Rohit Aggarwal New Member Of Management Board Of Lenzing Group And Designated CEO

LENZING, Austria  — June 28, 2024 — The Supervisory Board of Lenzing Group, a leading supplier of regenerated cellulose fibers for the textile and nonwovens industries, has appointed Rohit Aggarwal as a new member of the Management Board of Lenzing Group. He will assume responsibility for the fiber division during the third quarter. After the departure of Stephan Sielaff, Aggarwal will take over the position of CEO of Lenzing Group.

Rohit Aggarwal

Rohit Aggarwal is a strategic business economist and global leader in the industry with several decades of experience in leading positions in the textile and chemical industry. He has a sound understanding of the strategic development of international markets and the establishment of efficient management teams through global management positions in Europe, the USA and Asia. Thanks to his experience in the global textile and fiber market, he is well versed with Lenzing’s core business in all its facets, both in terms of content and geography.

Stephan Sielaff

Stephan Sielaff, CEO of Lenzing Group, will leave the company at the latest when his contract expires at the end of March 2025 and devote himself to new tasks.

Cord Prinzhorn, Chairman of the Supervisory Board at Lenzing Group: “First and foremost, I would like to thank Stephan Sielaff, who steered the company through an extraordinarily challenging phase, marked by multiple crises, with a steady and tireless hand. With Rohit Aggarwal, we have gained an international leader with profound knowledge of the textile markets, from raw materials to the processing of environmentally friendly fibers. On behalf of the entire Supervisory Board, I am pleased that we have successfully appointed Rohit Aggarwal as a member of the Managing Board for the fiber division, and subsequently as Chief Executive Officer of the Lenzing Group.”

Stephan Sielaff: “The last, very eventful years have been characterized by incredible energy and change at Lenzing. These massive efforts and the resulting developments are just beginning to pay back. I am convinced that they have laid the foundation for an outstanding future for Lenzing. It fills me with pride and gratitude to have played my part in a fantastic company with great employees.”

“I am very much looking forward to the new role and the opportunity to strengthen Lenzing as a leading player in the sustainable fiber industry in the coming years. Building on the strong foundation already in place, it is my privilege to be working alongside the team at Lenzing to further expand the business and grow its iconic brands to their full potential,” says Rohit Aggarwal, Member of the Management Board and designated CEO of the Lenzing Group.

Posted: June 30, 2024

Source: The Lenzing Group

Berry And Glatfelter Announce Additional Regulatory Milestone In Proposed Transaction For Spin-Off And Merger Of Berry’s Health, Hygiene And Specialties Global Nonwovens And Films Business With Glatfelter

EVANSVILLE, Ind. — June 25, 2024 — Berry Global Group, Inc. and Glatfelter Corporation announced today the achievement of an additional regulatory milestone in the proposed transaction involving the combination of a majority of Berry’s Health, Hygiene and Specialties segment to include its Global Nonwovens and Films business (“HHNF”) with Glatfelter. In addition to the previously announced expiration of the required waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Antitrust Improvements Act, the parties have now received all other approvals and clearances under competition and foreign direct investment laws which were conditions to the consummation of the transaction.

As previously announced on February 7, 2024, Berry and Glatfelter entered into a definitive agreement under which Berry will spin-off and merge its HHNF business with Glatfelter in a Reverse Morris Trust transaction. The transaction will create a leading, publicly-traded company in the specialty materials industry.

The transaction is expected to close in the second half of calendar 2024 and is subject to approval by Glatfelter shareholders and completion of the remaining customary closing conditions.

Posted: June 30, 2024

Source: Berry Global Group, Inc. and Glatfelter Corporation

ITMF & IAF Convention 2024 In Samarkand, Uzbekistan September 8th-10th, 2024: Comprehensive And High-Level Program Takes Shape

ZÜRICH, Switzerland  — June 27, 2024 — As frequent visitors of the ITMF and IAF annual conferences have come to expect, industry experts will share the cutting edge of the developments that currently define the textile-apparel industrial complex. The unique collaboration of the textile industry federation ITMF and the apparel industry federation IAF allows the organizers to give a full supply chain picture. At a time when collaboration across the entire chain is indispensable to meet the many challenges, this is a great asset.

Collaboration is also a central theme of a session featuring Inditex, Epic Group and International Finance Corporation (IFC, part of the World Bank Group). The speakers will focus on decarbonization and show how a collaborative approach across the supply chain can achieve the real progress that our industry needs.

The apparel and textile industries are rapidly becoming more regulated, heightening the pressure to create real and significant environmental and social improvements. In a unique, global regulation session, representatives of the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), the China National Textile & Apparel Council (CNTAC), the European Textile & Apparel Industry Federation (EURATEX), and the Japan Textile Federation (JTF), will explain the shape that regulation will take in their countries and regions in the coming years.

These topics and several more about fibers, digitalization, AI, etc. will be discussed in the ancient city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan, a country with a rapidly growing textile and apparel industry, attracting interests from across the world. This convention will be a unique industrial gathering of leaders from across the entire textile and apparel supply chain, from all parts of the world.

Posted: June 27, 2024

Source: International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF)

Lenzing Appoints Kit Ping Au-Yeung As Executive Vice President Of Commercial Textiles

LENZING, Austria  — June 27, 2024 — Lenzing Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Kit Ping Au-Yeung as the Executive Vice President of Commercial Textiles with immediate effect. This strategic leadership appointment highlights Lenzing’s continuous commitment to strengthen its integral leadership roles and fuel the growth of its core textile businesses. Kit Ping succeeds Florian Heubrandner, who will take on a new role as Executive Vice President of Filament to reinforce the expansion of Lenzing’s global filament business.

Kit Ping Au-Yeung, Executive Vice President of Commercial Textiles

In her new role, Kit Ping will be leading the expansion strategy and development of Lenzing’s textiles business, which comprises of fiber offerings under the flagship TENCEL™ and LENZING™ ECOVERO™ brands. With decades of experience working with partners across the textile value chain, Kit Ping will continue to foster the development of Lenzing’s textile business through driving innovative fiber and application solutions for customers, and ultimately bring benefits to consumers. Prior to joining Lenzing, Kit Ping held several regional and global commercial and operational leadership roles at Coats Group, as well as more recently at Amann Group. Her experience will add value to Lenzing’s core business, affirming Lenzing’s dedication to driving a positive impact across the industry ecosystem.

Stephan Sielaff, Lenzing Chief Executive Officer

“We are thrilled to welcome Kit Ping as our Executive Vice President of Commercial Textiles,” said Stephan Sielaff, Chief Executive Officer of Lenzing. “Kit Ping’s vision is perfectly aligned with Lenzing’s commitment to enabling fiber production with a lower environmental impact. Kit Ping will play a pivotal role in driving our core textile business forward, as we see tremendous growth opportunities in this sector. We are confident that the business will continue to succeed under Kit Ping’s leadership.”

“I am excited to be a part of Lenzing at this historical moment as the textile business takes a big leap towards a more sustainable future. Lenzing is not only a company which pioneers fiber innovation, but also an essential collaborator who empowers and supports value chain partners to embrace more circular business practices. My goal is to strengthen what we’ve been committed to and inspire more partners to join us in building a brighter future together for our industry and beyond in the decades to come.” said Kit Ping.

Florian Heubrandner, Lenzing Executive Vice President of Filament Business

From 1 July 2024 onward, Florian Heubrandner will focus on driving the strategy and expansion of Lenzing’s filament business with his established expertise in the value chain. He will work alongside Lenzing’s Research and Development and Engineering teams to establish filament as a separate business with a strong focus on innovation and growth.

“Florian has been a driving force in steering the transformation of our business into a global raw materials brand for textiles that is trusted by our customers and the industry. With his new role, we believe he will be able to bring Lenzing’s filament business to the next level,” added Mr. Sielaff.

Posted: June 27, 2024

Source: Lenzing Group

Oerlikon Polymer Processing Solutions Focuses On Complete Solutions For The Central Asian Textile Industry 

NEUMÜNSTER / REMSCHEID, Germany  — June 27, 2024 — Caitme is considered one of the largest trade fairs for the textile industry in Central Asia. At its trade fair appearance in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Oerlikon Polymer Processing Solutions will be focussing on customer- and market-oriented complete solutions from a single source. From 11 to 14 September 2024, the machine manufacturer’s experts will be providing information about their sustainable machine and system technologies at the Textima Export Import GmbH stand in Hall 4, Stand F44 at the UEC Uzexpocentre.

The WINGS family from Oerlikon Barmag covers almost every process; standard, high-titer or micro yarns, polyester or polyamide, POY or HOY, 10-, 12-, 20- or even 24-thread.

Oerlikon Polymer Processing Solutions offers complete solutions ranging from polycondensation plants to texturized yarns, accompanied by automation and digital solutions. The supply of all process steps from a single source ensures a harmonised technology that guarantees the high quality of the yarn produced.

“The Uzbek market continues to develop well. The country has been known for decades for very good products in the cotton sector. However, market players are increasingly recognising the advantages and necessity of synthetically produced yarns and fibres. With our product portfolio, we offer precisely the technologies that the Uzbek textile industry needs to meet its requirements in the coming years,’ explains André Wissenberg, Head of Marketing, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs. “It is important to us that we always make a contribution to sustainability with our technology solutions. Be it by increasing energy efficiency with each new generation of machines or by processing new materials,’ Wissenberg continues. Oerlikon is proud of the fact that the company has been offering innovative solutions for the textile industry under the e-save sustainability label for 20 years and has saved over 15 million tons of CO2 thanks to the machines and systems developed and installed on the market during this time.

Sustainable processes for POY and FDY production

POY yarns are the raw material for a wide range of fashion, sports, functional and home textiles. They are then textured and, at around 40%, make up the largest proportion of manmade fiber yarns produced worldwide. Oerlikon Barmag’s WINGS POY technology guarantees outstanding yarn quality with high productivity and energy efficiency. With its particularly gentle yarn path, WINGS ensures that the yarn remains as high-quality as it was when it left the spinning mill. The minimized deflection angle has a positive effect on yarn evenness, yarn tension, CV% values and thus on dyeability. A perfect package structure ensures excellent further processing properties in downstream processes such as texturing.

Fully drawn FDY yarns are processed into textile surfaces without further finishing. They are used wherever textiles need to fall smoothly or glide. Oerlikon Barmag’s WINGS concept for the FDY process stands for optimised production processes, low waste rates and energy consumption reduced by around 30 percent with the highest yarn quality. The technology can be used in the FDY process for polyester and polyamide.

DTY yarns – uncompromising quality and maximum flexibility

Texturized yarns can be used for a wide range of applications. They are used in clothing, home textiles, the automotive industry and many other areas. Oerlikon Barmag offers a wide range of different DTY machine configurations for the efficient and sustainable production of high-quality texturized yarns from various polymers, from polyester and polyamide to polypropylene, PLA and PTT. The modular DTY machines, equipped with sophisticated components, expertise and proven technology, enable the production of texturized yarns for excellent further processing in downstream processes at optimum OPEX costs.

Sustainable production of staple fibers with EvoSteam

The revolutionary Oerlikon Neumag EvoSteam staple fiber process is bluesign® verified.

The EvoSteam process from Oerlikon Neumag stands for both resource-efficient staple fiber production and excellent fiber quality. It offers impressive savings in energy, water and raw material consumption as well as a reduction in operating costs (OPEX) and the CO2 footprint.

New bicomponent BCF yarn for the carpet market

Quality, efficiency and performance – with its latest development in the field of bicomponent yarns for carpet production, Oerlikon Neumag is meeting the carpet market’s demand for new innovative BCF yarns. ‘The new BICO BCF yarn is characterised by a richer and higher volume while at the same time significantly reducing the consumption of raw materials in carpet production,’ explains Oerlikon Neumag BCF Sales Director for Uzbekistan Arnd Luppold. At the exhibition stand, interested parties can see sample yarns and carpets, find out more about the product range and have in-depth discussions with the experts about the advantages of BICO BCF yarn in various applications.

Posted: June 27, 2024

Source: Oerlikon Polymer Processing Solutions Division / Oerlikon Group

Sara Blakely Sends 1,000 Girls Across The Country To Camp Invention This Summer

ATLANTA — June 27, 2024 — Sara Blakely, the inventor and founder of Spanx, is giving full scholarships to send 1,000 girls across the country to Camp Invention® this summer.

“My hope is that this gift will inspire the next generation of female leaders and industry disruptors. Only 13% of primary patent holders are women, and when I started Spanx, that number was even lower… it was only 6.8%,” Blakely said. “We need more products and ideas generated from the feminine perspective. Women have so many gifts to bring into the world… imagine if their full potential could be realized. I’m so excited to partner with the National Inventors Hall of Fame to send young girls to Camp Invention this summer so they too can have the confidence to dream up ideas and solve problems for the world.”

In addition to the financial gift, each girl will also receive a “lucky” red backpack. “I started Spanx with my lucky red backpack from college. It was with me every step of the way. The lucky red backpack is a symbol of starting small while dreaming big and that everything you need is right there on your back. It’s even hung on the wall and framed at Spanx HQ as an inspiring symbol,” Blakely said.

For more than three decades, Camp Invention, a program of the National Inventors Hall of Fame® in partnership with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, has developed confidence and problem-solving skills for girls and boys through authentic, hands-on STEM activities inspired by its Inductees. Camp Invention promotes STEM learning; builds leadership, perseverance and resourcefulness; and encourages entrepreneurship — in an exciting and engaging environment.

“The National Inventors Hall of Fame pays it forward through our education programs, competitions and events,” said National Inventors Hall of Fame CEO Michael Oister. “We are appreciative of Sara Blakely’s donation, specifically to support girls’ access to invention education and hands-on STEM activities. Our mission is to provide more underserved children the opportunity to experience our programs, develop their own innovative mindset, and benefit from hands-on, problem-based learning, which will boost their interest and confidence in exploring STEM fields.”

Local programs are facilitated and taught by certified local educators. Annually, Camp Invention programs benefit more than 118,000 children and partner with 2,500 schools and districts across the nation. Educators and school districts can partner with Camp Invention by visiting invent.org/camp.

Posted: June 27, 2024

Source: Sara Blakely / National Inventors Hall of Fame

Applied Manufacturing Technologies (AMT) Strengthens Engineering Services Department Leadership With Key Appointments

ORION, MI  — June 27, 2024 — Applied Manufacturing Technologies (AMT), North American supplier of automation engineering, specializing in advanced material handling, end-of-line solutions, on-demand engineering services, and cutting-edge autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) for warehousing and logistics, today announced the joint appointment of Anna Jacobs and Mike Ingles to Engineering Services Business Development Manager.

The Engineering Services team has wide-ranging skillsets and expertise in the areas of industrial controls, automation consulting, robotic cell design and programming, and field support, as well as in electrical design with EPLAN and AutoCAD.  In addition, the team is widely trained in Ignition by Inductive Automation and the programming, deployment, and maintenance of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). AMT regularly assists a variety of clients requiring industrial automation integration expertise, including manufacturers, other system integrators, and OEMs.

“Anna Jacobs is an outstanding member of the AMT team who brings a wealth of experience to the table, including a unique combination of skills in sales and marketing,” said Craig Salvalaggio, President at AMT. “She consistently goes above and beyond for our clients.  With Anna’s involvement, AMT’s services department is poised for growth while continuing to deliver the innovative solutions and exceptional support that our industrial automation clients have come to expect.”

“I am honored to accelerate the sales and business development efforts for AMT’s Engineering Services department,” said Jacobs. “With 75 highly-trained engineers on our team, we are dedicated to working with clients through any and every step of their industrial automation journey. With such a wide range of engineering expertise within our group, we are ready to work with all types of clients, including other system integrators as needed. I am excited to collaborate with Mike and our team as a whole to deliver remarkable robotics and automation solutions wherever they are needed.”

“We are doubly excited to announce the promotion of Mike Ingles, joining Anna on AMT’s Engineering Services team,” remarked Salvalaggio. “Mike brings a wealth of experience to this role. He is a 35-year veteran of the automation industry with a deep understanding of the current state of the industry, as well as the general challenges surrounding robotics and automation projects.  Working with Anna, the duo will drive our commitment to ensuring our services department remains at the forefront of the industry.”

In his previous roles at AMT as process engineer and program manager, Ingles has helped numerous clients achieve their production goals. His new role will expand the breadth and reach of his unique skillset and expertise to even more of AMT’s new and existing clients.  “I am thrilled to take on this new role in Engineering Services working alongside Anna to support automation users,” said Ingles.  “I look forward to working closely with all of our clients to help them achieve their production and business goals.”

Posted: June 27, 2024

Source: Applied Manufacturing Technologies (AMT)

Wipes Leaders Advanced Their Business At The 2024 World Of Wipes® International Conference

CARY, NC — June 27, 2024 — INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, announced that wipes leaders across the supply chain convened for new connections, intelligence, sustainability strategies, and business at the World of Wipes® (WOW) International Conference, June 17-20 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The winner of the World of Wipes Innovation Award® was Rockline Industries for their Facial Care Wipe with Glycine Amino Acid Complex. This new Skin Care Wipe contains a unique multifunctional complex of two medium chain glycine, a phospholipid and a blend of special glycol ingredients that provides for a multitude of skin care benefits as well as providing a unique preservation system for nonwovens. The Skin Care Wipe provides substantiated improved skin smoothness, elasticity, and hydration alongside an anti-ageing claim. This innovation is amongst the first to use these unique glycine ingredients in a Skin Care Wipe formulation.

In a special recognition, INDA presented the 2024 Lifetime Service Award to David Powling, Technical Leader, Kimberly-Clark Corporation (retired), and the 2024 Lifetime Technical Achievement Award to Paul Latten, Director of Research & Development & New Business, Southeast Nonwovens, Inc. INDA is pleased to honor both Powling and Latten for their decades of contributions to the nonwovens industry as well as being strong advocates for INDA.

The 1.5-day WIPES Academy, led by Heidi Beatty, Chief Executive Officer, Crown Abbey, LLC, and Paul Davies, Ph.D., Consultant, Crown Abbey, LLC, preceded the WOW Conference June 17-18. This course focused on the essentials of wet wipes construction and ingredients. Participants learned how to bring nonwovens, lotions, and packaging together to launch a successful product. The next WIPES Academy will be held July 21-22, 2025 at the Hilton Columbus Downtown, Columbus, Ohio in conjunction with WOW 2025.

The WOW conference program featured experts discussing these key topics:

  • Sparkle & Shine: How Wipes Became WOW
  • Wiping Smart: The Rise of Sustainable Practices in the Institutional and Industrial Wipe Markets
  • Transformative Trends in Wet Wipe Formulations: A Dual Focus on Skin Health and Sustainability
  • Leading Alternatives to Traditional Plastics Used in Wipes
  • Panel Discussion: Leading Alternatives to Traditional Plastics Used in Wipes
  • Eclectic Perspectives: Unraveling the Threads of I&I Wipes and Scaling Strategies
  • Putting $$ in Your Pocket
  • Recycling & Regulations

In addition to the premium content in the conference program, WOW featured four pre-conference webinars (with recordings available for full conference attendees), tabletop exhibits, Lightning Talks, a Skin Care Formulation Workshop 101, and a mentorship program for participants who are new to the wipes industry.

“I met many first timers at the event which is great to see. I found the content on innovation to be particularly useful this year. The lunch around was a very nice touch. That provided a business intimacy that is difficult to achieve in any other format. And the coffee area with the high tables was perfect. We literally got to meet with every company that we needed to, due to the ease of just texting people to connect in that area!” – Steve Gallo, Chief Executive Officer, Diamond Wipes International

“The World of Wipes 2024 in Minneapolis materialized to be a landmark event for our organization this year. We connected with industry peers, revisited with mentors, and engaged with partners to share insights and forge long-lasting, and meaningful partnerships. As an emerging brand, we felt right at home as industry veterans warmly extended their hand to us in an effort to ingratiate us further in the industry. This gathering not only fuels innovation and growth but also showcases the exceptional work of INDA in leading our industry forward.” – Sam Nebel, Co-founder, Goodwipes

WOW 2025 will be held July 21-25, at the Hilton Columbus Downtown in Columbus, Ohio. For more information, visit www.worldofwipes.org.

Posted: June 27, 2024

Source: INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry

Liberated Brands Releases World’s First Wetsuit Made From Post-Consumer Recycled Wetsuits And Textiles

COSTA MESA, CA — June 26, 2024 — Billabong, the globally recognized surf and lifestyle brand, today announces the release of its most sustainable range of wetsuits built-to-date. The groundbreaking project, coined “Upcycler,” has been years in the making, representing a world-first, with a combination of multiple technologies rolled into one wetsuit, now included across their entire performance range.

This innovative initiative combines discarded post-consumer textiles for jerseys and wetsuit liners and repurposes post-consumer discarded wetsuits into raw ingredients for the internal rubber. Additionally, Billabong has made a crucial shift by transitioning all synthetic rubber to an all-natural FSC-certified rubber formulation sourced from the Hevea brasiliensis tree. These three major steps mark a significant leap toward creating the most sustainable wetsuits built to date.

“At Billabong, we design, build and repair all of our products to be as durable and long-lasting as possible,” emphasized Scott Boot, Global Director of Wetsuits at Liberated Brands, the brand’s core operating partner across North America. “Unfortunately, products eventually do reach a point where they can no longer fulfill their duty but innovative solutions like upcycling old clothing and wetsuits eliminates the need for new/virgin petroleum fossil fuel derived materials and prevents them from entering landfills.”

Traditionally, wetsuits were primarily made of neoprene, derived from the polymerization of chloroprene and including approximately 25% carbon black, a petroleum by-product. In the current landscape, Billabong’s partnership with Bolder Industries, a Boulder, CO manufacturer, old neoprene is processed, extracting a type of recycled carbon black known as Bolder Black.

In 2024, Billabong looks to propel the industry forward. The brand takes pride in prioritizing genuine, tangible performance and sustainable material advancements for the future of wetsuits.

Posted: June 26, 2024

Source: Liberated Brands / Billabong

Darn Tough Vermont® Marks Milestone 20th Anniversary

NORTHFIELD, VT — June 25, 2024 — Darn Tough Vermont®, manufacturer of premium, all-weather outdoor and lifestyle socks, proudly celebrates its 20th anniversary this month. For two decades, Darn Tough has provided consumers with specialty socks, manufactured in the United States and backed by the industry’s first and only Unconditional Lifetime Guarantee. To celebrate the milestone, Darn Tough is debuting “throwback styles” inspired by the original designs created in years past and launching a brand campaign steeped in wild warranty stories that the brand has received over the years.

The launch of Darn Tough’s “throwback” collection includes the Race Day Quarter Running Sock, which is a direct nod to the brand’s first-ever sock that was created 20 years ago and handed out at the Vermont City Marathon. This sock, also known as the “OG run sock,” has remastered flex windows, enhanced durability, and a performance fit so can focus on your run, not your feet.

In addition to the OG Run Sock, other fan-favorites like the Via Ferrata, Wandering Stripe, and Woodland Creatures are back. Whether consumers are into retro stripes, novelty critters, or the magic of the Merino, the throwback styles deliver the brand’s signature comfort, durability, and fit.  The staggered release of throwback styles will bring something new, yet old, to both digital and brick-and-mortar shoppers alike.

The ”Darn It” brand campaign concept was created in partnership with Someoddpilot and is inspired by the unique and somewhat shocking “Darn It” moments that consumers send to Darn Tough’s warranty department. With the tagline “Life is tough, our socks are tougher,” the brand campaign brings these real-life, and dramatized, stories to life. Darn Tough knows that life isn’t always easy and the new campaign illustrates a more relatable portrayal of the outdoor space.

“We are proud of our story and that we continue to be true to our values 20 years later,” said Ric Cabot, President and CEO of Darn Tough. ”We have had a lot of highs, some lows, and everything in between. But owning the process from beginning to end allows us to give our customers and consumers what they want. We can’t wait for the next 20 years.”

The entire ‘throwback’ collection is available for purchase in select retailers and on darntough.com.

Posted: June 26, 2024

Source: Darn Tough Vermont 

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