England-based Cygnet Texkimp has developed a fully-automated fiber packaging system that was designed to protect delicate and valuable fibers such as carbon fibers as they are wrapped, packed and palletized to ensure the integrity and quality of such fibers.
According to the company, the production-scale system was built to IP6x standards, and already has been commissioned in a new carbon fiber processing plant. The system will be used to process 1,500 6-kilogram bobbins every six hours.
“Oils and acids on our skin can impair the quality of sensitive and valuable fibers like carbon fiber, so our objective was to build a system that would process bobbins of fiber efficiently without the need to touch them,” said Lee Simcock, product director for handling and automation, Cygnet Texkimp.
“Dropped or bumped bobbins can easily be damaged, crushing the fibers, so it was crucial for us to incorporate technologies that would handle these bobbins with ultimate care. This also helps to eliminate issues when the fiber is fed from the bobbin onto a creel for the next stage of processing, which might be weaving or pre-preg production.”
Cocona’s 37.5 technology function improves when offered in a multi-layer concept such as the AWEARNESS Kenneth Cole™ AWEAR-TECH dress suit and shirt; or in Bauer Hockey’s top-tier apparel and gear ensemble.
Cocona’s 37.5® evaporative cooling fabric technology enhances comfort and performance.
By Janet Bealer Rodie, Managing Editor
Boulder Colo.-based Cocona Inc.’s 37.5® fabric technology was developed in 2002 by company founder and Chief Technology Officer Dr. Gregory W. Haggquist. Haggquist found that activated carbon derived from coconut shells not only adsorbs odors, but also, when embedded in a polyester or nylon fiber, transports moisture away from a heat source such as the human body and helps dissipate it, and also traps ultraviolet rays. Originally branded Cocona to reference the activated carbon’s coconut-shell source, the technology was rebranded as 37.5 in 2014 to reflect its ability to enhance a person’s comfort and performance by maintaining a 37.5ºC core body temperature as well as a microclimate relative humidity of 37.5 percent next to the skin. In addition, the activated carbon now is derived from certain volcanic sands as well as coconut shells.
Haggquist described the 37.5 particles as: “semi-desiccant — desiccant because it dries out the environment, and semi because it wants to find that 37.5-percent relative humidity. And it easily releases water molecules if human infrared energy is present.” He noted that each particle has 1,000 square meters per gram of surface area, “which creates places for that water to spread out, allowing evaporation to speed up.” He also cited a University of Colorado blind study that showed apparel featuring 37.5 helps athletes increase their performance by 26 percent compared to apparel featuring conventional wicking properties.
“Polyester or nylon fiber embedded with 37.5 particles can be blended with fiber such as cotton, wool, silk, linen or spandex to create very unique fabrics that manage your comfort and maximize your performance,” Haggquist said.
Photograph courtesy of Tailored Brands
Applications for the 37.5 technology include activewear, bedding, sportswear and dresswear. “We’ve been seeing menswear and sportswear sourcing people shopping for our technology at outdoor shows,” said Christy Raedeke, vice
president, Global Brand, Cocona. “Now we are launching a full dress menswear collection with Kenneth Cole [Productions Inc., New York City]. They are putting it in everything from the outer wool fabric, interfacing and lining to the dress shirt. The technology works better when it’s layered than in a single layer. It gives directionality to every layer.”
Bauer Hockey, Exeter, N.H., offers the multi-layer concept in its top-tier hockey apparel and protective pads and liners. Kathy McGown, general manager of apparel for parent company Performance Sports Group Ltd., explained how the layers work in tandem to enhance 37.5’s effectiveness: “The 37.5 in the base layer converts liquid sweat into vapors, whereas with wicking the sweat is trapped under the pads and soaks into them. With 37.5, the vapors can escape, and, when added to liners and foams, it helps to channel those vapors. The outer jersey pulls them out of the system onto the surface.”
A Bauer 37.5 ® Performance Base Layer worn by NHL player Claude Giroux. Photograph courtesy of Bauer Hockey.
New York City-based Mission Athletecare’s Mission VaporActive™ underwear, base layers and socks collection also features 37.5 technology. Mission plans to roll out head-to-toe athletic apparel next year for men and women, according to Scott Burnham, the company’s head of marketing.
Pacific Coast Bedding, Tommy Bahama and Carhartt, among other brands, also offer 37.5 collections.
MOUNT HOLLY, N.C. — July 12, 2016 — American & Efird (A&E) is proud to announce that its threads and colors are now integrated within Gerber Technology’s YuniquePLM® software. Founded 125 years ago, A&E is one of the world’s largest manufacturers and distributors of industrial threads and textiles, and continues to lead the industry in many areas, including Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
A&E’s threads and colors are readily available in the material and color libraries within YuniquePLM V7. In addition, the data libraries can be retrofitted to earlier versions. In total, there are 1,477 colors and 103 threads integrated into YuniquePLM, offering designers over 100,000 combination choices to select from. Through its combined global network, A&E products are manufactured in 27 facilities around the world and sold in over 100 countries, allowing brands to quickly source high quality, color specific materials wherever their production facilities are located.
Clayton Parker, director of PLM product management at Gerber said, “We are excited to offer A&E’s thread and color libraries in YuniquePLM. By simply using drag-and-drop to add colors and threads simultaneously to multiple styles from these data libraries, this robust integration simplifies the jobs of designers and product developers. A&E’s investment in the stewardship of future generations through Eco-Driven® solutions is unparalleled. Customers will be able to enhance their own CSR efforts by partnering with a trusted, transparent company for their material needs.”
“We are excited to integrate A&E’s thread and color information into Gerber’s YuniquePLM system,” said Chris Alt, A&E Senior Vice President Sales. “This collaboration benefits our mutual customers by making A&E threads and colors readily available during design and development.”
Commitment to safety and sustainability are important and ongoing goals of A&E. A&E’s “10 Threads of Sustainability” platform balances social responsibility and environmental impact with business growth objectives. This initiative compliments Gerber Technology’s goal to empower brands in fulfillment of their own CSR programs. As brands and retailers specify components of their end-product from supply chain partners like A&E, who have dedicated themselves to reducing their environmental impact, brands demonstrate that their choices matter.
KELOWNA, British Colombia — July 12, 2016 — Avcorp Industries and the University of British Columbia have agreed to explore the establishment of a Learning Factory for Advanced Composites at UBC’s Okanagan campus.
The two parties, represented by Avcorp CEO Peter George and UBC Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Principal Deborah Buszard, signed an MOU today at the Farnborough International Airshow in the United Kingdom.
“Avcorp Industries is committed to exploring the establishment of an aerospace industry-first Learning Factory in a way which will push the boundaries of advanced composite manufacturing as well as provide a platform for a new level of research and training in British Columbia,” says Peter George, CEO of the Avcorp Industries Group. “We are looking forward to working with the UBC-based Composites Research Network in an initial focus on aerospace applications of composite materials and optimized manufacturing processes.”
Avcorp Industries is a leading supplier of integrated composite and metallic aerostructures, based in Delta, BC.
“BC’s economic success is due in part to our diversified economy—and this MOU will lead to the exploration of innovative opportunities for Kelowna and area,” says Norm Letnick, MLA for Kelowna-Lake Country. “Congratulations to Avcorp Industries and UBC on this important partnership, which will provide great training opportunities for students as well.”
“Composite manufacturing is a growth industry,” says Stephen Fuhr, MP for Kelowna-Lake Country. “This Learning Factory concept provides a solid opportunity for employment, education and innovation. It would also further solidify Kelowna-Lake Country as one of Canada’s premier aerospace clusters.”
The Learning Factory will integrate industrial production with learning and research and provide UBC students and faculty with new opportunities for research, knowledge translation, and hands-on experiential learning. The Learning Factory will also provide technical and skills training opportunities for students from partner institutions, such as Okanagan College.
Through the development of a composites research and production facility at the UBC Okanagan Innovation Precinct, as well as an integrated digital simulation facility at UBC’s Vancouver campus, the Learning Factory will provide Avcorp Industries enhanced ability to evaluate and improve manufacturing efficiency.
“UBC is committed to bold new types of partnerships that create unique research, learning, and job creation opportunities,” says Buszard. “We are excited to take our discussions with Avcorp to the next level. We see this project as key to our ambition to help transform and diversify the regional resource economy to one that is driven by innovation.”
TURIN, Italy, — July 13, 2016 — Comau has introduced Rebel-S, its own 4-axis SCARA robot, in five different models with a payload of 6 kilograms and three different reaches. All models are controlled by the R1C 19″ rack-mounted controller, which can be integrated into a single cabinet to control an entire line. The robots are also available in the openROBOTICS version, where the robot is directly integrated into the existing machine/line automation controlled by B&R technologies.
The name of these new robots reflects the differences embodied by the SCARA compared with the other robots in Comau’s portfolio. They can be considered “rebels” in the sense that they are not being articulated, they offer a variety of mounting positions, and they utilize spacers – a simple, yet very innovative solution able to extend the robot’s reach.
Rebel-S is available with reaches of 450, 600 and 750mm. All three versions can be floor or wall mounted, while the versions with 600 and 750mm reach can also be configured for ceiling mounting. This flexibility in mounting position is facilitated by the use of dual cabling options (either vertical or horizontal).
The difference in reach is provided by spacers, modules which enable the robot to extend its radius of action. With an extension kit composed of spacers and cables, the 5 models are effectively interchangeable.
This modularity opens the opportunity to a last second robot configuration and this means considerable savings when the customer purchases the members of SCARA’s family.
Alongside its robots, Comau will offer a range of add-ons, including conveyor tracking and a plug & play vision system, as well as a series of service packages as part of its after sales strategy.
MÖNCHENGLADBACH, Germany — July 13, 2016 — Continuing its aim to ensure energy savings and other sustainable benefits, Monforts will present a wide range of new products and solutions at ITMA Asia in Hall 6 C01; the A. Monforts Textilmaschinen GmbH & Co. KG booth is incorporated into the joint CHTC Fong`s presentation.
The company will present its latest developments for heat recovery and exhaust air cleaning following the trend towards further reduced energy consumption and the growing demand for exhaust air purification.
The new Eco Booster is also available as a retrofit version for installation on existing stenters or as an integrated version into the new Montex 8500 stenter.
Low maintenance and no standstill times, due to automatic cleaning processes, are the key benefits for Monforts Eco Booster.
An exhaust air cleaning unit can be directly linked to the Eco Booster heat recovery unit. Smell and visible particles in the air will be extracted by this system. VOC`s (volatile oxygen compounds) can be filtered out with an additional UV-C system.
Monforts will also present its latest modules for coating.
The recently acquired TImatec company has already resulted in first orders from Italy, Germany, Mexico and Colombia.
Cut models of different coating options will be on show for ‘Knife over Air’, ‘Knife over Roller’, ‘Magnetic Knife’ and ‘Screen Printing’ versions of coating units as well as the multifunctional unit incorporating all options into one most versatile unit.
Special focus will also be given on Monforts competence in Denim Finishing Ranges especially featuring the new ‘Eco Denim’ range and the High Speed Denim Finishing version.
Monforts Technologists for continuous Dyeing and Technical Textiles will be available on the exhibition to for provide detailed advice.
MUNICH/UNTERFÖHRING, Germany — July 12, 2016 — With effect from 11th July, Dr. Rüdiger Fox was appointed CEO and management spokesman of the Sympatex Technologies GmbH. Haiko Stüting will remain in his position as commercial manager. Michael Kamm, CEO and management spokesman since 2010, has left the company by mutual agreement.
Dr. Rüdiger Fox will join Sympatex as an experienced CEO and manager. He has acquired more than 25 years of management experience working for international companies in the automotive, telecommunications and aviation industries. In addition to international advisory mandates, Dr. Fox has most recently been a guest lecturer for “Corporate Management 4.0” at universities in Munich, Berlin and Hamburg, amongst others. The 50-year old is a graduate engineer, an economist and received his doctorate in corporate management.
August von Joest, Chairman of the Board at Sympatex Technologies: “With Dr. Rüdiger Fox, we have been able to engage a professionally and personally highly qualified manager. He will strategically expand our three business divisions Apparel, Footwear and Contract & Workwear at the international level while also developing the ecological orientation of the Sympatex brand.”
“We would like to sincerely thank Mr Kamm for his work during the past six years. Under his leadership, the Sympatex brand has successfully been positioned as an ecological alternative among functional textile specialists and has been firmly established on the market. We wish him all the best for his future,” says Mr von Joest.
PARIS — July 12, 2016 — Lectra recently co-hosted a Design & Technology seminar in Milan with the Department of Design and the POLI.design Consortium of Politecnico di Milano, one of Italy’s largest technical universities.
Politecnico’s Department of Design joined Lectra’s Education Program in 2014. The partnership between the two organizations is based on a commitment to training students on the latest innovations in design technology and techniques to give them an advantage on the labor market. Students benefit from hands-on experience using Lectra’s latest generation technology, as well as its expertise and knowledge of industry best practices.
The seminar was an opportunity for students and executives from the upholstered furniture, marine, and automotive markets to gain valuable insights into the ways recent technological innovations can bolster design creativity and development efficiency.
Explorations of market trends and changes, as presented by Caterina Rorro, Marketing and Communications Director, Lectra Italy, emphasized the importance of offering innovative designs, accelerating development speed and reducing costs for companies across the three industries.
A demonstration of DesignConcept, Lectra’s 2D/3D solution for virtual prototyping, costing and creation of technical specifications, showcased the multiple ways in which the solution’s collaborative product development and pre-production process helps companies address these market challenges.
Stanislas Joly, General Manager of Sylvain Joly Designs, detailed the benefits of DesignConcept’s virtual prototyping process for designers. “The gap between the original design and the final product can be frustrating for designers. With a solution like DesignConcept, cost and technical constraints can be integrated from the beginning; modifications and changes can be easily made and then shared among all teams. The increased communication and visibility significantly shorten process times and also allow us to ensure that the end product resembles our original intention as closely as possible,” he said.
“DesignConcept has been a valuable addition to our training program and a strategic asset for students. The ability to optimize the aesthetics, feasibility and production costs on-screen is a powerful learning tool,” added Professor Andrea Ratti, Director of the Master in Yacht Design, Politecnico di Milano.
LACONIA, NH — July 12, 2016 — Madeira USA President Shirley Clark recently announced the appointment of Stephen Sacco to the new position of Director of Finance. A resident of Concord, NH, Sacco graduated from SNHU with a degree in Finance & Economics. Prior to joining Madeira, he worked with Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership (MBHP), a highly respected non-profit organization responsible for connecting residents of Greater Boston with safe, affordable homes. Prior to that experience, Sacco ran several UPS retail stores within the Manchester, NH area.
“We were drawn to Stephen’s ability to jump between retail and non-profit without missing a beat!” explains Madeira President Shirley Clark. “We feel that he brings a high level of professionalism, knowledge, and the customer service instincts that will make him a valuable player on the Madeira USA team. That mix of analytical thinking and people awareness will prove to be an asset with customers and co-workers alike.”
As for Sacco, “On the job for only a few weeks, I’m concentrating right now on getting a better understanding of this business, and learning the direction the president wants the company to take within the industry. I admit to being an analytical thinker, but coming up with numbers that sit in a computer within a spreadsheet doesn’t do anyone much good! I believe in making those findings available to the appropriate people, applying them in the correct context, in order for my analysis to guide decisions that will have a long lasting effect on the success of the company.”
Madeira USA recently celebrated its 30th anniversary of having its U.S. headquarters based in Laconia, NH. Last year, Business NH Magazine recognized Madeira USA as one of New Hampshire’s Top Women-Led Businesses, under the leadership of President Shirley Clark.
ZURICH, Switzerland — July 12, 2016 — The OEKO-TEX® Association is pleased to announce that AEC Narrow Fabrics (Asheboro Elastics Corp.) has been awarded the OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certification, that ensures that AEC narrow fabrics have been tested to be free of harmful levels of more than 300 potentially harmful substances. AEC manufactures a broad assortment of knitted and woven narrow fabrics for apparel, home textiles, medical, automotive, marine, and commercial applications. The Asheboro, N.C.-based company has operations in the United States and Central America with global distribution. The OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification was issued for products made at AEC’s facilities in El Salvador and Honduras, Central America.
“The OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification is an important element of our overall quality assurance and product safety programs,” said Charles Adams, president of AEC Narrow Fabrics. “This voluntary certification is recognized and respected by our customers around the world, especially by those who are OEKO-TEX certified themselves.”
By securing the OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification for products made in its El Salvador and Honduras manufacturing facilities, AEC products made there can be used without concern in other OEKO-TEX certified products. The modular nature of the OEKO-TEX certification allows manufacturers to take credit for their suppliers’ certifications when applying for certification for their own products, therefore saving time and expense.
“Our customers appreciate us for our quality, service, and innovation,” commented Adams. “Now with OEKO-TEX certification, we’re giving them another reassurance that our products are made with respect for the wellbeing of our associates, our customers’ associates, and the consumers who ultimately use the products that include our narrow fabrics.”
The OEKO-TEX Standard 100 list of concerning chemicals includes residual pesticides, carcinogenic dyestuffs, phthalates, heavy metals, and formaldehyde. The OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 is updated annually and reflects the latest advances in textile chemistry, up to date medical knowledge, and the current state of textile product safety regulations.
