Kelheim Fibres Unveils Olea Water-Repellent Viscose

Kelheim Fibres GmbH, Germany, has developed Olea, an intrinsically water-repellent viscose fiber.

According to the company, a water-repellency additive derived from renewable materials is
incorporated into the viscose fiber’s matrix during the spinning process to provide permanent
hydrophobicity without affecting the fiber’s characteristic properties. The resulting fiber is
soft, comfortable, skin-friendly and fully biodegradable.

Olea has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval, and is suitable for hygiene and
food applications, Kelheim reports. It also has potential sportswear and other functional textile
applications.

“Olea is an environmentally friendly alternative for the cover- and back-sheets of hygiene
products,” said Philipp Wimmer, Ph.D., a member of Kelheim’s R&D team. “In order to protect the
wearer’s skin, these sheets need to remain dry while they facilitate the transport of liquid away
from the skin.”

March/April 2013

Brother Upgrades GraffiTee™ Printer Firmware

Brother International Corp., Bridgewater, N.J., now offers two firmware upgrades for its Brother™
GraffiTee™ GT-341, GT-361 and GT-381 digital garment printers.

The first upgrade increases the maximum print area to up to 16 by 18 inches, or 16 by 17
inches for CMYK with white ink. The upgrade requires the purchase of a Brother large platen for
operation.

The second upgrade provides LAN/Ethernet connectivity to help speed the transfer of design
data to the printer.

The GraffiTee series includes a CMYK-only printer, a CMYK with two white print heads, and a
CMYK with four white print heads and single pass printing.

March/April 2013

HeiQ, Rudolf Team To Offer Barrier Technologies

HeiQ Materials AG, Switzerland — a manufacturer of silver composite additives and high-performance,
sustainable textile finishes — and Rudolf GmbH, Germany — a manufacturer of sustainable textile
sizing, pretreatment, dyeing and finishing auxiliaries — have partnered to offer their durable
water-repellent technologies under the Barrier brand.

Barrier technologies offer sustainable water, oil and stain repellency for outerwear
fabrics. The new joint portfolio includes environmentally-friendly fluorine-free dendrimer, 3-D
hyperbranched coral-like polymer technologies, and clean C6- and C8-based fluorines; and will
include more coating technologies in the future, the companies report.

March/April 2013

David Peck USA Fashion House Opens In Houston

David Peck, a Houston-based fashion designer with Parisian fashion training and New York
experience, has opened David Peck USA, the South’s first full-scale fashion house.

Peck established the company in 2010 and last year moved its headquarters and showroom into a
renovated a 6,000-square-foot former real estate office located in Houston’s Upper Kirby district.
The facility also houses all design, production and distribution.

“The majority of American fashion brands manufacture outside the United States,” Peck said.
“We want to change that, and I am confident with what we are doing we are on the right path. We
believe that providing local employment not only guarantees higher quality control but also
provides fair wages for an industry that is notorious for the contrary.”

The company manufactures custom bridalwear as well as Peck’s ready-to-wear line branded CrOp
– short for “creative opportunities” – which incorporates organic, fair-trade and natural fibers
and is printed using low-environmental-impact methods.

March/April 2013

Kraig Biocraft Develops Big Red Spider Silk

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories Inc., Lansing, Mich., has created “Big Red,” a new recombinant spider
silk variety that it reports is stronger than previously developed varieties.

Two varieties of the fiber, whose color has a slight red cast, are being spun by transgenic
silkworms that have two different spider silk genetic sequences. It is a follow-up to the company’s
hybrid Monster Silk™, which is on track to be in commercial production in the first half of 2013,
reports CEO Kim Thompson.

“This new type of fiber was designed to be a combination of spider silk proteins, silkworm
silk proteins and protein from an unrelated species,” Thompson said. “What significantly
differentiates this material from our Monster Silk™ is the unique spider silk genetic sequence that
we used, which we designed to increase strength-to-weight ratios. Another important difference is
the incorporation of a unique protein, which gives the new fiber its designation as ‘red.'”

Big Red is stronger than Monster Silk but not as elastic. Thompson sees its applications
particularly in technical textiles that require added strength but in which elasticity would not be
desirable.

March/April 2013

Alvanon Introduces Mexico Standard AlvaForms

Alvanon Inc., New York City, now offers the Mexico Standard AlvaForm Series of fit mannequins to
apparel producers serving the Mexican market.

“The most obvious benefit to consumers will be better fitting clothes,” said Alvanon
President Ed Gribbin, who noted that Mexican apparel makers had been using United States-related
and outdated Mexican size specifications. “For retailers and brands that means improved sell
through, conversion rates, customer satisfaction and brand loyalty. On the manufacturing side, the
standard will speed time from design to production and facilitate greater quality control.”

The mannequins are based on averages of weight, height and body measurements derived from
data gathered during the Size Mexico body scan campaign, which was sponsored by Mexico-based Cámara
Nacional de la Industria del Vestido (CANAIVE) in conjunction with Walmart de Mexico, Paris-based
fashion software provider Lectra and CVS Group. The survey included thousands of body scans taken
of consumers in 14 cities across Mexico. The campaign is expected to reduce merchandise returns and
save Mexico’s apparel industry $400 million by 2017.

March/April 2013

High Hopes For ShanghaiTex

ShanghaiTex 2013, the 16th International Exhibition on Textile Industry, will be held at the
Shanghai New International Expo Center (SNIEC) in Shanghai, June 10-13. Its organizers — Shanghai
International Exhibition Co. Ltd., Shanghai Textile Technology Service & Exhibition Center, and
Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd. — and co-organizers — Shanghai Xinfang Textile Engineering Co.
Ltd., Shanghai Huafang Exhibition Service Co. Ltd., Beijing Yazhan Exhibition Services Ltd., and
Shanghai Dahua Exhibition & Conference Corp. — hope the biennial show will “act as a pioneer to
lead the transformation and upgrading of the Chinese textile industry by bringing a full array of
textile products, machinery and technology from China and all over the world under one roof.”

Established in 1984, ShanghaiTex boasts the longest history of any textile trade show in
China. The show in 2013 is sponsored by Shangtex Holding Co. Ltd., China Council for the Promotion
of International Trade Shanghai Sub-council, and China Chamber of International Commerce Shanghai
Chamber of Commerce.

Shanghaitex1

ShanghaiTex organizers expect more than 1,000 exhibitors and nearly 60,000 visitors at the
upcoming edition of the show.


New Theme Zones For Exhibits


ShanghaiTex has added three new theme zones for 2013. In addition to the five existing
product categories — Knitting & Hosiery Machinery; Weaving Machinery; Spinning &
Techtextile Machinery; Printing, Dyeing & Finishing Machinery & Textile Chemicals; and
Spare Parts and Accessories for Textile Machinery — visitors also will find exhibits in New
Materials, Technologies & Designs For Knitting Products; Techtextile Technology & Product;
and Digital Printing Machinery zones.

The New Materials, Technologies & Designs for Knitting Products zone focuses on the
latest knitting products and related technologies. The Techtextile Technology & Product zone
will present a wide range of performance fabrics and value-added products from the technical
textiles arena. The Digital Printing Machinery zone will highlight new-generation digital printing
machines and integrated digital textile printing solutions.

“Since the business environment becomes more competitive and dynamic, industry players
request a one-stop platform for their total sourcing requirements,” said Stanley Chu, chairman,
Adsale. “Many of our visitors are leading manufacturers who are constantly exploring options to
improve their productivity and to respond quickly to customers’ needs. The newly added theme zones
are industry-focused, which will surely bring plenty of inspirations for new materials and
technology to our visitors.”


According to organizers, Global Industry Analysts Inc. released a report in 2010 on world
textile printing production that forecast global production of printed textiles would reach 32
billion square meters (m2) by the year 2015. Analysts also predicted that 15 percent of the global
fabric printing market would be produced digitally within the next five years.

Many companies have already committed to exhibit at ShanghaiTex 2013 including: Japan-based
Konica Minolta, Epson, and Mimaki Engineering Co. Ltd., and Israel-based Kornit Digital, in the
Digital Printing Machinery zone; Germany-based Groz-Beckert KG, Karl Mayer Textilmaschinenfabrik
GmbH and Memminger-Iro GmbH, and Italy-based Lonati Group, in the Knitting & Hosiery Machinery
zone; Hong Kong-based Fong’s Industries Co. Ltd., Italy-based Brazzoli S.p.A., and Taiwan-based
Asia Kingdom Machinery Industry Co. Ltd., in the Printing, Dyeing & Finishing Machinery &
Textile Chemicals zone; and Italy-based Savio Macchine Tessili S.p.A., Germany-based Trützschler
Group, Shanghai-based Oerlikon Textile, Switzerland-based Rieter Ltd. and India-based Lakshmi
Machine Works in the Spinning & Techtextile Machinery zone.

ShanghaiTex organizers have invited Santoni S.p.A., Italy — a knitting machine producer
specializing in seamless knitting, and a member of the Lonati Group — and textile machinery
supplier Chemtax Industrial Co. Ltd., Hong Kong, to be strategic partners at the 2013 show.


Exhibition Participation


In 2011, more than 1,000 exhibitors from 23 countries and regions including Austria,
Bangladesh, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Pakistan, China, Spain,
Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey and the United States occupied 92,000 m2 of floor space at SNIEC. The
number of visitors reached a record high of 55,080. This year, show organizers anticipate filling
100,000 m2 of ex-hibit space, with more than 1,000 exhibitors showing their products and services
to some 60,000 visitors.

In 2011, Germany, Korea and Taiwan participated in group pavilions on the exhibition floor.
It is expected that country pavilions again will be arranged at the 2013 edition of the show.

Also in 2011, ShanghaiTex introduced the International Group Delegation Programme to meet the
overseas demand from customers interested in Chinese textile machinery. Companies or associations
with 10 or more people attending the show were encouraged to form buyers’ groups, which entitled
them to a set of services including express registration at the group delegation counter, free use
of the visitors lounge, a networking program, travel packages and connections with potential
business partners.


Concurrent Seminars


ShanghaiTex organizers have planned some concurrent workshops and forums so that show
visitors may learn about industry developments and trends as well as cultivate new ideas. Some of
the planned events include: “From Fibers & Yarns to Ready-to-Wear Apparels-Fashion
Manufacturing Lines,” “A Roadmap to Digital Textile Printing,” and “Interactive Forum — From
Manufacturing to Brand Building.”

The show floor will be open from 9:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. on June 10-12, and from 9:30 a.m.
until 3:00 p.m. on June 13. Admission is free, and visitors may pre-register online or register
on-site during the show.

For more information about ShanghaiTex 2013, visit shanghaitexonline.com.



March/April 2013

Textile Show Duo Recurs In Frankfurt

This coming June, trade show producer and organizer Messe Frankfurt GmbH will welcome textile
industry professionals to its fairground in Frankfurt am Main for two concurrent shows: Techtextil
2013, the 15th edition of the International Trade Fair for the Technical Textiles and Nonwovens
Industries; and Texprocess 2013, the 2nd edition of the International Trade Fair for Processing
Textiles and Flexible Materials.

Messe Frankfurt reports the premiere of Texprocess alongside Techtextil in 2011 was a great
success. The shows that year altogether saw more than 1,500 exhibitors from 50 countries showing
their products and services to nearly 35,000 attendees from 96 countries. Organizers are
anticipating more exhibitors and visitors at the 2013 editions of the biennial shows.


Techtextil 2013


Techtextil will take place Tuesday, June 11, through Thursday, June 13, with exhibits set up
in Halls 3.0, 3.1 and 4.1 at Messe Frankfurt.

To aid attendees in finding providers of the products, services and technologies relevant to
their needs and interests, Techtextil exhibitors will be classified according to 12 application
areas:

  • Agrotech, including agriculture, forestry, horticulture and landscape gardening;
  • Buildtech, including membrane construction, lightweight and solid structures, earthworks,
    hydraulic engineering and road construction;
  • Clothtech, including shoe and clothing manufacturing;
  • Geotech, including road construction, civil engineering, and dam and waste site
    construction;
  • Hometech, including furniture, upholstery, floor covering and carpet manufacturing;
  • Indutech, including mechanical engineering, and the chemical and electrical industries;
  • Medtech, including medical and hygiene products;
  • Mobiltech, including ship and aircraft construction, and automotive, railway and space
    travel;
  • Oekotech, including environmental protection, waste disposal and recycling;
  • Packtech, including packaging, covering and transportation of goods;
  • Protech, including personal and property protection; and
  • Sporttech, including sports and leisure.

Product groups and services offered include: research, development, planning and
consultation; technology, machinery and accessories; fibers and yarns; woven fabrics, scrims,
braids and knitted fabrics; nonwovens; coated textiles; composites; bondtec; functional apparel
textiles; associations; and publishers.

Messe Frankfurt is expecting a large number of international visitors and exhibitors at
Techtextil, which will feature 13 national pavilions from countries and regions including Belgium,
Canada, China, the Czech Republic, France, India, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Taiwan, Turkey, the
United Kingdom and the United States.

The 2013 edition of Techtexil is the largest to date in terms of exhibition space, which
already is fully booked, according to organizers.

“Never before has the booking situation for Techtextil been so good,” said Detlef Braun,
member of the Executive Board, Messe Frankfurt. “Following the highly successful 2011 event, we are
once again heading for a record fair in 2013.”

Techtextil1

Automotive interior textiles is just one of the many technical textiles and nonwovens
applications that will be on display at Techtextil.


Symposiums & Awards


The 17th International Techtextil Symposium — to be held June 11-13 — and the 7th
International Avantex Symposium — to be held June 11-12 — together will offer 11 sessions and 66
lectures by speakers who will present recent developments and trends in global textile research.

The Techtextil Symposium is split into eight themed blocks with six lectures per block, and
will cover topics including sustainable textile technologies and technical textiles, fibers and
composites, smart materials and flexible electronics, surface modification and finishing,
lightweight technical textile structures, new processes, and textile-reinforced concrete. The
Avantex Symposium is split into three themed blocks, also with six lectures per block, and will
cover topics including smart textiles and functional apparel.

The Techtextil and Avantex Innovation Awards, which recognize outstanding achievements in
research, materials, products, technologies and applications, will be presented at a special
ceremony on Monday, June 10. Prize-winning entries will be exhibited in a special show during the
fair.

On June 10, the Brussels-based TensiNet Association and Techtextil will present awards for
the 12th student competition, “Textile Structures For New Building 2013,” with an additional theme
of “Suitability for Re-Use and Recycling.” The competition recognizes innovative approaches and
solutions appropriate for textile or textile-reinforced construction applications. Award-winning
projects will be exhibited in a special show during Techtextil.

In addition, TensiNet and Techtextil will for the first time present a “Textile Exhibition
Stand” special award recognizing the use of suitable textile materials for the construction of
Techtextil exhibition stands.


Texprocess 2013


Texprocess, produced in partnership with the German Engineering Federation (VDMA) Garment
and Leather Technology Association, will take place Monday, June 10, through Thursday, June 13,
with exhibits set up in Halls 4.0, 5.0, 5.1 and 6.0 at Messe Frankfurt.

Exhibitors will showcase the latest machinery, equipment, processes and services for the
making-up of textiles and other flexible materials. Product groups include design, cutting,
computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing, information technology (IT), quality
control, stitching, joining, embroidery, product processing, finishing, logistics and internal
material flow, among other product groups.

Special features include IT@Texprocess: Successful Software Solutions for the Fashion
Industry — an area in Hall 4.0 dedicated to software producers; and Source-it — Texprocess’s
international sourcing platform, which will be located in Hall 5.0 and will offer suppliers an
opportunity to show their contract manufacturing capabilities. Messe Frankfurt also has introduced
the itex-apparel sourcing system, an online matchmaking program that will open prior to the show in
April.

Techtextil2

Assyst GmbH will exhibit its integrated computer-aided design and product lifestyle
management solutions for the fashion industry at Texprocess.

Messe Frankfurt reports that as of

Textile World
 ‘s press time, more than 80 percent of exhibition space for Texprocess has been filled.

“The second edition of Texprocess continues with the success achieved by the premiere,”
Braun said. The unique concept of holding the fair parallel to Techtextil, its innovative character
and the ‘Source-it’ procurement platform are exactly in line with the needs of the market.”


Complementary Program


The Texprocess Forum lecture program will cover topics such as new technologies,
sustainability and social standards, sourcing, customs policies, and logistics and quality
management. Texprocess Innovation Awards will be presented to outstanding product innovations and
solutions, with winning projects exhibited in a special area of Hall 4.0. Texprocess Campus, a
collaboration with fashion and design educational institutions, will present training and
professional development opportunities in the fashion industry.

For more information about Techtextil 2013 and Texprocess 2013, visit techtextil.com and
texprocess.com.

March/April 2013

IDEA13 To Host Record Turnout

The Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA), Cary, N.C., will assemble the nonwovens
and engineered fabrics industry in Miami Beach, Fla., in late April for IDEA13, the International
Engineered Fabrics Conference & Expo. The 2013 edition of the triennial event will be held
Monday through Thursday, April 22-25, at the Miami Beach Convention Center, which has hosted the
last four IDEA events.

As of Textile World’s press time, the exposition floor was 98-percent filled, and was
expected to sell out for the first time. INDA reports a record 450-plus companies — 188 of which
will be first-time exhibitors — from 26 countries will be exhibiting their products and services to
approximately 6,000 attendees from more than 70 countries.

“IDEA 2013 is proving to be an event not to be missed,” said INDA President Dave Rousse. “We
have a record-breaking number of exhibitors from up and down the entire nonwoven value chain and
every market segment. We welcome key executives from all over the world to join us this April and
see the latest in innovations and technologies that IDEA exhibitors have to offer.”

IDEA1

IDEA10 saw 379 exhibiting companies and approximately 5,500 attendees.

IDEA10 attracted 379 exhibiting companies from 22 countries and approximately 5,500
attendees. According to INDA, half of the exhibitors at that show and more than one-third of
attendees came from outside the United States.

At the expo, attendees will be able to see everything from raw materials to finished
products, and observe manufacturing processes in operation. Targeted sectors include
automotive/transportation, construction, consumer products, filtration, geotextiles, home and
office furnishings, healthcare, hygiene, medical, personal care, protective apparel, technical
textiles and wipes, among others.

The expo will begin with a welcome reception Monday evening, April 22, at the Nikki Beach
Club in Miami. The reception will be sponsored by Eastman Chemical Co., Kingsport, Tenn. Other
sponsors include Texel Inc., Quebec; Stein Fibers Ltd., Albany, N.Y.; and Xerium Technologies Inc.,
Raleigh, N.C.


Conference Program


INDA has organized the IDEA13 conference with a focus on select nonwovens industries by
region. Seven speakers with industry expertise will present statistics, trends and forecasts for
the industries in China, India, the Asia Pacific, North America, Europe and South America.

Speakers on Tuesday include Ian Butler, a principal with Apex, N.C.-based International
Nonwovens Consultant, who will discuss the industry in China; Kays Chinai, a principal partner with
Elkton, Md.-based Chapas, Chinai & Associates, who will discuss nonwovens in India; and Ian
Bell, a tissue and hygiene research manager at London-based Euromonitor International, Ltd., who
will discuss Asia Pacific. On Wednesday, former INDA President Rory Holmes will discuss the North
American industry. On Thursday, Bell will speak again, about the industry in Europe; and Rick
Jezzi, a principal with Bala Cynwyd, Pa.-based A.D. Jezzi & Associates LLC, will discuss the
South American industry.


Achievement Awards


The IDEA13 Achievement Awards will recognize product and technical developments within the
global nonwovens and engineered fabrics industry that have been introduced since IDEA10. The awards
will be presented in five categories: Short-Life Converted Product; Long-Life Converted Product;
Equipment; Raw Materials; and Roll Goods. A total of 15 products have been nominated as finalists.


Registration


There are a variety of registration options for IDEA13 attendees, including registration for
the full conference and expo; expo only; a daily conference/expo pass; and a daily expo pass. A
separate fee is required to attend the IDEA13 reception. Early-bird discounts are offered through
March 31.

“The IDEA exhibition for us is one of the most important on our events calendar,” said
Massimo Michelini, director, sales and marketing, Italy-based A. Celli Nonwovens S.p.A. “It has
never failed to provide an excellent opportunity to meet and network with our customers, friends
and industry professionals from all over the world at a super venue.”

For more information about IDEA13, visit idea2013.com.



March/April 2013

A Brighter Job Picture

Just-revised government employment figures, based on new, more detailed benchmark data, confirm the
feeling that the job picture is beginning to look a bit better. And that’s true for the U.S.
textile and apparel industries as well as for the U.S. economy in general. Looking at the
big-picture macroeconomic trend first, the number of American jobs created over the past year has
turned out to be significantly higher than reported only a month or so earlier — 2.2 million,
versus the 1.8 million previously estimated. Moreover, even with continuing Congressional haggling
over taxes, spending and the deficit, this forecast isn’t likely to change by much. Most economists
would seem to agree with this assessment as they remain cautiously optimistic. Their updated
consensus: the creation of some 170,000 jobs each month. Multiply this by 12, and it points to
another two-million-or-so job openings for 2013. This won’t be nearly enough to make any really
significant dent in the United States’ still-high unemployment numbers, with the rate still
expected to be above 7 percent by year-end. But the increasing number of new jobs is clearly better
than the substantial shrinkages noted over the recent recession. More importantly, a growing
workforce can be expected to translate into rising business optimism, higher incomes and more
consumer spending.

BFGraph


Better Mill Employment, Too


Indeed, this greater propensity to spend may already be helping to bolster textile and
apparel job numbers. Revised Washington figures on the mill level show employment relatively
unchanged from year-earlier levels. And the picture isn’t much different on the domestic apparel
front — with the year-to-year job total showing little more than a fractional decline. What really
makes all these numbers even more upbeat is the fact that they are occurring at a time when
industry productivity has been rising at a near 3-percent annual rate. Put another way, a 3-percent
productivity increase at a time when the workforce has been holding relatively steady suggests that
the U.S. textile and apparel industries turned out more goods in 2012 than they did in 2011. And
other Washington numbers clearly back up this conclusion, as shipments of mill products and
clothing now run 2- to 3-percent and 4- to 5-percent, respectively, above year-earlier levels.
Moreover, the uptrend seems likely to continue, with early 2013 Institute for Supply Management
surveys pointing to additional gains in industry activity for both January and February. Go beyond
the next few quarters, and equally encouraging news comes from still another recent government
study calling for only minimal declines in textile and apparel employment over the next three
years. True, that’s not the same thing as a gain, but it’s clearly a major change vis-à-vis the
steady declines of the past decade.


Improving Trade Trend


A brighter import-export picture could also be playing a major role in the U.S. industries’
more positive employment and demand outlooks. On the import front, final figures for 2012 show that
the volume of textile and apparel shipments is no longer rising. Credit a good part of this to
reshoring — it’s a strategy that a growing number of companies, including large ones like Walmart
and Brooks Brothers, are now increasingly touting. Walmart, for example, has already contracted to
carry a U.S.-made towel in 1,200 of its stores by sometime this fall. And what makes all of this
especially significant is that reshoring is occurring at a time when domestic demand is actually
rising. Other things being equal, this suggests that U.S. mills and apparel manufacturers may no
longer be losing market share. Meantime, the export side of the trade equation is also beginning to
look a little better — with last year’s exports of textiles and apparel, while still quite small,
actually managing to post the third consecutive year of modest increases. And while it might be
hard to believe, one U.S. hosiery mill now says it has even begun to sell some products to U.S.
archrival China. To be sure, the volume involved is small, but, combined with flattening imports,
this improving export trend does seem to indicate that the United States’ huge textile-apparel
deficits will continue to edge a bit lower.

March/April 2013

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