Hologenix Expands Partnership With Decathlon For Second Product Launch

LOS ANGELES — March 6, 2024 — Hologenix has announced its second product launch with Decathlon, the world’s largest sporting goods designer and retailer. The brands are teaming up to introduce an innovative activewear set that uses infrared technology to support performance and recovery, marking the first fully commercialized integration of Hologenix’s CELLIANT® with REPREVE® Recycled Polyester technology.

CELLIANT’s technology converts body heat into infrared energy, increasing local circulation and cellular oxygenation. The material used in the training shirt is made from partially virgin polyester and partially recycled plastic bottles, as a result of CELLIANT being embedded into REPREVE Recycled Polyester fibers. The growing partnership with Hologenix and Decathlon showcases both companies’ dedication to improving athletic performance and helping recovery time.

New Decathlon activewear featuring CELLIANT infrared technology

“We at Hologenix are determined to help create a healthier world, and partnering with Decathlon is helping us both achieve that goal,” said Seth Casden, founder and CEO of Hologenix. “This partnership is a key example of how our technology and our partner brands can come together to improve the well-being of individuals, one step at a time.”

The new training set offers athletes a high-performance activewear solution to empower their performance, pushing them to accomplish new feats. In creating this latest product, the two companies, combining technology and sporting gear expertise, are helping to create a competitive edge and impact the sports industry. While Decathlon is already a trusted retailer for many around the globe based on its business model of sport for all at all levels, this latest product launch marks its foray into providing high-level technical gear for the expert user. The CELLIANT infrared advantage was the differentiator that empowered them to cement themselves as innovators and disruptors designing their own technical gear.

“From the moment we met with the CELLIANT team, we knew we wanted to form a strong partnership with them,” said Andy De Laender, product manager at Decathlon. “We recognized that everyone from professional athletes to everyday fitness enthusiasts are looking for more from their apparel, and in turn, can offer them something designed to take their training to the next level.”

This past September, CELLIANT and Decathlon launched their first product, Adult Ski Socks, available online and in 350 retail stores in Europe. The latest activewear will be available at Decathlon stores in Europe and online, allowing all shoppers to experience the benefits of CELLIANT’s technology and sportswear. Both teams look forward to continuing to expand the library of Decathlon products that are powered by CELLIANT across multiple categories.

Posted: March 6, 2024

Source: Hologenix, LLC

Sappi North America And Biophilica Partner To Launch The First Plastic-Free Leather Alternative Of Its Kind

BOSTON — March 6, 2024 — Sappi North America Inc. — a producer and supplier of diversified paper, packaging products and pulp — announced today its innovative collaboration with Biophilica, the company behind Treekind®. Treekind is a plastic free leather alternative that is 100-percent biobased, home compostable, non-toxic, and PETA vegan certified, notably benefiting from Sappi’s textured release paper to give the material an ultra-realistic look and feel.

Biophilica Treekind® Leather Alternative – Photo: Business Wire

“Inclusion of plastic-containing coatings has dominated the vegan leather industry, limiting consumers with few fully sustainable choices and a material that often has a plastic-like touch inferior to the quality or feel of traditional leather,” said Mark Hittie, director Release Business Strategy at Sappi North America. “Through our partnership and Biophilica’s continued commitment to creating an authentic leather alternative, Treekind is now a strong sustainable market opponent to natural leather products and other plastic-based vegan leathers due to its genuine look and feel.”

Understanding the important role that touch plays in consumers’ relationship with products, it was paramount for Biophilica to create a product with an authentic, non-plastic-like feel. Touch has the power to shift consumers’ minds into a deeper level of engagement — one more conducive to building a lasting relationship and connection with a brand. To help facilitate this vision in 2022, Sappi stepped in to deliver a high-fidelity, 3D, leather grain solution to impart texture to Treekind through the application of Sappi’s Ultracast Viva® release paper.

“Curating the texture of Treekind to be as close to the feel of genuine leather as possible was a top priority for our team and brand, and what ultimately led us to seek Sappi’s textured release technology,” said Biophilica Founder and CEO Mira Nameth. “We’re elated to see an impressive 85% increase in positive feedback from brand partners such as ID Genève watches and international brands via Fashion for Good.”

Available now, Treekind currently uses Sappi’s leather grain textured release papers, however, Biophilica plans to use Sappi’s other finishes and textures, including glossy and matte finishes and varying grains for potential expansion in a premium line of goods.

Posted: March 6, 2024

Source: Sappi North America Inc.

Coalition To Close The De Minimis Loophole Launches: Dedicated To Stopping The Importation Of Slave-Labor Made Products And Illicit Drugs Ravaging Communities

WASHINGTON — March 6, 2024 — The Coalition to Close the De Minimis Loophole launched today, representing thousands of voices, from the families of victims of fentanyl fatalities and nonprofit and nonpartisan organizations to labor unions, domestic law enforcement associations, domestic manufacturers, and business associations.

The coalition was formed to amplify the urgent need to reform a loophole in federal law known as Section 321, which allows packages valued at less than $800 to enter the United States without facing any taxes, fees or inspection. As a result, this cripples domestic manufacturers and workers, undermines retailers, strains law enforcement resources, and facilitates the free flow of illegal and dangerous products and illicit drugs, particularly fentanyl—the leading cause of death for people ages 18-49. The Coalition is calling on Congress and the Administration to immediately close this dangerous loophole.

Among its key objectives, the Coalition is dedicated to increasing awareness and education around the harmful impacts of de minimis, a loophole being exploited by China and other foreign entities to facilitate a flood of fentanyl and other illicit drugs, products made with slave labor, and counterfeit and toxic consumer products into the U.S. market.

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), ranking member of the House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, who has been leading an effort on Capitol Hill to reform the de minimis loophole in U.S. trade law, helped announce the formal launch of the Coalition at a press conference today.

“The coalition we have assembled is a testament to the mounting pressure to close the de minimis loophole. De minimis is not just a threat to American businesses and consumers, as if that weren’t enough, but it is increasingly contributing to the fentanyl crisis ravaging our communities. It is past time for Congress to act. We will not take ‘no’ for an answer,” Congressman Blumenauer said.

The Congressman has introduced bipartisan legislation known as the Import Security and Fairness Act, that would block non-market economies — namely China — from exploiting the de minimis threshold and would require U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to collect more information on de minimis shipments in order to better understand the scope of de minimis abuse and inform other necessary reforms.

“As the United States’ trade deficit continues to grow and global threats continue to emerge, we must not continue transferring wealth to an adversary like China,” said Congressman Neal Dunn (R-Fla.), who is a co-sponsor of the legislation. “Our current de minimis tariff incentivizes the ‘gaming’ of American laws. Right now, China’s doing a shell game with their exports to the U.S. by laundering them thru through Mexico, thereby dodging all duties. We must stop this! I look forward to working with this coalition to ensure that we protect Americans and American businesses.”

National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) President and CEO Kim Glas said: “De minimis is not just a textile issue — it’s an issue impacting us all — which is why this broad, diverse coalition has been formed to amplify our collective voices in the fight to get immediate, substantial and consequential change. We know this coalition will continue to grow and build given the urgency impacting everyone. We applaud Congressman Blumenauer for his tremendous leadership and Congressman Dunn, Congressman Bishop and Congresswoman DeLauro and many others who share this sense of urgency that we need to close de minimis now. Closing this loophole will simultaneously assist law enforcement battle the deadly fentanyl and broader illicit drug crisis while also assisting U.S. businesses to operate on a more level playing field with competitors overseas. We urge others in Congress and the Administration to support the effort and immediately close de minimis.”

In 2023, the nearly century-old de minimis rule astonishingly allowed nearly three million packages a day (rising to 1 billion a year) to enter the U.S. largely uninspected and duty free — 60 percent of which originate from China, notorious for products made with slave labor and counterfeits, and the source of the majority of precursor chemicals used to make illicit fentanyl.

“Customs officials want to — and know how to — protect Americans from unlawful goods imports and illicit drug,” said Michael Stumo, CEO of the Coalition for a Prosperous America. “But Congress capitulated to FedEx and UPS to create high volume lawlessness enabling Shein, TEMU and foreign criminal organizations to ship goods to U.S. customers and drug dealers. Both Congress and President Biden have the power to close this loophole, save an estimated 20,000 lives per year and protect U.S. workers and businesses who obey our laws. CPA supports Congressman Blumenauer’s legislation that would exclude China from de minimis as a major step to rising the problem.”

According to (CBP), imports using the de minimis loophole include “high-risk shipments that may contain narcotics, merchandise that pose a risk to public safety, counterfeits, or other contraband.” The agency recently stated that it “continues to see bad actors seeking to exploit the increasing volumes of de minimis shipments to transit illicit goods, including fentanyl and the precursors and paraphernalia used to manufacture it.”

The impact has been devastating:

  • CDC data predicts more than 112,000 drug-related deaths in the past year, with more than 70,000 caused by illicit fentanyl, record numbers to which de minimis is actively contributing.
  • Ten U.S. textile plants have closed and hundreds of employees have been laid off, due in part to the loophole acting as a back door to a flood of low-priced, subsidized imports from China often containing cotton made with forced labor.

“In June 2018, my daughter Ashley Romero died from fentanyl poisoning. Ashley was 32 years old. She was a mother, daughter, sister, and friend to many. Ashley did not know about illicit fentanyl, nor did she know that the pill she took that looked just like her medication would take her life,” said Andrea Thomas, founder of Voices for Awareness/Facing Fentanyl. “Ashley’s death has been devastating for our family. Fentanyl is flooding into our country and taking a life every five minutes. Fentanyl has become so readily available that it has killed more than 112,000 Americans in 2023 alone. It can be shipped straight from China and frequently with purities of more than 90 percent, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). What makes this shipping so easy is a loophole in U.S. customs law known as ‘de minimis.’ Under de minimis, millions of small international mail packages are mailed directly to U.S. consumers daily, completely bypassing federal scrutiny. This loophole has contributed to the public health crisis our nation is facing. We have joined this coalition to close this dangerous loophole. It will help save lives.”

“We have long fought for resources to support law enforcement’s efforts to combat fentanyl and its analogues,” said Bill Johnson, executive director, National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO). “Closing the de minimis loophole would help staunch the surge of illicit narcotics that are exploiting this exemption to wreak havoc across the country and protect and safeguard the lives of our children, families and friends. In this moment of crisis, we need to use every weapon we have to curb the unfettered flow of imported fentanyl. The work of this coalition is incredibly important, and we are proud to be a part of it.”

“The de minimis loophole means that our own trade laws are granting bad actors like SHEIN and Temu an outrageous advantage over American manufacturers,” said Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) President Scott Paul. “These Chinese companies have built billion-dollar businesses by exploiting de minimis, hooking American consumers on below-bargain-basement prices and supercharging a retail race to the bottom. There’s a very real cost hidden behind these cheap wares, and it’s paid by the men and women on the factory floor both here and abroad. The de minimis provision invites importers to cheat the system and to exploit their workers. The United States must close this loophole now.”

Lori Wallach, director of Rethink Trade said, “We simply cannot continue with the current de minimis loophole situation of 3 million packages of imports ordered online, entering the U.S. daily without inspection, and dodging trade-cheating fines, normal tariffs and taxes and the ban on Chinese forced labor goods, which destroys U.S. producers, puts brick-and-mortar retailers at an unfair disadvantage, and exposes American consumers to dangerous and fake goods delivered to their doorsteps.”

The Coalition’s request for commonsense reform is quickly achievable either through legislation or the administration’s executive authority.

For more information about the impact of the de minimis loophole, click here.

Coalition Members

  • AFL-CIO
  • Alliance for American Manufacturing
  • Coalition for a Prosperous America
  • Citizens Trade Campaign
  • Families Against Fentanyl
  • Fentanyl Victims Network of North Carolina
  • International Association of Chiefs of Police
  • Kelsie’s Cause
  • Lost Voices of Fentanyl
  • National Association of Police Organizations
  • National Bicycle Dealers Association
  • National Council of Textile Organizations
  • National Crime Prevention Council
  • National Sheriffs’ Association
  • New Balance
  • PeopleForBikes.org
  • Rethink Trade
  • Service Employees International Union
  • Shatterproof
  • Sherrill Manufacturing
  • Specialized Bikes
  • United Steelworkers
  • Victims of Illicit Drugs,
  • Voices for Awareness / Facing Fentanyl
  • Workers United

Posted: March 6, 2024

Source: National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO)

ITA’s Melt Spinning Facilities: A Unique Winder For Elastic Filament Yarn Development

AACHEN, Germany — March 5, 2024 — Since March 1, 2024, the technical center of Institut für Textiltechnik of RWTH Aachen University (ITA) has been equipped with an additional winder.

This globally unique winder has been manufactured by Comoli Fermo S.r.l, Paruzzaro, Italy, and enables the development of elastic yarns for numerous and innovative areas of application. Monofilament and multifilament yarns can be spun within a speed range of 100 to 3,200 m/min on bobbins with an industrial standard size of 73.6 mm x 83.8 mm x 115.5 mm.

The use of these bobbins enables immediate further processing along the textile process chain, for example in production of elastic combination yarns or knitting. Due to the high flexibility of this winder in combination with the available spinning plants at ITA, testing is possible with material amounts starting from a few hundred grams up to hundreds of kilograms.

Current developments at ITA include the processing of CO2-containing as well as at least partially bio-based thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) into elastic filament yarns.

Posted: March 6, 2024

Source: Institut für Textiltechnik of RWTH Aachen University

New Impact Venture Syre Launches With A Mission To Decarbonize Textile Industry

STOCKHOLM  — March 6, 2024 — Initiated by Vargas and H&M Group, Syre today launches to decarbonize and dewaste the textile industry through textile-to-textile recycling at hyperscale, starting with polyester. Supported by an industry ground-breaking offtake supply agreement with H&M Group, Syre will establish multiple production plants producing circular polyester across the globe, reducing CO2e emissions by up to 85 percent compared to the production of oil-based virgin polyester[1].

“Syre marks the start of the great textile shift. We envision a world where every textile fiber sees a new day. By implementing true textile-to-textile recycling at hyperscale, we want to drive the transition from a linear to a circular value chain by putting textile waste to use, over and over again,” said Dennis Nobelius, CEO of Syre.

Textile waste is a growing global challenge, with less than 1 percent of the global textile fiber market coming from recycled textiles[2]. The textile industry today accounts for 7 to 10 percent of global CO2e emissions[3], with polyester being the biggest emitter and fastest growing fiber. Virgin polyester, made from crude oil in refineries, and bottle-to-fiber recycled polyester (rPET), are both linear meaning the majority of all end-of-life products currently end up in landfills or being incinerated. The textile industry is now at a tipping point as the European Union and other actors are introducing legislation that will regulate waste and accelerate demand for circular materials.

“Having been creating and scaling companies that enable the green transition for an entire industry, I am extremely excited to be part of founding Syre. As a plug and play solution into the existing textile value chain, Syre will be key in enabling delivery on ambitious sustainability targets for all polyester intense industries such as apparel, automotive, and home interior,” said Susanna Campbell, chair of the board and co-founder of Syre.

Syre is founded by H&M Group, the global fashion and design company, and Vargas, who has a proven track-record of building impact companies such as Northvolt, H2 Green Steel and Aira. In addition to this, TPG Rise Climate, the dedicated climate investing strategy of global alternative asset manager TPG, has joined as a founding investor with a substantial investment, bringing extensive experience scaling climate solutions globally and in companies focused on the circular economy.

H&M Group has secured an offtake agreement with Syre worth a total of USD 600 million over 7 years, covering a significant share of H&M Group’s long-term need for recycled polyester, which is currently primarily sourced from bottle-to-fiber (rPET).

“The new venture Syre is an important next step on H&M Group’s journey to integrate circularity across our business. With this solution to rapidly scale textile-to-textile recycling, we want to continue to drive and inspire more industry players to join us in closing the loop and accelerating the shift towards a more sustainable future,” said Daniel Ervér, CEO of H&M Group.

Syre will provide textile-to-textile circular polyester (cPET), with quality on par with oil-based virgin polyester and with a superior sustainability performance, reducing CO2e emissions by up to 85 percent. Its first production plant is being built in North Carolina, USA, and will be operational during 2024. Based on this blueprint, the manufacturing process will be rapidly scaled for global expansion, starting with Asia and Europe. Within ten years, Syre aspires to have 12 gigascale plants up and running at full speed and capacity worldwide, producing more than 3 million metric tons of circular polyester. The platform is agnostic and could expand into other fibers and technologies in the future.

In connection to the launch, Syre calls out for collaboration and partnerships across industries and the full value chain in order to jointly drive the textile shift and enable a healthy future of textiles.

[1] OnePointFive – Screening Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Circular Polyester Fiber, 2023

[2] Textile Exchange, 2022

[3] European Parliament, 2021

Posted: March 6, 2024

Source: Syre

Mahlo GmbH + Co KG At Techtextil Frankfurt — Measurement And Control Technology For Technical Textiles

SAAL ON THE DANUBE, Germany  — March 6, 2024 — Technical textiles have become essential across numerous industrial sectors. Mahlo GmbH + Co. KG, a leading provider of straightening and control technology, plays a crucial role in ensuring their flawless and efficient production. At the Techtexil held April 23-26 in Frankfurt, visitors can explore highlights from Mahlo’s diverse range of modular systems and pioneering solutions at Stand D55 in hall 12 during the exhibition.

Efficiency and process reliability are the keys to sustainable production. Mahlo ensures this with its process control systems and established automatic straightening systems. At Techtextil, the machine manufacturer will be demonstrating how the production of technical textiles can be optimized with state-of-the-art weft straighteners and measurement and control technology.

Online process control in textile production processes is more important than ever before. “The continuous collection, analysis and preparation of the right data as well as the seamless transition of data flows are essential for the success of a company”, says Matthias Wulbeck, Product Manager QCS at Mahlo. With the broad portfolio of intelligent scanners and sensors, process parameters such as distortion, fabric temperature, dwell time, basis weight, coat weight, thickness, and many more can be recorded and controlled online.

Well suited for removing distortions in technical textiles is, among others, the automatic weft straightener Orthopac CRVMC-15, which is particularly interesting for the glass & carbon fabric industry and some special applications.

Qualiscan QMS

Another crucial tool is the versatile Qualiscan QMS quality measurement system. Up to five sensors traverse on robustly constructed measuring frames, continuously collect data and pass it on to the interfaces. Infrared technology is used as well as radioactive sources, laser, microwave and air permeability sensors. A special focus is placed on multi-channel measurements. These enable the manufacturer to calculate several measured values. For example, a single sensor with near-infrared or white-light interference technology can determine all components or layers of a product simultaneously. For the user, this results in significantly lower costs with high measuring accuracy. In addition, the lower space requirement and less assembly effort have a positive effect.

At the booth, skilled professionals will showcase measurements conducted on diverse fabric samples. These seasoned experts will be readily available to elucidate the optimal solution tailored to each customer’s specific needs.

Posted: March 6, 2024

Source: Mahlo GmbH + Co KG

Advanced Textiles Association (ATA) Women In Textiles Summit Is Sunny Success In Arizona

ROSEVILLE, MN — March 6, 2024 — ATA’s 2024 Women in Textiles Summit took place February 12–14 in Phoenix, Ariz. Participants kicked off with a Smash Room Experience to try out a brand-new type of therapy. A welcome reception followed where new and returning faces greeted each other for another great event. We were excited to welcome 48 first-time attendees to this year’s Summit.

Just under 100 attendees gathered the next morning for the beginning of education and networking sessions, led by vivacious emcees Jasmine Cox, Gaston College and Nichole Holroyd, Spiritus Systems. Women in Textiles Summit favorite, Dr. Melissa Furman jumped right in with some reflective questions on what success means and how to get the job done with help from your personal power name.

Women throughout the industry from suppliers to manufacturers to academia and government found each other to connect, “[It’s] inspiring to have so many women together that have the same motivations. As someone from manufacturing I never see this many women together at once. So that in itself is very impactful,” Genavieve Lombara, Haartz Corp.

Presenters continued the day with topics such as social media and blogging and a panel, “Women in Textiles Making Great Things” featuring three women who spoke passionately about their journey and contributions to the industry. Clelia Parisi, Apex Mills; Jennifer Fennell, Polo Custom Products; and Xochil Herrera Scheer. From ideation to production, owning a small business and managing teams, these women take on innovation with energy and natural curiosity, because in the words of Parisi, “If you don’t grow, it gets boring!”

Breakout groups took a new approach with Dr. Furman returning to conduct network speed dating, an exercise to divide the group and encourage brand new connections and conversations. Additional discussion groups also included breaking up by position titles to talk trends and challenges within areas of work such as sales, marketing, engineering, administration and more.  “Networking is always great. Even after several years I’m still meeting new contacts,” stated Mary Reardon, MMI Textiles. Attendees then celebrated “Galentine’s Day” with Dinner and Trivia to unwind and process the content from the day.

Day two of education began with an empowering talk and mind map exercise from Amy Rivera who spoke passionately about her journey with Lymphedema. As an author, speaker and advocate, Rivera shared her story and how we can all become empowered through challenges by unleashing your inner strength and unlearning being taught to hide. Hand surgeon and medical textiles specialist, Holly V. Morris, followed with session “The Role of Textiles in Creating a Greener Theatre” where she discussed the impact of medical textile waste ways to question practices with three words: refuse rethink and redesign.

Groups again broke up this time by where the attendee is in their textile career such as new to the industry, middle managers, and executives. This was a great chance to learn and share from others in similar on how they face challenges and earn success.

Education came to a close with two final sessions including dynamic entrepreneur, Billie Whitehouse, speaking on “Techstyles to Help us Live Well” about her innovative approaches to wellness through e-textiles. Emcee, Nichole Holroyd and speaker Apurba Bannerjee from Standard Textile concluded with a talk on the pay gap between men and women in the textile industry including data and real-life examples.

Last chance networking took place that evening at Wine Girl in Downtown Scottsdale where the women could take another chance to recap the event and continue to make connections.

“As a first-time attendee to the Women in Textiles Summit, I was blown away by the experience,” said Christina Rapa from W.L. Gore & Associates Inc, “The networking opportunities and career-focused programing was a fantastic way to connect with other women in the textile and apparel industry. I met up with suppliers who I’ve only seen at trade shows or via email and found textile graduates from both Jefferson University and NC State University (my two alma-maters). I’ll be back again next year and will bring my colleagues along also.”

The next Women in Textiles Summit will take place in New York City in Spring 2025 at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Stay tuned for more information!

Posted: March 6, 2024

Source: Advanced Textiles Association (ATA)

Rieter Wins Major Order And Enters Strategic Partnership With Shanghai Digital Intelligence World Industrial Technology Group Co., Ltd.

WINTERTHUR, Switzerland  — March 6, 2024 — On March 6, 2024, Rieter received an order for the first batch of Rieter technology amounting to around 62 million Swiss francs from Shanghai Digital Intelligence World Industrial Technology Group Co. Ltd. (DIW). Rieter also signed a strategic partnership with DIW to develop intelligent yarn manufacturing technology that utilizes digitization and automation to minimize conversion costs and maximize value for customers.

From left to right: Jing Wang, President of DIW; Shenquan Jing, Vice President of China Cotton Textile Association (CCTA); Yifang Liu, Vice Chairman of DIW; Qinghui Zhang, President of China Textile Construction Planning Institute; Kuiyong Dong, President of CCTA; Yiming Liu, Chairman of DIW; Michael Hubensteiner, Country Managing Director Rieter China; Dong Wang, Senior Vice President Rieter Sales China

Rieter and DIW signed a first order in the amount of around 62 million Swiss francs for combers and draw frames that will provide the basis to transform DIW’s spinning mills into state-of-the-art industrial textile operations. DIW, a fast-growing company specializing in intelligent manufacturing and industrial operation services, selected Rieter following a competition in which the company’s machines achieved better stability and higher production than competitors. The strategic partnership of DIW and Rieter is designed to further enhance the overall operational efficiency of DIW’s mills by providing highly efficient machines, automation and digitization technology. This will also minimize conversion cost and consolidate the sustainable growth of both companies, while contributing to the high-quality development of the Chinese textile industry.

Yiming Liu, chairman, Shanghai Digital Intelligence World Industrial Technology Group Co. Ltd., said: “We have selected Rieter based on its excellent technology and abundant experience. Rieter machines provide stronger stability and higher production efficiency. The strategic cooperation between the two parties is not only a full affirmation of the previous cooperation, but also one with complementary advantages and mutual benefits, which will provide greater possibilities for DIW to reduce costs and increase efficiency. It is believed that the two sides will take this cooperation as an opportunity to further explore cooperation in a wider range of fields, open up new areas for the transformation of the traditional textile industry, and contribute to accelerating the construction of a modernized industrial system.”

Michael Hubensteiner, Country managing director, Rieter China, said: “We are proud that our technology came out on top in this competition, achieving greater stability and higher production than competitors. We are grateful for the trust that DIW has placed in Rieter and are confident that this partnership will be a game- changing and unrivalled success while further strengthening Rieter’s position in the attractive Chinese market.”

Posted: March 6, 2024

Source: Rieter Management AG

AATCC Welcomes New Pakistan Local Section

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — March 6, 2024 — AATCC welcomes the Association’s newest Local Section, the Pakistan Section! Pakistan is globally recognized for its rich textile heritage along with its modern presence as an international textile production hub. The founding of the AATCC Pakistan Section is a commitment to empower an innovative, informed, and sustainable future for the local industry.

Founding Officers of the Pakistan Section

  • Section Chair: Abdul Rahim Chughtai is a distinguished figure in the chemicals, dyes, and auxiliaries industries of Pakistan, renowned for his extensive contributions as Director of the Rainbow Group, established since 1967. As the founding Director and CEO of Rainbow Inks (Pvt.) Ltd. in 2020, he has spearheaded innovation as a pioneer manufacturer of digital textile printing inks in Pakistan. Beyond his entrepreneurial endeavors, Mr. Chughtai is actively engaged in various business federations, leveraging his expertise to drive industry growth. He also serves as the Exhibition Head & Convener of Color & Chem Expo, Pakistan’s premier platform showcasing advancements in textile dyes, chemicals, and auxiliaries.
  • Section Vice-Chair North: Dr. Ahsan Nazir, Director of Research, Innovation & Commercialization at the National Textile University (Faisalabad, Pakistan), specializes in textile processing, environmental impacts of textiles, and electro-spun fibers. His work focuses on sustainable solutions for textiles, traceability and transparency, and research advancing textile science.
  • Section Vice-Chair South: Dr. Muhammad Dawood Husain is working as Professor at the Textile Engineering Department of NED University of Engineering & Technology (NEDUET), Karachi, Pakistan. He heads the Smart Manufacturing and Responsive Textiles Research Group and is an active researcher in the areas of smart textiles, textile sensors, soft robotics, and performance wear. He has been an active AATCC Individual Member and Faculty Advisor for the AATCC NED Chapter since 2013. He has served as an Associate Editor on the AATCC Journal of Research. He is also a recipient of the 2023 AATCC Student Faculty Advisor Award.
  • Section Secretary: Ahmed Raza is a seasoned professional in business development and project management, known for his strategic prowess and track record of successful project leadership. As the Chief of Marketing & Management at Rainbow Inks (Pvt.) Ltd., he drives business growth and innovation in the field of digital textile printing inks and solutions. Beyond his professional role, Mr. Raza actively participates in community-driven environmental projects, leveraging his business acumen for positive impact.
  • Section Treasurer: Madiha R. Chughtai is a dynamic professional with expertise in business operations and finance. As the founder of Margins, a digital marketing company, and Chief of Operations & Finance at Rainbow Inks (Pvt.) Ltd., she drives strategic initiatives for efficiency and growth in digital textile printing. With an MSc in Innovation Management & Entrepreneurship, she brings fresh perspectives to leadership, implementing innovative measures for optimized processes. Committed to community impact, Ms. Chughtai fosters collaboration within the industry and actively supports community initiatives.

Founding Pillar Chairs for the Pakistan Section

The Section will focus on various Pillars for their programs and educational content. Below are the various pillars listed.

Laboratory Testing: Dr. Ahsan Nazir (National Textile University)

  • Regulatory & Compliance: Rashid ul Haque, Owner & Director of Event and Conference International (Pvt.) Ltd. in Karachi, Pakistan, is a seasoned professional in the exhibition industry. With 28 years of experience and an M.Sc. in Biological Sciences from the University of Karachi, he brings expertise and vision to his role. Under his leadership, the company excels in providing top-notch exhibition services, contributing significantly to Pakistan’s exhibition landscape.
  • Chemical Applications: Abdul Aziz Chughtai is a leading figure in Pakistan’s textile chemicals market, holding the position of Director at Rainbow Dye Chem (Pvt.) Ltd. With a robust industry background, he has made substantial contributions to the textile sector nationwide. Mr. Chughtai’s pivotal role in the company is marked by his commitment to innovation and growth. His adept marketing skills and dedication to industry advancement are demonstrated through active participation in various business federations, where he contributes to sector-wide development initiatives.
  • Sustainability: Dr. Shahid Adeel, an Associate Professor of Applied Chemistry at Government College University Faisalabad, Pakistan, is an expert in textile chemistry, specializing in sustainable extraction and application of natural dyes. His research publications underscore his significant contributions to the field. Dr. Adeel consistently ranks among the top 3% and top 2% of scientists at his university, showcasing his commitment to advancing dye research.
  • Education/Student Engagement: Dr. Muhammad Dawood Husain (NED University of Engineering & Technology)

While the world textile industry deals with new challenges, the establishment of the Pakistan Section speaks to the tenacity and determination of the AATCC membership in Pakistan. The Association looks forward to supporting the current founding members, as well as providing the Section with resources to help them continue growing in the years to come.

Posted: March 6, 2024

Source: AATCC

FineLine Strengthens Its Position As RFID And Bar Code Service Bureau In The United States With $2.5 Million Equipment Addition

NORCROSS, Ga. — March 4, 2024 — FineLine Technologies has strengthened its position as the a service bureau in the United States for barcode and RFID products and solutions with a $2.5 million equipment acquisition and an expansion of its Data2 division’s O’Fallon, Mo., production facility. The investment includes an array of RFID converting equipment and an enlargement of the existing plant’s manufacturing footprint to 50,000 sq. ft. With facilities in Atlanta, St. Louis and Costa Mesa, Calif., Fineline’s U.S.-wide manufacturing space now exceeds 130,000 square feet.

According to Fineline Chairman & CEO George Hoffman, the investment supports the increasing demand for RFID item labeling on non-apparel products and brands’ needs to comply with recent mandates from several major retailers.

“RFID has been embraced for decades by apparel retailers as a way to correct historically poor inventory accuracy and improve on-shelf availability,” Hoffman said. “During the pandemic, retailers across the board responded to crowd-avoidance by adopting omnichannel strategies which are heavily dependent upon having accurate inventories, which are obtainable only with RFID item tagging. Consequently, the use cases for RFID item tagging are increasing, and the breadth of products covered is rapidly expanding to include non-apparel items such as home goods, automotive and industrial components, toys, electronics and crafts.”

Hoffman adds that successful RFID compliance by brands involves reliable RFID label supply that can be customized to the unique needs of each brand, along with knowledge of how to meet retailer specifications for inlay type, encoding schema, form factors and application processes.

“By expanding our RFID manufacturing capacity and capabilities, we can assist customers in meeting these challenges on an even larger scale,” he said. “Besides our knowledge of retailers’ unique RFID labeling requirements and each step of the Auburn qualification process, we provide a broad selection of RFID sensors, adhesives technology, high-quality graphics printing with RFID integration and 100-percent inspected rolls required for automatic label application.”

New equipment at Fineline’s Data2 division O’Fallon plant

New equipment installed at Fineline’s Data2 division O’Fallon, Mo., plant includes rotary digital printers, high-capacity RFID label inserters, RFID printer/encoders, a 10-station rotary die cutter and roll-to-roll RFID verification equipment.

Capabilities include:

  • High-speed digital and flexographic, four-color process, rotary printing;
  • RFID inlay integration of dry inlays, for customized label designs;
  • High-speed RFID encoding and verification;
  • Engineered, multi-layered label constructions; and
  • High-capacity and quick-turn RFID label finishing.

In addition, the FineLine O’Fallon facility includes on-premise RFID and materials testing labs to ensure customers’ RFID labels meet the latest retailer performance requirements.

Posted: March 5, 2024

Source: FineLine Technologies

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