CEMATEX Launches ITMA Sustainable Innovation Award To Recognise Industry And Research Achievements

SHANGHAI — June 18, 2014 — CEMATEX, the European Committee of Textile Machinery Manufacturers, has launched an award programme as part of its ongoing efforts to encourage and recognise outstanding industry members and post-graduate students for their contributions to the sustainable development of the global textile and garment industry. Mr Charles Beauduin, President of CEMATEX, said: “Sustainability, as we all know, is a major concern for global businesses involved in the textile and garment making chain. Hence, we have adopted the theme ‘Master the Art of Sustainable Innovation’ for ITMA 2015.” “We are pleased to launch the ITMA Sustainable Innovation Award to make ITMA the meeting place where captains of the industry converge to source technologies and share their expertise in the area of sustainable innovation.”

The ITMA Sustainable Innovation Award comprises three categories, two of which are open to post-graduate students:

  • Industry Excellence Award
  • R Excellence Award – Masters
  • R Excellence Award – Doctorate
  • Industry Excellence Award

The award recognises textile and garment manufacturers who have leveraged on technological innovations to advance business sustainability that benefit people, planet and profit. It aims to promote sustainability excellence in textile and garment production through active collaboration between technology providers and industry users. The panel of judges includes:

  • Charles Beauduin, President of CEMATEX
  • Prof. Dominique Adolphe, President of Association of Universities for Textiles (AUTEX)
  • Josué Gomes da Silva, President of International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF)
  • John Mowbray, Executive Director of MCL Global and Chief Editor of Ecotextile News
  • Serge Piolat, President-elect of European Apparel and Textile Confederation (EURATEX)

Research Education Excellence Award
The Research  Education Excellence Award – Masters and Doctorate – recognises outstanding achievements in textile and garment related post-graduate research. It highlights excellence in relevant research fields with the aim of furthering the development of cutting-edge technologies which will power future innovations in the industry. The judges are:

  • Dr. Jeroen Vits, Secretary General of Belgian Textile Machinery Association (SYMATEX)
  • Prof. Vladan Koncar, Head of Research ENSAIT  Director of GEMTEX Laboratory (GEMTEX  ENSAIT)
  • Prof. Thomas Gries, Director of the Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen University
  • Dr. Takeshi Kikutani, Professor for the Department of Organic and Polymeric Materials at the Graduate School of Science and Engineering of Tokyo Institute of Technology
  • Prof. Behnam Pourdeyhimi, Director, The Nonwovens Institute (NCSU)

The winner of the ITMA Sustainable Innovation Award will receive a cash prize of 10,000 euros and a prestigious trophy, among other rewards. Cash prizes of 4,000 euros and 5,000 euros will be awarded to the winners in the Masters and Doctorate categories, respectively. Nominees of the Industry Excellence Award ITMA 2015 must be nominated by exhibitors. Institutions participating in the ITMA 2015 Research and Education pavilion are eligible to nominate their post-graduate students for the Research  Education Excellence Award Entries can be submitted online at www.itma.com from 1 September 2014 to 1 March 2015.

Posted June 24, 2014

Source: ITMA
 

Spider Silk Textile Development Breakthrough

LANSING, Mich. — June 18, 2014 — Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (OTCQB: KBLB) (“Kraig”), the leading developer of advanced spider silk based fibers, announced today Warwick Mills (“Warwick”), a leader in the engineering and development of advanced technical textiles and protective materials, created the world’s first textile utilizing Kraig’s genetically engineered spider silk, Monster Silk™. 
 
The first Monster Silk™ textiles are knitted gloves and the first photos are available at the following link:  http://www.kraiglabs.com/spider-silk-textiles/.  They are considered to be the first of many textiles that are to be created as part of the Company’s joint development agreement with Warwick.
 
“We have been working with various types of Monster Silk™,” stated Charles Howland, President of Warwick. “We find that all of these fibers are compatible with existing yarn processing and textile formation methods. As is expected, fiber consistency is not yet at fill production levels.  However, for the current stage of maturity, these silk materials already have good levels of quality and consistency.  We have been making jersey knit samples and will start weaving shortly.  These small scale trials are key to helping identify, for Kraig Labs, areas for development for upcoming fiber production trials. We are reviewing textile properties of the samples with Kraig staff and exploring the most attractive applications for this fiber.  Overall the trails are well underway and we are making good progress toward commercialization.”   
 
“One of the biggest issues facing our Company was creating our first textile and the open question of whether genetically engineered spider silk could be successfully processed using existing textile formation methods,” said Company founder and CEO, Kim K. Thompson.  “With this successful test, and the creation of the first Monster Silk™ knits, we have established that our genetically engineered spider silk works well with existing manufacturing methods.  The creation of these knits is a huge milestone in our progress toward making genetically engineered spider silk available for industrial and consumer applications. The fact that these advanced materials process well on existing machinery will help speed up the development of advanced spider silk textiles.”

Posted June 18, 2014

Source: Kraig Biocraft Laboratories

Teijin Debuts DELTA 2000 Outerwear Fabric

Tokyo-based Teijin Group’s fiber-products converting company, Teijin Frontier Co. Ltd., has developed DELTA 2000, a high-density, high-comfort performance fabric designed for use in outerwear.
 
DELTA 2000’s structure comprises a warp of densely and finely crimped bulky yarn and a weft of ultra-thin yarn. Air spaces in the fabric are minimized three-dimensionally to achieve 2,000 millimeters of water resistance; and an aerated fine-waffle structure offers good water-shedding performance. Uncoated DELTA 2000 fabrics also offer good moisture permeability, a soft texture and luxurious surface appearance, Teijin reports.
 
The company plans to develop sport, fashion and uniform applications for DELTA 200 in the future.
 

A magnified cross-section of Teijin’s DELTA 2000 fabric

 
June 17, 2014
 

NSA Introduces CARBONCOMFORT™ FR Workwear

National Safety Apparel (NSA) — a Cleveland-based manufacturer of industrial protective apparel — has introduced the CARBONCOMFORT™ FR line of flame-resistant (FR) workwear for men and women.
 
The workwear is constructed using a soft, inherently FR fabric that will not melt, drip or ignite; and it offers advanced moisture management, breathability and drying rates, NSA reports. All styles in the line meet National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70E®: Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace® requirements under Hazard Risk Category 2; NFPA 2112: Standard on Flame-resistant Garments for Protection of Industrial Personnel Against Flash Fire; and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 1910.269 requirements.
 
All garments in the Carboncomfort FR line feature tagless shirt collars and FR exterior labeling that cannot be removed. Styles include long-sleeve T-shirts, Henleys, polos, button-down work shirts, coveralls and pants.
 
June 17, 2014
 

PerformanceScrubs.com To Open Manufacturing Facility In Florence, Ala.

PerformanceScrubs.com — a company of Nashville, Tenn.-based Performance HealthCare Products Inc., a designer and manufacturer of medical scrubs/uniforms and sleepwear, as well as sportswear — has invested $4 million to move its Cullman, Ala., manufacturing operations to a 50,000-square-foot, high-tech manufacturing facility in Florence, Ala. The company is offering all of its Cullman employees jobs at the new facility, and hopes to have at least 50 to 60 positions filled by the end of the year.
 
PerformanceScrubs.com designed a high-tech, on-demand manufacturing system at the facility that automates and integrates almost every component of the manufacturing process, from order entry through delivery, and allows for on-demand customization. According to the company, its proprietary workflows and complex software will enable it to manufacture millions of garments in any quantity on-demand while reducing inventory costs and streamlining the supply chain. While the facility initially will be focused on manufacturing scrubs and sleepwear, PerformanceScrubs.com says the factory model can produce any type of garment. 
 
“We’ve spent years planning and designing our comprehensive system that has the potential to revolutionize how clothing is made,” said J. Kirby Best, CEO, PerformanceScrubs.com. “The rich history of garment manufacturing in Florence/Muscle Shoals makes this the ideal location to launch a state-of-the-art facility. The overwhelming warm welcome by so many makes it feel like home — we are delighted to be here.”
 
PerformanceScrubs.com’s medical scrubs and sleepwear feature moisture-wicking, antimicrobial material and are resistant to wrinkles, stains and fading, the company reports. All of its garments, including components, are 100-percent Made in the USA.
 
The Florence facility is expected to begin operations in July.
 



 
Conveyor lines are being installed at PerformanceScrub.com’s Florence, Ala., facility, as part of its on-demand manufacturing process and systems.

 
June 17, 2014
 

Optitex, Alvanon Collaborate to Take Sizing and Fitting Digital

NEW YORK CITY — June 12, 2014 — Optitex, a leading 2D & 3D CAD and virtual prototyping software provider and Alvanon, the global leader in integrated fit solutions for the apparel industry, announced today a collaboration that will enable apparel and fashion companies to use a digital version of their custom-designed Alvanon body forms in Optitex’s cutting-edge 3D Suite.
 
By bringing 100% accurate AlvaForm avatars into Optitex’s 3D environment, the resulting solution will offer a viable, realistic, and highly cost-effective virtual alternative to traditional product prototyping and development.

“The Fashion and Apparel industry is constantly looking for ways to optimize the product development process, and that is driving more and more products to be prototyped digitally.” said Asaf Landau, CEO of Optitex. “Our partnership with Alvanon highlights the industry’s evolution into the digital arena, with the world’s leading size and fit experts supplementing their existing physical tools with virtual ones. We are proud that they are doing so in Optitex’s 3D environment, and are happy to be collaborating with such industry leaders.”

Posted June 17, 2014

Source: Optitex
 

Polartec Announces 2014 APEX Award Winners

LAWRENCE, Mass. —Jun 12, 21014 — Polartec, LLC announces the winners of its annual Polartec APEX Award, recognizing the finest Polartec-based products available to consumers fall 2014 and spring 2015. Judges selected winners based on the style, function, workmanship, and overall design of garments with the most innovative and appropriate uses of Polartec fabrics.Over 100 apparel and accessory brands from around the world submitted their most innovative products. Judges selected 39 Polartec APEX winners ranging from lightweight next-to-skin layers, to breathable “puffy” products for active warmth using new Polartec® Alpha®, to fully waterproof garments that maintain high breathability with Polartec® NeoShell®. These winning garments are being recognized following close collaborative development with Polartec as an innovative solutions provider.

The winners are:

  • 66ºNorth Kjölur Alpha Collection (Shorts, Shacket, and Women’s Shirt)
  • Arc’teryx Argus and Gaea Jackets
  • Ariat International FR Work Tek Pullover Hoodie and Baselayer ¼ Zip
  • Athleta Overcast Coat
  • Bluesmiths Kula Hoody
  • Bomber Gear® Palguin Dry-Top
  • Choucas Glide Hat
  • Descente Women’s Polartec Power Dry Hot Grid Parka
  • Eider Blow Alpha Gloves
  • Giro Wind Guard ¼ Zip
  • Grifone ATUK Jacket with Hood
  • Houdini C9Loft Jacket (men’s and women’s)
  • KJUS Men FRX Equilibrium Jacket
  • KJUS Men FRX Polo
  • Louis Garneau Course Wind Pro LS Jersey and Arm Warmers
  • lululemon athletica Fleecy Keen
  • Makers & Riders Dispatch Rider Weatherproof Trouser
  • Marmot Cataclysm Glove
  • MEC Obsession Jacket
  • Millet Touring Insulated Neo Jacket (men’s and women’s)
  • Montane Axion Neo Alpha Jacket
  • Montane Fast Alpine Neo Pants
  • Mountain Force Fancy Jacket
  • NFM Garm All Weather Lightweight Jacket and Pants
  • NFTO HS-01 Jacket
  • Norrøna lofoten Alpha Jacket (men’s and women’s)
  • Northland Darcy Alpha Padded Coat (men’s and women’s)
  • Patagonia Diamond Quilt Snap-T Pullover
  • PING Soft Shell Hoody Jacket 2way and Soft Shell Pants
  • QOR Alpha Waxed Cotton Jacket
  • Rab Neo Guide Jacket and Pant
  • Reebok ReebokCF Anti-Freeze Mock
  • rh+ PW Alpha Jacket
  • rh+ PW Beta Glove, Hat, Bibtight and Jacket
  • Simms® Fjord Fleece Pant
  • Strafe Cham Jacket and Cham Pant
  • Sugoi Alpha Hybrid Jacket
  • Ternua Women’s Kush and Men’s Rumtse Jacket
  • Teton Bros Glory Jacket and Pants
  • Vaude Bormio Jacket and Bormio Pant
  • Wild Burnside Alpha
  • wings + horns Bunker Jacket 

“The Polartec APEX Award is all about recognizing excellence in innovation, function and design, and encouraging this type of collaboration with our team as Polartec continually expands the limits of what fabric can do,” says Allon Cohne, Polartec global marketing director.

This year is the 16th season of the Polartec APEX Awards, and to celebrate the designers, Polartec will create videos profiling the designers, their craft, and their award-winning products made of Polartec. Each winning partner brand will be honored with a Malden Trophy—the Polartec APEX Award—at special award ceremonies in the Polartec booth at the OutDoor Friedrichshafen and Outdoor Retailer Summer Market shows July 10, 2014 and August 6, 2014, respectively. Winners receive sales support with custom hangtags and marketing materials, and cross-promotional support to generate awareness and ultimately drive sales of these standout products.

Posted June 17, 2014

Source: Polartec

 

NCTO, CANAINTEX, CECATEC-RD Rally For Strong Rules In The TPP On Capitol Hill

WASHINGTON, D.C. — June 12, 2014 — On June 10, U.S. textile manufacturers joined with their counterparts throughout the Western Hemisphere to communicate to congressional leaders the importance of adopting fair and reasonable textile rules in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).  The event brought together the trade associations for U.S., Mexican, and Central American textile and apparel producers, CEOs of regional manufacturers, and trade representatives of CAFTA-DR governments. Meetings highlighted the strong growth in trade and investment in textile manufacturing as a result of the NAFTA and CAFTA-DR trade agreements.

The group met with House and Senate leadership offices, including aides to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Speaker John Boehner, and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, and staff for the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees, and leaders of the House Textile Caucus. Discussions focused on the need for a strong “yarn forward” rule of origin, robust customs enforcement, and reasonable tariff phase outs for sensitive products in TPP.

“Mexico is a key textile and apparel producer in the Western Hemisphere and is a critical part of the supply chain for many American textile and apparel companies,” said Nora Ambriz, Executive Director of CANAINTEX. “Ninety-six percent of Mexican apparel exports are shipped to the United States each year and Mexico is the leading export destination for U.S. textiles and apparel. NAFTA has created this dynamic and integral relationship between the U.S. and Mexico’s textile and apparel sectors and it is critically important that TPP does not damage the Western Hemisphere supply chain in this sector.”

“A final TPP must contain provisions that have been the foundation of U.S. trade agreements over the past 25 years: fair rules of origin, common sense market access rules, and strong customs enforcement provisions,” said Jay Self, Chairman of NCTO and President and CEO of Greenwood Mills. “The NAFTA and CAFTA-DR free trade agreements have created a sustainable and competitive manufacturing platform for U.S. textile and apparel companies which allows us to compete in the global market. It is imperative that U.S. trade policy continues to foster the economic growth seen under these agreements by building on the successful rules they contain.”

“The U.S. and the CAFTA-DR region, including the Dominican Republic, have created a prosperous and sustainable integrated manufacturing platform,” said Karin de Leon, Executive Director of CECATEC-RD. “This partnership provides hundreds of thousands of manufacturing jobs throughout the CAFTA-DR region, and is responsible for billions in two-way trade with the United States.”

Posted June 17, 2014

Source: NCTO
 

AirDye Solutions Announces The Acquisition Of Cheran Digital Imaging And Key Executive Hires

NEW YORK CITY and GAFFNEY, S.C. — June 13, 2014 — AirDye Solutions LLC and Cheran Digital Imaging and Consulting Inc. announced today the acquisition of Cheran Digital by AirDye. Jesse Leskanic, the Founder and President of Cheran Digital, has been named the Chief Technology Officer of AirDye.

The acquisition combines the patented, water-free fabric printing and dyeing capabilities of AirDye with the patent-pending color management software of Cheran Digital. AirDye will apply the Cheran software to its existing printing and dyeing processes, as well as newly acquired digital printing assets to offer the textile market fast and accurate color matching across both processes.

“We immediately recognized the power and uniqueness of the color management approach that Jesse has invented and that Cheran has commercialized in this software,” said Evan Smith, Chief Executive Officer of AirDye Solutions. “Jesse is a true genius, a fourth-generation textile veteran who taught himself computer programming and developed this color management capability over the last decade. This software is globally unique. It enables us to mathematically direct textile coloration to immediately achieve the artwork and color selection of our customers, across different coloration processes. Nothing else can do this. Combined with our disruptive printing and dyeing technology, we now have the ability to shorten the textile supply chain and deliver tremendous economic and environmental efficiencies.”

“This is an industry ripe for change, and we expect to lead that change,” said Jesse Leskanic, the newly appointed CTO of AirDye. “The industry operates today much as it has for the last four centuries, full of delays and waste. The fundamental cause of this is very poor color management from design through bulk production. We are dedicated to changing this. AirDye has been making aggressive investments in disruptive technology innovation, and I felt that combining our companies would create a transformative force in the textile supply chain, which has been the goal of my career.”

AirDye Solutions was formed from the purchase of the assets of Transprint USA/Colorep Inc. in October of 2013 by Fuller Smith Capital Management LLC. The company provides textile design and coloration services, and is developing and acquiring innovative textile technologies.

AirDye used the occasion of the Cheran Digital acquisition to announce a number of recent executive hires. Jeff Tyrrell joined the company as the Vice President of Operations; Mark Lynch was hired as the Vice President of Human Resources; Ben Hanson was hired as the Vice President of Information Systems; and David Michael was hired as the Chief Software Architect, leading a team of software developers that were key contributors to Etsy, Bloomberg L.P., and Sony, among others.

“These new executive hires bring manufacturing optimization and turn-around expertise, as well as leading software development, systems architecture, and database management capabilities,” said Evan Smith. “We believe that the current applications of this color management software and our printing hardware are only the tip of the iceberg. The team that we have assembled will help us to both execute on our core business and to create entirely new business models for the company and for this industry. These are exciting times for AirDye and we look forward to bringing more innovation to the market.”

Posted June 17, 2014

Source: AirDye Solutions
 

GIZ And Huntsman Textile Effects Cooperate To Raise The Bar For The Textile Industry In Bangladesh Through Chemical Environmental Management

DHAKA, Bangladesh — June 16, 2014 — Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, a German federal agency that promotes sustainable development around the world, and Huntsman Textile Effects, the leading global provider of high-quality dyes and textiles chemicals, are cooperating to raise industry standards in the management of chemicals by textile mills in Bangladesh. Ten mills have so far signed up to the partners’ GIZ Chemical Environmental Management for Competitiveness Program.

The cooperation was formalized today with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Huntsman Textile Effects and Promotion of Social and Environmental Standards (PSES) a textile industry initiative jointly developed by the governments of Bangladesh and Germany, and implemented by GIZ.

The GIZ Chemical Environmental Management for Competitiveness Program will include managerial and technical training, audit and consultancy services and implementation support from local and international Environmental Management System experts from GIZ and Huntsman Textile Effects. Working closely with the local textiles sector, the two partners will support the development of industry-wide chemical management (CM) best practices in Bangladesh and accelerate the adoption of these practices, with the ultimate aim of supporting the industry’s environmental and economic sustainability.

Bangladesh’s textile industry is the nation’s largest export sector. The ready-made garment (RMG) sector was worth US$19 billion in 2012, when more than 5,000 garment factories employed about 4 million people and accounted for 45% of all industrial workers. To remain internationally competitive, local textile mills and RMG factories increasingly have to demonstrate that they operate in a socially and environmentally sustainable way.

Mr. Magnus Schmid, PSES Program Coordinator, said “Textile factories in Bangladesh are now taking environmental issues more seriously as regulatory requirements become stricter and the economic benefits of sustainability become more widely recognized. PSES has already made a great impact with our CM training program and other initiatives and we look forward to doing even more through our new partnership with Huntsman Textile Effects. With Huntsman, we are committed to helping the industry eliminate hazardous substances from the production process in order to achieve a cleaner and safer textiles sector.”

GIZ has actively supported the development of the textile sector in cooperation with the Bangladesh government for several decades. Through PSES, it has already trained more than 60 consultants from 20 service organizations in the use of its CM tool. This CM tool covers the proper handling and storage of chemicals and seeks to improve workplace safety and compliance with environmental laws and achieve cost savings. Huntsman Textile Effects will support this ongoing work, contributing expertise in the optimization of washing and dyeing processes. It will also provide audit and consultancy services to local mills under its Productivity Improvement Program (PIP).

Mr. Peter Gregory, Brand & Retail Marketing Director of Huntsman Textile Effects, said, “Huntsman Textile Effects has a long established presence in Bangladesh. As a global leader in the transition to a more sustainable textiles sector, we are pleased to join hands with GIZ in Bangladesh to help local factories optimize their production efficiency and environmental compliance whilst also building local competence to enable continued adoption. Our international staff will also receive training from GIZ on its CM toolkit so that we can extend our efforts to factories in other countries as well.”

The cooperation with GIZ is part of Huntsman Textile Effects’ commitment to the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals programme. This global initiative of 18 leading apparel and footwear brands and retailers intends to eliminate hazardous chemicals from textiles production by 2020.

Note on statistics:
5,000 factories & 4 million workers from Deutsche Welle
Other stats from “Textile Industries in Bangladesh and Challenges of Growth” Research Journal of Engineering Sciences paper (Feb. 2013)

Posted June 17, 2014

Source: Huntsman Textile Effects
 

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