Chomarat Opens New North American Facility

LE CHEYLARD, France — October 27, 2014 — CHOMARAT has just celebrated the opening of its new 58,500-square-foot factory in South Carolina. This new plant will specialize in developing Chomarat’s advanced composite business and is equipped with a LIBA MAX5 100-inch (variable width) machine designed to produce carbon, spread-tow, multiaxial reinforcements and carbon looms.

This new production capacity will enable Chomarat to offer innovative solutions in advanced composite textiles throughout the United States in the industrial, automotive and aerospace markets. “Our aim is to promote our latest innovations and to develop new partnerships in order to provide the North American market with advanced reinforcements, thanks to our highly skilled staff and state of the art machinery,” explains Florent Troubat, President of Chomarat Group.

C-PLY™ offers significant advantages to the aerospace and automotive industries. “The C-PLY offerings are touted as completely gap-free, a feat normal aerospace woven fabrics cannot yet claim,” says Michel Cognet, Chomarat’s General Manager. “Chomarat has a unique ability to use 50k large tow carbon fiber to make 100 g/m2 fabrics with virtually no defects. This overall quality capability makes Chomarat’s advanced composite textiles ideal for the most demanding applications, including visual quality surfaces. This is important for most of our customers, but it is a driving force in automotive structures and in the luxury markets for example,” he concludes.

Growth Strategy To Support The Group’s Business Development
This new facility confirms both the Group’s development strategy and Chomarat’s collaborative R&D strategy, sparked back in 2011 by an encounter with Professor Steve Tsai of the University of Stanford. The opening marks an important stage in Chomarat’s global expansion into the advanced composites market.

Posted October 28, 2014

Source: Chomarat
 

Applied DNA Sciences to Provide “Fiber Forward” Supply Chain Protection for Extra Long Staple Pima Cotton

STONY BROOK, N.Y. — October 28, 2014 — Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. (APDN), a provider of DNA-based anti-counterfeiting technology and product authentication solutions, announced today a commercial agreement with a textile manufacturer to purchase a SigNature T® DNA mark, in order to protect and authenticate Extra Long Staple Pima cotton starting October 27, 2014. This agreement will enable the textile manufacturer and its large retail partners to assure quality and preserve the integrity of the textile supply chain, starting from the grower to the consumer.

The SigNature T commercial program involves the creation of a unique, SigNature T DNA marker that will be used to mark the customer’s annual demand of Extra Long Staple Pima cotton at the ginning stage. Once marked, the premium Pima cotton fiber may be authenticated for textile identity along any node in the supply chain, from grower to ginner to spinner to manufacturer to distributor to retailer. The company calls this approach to managing textile identity in the supply chain “Fiber Forward™.”

Pima or Extra Long Staple (ELS) cotton is a highly valued, luxuriously long fiber. It represents about 5% of the overall U.S. cotton output, the equivalent of an estimated $1.25 billion per year industry in the United States. Production of all types of cotton fiber is a $25 billion-per-year industry in the United States, employing over 200,000 people.

Once the Pima cotton is marked following each step of the process, its textile identity will be tested accumulating “provenance data” linking the original cotton fiber to finished product, preserving the authenticity of the product and the integrity of the supply chain.

MeiLin Wan, Executive Director for Apparel and Textiles, Applied DNA Sciences, said, “The kind of value that comes from a trusted, traceable and transparent supply chain is immeasurable, and we know consumers respond well to brands they trust, and even more to products they know will wear and launder well. Every moment of our daily lives involves a textile — from the bed sheets you woke up in, to the wrinkle free cotton oxford shirt you wear with that wool suit, to the upholstered fabric in the car you drove to work in, to the carpet in your office,” commented Wan.

The SigNature T DNA marker, an advanced technology based on botanical DNA, is robust, long-lasting, and uncopyable. APDN’s platform also includes a unique test for Extra Long Staple Pima cotton identity called fiberTyping, and can also include a cloud-based track and trace system called digitalDNA.

Applied DNA Sciences is a security provider in the form of a biotechnology platform. Many of its customers are protected under confidentiality.

“We have found in all our businesses — electronics, plastics, and many others — that supply chain participants must work together,” said Dr. James A. Hayward, President and CEO, Applied DNA Sciences. “There is no substitute for communication, trust and information exchange. We can help empower, with our DNA solutions, all supply chain stakeholders in building this kind of community.”

Posted October 28, 2014

Source: Applied DNA Sciences
 

Joint Statement Of The Ministers And Heads Of Delegation For The Trans-Pacific Partnership Countries

SYDNEY, Australia — October 27, 2014 — We, the Ministers and Heads of Delegation for Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States, and Vietnam have completed our three-day ministerial meeting to lay the groundwork for the conclusion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement negotiations.  Our meeting followed a week of officials’ level discussions in Canberra, from 19-24 October 2014.

We are pleased to report that, over the past weeks, we have made significant progress on both component parts of the TPP Agreement: the market access negotiations and negotiations on the trade and investment rules, which will define, shape and integrate the TPP region once the agreement comes into force.

Over the course of our weekend meeting, we have spent a considerable portion of our time in one-on-one discussions.  That has allowed us to make further progress in the negotiations on market access for goods, services and investment.  We met in a plenary format to make decisions on a range of issues that will help set the stage to bring the TPP negotiations to finalization.

We consider that the shape of an ambitious, comprehensive, high standard and balanced deal is crystallizing.  We will continue to focus our efforts, and those of our negotiating teams, to consult widely at home and work intensely with each other to resolve outstanding issues in order to provide significant economic and strategic benefits for each of us.

We now pass the baton back to Chief Negotiators to carry out instructions we have given.

We will continue to build on the progress we made at this meeting and will meet again in the coming weeks.

Posted October 28, 2014

Source: USTR
 

Hollingsworth & Vose To Increase Prices On High Efficiency And Specialty Filtration Products

EAST WALPOLE, Mass. – October 22, 2014 – Hollingsworth & Vose, a global leader in the supply of advanced materials for filtration, battery separator, and industrial applications, today announced a price increase on high efficiency and specialty products globally. Escalation in fiber, resin, and energy costs, were cited by Hollingsworth & Vose as a basis for the price increases on its high efficiency filtration products.

New prices for media will be effective with shipments starting January 1st, 2015, or as contracts allow. The increase will vary by product and will range from 3% to 5%.

H&V remains committed to providing its customers with the best combination of products, quality, consistency, value and support despite market fluctuations.

Posted October 28, 2014

Source: Hollingsworth & Vose
 

Optitex Opens Office In Milan, Appoints Antonio Sgroi As Country Manager

MILAN, Italy — October 27, 2014 —Optitex is pleased to announce the opening of local offices in Milan, Italy. The new Italian operations are headed by Antonio Sgroi, an experienced sales director with a long legacy of success in the Italian fashion market.

The Optitex Italy team of seasoned sales, technical support and operations professionals is already having a strong impact locally, supporting existing customers and introducing digital workflows to a growing range of companies. To date, numerous leaders in the Italian fashion industry, including Roberto Cavalli and Crea Si, have made Optitex 3D suite their solution of choice for garment design and development. These companies are already working with Optitex to expand their usage of 3D solutions to other domains, including collection planning, showrooms and online marketing.

“As a global fashion hub, Italy is a particularly important territory for us to serve,” said Asaf Landau, CEO, Optitex. “Many Italian fashion companies are industry trendsetters, well-positioned to take advantage of the exciting innovations in 2D and 3D virtual prototyping for design and production.”

Landau added: “With realistic 3D product representations taking a growing role in processes within fashion brands and amongst the various stakeholders in the ecosystem, more and more industry leaders are mastering 3D solutions in order to stay aligned with this market evolution.”

With the opening of the new office, Optitex appointed Antonio Sgroi to manage the Optitex Italy team and operations. Having worked in the fashion and fabrics industry for decades, Sgroi has extensive experience in the world of 2D and 3D design, PLM software, CAD/CAM equipment and related services, particularly for textiles, leather and industrial fabrics. Sgroi and his team are responsible for managing strategic accounts and local sales, and for driving further growth of Optitex solutions in Italy.

Posted October 28, 2014

Source: Optitex
 

DuPont Expands Sorona Production In Kinston, N.C.

RALEIGH, N.C. — October 23, 2014 — Governor Pat McCrory and North Carolina Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker announced today that E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (DuPont) is expanding its operations in Lenoir County.  The company plans to create 18 new jobs and invest $30 million over the next three years in Kinston, N.C.

“DuPont is one of North Carolina’s best known employers,” said Governor McCrory. “By adding these high-paying, quality jobs to their production facility in Kinston, the company is making a much-needed difference to the economy in this part of the state.”

DuPont employs more than 750 workers in North Carolina.  The company’s Kinston site produces DuPont™ Sorona® renewably sourced polymer. Sorona is made in part from annually renewable plant-based ingredients and is used primarily in fiber applications, including textiles used in apparel, home furnishings, and for carpets, including residential, commercial and automotive carpets and mats.  Producing Sorona uses 30% less energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 63% compared to producing an equal amount of nylon 6, a widely used carpet material. The Kinston site is the largest polymer plant in the world that produces DuPont Sorona.

“Cities like Kinston in eastern North Carolina are continuing to see the benefits of employers recognizing what a great state we are to do business in,” said Secretary Decker. “By adding these jobs in Lenoir County, DuPont is able to take advantage of North Carolina’s incredible workforce and business-friendly attitude.”

Salaries will vary by job function, but the average annual wage for the new jobs will likely exceed $60,000 plus benefits. The Lenoir County average annual wage is $32,744.

“Our expansion is due to the strong demand for our renewable Sorona polymer,” said William Feehery, President of DuPont Industrial Biosciences. “Sorona is the cornerstone of our biomaterials business – a product with superior performance in terms of softness and stain resistance.  We are pleased to be able to manufacture these innovative products in the state of North Carolina with a fantastic workforce and the support of forward-thinking leaders and the local community.”

The project was made possible in part by a performance-based grant from the One North Carolina Fund of up to $80,000. The One NC Fund provides financial assistance, through local governments, to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state. Companies receive no money up front and must meet job creation and investment performance standards to qualify for grant funds.  These grants also require and are contingent upon local matches.

“This is good news for Lenoir County and for Kinston,” said Representative John Bell. “These additional jobs are a great sign that eastern North Carolina is continuing its economic comeback as we work to continue to promote our state as a great place to do business.”

“Lenoir County and Kinston will benefit,” said Representative George Graham. “DuPont has been a part of our community since 1953 and we are very fortunate to have them as a corporate citizen.”

Other partners that helped with this project include: the N.C. Department of Commerce, N.C. Rural Economic Development, N.C. Department of Transportation, N.C. Community Colleges, Lenoir Community College, Duke Energy Progress, Lenoir County Economic Development and Lenoir County.

Posted October 24, 2014

Source: N.C. Office of the Governor
 

Textile Industry Giant W. Duke Kimbrell Passes Away

W. Duke Kimbrell passed away Wednesday, October 22, at the age of 89. Kimbrell was a textile industry giant, well-known and well-respected within the textile industry, and he leaves behind a grand legacy. Under his direction, Parkdale Mills became the largest spun yarn manufacturer in the world.
 
Textile World’s Yarn Market column will pay tribute to Kimbrell in the November/December issue.
 
If you wish to share a memory of Kimbrell with Textile World, please contact rsdavis@textileworld.com.
 
Posted October 24, 2014

The Rupp Report: Transforming And Upgrading The Chinese Textile Industry

Each year, the entire textile industry value chain meets at a global summit organized by the International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF). This year, the event took place in Beijing from October 16-18. In 2009, the global textile industry met in China, and at that time in rival city Shanghai. China joined ITMF in 2008, and continues to be an increasingly important textile market.
 
China Is Moving Forward
Just a few first notes from the event, which truly revealed a new openness from the Chinese delegation, as well as provided a warning that textile markets are turning upside down because of fast growing e-commerce.
 
If one reads the delegates list, it is clear to see that the majority of attendees came from China. There are various reasons for this attendance pattern. The first reason is definitely the ease of attending an event in one’s own country. Another reason, in-spite of all recent rumors, is because China is leading the way to the top of the global economy, and its arrival at the top can be only a matter of time. Comments about this trend were heard in a few speeches at the ITMF global summit. Over past weeks and months, there have been articles in important global financial newspapers about China “slowing down.” Given those articles, summit attendees expected a strong statement from the high-ranking Chinese delegates, including Wang Tiankai, president, China National Textiles and Apparel Council (CNTAC), defending their view. Wang is truly the head of China’s textile activities.
 
Transformation Is Going On
With a virtually unbelievable openness, Wang addressed the audience and came straight to the main topic. With a smile, he said China is still on its way, however: “We are in a strong transformation. China is shifting from a mass production country to a place where we put much more emphasize on quality. And I can tell you the quality, and not only textiles, is getting better step by step. And therefore, if a country is transforming itself to another level, there are many bridges to cross and problems to be solved, both technically and mentally.”
 
China’s textile growth dropped from 10.8 percent in 2012 to 8.3 percent in 2013. In 2014, Wang expects the growth rate will further drop to 7.4 percent. However, one must know that in 2013 China was responsible for 37.1 percent of all textiles produced worldwide, and 80 percent of all man-made fibers also are delivered from China.
 
Problems To Solve
Everybody is aware that labor costs in China are rising, but by how much? Wang reported the cost of labor in China increased over the past few years by 10 percent annually. “We are today more expensive than our neighbors around us,” he said. Even if many people in the Western world don’t believe that China is striving to achieve a much better environmental balance, Wang made a strong commitment: “On the one hand, China is behind the Western countries regarding the efficiency to use the natural resources and the energy efficiency. We are still behind the expectations of the government regarding these issues and this puts a lot of pressure on us.”
 
Targets
Wang also made several strong demands to further integrate and gain cooperation of the global textile industry to share and take more responsibility for all pending issues regarding resources and the environment. For the future of the textile and apparel market, he has clear visions.
 
According to Wang, a more diversified structure within the textile industry would help shape more balanced trading within the country. Fiber processing between apparel, technical textiles and home textiles must be optimized. For example, the share of technical textiles in China is steadily growing moving from 20 percent in 2010 up to 23 percent in 2013. Wang is convinced that in the near future China will be responsible for half of global fiber consumption. On the other hand, rising fiber consumption will fuel emerging markets to more growth.
 
“Free trade among the partners must be optimized with a much better communication quality,” Wang claimed. He virtually insisted that all countries, and particular the important textile countries of the world, including the machinery manufacturers, should be linked in better way.
 
Priorities
Wang clearly defined the priorities of the Chinese textile industry: To improve basic research and development projects; to bolster technical innovations; to improve environmental conditions for a better climate; and to establish consistent recycling of textile waste.
 
“You know other countries are taking away some production from us,” Wang said. “With this new situation, China came very much under pressure and we must react to this situation.” And then Wang mentioned a list of requirements aimed at the ITMF. For example, consensus on free trade agreements to facilitate trading, and the integration of industrial and supply chains for everybody to have access to the world markets. One must know that it was an open secret that as one of the ITMF vice presidents, Wang would become the new President. This is one of the reasons why the event took place in the capital city of Beijing. Looking at the Board of Directors of the ITMF Wang said: “The CNTAC is prepared to play a more important role in ITMF.”
 
Prosperous Future
At the end of his very open speech, Wang presented a few charts that show the positive future and future growth in Chinese industrial performance. “If a country of the size of China is transforming itself towards a new business culture, there are lots of sociological and other problems to overcome,” Wang said. “But with our own strength, a different attitude and the help of our global business partners, we are sure to achieve the targets.”
 
By the way: Wang Tiankai was unanimously elected as the ITMF president for the next two years.
 
October 21, 2014
 
 

Unifi Textiles (Suzhou) Co. Ltd. (UTSC) Expands Premium Value-Added Product Offerings with SORBTEK® Staple

SUZHOU, China — October 16, 2014 — Unifi Textiles (Suzhou) Co. Ltd. (UTSC) continues to evolve its array of premium value-added (PVA) product offerings with the Company’s latest development, SORBTEK® staple fiber, which provides permanent moisture management through a proprietary Catch, Move, Release™ technology.
 
The Sorbtek technology works by absorbing moisture, moving it away from the skin, and releasing it for quick evaporation, and it is incorporated into the staple fiber, making its moisture-management properties permanent.

This allows the wearer of garments made with Sorbtek staple to remain cool, dry and comfortable. In addition to moisture management, Sorbtek staple fiber provides inherent soil release properties to protect against everyday soils, such as sweat and grass. Other benefits of garments made with yarn spun with Sorbtek staple include soft drape, enhanced color retention and wrinkle resistance, making it easier to create garments with the comfort of cotton in conjunction with the functional advantages of polyester.
 
“Sorbtek staple is an important part of UTSC’s commitment to providing customers with multiple options for value-added products,” said Ed Wickes, president of UTSC. “Most staple offerings focus on just the hand, but Sorbtek staple combines a cotton-like touch with moisture management and soil release properties.”
 
Sorbtek staple can be used in a variety of knit and woven apparel products including t-shirts, pants, jackets, polo shirts, sweaters and socks. It is also available for use in heather colors. Initial programs being launched with Sorbtek staple include Meng Na out of China, among others.

Posted October 21, 2014

Source: Unifi
 

Nilit To Purchase Invista’s Americana, Brazil, Nylon Plant

AMERICANA, Brazil and MIGDAL HAEMEK, Israel — Oct. 16, 2014 — NILIT®, a manufacturer of nylon 6,6 for thermoplastics and apparel applications, announced today that it has signed an agreement to acquire INVISTA’s Americana, Brazil, manufacturing site with intent to continue the site’s nylon 6,6 operations. 
 
The parties anticipate the transaction will close in the fourth quarter of 2014 pending receipt of necessary regulatory approvals. Terms of the transaction were not publically disclosed as both Nilit and Invista are privately held. 
 
“I want to extend thanks and appreciation to all Invista employees in Americana for their dedication through this process,” said Dave Trerotola, president of Invista Apparel & Advanced Textiles. “We believe the Americana site’s nylon 6,6 operations will enhance Nilit’s global manufacturing presence, and we wish them well as the Americana site opens a new chapter in its history.”
 
Fabio Kahn, Managing Director, Nilit Fibers Division, said: “In addition to our sites in the U.S., China and Israel, this acquisition complements Nilit’s global nylon 6,6 manufacturing operations. South America in general — and Brazil in particular — both represent a key opportunity for Nilit. We have been active in this market since the early 1990s and have developed an excellent reputation for quality and service, with a growing number of active customers. We plan to increase our DTY capacity and to reinforce our local presence.”
 
Zion Ginat, General Manager, Nilit Group, said, “The valuable assets at the Americana site will allow Nilit to increase the value we provide to our customers. With this acquisition, we can significantly reinforce Nilit’s commitment to the Brazilian market, enabling us to expand sales to other customers, especially in the circular and warp knitting segments, by taking advantage of a very efficient, well-maintained and highly established site. A local production presence will guarantee a fast market penetration and, in addition, a footprint in Brazil, which will allow further potential expansions. We look forward to cooperating with the local workforce.”
 
Trerotola added, “Invista Apparel remains very much committed to Brazil, and this transaction will allow us to focus our energy in Brazil on our growing Lycra® spandex business. We are making very significant investments in our Paulínia, Brazil, spandex manufacturing operation and in marketing initiatives in Brazil.” 

Posted October 20, 2014

Source: Nilit
 

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