PolyOne Introduces Wilflex Epic™ Rio Non-Phthalate Ink Mixing System

CLEVELAND — July 11, 2016 — PolyOne today announced the launch of non-phthalate Wilflex™ EPIC™ Rio, a new color mixing system for textile inks. Based on cutting-edge pigment technology and formulated for excellent color strength, these inks are PANTONE® approved and boast an extended color range of 18 finished ink mixing components. The end results are a perfect balance of color accuracy, vibrancy and opacity for peak press performance and color design.

As the most opaque color system in the Wilflex range, EPIC Rio maintains color precision and flexibility, and can help screen printers save ink and money by achieving color on press quicker, even with fine mesh-counts. The increased opacity of EPIC Rio also offers greater processing flexibility with regard to mesh screen selection, print strokes and direct print capability, all while maintaining accuracy to Pantone color standards.

Kevin Romine, Wilflex product manager, commented, “EPIC Rio’s color matches to Pantone color standards are spot on, and they strike a perfect balance between color vibrancy and opacity. These new inks will allow textile screen printers to improve opacity and really up their game on color design because the increased color accuracy and strength add a significant ‘wow’ factor.”

The inks are creamy and smooth right out of the bucket and remain that way throughout production runs. Press-ready EPIC Rio inks also give consistent, exceptional results for large or small runs.

Designed for ease of printing on a manual press without tiring the press operator, EPIC Rio inks are also appropriate for larger production runs with an automatic press. They perform well over a wide range of mesh sizes and press parameters, so printability for either manual or automatic textile screen-printing is outstanding.

Posted July 11, 2016

Source: PolyOne

Dyneema®: The Greenest Strength™

The Netherlands — July 11, 2016 — DSM Dyneema, the manufacturer of ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber branded as Dyneema®, produces the world’s strongest, highest-performing fiber. And it does so with the lowest possible carbon footprint. But the company isn’t stopping there.

DSM Dyneema has set corporate sustainability goals to further reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 40 percent, energy consumption by 20 percent and water use by 15 percent, all by 2020. It constantly strives to reduce its emissions, as well as the amount of energy and water it uses during production. Through continuous R&D, they aim to further enhance the performance and durability of Dyneema, resulting in solutions that require less material without compromising on performance and with a minimal environmental impact. The company also works closely with clients and industry partners, investing in initiatives that contribute to a circular economy.

Real-world examples are plentiful: Seismic survey vessels using ropes made with Dyneema have shown 15 percent fuel savings while reducing the amount of material used by half. Denim wear made with the fiber offers a 30 percent carbon-footprint reduction across its life cycle. Heavy-duty chains made with Dyneema use 85 percent less material compared to steel. Airplanes equipped with lightweight aircargo nets made with Dyneema have been shown to consume 10 percent less fuel and yield a 40 percent lower carbon footprint. Driven by increasing societal needs, the company is also working with its partners on a circular-economy initiative for mooring ropes.

Three factors combine to make Dyneema “the greenest strength”: the continuous improvement in manufacturing, ongoing R&D to further improve the unique properties of the fiber, and finally industry partnerships to explore a contribution to a circular economy. Dyneema® means there is no need to compromise between high performance and sustainability. Now or in the future.

Posted July 11, 2016

Source: DSM Dyneema

Fashion Positive Introduces Materials Collection, An Online Portfolio Of Cradle To Cradle Certified™ Materials For The Fashion Industry

SAN FRANCISCO — July 7, 2016 — Fashion designers looking for certified circular materials for their next collection can now look to the Fashion Positive Materials Collection. As of July 1, 2016, designers can access these materials online and browse a portfolio of materials that are Cradle to Cradle Certified™ or have received a Material Health Certificate, which at higher levels of certification ensures safe materials suitable for circular design.

Fashion Positive is an initiative of the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, which aims to transform fashion one material at a time. Together, with a community of pioneering brands, designers and suppliers, Fashion Positive identifies and certifies key building blocks of the fashion industry — creating a growing collection of “positive” materials available through the Materials Collection. The goal is circular materials that can be perpetually cycled. Some materials are further along that pathway than others, so each material has been assessed and improved based upon five categories: material health, material reuse, renewable energy and carbon management, water stewardship and social fairness. A Basic, Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum Certification indicates where the material falls.

The new Materials Collection allows apparel companies and designers to search for textiles and other materials—like dyes, buttons and labels—for apparel and accessories. Each entry includes detailed material specifications; available colors, sizes and weights; and information about stock and custom ordering.

“For many brands, designers and suppliers, it’s a long journey to circular fashion. Fashion Positive meets our members wherever they are on that path and provides the leadership, the vision and methodology to assist our partners in the transition to circularity; the Materials Collection is a big step in that direction. Materials are also assessed against our Standard, so not only are they potentially circular, they are also making a positive impact right now. To obtain Cradle to Cradle Certification materials are assessed against requirements in five standard categories ensuring holistic environmental quality that goes beyond circularity,” says Lewis Perkins, the President of the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute.

Currently, 14 Cradle to Cradle certifications and 12 Material Health Certificates cover a total of 39 materials for fashion.

Some of the materials included in the new Fashion Positive Materials Collection include:

  • Lauffenmühle’s infinito® toolkit (elastic bands, buttons, sewing thread, woven labels,
  • woven ribbon, interfacing, monofilament for 3D printing)
  • DyStar dyes (reactive, vat and disperse dyes for wool, cotton and polyester)
  • Maiyet’s FAIR cashmere (cashmere and cashmere/silk yarns)

“Being a part of Fashion Positive’s Materials Collection is huge for us. The assessment process was thorough and incredibly rigorous, which is why we’re proud that our dyes received a Material Health Certificate at the GOLD-level,” says Fanny Vermandel, Vice President, Global Marketing Coloration, DyStar Colours Distribution GmbH.

Posted July 8, 2016

Source: Fashion Positive / Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute

Safe Reflections Granted Patent For Brilliant® Color Reflective 

ST. PAUL, Minn. — July 7, 2016 — Safe Reflections has received a new U.S. patent for its Brilliant® Color Reflective line of colorized reflective materials.

This patented technology provides superior reflectivity and unmatched wash durability, making Brilliant Color Reflective the first high-brightness color reflective for designers who are serious about incorporating visibility and style in the same offering. A previous patent was granted in 2014 for the manufacturing process behind Brilliant; this second patent is for the reflective product itself.

“We are using Brilliant Color Reflective from Safe Reflections on more and more New Balance designs each year,” said Danielle Regan, Global Apparel Senior Trim Developer for New Balance. “The high-brightness reflectivity and the range of colors enable our designs to incorporate reflective for increased visibility in a discrete way.”

Designers and manufacturers in the active wear and work wear categories are already seeing first-hand how Brilliant Color Reflective adds a new dimension of color, style and safety to their finished products. Danielle went on to say “Safe Reflections is helping us bring a perfect combination of safety, comfort and visual appeal to New Balance activewear designs.”

The new patent also includes a recent innovation within the Brilliant product line: Brilliant Stretch Color Reflective. The reflective material is not only colorized and with high-brightness, but it also has high-stretch. Using Safe Reflections’ adhesive and patented colorizing technology, Brilliant Stretch Color Reflective is designed for use on today’s performance fabrics that are driving growth in the high-end activewear market.

“We’re thrilled to receive another patent for our Brilliant Color Reflective technology, as it provides further proof that this innovation is truly unique and applicable for a wide variety of garments,” said Safe Reflections CEO Chuck Gruber. “Brilliant is changing the way the apparel industry thinks about reflective material, and this patent reinforces the technology’s role as a critical element in the future of reflective apparel. Garment designers and manufacturers are already embracing Brilliant and delivering a higher level of safety and visibility to both the consumer activewear apparel and commercial uniform markets. We’re confident the patent will spark even greater adoption of the technology.”

Product attributes for Brilliant Color Reflective include:
•>300 Brightness (cd/lux/m2 reflectivity)
•Colorfast durable in over 50 home washes
•Tonal color match capable
•Hundreds of different colors available
•Brand and Industry Restricted Substance List compliant
•U.S. patented invention – (No. 8,470,394 B2 and No. 9,248,470 B2) with several other US and global patents pending.

“The recent growth of fashion-forward activewear trends has been explosive, with nearly every segment of the market seeking trendy, yet functional designs focused on lifestyle flexibility,” Gruber said. “We are seeing that the Brilliant Color Reflective line is just what designers want and need to differentiate their offerings and appeal to today’s increasingly safety conscious consumers.”

Learn more about Safe Reflections, including its breakthrough technologies and proprietary products like Brilliant® Color Reflective by visiting www.safereflections.com for complete product specifications and ordering information.

Posted July 8, 2016

Source: Safe Reflections, Inc.

SHIMA SEIKI To Exhibit At Première Vision New York

WAKAYAMA, Japan — July 8, 2016 — Shima Seiki Mfg., Ltd. will exhibit at the Première Vision show in New York in July 2016. It will participate in the new “Manufacturing” area dedicated to technical and logistical manufacturing solutions as sole machine technologist with a machine exhibit.

On display will be the SWG091N2, the largest in the SWG-N2 line of compact WHOLEGARMENT® knitting machines. Featuring Shima Seiki’s original SlideNeedle, the SWG-N2 series offers great flexibility with the capability to produce a variety of accessory items such as gloves, socks, leggings, hats and mufflers as well as childrenswear and even technical textiles. Its versatility makes the SWG-N2 series ideal for a range of applications from production in large-scale knitting factories to sampling in design studios as well as R&D and educational facilities.

Also exhibited is the latest version of Shima Seiki’s SDS-ONE APEX3 3D design system. At the core of Shima Seiki’s “Total Fashion System” concept, APEX3 offers comprehensive support of the entire process of knitwear production from planning and design to production and sales promotion, as well as its capability for Virtual Sampling. Ultra-realistic simulation capability allows Virtual Sampling to minimize the costly time- and resource-consuming sample-making process while enhancing presentation quality. 3D simulation allows evaluation of knitwear from all angles. 3D modeling, 3D mapping and 3D fitting simulation of multiple coordinate items are possible as well. APEX3 also supports design and simulation in a variety of other industries such as circular knitting, weaving, pile weaving and printing.

SHIMA SEIKI will also exhibit knitwear produced on its latest line of computerized knitting machines, including revolutionary seam-free WHOLEGARMENT® knitwear that features superior fit, comfort and draping characteristics.

Posted July 8, 2016

Source: Shima Seiki

Lectra Announces The Opening Of Its Subsidiary In Vietnam

PARIS — July 7, 2016 — Lectra is pleased to announce the opening of its subsidiary Lectra Vietnam on July 1, 2016.

Lectra has been present in the country for over 20 years and represented by its agent Ly Sinh Cong Trading Service Company (LSC) for the past twelve years. The new subsidiary will take over LSC’s team and assets.

With the opening of the Vietnam subsidiary, Lectra is continuing its development plans in Asia. “Thanks to 5.5 percent growth in the first quarter of 2016, Vietnam is one of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic economies. It is a top choice for manufacturers who focus on production costs and brands seeking to diversify supplies. The transpacific agreement signed in February 2016 will reinforce the attractiveness of the country, where Lectra has many customers, including very large Asian companies,” declares Daniel Harari, Lectra CEO.

“Lectra Vietnam’s objective is to help Vietnamese companies implement Lectra’s technologies that have demonstrated their worth in Asia and across the globe, and to accompany locally established foreign groups in the country. This opening will boost Lectra’s expansion in Southeast Asia and reinforce synergy in sales with the company’s other subsidiaries in the region,” explains Yves Delhaye, Managing Director Asean, Autralia, South Korea, India.

The apparel industry is especially vibrant in Vietnam. Clothing exports reached $21 billion in 2014 and should grow by 8 percent, attaining $29.5 billion in 2016, nearly a third from local actors. Of the 6,000 textile and apparel companies, a large number are owned by Chinese, Hong Kong, South Korean, Japanese and Taiwanese companies operating out of Vietnam to take advantage of lower manufacturing costs.

“Thanks to twenty years of experience in Vietnam, Lectra understands the local industry’s fundamentals perfectly. I am pleased to develop even further the close ties that Lectra has with companies present in the country,” adds Yves Delhaye. “Several of our Chinese and South Korean apparel customers manufacture a portion of their production in Vietnam. They are very interested in innovative solutions to improve the quality of their products, the efficiency of their operations and the productivity of their factories. Moreover, a growing number of actors within the automotive industry are investing in Vietnam. Lectra will be there to help develop their production,” he underscores.

Posted July 8, 2016

Source: Lectra

ASTM International Relaunches Laboratory Directory

W. CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. — July 6, 2016 — ASTM International has fully redesigned its International LaboratoryDirectory, the only directory in the world dedicated to helping manufacturers find the right labs to test their products.

Independent laboratories throughout the world rely on thousands of standards and test methods, including many developed by ASTM International.  By working with these labs, manufacturers can help ensure that their products meet key safety and performance criteria, which in turn sends a strong message to existing and potential customers.

The new International Laboratory Directory:

  • lists standards and test methods that each laboratory can perform;
  • provides locations of laboratories in countries throughout the world;
  • allows labs to improve search ranking by purchasing keywords that highlight industry-specific strengths and services;
  • allows manufacturers and other potential partners to compare laboratories; and
  • offers groupings for multiple laboratories that are part of one company.

Posted July 8, 2016

Source: ASTM International

Italian Textile Machinery Increasingly Green Thanks To Innovation

MILAN, Italy — June 2016 — At the annual Italian textile machinery manufacturer’s meeting, the focus was on sustainability as an added value for the whole of the textile industry. Italian advanced technologies also contribute to sustainable and innovative production processes, thanks to the staunch commitment of machinery manufacturers.

Innovation is front and foremost in relaunching Italy’s textile machinery sector. Raffaella Carabelli, President of ACIMIT, said as much at the industry association’s annual meeting, presenting the latest data relating to Italian textile machinery. In 2015, production increased by 13 percent, equivalent to 2.6 billion euros, with exports rising 15 percent (2.2 billion). This sort of progress has not been seen in the industry since 2011, attributable to signs of a recovery on the domestic market, as well as a recovery in the world’s most important market for textile machinery: China. Playing an essential role was without a doubt the Italian edition of ITMA, the industry’s foremost global trade fair, held last November in Milan, and recording a major success both for the many technology innovations on show and strong visitor turnout.

Italian machinery manufacturers have played an essential role in the new technology trends seen at ITMA. “Innovation is a discriminating element between those who have managed to overcome the long period of recession in production, and those who on the other hand struggled on the sidelines,” explains Carabelli. “And in the future, innovation will play an even larger part in making a difference in our sector.” The grounds on which the textile industry is staking its competitive edge is environmental, economic and social sustainability. Under the pressure of increasingly stringent regulatory standards, and urged by the environmental movement and precautionary policies on chemical safety adopted by various major brands, the textile industry must face up to new issues: these include eliminating hazardous substances from production processes, ensuring water and energy savings, providing supply chain traceability, and recycling materials at the end of their life cycle.

Within this context, research and innovation become a core issue, and Italy’s textile machinery sector is definitely at the forefront. “Thanks to our Sustainable Technologies project,” states ACIMIT’s president, “over 1000 Green Labels have been assigned to a innovative and sustainable machinery. This is a crucial result that promotes the project’s scientific commitment and the efforts displayed by over 40 manufacturers taking part in the initiative, yielding important objective goals.” Indeed, thanks to the new sustainable technologies developed by Italian manufacturers, 221,000 less tons of CO2 eq. were emitted into the environment in 2014, the equivalent of reducing CO2 eq. emissions generated by 38,000 cars.

Sustainable innovation is therefore among the primary goals promoted by ACIMIT; a goal that can be achieved only through a strict collaboration with the recipients of innovative research, the textile producers. To help promote awareness on its projects and come to grips with the expectations of the textile industry in terms of sustainability, ACIMIT in partnership with the Blumine/sustainability-lab, has backed a study aimed at thirty or so textile manufacturers already committed to rendering their own products and processes greener. The study highlights the important role played by technology in the sustainability programs of the businesses interviewed (one in two entrepreneurs claims their role is essential).

The round table discussion which followed the research study’s presentation included input by Graziano Brenna, CEO at Tintoria Filati Portichetto; Andrea Cavicchi, President of Confindustria Toscana Nord; Alan Garosi, marketing manager at Fulgar; and textile machinery entrepreneurs Flavio Tonello, owner of Tonello. For textile industry insiders, sustainable technologies must provide reduced energy consumption as well as versatility, allowing for savings in chemicals during production processes, while guaranteeing the safety of operators. A common underlying thread in the discussions was the importance of proceeding hand in hand on the road to innovation, intensifying partnerships between textile manufacturers and textile machinery manufacturers. The day’s proceedings were concluded by Domenico Sturabotti, General Manager of the Fondazione Symbola.

Posted July 5, 2016

Source: ACIMIT

RadiciGroup Results: 2015 Sales Revenue 1,011 Million Euros 2016, First Half Positive

BERGAMO, Italy — July 5, 2016 — RadiciGroup, a historic Italian industrial enterprise with 2,985 employees and a global production and sales presence — Europe (Italy, France, Germany, Czech Republic, Romania, the United Kingdom, Spain, Switzerland and Hungary), North and South America (the United States, Mexico, Argentina and Brazil), Asia (China and India) — in 2015 recorded consolidated sales revenue of EUR 1,011 million, slightly less (dropping 1.37 percent) than in 2014. Sales volume increased (up 3 percent over 2014), as did gross operating margin, which was EUR 103 million (up 37 percent compared to 2014). Group financial and capital soundness also showed further improvement: debt decreased to EUR 183 million (against EUR 231 million in 2014). First half 2016 was positive and saw RadiciGroup attain a gross operating margin of EUR 60 million.

For the year 2015, RadiciGroup’s three business areas reported consolidated sales, as follows:

  • Specialty Chemicals (polyamide polymers and chemical intermediates) – EUR 370 million
  • Performance Plastics (polyamide engineering plastics) – EUR 277 million
  • Synthetic Fibers & Nonwovens (polyamide and polyester synthetic fibres and spunbond nonwovens) – EUR 458 million.

“Our 2015 income statement results were good,” Angelo Radici, president of RadiciGroup, commented. “We closed the year with total sales revenue slightly lower than in 2014, which was basically due to the decrease in raw materials costs. However, our gross operating margin and volume rose by 37% and 3%, respectively. Italy and the rest of Europe continued to be our main target markets. Indeed, these geographical areas contributed 73% of our sales revenue. Good performance trends were recorded, first of all, in the automotive industry and also in electrical / electronics, furnishings and apparel, which are among our key outlet markets. Our Performance Plastics business area performed particularly well in terms of both volumes and margins and achieved an upturn in 2015 sales revenue of about 9% compared to the prior financial year. After the acquisition of the polyamide engineering polymers division of Resinas TB in Mexico, the business area’s global organization and potential has led us to consider a possible further expansion.”

“Despite problems upstream during the first few months of 2016, our margins for the first half are positive,” Mr. Radici continued. “We achieved a gross operating margin of about EUR 60 million, exceeding our expectations. Given the uncertainty of the current international scenario, forecasting is hard, but we expect to close the year with margins in line with those of 2015.”

The Group’s financial soundness continues to improve. “In 2015, net financial debt ended the year at EUR 183 million, of which over 60% was medium-long term,” Alessandro Manzoni, CFO of RadiciGroup, noted. “The debt to equity ratio was 0.50. Our steps to strengthen capital over the past few years reduced debt by EUR 153 million from 2010 to 2015, allowing us to gradually achieve an increasingly sounder position. That course of action required substantial effort and during that period the backing of our banks was essential. Their support and our mutual trust during the years enabled us to work with peace of mind on the industrial management of our Group.”

In 2016 RadiciGroup investments: EUR 40 million (in 2015 investments amounted to EUR 30 million).

RadiciGroup Results: 2015 Sales Revenue EUR 1,011 Million. 2016 First Half Positive

For a long time now, the Group has taken action to translate sustainability into the precise systemic measurement of environmental, economic and social indicators, according to the GRI guidelines. During 2015, RadiciGroup’s product development strategy continued on three fronts: biopolymers, post-industrial and post-consumer recycling, and ecodesign of products obtained from traditional sources. The Group also maintained its constant commitment to measure the environmental impact of its products and provide the market and all its stakeholders with information based on scientific, verified and comparable data. This achievement was made possible by the development and definition of Product Category Rules (PCRs) for its production chain, which specify how to measure and quantify the environmental impact performance of its products using Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs), in order to obtain specific Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs).

As of today, RADICIGROUP has published an EPDfor the HERAMID® range of post-industrial PA6 and PA6.6 engineering plastics, an EPD for the polyamide scrap recovery service (solely used for the production of HERAMID®), an EPD for the RADILON® S and RADILON® A lines, PA6 and PA6.6 engineering plastics, and an EPD for Radifloor® PA6 and PA6.6 BCF yarn. Moreover, RadiciGroup, through its chemical company Radici Chimica SpA, has experimented with a new method of calculating the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) and the Organisation Environmental Footprint (OEF) introduced by the European Commission. Radici Novacips SpA, on the other hand, has experimented with the preparation of a PEF in conjunction with its EPDs and in compliance with specific rules for product environmental labelling. Furthermore, Radici Novacips SpA’s system for issuing and managing their EPDs have been certified.

Some 2015 sustainability performance figures … The energy mix of RadiciGroup companies is continually improving. In 2015 the percentage of electricity from renewable sources (mainly hydroelectric energy) used by the Group was 48.5% (compared to 45.3% in 2014), with 7 production sites 100% powered by renewable energy. In the three-year period 2013-2015, total primary energy consumption from fossil sources per ton of product decreased by about 19% and, in the period 2011-2015, the amount of direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions was reduced by 48.3%. The quality of water discharged also improved (in the period 2013- 2015, chemical oxygen demand [COD] dropped by about 55%). All the data will be available shortly in the 2015 RadiciGroup Sustainability Report.

Posted July 5, 2016

Source: RadiciGroup

Thermore® Ecodown®: Green Is The New Black

MILAN, Italy — July 5, 2016 — We live in a world where new generations are extremely conscious about the fact that Earth’s resources are limited. More and more people are embracing a lifestyle that emphasizes our love and respect for animals and the environment.

For example, this point of view is reflected in the fact that animal fur has been virtually banned from most of outerwear collections.

Down feathers are often plucked from live animals and many of us still keep vivid memories of the disturbing videos showing the cruel systems used to harvest feathers. So, why would we continue to use down filled jackets when there are more sustainable alternatives? Thermore has always been at the forefront in developing durable and resistant thermal insulation with a strong emphasis on sustainability.

In the mid 80’s, Thermore was the first company to introduce a thermal insulation made from recycled fibers from PET bottles. Thermore has mastered the use of recycled fibers like no other company in the industry the last 30 years. All of this experience and knowledge in sustainability has now been focused on the introduction of the new 100-percent recycled Ecodown® thermal insulation- offering the market a warm, soft, durable and sustainable alternative to down. Thermore has now taken the next major step towards sustainability by converting the entire Ecodown product line to fully recycled fiber content, derived exclusively from PET water bottles.

The new Ecodown is the only synthetic product in the market to be made from 100-percent post-consumer plastic bottles. This allows the reuse of a considerable number of bottles, which would have otherwise ended their useful life as waste in a landfill. Depending on the application, outerwear insulated with Ecodown can save up to 10 bottles per garment! Also, using PET bottles instead of oil will help protect energy reserves for future generations.

What’s equally impressive is that the new Ecodown 100-percent recycled thermal insulation does not require special quilting restrictions or fabrics- and can be washed and/or dry cleaned with confidence. This high level of durability equates to exceptional, long term warmth over the life of a garment.

A wide variety of weights and thickness options (over 20 variations!) cater perfectly to every possible design requirement.

Posted July 5, 2016
Source: Thermore
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