WASHINGTON D.C. — October 4, 2024 — The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) proudly recognizes and celebrates Manufacturing Day, the largest annual event to promote manufacturing in the United States. Manufacturing Day works to show the reality of modern manufacturing careers by encouraging thousands of companies and educational institutions around the nation to open their doors to students, parents, teachers and community leaders.
The plastics industry is the eighth largest U.S. manufacturing industry, employs over one million workers and generates $519 billion.
“Manufacturing Day is an excellent platform to highlight the exciting career opportunities and innovations throughout the plastics industry,” said PLASTICS’ President and CEO, Matt Seaholm. “Our manufacturing members are continually investing in new technologies and processes to make products more lightweight, durable, and sustainable and those innovations call for a skilled and forward-thinking workforce. Plastics play a vital role in almost every aspect of daily life, and I encourage job seekers and students to consider the rewarding career paths in this essential industry.”
The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) is the only organization that supports the entire plastics supply chain, including Equipment Suppliers, Material Suppliers, Processors, and Recyclers, representing over one million workers in our $519 billion U.S. industry. PLASTICS advances the priorities of our members who are dedicated to investing in technologies that improve capabilities and advances in recycling and sustainability and providing essential products that allow for the protection and safety of our lives. Since 1937, PLASTICS has been working to make its members, and the eighth largest U.S. manufacturing industry, more globally competitive while supporting circularity through educational initiatives, industry-leading insights and events, convening opportunities and policy advocacy, including the largest plastics trade show in the Americas, NPE: The Plastics Show.
Posted: October 4, 2024
Source: The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS)
Source: 8th-27th ITMF Global Textile Industry Survey (27th: 15-30.07.2024)
ZÜRICH, Switzerland — October 4, 2024 — The ITMF Global Textile Industry Survey (GTIS) for September indicates an improved business situation, marking the best conditions since September 2022, with progress largely driven by recoveries in South America and Africa. Despite this, other regions showed no significant advancements. Business expectations remain positive, with optimism stable around +25pp since November 2023, although the overall business situation has yet to catch up. Order intake remains negative but has been steadily improving for 10 months, particularly in South America and Africa.
Source: 8th-27th ITMF Global Textile Industry Survey (27th: 15-30.07.2024)
Order backlogs show a slight positive trend, with an average global backlog of 2.2 months in September 2024, up from 1.9 months in March 2024. Capacity utilization reached 75% in September, rising since July and recovering from a low of 68% in November 2023. Weak demand has been the primary concern since 2022, affecting 66% of survey participants in September 2024. However, order cancellations have dropped to their lowest recorded level, with 63% reporting no cancellations, especially in South America.
Inventory levels remain average along the textile value chain, with 55% of companies reporting average levels in September. In the USA, apparel inventories at retail and wholesale level have been rising, suggesting that the bottom may have been reached.
Posted: October 4, 2024
Source: International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF)
MANHEIM, PA — October 3, 2024 — Fenner Precision Polymers, a Michelin Group Company and supplier of reinforced polymer technology, today announces the formal launch of a new strategic realignment of the company structure. Fenner Precision Polymers’ transformation is designed to benefit customers by enhancing their overall experience. Built on a new global product family approach, the realignment aims to simplify interactions, reduce complexity, and build trust across different products and regions. The global family of brands are now organized under one of three product families: Industrial Motion, High-Tech Coated Fabrics, and Air & Fluid Handling.
Fenner Precision Polymers is a recognized industry leader delivering custom engineered solutions that are backed by more than 100 years of manufacturing, technical and commercial expertise. Over that time, it cultivated a devoted customer base, many with highly specialized markets and applications, including aerospace, aggregates, data centers, distribution and fulfillment, and food and beverage processing, among others.
Vincent Peter, the managing director of the Fenner Precision Polymers business line noted: “In our determination for growth, we’ve had numerous acquisitions and divestitures over the years, resulting in multiple brands that sometimes fragment us and introduce confusion for customers and prospects. A more unified product alignment will reduce that confusion and instill trust.”
Transformation Objectives
In undertaking the large-scale transformation in company structure, Fenner Precision Polymers seeks to achieve three key objectives:
Greater prioritization and simplification of its work;
Keeping the customer at the center of everything it does; and
Think globally and act locally for business excellence.
Ultimately it is about focusing efforts to create a cross-functional organization set up for success. Beyond streamlining processes to align priorities the transformation will further grow the company’s expertise in specific product categories. It helps maintain constant engagement with customers for gathering feedback, as well as leveraging best practices globally to help team members grow and succeed in local markets.
Signs of Transformation
Fenner Precision Polymers’ commitment to this global product family approach is best seen through the unveiling of its newly redesigned website. By providing a seamless user experience and intuitive navigation, the website serves as a powerful tool for engaging customers and driving business growth. It logically showcases a full spectrum of solutions via a single website versus disjointed geographic offerings scattered among multiple, uniquely branded sites.
In providing one seamless user experience and intuitive navigation, the website simplifies internal operations and serves as a powerful tool for engaging customers and driving business growth. It also delivers a more convenient user experience where visitors can quickly locate installation guides, product specs, and other resources.
“We believe that our new global product family will lead to greater understanding and engagement with the brand,” Peter added. “This realignment clarifies who we are and what we offer in the eyes of our customers, making it easier for them to work with us. At the same time, we do so in a way that retains brand equity in the products they have come to trust and rely upon.”
For customers and stakeholders, this realignment signifies a strengthened commitment to delivering innovative solutions that meet evolving market demands. It ensures they receive consistent, high-quality products and services backed by Michelin’s legacy of excellence and sustainability.
Posted: October 4, 2024
Source: Fenner Precision Polymers — a Michelin Group Company
TOBEL, Switzerland — October 3, 2024 — Cavitec, the Swiss manufacturer of technology for technical textiles, has chosen Vetaphone corona treatment for its range of hotmelt coating and laminating machines. Merged in 1996 by Caratsch and Villars in Tobel near St Gallen, Cavitec is part of the Santex Rimar Group headquartered in Trissino, Italy, and is a global leader in manufacturing machines for the textile and technical textile industry.
The company’s production plant has always had a requirement for corona treatment and, according to Head of Sales Stéphane Fernandez, it was Vetaphone’s technical expertise that persuaded the company to choose the Danish manufacturer. “One of our customers installed a Cavitec machine with a Vetaphone corona treater, which was our first introduction to the brand — since then, Vetaphone has become our preferred supplier,” Fernandez said, mentioning that Vetaphone’s long history in surface treatment and global sales and service support network were key factors.
The Vetaphone units specified by Cavitec are models with web widths from 1,800-3,200 millimeters. The company also has one of Vetaphone’s latest VE1A-M 410mm corona treaters in its Test Lab facility in Tobel, Switzerland. Fitted with a 2kW transformer and blower fan, it allows new applications to be trialed prior to commercial production.
The hotmelt coating and lamination technology is a process used to apply adhesives with different coating technologies, such as gravure, rotary screen, spray and multi-roller, where several layers can be bonded without the need for solvents. The process creates a strong and durable bond across a variety of films, membranes, nonwovens, and textiles offering both efficiency and environmental benefits. Corona treatment is required to secure the bonding as the surface energy of the liquid (adhesive) and various substrates are different. By applying corona discharge the surface energy of the substrate is raised to allow the adhesive to flow out and adhere securely.
The company’s 6,000-square-meter facility at Tobel currently employs 70 people, and its products range from active wear to car seats and interiors, and many items in between including home textiles, filters and protective clothing.
Speaking for Vetaphone, Area Sales manager for DACH Ahmed Türkmen, commented: “We are delighted to be working with such a prestigious manufacturer as Cavitec and look forward to developing our surface treatment technology to meet their specific requirements. Vetaphone’s unique reserve of knowledge and knowhow is ideally suited for the variety of applications that Cavitec supports.”
PARSIPPANY, N.J. — October 3, 2024 — Dr. Mohammad Farahat, director of Sun Chemical’s Novel Device Laboratory, received the 2024 National Association of Printing Ink Manufacturers’ (NAPIM) Printing Ink Pioneer Award.
Mohammad Farahat receives NAPIM Award
Considered one of the most prestigious honors in the ink manufacturing industry, the Printing Ink Pioneer Award honors those who have given more than 20 years of service to the printing ink industry through their work with one or several printing ink companies or suppliers, in addition to service work with ink associations, production clubs and other committees. NAPIM also considers technical contributions in the areas of laboratory, engineering, production or product development.
When Dr. Farahat joined Sun Chemical in 2004, he initially worked on brand protection solutions, but his technical depth and expertise in material science, optics and chemical sensors made him the natural choice to lead the Novel Device Lab, an innovation initiative which also required understanding of electronics, machine learning and an ability to move concepts from lab to production. He quickly began developing creative solutions to complex problems, gaining several patents in the field.
For example, Dr. Farahat was instrumental in the recent launch of Sun Chemical’s SunScreen technology which accurately measures the thickness of deposited coatings in real time, thus reducing the required coat weights and greatly improving quality and consistency during print jobs.
“Equally important to Mohammad’s unquestionable technical acumen are his outstanding leadership qualities, including empathy, listening skills, a work ethic that allows him to lead by example, and a sense of humor that puts people at ease and creates an inclusive and enjoyable work environment,” said Russ Schwartz, chief technology officer, Sun Chemical. “In fact, his supervisor once told me that he can transform a dysfunctional group into a highly functioning team faster than anyone he has ever known. We’re excited for Mohammad on receiving this well-earned honor.”
Dr. Farahat holds a Ph.D. in photo chemistry from Boston University and both a master’s degree in chemistry and a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
The award was presented during NAPIM’s 2024 annual convention/technical conference, which was held on October 1st at the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee, Wis. Dr. Farahat joins a long list of Sun Chemical employees over the company’s 200+ year history to be recognized for important industry accomplishments. To learn more about some of those achievements, visit www.sunchemical.com/research-and-development.
PLYMOUTH, Minn. — October 2, 2024 — NatureWorks, a manufacturer of polylactic acid (PLA) biopolymers made from renewable resources, announced the appointment of Roger Tambay as the company’s chief growth officer and Roger Kempa as the company’s CFO. The new executive officers are joining NatureWorks as the company enacts the first phase of its global expansion plans with the construction of a new manufacturing facility in Thailand. Both leaders underscore NatureWorks’ ambitions for growth and innovation as the global market for biobased materials accelerates alongside fast-evolving legislation and regulation around plastics and material circularity.
Roger Tambay, chief growth officer, joins NatureWorks as it positions itself for international growth amongst growing interest in biobased materials.
“We are pleased to grow the leadership team at NatureWorks with people who can support our ambitious growth and innovation plans,” said Erik Ripple, president and CEO of NatureWorks. “As NatureWorks faces a competitive, yet high-potential market, we need to continue leading with new, highly functional polymers that can deliver transparent and traceable sustainability attributes while meeting the need for performance at scale in applications from compostable, flexible films to 3D printing filament.”
With more than 30 years of experience in polymer and plastics industries, Tambay comes to NatureWorks from St. Johns Packaging in Canada, a global leader in sustainable flexible packaging supplying leading food and consumer product companies. As vice president of Business Development and Sustainable Packaging, he provided technology and business development leadership for new products and markets aligning them with global circular economy legislation. Prior roles included founding and scaling the company FilmOrganic, which manufactures proprietary compostable mulch films with predictable lifespans for commercial fruit and vegetable production. Tambay received a B.Sc. in Chemistry from Université de Montréal, an MBA from Concordia University, and B.C.L. and LL.B law degrees from McGill University.
“I truly believe that if all plastic manufactured articles were made with Ingeo™️ biopolymer, our world would be a much better place,” Tambay said. “I’m excited to be a part of NatureWorks as they continue to expand on their strong PLA manufacturing expertise and leadership in developing innovative applications that leverage the unique performance and sustainability attributes of Ingeo. I also look forward to collaborating with our stakeholders across multiple industries to grow our circular economy and promote the spirit of global plastics legislation.”
Roger Kempa, Chief Financial Officer, joins NatureWorks as it positions itself for international growth amongst growing interest in biobased materials. Photo — Business Wire
Roger Kempa joins NatureWorks with 20 years of experience in global finance and has been serving as the interim CFO at NatureWorks since September 2023. Before joining NatureWorks, Kempa worked eight years in successive financial roles at Cargill, including as the Global Finance director for Joint Ventures and as the leader of Corporate Financial Planning for the company. Kempa comes with strong biopolymers experience serving as a founding Board of Directors member and the chair of the Finance, Risk and Audit committee for Qore, the producer of QIRA® bio-based 1,4-butanediol (BDO). His prior experience also includes finance roles at Target Corp. and Ford Motor Co. In May 2024, Kempa finalized new financing amounting to $350 million from Krungthai Bank to support the construction of NatureWorks’ new fully integrated Ingeo PLA manufacturing facility in Thailand. Kempa holds an MBA from Michigan State University and a BBA and MA in Accounting from the University of Michigan, Dearborn.
“I’m excited to join the talented and purpose-driven team at NatureWorks and drive forward the adoption of a circular economy through the use of Ingeo biopolymer,” Kempa said. “Sustainable solutions for the future of our bioeconomy will require ingenuity, strong execution, and partnerships across the supply chain, which are all strengths I’ve witnessed from the NatureWorks team.”
PARIS — October 3, 2024 — Reju™, the progressive textile to textile regeneration company has opened its first operating unit — Regeneration Hub Zero — in Frankfurt Germany.
This is Reju’s first major milestone after being incorporated just 12 months ago in Paris, France. The Hub was built in record time and is expected to begin deliveries in 2025.
Owned by Technip Energies, an engineering and technology company, Reju is using technology invented by IBM research. Reju is creating a new circular system and infrastructure for recovering, regenerating and recirculating textile waste — at scale — starting with polyester.
The combination of expertise from the team Reju has recruited, and proficiency of Technip Energies will enable Reju to expand at an unprecedented speed and scale.
Reju will guarantee textile-to-textile traceability from textile waste that would otherwise be buried, burnt or dumped. The end product — Reju Polyester — has a 50-percent lower carbon footprint than virgin polyester. Reju is committed to bringing a product to market that is demonstrably cleaner and can be regenerated infinitely.
To enable this new structure, Reju is joining with upstream partners to recover, collect and sort textiles, creating a circular textile system that does not yet exist.
“We’re starting with the most urgent problem in textile waste — polyester,” said Patrik Frisk, CEO of Reju. “The world produces 92 million tons of textile waste each year, yet less than 1 percent is recycled. It is a system that extracts finite resources creating textile waste with no responsibility for end-of-life. Reju is going to change that by unlocking a new system through critical partnerships around the world. We will build infrastructure, scale technology, comply with regulation and, in the end, help the textile industry evolve and enable a change in behavior. Our Regeneration Hub Zero in Frankfurt is a significant milestone, showcasing how this advanced technology addresses the global textile waste problem.”
Frisk, an industry veteran and former CEO of Under Armour Inc., CEO of Aldo Group and executive of VF Corp. leads with Alain Poincheval COO of Reju and a 35-year Executive of Technip Energies.
“Technip Energies brings over 65 years of engineering experience. We are present in 34 countries,” Poincheval said. “It has proven its expertise in accelerating climate solutions, combining engineering and construction capabilities with technological know-how as it drives towards a less carbon-reliant economy of tomorrow’.
IEPER, Belgium — October 3, 2024 — ITMA ASIA + CITME 2024 represents an excellent opportunity for Picanol to once again demonstrate its technological leadership in both airjet and rapier weaving machines. Visitors to the event will experience Picanol’s world premiere of its brand-new Supermax rapier weaving machine. In total, Picanol will have four different high-tech weaving machines as well as its PicConnect digital platform on display. The exhibition will take place from October 14-18, 2024, in the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai and Picanol will be in Hall 3, Booth E01. Furthermore, three additional Picanol weaving machines will be demonstrated at other booths.
The brand new PICANOL Supermax rapier machine
“At Picanol, we are convinced that it is of utmost importance to keep on innovating, even when market conditions are not favorable. Therefore, we are really excited to emphasize this approach by launching our brand new Supermax rapier machine. This machine is specifically aimed at the Asian markets and once more, we are raising the industry standard to a higher level. Our latest innovation means Picanol is further strengthening its position as the world’s leading weaving machine manufacturer and we continue to offer the best products, technological solutions, and services. And we will demonstrate this with the four machines and digital platform PicConnect we will have on display at our booth,” comments Johan Verstraete, Vice President Weaving Machines.
The PICANOL OmniPlus-i Connect airjet weaving machine
The four Picanol weaving machines on display will be the latest Supermax and Ultimax rapier weaving machines and an OmniPlus-i Connect airjet weaving machine. Our sales and service team will also demonstrate the unique functionalities of our PicConnect. With PicConnect, Picanol is centralizing its digital tools and services in one new fully digital platform. At ITMA ASIA + CITME, visitors will get the opportunity to discover all the benefits and latest features of PicConnect. This will enable weavers to leverage the full extent of the possibilities offered by the Picanol weaving machines.
COLZATE, Italy and SHANGHAI, China — October 3, 2024 — Itema, a global provider of advanced weaving solutions including weaving machines, spare parts and integrated services, announces its participation in ITMA ASIA + CITME 2024, taking place from October 14-18, 2024 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC) in Shanghai. At this prestigious event, Itema will exhibit in Hall 3 – Booth C11 its cutting-edge weaving technologies, including the GalileoRX rapier weaving machine and the high-performance P7300HP V8 projectile weaving machine.
The past, present and future of weaving on display
Born from the legacy of the most successful high-end rapier weaving machine assembled in China, the Itema R9000 and R9000-2, the GalileoRX features technological and design advancements to fully meet the needs of the market, reaching unbeatable levels in terms of performances, textile mastery and eco-efficiency. Launched in 2022 to address the specific needs of the Chinese and Asian textile markets, the Itema GalileoRX has rapidly gained recognition for its ability to weave a wide range of fabrics with superior quality and precision.
GalileoRX
The GalileoRX on show at the Itema booth – in 2300 mm weaving width – will weave an Apparel style and will be equipped with two of the latest Itema innovations: the New Generatione Machine Console, with a 15.6” wide touch, full glass, capacitive display, and the iSAVER®fancy. Based on the mechatronic technology of iSAVER®eco, iSAVER®fancy is available up to 6 weft colors and allows to eliminate the waste selvedge on the left-hand side of the rapier machine thus providing substantial costs saving and significant contribution to sustainable weaving by reducing raw materials and resources waste.
Moreover, in the year of its 70th anniversary, the legendary projectile weaving machine makes its grand return to an international trade fair.
The Itema projectile P7300HP V8, in 3900 mm weaving width, will weave a Denim style. Renowned for its unbeatable reliability and high productivity, the P7300HP V8 ensures excellent fabric quality even for heavy- duty textiles such as denim and technical fabrics. Itema is the only weaving machine manufacturer that offers projectile weaving technology – and continues to push the boundaries of projectile weft insertion technology, which still remains the best weaving machine for specific applications.
P7300HP V8
This year also marks a milestone for projectile weaving technology as we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the official unveiling of the TW11, the first projectile weaving machine, which was presented at the Mustermesse in Basel in 1954. The TW11 revolutionized the weaving industry with its unique weft insertion system and ability to efficiently produce extra-wide and heavy fabrics, laying the groundwork for subsequent generations of projectile looms like today’s P7300HP V8.
Additional Machines Displayed at Partner Booths
Guests will also have the opportunity to see eight additional Itema rapier weaving machines showcased at our partner booths, including Huzhou Hyundai (Julibao) at Hall 3 – C08, Lilai (Hall 3 – Booth A38), Tongxiang (Hall 3 – Booth E07), Changfang (Hall 3 – B35), Huling and Song&Song (Hall 3 – A67).
Itema Group’s Complete Offer of Weaving Solutions
During their visit to ITMA ASIA + CITME 2024, visitors will be able to learn more about the full range of weaving solutions offered by Itema Group:
HelloItema, the Itema customer portal – offering a comprehensive set of digital functionalities and smart solutions and designed to make customers’ working lives easier and add value to their investment. Accessible via browser or app from any device – and directly from the machine console on new generation Itema machines – users can order original spare parts, check order status in real- time, open service tickets, and access relevant machine documentation.
The full range of OEM spare parts and the latest solutions for upgrading existing Itema looms, as well as previous brands such as Sulzer, Somet, and Vamatex.
Lamiflex, part of the Itema Group, will showcase advanced weaving accessories, including rapier tapes and sprocket wheels.
Visitors to ITMA ASIA + CITME 2024 will have the chance to experience firsthand how Itema continues to provide state-of-the-art solutions tailored to the evolving needs of worldwide textile industries. To learn more, visit the Itema Group Booth in Hall 3 – Booth C11.
WASHINGTON — October 3, 2024 — National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) President and CEO Kim Glas sent a letter to President Joseph Biden today asking his administration to intervene in the East and Gulf Coast ports strike that is exacerbating the economic distress facing the U.S. textile industry, which has been hit hard by Hurricane Helene.
“We respectfully ask that you urge the parties to reach a reasonable, fair, and expeditious conclusion given your role as a key negotiator and intermediary. The strike at East Coast and Gulf ports threatens not only our domestic competitiveness but also that of the broader Western Hemisphere textile and apparel co-production chain, which supports 2 million workers and $40 billion in annual two-way trade,” the letter reads.
Seventy percent of U.S. textile exports are shipped to the industry’s Western Hemisphere free trade agreement partners, who in turn produce finished apparel and home textile products for the U.S. market.
“The strike comes at a particularly difficult time when American textile manufacturers are reeling from the destruction of Hurricane Helene. Several companies have been hard hit as a result of this tragedy—some with severe structural damage and others with idled plants” the letter continues. “The industry’s main concern right now is prioritizing the safety and well-being of its employees and their families. This strike couldn’t come at a worse time as the industry has seen the closure of 21 plants in the last 18 months. We appreciate your leadership in helping mitigate supply chain challenges, as well as your work in support of working families and your work on behalf of the U.S. textile industry. We ask for your urgent assistance in helping to end these widespread supply chain disruptions so that our industry can have a fighting chance to regain its footing amid other serious and ongoing challenges.”
Posted: October 2, 2024
Source: National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO)
WASHINGTON D.C. — October 4, 2024 — The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) proudly recognizes and celebrates Manufacturing Day, the largest annual event to promote manufacturing in the United States. Manufacturing Day works to show the reality of modern manufacturing careers by encouraging thousands of companies and educational institutions around the nation to open their doors to students, parents, teachers and community leaders.
