Verdezyne, UFS Team For Nylon 6,6 Fiber Production Using Biobased Adipic Acid

Verdezyne Inc. — a Carlsbad, Calif.-based producer of renewable chemicals — has formed a strategic
partnership with Bristol, Va.-based Universal Fiber Systems LLC (UFS) and its operating companies
Universal Fibers Inc. and Premiere Fibers Inc. under which Verdezyne will supply its biobased
adipic acid to UFS for use in production of nylon 6,6 fiber for certain specific application areas.
Verdezyne’s adipic acid is derived from nonfood-based vegetable oils using a cost-effective
engineered yeast-based fermentation process.

Universal Fibers, also based in Bristol, produces solution-dyed man-made filament-based fiber
for carpet, automotive and performance textile applications. Premiere Fibers, Ansonville, N.C.,
produces partially oriented yarn, fully drawn yarn, solution-dyed man-made fibers and other
specialty nylons and polyesters for industrial, military, apparel and other applications. The
specified applications covered by the agreement include areas — for example, solution-dyed nylon
6,6 commercial carpet yarn, performance apparel and military-grade parachutes — in which the two
companies currently occupy a significant market share.

“As leaders in sustainable fiber technology, we are extremely pleased to be partnered with
Universal Fiber Systems in commercializing Verdezyne’s biobased adipic acid for use in specialty
products such as carpet fiber and performance apparel yarns,” said Verdezyne President and CEO E.
William Radany, Ph.D. “Universal Fibers and Premiere Fibers have set themselves apart by creating
high-performance, innovative and sustainable products, and we are thrilled to be collaborating with
such outstanding companies.”

UFS CEO Marc Ammen, in noting his company’s commitment to sustainability both within a
cradle-to-cradle scenario and from the standpoint of saving petroleum resources and reducing the
company’s environmental impact, stated, “We believe that microorganisms can be the chemical
producers of the future, and we welcome this opportunity to work toward common objectives with
Verdezyne on our quest to achieve sustainability while employing any and all technologies.”

Radany said that UFS has successfully tested the biobased adipic acid in specific
applications, such as carpet. He anticipates Verdezyne will begin supplying material to Universal
and Premiere Fibers for commercial-scale production within the next 18 to 24 months. He added that
the company also would supply its adipic acid to other companies for other applications.

“There are numerous applications that don’t overlap with the specific ones reserved for UFS,
so we’ll be entering into other partnerships for those other applications,” he said.



December 18, 2012

Navis TubeTex Reports Sale Of Open-Width Processing Line In Ecuador

Lexington, N.C.-based textile finishing machinery manufacturer Navis TubeTex reports that Pinto, an
apparel producer based in Ecuador, has installed a full open-width knit finishing range for its
production needs.

The range comprises a Master-Slitter; a M&W P5V tenter equipped with the CQC (Constant
Quality Concentration) chemical control system and state-of-the-art air flow and control systems,
Integrated Heat Recovery system, and patented heavy-duty P5V vertical chain system; and the TM-100
open-width compactor, which performs tumble-dry testing to control shrinkage in knit fabrics to
less than 3 percent.

According to Navis TubeTex, the line will enable Pinto to produce high-quality apparel at a
reduced cost, compared to its existing process.

December 18, 2012

Mount Vernon Mills Debuts Mount Vernon FR Brand

Mount Vernon Mills Inc., Mauldin, S.C., has launched its flame-resistant (FR) fabrics brand, Mount
Vernon FR, comprising six collections: AMTEX™ C100 100-percent cotton; Amtex Plus 88/12
cotton/nylon; RESILIENCE® 80/20 cotton/Nomex®; Resilience Trio cotton/Nomex/nylon; Phoenix FR denim
fabrics; and the MY•FR custom fabric program. Mount Vernon’s AMSOFT™ fabric softening finish can be
added to all styles to enhance comfort. FR performance is guaranteed for the garment’s useful life,
and meets NFPA 70E and 2112, and EN ISO 11611 and 11612 standards.

The company has more than doubled capacity at its Trion, Ga., production plant, which
controls more than 25 major processes including spinning, weaving, dyeing and FR finishing;
utilizes more than 3,000 computer-monitored control points; and performs extensive quality
assurance testing.

NWTTMountVernon

Mount Vernon Mills’ Trion, Ga., manufacturing plant

November/December 2012

M&S Announces Chemical Commitments

Fashion retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S), United Kingdom, joining environmental watchdog
Greenpeace’s Detox campaign to stop chemical pollution of the Earth’s waters, has committed to
eliminate by 2020 toxic chemical releases from its supply chains and all products it sells.

Among other measures, M&S has committed to strengthen its ban of alkylphenol compounds;
eliminate perfluorocarbon usage within its supply chain by July 2016; conduct a public disclosure
feasibility trial related to dyehouse chemical discharges in China; and eliminate all chemicals
found to be hazardous as new evidence comes to light. It also has published its Environmental &
Chemical Policy and its restricted substances list.

November/December 2012

Vita Nonwovens Management Team Completes Buyout

The management team of Vita Nonwovens LLC, High Point, N.C., has completed its buyout of the
business from its parent company, United Kingdom-based The Vita Group’s Vitafoam Inc. division. The
team partnered with private equity enterprises Capital South Partners and Crutchfield Capital, both
based in Charlotte, combined with Source Capital Mezzanine Fund and PNC Bank.

The company produces nonwovens for automotive, construction, filtration, furniture, hygiene,
and mattress applications. It operates three facilities: a 130,000-square-foot (ft2) facility in
High Point that houses senior management and three high-speed thermal bond carded crosslapped
lines; a 78,000-ft2 plant in Schertz, Texas, equipped with one thermal bond line; and a 108,000-ft2
plant in Fort Wayne, Ind., equipped with one thermal bond line and one high-speed dual-card with
high-speed needling.

“We have built a solid foundation and forged strong partnerships over the years which are
critical for our future,” said Kevin Womble, executive vice president of sales and marketing, Vita
Nonwovens. “We want to enhance our customers’ experience and continue to find ways to bring value
in support of their initiatives. Our new structure will allow us to achieve these objectives with
an entrepreneurial flair.”

November/December 2012

Levi’s® Debuts WasteLess™ Denim Collection

Levi Strauss & Co., San Francisco, has introduced Levi’s® WasteLess™, a collection of denim
jeans and trucker jackets made using materials derived from post-consumer recycled (PCR)
polyethylene terephthalate bottles and food trays. The 2013 collection will include a minimum of
20-percent PCR content, keeping more than 3.5 million containers out of landfills.

Brown, green, clear and black containers will be sorted by color and processed into fiber to
be blended with cotton. Cone Denim, Greensboro, N.C., will weave PCR/cotton and cotton yarns into
fabric for the collection.

“By adding value to waste, we hope to change the way people think about recycling,
ultimately incentivizing them to do more of it,” said James Curleigh, global president, Levi’s
brand.

November/December 2012

Polartec Introduces Polartec® Alpha® Insulation

Polartec LLC, Lawrence, Mass., has introduced a man-made fiber insulation that provides improved
breathability and moisture-vapor transport in puffy-style apparel.

The company reports Polartec® Alpha® is highly stable and enables the use of more open and
breathable fabrics on the outer and inner layers of puffy-style apparel, in contrast to down and
existing man-made insulation batting used under high-density woven layers that form a vapor barrier
but can trap moisture inside a garment. Polartec Alpha continues to insulate when wet; dries faster
than traditional puffy-style insulation fabrics; is inherently wind-resistant; provides warmth; and
is lightweight, durable and highly compressible.

Developed for the U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF), the insulation received the highest
ratings of any product tested by SOF. Polartec Alpha jackets will be supplied to all Special Forces
operators, and the insulation will be offered at retail next fall.

November/December 2012

Haggar Eco-Line Marks 14 Million Bottles Recycled

Haggar Clothing Co., Dallas, reports that more than 14 million plastic bottles have been recycled
in the first year of production of its LK Life Khaki™ casual pants collection for young consumers.
The fabrics used comprise a blend of cotton and Greensboro, N.C.-based Unifi Inc.’s Repreve®
recycled polyester fiber. Each pair of pants contains the equivalent of seven recycled bottles.

“Our work with the LK Life Khaki brand is an exciting opportunity to educate the consumer
that plastic bottles don’t belong in landfills; they can be recycled into products like casual
clothes, performance apparel, socks and even car interiors,” said Roger Berrier, president and COO,
Unifi.

November/December 2012

GERBERcutter® GTxL Wide Now Available

Gerber Technology, Tolland, Conn., now offers its GERBERcutter® GTxL automated cutting system in a
wide version that cuts materials up to 2.2 meters wide and is suitable for fashion knitwear,
specialty technical textiles and furniture applications.

The Gerbercutter GTxL Wide is a low-ply conveyorized system that can cut up to 2.5
centimeters of compressed material using Gerber’s reciprocating knife technology. Features include
a powerful vacuum system with variable regulation to create material stability during cutting; and
a cutting head that can be fitted with up to two optional drills. Also available are a knife
chiller to keep the blade cool during cutting, and a lateral travel kit that moves the cutter among
multiple spreading tables.

November/December 2012

Oerlikon Schlafhorst Offers Fancynation For Autocoro 8

Oerlikon Schlafhorst, Germany, reports its Fancynation plug-and-play design program enables
flexible production of up to five fancy yarns or a combination of smooth and fancy yarns on the
Autocoro 8 rotor-spinning machine.

The company reports Autocoro 8 enables spinning mills to customize production by programming
the number of spinning positions needed to produce a particular lot, with no limitations on lot
size, thereby making small-lot production affordable. Fancynation is installed on a personal
computer, and the design data are easily transferred to the Autocoro 8.

November/December 2012

1...1,9411,9421,943...2,573Page 1,942 of 2,573

Sponsors

Breaking News

Load more

Digital Issue

2025 Quarterly Issue Number III

View Latest Digital Issue

FEATURED ARTICLES

© Copyright 2017 Textile Industries Media Group, LLC.