James Heal Debuts Maxi-Martindale Tester

United Kingdom-based testing equipment provider James Heal reports its Maxi-Martindale nine-station abrasion and pilling tester is the only Martindale tester that features a hinged top plate to offer easy access to all testing stations. Introduced earlier this month at Techtextil North America in Atlanta, the Maxi-Martindale also features an intuitive user interface to allow simple and quick setup, and a full range of accessories for testing different specimen types.
 
Manufactured in the UK, the Maxi-Martindale is one of four models offered in the company’s 1300 Martindale series of testers, which also include the Mini-Martindale with two stations, the Midi-Martindale with five stations and the Midi-Martindale (Carpet) modified for carpet testing.
 
James Heal is represented in North America by Greer, S.C.-based Advanced Testing Instruments (ATI).


James Heal’s Maxi-Martindale abrasion and piling tester

 
May 27, 2014
 
 
 

The Rupp Report: Who Is Competitive?

Competition is on everybody’s mind, and everybody must be competitive. But what is competition? And what does it mean to be competitive? And who needs competitiveness to survive? Moreover, what are the ingredients of competitiveness? And who is authorized to make a firm statement about all this?
 
World Competitiveness Yearbook
An institution that is certainly qualified to make a valid judgment about competitiveness is the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Switzerland. The institute describes itself so: “The IMD World Competitiveness Center is a part of IMD, a top-ranked business school. We are the experts in developing global leaders through high-impact executive education. Why IMD? We are 100 percent focused on real-world executive development. We offer Swiss excellence with a global perspective. And we have a flexible, customized and effective approach.”
 
Methodology
First published in 1989, the World Competitiveness Yearbook is an annual report on the competitiveness of nations. The yearbook ranks 60 world economies based on an “x-ray” of 338 criteria. Two-thirds of the data is based on national and international statistics. But how is IMD getting the results?
 
The World Competitiveness Yearbook reports on how nations are able to create and maintain an environment that fosters competitiveness among businesses. As IMD explains: “We assume that wealth creation takes place primarily at enterprise level … [T]his field of research is called ‘competitiveness of enterprises.’”
 
An important part of the survey is to understand that “enterprises operate in a national environment, which enhances or hinders their ability to compete domestically or internationally — this field of research is called: ‘competitiveness of nations’ and is covered in our research. The methodology divides the national environment into four main factors:
 

  • Economic Performance
  • Government Efficiency
  • Business Efficiency
  • Infrastructure”

 
These factors are broken down into sub-factors, taking into consideration the 338 criteria. As IMD reports, “Criteria can be hard data, which analyzes competitiveness as it can be measured (e.g. GDP) or soft data, which analyzes competitiveness as it can be perceived (e.g. Availability of competent managers). Hard criteria represent a weight of 2/3 in the overall ranking, whereas the survey data represent a weight of 1/3.”
 
IMD mentions that “some criteria are for background information only,” and adds, “Finally, aggregating the results of the 20 sub-factors makes the total consolidation, which leads to the overall ranking of the World Competitiveness Yearbook.”
 
… And The Winners Are …
Arturo Bris, Ph.D., director of the IMD World Competitiveness Center, commented on the results as follows: “The overall competitiveness story for 2014 is one of continued success in the US, partial recovery in Europe, and struggles for some large emerging markets. There is no single recipe for a country to climb the competitiveness rankings, and much depends on the local context.”
 
The United States is again in the number-one place, followed by Switzerland, again number-two. The number-one spot in 2014 for the U.S. is “reflecting the resilience of its economy, better employment numbers, and its dominance in technology and infrastructure,” IMD says.  Singapore rose from fifth place to third, while Hong Kong dropped from third place to fourth. The 10 top countries are:
 

Country Rank 2014 Rank 2013
USA 1 1
Switzerland 2 2
Singapore 3 5
Hong Kong 4 3
Sweden 5 4
Germany 6 9
Canada 7 7
UAE 8 8
Denmark 9 12
Norway 10 6

 
As one can see, there are no big changes among the top ten. “Small economies such as Switzerland (2), Singapore (3) and Hong Kong (4) continue to prosper thanks to exports, business efficiency and innovation,” IMD mentions. “Europe fares better than last year, thanks to its gradual economic recovery. Among Europe’s peripheral economies, Ireland (15), Spain (39) and Portugal (43) all rise, while Italy (46) and Greece (57) fall.
 
“Japan (21) continues to climb in the rankings, helped by a weaker currency that has improved its competitiveness abroad. In Asia, both Malaysia (12) and Indonesia (37) make gains, while Thailand (29) falls amid political uncertainty.
 
“Most big emerging markets slide in the rankings as economic growth and foreign investment slow and infrastructure remains inadequate. China (23) falls, partly owing to concerns about its business environment, while India (44) and Brazil (54) suffer from inefficient labor markets and ineffective business management. Turkey (40), Mexico (41), the Philippines (42) and Peru (50) also fall.”
 
The Image: A Matter Of Perception
Another interesting part of the survey is perception. “Seven of the top 10 countries in the overall ranking for 2014 are also in the top 10 for having an image abroad that encourages business development,” IMD states. “In general there is a strong correlation between a country’s overall competitiveness ranking and its international image as a place to do business.” For example, “executives in Singapore are most bullish on their country’s overseas image, while Ireland, Chile, Qatar and South Korea are all far higher on this criterion than in the overall ranking.
 
“By contrast, executives in the US, France, Taiwan and Poland are far gloomier about their countries’ international images. The US results may reflect international conflicts and domestic political gridlock, while perceptions of France continue to be colored by slow reforms and the country’s negative attitudes toward globalization.”
 
Communication: A Key To Success
This motto could — and probably should — be the start and the reason for many textile machinery producers to think about their policy of communicating to the outside world. To that point, Bris made an interesting comment: “While economic performance changes from year to year, perceptions are longer-term and shift more gradually. They can also lead to a virtuous circle of better image and better economic performance. So how executives feel their country is being perceived is a potentially useful guide to future competitiveness developments there.” Period.
 
June 3, 2014
 

Rockline Installs Geothermal System At Booneville, Ark., Plant

Rockline Industries Inc. — a Sheboygan, Wis.-based manufacturer of wipes and coffee filters — reports it has installed the United States’ largest geothermal heating and cooling system for use in a production facility at its plant in Booneville, Ark. The 1.2-million-square-foot plant is the first production facility in the nation to be both heated and cooled using geothermal technology.
 
“Rockline’s commitment to sustainability comes from our desire to exceed the expectations of our customers, and it’s the right thing to do,” said Nick Santoleri, vice president of operations, global wet wipes, Rockline. “A sustainable and responsible manufacturing process leads to better value and ensures a better, cleaner world in which we all can live.”
 
The Booneville plant’s conversion from a traditional heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system to a geothermal system is expected to reduce its reliance on overall energy and natural gas by 65 percent and company-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent.
 
June 3, 2014
 

Alexium Introduces BACTRON™ And OMNITRON™ For Upholstery And Furnishings

Australia- and Greer, S.C.-based specialty chemicals and solutions developer Alexium International Group Ltd. — holder of proprietary patent applications for Reactive Surface Treatment (RST) technology — has introduced two flame-retardant (FR) treatments for use on cotton and synthetic-cotton blends in the upholstery and furnishings market: BACTRON™, a fabric back-coating that is applied to one side of the fabric; and OMNITRON™, a topical treatment package that is impregnated into the fabric.
 
Alexium reports both treatments are easily applied using traditional textile processing equipment and are compatible with many other finishing agents such as antimicrobials and stain repellents. In addition, Bactron and Omnitron are free of halogen, formaldehyde and heavy metals; will not melt or drip and are self-extinguishing; are durable and launderable; do not significantly alter a fabric’s appearance and/or hand; and meet international FR standards.
 
June 3, 2014
 

SDL Atlas Introduces ThermaRate™ Thermal Barrier Test Apparatus

SDL Atlas — a Rock Hill, S.C.-based provider of textile testing instruments — has introduced the ThermaRate™ Thermal Barrier Test Apparatus for measuring the burn injury protection provided by fabrics in protective clothing for first responders, military and industrial applications. The instrument can replicate the effects of fabrics that are close to fires or extreme heat sources but not necessarily engulfed in a fire, as simulated by the Thermal Protective Test (TPP) described in National Fire Protection Association NFPA: 1971 Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting.
 
The ThermaRate features an automated computer-controlled system with a closed-loop controlled infrared radiant heat source, shutter, fabric sample holder, heat flux gauge and skin simulant sensor, as well as a PC-based data acquisition system with burn injury algorithms. The system allows the user to select the radiant heat flux level at the fabric sample, the irradiation time, and the air gap between the fabric sample and sensors; and choose to use a skin simulant tester or heat flux gauge output in the burn injury algorithm. After the user has selected the input values, placed a fabric sample in the holder, and initiated the sequence, the automated digital data acquisition system records the temporal data and provides graphical outputs during and after the test along with automated archival storage and a green/red indicator on the computer screen indicates whether the fabric has passed or failed the test based on whether the burn injury is below or above second-degree burn injury level in virtually real time.
 
The instrument may be used for research and development as well as for repetitive use in quality assurance applications.
 
June 3, 2014
 

INDA Acquires INSIGHT Conference From Marketing Technology Service, Inc.

CARY, N.C. — May 29, 2014 — INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, has purchased the INSIGHT International Conference from Marketing Technology Service, Inc. (MTS) and will combine the long-standing event with its VISION Consumer Products Conference. Both events have focused on the absorbent product and disposable hygiene market segments.

The combined INSIGHT + VISION conference will be the largest of its kind in the industry and deliver greater value to attendees and exhibitors. The event is expected to draw attendees from around the world with an interest in buying, supplying or manufacturing absorbent products, high-performance fabrics and nonwovens in consumer products. It will continue to feature high-level business and technical presentations, networking opportunities, social events, tabletop exhibitions and award recognitions.

The acquisition, approved by the INDA Executive Committee and its Board of Directors, closed on May 29. Terms were not disclosed. Based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, MTS will continue to operate its other lines of business, including other nonwovens conference events, airlaid production facilities, consulting, testing equipment, product and material testing, market research and publishing, which are not part of the sale.

Jim Hanson, Director of MTS, commented, “I started INSIGHT in 1979 and it has been held every fall since then at many locations in North America. It’s had a consistent following of senior-level international delegates that we consider to also be our friends. So, as we organize and look forward to INSIGHT 2014, we won’t be saying goodbye to the industry — just shifting our focus. MTS will continue to sponsor Executive Short Courses and Absorbent Product Design Symposiums in Michigan, as well as continuing its Nonwovens Technology and other absorbent product conferences located outside of the Americas.”

“We will operate our final MTS INSIGHT this Oct. 19 to 23 in Indianapolis. As INDA merges its VISION conference with INSIGHT, starting October, 2015, I encourage our loyal following to support this new consolidated industry event. I look forward to INSIGHT + VISION advancing the interests of those in the absorbent products and disposable hygiene space.”

INDA President Dave Rousse added, “INSIGHT is a well-established, long-running event primarily serving the absorbent hygiene market, as is our own VISION conference. We are delighted to be able to combine these two respected industry events to create a single, larger and more impactful conference that streamlines the event calendar, consolidates attendee travel dollars, and better serves our members and the industry.”

INDA’s acquisition of INSIGHT has a significant impact on the event calendar for nonwovens and hygiene products overall. Below is a summary of these changes in the 2014-2015 time frame:

  • INSIGHT 2014 will take place as scheduled in Indianapolis, IN on Oct. 19-22 and will be organized by Jim Hanson and MTS, as previously planned; there will be no change to that event this year and INDA will provide promotional support.
  • INDA’s VISION 2015 Conference, currently scheduled in Miami, FL, Feb. 9-12, will be moved to the Oct. 26-30, 2015 time slot in St. Petersburg, FL and combined with INSIGHT.
  • INDA’s growing RISE (Research, Innovation, and Science for Engineered Fabrics) Conference currently scheduled for this Sept. 8-11 in Atlanta, GA will be moved to the VISION calendar slot and held Feb. 9-12, 2015 in Miami, FL.

Rousse added, “These are major changes to the industry event calendar that we believe will simplify and enhance the value of both VISION + INSIGHT and RISE. We encourage support of this year’s INSIGHT event in October, and added support for the movement of RISE out of a crowded fall slot into its own space in 2015. Once settled, we believe this sequencing of events offers a better value to the industry we serve.”

Posted June 3, 2014

Source: INDA
 

ICAC: World Trade To Decline For Second Season

WASHINGTON — June 2, 2014 — The volume of cotton traded internationally is expected to decline by 8% to 8.1 million tons in 2014/15, driven by reduced shipments to China from a record of 5.3 million tons in 2011/12 to an anticipated 2.1 million tons 2014/15. While the increased volume of trade benefited many exporting countries and farmers, it did not reflect improved demand for cotton. In 2011/12 when imports increased by 26% to 9.8 million tons, world consumption decreased by 7% to 22.8 million tons, the smallest consumption since 2003/04. While consumption is forecast to increase by 3% to 24.2 million tons in 2014/15, it remains below the level seen in the seven years before international cotton prices spiked.

In 2011/12, China implemented its policy of buying domestic and imported cotton for its national reserve and consequently became a large importer of cotton. Since 2011/12, the high price of cotton in China hurt its spinning industry, but helped the spinning industry in other countries, such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Vietnam. In 2012/13, the season after China’s implementation of its new cotton policy, India’s consumption grew by 12% to 4.8 million tons and is expected to grow by 7% to 5.4 million tons in 2014/15. Similarly, Pakistan’s consumption grew by 9% to 2.4 million tons in 2012/13 and is forecast to grow by 3% to 2.6 million tons in 2014/15. Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Vietnam also experienced similar growth in 2012/13 in consumption and should continue growing in 2014/15, though at a slower rate. In contrast, China’s consumption fell by 4% in 2012/13 to 8.3 million tons and is expected to fall by 1% in 2014/15 to 7.8 million tons.

In 2014/15, exports from Greece and the CFA zone are forecast to rise by 6% and 3%, respectively. However, exports from other large producing countries are expected to decrease in 2014/15. The United States’ exports are expected to decrease by 1% to 2.6 million tons while Australia’s exports are expected to decrease by 23% to about 800,000 tons. Additionally, India, the second largest exporter, could see a decrease of 21% to 1.1 million tons in 2014/15 as more of its cotton is consumed domestically.

World ending stocks are forecast to increase by 12% in 2013/14 to 20 million tons, and then to expand by another 5% in 2014/15 to 20.1 million tons. Additionally, ending stocks outside of China are expected to increase by 7% to 9.1 million tons in 2014/15 as China will be importing less of the surplus production than in the last 2 seasons. The projected accumulation of cotton stocks will weigh on international cotton prices in 2014/15, particularly as more stocks will be held outside of China.

Posted June 3, 2014

Source: ICAC
 

ICAC: World Trade To Decline For Second Season

WASHINGTON — June 2, 2014 — The volume of cotton traded internationally is expected to decline by 8% to 8.1 million tons in 2014/15, driven by reduced shipments to China from a record of 5.3 million tons in 2011/12 to an anticipated 2.1 million tons 2014/15. While the increased volume of trade benefited many exporting countries and farmers, it did not reflect improved demand for cotton. In 2011/12 when imports increased by 26% to 9.8 million tons, world consumption decreased by 7% to 22.8 million tons, the smallest consumption since 2003/04. While consumption is forecast to increase by 3% to 24.2 million tons in 2014/15, it remains below the level seen in the seven years before international cotton prices spiked.

In 2011/12, China implemented its policy of buying domestic and imported cotton for its national reserve and consequently became a large importer of cotton. Since 2011/12, the high price of cotton in China hurt its spinning industry, but helped the spinning industry in other countries, such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Vietnam. In 2012/13, the season after China’s implementation of its new cotton policy, India’s consumption grew by 12% to 4.8 million tons and is expected to grow by 7% to 5.4 million tons in 2014/15. Similarly, Pakistan’s consumption grew by 9% to 2.4 million tons in 2012/13 and is forecast to grow by 3% to 2.6 million tons in 2014/15. Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Vietnam also experienced similar growth in 2012/13 in consumption and should continue growing in 2014/15, though at a slower rate. In contrast, China’s consumption fell by 4% in 2012/13 to 8.3 million tons and is expected to fall by 1% in 2014/15 to 7.8 million tons.

In 2014/15, exports from Greece and the CFA zone are forecast to rise by 6% and 3%, respectively. However, exports from other large producing countries are expected to decrease in 2014/15. The United States’ exports are expected to decrease by 1% to 2.6 million tons while Australia’s exports are expected to decrease by 23% to about 800,000 tons. Additionally, India, the second largest exporter, could see a decrease of 21% to 1.1 million tons in 2014/15 as more of its cotton is consumed domestically.

World ending stocks are forecast to increase by 12% in 2013/14 to 20 million tons, and then to expand by another 5% in 2014/15 to 20.1 million tons. Additionally, ending stocks outside of China are expected to increase by 7% to 9.1 million tons in 2014/15 as China will be importing less of the surplus production than in the last 2 seasons. The projected accumulation of cotton stocks will weigh on international cotton prices in 2014/15, particularly as more stocks will be held outside of China.

Posted June 3, 2014

Source: ICAC
 

IVL Acquires PET Resin Producer In Turkey

BANGKOK, Thailand —  June 3, 2014 — Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited (IVL), the World’s leading vertically integrated Polyester Value Chain producer, has acquired 100% of Artenius TurkPET, based in Adana, Turkey. Artenius produces PET resin and has 130,000 tonnes of capacity.

“Our thrust continues to be to shape the businesses of IVL to grow profitably and to deliver attractive returns to our shareholders across cycles,” says Group CEO Aloke Lohia. “Indorama leadership in the PET value chain will provide significant synergies to TurkPET in order to deliver above average returns. Turkey and its encompassing region is a fast-growing market and our investments in Turkey are part of a well-defined strategy to bolster our global leadership and competitive advantage. We expect to make further follow-on investments in this thriving economy of 76 million consumers to replicate what we have built in Thailand as we see a similar opportunity to fully leverage on all our products portfolios.”

Turkey is an attractive market with a deeply urbanized economy enjoying high PET demand growth. Its Eurasian location provides ease of access to Central Asia, Middle East, North Africa and Southern Europe via excellent land and sea infrastructure.

“We are impressed by the quality of the present management team at Artenius TurkPET and together we will be looking to expand sales into this new geographical area to better serve the domestic and regional markets. Our domestic presence in key large markets helps us to grow with our global brand clients in that region,” Mr. Lohia said.

The acquisition of Artenius Turkpet comes on the heels of an announcement on April 9, 2014 that Indorama Ventures will acquire 51% of Istanbul-listed Polyester Sanayi A.Ş (SASA).

Both SASA and Artenius Turkpet are situated adjacent to each other and this will lend further synergies to the deals.

Posted June 3, 2014

Source: Indorama Ventures
 

INVISTA’S CORDURA® Brand Expands Performance Denim Line with New Innovations

WICHITA, Kan. — June 2, 2014 — INVISTA’s durable CORDURA® brand fabric, in collaboration with Artistic Milliners, a leader in global denim technologies, launches new denim innovations with technical performance features that include thermoregulation, moisture management, water repellency, and enhanced tear resistance. These new additions add to existing CORDURA® Denim fabrics with stretch and para-aramid properties.
 
Rugged CORDURA® Denim fabric helps hard-working jeans last longer than traditional 100 percent cotton denim.  Based on an intimate blend of cotton and INVISTA’s T420 nylon 6.6 fiber, CORDURA® Denim fabric offers the authentic look and comfort of cotton denim, but with added abrasion resistance and toughness.*
 
“Today’s lifestyles trends are expanding the boundaries for denims. CORDURA® Denim fabric helps consumers push their performance with inherent technical capabilities such as thermoregulation features as well as exceptional abrasion resistance,” said Cindy McNaull, global CORDURA® brand marketing director. “We look forward to a new, innovative generation of durable performance denims for apparel, including thermoregulation and waterproof denim solutions for hiking, skiing, rock climbing, snowboarding, motorcycling and urban cycling.”
 
New fabric innovations from Artistic Milliners include durable denims with thermoregulation functionality to enhance warmth or cooling properties when needed. These denim fabrics contain fibers with a specially engineered cross-section that helps to move moisture away in hot climates as well as hollow core fibers to help provide insulation for added comfort on colder days. Other durable performance denims in the CORDURA® Denim fabric collection feature technologies designed to channel moisture and enhance airflow.

The latest CORDURA® Denim performance fabrics from Artistic Milliners include:

  • AMX-706C — durable 11 oz (382 gm2) CORDURA® Denim fabric with thermoregulation capabilities.  
  • AMS-1110D — durable 9 oz (300 gm2) CORDURA® Denim fabric with thermoregulation capabilities.  
  • AMS-1110B — durable 10oz (321 gm2) stretch CORDURA® Denim fabric incorporating hollow core fibers for insulation comfort AMS-1110E – durable 10oz (321 gm2) stretch CORDURA® Denim fabric incorporating specially engineered fibers that help move moisture away as well as hollow core fibers to help provide insulation.   
  • Waterproof CORDURA® Denim fabric incorporating three-ply laminate technology.
  • CORDURA® Denim fabrics incorporating para-aramid fibers for enhanced fabric tear strength in applications such as motorcycle apparel.

 
*Martindale testing based on 13.75 oz denim fabric.

Posted June 3, 2014

Source: Invista
 

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