September/October 2007


Process Control Corp.
 , Atlanta, has added an 18-kilogram Guardian blender to its line of gravimetric batch
blenders.

bbprocess

Process Control Corp.’s new gravimetric blender

Greensboro, N.C.-based

Unifi Inc.
 ’s Repreve® family of recycled polyester yarns has been certified by Emeryville,
Calif.-based Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) as having 100-percent recycled content.


Outlast Technologies Inc.
 , Boulder, Colo., has formed a partnership with

MatMarket
 , Portsmouth, N.H., whereby MatMarket will provide sales representation for Outlast and
its phase-change materials technologies in the footwear industry.


Safety Components Fabric Technologies Inc.
 , Greenville, has made its WeatherMax 80 fabric available in six new colors including
cobalt, graphite, sand, scarlet, silver and taupe.


TenCate Geosynthetics North America
 , Pendergrass, Ga., has launched a website at www.mirafi.com.

The

Instrumentation, Systems and Automation Society (ISA)
 , Research Triangle Park, N.C., has published “Alarm Management: Seven Effective Methods
for Optimum Performance.” ISA also offers an accompanying Web seminar, “Highly Effective Alarm
Management: The Seven Steps.” Both are available at www.isa.org.


Spectrex Inc.
 , Cedar Grove, N.J., has released SharpEye 20/20SI, an upgraded version of its triple
infrared flame detector. Features include a sealed electronic and sensor section that provides
protection during installation, modbus protocol; manufacture of PCBs using surface-mounted
technologies; and reduced power requirements; among others.

The Sensors Division of Cary, N.C.-based

MTS Systems Corp.
 has added the Temposonics® model to its line of R-Series linear position sensors. The new
model features flexible housing designed for short installation envelopes with long-stroke sensors.


Regal Components Inc.
 , Clearwater, Fla., now offers custom-designed pins and punches made from different
grades of tool steels, stainless steel and copper alloys according to customer requirements.


Anver Corp.
 , Hudson, Mass., now offers packaged vacuum suction cup and suspension assemblies that
enable users to design their own custom lifters and jigs using standard components.

The

International Textile Manufacturers Federation
 has relocated to Wiedingstrasse 9, CH-8055 Zurich, Switzerland. Its phone and fax
numbers, and e-mail address remain the same.


ChemSW Inc.
 , Fairfield, Calif., has published an updated and expanded version of its white paper
entitled “Best Practices for Managing Laboratory Chemical Inventory.” The paper is available free
of charge at
www.chemsw.com/revbestpractices.html.

Houston-based

Viscotek
 has introduced the Automated Relative Viscometer System for measuring molecular weight
and relative, intrinsic, inherent, specific and absolute viscosity of dilute polymer
solutions.

bbviscotek

Viscotek’s Automated Relative Viscometer System


Kaeser Compressors Inc.
 , Fredericksburg, Va., has published a new desiccant dryer catalog, and has introduced an
Air Demand Analysis program.


Wasatch Computer Technology LLC
 , Salt Lake City, now provides support for the Roland VersaCAMM VP line of wide-format
ink-jet printer/cutters. Wasatch SoftRIP™ and SoftRIP Roland Exclusive Edition now come equipped
with drivers for the 30-inch VP-300 and 54-inch VP-540 models.


Chemical Market Associates Inc.
 , Houston, has released its 2008 World Terephthalates & Polyester Analysis. Available
as a book and on CD-ROM, the study provides an overview of terephthalates and polyester markets
from 2002 to 2012.


Best Manufacturing Co.
 , Menlo, Ga., has released a hand/arm protection product catalog and reference guide.

Rieter Unveils SB 20 Double-head Draw Frame

Rieter Machine Works Ltd., Switzerland, has launched the SB 20 double-head draw frame, a redesign
of its SB 2 draw frame.

The new model achieves run speeds of up to 1,000 meters per minute (m/min), with a
recommended setting of 750 m/min for carded cotton, according to Rieter. Other features include a
new graphic display to facilitate operation; 3-over-3 drafting system, efficient suction and a
patented coiling system for enhanced sliver and yarn quality; capability of using cans of up to 600
millimeters (mm) with a can changer and up to 1,000 mm without a can changer; and belt drives to
replace conventional oil bath gearboxes, reducing maintenance efforts.

The company also reports RSB-D 40 draw frame components such as the creel, can changer, fan
and other components can be integrated into the new draw frame.


September/October 2007

September/October 2007

Israel-based
Nilit Ltd. has named

Ronald Mangrum
 head of Nilit North America Corp., and

Attilio Annoni
 general manager, Fiber Division, Europe.

The
Color Marketing Group, Alexandria, Va., has elected

George Iannuzzi
 , Clariant Ltd., to its Board of Directors.

iannuzzi

Iannuzzi


Polymer Group Inc., Charlotte, has promoted

Mike Hale
 to COO,

Bob Dale
 to vice president of research and development, and

Fernando Espinosa
 to senior vice president and general manager, Europe.


Dr. James Chantler
 and

Sandra Case
 have joined
Dow Reichhold Specialty Latex LLC, Research Triangle Park, N.C., as research
associates.

Tavex Group, Spain, has named

Gilberto Mestriner Stocche
 corporate marketing director.

The
Synthetic Yarn and Fiber Association (SYFA), Gastonia, N.C., has elected

Ulrik Frodermann
 , Oerlikon Barmag, president;

Pat Murray
 , Unifi Inc., first vice president;

John Edwards
 , Nan Ya Plastics, second vice president;

John Amirtharaj
 , Universal Fibers, vice president, membership;

Alasdair Carmichael
 , PCI Fibres & Raw Materials, vice president, publicity; and

Jerry Eskew
 , Accotex/Daytex, vice president, conference. SYFA also elected the following directors:

Keith Adams
 , Burlington Worldwide;

Ernie Hundley
 , Nilit North America Corp.;

Mike Becker Jr.
 , Michael S. Becker Inc.; and

McDaniel Beard
 , Strategic Solutions.

Jerry King
 , Milliken & Company, was appointed secretary, and

Kim Pettit
 was appointed treasurer.

Safety Components Fabric Technologies Inc., Greenville, has named

David Conine
 head of market development, Awning and Architecture Division, WeatherMax.

Culp Inc., High Point, N.C., has elected

Thomas G. Gallagher Jr.
 corporate controller, assistant treasurer and assistant secretary.

Carroll Santos has joined

Batson Group Inc.
 , Greenville, as product manager for Batson’s textile dyeing and finishing and nonwovens
finishing principals.


Kellwood Co., St. Louis, has elected the following officers:

Gregory W. Kleffner
 , CFO;

Patrick J. Burns
 , corporate vice president and chief strategy and marketing officer;

Samuel W. Duggan II
 , corporate vice president, investor relations, and treasurer;

J. David Larocca Jr.
 , corporate vice president, human resources; and

Michael M. Saunders
 , corporate vice president and chief information officer.

Leigh Fibers Inc., Spartanburg, has promoted

Keith Taylor
 to president and treasurer, following the retirement of President and CEO

Carl Lehner
 .

Nordson Corp., Duluth, Ga., has appointed

Frank Burkus
 global business development manager for new materials, Adhesive Systems Group.

burkus

Burkus

The following students were honored with design prizes at the recent Texprint exhibition in
London:

Cécile Utgé-Royo
 , Print;

Edward Forster
 , Color;

Hyuna Lee
 , Breaking New Ground;

Alice Palmer
 , Knit;

Kaori Ueda
 , Weave; and

Lucy Robbie
 , Interior Fashion.


Rodrigo Siza
 has joined Paris-based
Lectra as director, Lectra Portugal.

Tolland, Conn.-based
Gerber Technology has appointed

Cynthia Mahlstedt
 director, marketing communications.

mahlstedt

Mahlstedt

At its recent annual meeting, the
International Association Serving the Nonwovens and Related Industries elected

Gerd Ries
 , Johnson & Johnson, chairman; and

Pieter Meijer
 , Fiberweb France S.A.S., vice chairman.

José Durany
 , Tesalca-99 S.A.,

Michael Hartnett
 , Mölnlycke Health Care, and

Ghobad Rahrooh
 , Procter & Gamble, were elected board members.

Gunnar Preifors
 , SCA Hygiene Products AB, was re-elected vice chairman; and

Paul Eevers
 , Unilever Europe Foods, was re-elected treasurer.

Springs Global US Inc., Fort Mill, S.C., has named

Edward Cardimona
 chief global creative officer and senior vice president.

Columbus, Ga.-based
Swift Spinning Inc. has promoted

Trey Hodges
 to president and CEO, and

Keith Harnage
 to CFO.

 


September/October 2007

Atlas Copco ZR 75-90 VSD-FF Compressors Save Energy

nplargeAtlas Copco’s
Belgium-based Oil-free Air Division has developed the ZR 75-90 VSD-FF range of water-cooled,
oil-free rotary screw compressors, equipped with an integrated heat recovery system. The system,
which the company reports offers a payback period of less than six months, reclaims up to 94
percent of heat created by air compression and transforms it into a source of energy that can be
used to power other processes, such as heating water to be used in dyeing.

In addition to the heat recovery system, the new compressors also are equipped with variable
speed drive (VSD), and full feature (FF) integration of all production units including an
integrated MD adsorption dryer. According to the company, the VSD reduces energy consumption by up
to 35 percent by correlating air demand and supply: When air demand is minimal, supply frequency
from the frequency converter is reduced, reducing the motor’s speed and compressor output. The VSD
also minimizes unload losses; prevents blow-off of compressed air; eliminates load/no load
transaction losses; ensures a tighter pressure band; and a reduced average working pressure.

The new range also is available without the VSD and FF options. All models in the new range
are housed in compact enclosures.


September/October 2007

Bejimac Handles Sales For M-tec

Luxembourg-based Bejimac S.A. recently took over the sales activities for Germany-based m-tec
Textilmaschinen GmbH. Bejimac now handles all sales and spare-parts inquiries for m-tec’s finishing
machinery, which includes Sistig and Menschner napping and shearing machines, Hemmer wet-finishing
systems, Kettling + Braun dry-finishing systems and Menschner making-up machines.

M-tec has moved its manufacturing to a new facility in Geilenkirchen, Germany.


September/October 2007

FKI Logistex Opens New TEC Facility

St. Louis-based FKI Logistex North America — a supplier of automated material-handling solutions
for manufacturing operations; and warehouse, distribution and other facilities — has opened the FKI
Logistex Technology & Education Center (TEC) next to its manufacturing facility in Cincinnati.

The center enables visitors to test their own products on FKI Logistex sorting, conveying,
automated storage/retrieval and order fulfillment systems; preview new material-handling solutions;
and receive operator training.

“The TEC provides FKI Logistex customers with a state-of-the-art, technology-rich, material
handling environment to see the industry’s latest solutions in action,” said Stephen Legg,
director, product and technology development, FKI Logistex.


September/October 2007

Executive Forum: Made In Germany




diloG
 erman textile machinery manufacturers have been at the top of the worldwide producer list
for decades.

Textile World
 asked Johann Philipp Dilo, chairman of the German Engineering Federation (VDMA) Textile
Machinery Association’s Executive Board, how he masters his work as chairman in addition to the
daily routine as CEO of the Dilo Group. A prominent personality in the German textile machinery
industry, Dilo has successfully led the Dilo Group for many years. He also has been a member of the
VDMA Textile Machinery Association’s Executive Board for many years, and for the last two years has
served as its chairman.

TW: What were the reasons to accept the VDMA position?

Johann Philipp Dilo (JPD): At first, one must notice that these honorary jobs are
also suitable to look beyond one’s own nose, to work and to take on responsibility not least for
the members and the entire Executive Board. This has primarily arisen from the sense of duty.
Everybody knows that it’s not always easy to find people in politics or trade associations to
accept an honorary post. However, it is also an asset with an information platform, as well as the
exchange of thoughts and strategies.

TW: What are your personal challenges with this chairmanship?

JPD: Everyone suffers from a shortage of time in a position of corporate
management, isn’t it so? Providing time for this activity is the greatest challenge. However, it is
also so that the stress is even bigger during the time as a CEMATEX delegate. [The European
Committee of Textile Machinery Manufacturers (CEMATEX) designated VDMA to organize ITMA 2007.]

TW: Does this extra work also bring some advantages?

JPD: It brings the advantage that I also deal with and have a good look at the
strategy of the German textile machinery manufacturers. In terms of exhibitions, many things are
moving. In this respect, it brought me firsthand information as a member of the Executive Board for
many years. And as chairman, I am in very direct contact with the office of Thomas Waldmann
[managing director, VDMA Textile Machinery Association] and his staff. And there, too, there is
firsthand information to be processed.

TW: The VDMA Textile Machinery Association is one of the largest textile machinery
associations in the world and has been for many years. Why do you think this is still the case?

JPD: I think that has primarily to do with the manifold structure of the German
textile machinery market. The situation is characterized by large companies with group structure on
one side. On the other hand, there are a large number of medium-sized, family-run enterprises with
long traditions and strong reputations that are handed down from generation to generation. And
then, I have to mention again the continuity. Today, one can hardly achieve ad hoc successes in the
textile machinery industry. All new developments are processes prepared in the long run. If all
this occurs in the family-owned enterprise, one has continuity in the development work. And this is
the prerequisite for success.

TW: So a company can’t buy a history?

JPD: Exactly, and it’s hard to accelerate it. Of course, one can delay history,
but it is very difficult to suddenly make a great leap in research and development. One always
wants this as a machinery builder, and searches for revolutionary solutions.

At the end of the day, one notices, however, that these were mostly modest jumps making the
next step forward. However, the number of smaller jumps is decisive.

TW: And how do you reconcile all this?

JPD: The profession of an independent entrepreneur presupposes that one does not
have too many interests alongside his job. I even think that one should be a little more reserved
with his hobbies. Today’s challenges are so manifold that one must concentrate all personal
strengths to be successful. The person who is willing to have success must remember his own
strengths, have a concept, and — to be more precise — a long-term, lasting concept. At all joyful
development work, one must set on continuity and be confident himself.



VDMA


There are some 130 enterprises in the
German textile machinery industry, and they achieve a turnover of approximately 3.5 billion euros
(US$4.78 billion) per year. Ninety percent of this turnover is generated by VMDA members.

TW: What are the advantages of VDMA membership?

JPD: The VDMA makes a big effort to promote the German textile machinery industry
worldwide. It is in this respect that it watches also very strongly our markets and provides the
members with information about market trends, business cycle data and statistics. However, it also
watches and documents the industry-specific results in the textile machinery industry with export
data. Statistics play a very important role.

The second point is the show information policy. One watches numerous fairs worldwide, and
is also present. Regarding advertising, purchase guides are distributed to present the German
textile machinery industry itself. The exhibitions, design, participation and the support in the
organization play an important role. Of course, the VDMA is represented prominently in the CEMATEX
committees and contributes its ideas.

TW: What does the VDMA think about education?

JPD: This is a great topic. The VDMA, of course, also cares about the young blood,
for example, with grants for engineering training. In connection with this, the VDMA is also
organizing global-scale symposia, in markets where it makes sense. In this respect, it is also
helpful for the members to find programs. Furthermore, one has to deal with technical questions,
contract forms, standards, safety techniques and so on, as well as have contact with the leading
textile institutes.

TW: You mentioned the keyword “exhibitions.” This is the hot topic, because there
are apparently too many fairs. Do you agree?

JPD: I don’t belong to the group of people who say there are too many fairs. One
simply must choose the right ones, and everybody has the freedom to do so. But the choice of too
many fairs is not that bad at all. And it is not only about machinery shows, but also about
smaller, local fairs or events without machinery — like Techtextil, where there are many customers
with whom one can talk about new products. The already mentioned symposia give even more events to
choose from, again where one meets the customers. And all this choice of where one can meet his
customers in one place is a very efficient opportunity to do marketing and saves various journeys.
In this respect, I suggest to everybody not to complain but to select the appropriate exhibitions
for their business.

Approximately 35 VDMA textile member enterprises are working in the area of nonwovens. Many
of them are also machinery manufacturers for spinning equipment. This sector is very progressive
and shows stable growth of 10 percent per year, sometimes even more. The classic textile machinery
industry can only dream of this growth rate. However, this applies not only to nonwovens, but also
to technical textiles, which have just as big a future potential. This development also will find
its expression at ITMA if one sees what kinds of products are shown for these areas.




Market Situation



Dilo considers the current market
situation quite positive. “The figures speak a considerable language,” he said. “The German textile
machinery industry expects an increase in sales of about 13 percent this year. This applies to the
entire textile machinery industry including accessories. The incoming orders still are developing
positively. It looks like a successful ITMA 2007 and a promising year for European textile
machinery manufacturers. As is well-known, the textile machinery industry is always the subject of
strong fluctuations. In 2005 and at the beginning of 2006, we all had below-average capacity rates.
This has improved so that we have arrived in the top midfield now.”

TW: How do you see the short- and medium-term future for the European textile
machinery industry? Will it be able to withstand the global competition, or will this industry
slowly migrate to Asia?

JPD: With all cautiousness, I am very positive for the reasons that I have already
mentioned. When one can contribute as a member of the Executive Board of the VDMA and also in his
peer group, one also needs to have a certain stability in his point of view. One also needs
self-motivation and self-conviction. One also must have faith — without faith nobody can be
successful. People who only live with fear can’t survive as businessmen. Having our own company
success in mind, I am very confident about the future.


September/October 2007

Diolen Introduces Diofort® Multifilament Yarn

The Netherlands-based Diolen Industrial Fibers has introduced Diofort®, the first high-tenacity
multifilament yarn made with Wilmington, N.C.-based Fortron Industries LLC’s Fortron® polyphenylene
sulfide (PPS) for use in fabrics, nonwovens or textiles, or as reinforcement. The yarn — which can
be combined with carbon, glass and other polymer fibers to produce blended fabrics — features
chemical resistance, flame retardancy, high durability, low water absorption, toughness and the
ability to withstand extremely high temperatures, according to Diolen.

Diofort’s production process comprises plasticizing and extruding Fortron PPS in a
multifilament extruder at the desired diameter, then stretching individual filaments in a defined
temperature range.

Diofort can be used to reinforce hydraulic oil hoses in power steering systems, reducing
vibration and noise; and composites for use in aerospace systems.


September/October 2007

Balta Unveils Softline® Yarn, Carpet Collections

Belgium-based Balta Group’s Balta Rug division has developed Softline® polypropylene yarn to impart
softness to rugs. The new yarn incorporates a high volume of ultrafine fiber strands that are
softened via a chemical process during production. Softline yarns are not made with traditional
softeners such as oil, making it environmentally friendly.

Balta has introduced two rug collections featuring the new yarn. Softline View rugs are
suitable for contemporary interiors, while Softline Style rugs are targeted to more traditional
settings.


September/October 2007

Wellman Sells WIL To Aurelius AG Affiliate

Wellman Inc., Fort Mill, S.C., has sold Ireland-based Wellman International Ltd. (WIL), the
company’s European recycled-based fibers business, to an affiliate of Germany-based investment firm
Aurelius AG for approximately $38 million. The sale is in line with Wellman’s strategy to focus on
its US chemical-based business.

“We are pleased with the result of Wellman’s investigation of strategic alternatives for our
business,” said Dick Budden, managing director, WIL. “With the support of Aurelius, we shall
continue providing first-class products and service to all our customers, and have the resources to
expand our business, both in fibers and in recycled materials for other applications.”

WIL has an annual production capacity of approximately 185 million pounds of primarily
post-consumer-recycled-content polyester fiber. Applications for the fiber include car interior
trim, industrial, loose-filled bed products, personal hygiene and upholstered furniture uses.


September/October 2007

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