Control System Integration Company Patti Engineering Celebrates Milestone 33-Year Anniversary

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — June 3, 2024 — Patti Engineering Inc., a control system integration company based in Auburn Hills, MI with offices in Texas and Indiana, celebrates its 33-year anniversary today. Patti Engineering was founded on June 3, 1991, by CEO Sam Hoff and named after his wife, Patti Hoff, who serves as the company’s CFO.

“Patti Engineering was founded on the principles of maintaining business integrity for our clients. I am both humbled and excited that these principles have been so successful for us, both as a business and as individuals,” said Sam Hoff. “I want to extend my most sincere thanks to all our great clients, partners, and team members for their ongoing support throughout our company’s history. Your commitment has been instrumental in allowing us to reach this amazing 33-year milestone. Time does indeed fly by when you’re having fun!”

Patti Engineering is a CSIA Certified Integrator offering high-caliber engineering and software development services. The company is at the forefront of helping manufacturers in the adoption of advanced Industry 4.0 technologies to improve overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). Patti Engineering’s areas of expertise include robotics, control systems integration, digital transformation, and asset tracking.

Alongside Sam and Patti Hoff, the leadership team includes Dave Foster, vice president of Engineering, John Shipley, director of Indiana Operations, Terrance Brinkley, director of Michigan Operations, and Nick Hitchcock, director of Texas Operations. The company includes 30 additional employees, including a mix of engineers, technicians and other support personnel.

“Over the past 33 years, we have expanded from a small home office to a thriving business with three locations across the United States,” said Patti Hoff. “Through it all, we have always prioritized maintaining a family atmosphere and providing a great work-life balance for our team. It’s been an amazing journey. I’m so proud of the company we’ve built and I’m excited to see where we go next.”

“Our family-first mindset has always been central to Patti Engineering,” noted Dave Foster. “It’s a truly unique company priority that keeps our team growing and thriving together. We’ve created a culture that focuses on integrity and quality. I’m particularly proud that we’ve not only survived but thrived for over three decades – a significant achievement for any small company.”

Posted: June 3, 2024

Source: Patti Engineering, Inc.

Gear Up Fast: Fire-Dex Ships Turnout Gear In 5-10 Business Days: FXR And FXM Express Lines Offer Top-Notch Bunker Gear, Lightning Quick.

MEDINA, Ohio — June 3, 2024 — Fire-Dex is excited to announce a game-changing service for fire departments everywhere: The new FXR Express and FXM Express lines offering premium turnout gear shipped in just five-10 business days. FXR and FXM Express provide fire departments with a stock option for two of Fire-Dex’s most popular lines. It means that bunker gear can arrive in under two weeks when needed, ensuring firefighters have fast, reliable access to essential garments.

“It’s all about keeping our emergency responders protected and ready for action,” said Lauren Burke DeVere, president of Fire-Dex. “No matter what your needs or budget, our Express line brings you industry-leading safety, comfort and convenience without the usual wait.”

FXR Express

FXR turnouts are renowned for their superior fit and flexibility. Certified to NFPA 1971, FXR sets a high standard for firefighter protection and is among Fire-Dex’s best-selling turnout options. With FXR Express, firefighters can access the same high-quality, premium gear they expect from FXR turnouts, shipped out in a timetable that fits busy schedules.

Crafted with a TECGEN71 (gold) outer shell, Milliken® CoreCXP™ one-layer thermal liner, and Stedair® 4000 moisture barrier, this jacket and pant offer a perfect balance of safety and performance.

FXM Express

With Fire-Dex’s FXM turnouts, departments don’t have to choose between elite protection and saving money. Constructed with an Armor AP™ (gold) outer shell, Milliken® CoreCXP™ two-layer thermal liner, and GORE® RT7100 moisture barrier, customers can order their set today, confident it will arrive swiftly.

FXM bunker gear combines modern design with exceptional functionality, helping firefighters combat whatever comes their way. FXM turnouts are certified to NFPA 1971.

Don’t Wait

Every second counts when fighting fires. And for departments seeking the right gear, days can make the difference. That’s why Fire-Dex developed the FXR and FXM Express lines to ensure that turnaround times for essential turnouts match customers’ urgency.

Firefighters can trust that they will be equipped and ready at a moment’s notice, enhancing their ability to protect and serve their communities effectively while wearing high-quality, durable protective gear.

Posted: June 3, 2024

Source: Fire-Dex

STS Inks® Debuts Groundbreaking New 24” XPD-924D Direct-To-Film Printer At drupa 2024

BOCA RATON, Fla. — May 31, 2024 — STS Inks®, a supplier of wide-format, industrial, promotional, textile and apparel digital ink markets,announces that it will debut its groundbreaking new 24” XPD-924 Direct-to-Film (DTF) Printer at drupa 2024, taking place in Dusseldorf, Germany from May 28-June 7, 2024. STS Inks has a proven track record of industry-changing advances in DTF printing that leverage the latest technology, aligned with industry needs. The company’s latest DTF printer is a high-precision heavy duty aluminum rail system for high quality and stable printing, with a footprint measuring 70.68 inches x 56.48 inches.

“To create the industry’s finest hand feel transfers, the STS Inks 24” XPD-924 DTF Printer features complete turnkey solutions,” said STS’s CTO Shahar Turgeman. “Built for professionals by professionals, this advanced technology produces exceptional transfers that are super soft and colorful, with excellent elasticity and washability.”

As the fastest dual-head printer on the market, the STS Inks 24” XPD-924 DTF Printer maintains true quality and consistency in every print. It boasts staggered dual AccuFine HD printheads for enhanced productivity, delivering high-quality transfers with smooth gradations and fine line on cotton, polyester, nylon, fleece, denim and more.

“What allows this printer and new ink formula to stand head and shoulders above its predecessors and competition,” said STS’s CEO Adam Shafran. “It’s not only the evident speed and quality performance but also its ability to print effectively in more challenging printing environments. This innovation enables the printer to perform well across a broader temperature range, overcoming limitations that previously posed challenges.”

The 24” XPD-924 also features a built-in white ink circulation system that operates continuously, ensuring a seamless flow of ink. This advanced feature reduces the likelihood and the need for maintenance, resulting in increased uptime and greater profitability.

Pre-installed high quality color profiles at various resolutions to match STS’ inks and film make this printer instantly ready for production. To enhance operation, the XPD-924D features built-in sensors for operator-driven automatic bi-directional page feed alignments. There are also updated media angles and media feeding as well as a convenient mechanism to allow for easy loading and page feed for DTF film.

The XPD-924D includes standard features such as:

  • Digital Factory RIP 11 Software, bundled with the printer for the ultimate balance of speed and quality;
  • Ease-of-use Side Mounted LAN and Power Plugs and LED Operation Panel;
  • Improved front Dryer system for 20% Faster Ink Dry Times;
  • Internal LED lighting for Unobstructed Print;
  • Viewing and Maintenance Access;
  • Mutoh Status Monitor (MSM) Companion; and
  • Software for Convenience and Efficiency: Records Print History, Job Cost Analysis, Remote Access.

Posted: June 3, 2024

Source: STS Inks®

The Delta Group Adds Its Third EFI Single-Pass Printer for Display Graphics

DÜSSELDORF, Germany — June 3, 2024 — Electronics For Imaging Inc. (EFI), today reported that England-based The Delta Group has acquired its third EFI™ Nozomi press, an EFI Nozomi 14000 SD single-pass printer for sign and display. This printer adds to two previous Nozomi acquisitions, a Nozomi C18000 printer for corrugated and a Nozomi 18000+ LED printer for sign and display, rounding out its high-volume digital production capability which will help them finish their migration from offset to digital. The EFI Nozomi 14000 SD printer was designed to specifically meet the needs of the sign and display graphics market, giving users the opportunity to significantly improve speed to market and increase profitability with a wide range of substrates and brilliant colour quality. Visitors to drupa can view the Nozomi 14000 SD printer at EFI’s booth, located in Hall 9, Stand A20-1 at the show.

The privately owned The Delta Group, in business for more than 35 years, is an end-to-end visual communications solutions provider predominantly serving the retail industry. Headquartered in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom, the company has four other locations around the UK, including in Dublin, Ireland. With 680 staff and revenue just north of £100 million, the company offers a wide range of services, from creative, to manufacturing, installation, digital signage and more. The company is in the final stages of opening a new, highly sustainable facility which will replace the current hub centre.

The Delta Group was the first company in the England to install a Nozomi press. “Once we have made the transition to our new facility,” said Martin Shipp, the group’s chief operating officer, “I believe we will be the first company in the world to have three Nozomis under one roof.”

Less space, more throughput, with maximum efficiency and speed

“With our distributed platform, we receive orders centrally and distribute them to the site best suited for the type of work required,” explained Shipp. “Meeting the customer’s requested delivery date is paramount to us.

“In our main facility,” Shipp said, “we had 13 flatbeds running, and each flatbed requires a space the size of a tennis court to have sufficient working space around it. But with the Nozomis being up to five or six times faster than even the fastest multi-pass machines, we have been able to reduce our flatbed footprint down to about five across our network.”

Shipp explained that the company has an efficient workflow in place, including customer-facing portals, and many jobs run through automatically where the first human touch is taking the prints off the back end of the printer, with some 500 orders per day being printed in this way. He also noted that whereas in the past, the company would produce overruns of a dozen or more in case some sheets had defects. Thanks to the inline quality control cameras on the Nozomi printers, he said, they now only run one or two sheets over.

Key drivers for The Delta Group in shifting from offset and flatbeds to Nozomi printers were the shortened turn times and run lengths. Shipp explained, “Historically, retailers would order run lengths of 3,000 or more, suitable for offset. But now, instead of campaigns having five different items with a couple thousand of each, we are more commonly seeing campaigns that contain 250 different items with an order quantity of 500-ish each. So, it has really pushed the transition from analogue to digital for the group.”

Shipp and his team first saw the Nozomi printer in Spain after seeing the technology reviewed in the trade press. “That’s where we started, and over the years, we have realized that Nozomi is clearly the most reliable press we have ever owned. Downtime is extremely minimal, and we get great remote support from Spain. We are now producing more than five million square metres on each one of the Nozomis each year with virtually no downtime.”

The EFI Nozomi 14000 SD is on display at EFI’s drupa stand, Hall 9, Stand A20-1.

Posted: June 3, 2024

Source:  Electronics For Imaging, Inc. (EFI)

Marcos Grasso Appointed To The C&A BV Supervisory Board To Reinforce Retail And Fashion Expertise

DÜSSELDORF, Germany — June 3, 2024 — The C&A BV Supervisory Board is pleased to announce today the appointment of Marcos Grasso as a new Supervisory Board Member, as of June 1, 2024.

This appointment adds highly-valued consumer and fashion retail experience to the C&A BV Supervisory Board. Grasso is a seasoned executive, with extensive experience in business transformation across several industries.

Marcos Grasso

Grasso brings over 25 years of international experience as an executive for consumer goods companies, having worked for Warner-Lambert, Pfizer, Cadbury, and Kraft Foods/Mondelez.

Currently Grasso is chair of the Board of C&A Brasil, head of Eurazeo in South America, on the Advisory Board of Cacau Show, and member of the Advisory Board of non-profit Instituto Akatu. He is involved with the PDEC-IBGC Board Diversity Program, and actively mentors numerous CEOs.

Allan Leighton, chairman of the C&A BV Supervisory Board, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Marcos Grasso to our C&A BV Supervisory Board. He brings extensive experience not only in retail and the consumer goods industry, but also in business transformation, which is especially relevant at the moment, as we continue our focus on transformation. His appointment completes our BV Supervisory Board, and brings a global perspective from his experience as Chair of the Board for C&A Brazil”.

Grasso will work alongside Allan Leighton, chairman of the Supervisory Board; Alexander Birken, member of the Supervisory Board, chair of the Remuneration Committee; Maëlys Castella, member of the Supervisory Board, chair of the Audit Committee; Diane de Saint Victor, member of the Supervisory Board; and Nigyar Makhmudova, member of the Supervisory Board.

With its ONE C&A Growth Plan, C&A Europe continues its journey to transform C&A Europe into a modern, European omnichannel fashion retailer, under the leadership of CEO Giny Boer.

Posted: June 3, 2024

Source: C&A Europe

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories Announces BAM-1 Spider Silk Hybrids Are In Production

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — June 3, 2024 — Kraig Biocraft Laboratories Inc. announced today that Kraig Labs is now in production with its BAM-1 recombinant spider silk hybrids. The company originally planned this launch for July, but the resounding successes of the production trials positioned Kraig Labs to accelerate its 2024 production schedule.

This production cycle serves as a critical transition for the company’s commercialization of sustainable and cost-effective spider silk production. This announcement marks the company’s first transition of true production hybrids to the manufacturing environment. This rearing cycle also represents more than a 10X increase in production over the spring trials and is the largest single batch of spider silk production in the company’s operating history.

The BAM-1 hybrids exhibited an excellent hatching yield and continue to show strong and uniform growth. The company’s team has been closely monitoring their health and is proud to report that, just like the spring trials, it has not observed any sign of disease or weakness within the colony.

The BAM-1 hybrids were created by integrating the company’s recombinant spider silk technology, Dragon Silk™, into two robust commercial silkworm strains. These two silkworm strains created the parental lines that, when combined, produce the BAM-1 hybrids. The BAM-1 hybrids result in the largest cocoons and most robust silkworms Kraig Labs has produced. This, in turn, results in higher silk yield and improved production efficiency, while maintaining fiber material performance, as the company scales up its spider silk production operations.

“This successful launch of the BAM-1 hybrids is the result of more than a year of focused development by our team. The spring production trials demonstrated that we have brought together the right team, the right technology, and the right facilities to make 2024 a breakout year for the commercialization of spider silk,” said Founder and CEO of Kraig Labs Kim Thompson. “This cycle puts us securely on the path to reaching our first production milestone of a metric ton of spider silk.”

Over the coming weeks, the company will provide additional updates on this production cycle and its plans for continued production growth and end-market developments.

Posted: June 3, 2024

Source: Kraig Biocraft Laboratories Inc.

New Rutland™ Evolve™ Bio Plastisol™ Inks From Avient Feature More Than 50-Percent Bio-Derived Content For Sustainable Screen Printing

KENNESAW, Ga. — June 3, 2024 — Avient Corp., a premier provider of specialized and sustainable materials solutions and services, is pleased to announce the launch of Rutland™ Evolve™ Bio Plastisol™ Inks for the screen printing industry.

New Rutland™ Evolve™ Bio Plastisol™ Inks from Avient, containing 56-59% bio-derived content, are available from Rutland distributors beginning June 3, 2024.

Created with 56 to 59 percent bio-derived content and tested to ASTM D6866, Rutland Evolve Bio Plastisol Inks can reduce screen printers’ reliance on fossil fuel-based inks while seamlessly introducing more sustainable practices to plastisol screen printing shops. These inks are currently offered in white and mixing base inks and provide an intuitive printing experience with standard screen printing equipment and processes.

“At Avient Specialty Inks, we’re committed to offering innovative screen printing inks that support sustainability objectives without compromising on performance,” said Jake Ojeda, global marketing and sales director, Avient Specialty Inks. “Rutland Evolve Bio Plastisol Inks are a great example of this – they allow screen printers to incorporate bio-derived inks that maintain the on-press performance Rutland is known for.”

Rutland Evolve Bio Plastisol Inks print compatibly with Rutland NPT C3 Pigments and can be mixed to thousands of Pantone®-simulated colors using IMS 3.0, Avient Specialty Inks’ proprietary color formulation software. When printing with these inks, formulas in IMS 3.0 will calculate the amount of bio-derived content associated with each Pantone color. They are manufactured in the United States and available from Rutland distributors.

Posted: June 3, 2024

Source: Avient Corporation

The Atmosphere Washing Revolution Hits Denim PV

VALENCIA, Spain — June 3, 2024 — Jeanologia will make its presence felt at the upcoming Denim PV Milan edition, slated for June 5-6 in the heart of Italian fashion. At this landmark event, the Spanish company, a global leader in sustainable textile technology, will present its groundbreaking atmospheric washing process ATMOS, promising to revolutionize the denim industry by offering an eco-efficient alternative to traditional stone washing. The unveiling of ATMOS in Milan holds particular significance amidst the resurgence of Italian denim, with the country’s textile industry redefining its standards towards sustainability and luxury.

Atmos Vintage ©Jeanologia

The ATMOS process, fueled by the innovative INDRA system and G2 technology, marks a true breakthrough in denim garment finishing by leveraging only atmospheric elements, dispensing with water and pumice stone. This pioneering technical approach not only ensures a drastic reduction in the consumption of natural resources, with up to 96 percent less water usage, but also eliminates the use of abrasive materials associated with negative environmental impacts, ensuring the quality and durability of garments.

Traditional stone washing entails significant water consumption during the washing, wearing, rinsing, and cleaning stages, using between 80 and 100 liters of water per 200 kg of garments and requiring additional detergents and chemicals to remove pumice stone residues. In contrast, Jeanologia has successfully reduce water usage to only 1 liter per garment, by leveraging a combination of the ATMOS process and other proprietary technologies, including, eFlow technologies, which utilizes nanobubbles to apply performance chemicals and the revolutionary H2 Zero a water recuperation system, guarantee a perfect close loop. This approach not only eliminates the need for extensive rinsing and chemical use but also reduces resource consumption and facilitates wastewater management, thereby promoting a cleaner and more efficient water treatment cycle.

These attributes enable to garner a high rating on the EIM assessment scale. Jeanologia’s environmental impact measurement software in textile garment production, widely adopted by leading brands and retailers worldwide. Denim garments aged through G2 Ozone & INDRA attain ‘green EIM score’, ensuring compliance with global sustainability standards throughout the production chain, classifying processes based on water, energy, chemicals consumption, and worker health.

Jeanologia is set to present the ‘Atmos Vintage’ collection at Denim PV, featuring a ‘stone wash’ inspired looks created using the ATMOS process. This capsule collection is designed to inspire all European brands and garment manufacturers with its cutting-edge approach. By showcasing it in Milan, Jeanologia seeks to engage the Italian market in responsible textile production, significantly reducing water usage and eliminating the need for stones and chemicals, all while preserving the authenticity and beauty of the garments.

Propelling Italy into a new era of sustainable luxury denim

The Italian textile industry, renowned globally for its quality and design, has undergone significant transformation in recent years, especially in the denim sector, which has evolved into a benchmark for the luxury market. Italian factories have adapted their processes to meet the demand for high-end denim products, incorporating new designs and applications of these fabrics not only in garments, but also in footwear, and accessories.

Mindful of this evolution, Jeanologia has bolstered its presence in Italy, forging close collaborations with the country’s leading fashion brands. The company has emerged as a key ally in implementing technologies that enhance the quality of the final product and production efficiency, while markedly reducing the environmental impact of textile processes.

“Italy has always been a beacon in fashion and sustainability, and its denim industry has repositioned itself in recent years towards the luxury market,” notes Stefano Tessarolo, Jeanologia’s Sales Manager in Italy. “ATMOS not only aligns with this new positioning but also propels Italy towards a new era of sustainable and responsible denim fashion.”

Committed to leading the charge towards more sustainable practices in the fashion industry, Jeanologia views ATMOS as a tangible manifestation of this commitment. Through Denim PV Milan as a platform, the Spanish company seeks to inspire other entities in the industry to embrace eco-efficient technologies and collaborate towards building a more sustainable future for fashion.

With a current capacity to process up to 50 million jeans, Jeanologia anticipates an exponential uptake of this technological process in the coming years, catalyzing a fundamental shift towards responsible fashion.

Posted: June 3, 2024

Source: Jeanologia

Windsurfers At The Paris 2024 Olympics Will Compete On Boards Manufactured By COBRA International Using Sicomin SR1280 Resins

MARSEILLES, France — June 3, 2024 — Sicomin, a formulator and supplier of high-performance epoxy resins, is proud to announce that its SR1280 resins will secure a gold medal at this summer’s Olympic windsurfing events. Every male and female windsurfer will compete on identical one-design boards that are made by Cobra International using Sicomin’s high-strength SR1280 resin system. Racing will take place in Marseilles, France, less than 100km from Sicomin’s HQ and manufacturing site.

Cobra International iQFOiL 95

The official 2024 Olympic windsurfing class board has a PVC, carbon and glass fibre sandwich construction that is vacuum moulded with Sicomin SR1280 resins over an EPS foam core. Cobra is the only manufacturer allowed to produce these one-design boards and demands absolute consistency in the performance and handling characteristics of the epoxy resins supplied.

Sicomin SR1280 is a low viscosity, CMR-free, epoxy resin system optimised for the rapid wet-out of reinforcement fibres. Its range of hardener speeds has enabled Cobra to fine tune the production and maintain the conformity of each board made. SR1280 is also DNV-GL certified, providing additional third-party assurance of the product’s quality, performance, and consistency.

“We are immensely proud to see our SR1280 resins powering the boards at the Olympics this year, and it will be amazing to see them race so close to our HQ and factory,” comments Marc Denjean, Global Sales Manager, Sicomin. “In selecting our SR1280 materials for its Olympic level equipment, Cobra has confirmed our ongoing commitment to deliver the highest quality and technical consistency that enables them to build these high performance one-design race boards.”

The Olympic windsurfing events will begin on the July 28, 2024.

Posted: June 3, 2024

Source: Sicomin

Easy Cut Studio V6 Launched — Next-Generation Vinyl Cutting Software

NEW YORK CITY — June 3, 2024 — EasyCut Studio, a worldwide developer of sign-making software solutions, has announced the launch of Easy Cut Studio 6, with immediate and global availability. A fully-updated and next-generation version of its highly-successful industry-acclaimed vinyl cutting software. This will undoubtedly take your print and cut business to new heights!

The new version introduces a range of new features, including larger workspace area, variable data printing and cutting, Import embroidery files — PEC, PES, HUS, JEF, SEW, VIP, DST, EXP, MTC, XXX — more options to customize rhinestone designs, new special effects, convert square corners to rounded corners, nesting Improvements, more path options to divide overlapping shapes, enhanced color management system,

Adds support for importing text from PDF and SVG files. Additionally, the update brings improvements to the Bezier and vector editing, to improve its user experience.

This update also includes more than 15 new Print & Cut drivers for the latest printers and vinyl cutters.

Eric Lee, senior product manager at EasyCut Studio, said: “We are excited to unveil Easy Cut Studio 6 to the world. Packed with a variety of time-saving tools and enhanced rhinestone features, this brilliant new version will revolutionize print and cut production and streamline workflows, reduce waste, and increase productivity like never before. whether you’re a sign shop or a small-scale business, our software is designed to meet your sign design, printing, and cutting requirements effectively and efficiently.”

Easy Cut Studio 6 is meticulously crafted to harness the full power of macOS 14 and Apple Silicon, delivering a browsing experience that’s both fluid and lightning-fast. And with continued support for Intel processors and macOS 10.12 and later, ECS 6 ensures a seamless experience across a diverse range of Mac devices. By integrating state-of-the-art technology with years of feedback from our end customers and partners, ECS 6 maintains its status as the number one choice for reliable, feature-rich sign design and cut software with uncompromising quality.

The exciting new features and enhancements Easy Cut Studio 6 delivers:

  • New special effects including rhinestone scatter, cast shadow, monogram and rays.
  • More options to customize rhinestone designs.
  • Advanced variable data features will let you add more variable data to your print or cut jobs.
  • Separate score force.
  • Convert square corners to rounded corners.
  • Text can be imported from SVG and PDF files.
  • Larger workspace area.
  • Add VersaWorks compatible option for PDF export.
  • More options to choose, select and replace colors.
  • More path options to divide overlapping shapes.
  • Add customizable arrow shape.
  • Ability to ungroup text by individual glyphs, by words, or by lines.
  • Remove overlap below shape (e.g. HTV applications).
  • Export the G-code.
  • Apple Silicon (M1,M2) Native Mac versions.
  • Ready for macOS 14.5 Sonoma or higher.
  • Other stability improvements.
  • and more!

Pricing and Availability:

Easy Cut Studio 6 is compatible with a range of operating systems, For Windows, it is available for Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10, 11 (32-bit & 64-bit).

For macOS, it is compatible with Mac OS X 10.12 Sierra, 10.13 High Sierra, 10.14 Mojave, 10.15 Catalina, 11 Big Sur, 12 Monterey, 13 Ventura, and 14 Sonoma.

Easy Cut Studio 6 is available for one-time purchase at the suggested retail price of $59.95 USD. All registered owners of V5 are eligible to upgrade to V6 for only $34.95 USD.

Posted: May 31, 2024

Source: Easy Cut Studio 6

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