Effective immediately or as contracts
allow, Germany-based BASF AG has raised the prices per metric ton in Europe of 2-ethylhexanoic acid
and 85-percent formic acid by 40 euros; 99-percent formic acid by 60 euros; Lupro-Cid®
formic/propionic acid mixture by 50 euros; and Lupro-Mix® formic/propionic acid mixture by 30
euros.
June 19, 2007
PT Unggulrejo Wasono, Indonesia, recently purchased 30 Sulzer Textil G6500 rapier weaving machines
from Switzerland-based Sultex Ltd. Established in 1979, PT Unggulrejo weaves fabrics in a 2-hectare
facility and exports 40 percent of the fabric produced.
“We opted for the G6500 because of its high performance, its versatility, its reliability and
the excellent fabric quality,” said Martin Lukas, director, PT Unggulrejo. “In addition, with
Sultex we have a superb partner with outstanding local technical support. With this machine, we
will enhance our exports of high-value-added dobby fabrics for the apparel segment.”
June 19, 2007
Newburyport, Mass.-based Starensier Inc. and its Cosmo Hong Kong Ltd. subsidiary have expanded
their use of Wakefield, Mass.-based Agion Technologies Inc.’s natural antimicrobial, odor-reducing
technology to include the use of Agion® in such brands as Columbia Sportswear, Crocs and Under
Armour. Agion technology may already be found in Starensier/Cosmo fabrics, finishes and composites
used in a wide range of footwear and apparel products from certain name brands.
“Increasing numbers of consumers are looking for antimicrobial protection in their footwear
and recognize the benefit of reduced odor in products that have antimicrobial protection,” said
Josh Van Dernoot, president, Starensier/Cosmo. “Through our exclusive partnership with Agion, we
can provide these solutions to consumers just by telling them to look for the trusted Agion name
for safe, natural protection in their footwear and apparel products.”
June 19, 2007
A total of nine Innovation Prizes were awarded at last week’s Techtextil and Avantex symposia,
which accompanied the corresponding Techtextil, the International Trade Fair For Technical Textiles
and Nonwovens, and Avantex, the International Forum for Innovative Apparel Textiles — events held
in Frankfurt, Germany. The goal of the competitions is to promote new ideas and innovations in the
high-tech textiles field, as well as to promote the transfer of ideas among research, industry and
end-user.
The following Techtextil Innovation Prizes were awarded:
New Material Developments
Technical blade of grass: Dr. Markus Milwich, Prof. Heinrich Planck, and Dr. Thomas
Stegmaier, Institute for Textile Technology and Process Engineering, Germany; and Dr. Prof. Thomas
Speck and Dr. Olga Speck of the Plant Biomechanics Group at the University of Freiburg, Germany,
developed this bionically optimized composite fiber material whose potential application areas
include such fields as aerospace, automotive, construction and apparatus engineering, where there
is a demand for tube-shaped structures, as well as medical purposes such as prosthetics.
New Areas of Application
Intelligent Impact Protection: Dr. Liz Mallen, Dr. Steve Robson, Graham Budden, Ph.D., and
Dr. Rich Sibbick, Dow Corning Corp., Midland Mich., developed a textile that serves as an
alternative to hard armoring, becoming solid upon impact but otherwise remaining flexible for
freedom of movement.
Auxetic Fabric: Dr. Patrick Hook, Auxetix Ltd., England; John Stimpson, Heathcoat & Co.
Ltd., England; and Prof. Ken Evans, Exeter University, England, developed a fabric that reduces
pressure created by explosions, offering new application possibilities in the security and
protection sectors.
Self-Cleaning Textile Surfaces with a Nano Finish: Dr. Ralf Nörenberg, Wolfram Badura and
Sylvia von Krog, BASF AG, Germany, developed a finish that repels oil, water and particles, and
whose potential application areas include tents, parasols and awnings.
Functional Translucent Concrete: Dr. Gerd Frankze, Helge Hausding, Dr. Evelin Hufnagl, and
Dr. Chokri Cherif from the Institute for Textile and Apparel Technology at the Technical University
of Dresden, Germany, developed a process based on the automatic fixation of rod-shaped elements
made of solid or tubular fibers in matrix or mat form. The process allows the integration of
additional features to provide for the transmission of signals or modification of room climate,
among other functions.
New Products
Water-Saving Irrigation Mat: Dr. Holger Erth, Rolf Arnold and Reinhard Helbig of the Saxon
Textile Research Institute at the Technical University of Chemnitz, Germany; Thomas Roess,
Internationale Geotextil GmbH, Germany; and Dietmar Haub, Eco Rain GmbH, Germany, developed a mat
made of two nonwoven layers of fabric with perforated tubes that enable water savings of up to 70
percent, according to the developers. Application areas may include agriculture, landscaping and
horticulture, especially in hot and dry climates.
Bionic climate membrane: The development team at Switzerland-based Schoeller Textil AG
developed the c_change™ wind- and waterproof membrane technology capable of controlling water-vapor
permeability, whose application area may include apparel.
Anatomic motorcycle suit: Designer Jasmin Julin-Aro with the research and design team from
Rukka/L Fashion Group Oy, Finland, developed a breathable, windproof, climate-controlled motorcycle
suit that incorporates an intelligent impact-protection textile that becomes a solid shield upon
impact. The suit uses Outlast climate-control technology and the Dow Corning® Active Protection
System.
June 19, 2007
San Francisco-based DHL has opened an international gateway in Hermosillo, Mexico, that offers
next-day delivery for all shipments up to 150 pounds from Hermosillo to anywhere in DHL’s US
network, and second-day delivery to and from Guaymas, Ciudad Obregón, Navojoa, Empalme and
surrounding communities in northwestern Mexico. The new hub operates daily flights between
Hermosillo and Phoenix; northbound shipments are routed through Phoenix to the company’s
Wilmington, Ohio, ground and air hub.
The Hermosillo facility offers a streamlined customs facility for cross-border shipments. DHL
customers may also contract with a Customs agent of their choice.
June 19, 2007
The US Treasury Department’s decision not to label China a currency manipulator has triggered a
sharp and quick response from the leadership of the trade committees in Congress. In its
semi-annual congressionally mandated International Economic and Exchange Rate Policies report, the
Treasury said that even though China’s currency, the yuan, is undervalued, it does not meet the
technical requirement that the policy is being carried out for the purpose of preventing effective
balance of payments adjustment or gaining unfair competition advantage in international trade.
The report said, “Even though the Treasury has not designated China according to the criteria
of the law, the Treasury forcefully raises the Chinese exchange rate regime with Chinese
authorities at every available opportunity and will continue to do so.” It went on to say China
should not hesitate any longer to take “far more vigorous action” to rebalance its economy and to
tackle the currency’s undervaluation. Shortly after the report was issued, the China central bank
allowed the yuan to break through what had been a symbolically important level of 8 to the dollar.
The move was seen as an effort by the Chinese to cool down the debate in the United States over its
currency policies.
That did not satisfy members of Congress who serve on committees with jurisdiction over trade
matters. Sens. Max Baucus, D-Mont., chairman of the Finance Committee, and Charles E. Grassley,
R-Iowa, the ranking committee member, introduced legislation that would require the Treasury
Department to develop a new report that identifies “fundamentally misaligned currency” as something
requiring US action and eliminating the “intent” criteria. The bill would mandate the Treasury to
consult with key trading partners and the International Monetary Fund to address currency problems.
In addition, the Department of Commerce would be required to consider currency manipulation in
evaluating anti-dumping cases.
On the House side, Democrats on the Ways and Means Committee said they plan to address
currency manipulation problems in a number of ways with legislation that would put pressure on
China and the administration to act. One such measure is the Ryan-Hunter bill, which is pending in
the House and now has 105 cosponsors. It would define exchange-rate manipulation as a prohibited
export subsidy and clarify that the US countervailing duty law applies to both market and nonmarket
economies, such as China.
June 19, 2007
What a success: With a year to go before the show opens for the first time in China, the ITMA Asia
+ CITME 2008 exhibition is already sold out. The 3rd ITMA Asia, which will take place in Shanghai,
is scheduled to be held from 27-31 July 2008.
The 100,000 square meters (m2) of gross exhibition space at the Shanghai New International
Expo Centre (SNIEC) for the first combined show has been booked up by textile machinery
manufacturers from around the world.
As applications continue to come in, the show owners European Committee of Textile Machinery
Manufacturers (CEMATEX), the Sub Council of Textile Industry, China Council for the Promotion of
International Trade (CCPIT-TEX), China Textile Machinery Association (CTMA) and China International
Exhibition Center Group Corp. (CIEC) have booked additional space at SNIEC.
ITMA Asia + CITME 2008 is organized by Beijing Textile Machinery International Exhibition Co.
Ltd. and by former ITMA Asia organizer MP International Pte. Ltd. At the close of space
applications in April 2007, organizers had received bookings from some 800 manufacturers from 20
countries and regions, filling all nine halls. The bulk of applications to date has come from
CEMATEX countries — Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
and Great Britain — and China, each taking about 45 percent of total space. Other applications have
been received from manufacturers in Denmark, Egypt, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia,
Taiwan, Thailand and the United States.
The Japan Textile Machinery Association (JTMA), a key partner of the ITMA Asia + CITME 2008
show, will bring a strong group of exhibitors to Shanghai. Space booked so far by Japanese
exhibitors has already exceeded that of ITMA Asia 2005, and more bookings are likely to come.
Two new halls which are currently under construction will be ready in time for ITMA Asia +
CITME 2008. This will bring the gross exhibition area to 120,000 m2 for the combined show’s debut.
The combined show features stringent admission criteria. Only original machinery
manufacturers are allowed to take part in the exhibition, no agents, and each exhibitor must show
actual products. No information booths are allowed. It will be the first exhibition in China to
establish an on-site Intellectual Property Protection Office. This move has been well-received by
the exhibitors as it protects their intellectual property rights and enhances the quality of the
exhibition.
Meanwhile, extensive promotions are being planned to invite buyers from the region to visit
the combined show. Strict controls will also be implemented to ensure that only trade and
professional visitors are admitted to the exhibition so as to create an excellent business platform
for exhibitors and buyers.
China’s Vice Premier Madam Wu Yi commended the strong cooperation between ITMA Asia and
CITME. “The combination of two leading textile machinery exhibitions in the world’s largest textile
and apparel industrial center will further facilitate the complementary cooperation between the
textile industries in China and Europe, and boost prosperity and progress in a globalised world,”
she said.
CEMATEX President A. E. Roberts added, “China is a very important market for our members and
they are enthusiastic about the country’s potential. As a result, they are concentrating all their
marketing efforts into this milestone show.”
ITMA Asia + CITME 2008 has received support from the world’s major textile machinery
associations: the American Textile Machinery Association (ATMA); CTMA; CEMATEX; JTMA; Korea Textile
Machinery Association (KOTMA); and Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI). These
associations have also pledged that the combined show will be the only exhibition in China that
they will fully support in the future.
For more information, go to www.itmaasia.com.
June 19, 2007
June 12, 2007
“PGI is focused on ensuring we have the right cost structure to effectively compete in each
of our markets,” said Veronica M. “Ronee” Hagen, CEO. “Our operation in Germany is not of
sufficient size to support a stand-alone site, but the business will remain viable when combined
with our existing operation in the Netherlands. While difficult, these actions are necessary to
ensure our long-term competitiveness and ability to position our company for further growth and
investment in the region.”
June 12, 2007
The award will be presented at the Vision 2008 Consumer Products Conference, to be held Feb.
5-7, 2008, at the Renaissance Worthington Hotel in Forth Worth, Texas.
For more information, contact Michael Jacobsen, Visionary Awards coordinator, (201)
612-6601; mjacobsen@inda.org; www.inda.org.
June 12, 2007
