, and both of their successes were due in large part to progressive thinking and an attitude that problems in textile manufacturing were opportunities for them as machinery manufacturers.

Arne Niemann purchased his deceased father’s company in 2005, and today the name Consultex is known as a world leader in roll goods coating equipment; building machines with an attention to quality that is unparalleled in the market.

Just as the next generation Consultex has continued its founder’s legacy and tradition of quality and integrity, Tandematic Systems will continue to be at the forefront of textile machinery innovation.  So when you see “Tandematic” stamped in steel, you will know that Young’s commitment to innovation and quality is carried on with pride, excitement, and humility by Arne Niemann and Tandematic Systems’ personnel.

Posted October 27, 2015

Source: Consultex Systems
 

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