Spartanburg, S.C.-based Zimmer America Corp. now represents the Cavitec hot-melt coating and
laminating, and nonwoven thermobonding product lines through an agreement with Switzerland-based Santex Group.
Machinery now available through Zimmer America includes the Caviflex, Cavimelt, Cavi-2-Coat, Caviscreen, TSM and Caviscat hot-melt coating and laminating lines; as well as the Santatherm thermobonding line.
July/August 2015
Singapore-based DyStar® Group and the Netherlands-based DyeCoo® Textile Systems have partnered to develop products suitable for DyeCoo’s carbon dioxide-based dyeing process. DyeCoo’s technology uses recycled carbon dioxide to permeate the fabric with dye rather than water, thus offering the textile industry potential savings in both water and energy use.
“We are very pleased with DyStar’s dedication to support our water- and chemical-free dyeing technology,” said Mats Blacker, CEO, DyeCoo. “Collaborations like this one are key to further help our ground breaking technology towards global implementation. We strive to deliver commercially viable solutions for the textile industry while continuing to develop breakthrough technologies. Companies like DyStar help us to achieve those goals.”
July/August 2015
The SEC recently declared effective Lansing, Mich.-based Kraig Biocraft Laboratories’ registration statement with Calm Seas Capital. This approval secures up to $7.5 million over the next two years for research, development and production purposes. In other company news, Kraig recently signed a cooperative research and development agreement with the University of Notre Dame to advance the speed of development for its transgenic silkworm technology. In addition, the company generated a batch of finished Monster Silk™ using its pilot-scale production facility. The materials produced are used to assess the technology and evaluate performance for potential market channel partners.
July/August 2015
Tuscaloosa, Ala.-based Phifer Inc. recently began implementing Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) software from Chattanooga, Tenn.-based PA Group USA. Phifer has fully implemented machine monitoring, planning and scheduling, and product life cycle management solutions at two out of its three manufacturing divisions, with the last one to go live this summer. PA Group also published a case study based on the Phifer MES project.
“As I worked on this case study with Phifer, it became very clear to me just how valuable the insight they were gaining was,” said Josh Davis, marketing director, PA Group. “It was powerful to hear a customer say that your software is opening new opportunities to look at their business in ways that they never even imagined.
July/August 2015
The recent Techtextil North America 2015 closed its doors after an event that show organizer Atlanta-based Messe Frankfurt Inc. said exceeded records from the past three west coast editions of the show. Techtextil collocated with JEC Americas Composites Show & Conferences — organized by Paris-based JEC Group — and selected Houston for the 2015 edition of the show based on attendee and exhibitor feedback. It was the first time the west coast edition of the show, now in its fourth edition, was held in Texas.
This is typically a smaller event than the show held in Atlanta in even numbered years, but organizers, exhibitors and attendees all seemed satisfied with the outcome of the show. Visitor numbers were combined with JEC visitor numbers since the two shows shared the exhibit hall and visitors were allowed to traverse the whole showfloor regardless of which show they had registered for. The collocated event counted some 2,821 total visitors across the three days, which Messe Frankfurt reported was a 39-percent increase in the total number of visitors when compared to the 2013 west coast edition of the show held in Anaheim, Calif. Techtextil also welcomed 145 exhibitors from 18 countries, which represented a 98-percent increase in net square footage and a 96-percent increase in the number of exhibitors compared with the Anaheim show.
The George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston hosted the collocated Techtextil North America 2015 and JEC Americas Composites Show & Conferences 2015.
Most Techtextil North America participants Textile World spoke with said the quality of visitors was impressive even if visitor traffic was light.
“We had a high level of traffic and a high level of qualified, quality traffic during the show,” said Josh Davis, marketing manager, PA Group USA. “As the only software company exhibiting at the show, we had a definite advantage, and are happy we chose to participate in the west coast edition of Techtextil.”
“We didn’t have too many visitors at the booth,” said Tom Johnston, sales manager, Greenville-based Picanol. “But I believe we developed two really strong leads. And it only takes one lead resulting in a sale for it to have been worthwhile to participate in the show.”
Successful Symposium
Techtextil also offered visitors a chance to participate in educational seminars. The symposium sessions ran concurrently with the exhibit hall opening times and featured 10 sessions with 33 presenters over the three days. Attendees were invited to interact with the presenters during a question and answer period at the end of each symposium session.
Topics included fiber developments, protective textiles, medical textiles, aerospace, nonwovens, and smart textiles among other topics. There also was a graduate student poster presentation session moderated by Dr. Behnam Pourdeyhimi, executive director, The Nonwovens Institute, Raleigh, N.C.
“The sessions were simply fantastic,” said Pourdeyhimi. “We had a full house all the time, with some people standing in the back during some sessions. Some of the speakers I invited were first-time speakers for Techtextil, and our speakers were incredibly impressed with the organization and professionalism.”
JEC Collaboration
The synergy created by the blend of technical textile and composite technologies presented at Techtextil and JEC Americas was obvious. The collocated shows presented a great opportunity to network and share ideas.
The Houston show represented the fourth edition of JEC Americas, and show organizers reported a 15-percent growth in space and exhibitor numbers.
In addition to a variety of events, seminars, interactive displays, awards, and targeted business meetings, JEC presented two keynote speakers on the show floor — former NASA astronaut Ron Garan proved to be a big draw on the first day, as did Byron Pipes, the John Bray Distinguished Professor of Engineering at Purdue University, on the second day.
A highlight on the JEC Americas showfloor was the 3-D printed Shelby Cobra developed at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tenn.
“The dynamic interactions between exhibitors and attendees in Houston show how gathering the best and brightest minds can drive growth in the region and communicate the value of composites more broadly,” said Frédérique Mutel, president and CEO, JEC Group.
The JEC Group is already busy planning the JEC Americas Composites Show & Conferences 2016, which will be the only composites show on the east coast next year.
2016: Atlanta Bound
In 2016, for its thirteenth edition, Techtextil North America will return to Atlanta, which has been the tradition in even-numbered years. Techtextil North America 2016 will be held at the Georgia World Congress Center May 3-5. The show will collocate with Texprocess Americas and JEC Americas once again.
Messe Frankfurt predicts Techtextil and Texprocess will attract a combined 700 exhibitors and more than 8,000 visitors, with JEC Group predicting similar exhibitor numbers for its event. Mark your calendar for the chance to network with a large slice of the technical textiles, composites and textile processing industries next May.
July/August 2015
By Robert S. Reichard, Economics Editor
The economy may have flattened out a bit over recent months, but the lull has hardly made a dent in textile and apparel profit levels. Indeed, in the textile mill sector, first quarter 2015 numbers are running an impressive 43-percent above the comparable period last year. Further downstream, domestic apparel manufacturers are managing to hold their own, with the latest quarterly total remaining virtually unchanged vis-à-vis comparable year-earlier readings. Note, too, that the textile industry’s profit performances over this time span actually has been a lot better than those reported for all U.S. manufacturing, where aggregate first quarter 2015 after-tax earnings have slipped some 10-percent under the comparable period last year. Textile and apparel industry margin performances — profit as a percentage of sales or stockholder equity — when compared to a year earlier, are equally encouraging. The actual numbers compared to a year earlier for profits per dollar of sales are 5.3 percent versus 4 percent for textile mills, and a pretty much unchanged 9 percent for domestic apparel makers. The story is much the same when it comes to profits per dollar of stockholder equity, which is 13.9 percent now versus 9 percent a year ago for mills, and again a relatively unchanged 18 to 19 percent for clothing makers. These latest margin readings are a lot more impressive than those noted for all manufacturing, where some modest erosion was reported over the past year. Also worth noting: The U.S. textile industry’s return on equity is far higher than current interest rates, which remain in the low single-digit range, thus helping to explain why mills continue to shell out upwards of a billion dollars a year for new plants and equipment.
More Improvement Ahead
These latest profit increases are likely to spill over into future years if new projections by U.S. economic consulting firm IHS are anywhere near correct. Its analysts — using the rough estimate of earnings of shipments less labor and material costs — anticipate further earnings increases in 2016. Its projected gains for that year is 3 percent for mills making basic products like fibers and fabrics, 3.8 percent for mills making more highly fabricated products such as carpets and home furnishings, and 2.1 percent for clothing manufacturers. This uptrend is expected to persist even over the longer haul. By the end of the current decade, IHS sees profits for mills making basic mill products running about 15 percent above this year’s estimated levels — with projected increases for more highly fabricated mill products and apparel expected to be up by an even more impressive 17 and 20 percent respectively. That’s not all that bad a scenario for these industries that seemed to be heading for the dust bin just a few years ago.
Behind The Profit
Several factors clearly are contributing to these still-rising earnings levels. For one, demand — as measured by the textile industry’s production numbers — continues to show modest gains. Output of basic mill products is currently running 11-percent above year-earlier levels. It’s pretty much the same story when it comes to apparel activity. With the economy expected to pick up a bit — rising at a 2.5- to 3-percent annual rate over the next few quarters — these output gains are almost certain to continue. This, in turn, should pretty much guarantee further profit increases since higher industry activity is almost always associated with stronger bottom lines. Even more importantly as far as earnings are concerned, is the continuing lack of any upward production cost pressures. IHS analysts predict that aggregate labor-plus-material costs will account for smaller and smaller percentages of the industry shipment dollar. Thus, this year, IHS sees this key profit indicator dropping substantially from levels prevailing just three years ago. The actual cost/shipment declines over this period fell from 89 to 75 percent in for basic mill products, from 78 to 56 percent for more highly fabricated products, and from near 100 to 70 percent for apparel. TW sees this trend continuing into 2016 when further small percentage declines are forecast. This is based on more than just wishful thinking. In the case of both cotton and man-made fibers, supply gluts should put some downward pressure on costs. In the labor sector, recently inked contracts suggest pay hikes also will remain quite restrained.
July/August 2015
Dalton, Ga.-based J+J Flooring Group reports it is the first commercial flooring manufacturer to be certified as a Zero Waste to Landfill manufacturer by third-party certifier GreenCircle Certified LLC. The company worked to decrease the amount of waste it was sending to landfills over time, and in August 2014, stopped sending any waste directly to the landfill. Currently, the 2 percent of the company’s waste that cannot be effectively reused, recycled or repurposed is sent to energy-from-waste operator Covanta, which converts the waste into energy to provide steam power to the Redstone Arsenal U.S. Army garrison in Huntsville, Ala.
“Our focus on waste reduction and recycling over the past 20 years is what has allowed us to reach this significant milestone,” said Russ Delozier, director of sustainability, J+J Flooring Group. “It is the result of a common passion and drive between all J+J associates.”
July/August 2015
Greensboro, N.C.-based Cone Denim®, is now a member of the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) non-profit organization that promotes responsible global standards and links the complex cotton supply chain from farmers to retailers.
“Cone Denim promotes sustainability and responsible manufacturing in all of our operations, and we appreciate the opportunity to work with other members of the cotton supply chain to share best practices and work to continuously improve the production and sustainability of cotton, and grow the demand for Better Cotton,” said Steve Maggard, vice president, operations, planning and product development, Cone Denim.
Cone also reports its state-of-the-art Cone Denim Jiaxing (CDJ) plant in China has received Oeko-Tex® Standard 100 certification for certain denim products.
“Oeko-Tex certification provides our customers and ultimately the consumer an added level of confidence in CDJ’s fabrics,” said Kevin Reardon, vice president of sales, Cone Denim. “We maintain a commitment to responsible manufacturing throughout our global operations and continually look for ways to improve our sustainable practices and minimize our environmental footprint — while at the same time, pushing the limits of denim innovation and styling.”
July/August 2015
By Jim Phillips, Yarn Market Editor
Orders for yarn continued to be strong in early July across virtually every segment. Open-end yarns are moving well and the demand for ring-spun yarns is such that buyers are struggling to locate product.
“Ring-spun yarns are hard to find right now, as they have been for quite some time,” said one yarn broker. “Ring spun seems to be in short supply everywhere, not just in the United States. If you need a large position with quick delivery, I wish you luck, because I think it is going to be hard to get large quantities anytime soon, unless you have a lot of leverage. We have reached the point where, when times are good, as they have been for the past year or more, we have pretty much maxed out our ring-spun production capacity. I think this provides us with an opportunity for sustained growth in the U.S. yarn industry that we haven’t seen in decades. For the first time in recent memory, the business sector is growing again. New plants are being built and others expanded. Providing our government doesn’t derail us through unfavorable trade agreements, I believe we are going to see manufacturing of textiles, in general, and yarn, in particular, see substantial growth in the United States.”
Technology, Service Driving Growth
Added a Southeastern spinner: “When you look at the advantages the U.S. industry has, it is no surprise that it is beginning to grow again. We have more technology, better production processes, faster delivery and more attentive customer service than any industry in any country. Our customers who have come back, after experimenting in Asia, tell us that no one can match our service and delivery, and that we are much more competitive on price than a lot of people think.”
In terms of textile exports, the United States trails only China and India in supplying yarn and fabric to the rest of the world. In 2013, textile exports totaled nearly $13 billion. But what has been even more encouraging is the increasing affinity of U.S. consumers for domestic products. “A lot of programs coming back are a result of customers who continue to see their costs in Asia go up while their service goes down. With reduced transportation and inventory costs, it is beginning to make more sense for many companies to return their programs to the United States. But a big part, as well, is being driven by consumers, who pay increasing attention such things as sustainability, traceability and transparency.”
As a result of this increased demand, after seeing more than 650 textile plants close from 1997 to 2009, the industry is once again on the move, and numerous sources agree. Organizations in countries around the world are in the process of building or expanding textile facilities in the United States, with activity in Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
Just recently, it was revealed by several sources that Nan Ya Plastics Corp. is planning an expansion of its staple capacity at the company’s Lake City, S.C., plant. The expansion is reported to include a new spin line with approximately 40 million to 50 million pounds of capacity. The new line will be able to run a range of deniers and is expected to be operational in the second half of 2016. This will be the first new virgin spin line installed in the United States in more than 10 years. Products made at the South Carolina plant include polyester chip for the textile and bottle/sheet industries, polyester staple fiber and polyester continuous filament yarns including POY, DTY, FDY, and HOY As with many yarns and fibers, polyester staple demand has been both strong and steady over the past year, prompting the Nan Ya expansion.
Cotton Prices Remain Unchanged
Cotton prices have remained stable over much of the past year. As of June 25, quotations for the base quality of cotton (color 41, leaf 4, staple 34, mike 35-36 and 43-49, strength 27.0-28.9, uniformity 81.0-81.9) in the seven designated markets measured by the USDA averaged 62.47 cents per pound, up from 62.39 cents the previous week, but substantially lower the 77.72 cents reported for the corresponding period a year ago.
July/August 2015
The Roseville, Minn.-based Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) is returning to its roots to host IFAI Expo 2015 — featuring Specialty Fabrics, Advanced Textiles, and Shade and Weather Protection — which will be held October 7-9, 2015, in Anaheim, Calif. For the upcoming edition of the event, show organizers decided to move away from multiple Expo brand names and have returned to the industry-known IFAI Expo name. The expo continues to service all aspects of the industry, and features segments targeted to specific markets including:
The expo features a show floor with an anticipated 400 exhibitors, equipment demonstrations, an Advanced Textiles Testing Booth, the IFAI Tech Stop, IFAI Membership Lounge, educational sessions, Fabric Sourcing Center, an updated ShowStoppers competition, new Disaster Relief and Preparedness displays, and the IFAI Awards and Keynote Presentation, among other activities.
Schedule Changes, New Additions
The show floor will open later than past expo participants may be used to (see schedule) to free show hours from competition with classroom education sessions. “Our participants have indicated that they no longer want education and exhibit hall competing for their time, and in turn, want them in a cooperative fashion,” said Jessica Miller, director of education and events. “Thus, this year, the show floor hours will be exclusive with various opportunities from quick, small discussions throughout the show floor. For example, the IFAI Expo 2015 will host Campfire Sessions each day of the show floor. The sessions run 30 minutes in length, and will be deep-dive on a variety of topics from general business management to division-specific education.”
“In light of the success and positive feedback we received last year regarding the Equipment Workshops, this year we have refined the schedule, engaged more exhibitors to host workshops and are increasing the number of attendees per workshop session,” said Miller. “Workshops will take place on the show floor Wednesday and Thursday mornings prior to exhibit hall opening, and attendees will have access to all workshops.”
As in past years, IFAI Expo will showcase new and innovative ideas in the ShowStoppers 2015 area, which highlights the latest products in the following categories: Fabrics, fibers and films; Chemicals, coatings and compounds; Hardware, findings and accessories; Equipment and tools; Services to manufacturers; and End products. Winners will be announced during an awards ceremony the first evening of the show.
The Fabric Sourcing Center is a convenient hub for expo visitors to view and locate hundreds of exhibitor materials. Samples are organized into the following categories: outdoor fabrics; indoor performance fabrics; industrial; safety and protective; mil-spec; sport; and apparel.
This year, IFAI will introduce several new features to the show floor. The Advanced Textiles area will feature an Advanced Textiles Testing Booth. “The testing booth will introduce attendees to the key players in the testing arena, while also allowing participants to understand what test methods are appropriate for various materials and at which point of the production process necessary tests should take place,” said Miller. “Education programming will support and prepare attendees for making the most of the testing booth onsite and working with testing laboratories through the production cycle.”
In addition, a new Disaster Mitigation and Response Display will focus on exhibitor products that aid in disaster mitigation.
IFAI IAA And Keynote Presentation
On Thursday morning, IFAI hosts the IFAI International Achievement Awards (IAA) and keynote presentation. The IAA is an annual competition designed to “promote awareness of the specialty fabrics used in thousands of products and applications ranging in size and shape,” according to IFAI. Winners — chosen by a group of industry experts, architects, design professionals and editors — are evaluated based on design, complexity, workmanship, uniqueness and function. The “Outstanding Achievement Award” and “Award of Excellence” winners will be showcased at IFAI Expo 2015.
The keynote speaker is Erik Weihenmayer, an athlete, adventurer, author and activist. “We are very excited about bringing Erik Weihenmayer, the only blind person to reach the summit of Mount Everest, as the keynote at IFAI Expo in Anaheim,” said Mary Hennessy, president and CEO, IFAI. “Erik’s message about overcoming adversity through teamwork is inspirational, and for the first time, the keynote address is open to all attendees, no exceptions.”
For more information about IFAI Expo 2015, visit ifaiexpo2015.com
July/August 2015
