The Rupp Report: ITMA Flash VI

After the latest news about cotton, and its rollercoaster business, it’s time to come back to ITMA
2011 in Barcelona. This week, the Rupp Report will have a look at Fong’s Industries Co. Ltd. The
Hong Kong-based group with its daughter companies in Europe experienced an exciting year with a
partially new ownership. The Rupp Report informed its readers already in July 2011 about the
changes
(See ”
The
Rupp Report: The Fong’s Group: Stronger Than Ever,” www.
TextileWorld.com, July 12, 2011).

In June 2011, the deal between Fong’s and China Hi-Tech Group Co. Ltd. (CHTC) was executed.
Fong’s staff pointed out that the action does not mean that Fong’s has been taken over, but rather
that Fong’s has a new major shareholder. At the moment, CHTC holds some 63 percent of Fong’s
shares. But, going back to ITMA 2011 in Barcelona, the Rupp Report had the opportunity to talk to
Thomas Archner, managing director of Germany-based Fong’s Europe GmbH.

Too Many Exhibitions Means Too Many Expenses

Archner said that he’s convinced that an ITMA in Europe still makes a lot sense. On the
other hand, “there are too many exhibitions in Asia,” he said. “For the first time at the last
ShanghaiTex, we did not exhibit any machinery; it’s getting much too expensive with all these
events. An ITMA Asia every four years, alternatively to Europe, would be good enough.”

The Fong’s Group, including its brands Fong’s, Then and Goller, welcomed mainly visitors
from India, Bangladesh, Turkey and Italy, but also a lot of people from Switzerland and Germany;
and reported some unexpected sales. “On top of that,” Archner added, “Brazil was prominently
present with many visitors, as were Peru and other Latin American countries. The visitor’s
frequency and the quality of the people was very good, we’ve only welcomed important decision
makers.”

“We are very happy with this ITMA,” Archner said. “Our expectations are entirely fulfilled.
We’ve sold a lot of machines. I think, after this event, there is no doubt about the importance of
ITMA in Europe.

Europe And Asia

Is the European market still important for the Fong’s Group? “Absolutely,” Archner
mentioned, “more than ever. Of course, from a volume standpoint, Asia is much bigger; however, with
our high-class portfolio the European markets still play an important part in our sales volume. On
the other hand, we recognize that China and India are still the most important sales markets, and
on top of that, China is heavily moving towards better-quality products.” According to Archner, the
Fong’s Group is not that much affected by the current volatilities of the international currencies
thanks to its global setup.

Automation is the big issue Archner mentioned — especially Fong’s TEC Series, but also the
further development of the Jumboflow dyeing machine. The top runner was the L-shape version of the
Then Airflow® Lotus. This model can handle fabrics with up to 50-percent spandex. The liquor ratio
is 1:3. “We have sold three machines of the Then Airflow Lotus L-shape version,” he mentioned with
pride.

Markets

Archner sees the current market situation in a positive way: “In general, we are quite
optimistic about the future. However, in recent times it is more and more difficult to predict the
markets. For our products, we see a more reluctant Asian market. On the other hand, Europe and
Latin America are developing much better than we expected.”

Confirmed Positive ITMA

To confirm the impression of ITMA, the Rupp Report had the chance to speak to Roland Adrion,
regional sales director of Fong’s Europe a few days ago in Germany. He confirmed entirely the
successful ITMA in Barcelona and the sales success: “The positive trend at ITMA was confirmed in
the past few months. We are enjoying a considerable order income for Fong’s, Then and Goller
machinery. We are fully working on the follow-up from ITMA Barcelona. Latin America in particular
shows an excellent development in orders and sales, mainly for Goller machinery in Brazil. The
operating grade is very good, and our order books are full.”

The Future

Going back to Barcelona for an outlook, for the year 2012, Archner is optimistic as well:
“We think that the markets will remain steady, if the basic conditions will not change too much.”

And how does Archner judge the development in the finishing sector over the next few years?
“Well, the answer is quite clear: With the increasing environmental consciousness of the world
population, textile machinery in general, and finishing machinery in particular, must be designed
accordingly with less consumption of energy, water and chemicals; not to mention less waste water.
Sustainability is the key word for this and the next generation of competitive and up-to-date-
machinery. Innovation is not a marketing or sales argument anymore, but a necessity to remain in
business.” And, yes, The Fong’s Group will be present in Shanghai at ITMA Asia + CITME 2012 and in
Milan at ITMA 2015.

December 27, 2011

H Dawson Proves Wool Is The Perfect Fit

BRADFORD, England — December 19, 2011 — International wool supplier H Dawson Wool has joined forces
with The Woolmark Company to help some of the UK’s tailoring retailers and their sales associates
find out more about the natural benefits and beauty of wool. 

The global wool supplying company, whose head office is in Bradford, Yorkshire, has 123 years
worth of experience in the global wool industry and in a bid to share knowledge of the wool fibre
used in fine tailoring fabrics, has supplied raw wool to The Woolmark Company for use in a series
of workshops to be held with tailoring retailers and department stores such as House of Fraser. The
initiative which has been named The Suit Academy was brought about by Leeds based suiting
manufacturer Berwin and Berwin who are working with The Woolmark Company to roll this out
nationwide.

H Dawson Wool supplies around 75 million kilogrammes of raw wool to clothing manufacturers
across the world every year. With unrivalled access to the finest through to the coarsest wool from
35 countries, H Dawson’s products include noble fibres, greasy wool, scoured wool, wool tops and
open tops. With a global network based in six offices in the UK, Ireland, China, Italy, New Zealand
and India, H Dawson Wool creates bespoke solutions to suit the supply needs of a wide range of
customers.  

Chief Executive of H Dawson Wool, Jo Dawson, said: “There really is no substitute for wool
when it comes to producing quality clothing like suits and fine knitwear. When a garment is made
from wool, it is durable, comfortable and will maintain its smart appearance for years. It will
also help consumers to reduce their heating bills as it keeps the wearer  cool when it is hot
and warm when it’s not.” Rebecca Sharp UK Country Manager for The Woolmark Company said: “We have
carried out workshops with Moss and House of Fraser and next year we will look to extend this out
to other key suiting retailers, we have had great feedback so far. 

“H Dawson has been very supportive in providing wool samples to show and pass around. It’s so
important to be able to tell the story of the fibre from the beginning through to final in-store
garment, and to encourage consumers to look behind the garment label to see what fibre the garment
is made from.”

Posted on December 21, 2011

Source: H Dawson Wool

Mayor Honors Americhem’s 70th Anniversary With Proclamation

CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio — December 21, 2011 — Americhem Inc., a global provider of custom color and
additive solutions for polymer-based products, celebrated its 70th anniversary on Nov. 29. To honor
the date, Cuyahoga Falls Mayor Don L. Robart presented a proclamation officially declaring Nov. 29,
2011, Americhem Day. 

“Americhem’s solid core values, positive business attitude and motivation have made them one
of Cuyahoga Falls’ top employers,” commented Robart. “We are immensely proud that our city is home
to Americhem’s world headquarters and research and development facility as well as a major
manufacturing hub. It is a progressive company with a management team that is second to none!”

The proclamation was presented at Americhem’s world headquarters in Cuyahoga Falls with key
executive leaders in attendance. Following its issuance, the Americhem team provided the mayor with
a tour of its world headquarters and central research facility. 

“We thank the mayor and the city for this honor,” said Rick Juve, CEO of Americhem. “Our
employees, many of which are local residents, have built the company over the years. As a result,
we’ve hopefully made a difference in people’s lives as well as in the community.” 

Americhem has been celebrating 70 years of innovation, product solutions and world class
service to the plastics and synthetic fibers industries throughout 2011 with its global employees,
customers and communities in which the company operates. 

Posted on December 21, 2011

Source: Americhem Inc.

Avantium And The Coca-Cola Company Sign Partnership Agreement To Develop Next Generation 100% Plant Based Plastic: PEF

AMSTERDAM — December 15, 2011 — Dutch research and technology company Avantium has developed a
patented technology YXY to produce 100% biobased PEF bottles. Currently PET is the most widely used
oil-based polyester. Based on the performance of the new PEF material, Avantium believes PEF will
become the next-generation biobased polyester.

Today the company announced an agreement with The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) to further
co-develop Avantium’s YXY technology for producing PEF bottles. First milestones include the
start-up of an Avantium PEF pilot plant, officially opened on December 8th in Geleen, the
Netherlands. It is expected that other large co-development partners will join from early 2012.

Avantium’s CEO Tom van Aken: “Our YXY solution for the packaging industry creates a new
biobased plastic with exceptional functional properties at a competitive price. We believe it is
economically viable and has a significantly reduced environmental footprint. We have already made
bottles with exceptional barrier and thermal properties and our production process fits well with
existing supply chains. We plan to initiate commercial production of PEF in about three to four
years.”

PEF can be derived from any biomass feedstock containing carbohydrates, such as sugarcane,
agricultural residues, plants and grains. Using YXY as a fast and efficient chemical-catalytic
technology, these carbohydrates can be converted into a wide variety of bioplastics. Current
process economic estimates indicate that PEF will be a viable alternative to petroleum-based PET.
Says Tom van Aken: “PEF is 100% biobased and when commercialized will be fully recyclable. We
believe that PEF fulfills key criteria to become a next generation biobased plastic for food,
beverages and other applications. We are very excited about the co-development phase we are
entering with The Coca-Cola Company to continue the development of PEF and make this new material
ready for mass production and recycling. Their leadership and experience in commercializing
biobased materials make them a great partner to work with as we commercialize this exciting new
material”.

On 8 December, Avantium officially opened its pilot plant in the Netherlands, to start up its
YXY process at scale. The pilot plant, with a capacity of 40 tons per year, produces PEF material
for application development. The collaboration with The Coca-Cola Company is key to secure a smooth
transition into the mass production phase of PEF bottles. Avantium is also actively discussing
partnerships with other leading brand owners to develop PEF bottles, fibers and film. In the longer
term Avantium will license its YXY technology to enable large scale, world-wide production and use
of its biobased plastic materials.



Posted on December 21, 2011

Source: Avantium

 

United States, “Cotton Four” Countries Celebrate New U.S. Cotton Initiatives, Continued Partnership At 8th WTO Ministerial Conference

GENEVA — December 17, 2011 — United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk and Trade Ministers and
WTO Ambassadors from Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Mali — the “Cotton Four” or “C-4” countries —
held a meeting Friday on the margins of the 8th WTO Ministerial Conference in Geneva, Switzerland,
to discuss cotton issues, including new initiatives announced by the United States. Attending the
meeting were Ms. Madina Sephou, Minister of Industry, Commerce, and Small and Medium Enterprises
for Benin; Mr. Mahamat Allahou Taher, Minister of Commerce and Industry for Chad; and WTO
Ambassadors from Burkina Faso and Mali. 

The new U.S. proposals to help boost trade for least developed country (LDC) Members of the
WTO, particularly African cotton-producing countries, include expansion of duty-free-quota-free
treatment for upland cotton grown in LDCs; multi-year renewal of the West Africa Cotton Improvement
Program (WACIP), a successful technical assistance program for West African cotton producing
countries; and additional help for countries seeking to make maximum use of existing U.S. trade
preference programs such as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). 

Speaking on behalf of the C-4 group, Chadian Minister Allahou Taher thanked the United States
for support already given to the African cotton sector through WACIP and AGOA, and for the new
initiatives, saying that once implemented, they will have a very important impact on African
farmers.

More information about the new U.S. initiatives, as well as existing cotton and other
programs, is online at 
http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/fact-sheets/2011/new-us-initiatives-boost-trade-and-investment-opportunities-l. 

During the meeting, Ambassador Kirk and C-4 officials reaffirmed their mutual commitment to
working for positive outcomes on cotton at the WTO, and noted recent successful collaboration on
cotton language in the consensus statement to be issued at this week’s Ministerial Conference.
Ambassador Kirk said, “The new cotton initiatives announced by the United States this week are part
of the Obama Administration’s broad and steadfast commitment to work with the C-4 and other least
developed countries to boost their economic growth and development. We look forward to further
coordination in Geneva, in Washington, and in all of the C-4 capitals as these new initiatives are
implemented.”

Posted on December 21, 2011

Source: USTR

Proof That Briefs Can Combine Style With Function

OBERTSHAUSEN, Germany — December 13, 2011 — By developing its functional 3D briefs, KARL MAYER is
getting the bodies of fashion-conscious women into shape, as well as modernising the production of
stylish shapewear.

These discreetly patterned briefs are produced so that they are almost ready-to-wear on a DJ
machine, type DJ 6/2 EL. The only thing that remains to be done is to cut out the semi-finished
article, fold it vertically, close the inner leg seam and finally turn the briefs to the right side
— and this comfortable shapewear, which can be produced very efficiently, is ready to wear.

Additional elastane is incorporated to give the textile the required compression and this is
introduced by the Positive Pattern Beam Drive (PPD). This is done mainly at specific locations,
i.e. at the waistband to create a flat border and at the hips to produce a smooth outline.
Compression is also applied to flatten the stomach.

Tests have recently been carried out at an independent test laboratory to assess whether KARL
MAYER’s 3D briefs can meet the multiple requirements of shapewear.

Tests carried out at the Hohenstein Laboratories GmbH & Co. KG

The Hohenstein Laboratories studied the compression behaviour of shapewear briefs in
accordance with the RAL-GZ 387/1 (1/2008) specification. RAL-GZ 387/1 covers the specifications
relating to the quality assurance of medical compression hosiery. The tests concentrated on the
waistband, the stomach and the hips.

The samples were first of all washed and dried in accordance with the specification.
Compression tests were then carried out using the System Hohenstein Compression Measurement system.
The results of the tests, which were carried out under specific climatic conditions, related to the
following parameters: practical elongation (%), force (N/cm), compression (kPa) and residual
pressure (%). The resulting pressure profile confirmed the compression values for the functional
briefs in all three test zones. These achieved the desired body-shaping effect but are below the
threshold that is specified for medical compression textiles. Loss of comfort is therefore
precluded. A continuous increase in compression occurs from the lower edge of the briefs to the top
edge — reflecting the efforts of KARL MAYER’s product developers in developing shapewear that
matches the body’s anatomy.



Tests carried out in accordance with the LYCRA® beauty fabric Standard

The 3D briefs with “extra power” were sent to INVISTA’s laboratory for further tests to study
their shaping effects.

This company is one of the world’s largest integrated manufacturers of fibres and polymers.
In its “LYCRA® fiber Moves” legwear event after the ITMA, one of the exhibits it was showcasing was
the extension of its LYCRA® beauty fabric platform to the fine pantyhose and seamless clothing
sector. This concept has already become well established on the lingerie and swimwear market, and
involves testing the compression force in conjunction with the comfort. By carrying out extensive
tests using the company’s own standards, a classification system was developed which was designed
to give consumers more information and the confidence to make the right purchasing decision, and
also to support manufacturers in their marketing operations.

Approximately 250 commercially available shapewear models were analysed in order to draw up
the standards for LYCRA® beauty fine pantyhose and seamless clothing. Comprehensive clothing
construction tests were used to correlate the characteristics of the textile with the shaping
performance of the garment in relation to the important aspects of “shaping” and “dynamic comfort”.

KARL MAYER’s 3D briefs were successfully tested in accordance with the standards of the
LYCRA® beauty concept. They now carry a label that certifies their shaping effect — a “passport of
quality” that enables them to cross over the border from the shelf to the shopping bag.



Posted on December 21, 2011

Source: Karl Mayer Textilmaschinenfabrik GmbH

C02 Laser Optics For Cutting Clothing And Textiles

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — November 15, 2011 — A line of field replacement CO2 optics for most popular low
power lasers used for laser cutting fabrics, filter mats, canvas, and other synthetics is available
from Laser Research Optics of Providence, Rhode Island.

Laser Research CO2 Optics meet OEM and ISO-10110 specifications and are field replacements
that fit most popular lasers used for cutting clothing, textiles, and other synthetics. 
Offered in 1/2″ to 1-1/2″ dia. sizes, with 1″ to 25″ focal lengths in 1/2″ increments, they are
available from stock and shipped within 24-hours to minimize laser production downtime.

laserresearchoptics

Laser Research Optics’ CO2 Optics

Optimized for use at 10.6 µm, Laser Research CO2 Optics are suitable for Amada®, Bystronic®,
Cincinnati®, Mazak®, Mitsubishi®, Prime®, Strippit®, and Trumpf® lasers.  Mirrors and
reflectors made from silicon, molybdenum, and copper from 2mm to 10mm thick are available in 1/2″
to 3″ dia. sizes.

Laser Research CO2 Optics are priced according to type, configuration, and quantity with
delivery from stock within 24-hours.

Posted on December 21, 2011

Source: Laser Research Optics/Venmark International

The Rupp Report: Latest News From The Cotton Front

It was some two months ago that the Rupp Report last informed its readers about the latest news
from the cotton front. Quite a lot has happened with the downturn of the prices and the stocks. Now
it is time to give an update. As ever, the report is based mostly on the most appreciated
information from United Kingdom-based Plexus Cotton Ltd.

In mid-November, Plexus reported the New York December futures closed unchanged at 99.50
cents, while March dropped 240 points to 96.48 cents. “US export sales of Upland and Pima cotton
amounted to 646,800 running bales net, of which China took 630,200 running bales net. In addition
to that there were 528,000 bales sold to China under ‘optional origin.’ Total sales for the season
now amount to 9.5 million statistical bales and there are another 1.3 million statistical bales in
the ‘optional’ category.” As of the mid-November report, only 1.5 million bales had been exported,
and the backlog of outstanding commitments totaled some 8.0 million bales.

Record-high Crop

“According to the latest USDA figures, the rest of the world (excluding the US) will produce
a record crop of 107.6 million bales this season, surpassing the previous mark set in 2006/07 by no
less than 7.0 million bales,” the company continued. On the other hand, “mill demand in the rest of
the world is expected to remain stagnant at 110.5 million bales, due to slow economic growth and
man-made fiber substitution. As a result the seasonal production gap is expected to drop to just
2.8 million bales, which compares to much larger deficits of 13.3 million bales last season and
26.1 million bales two years ago.



Fierce Competition Outside The United States

“Considering that the rest of the world is nearly self-sufficient, the US has done extremely
well by filling its order books to the tune of 9.5 million bales, thanks to the fierce pace of
sales earlier in the year, when mills were still fearful that the world would run out of cotton. As
a result the US has entered this marketing year with a record 7.5 million bales in carry-in sales.
… This situation is likely to lead to fierce competition among non-US growths, as they try to
capture their fair share of this anemic market. Fortunately China has been acting as a stabilizing
force by aggressively procuring some of the excess supply, both in the domestic and international
markets, otherwise prices would already have come under a lot more pressure. The Chinese Reserve
has so far lifted 2.7 million statistical bales in the Chinese market and probably a similar amount
overseas. … As crops are moving in and unsold supplies keep building in non-US origins, we expect
to see some additional hedge selling by the trade.”

Lower prices

On December 1, the New York futures dropped considerably lower, with March down 518 points to
close at 91.30 cents from 96.48 cents two weeks earlier. This momentum in recent weeks became
strong enough to break through the Chinese level of support, taking prices to new 14-month lows,
Plexus considered, adding, “The move was all the more impressive since it happened in the face of
very strong US export sales, totaling more than 2.5 million statistical bales over a 3-week period.


Cancelled Contracts

 “The US export sales report reflected a more routine course of business …, with
Upland and Pima sales increasing by just 84,100 running bales net for the current marketing year,
while another 19,000 bales were sold for 2012/13. Although net sales are still growing thanks to
China, it is troubling to see that another 35,900 running bales were cancelled in eight different
markets, led by Pakistan, Turkey and South Korea. The pace of shipments is also a negative, as just
163,400 running bales were exported last week, bringing the total for the season to 1.85 million
statistical bales so far, the slowest pace since 2000. The backlog of outstanding orders now
amounts to over 8.6 million statistical bales.



China As A Price Balance …

“Fortunately, there is the Chinese Reserve, who [took] a huge load off exporters’ and
domestic suppliers’ shoulders over the last six weeks and who is expected to continue to buy a lot
more in the months ahead. As of today the Chinese Reserve has procured over 5.0 million statistical
bales in the domestic market and probably at least 4.0 million bales in the international market.
By absorbing the world’s production surplus into its stocks, the Chinese Reserve is acting as a
counterforce to the extreme volatility in the cotton market since the summer of 2010.”

… While The Prices Collapsed

There is a big difference between the price swings in the Chinese and the international
market. As Plexus noted, “While the CC Index in China has dropped some 80 cents from its high of
215 cents earlier this year to its current price of 135 cents, the A-index has collapsed from a
high of 243.65 cents to a current quote of 98.15 cents, a swing of over 145 cents or nearly twice
as much as the CC Index. The futures market is not far behind the A-index, with a difference of
around 136 cents.”

One week later, on December 8, the company reported: “NY futures moved sideways in very dull
trading this week, as March added 75 points to close at 92.05 cents. … Through its domestic
auction program the Chinese Reserve has added another 1.1 million statistical bales to its
stockpile this week, which means that it has already accumulated around 6.1 million bales since the
middle of October, which equates to roughly 18 percent of China’s crop this season. The maximum
daily auction target is currently at 577,000 statistical bales and the fact that less cotton was
taken up this week, combined with an ever so slight rise in domestic prices, seems to indicate that
the support mechanism is working.



Struggling With High Price Contracts

“Against this backdrop of Chinese support, which has kept the CC-index at a relatively
elevated level of around 136 cents when compared to the current A-index of 98.70 cents, mills
around the globe have been getting some breathing room lately and are now in many cases able to
turn a profit against current replacement cost. However, a lot of mills are still struggling to
digest the many high price contracts they have engaged in earlier this year and it is going to take
a while until this overhang of expensive cotton has finally been worked through the system.”

So what’s next? Again, time will tell.

December 20, 2011

Aquafil, Carvico Form JV To Relaunch XLA Stretch Fiber

Two Italy-based companies — Aquafil S.p.A., a producer of nylon 6 for carpet applications and a
producer of nylon, microfiber and polypropylene yarns for apparel applications; and Gruppo Carvico,
a manufacturer of warp-knitted stretch fabrics for swim-, sports- and underwear — have formed a
50/50 joint venture (JV) under the name XLAnce Fibre Italia to acquire assets related to XLA
polyolefin-based soft-stretch fiber from Midland, Mich.-based The Dow Chemical Company and its
affiliates and to restart production of the fiber.

Dow introduced its DOW XLA™ fiber technology in 2002, and apparel featuring the fiber
appeared at retail in 2004. XLA was touted for its ability to withstand extreme chemicals and
temperatures up to 220°C, among other processing conditions; but Dow made a strategic decision to
focus on other businesses in its portfolio and ceased investing in the technology. The company
announced in 2010 that it would stop production of XLA and shutter its manufacturing plant in
Tarragona, Spain, upon fulfillment of all outstanding orders (See ”
Dow To Shut Down XLA
Production,” www.
TextileWorld.com, May 25, 2010). XLAnce Fibre Italia has acquired the
trademarks associated with XLA fiber; an exclusive license to use the technology; and the XLA fiber
production lines, machinery and equipment located in the Tarragona plant. The company will move the
equipment to a site in Italy and expects to begin production in the third quarter of 2012.

“As a leading stretch fabric company our interest into the possibility to resume XLA
production was natural, since XLA has been one of the very few significant new fibers in our
business in recent years, and our partnership with Aquafil, whose fiber technology knowledge is a
key requirement, made this project possible,” said Laura Colnaghi Calissoni, chairman, Carvico. “We
will work to ensure that the new company, which will have the full freedom to operate independently
on the market, can offer innovative solutions in many applications where the use of fiber XLA can
add value.”

“Aquafil’s consolidated knowledge within the polyamide fibers segment, in particular with the
innovative Econyl recycled yarn, and within the microfiber and polypropylene segment with the
Dryarn hi-tech fiber, will be essential to revive this promising elastomer with undoubted
synergies,” said Giulio Bonazzi, chairman, Gruppo Aquafil. “The transfer of the production to Italy
will also bring the added value of the closeness to what is still renown as the Textile innovation
and creativity world center, both for fashion and sportswear brands.”

December 20, 2011

Kingwhale Reports Success Of Low Impact Technology™

Taiwan-based Kingwhale — a bluesign®- and Oeko-Tex®-compliant vertically integrated manufacturer of
performance apparel fabrics and finished products — reports that utilizing Low Impact Technology™
(L.I.T.™) in its manufacturing and dyeing processes has led to significantly reduced use of energy,
water and dyestuffs.

L.I.T. is designed to conserve energy and raw materials from the start of manufacturing and
includes a process to modify the polyester molecules during fiber manufacturing to enable the yarn
to take up the dye more quickly than conventional polyester yarn, thereby requiring less dyestuff
to be used and cutting the amount of process energy and water needed as well. According to the
company, the dyeing technology uses 22-percent less electricity for coloring and heating,
50-percent less thermal energy for steam creation, 60-percent less water and 15-percent less
dyestuffs than traditional dyeing processes to achieve comparable results.

Kingwhale’s fleece products were the first to be dyed using the L.I.T. process, and the
company now also dyes baselayer fabrics using L.I.T.

“Depending on the amount of fiber in a fabric, … the overall water and energy savings
[using L.I.T.] can be very substantial,” said James Huang, president, Kingwhale. “An average fleece
fabric can save over 8 gallons of water per garment. Each L.I.T. fleece dye lot can save 1150
[kilowatt hours] of energy — enough to power a typical U.S. household for over a month.”

December 20, 2011

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