American & Efird To Acquire Majority Ownership Of Joint Venture Vardhman Yarns And Threads Limited 

NEW YORK CITY — May 9, 2016 — KPS Capital Partners LP (KPS) today announced that its portfolio company American & Efird (A&E) signed definitive agreements to acquire majority ownership of Vardhman Yarns and Threads Ltd. from its joint venture partner, Vardhman Textiles Limited. Upon completion of the transaction, A&E will own 89 percent of the joint venture and Vardhman Textiles will own the other 11 percent. The transaction has been approved by A&E and Vardhman Textiles, but remains subject to approval from the Competition Commission of India and other customary closing conditions.

Vardhman Yarns and Threads is India’s second–largest manufacturer and distributor of premium quality industrial and consumer sewing thread. Vardhman Yarns and Threads generated revenue of approximately $110 million in FY2015-2016, operates 5 manufacturing facilities, employs over 4,500 associates and sells some of the most-widely recognized industrial sewing thread brands in India

Les Miller, CEO, A&E, said: “The acquisition of Vardhman Yarns and Threads accelerates A&E’s continued global growth and diversification. Our long-standing blue-chip customer base, including leading global brands, multinational corporations and regional manufacturers, rely on A&E as a mission-critical supply chain partner. This acquisition further enhances our demonstrated ability to provide customers with the highest-quality thread and superior service around the world. Vardhman Yarns and Threads’ excellent reputation, world-class operations and leading position in the Indian market will enable A&E to more fully benefit from both fast-growing domestic demand for high-quality products in India and increasing international demand for exports from India. A&E will invest significant capital and resources into Vardhman Yarns and Threads to continue to ensure the highest levels of product quality, environmental sustainability, technological innovation and customer service.

We thank Vardhman Textiles for their continued valuable contributions to Vardhman Yarns and Threads’ success. The strategic partnership with Vardhman Textiles has been important to strengthening Vardhman Yarn and Threads’ leadership position in India and helped accelerate its growth trajectory. We look forward to our continued collaboration with Vardhman Textiles.”

Michael Psaros, a managing partner of KPS, said: “Under KPS ownership, A&E has successfully completed five highly synergistic acquisitions that helped the Company strengthen its world-class strategic global manufacturing, distribution and service platform that provides the Company with a unique competitive advantage. A&E will continue to aggressively expand into adjacent geographies, products and end-markets around the world. A&E’s global reach, product diversity, world-class environmental sustainability practices, and conservative capital structure enable the Company to continue its momentum and success. KPS thanks, in our opinion, the most accomplished management team in the industry, along with all of A&E’s associates around the world, for almost doubling the size of the Company in such a short time period. We look forward to continuing to support A&E’s growth, both organically and through acquisition and joint venture opportunities.”

A&E expects to complete the transaction in the summer of 2016.

McGuireWoods LLP and J.Sagar Associates served as legal counsel to A&E and its affiliates.

Posted May 24, 2016

Source: American & Efird

Hexcel Celebrates Opening Of New Innovation Center

DUXFORD, UK — May 24, 2016 — Hexcel’s new $10 million Innovation Centre in Duxford, UK was officially opened today by Marcus Bryson, Chair of the Aerospace Growth Partnership (AGP) and Chair of Aerospace at the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills, together with Nick Stanage, Hexcel’s Chairman, CEO and President.

The Duxford site is Hexcel’s largest centre for research into resin systems and adhesives. Hexcel innovations in polymer chemistry and material science, together with advanced fibres from the USA, were instrumental in the company being selected to supply all of the carbon fibre prepregs for the Airbus A350 XWB primary structures. Duxford is also Hexcel’s centre of excellence for process technology including product scale-up and research into new processes for making composite materials, including quality control methods.

Hexcel’s new Innovation Centre will support the growing worldwide demand for composite materials for aerospace and industrial markets. The building houses Hexcel’s chemistry and product development functions and is fully equipped with state-of-the-art formulation and analytical laboratories, mixer rooms, and microscopy and SEM laboratories.

At today’s ceremony, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer Paul Mackenzie commented: “I am grateful to Hexcel’s leadership team for approving the expansion we see today. We had outgrown the current Technical Centre and welcome this new building and the facilities provided for the 21st century. Our scientists dedicated to Aerospace and Industrial matrix development have now moved into the Innovation Centre and the building is already resonating with activity.”

Posted May 24, 2016

Source: Hexcel

Comau Receives GM Platinum Award

SOUTHFIELD, Michigan — May 23, 2016 — On May 5, General Motors hosted the GM Annual Supplier IMPACT meeting at Cobo Hall.  Prior to the Michigan Minority Procurement Conference (MMPC), GM shared their expectations, requirements and enhancements to their overall process and metrics with suppliers.  During the meeting, Comau was recognized for their outstanding performance and presented with the GM Platinum Award.  The award recognizes Comau’s continuous efforts to make diversity spending a priority on customer programs.

Supporting women and minority owned businesses is a priority for Comau.  In addition to being a corporate member of the Michigan Minority Business Development Council (MMBDC), Comau actively attends diversity related events such as the MMPC Trade Fair, Hispanic Business Expo and the Women’s Business Expo.  Comau is currently a MMBDC Project One Module member (Ford Module) and their Supplier Development and Diversity Coordinator is a member of the Council of Supplier Diversity Professionals (CSDP).

Comau has participated annually in the Michigan Minority Procurement Conference since 2006.  Chuck Dudek, Comau NAFTA CEO, and Duane Dudas, Global Account Manager – GM, were on site representing Comau at the MMPC to receive the notable award.

Posted May 24, 2016

Source: Comau 

Freudenberg Performance Materials Inaugurates Hänsel Production

WEINHEIM, Germany — May 24, 2016 — Freudenberg Performance Materials, a manufacturer of technical textiles, has inaugurated a new production line at its Weinheim location. The line will manufacture elastic interlinings, known as knits, for the international fashion industry. Freudenberg Performance Materials acquired the business from Hänsel Textil GmbH in Iserlohn in August 2014. Relocation of production to Weinheim began in 2015. The line was officially inaugurated on Tuesday.

“The Hänsel brand continues to stand for quality ‘made in Germany’ under the umbrella of Freudenberg,” said Dr. René Wollert, CFO, Freudenberg Performance Materials. “With the knit products from Weinheim we can offer our Hänsel customers an even broader range of interlinings.” Until today, the business group, which is part of the Freudenberg technology group, manufactured nonwoven and woven interlinings.

The main customer grouping for elastic interlinings is the international fashion industry. Knitted interlinings are highly elastic and have a low volume, which makes garments more comfortable to wear. These special fabrics give women’s outerwear or men’s jackets the required stability.

Relocating the complex Hänsel equipment to the Weinheim facility was a major challenge. “We had to dismantle the machinery in Iserlohn and reassemble it in Weinheim in stages in order to ensure production continuity and uninterrupted deliveries to customers,” explained Volker Del Monego, the project manager at Freudenberg Performance Materials responsible for integrating Hänsel. 19 knitting machines have found a new home in Weinheim.

Posted May 24, 2016

Source: Freudenberg Performance Materials

Positive On U.S. Textiles

BornemanBy James M. Borneman

Doug Billian, past owner and publisher of Textile World, always said, “Keep your eye on capital expenditures — they are one of the best leading indicators of future growth in market economies and capital intensive industries.”

Capital expenditures are important because of what it takes to make them happen — management, board members, technology companies and financial institutions all are part of the process to get projects off the ground. Management is looking at the gap between future demand and current supply. The expenditures incorporate productivity gains, innovative capabilities and geographic shifts in supply, like reshoring trends, all coming together to form a strategic investment.

Jeff Price — outgoing chairman of the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), and president, Specialty Fabrics Division, Milliken & Company — recently addressed the 13th annual NCTO meeting. (See “2016 State Of The U.S. Textile Industry,” TW, this issue). Some of the numbers Price reviews are rather stunning.

“Investment in Textile Mills and Textile Product Mills has seen especially explosive growth, climbing from $960 million in 2009 to $1.8 billion in 2014 — an increase of 87 percent,”reported Price. “In contrast, capital investment in Apparel is down $157 million, a decrease of 39 percent.”

Reading the article is worth the time investment because Price has provided an excellent overview of the textile industry, trends and NCTO’s achievements.

Healthy Techtextil North America, Texprocess Americas and JEC Americas shows also had a positive feel. The Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA) reported, “IDEA16 broke all prior exhibitor and attendee records for its recently wrapped up triennial event attracting over 7,000 attendees and 555 exhibitors.”

It was unfortunate that these events occurred on the same dates in early May, with some visitors attending and/or exhibiting at both venues.

In textiles, it’s not all rosy. TW Yarn Market editor Jim Phillips has uncovered some softening among the yarn spinners: “Compared to just a few months ago, most spinners interviewed were considerably more cautious about the state of the market going forward than they were a few months ago. ‘We really were blind-sided when business began to slow down in January,” said one spinner. It wasn’t at all what we expected. Going forward, I think you will see a return to more favorable conditions. But I am not as certain about this as I was in, say, November of last year.’”

But as Price states there still is a growth story out there: “… since 2012, growth in industrial production by Textile Mills has exceeded that of All U.S. Manufacturing. Industrial production is up 7.6 percent for Textile Mills as compared to just 6.1 percent for All U.S. Manufacturing. Growth in industrial production for Textile Product Mills was 5.9 percent, a figure almost identical to that for All U.S. Manufacturing.”

With that positive outlook, lets hope the industry can maintain its course.

May/June 2016

ExpoDevCo, EJK Partner For ExpoProducción 2017

Atlanta-based Exposition Development Co. Inc. (ExpoDevCo) has partnered with Bethesda, Md.-based E.J. Krause & Associates (EJK) to produce the fourth ExpoProducción Mexico, to be held March 29-31, 2017, at the World Trade Center in Mexico City. ExpoDevCo will work closely with E.J. Krause de México to organize the event.

“At E.J. Krause & Associates, we are very excited to be co-organizer of ExpoProducción in Mexico,” said Paul St. Amour, vice president, Latin America, EJK. “The textile industry has always been vitally important to the industrial base in Mexico. We are certain that by continuing to work closely with our exhibitors, our industry partners and media, ExpoProducción 2017 will be a resounding success.”

“We feel confident that our partnership with E.J. Krause will enable the show to grow far beyond what it has already achieved in its first 3 editions,” said David Audrain, CEO and partner, ExpoDevCo.

May/June 2016

Karl Mayer North America Hosts Successful Event

Greensboro, N.C.-based Karl Mayer North America recently hosted an in-house exhibition. Some 271 attendees from 82 companies and organizations participated in the event. Most attendees came from the United States, but some traveled from Canada, Mexico and India. Attendees also came from various segments of the industry including weaving, knitting, composites, yarn manufacturing, apparel brands, aerospace, military and consulting.

The gathered textile manufacturers, brand representatives and yarn partners — including Unifi for Repreve® polyester, Nilit for nylon and Invista for Lycra® yarns — held lively and creative discussions about the Karl Mayer machines and their capabilities.

The event included warp knitting courses for visitors to familiarize themselves with the technology. Karl Mayer hosted six such sessions, and all were well-attended, according to the company.

NewsKarlMayer
Guests at Karl Mayer North America’s open-house learned about the company’s machines and their capabilities.

May/June 2016

U.S. House Passes H.R. 4923

The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed H.R. 4923, the American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act. The Washington-based National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) endorsed the bill, which was passed in the house by a vote of 415-2. H.R. 4923 impacts the process by which Congress will consider future Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB) legislation (See “2016 State Of The U.S. Textile Industry,” TW, this issue). Using the MTB, Congress can temporarily suspend or reduce tariffs on certain imported products not made in the United States, which can help U.S. manufacturers remain competitive.

“We thank the House for passing this bill and urge the Senate to take it up immediately,” said Augustine Tantillo, president and CEO, NCTO. “It is crucial for the Senate to move quickly so that the long-stalled MTB process can be restarted. The MTB is essential to American competitiveness as U.S. textile manufacturers reinvest the duty savings to boost jobs and innovation.”

May/June 2016

DoD Awards RFT-MII To MIT-Led Consortium AFFOA

The Department of Defense (DoD) and Secretary of Defense Ash Carter recently released details on the Revolutionary Fibers and Textiles Manufacturing Innovation Institute (RFT-MII). A consortium of 89 universities, manufacturers and non-profits organized by the Cambridge, Mass.-based Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and known as the Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA) Alliance was chosen to partner with the DoD on the institute. The agreement will be managed by the U.S. Army Contracting Command — New Jersey Emerging Technologies contracting center. The DoD contributed $75 million to the project, and almost $250 million was raised through cost-sharing and non-federal investments, bringing the total investment for the RFT-MII to more than $317 million.

By partnering academia with private sector companies, AFFOA aims to accelerate widespread commercialization of highly functional fabrics to ensure the United States stays competitive in manufacturing. The RFT-MII is the sixth manufacturing hub to be awarded by the Obama administration through the DoD.

Companies involved in the consortium include Bose, Intel, FibeRio, Warwick Mills, Buhler Yarns and New Balance.

May/June 2016

May/June 2016: Textile Activity At A Glance

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May/June 2016

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