Methods Workshop To Feature Engineering, Costing And Shop Floor Control At Texprocess

Lake Worth, Fla. — April 25, 2016 — Methods Workshop LLC, a provider of engineering and costing software solutions for the fashion and sewn products industries, will feature its recently updated software solutions on May 3-5 at the Texprocess Americas trade show in Atlanta. In addition to providing hands-on demonstrations of its Quick TruCost™ v9 (QTC) early-stage costing software and Engineered TruCost™ v9 (ETC) production methods engineering and labor costing solutions in Booth #523, the company will also feature Shopfloor Eye™, a real-time shop floor control solution that it markets under a newly formed alliance with Atlanta-based Shopfloor Support LLC.

“We are pleased to be bringing so many new innovations to Texprocess Americas 2016,” said Methods Workshop President John Stern. “After launching all new versions of our core standard data costing and engineering software in the past year, we are continuing to update those solutions with many new features and improvements. We are especially excited to be showing the Shopfloor Eye wireless, tablet-based shop floor control solution as it represents a revolutionary step forward in apparel and sewn products manufacturing management. When we saw how it fit so well with our long-time commitment to bringing the best in performance measurement and control to our industry, we knew we wanted to promote it with all of our global clients and at this most important industry event. We look forward to meeting with the many manufacturers, brands and vertical retailers that will attend this important event.”

Quick TruCost is designed for early-stage design, product development and pre-production costing requirements. By answering eight to ten simple product questions, QTC users can immediately and accurately predict the manufacturing cost of their products. Engineered TruCost enables engineers and other manufacturing professionals to quickly and accurately determine production labor costs, define operational best practices, and benchmark manufacturing performance against global standards. Shopfloor Eye leverages standard, off-the-shelf tablets running Android™ and Wi-Fi networking to collect production data and empower workers, supervisors and managers with real-time production visibility and control.

Posted April 25, 2016

Source: Methods Workshop LLC

Alvanon President Ed Gribbin Joins Symposium Panel To Address Technology, Global Implementation And Productivity

NEW YORK CITY — April 25, 2016 — Alvanon president and apparel industry business authority Ed Gribbin will participate in a symposium panel of apparel and retail experts to discuss and debate “How Technology is Implemented Across the Globe to Increase Productivity in the Apparel Industry.” The symposium panel will take place at Texprocess Americas, May 3, 2016, 11:30-1:00 p.m., Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta.

The symposium session, developed by the International Apparel Federation (IAF), consists entirely of IAF members. Gribbin, who serves on IAF’s  board of directors, and whose role as Alvanon’s president and chief consultant brings him into contact with top management at leading apparel manufacturers and retailers worldwide, will inject a unique perspective into the discussion.

“Alvanon provides expert advice and guidance to apparel brands and retailers all over the world,” Gribbin says. “From our aerial perspective of worldwide industry operations, we see the need for greater productivity, speed and efficiency both regionally and by market sector.

“Technology can effectively increase productivity in the apparel world but only if integrated with an appropriate people and process strategy,” he continues. “Unfortunately, in many sectors, technology-based productivity lags behind. At the symposium panel, we will explore how and why some new technologies can be leveraged to fuel productivity on a global basis.”

Posted April 25, 2016

Source: Alvanon

SYFA Spring Meeting 2016 — “Textile Materials In Motion – Moving Industry Forward”

Martex Fiber Celebrates Earth Day And Its Commitment To The Environment Through New Expansion

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — April 22, 2016 — Expanding on its campaign of Zero Landfill and “No Fiber Left Behind™” Martex is pleased to announce an expansion at its Brownsville, Texas, facility with a new fiber reclamation line. The new line in Brownsville is part of a continued commitment to preventing textile waste from going to landfill and developing innovative new sustainable products. The expansion in Brownsville strengthens Martex’s goal of bringing more recycled products mainstream to both consumers as well as industrial markets.

According to Steve Lister, CEO of Martex: “We continue to see strong demand and opportunities for our recycled textile products. The products we are delivering today support sustainability and cost efficiency efforts across our supply chain and a multitude of markets, which is critical in today’s business climate. We have some great new innovations in the pipeline and look forward to their rollout in the near future.”

As part of Martex’s Earth Day celebration, they have launched a video further promoting the preservation of textile waste and social awareness of the need for everyone to put forth their best efforts to preserve the environment and minimize our carbon footprint.  The link to the video is attached here www.martexfiber.com/earth-day-2016.

Martex is known for its collection of textile waste clippings and selvages from apparel and upholstery manufacturers in the US and Central America.  With large collection and processing facilities in Central America, Spartanburg and Brownsville fabrics are deconstructed and fibers blended into a variety of custom fiber mixes that can be put back into industrial processes such as blowing, garnetting, airlay, needlepunch and spunlace.  Many of the recycled fiber applications serve as inputs for manufacturers throughout the Americas, supporting automotive, bedding, nonwoven and furniture markets. Another use for cotton apparel waste is refiberization for yarn spinning. Martex takes the fiber full circle, creating ECO2cotton® yarns which are spun domestically in its Jimtex Yarns facility, located in Lincolnton, Ga., for many apparel applications as well as home furnishings.

Martex Fiber products are SCS certified for recycled content and made in the USA.

Posted April 24, 2016

Source: Martex Fiber Southern Corp.

Under Armour Strikes Landmark Partnership With University Of California, Berkeley

BERKELEY, Calif. — April 22, 2016 — The University of California, Berkeley and Under Armour® today announced a new, 10-year agreement that will benefit both the athletic department and the greater campus community. Under Armour Founder and CEO Kevin Plank joined Director of Athletics H. Michael Williams to introduce the partnership between one of the country’s most prestigious collegiate athletic programs and the global leader in performance footwear and apparel.

The long-term agreement, which commences July 1, 2017, is the first outfitting partnership to feature a comprehensive, campus-wide relationship. Under Armour will not only exclusively design and supply the footwear, apparel and equipment for the athletic department’s wide range of men’s and women’s sports, but also connect directly with the broader campus community by providing student internships, employment opportunities for UC Berkeley graduates, charitable partnerships and exclusive product discounts for campus departments, among other offerings. The additional campus benefits are part of the university’s recent efforts to build more meaningful, campus-wide partnerships through the University Partnership Program, an initiative UC Berkeley launched last summer.

“UC Berkeley is one of the world’s top universities and a standard bearer for academic excellence and athletic achievement,” said Kevin Plank, Founder and CEO, Under Armour. “We share a mutual commitment to relentless innovation and believe we have found a perfect partner in the university. It’s an honor to bring our mission for making athletes better to the Golden Bears. We look forward to collaborating with Cal Athletics and the entire campus for betterment in fitness, wellness, charitable and professional development in ways never done before by an apparel and footwear partner.”

In addition to outfitting the Cal intercollegiate athletic teams, Under Armour will have an extensive social and communal footprint on campus, including:

  • Providing apparel for Cal’s 34 Recreational Sports club programs, supporting more than 1,300 students annually
  • Offering discounts on Under Armour’s connected fitness system, UA HealthBox, for faculty, staff and students
  • Annually employing UC Berkeley student interns and graduates
  • Creating and supporting multiple fitness and nutrition challenges for Cal students, faculty, alumni and staff
  • Collaboration on philanthropic and social responsibility programs
  • There will also be a specific focus on innovation, research and entrepreneurship, with plans to host Future Show, Under Armour’s annual open innovation challenge, and Cupid’s Cup, an annual nationwide competition which allows undergraduate and graduate students to showcase their inventions, at UC Berkeley’s campus multiple times over the course of the partnership.

“We are excited to announce this unique partnership between UC Berkeley and Under Armour,” Chancellor Nicholas Dirks said. “Going well beyond a typical apparel contract, this relationship will extend across the entire campus, reinforcing our commitment to a strong, sustainable intercollegiate athletics program, one that is such an integral and fully integrated part of our university.”

“Under Armour’s vision mirrors our university’s emphasis on innovation, research and entrepreneurship, and this agreement will offer opportunities for students to advance their ideas through a variety of programs,” Williams said. “Together, the partnership aligns with our goals of succeeding in the classroom, in the field of competition and in the greater community.”

This new affiliation further expands Under Armour’s footprint in the collegiate market, with Cal becoming the brand’s 34th Division 1 all-school partnership and second in the Pac-12 Conference.

Cal sponsors one of the nation’s most successful and broad-based collegiate athletic programs featuring 30 different sports and more than 850 student-athletes. The Golden Bears have won 89 team national titles in 15 different sports, as well as nearly 300 individual and relay championships, while students, coaches and staff have claimed 185 Olympic medals, including 105 gold.

Posted April 22, 2016

Source: Under Armour

A&E Releases 2015-2016 Sustainability Report

MOUNT HOLLY, N.C. — April 22, 2016 — American & Efird (A&E) — a manufacturer and distributor of industrial and consumer sewing thread, embroidery thread, and technical textiles — announced today it is releasing its 2015-2016 Sustainability Report in conjunction with the global celebration of Earth Day. This year’s report details A&E’s accomplishments in the areas of safety, environmental sustainability and corporate social responsibility, and specifically global water-reduction and Zero-Waste-to-Landfill achievements.

“Our Eco*Driven® program and our 10 Threads of Sustainability continue to guide and challenge us,” said Jimmy Summers, Vice President Environmental, Health & Safety/Sustainability at A&E. “We are very proud of the progress that our global manufacturing teams have made through their continued dedication to safety, sustainability, and social responsibility.”

A&E continues to abide by its pledge to create a better world through responsible corporate actions, environmentally protective efforts, and numerous contributions to the communities in which it operates.

A&E has installed state-of-the-art wastewater recycling systems across the world, and these investments have paid off through significant reductions in water use. A&E continues to focus on energy conservation and has increased use of biofuels and clean fuels, resulting in reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

To create its 2015-2016 Sustainability Report, A&E evaluated all of the global yarn spinning, dyeing and finishing facilities in which the company has ownership. Categories measured in the report include global carbon footprint, water conservation, energy conservation, and recycling and waste reduction.

Highlights include:

  • Global Carbon Footprint*
    A&E achieved a 9.1% reduction of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) per kg of thread produced in 2015.
  • Water Conservation
    38% reduction in global water consumption since 2006.
    273 million liters of wastewater was treated and reused in 2015 through reverse osmosis treatment systems.
  • Sustainable Packaging, Recycling and Waste Reduction
    Zero-Waste-to-Landfill was achieved in the United States manufacturing operations in 2015. A&E’s global goal is to achieve this in every manufacturing operation worldwide.

A&E continues to use the American Apparel and Footwear Association Restricted Substances List (RSL) to screen all dyes and chemicals which are used in its operations worldwide. The RSL categorizes chemicals and substances which are restricted or banned in the production of home, textile, apparel and footwear products. This list is updated biannually and reflects current international chemical and substance restrictions.

Posted April 22, 2016

Source: American & Efird (A&E)

National Safety Apparel® & Arc Flash Head Protection

CLEVELAND, Ohio — April 22, 2016 — National Safety Apparel® is pleased to feature a wide variety of flame resistant and arc flash stocked head protection. Whether you need protection from extreme temperatures or a multitude of hazards, we have you covered. We offer a wide variety of complete head protection kits with an assortment of styles, fabrics and protection levels. Arc flash balaclavas paired with goggles and/or faceshields offer an alternative to the traditional beekeeper’s style hoods. These combinations offer a lighter weight, often more breathable, and compact option for arc flash protection on tasks that do not have a potential shrapnel hazard element. It is important to have a professional hazard assessment completed to identify all potential hazards prior to selecting any form of PPE. For those workers who are not required to wear as much head protection but still want to stay protected, our flame resistant baseball caps will do just that. These FR caps feature a category rating of 2 (HRC 2), an adjustable fit, and offer a sporty style option that can be branded with a company logo.  Be sure to select the FR head protection that meets your workplace safety requirements after a hazard assessment has been completed.

Innovating new safety gear to meet the needs of customers and the industries they serve, while providing the newest technology is what National Safety Apparel does best!

Posted April 22, 2016

Source: National Safety Apparel® 

Freudenberg Performance Materials Strengthens Evolon Lightweight Wipes’ Position In Industrial Cleaning

WEINHEIM, Germany — April 20, 2016 — Originally designed as a durable fabric with outstanding properties, Evolon has been used for more than a decade as heavyweight high-tech cleaning cloths withstanding hundreds of wash cycles at constant performance. Pushing the limits of the unique worldwide-patented technology, Freudenberg has worked on the basis of those strengths to combine the benefits of microfilaments and the convenience of disposable items to develop its range of lightweight wipe substrates. Evolon wipes offer the best cleaning performance in their category thanks to the fineness and density of the microfilaments. Dry or pre-impregnated, Evolon lightweight wipes are set for highly demanding applications requiring the best surface preservation, and are currently being qualified by the automotive and aerospace industries. These Evolon lightweight wipes give Freudenberg the opportunity to consolidate its position on the industrial cleaning segment.

Endless microfilaments make Evolon lint-free, strong, mechanically stable and isotropic, providing extended durability and stability-in-use for dry or wet disposable and semi-disposable lightweight wipes. With a microfilament size ca. 10 times thinner than standard microfiber, wipes using the Evolon technology provide an outstanding streak-free cleaning performance and absorb up to 4 times their weight of water and 8 times their weight of oil. These are all key features which prove to be highly beneficial in high tech industrial environments.

Down to 30 gsm, Evolon microfilament wipes are 1.5 to 2 times lighter than the lightweight wipes traditionally obtained using conventional processes. Design and patterning flexibility include: flat, mesh or the new 3D structures, to fulfill the need for differentiation expressed by the customers. “The pattern was originally a more stringent subject in consumer markets, but we are more and more required by the industrial market to provide unique-looking products with superior cleaning performance. Evolon is fit for this too.” says Jean-François Kerhault, business segment manager Evolon. In this respect, Evolon 3D revolutionary pattern has been nominated as one of three finalists in the Roll Goods category at IDEA16 in Boston.

Many customers pre-impregnate Evolon substrates, to provide the task-specific light wet wipes required by a more and more segmented industrial market. Thanks to the microfilament structure, the impregnation remains stable over the product lifetime to ensure constant liquid release. The composition of Evolon microfilament textile is compatible with a multitude of pre-impregnation cleaning lotions, solvents and IPA. “Evolon is also resistant to peroxide-based disinfectant, unlike some other competitive materials. This brings a significant advantage to our customers, by allowing them to use a wider variety of cleaning agents.” adds Kerhault.

Evolon lightweight substrates are easy to convert in a large variety of formats: flat wipes, perforated rolls, pull-ups and interfold are just as easy to make.

Evolon fabrics range from 30gsm to 240gsm and are certified Oeko-Tex Standard 100 Product Class I. The Freudenberg facility producing Evolon is certified ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001 and ISO 50001.

Posted April 20, 2016

Source: Freudenberg Performance Materials 

Savio At KTM + ITM Exhibitions In Turkey

PORDENONE, Italy — April 22, 2016 — Turkey is ranked in the top five export markets of Savio, so the attendance at Turkish exhibitions is meant at massive level for being closer to the important customers who are interested in Savio machinery for either their green field or expansion projects.

KTM, Kahramanmaras Textile Machinery Show 2016, organized for the second time, will open its doors to the visitors on 2016, 28 April. In the event, machinery and technology producers and textile and garment professionals will be determining their new investments by looking at new technology productions. Savio will showcase the new Eco PulsarS automatic winder and the drumless Multicone technology.

ITM Texpo Eurasia 2016 Exhibition will bring together the world’s leading textile technology manufacturers in Istanbul on June 1-4, 2016, at Tuyap Beylikduzu Fair and Congress Center. In Istanbul, Savio will display the new Eco PulsarS automatic winder, the new Volufil machine, combining winding and thermic treatment, and the drumless Multicone technology.

At both exhibitions, Savio will highlight breakthrough innovations in the winding segment, all representing high-end and niche products with important technological content:

  • Eco PulsarS, a quantum leap forward in automatic winding;
  • the drumless Multicone technology;
  • the Volufil Multicone automatic winder for continuous shrinkage, bulking and heat setting.

Eco PulsarS

After the world premiere at ITMA Milan 2015, attracting a lot of attention from customers, Eco PulsarS will be showcased in Turkey for the first time. EcoPulsarS, with its innovative platform can save up to 30 percent power bill, reduce yarn waste, air conditioning costs & noise inside the spinning room.

Energy is a major cost component in the textile industry. The rising energy prices, affecting fuel and electricity, have caused soaring costs in the process, thus reduced the competitiveness of textile products in some domestic markets, where imported products may be cheaper. Suction represents 75 percent of the total energy of a winding machine. EcoPulsarS’s solution of the “individual and independent suction unit per spindle” represents a real break-through versus the conventional system. Each unit operates at optimum suction values without influencing the rest of the spindles. In addition, independent suction systems are provided to the auxiliary devices for fully automatic machines. This means no more compromises in balancing the suction as in conventional centralized systems, in which the fan is permanently in operation. Since suction is generated only when needed, customer can save up to 30% power bill costs, while a better efficiency, a smoother winding process and overall superior package and yarn quality are achieved too. EcoPulsarS combining all new features and design has created an environment in which each part of the machine can operate at its optimum level. Spindles and bobbins feeding systems set independently the level of suction required. Suction is generated as needed and used without losses. The new Controlled Cut System, Yarn Tension Control System, Waste Collection&Separation System and Upgraded Splicing Solutions, each contributing to the overall reduction of process downtimes. Eco PulsarS, with its sustainable eco-green advantage, replies to the market demand of energy saving, together with improved production performances, high quality packages and utmost flexibility.

Polar Multicone

Savio’s well proven and the best-selling automatic winder model Polar is still the #1 winder in many world markets, for the traditional standard winding platform.

This state- of-the-art machine has been designed keeping in mind the demands of our customers in terms of increased productivity, reduced energy consumption, reduced waste and production of yarn package of top high quality. Further emphasis has been given to realize machines friendly use and almost maintenance free for any type of working environments.

All POLAR models (manual feeding, automatic feeding free standing, and automatic link) represent the utmost technology available: the previous success of the mechanical models has been followed by the last generation of the fully controlled electronic one.

Savio’s Multicone digital yarn layering technology (drumless) is available for Polar range and represents the proper solution to achieve flexibility, for an easy and fast change in the winding process to prepare all formats. Packages for dyeing, warping, weft, knitting, twisting, require a different and flexible package formation in terms of geometry, edges shape and density.

Polar “Multicone” system represents today the proper solution to achieve this kind of flexibility in the package formation.

Volufil Multicone

Volufil Multicone combines thermic treatment and winding process on a single machine.

The consolidated success of the “Volufil technology” and the new demand of different yarns for diversified fabric applications, has requested several new developments on the machine technology.
The new Volufil Multicone represents the proper reply to the new markets requirements.

We have extended the technological process on acrylic heat set yarns, on special yarns (chenille) and on traditional HB Acrylic fibers, also blended with wool and elastomeric filaments.

The new winding system “Multicone” allows the best solution for any yarn type and package format with different traverse take-up. The Multicone system allows the tailoring of package for different end use with simple settings on PC.

Posted April 22, 2016

Source: Savio

Lenzing Launched “4S Denim Capsule Collection” At Kingpins Amsterdam

LENZING, Austria — April 2016 — Lenzing, a producer of wood-based cellulose fibers, launched the “4S Denim Capsule Collection” at Kingpins show in Amsterdam.

Produced in partnership with Jeanologia, and featuring fabrics from several mill partners, the collection showcases original denim silhouettes for both womenswear and menswear. The name of the collection “4S” stands for Softness, Stretch, Science and Sustainability. Three stories are highlighted within the 4S collection: Dude Ranchers, Tech Artisan, and Deconstructing Denim. Each story, and the collection overall, highlights all the elements that are the essence of a modern day premium denim line.

Fabric constructions are evolving as consumer demand for both comfort and function grows. Companies are pioneering techniques and practices based on sound scientific research, reducing the use of energy, water, chemicals in the denim supply chain as they strive to reduce their overall environmental impact. None of these advances would be possible without collaborations within the supply chain. The supply chain partners for 4S are Lenzing, Jeanologia (Spain), Advance Denim (China), Atlantic Mill (Thailand), Blue Diamond (China), Orta (Turkey), Toray International (Japan).

“We’ve created this collection and named it 4S because not only did we want to emphasize both the softness and stretch elements but also highlight the scientific research and investment that is taking place within the denim supply chain,” said Michael Kininmonth, Project Manager from Lenzing, who worked with Jeanologia on the capsule collection. “We were delighted with the reaction to the “TENCEL® 24 Day into Night collection”, so much so, that it was a natural choice to continue our partnership with Jeanologia, and like Lenzing they are endeavoring to be leaders in their field for technology and sustainability.”

While stretch has become a staple in the denim arena, with 4S it is hoped that the technology behind the materials and the new styles being presented will create a stir in the industry. “We are trying to employ modern fabrics and modern laundry techniques to innovate and create new ideas,” said Kininmonth.

“In the market today you will see indigo styles and non-indigo styles in stretch constructions, but a lot of the finishing is quite conservative. We have tried to challenge that via the themes that run through this collection.”

“We are using different washes to show how the fabric performs both in terms of aesthetic and performance,” said Carme Santacruz, Jeanologia designer. “Three or four years ago, nobody could have imagined creating men’s fabrics with 30, 40 or 50 percent stretch. We’ve created our men’s styles to look like a traditional vintage jean, but in terms of touch and how they wear, this line is totally different.”

The 4S: Softness, Stretch, Science and Sustainability collection debuted at Kingpins Amsterdam, April 13th and 14th.

Posted April 22, 2016

Source: Lenzing

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