SHIRLEY, Mass.— February 13, 2024 — Bemis Associates Inc. today announced that it has expanded its EverFit™ family of elastic replacement adhesives, giving apparel designers a full range of support and breathability options to design consistent, all-day comfort into garments for a wide variety of uses and body types.
EverFit, an innovative Sewfree® adhesive that replaces elastic and sewing to make clothes more comfortable and durable, has added 10 new EverFit offerings. Bemis’ softest and stretchiest adhesive yet, EverFit is particularly effective in elevating the performance and aesthetic of bras, waistbands and other garments that utilize straps, overlap seams or foldover hems.
“We know women and men want their clothes, especially bras and waistbands, to be comfortable all day, not just a few hours. This technology gives apparel brands the power to meet consumer demand and have the flexibility to create garments that fit every body shape with comfort for an entire day,” said Amir Nankali, Bemis global director of product innovation. “By offering this innovative technology in a wide variety of formulas, we are enabling apparel brands to create garments that provide different levels of support and breathability to meet consumers’ preferences.”
Bemis introduced EverFit in 2023 to immediate commercial success, particularly with brands in the intimates, performance and athleisure markets. Compared to traditional sewing and hems, Everfit reduces seamlines without adding bulk for a smooth look and feel. These benefits provide apparel brands with greater design opportunities in an ever-changing fashion landscape, and consumers with a lighter, more comfortable, consistent, all-day fit.
Available in solid, net and Bemis FlowFree breathable formats, Everfit technology is ideal for bralettes, wire bras, sports bras, t-shirt bras, leggings, underwear, biker shorts, and waistlines for sweatpants, and joggers.
Uster attracted attention for its new 360Q integrated solution suite.
Part one in a two-part feature reviewing improved tests for fabric performance along with automated inspection and digitalization technologies that reduce product defects and waste to help improve the textile supply chain.
By Dr. Kavita Mathur
Key topics at ITMA 2023, held in Milan, Italy, included Automation and Digital Future, Advanced Materials, Sustainability and Circularity, and Innovative Technologies. These focus areas were very prominent throughout the show and were displayed in the ways of continuous improvement and advancements in technology, design capabilities and service for enhanced performance and overall efficiency. Machine manufacturers displayed diversified machines for apparel, home, carpet and technical textiles applications. To service these broad product portfolios, testing and qual-ity control (QC) equipment manufacturers offer advanced instruments in the field of measurement and control and automation, which support the textile industry in achieving efficient and reliable QC.
Textile testing and QC form a very important part of textile production, distribution and consumption. Quality management is important not only inside the factory, but also between suppliers because it helps to ensure the safety and quality for brands and consumers. Textile testing is used to check the quality and suitability of raw materials and aid in their selection, monitor production, assess the final product, investigate faulty material, and during product research and development. QC instruments, software and test methods have never been more important throughout the textile supply chain.
It is worth mentioning the increased number of digital solutions— many presented at the show — to help manage resource use and minimize waste, perform continuous online QC, and carry out automatic fault detection and predictive maintenance. The machinery and software presented at the show reduces the need for physical prototypes by way of virtual design software, simulation tools and digital replicas that facilitate testing and QC. Software solutions —either stand-alone or integrated into machinery — were more present at ITMA 2023 than in previous editions of the show. Machine learning and generative artificial intelligence (AI) may be the next frontier in testing and QC of textile materials.
The article covers the latest developments and advancements in testing and quality control technologies for fibers, yarns and fabrics presented by exhibitors at ITMA 2023 in five separate areas — fiber and yarn measurement, fabric performance testing, color measurement and communication, tactile measurement, and QC measurement.
Fiber And Yarn Measurement
Germany-based Textechno GmbH & Co. — represented in the United States by Greenville, S.C.-based Measured Solutions Inc. —presented its latest innovations at ITMA 2023, including several testing devices for fibers, yarns, nonwovens and fabrics. Two of these innovations are a new weak spot tester for spun yarns; and a modular testing system, which determines the quality parameters of recycled fibers, including fibers from post-industrial and post-consumer waste, regardless of their color, blending or chemical treatment.
The increasing importance of work safety as well as new demands for testing reinforcement fibers motivated Textechno to develop a new electronic wrap reel, the Texreel. It is applicable to textile yarns as well as technical yarns and reinforcement fibers used in composites such as car-bon fiber tows and glass fiber rovings. As part of the new ITMA chapter “Composites,” Textechno demonstrated the Fimatest testing system for fiber/matrix adhesion and for the characterization of roving and tow properties. The system consists of the Fimabond embedding station and a clamping accessory to the Favimat+. Information about the dynamics of the bonding process is provided through a new feature of the Fimatest, via contact angle measurements.
Additionally, the company exhibited the latest generation of its Favimat+ and Statimat DS testers. Favimat+ Airbot 2 is an automatic linear density and tensile tester for single fibers used to test various types of fibers, including high molecular weight polyethylene, glass, carbon and aramid, and is considered among the most important test devices with its structure combining six single-fiber test methods. For this device, since Textechno has already successfully entered the market of testing reinforcement fibers such as glass or carbon fiber, the company also presented an integrated measurement of fiber conductivity that is especially interesting in the field of smart textiles. Covafil+, designed by Textechno for filament yarns, was also on display. Compatible with MDTA 4, Covafil+ is identified as a reliable quality control system that can be adjusted to various applications, ensuring that all yarn parameters are tested at the same time.
Statimat DS, another innovation exhibited at Textechno’s stand, offers a new series of automatic tension tests, including tensile, shear, evenness and yarn count measurement, which are the most important four test methods of textile yarns and threads. Beside these machines, Textechno also introduced the MDTA 4, a micro-dust, trash and fiber-length tester, part of its Fibre Classifying System. The MDTA 4 works by processing raw cotton from the bale, providing data relating to impurities such as neps, trash, dust and fiber fragment content. The MDTA 4 can be used to determine the stickiness of raw cotton. For precise analysis of the number and size of impurities, it can also be combined with the NTDA module.
Lenzing Instrument’s ACW600
Another well-known manufacturer of textile testing equipment, Lenzing Instruments GmbH & Co. KG, Austria, provided a detailed insight into its comprehensive range of testing equipment for online, at-line and laboratory applications. In line with sustainability being a key theme for the textile industry at ITMA, these resource saving factors connected to QC with Lenzing Instruments also contribute to greener production processes. The company presented solutions for enhanced testing efficiency, reproducibility and accuracy, including the ACW 600/DVA, the DTI 600, the Rapid 600 and Sess. These systems enable yarn bobbins to be tested for linear density (dtex, denier) —using the ACW 600/DVA; for molecular orientation via the DTI 600, as well as for entanglement of flat and industrial yarn shortly after the last production step. Used together with the highly automated sampling system Sess, these ASTM standardized at-line testing instruments can decisively contribute to quick reactions to any detected quality issues. Additionally, intended for high-volume offline detection of filament yarn defects such as broken filaments and fluff, the company presented its Elkometer 200. Equipped with a customized number of Prompt Olo optical defect detection sensors, the system enables simultaneous defect inspection of up to eight yarn bobbins.
Italy-based MESDAN S.p.A. offered a comprehensive range of testing equipment for physical analysis, dyeing, and finishing assessment. At ITMA, MESDAN displayed its solutions in the spinning hall on the VANDEWIELE stand and at the Thermetrics booth. Highlights from the company included a new mechatronic splicer for the Savio Proxima machine; two novel cotton fiber testing systems — the CONTEST-F2 for high volume cotton fiber testing and the CONTEST-S, a cotton stickiness tester; and the LAB SHREDDING MACHINE, a new laboratory scale equipment for textile mechanical recycling. The latest shredding machine complements its well-known Mini-Spinning line, extending Mesdan’s applications in one of the most important trends — textile recycling.
Switzerland-based Uster Technologies AG introduced its latest product for fabric inspection. The company presented solutions based on automation and artificial intelligence, which are now integrated in its innovative fabric inspection technologies. The company attracted attention at the show for its new 360Q integrated solution suite, which combines instrumentation, software and support services for better decision making in the mill. The company has observed that many mills do not have enough personnel resources, and considering the fact that the number of textile graduates is insufficient, automation will simplify mills’ work. Uster’s 360Q presented a solution suite to enable the mill to be more successful, meaning it can make better-informed decisions that have a real impact on profits.
For fabric quality management, a component of the 360Q suite is the Uster Fabriq Assistant, a central platform for automated processing, analysis and visualization of quality data from Uster fabric inspection systems. The application is a Web-based tool with individual user accounts and specific dashboards. The Assistant eliminates manual data processing and speeds up decision processes significantly. Fabric manufacturers can release their product for delivery automatically based on their specific business rules without any humans in the loop, which eliminates bottlenecks and increases productivity. The application can also show a summary of quality performance from all the fabric rolls ever inspected in the mill. Information is presented as a variety of statistical analysis tools, with results in different charts, histograms or evolution trends. Fabriq Assistant uses advanced technologies such as AI. The AI attaches codes to each image generated by the Uster Fabriq Vision products, eliminating the need of mill personnel to spend time and effort, inserting codes to each defect in a computer to carry out a data review. Data classification — AI Classification — is fully automated with the use of AI, so producers can save more than 80 percent of the time taken when using manual methods.
The company also launched a new edition of Uster Statistics, a globally accepted quality benchmark for industry-wide quality improvement, which now includes a section for recycled yarn. The Uster Statistics 2023 edition features an extended range of fiber data, supporting sustainability goals. The challenge in this area is the spinning of recycled yarns. Uster Statistics aims to facilitate spinners transforming their mills to a more sustainable future, as spinning yarn blends of virgin and recycled fibers is a much bigger challenge than any other commonly used blend.
Italy-based Tomsic S.r.l., active in the production and marketing of complete laboratory equipment for spinning mills and autoleveller systems for cards and drawframes, showcased its new innovation — the Tomsic Nep & Trash Tester — designed to facilitate the control and tuning of fiber parameters in spinning mills. The company is trying to reduce electricity consumption in its products. The tester offers spinners control technology, simplicity of operation, flexibility and low maintenance costs, according to Tomsic. The company also presented its Evenness tester and the TensoTester3 strength tester, as well as other laboratory equipment for spinning mills.
Atlas Ci3000+
Fabric Performance Testing
Among the companies with solutions to test fabric performance, Atlas Material Testing Technology, Mount Prospect, Ill. — a provider of accelerated lightfastness testing instruments and services for the textile industry — showcased its Ci3000+ Fade-Ometer® and Xenotest® 440 instruments. With Atlas weathering instruments, users can closely simulate real-world exposure to sunlight, temperature and moisture under accelerated conditions, allowing them to quickly and accurately predict product service life.
The Ci3000+ Fade-Ometer is widely considered the benchmark instrument for weathering and light-fastness testing of textiles. It has an advanced digital control system and optical technologies for reliable control of all test parameters, providing accurate prediction of textile products’ service life. The instrument features a large and intuitive graphical user interface, WXView. Also, for textile weathering tests, the Xenotest 440 is a compact, high-performance xenon-arc instrument with an ultrasonic humidifier to reduce water consumption, up to 4,000-hour lamp service life, and capable of simultaneous testing of more than 200 samples and meeting global lightfastness and weathering standards, including AATCC, ISO, Marks & Spencer and GB/T.
England-based SDC Enterprises (SDCE), with a newly designed logo and brand refresh, used ITMA 2023 in Milan to launch two new products — the PVC Sensor Film for testing BS EN ISO Standard 9185:2007 and the Reference 7 Wool Liquid Detergent, in line with the updated version of ISO Standard 6330:2021. These two products add to SDCE’s range of products for color fastness, lightfastness and physical testing for QC of textiles at international BS, EN and ISO Standards. The exhibit included Martindale consumables, detergents, grey scales, blue wools, and SDCE’s signature Multifiber for guaranteed consistency in the quality control of textiles.
In addition to its fiber testing equipment, Mesdan also presented three new yarn and fabric testing solutions: AUTOFIL, a high speed, fully automatic, 24-position yarn strength tester that can also test threads, hanks and fabrics in the semi-automatic mode; AUTODYN 3, a single-position, automatic version tensile strength tester for fibers, yarns, hanks and fabrics that incorporates an automatic yarn loading system; and BURSTMATIC, a pneumatic bursting tester to determine the bursting resistance of woven and knitted fabrics, nonwovens, and cardboard.
Rock Hill, S.C.-based SDL Atlas presented its extensive offering in consumables for QC. In addition to many core performance textiles testers, like the MMT moisture tester, DryRate 201 for the determination of dry rates, and FTT for skin touch property measurements, the company displayed next generation versions of its HydroPro, a hydrostatic head tester; AirPerm, an air permeability tester for paper, textiles and nonwovens; and Vortex Plus, a multiple-wash simulator machine.
England-based James Heal, a PPT Group brand centered in material testing, focused its presence at ITMA on innovations related to testing protective clothing and personal protective equipment. Continued development of textile testing equipment has been driven by global growth in more advanced protective wear, particularly for military and emergency services sectors. Initially launched at ITMA 2019, the company showcased developments in the James Heal Performance Testing Range line of instruments. Among them were the WickView, a tester for moisture wicking behavior in fabric; Aquabrasion, for analysis of effects of wet abrasion to better replicate real-life wear situations; and TruRain, a sustainable water repellency tester able to recycle water and cutting waste by 99 percent. In particular, WickView has moved ahead of the current test standard for moisture wicking behavior in fabric. James Heal is working with the industry to establish new standards in this area of textile testing after it developed its own test methods.
England-based Roaches International — a globally recognized manufacturer and supplier of laboratory dyeing, finishing equipment and textile performance testing instruments— introduced its IR Bonder, a vertical infrared bonding and chemical application line consisting of a single end bond applicator and infrared curing chamber with extremely low electrical consumption. The IR Bonder is integrated with a single head winder and, in addition to textile industry, has a potentially broad range of application markets including the automotive and medical sectors. Its drying mechanism simulates current coating technology and standard winding equipment to bond sewing threads by applying a nylon terpolymer, which is applied in a solution form. The system has a running speed of up to 600 meters per minute to process narrow width yarns or textiles on as many as six lanes.
GESTER International Co. Ltd., China, presented the GT-C13B-6 Martindale Abrasion Pilling Tester, offering precise evaluation of fabric pilling resistance, which is the standard method of determining the wear resistance of textiles or leather and the resistance to pilling. The company also displayed its GT-C02-1, a precisely calibrated tester to determine the tensile strength and elongation of fabrics. Also on display was equipment for waterproof test-ing of fabrics, hood fabric, tarpaulin, rainproof fabrics and geotextiles; the highly efficient GT-C26B hydrostatic pressure bursting tester; mask synthetic blood penetration tester, the GT-RA01, exclusively designed to test the blood penetration resistance of masks; the GT-C09 vertical tensile button tensing machine, which can perform even and vertical tensile test of all kinds of buttons on garments; and two circular sample cutters —the GT-C75 and GT-C75-3.
In the area of smart textile testing, China-based ChiuVention presented a number of instruments including its SmartTexLab smart lab management system, which is the first of its kind in the textile industry. This smart system efficiently digitally links multiple smart textile testing instruments and sample preparation equipment using multiple technologies like IoT automation, RFID, AI or vision detection. With this software, customers can easily control, obtain and share test results by installing the company’s SmartTexLab app on their cell phones. This is in line with the Sustainability and Circularity topic at ITMA, as textile labs can achieve automatic sample identification, automatic sample cutting, and automatic transmission of test results for the same sample and instrument, and then, after the test, a summary report can be quickly shared online to the quality control department or customer.
In addition to the SmartTexLab, and among the most popular of its nine instruments showcased, the company showed its SmartShrink Rate Tester. The machine is used to automatically calculate the shrinkage rate of a particular textile product, using visual automation to capture warp and weft data of the textile before and after shrinkage rate testing. The process can be done in seconds, reducing human error and improving the efficiency of this process in textile factories.
Q Lab Corp., Westlake, Ohio, showcased its accelerated weathering and lightfastness testers. The varied versions of the Q-SUN testers use xenon arc lamps, which provide the best match to the full spectrum of sunlight and rain, and can reproduce the damage that occurs over months or years in outdoor environments. The company also presented its QUV, an accelerated weathering tester to measure UV damage in textiles. The QUV tester’s fluorescent lamps simulate short-wave ultraviolet (UV) rays, reproducing the physical damage caused by sunlight, which can include color change, gloss loss, blistering, embrittlement and strength loss, and oxidation, among other damage. The test chamber includes a condensation system that simulates dew, accelerating its effect using elevated temperatures.
Editor’s Note: Dr. Kavita Mathur is an associate professor in the department of Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management, at Raleigh, N.C.-based NC State’s Wilson College of Textiles. This article was adapted for Textile World from a paper by Dr. Mathur published in the NC State Wilson College of Textiles’ Journal of Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management (JTATM). Part two of this article will appear in an upcoming issue of TW.
FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — February 13, 2024 — SGS, a testing, inspection and certification company, is delighted to announce the expansion of fire safety, resistance and flammability testing services at its laboratory in Farmingdale, New York, USA.
Within the framework of ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation, the laboratory’s team of experts has been successful in expanding and enhancing its scope to incorporate accredited testing for:
Aviation and automotive:
Aerospace – power plant flame penetration – test methods BSS 7338
Airplane interiors – FAA Part 25 Chapter 12, AITM 2.0056, BSS 7387, FAA Part 25 Appendix F Part Vll
Building materials:
Test methods ASTM E2768, CAN/ULC-S102 and CAN/ULC S102.2, NFPA 262
Furnishings, carpets and textiles:
Drapery/decorative materials – test method BS 5867-2, ISO 15025, ISO 6941
Wire and cables:
Product development – UL 1581 Section 1080 VW-1
Analytical new section on scope:
Test methods ASTM D92, ISO 2592, ASTM D93, IP 34, ISO 2719, ISO 15267
Bobby Brown, Director of Operations and Business Development, SGS said: “This welcome expansion of our scope is testament to our commitment to providing exceptional services to our clients. Our team of experts has worked diligently to incorporate the new tests, enhance existing methodologies, and leverage innovative technologies.
SGS Farmingdale – Apparatus used for flammability testing
“The broader capability builds on our expertise and SGS’s 2017 acquisition of Govmark Testing Services to ensure that our clients, from the aviation to textile sectors, receive the highest level of service. In the end, it’s only trusted because it’s tested.”
SGS’s laboratory is recognized by various US Code agencies, state authorities, international organizations and industry leaders, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), and International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Effective from January 2024, the expanded range of flammability testing capabilities will ensure SGS is best placed to support its domestic and international clients to meet national and international regulations and requirements demanded across a multitude of industry sectors.
SGS flammability testing
SGS can perform a comprehensive range of tests in the domains of fire resistance of a product or a system (structural and material integrity, stability, insulation during a fire exposure) and reaction to fire/flammability for materials (behavior when exposed to a flame or heat radiation).
These include:
Furniture, furnishings, textiles and mattresses
Plastics, films and composites
Building materials
Wires and cables
Interior materials for railcar and civil aviation operators
Physical testing solutions include abrasion testing and analysis against standards enforced by:
A look at the latest software developments in advanced planning systems on display at ITMA 2023.
By Dr. Kristin A. Thoney-Barletta
ITMA 2023 featured a wide range of software technologies from companies located throughout the world. Software ran the gamut, but this article focuses primarily on advanced planning and scheduling systems (APS) showcased at ITMA 2023. In contrast to an ITMA review written after the 2019 ITMA show (see “Supply Chain Management Software For Textile Networks,” TW, September/October 2020) that provided an overview of 10 APS systems, this article compares the features of APS systems featured at ITMA 2023, presents developments in those systems over the past two to three years, and provides information on what company representatives feel are the key differentiating factors of their software.
Companies included in this article appeared in ITMA’s Index of Products in category 15.3.2 — “Software systems for Supply Chain Management (SCM) in textile networks” and/or 15.3.3, “Software for Enterprise resource Planning [ERP], Product Lifecycle Management [PLM], and Production Planning and Scheduling [PPS].”
Details Of APS Software Packages
All the software packages discussed here offer the ability to provide detailed capacity planning, and also can generate detailed production schedules to help meet customer due dates and minimize costs over one or more factories. Most of the company representatives who were interviewed considered their company’s software to be an ERP system, a Manufacturing Execution System (MES), a Quality Management System (QMS), a Warehouse Management System (WMS), and a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system (See Table 1). Only some of the representatives considered the software to be a PLM system. This is not surprising, since PLM systems are designed to manage product development, while APS systems focus on managing production. Only Italy-based Retelit S.p.A., the developer of Just MES manufacturing execution system, did not consider its software to be an ERP system.
Company representatives also were asked about the types of textiles processes and industries in which their software package is implemented. Table 2 displays the process results, while Table 3 reveals the findings regarding the industries. The tables show that all of the software systems have been implemented in a wide range of processes and industries. Software was least commonly implemented in nonwovens processes and footwear.
To provide information about system capability updates since the article from ITMA 2019 was published, the company representatives were asked what changes and additions were incorporated into their software over the past two to three years. Company representatives were also asked what differentiates their software from that of their competitors and what their customers tell them about why they chose their software over alternatives. The answers to these questions follow. The sections are grouped by the primary regions in which the software is implemented to allow the reader to focus on the regions in which they are most interested in APS software implementation.
Austria, Germany, Switzerland
Halo GmbH – inteos®, Germany: Klaus Kreutzberg of Kreutzberg Consulting, a Halo Business Partner, said that new features of inteos include the ability to control machines with mobile devices. A primary differentiator of inteos compared to its competitors is that inteos can track all materials used and can therefore sup-port the identification of an optimized reuse of the raw material. Kreutzberg says that customers choose inteos because Halo knows how a textile company thinks, helps to analyze its customer’s process and can customize its software if required.
France And Other Parts Of Europe
Schaeffer Productique, France: Olivier Heitz, technical manager, said that the latest version of Schaeffer Productique is fully Web-based, there is now workflow to manage fashion, and artificial intelligence has been added into the ability to change the scheduling rules. Key company differentiators include Schaeffer Productique’s ability to communicate about textiles and that the software is already used in textile factories. Heitz said that customers choose Schaeffer Productique because the company speaks the same language as most of its customers — French and German — and employs many textile engineers.
Italy
Computer House S.r.l., Italy: Paolo Langé, engineer at Computer House, said that Computer House® has added artificial intelligence into its software, including new functions to provide better production plans. Computer House’s experience over the past 30 years is what differentiates it from competitors. Langé said customers choose its software because Computer House continually improves its product and shares implementation of new features requested by one customer with other customers. In addition, Computer House is always willing to listen to its customers and react to customer requests.
Interlem GP Omega, Italy: CEO Andrea Picone said that Interlem GP Omega is now a completely Web-based software. It uses a new scheduling system called Net@Pro, in partnership with another company, and Interlem GP Omega also includes a new ERP version. In addition, a new Gantt chart-based procedure helps detect the source of problems. Picone believes that Interlem GP Omega’s scheduling is better than that of its competitors. The lower price and flexibility of Interlem GP Omega’s solution are other reasons he thinks that their customers choose Interlem GP Omega.
Worldwide
AREL, Australia: According to Michael Sakowicz, project manager, Arel has added business intelligence into its software, which allows companies to better meet a company’s key performance indicators. The strategy of how Arel works — taking a template and customizing it to the customer’s processes and business — is what differentiates it from competitors. Sakowicz believes that its customers choose Arel over alternatives because it can quickly change the software in reaction to the customer’s needs.
Datatex®, a global company with offices in Alpharetta, Ga.: Shannon McCarthy, head of Business Development & Administration Americas, said that Datatex® has updated its user interface, and its ERP module now has some finite capacity planning and scheduling. Datatex now also offers a finance module and a mobile sales app. Key differentiators of Datatex include strong scheduling, excellent transferability, and bottom up and actual costing. In addition, there is fairly limited customization in Datatex implementations because the software has so much functionality and this makes it easier to upgrade customer’s software with new releases. McCarthy believes that customers choose Datatex because it is proven, the company knows their customers’ manufacturing processes, and the software looks modern and is modern.
Just MES, Italy: Just MES used to be owned by Up Solutions, but now is owned by the Retelit Group. Lucrezia Rivetti, sales back office specialist, said that Just MES has added automatic planning capability and now includes machine learning algorithms to help companies analyze their processes. Differentiators of Just MES over its competitors include lower cost, ease of use and implementation, and that it is ERP independent. Rivetti said that customers appreciate that they do not have to explain textile processes to Just MES contacts at the Retelit Group because these contacts are very experienced with textile operations.
Porini S.r.l., Italy: Thorsten Steiert, a consultant at b4dynamics— an IT/ERP consulting company that works with Porini — said that Porini offers a complete system. Key differentiators are that Porini is based on the Microsoft Dynamics 365 system, it has cloud functionality, and when new features are added to the Microsoft system, Porini also can offer these capabilities. Steiert believes that customers choose Porini since it works with all kinds of textiles and textile processes and is very flexible.
Conclusions
There have been many changes to APS software over the past two to three years. Some company representatives said that its software now includes some mobile device capabilities. A few companies said that its software is now fully Web-based. Several mentioned that they have included artificial intelligence and business intelligence within their software solution.
With regards to factors that differentiate the software and why representatives believe customers choose their software over their competitors, many highlighted their company’s knowledge of textile process. In addition, many representatives also emphasized that its system has been developed to be used with textile processes, which means less cus-tomization is required. These advantages speak to why a textile company might want to choose an APS system that focuses on the textile industry rather than a general APS system.
APS company representatives also mentioned many other differentia-tors and reasons customers choose its system. Better scheduling was mentioned by a few representatives, as was lower cost. Some discussed cultural factors, like language knowledge or competency of area business practices. However, the reason most commonly given by company repre-sentatives was its responsiveness to customer requests.
Choosing the correct APS system is difficult. This paper provides a high-level comparison of potential options to help textile companies begin to narrow down possibilities.
Editor’s Note: Editor’s Note: Dr. Kristin A. Thoney Barletta is professor, associ-ate head & director of Undergraduate Programs in the Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management Depart-ment at NC State’s Wilson College of Textiles. This article was adapted for TTWW from a paper by Dr. Barletta pub-lished in the NC State Wilson College of Textiles’ Journal of Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management (JTATM).
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — February 13, 2024 — Hawk Ridge Systems and DyeMansion form a strategic partnership to bring more high-quality 3D printing post-processing solutions to multi jet fusion (MJF) customers, additive manufacturers and sustainability creators. Together, the companies will continue to develop an innovative future in additive manufacturing worldwide.
For nearly 30 years, Hawk Ridge Systems has served the U.S. and Canadian markets as a leading provider of design-to-manufacturing solutions, from engineering and manufacturing software to 3D printers and scanners. DyeMansion is the global leader, serving over 46 countries, in 3D-printing post-processing solutions that turn raw 3D-printed powder-bed fusion parts into high-quality products with its industrial 3D-finishing technologies.
“DyeMansion offers impressive post-processing finishing technologies that change how our customers can develop end-use parts. This partnership will provide our MJF customers with more sustainable, high-quality opportunities as they continue innovating into the future,” said Dale Ford, President and CEO of Hawk Ridge Systems. “We are excited to continue future-proofing our additive manufacturing customers with DyeMansion.”
DyeMansion’s core values include creating technology for the future and sustainable post-processing production methods. Its products provide flexible solutions for small batches and high-volume needs for industrial factories.
Hawk Ridge Systems’ integrated-solution portfolio will now include the complete Print-to-Product workflow with the products — Powershot C, Powershot S, DM60 and Powerfuse S.
The Powershot C and Powershot S offer customers automated depowdering, easy and efficient part cleaning, smoother finished parts and high-quality part surfaces. The DM60 provides customers with the widest range of color options for gray and white base material available today. With the Powerfuse S, customers can experience the only green vapor polishing solution for highly industrial manufacturing that reduces the costs per part due to high levels of automation and a closed-loop system.
“We are thrilled to join forces with Hawk Ridge Systems and welcome them as our newest Platinum Sales Partner in North America,” said Kai Witter, Chief Customer Officer at DyeMansion. “This partnership not only strengthens our network but also underlines our shared commitment to deliver state-of-the-art post-processing solutions to customers across the United States. We look forward to working closely together with the Hawk Ridge Systems team to bring end-use parts to the market, no matter the application or industry.”
Hawk Ridge Systems also offers HP, Markforged and Formlabs 3D printing technologies; Artec and Creaform 3D scanners; and Dassault Systèmes solutions, including SOLIDWORKS, 3DEXPERIENCE and CAMWorks manufacturing software. In addition to software and hardware solutions, the company has other business growth services, including end-to-end manufacturing options with A3D Manufacturing, instructor-led training courses and resources for its products, and on-demand video tutorials on SolidProfessor’s highly engaging learning environment.
MONTEBELLO, Calif. — February 13, 2024 — ALLIED Feather + Down (AF+D), global suppliers of high performance, ethically sourced, and recycled down, is proud to officially ramp up their one of a kind RENU:TRACE recycled down program with the help of NEMO’s Endless PromiseÒ circular product collection. NEMO will be the first brand to utilize ALLIED’s industry leading recycling program to fuel the world’s first fully traceable recycled down insulation.
All ALLIED down is 100 percent ethically sourced and traceable back to the region where it was produced, and is therefore the ideal down material for their RENU:TRACE program. When NEMO’s Endless Promise down sleeping bags reach the end of their lifespan, ALLIED will fully recycle them and funnel the insulation into RENU:TRACE, the first and only fully circular and traceable recycled down insulation.
“Recyclable and naturally biodegradable, down is one of the most sustainable insulations on the planet and plays an important role in a circular economy,” said Daniel Uretsky, president with ALLIED. “We launched our RENU:TRACE program in November, 2022, understanding the importance of ensuring animal welfare through traceable recycled down. We are excited to see the realization of RENU:TRACE’s potential within the NEMO Endless Promise program.”
Unless traceable down is both sourced and recycled in a closed loop, it is virtually impossible to ensure that any recycled down comes from purely ethical sources. Before RENU:TRACE, brands had to make a decision to either focus on post-consumer recycled material OR ethically treated animals.
For Spring 2024, NEMO’s top-selling down sleeping bags will be part of the fully recyclable Endless Promise Collection. The Disco™ and Riff™ Spoon™ shape sleeping bags, and the brand-new mummy-style Coda™ all incorporate technical features like next-generation Thermo Gill™ vents for fine-tuned temperature control; waterproof hood and footbox fabrics; and PFAS-free, RDS-certified ALLIED down fill. In addition to being made from recycled fabrics, each bag is 100-percent recyclable to stay out of the landfill at the end of its life.
While NEMO is the first to participate, the RENU:TRACE program is available to all of ALLIED’s partner brands.
NEW ALBANY, Ind. — February 13, 2024 — INDCO presents their BM-series gear drive bracket mount mixers for medium to heavy viscosity materials in 30-to-55-gallon drums. An adjustable mounting bracket fits steel drums from 18” to 31” in diameter, and tightens to the drum with a hand knob, so no tools are required. Available with air, electric, or variable speed electric drive, totally enclosed fan cooled (TEFC), or totally enclosed non-ventilated (TENV) motors from 1/2 to 4 HP.
Electric variable speed models feature a controller mounted on and prewired directly to the motor. Single phase TEFC models are equipped with cord, plug, and switch. Sturdy 5/8-inch by 30-inch stainless steel shaft size is fitted with one or two axial impellers with size and number matched to the HP of the unit. All wetted parts are stainless steel for chemical resistance. INDCO BM series mixers are ideal for a variety of medium to heavy viscosity materials.
BM-series mixers are manufactured in INDCO’s New Albany factory and typically ship within two business days. Contact factory for details.
Located in New Albany, Ind., INDCO is a manufacturer of industrial mixers. Since 1975 it has designed and manufactured a completed lineup of mixers for batch sizes up to 50,000 gallons. They use premium brand components in their robust designs to deliver high quality mixers that earn their customer’s trust. In addition to premier equipment, INDCO prides itself on providing fast, friendly customer service and immediate technical support. Full information is available on their comprehensive website, www.INDCO.com
MOUNT PROSPECT, Illinois — February 13, 2024 — Introducing the Atlas S³T system – the latest advancement from the leader in accelerated artificial and natural weathering testing. Designed for the flagship Weather-Ometer® Ci4400 and Ci5000 instruments, the Atlas S³T system makes it possible for the first time to continuously measure the specific surface temperature of individual samples during live testing.
Surface temperature is a critical factor for the rate of photochemical reactions in weathering. But until now, the measurement of surface temperatures has not been feasible for multiple samples in laboratory weathering instruments. The result has been that surface temperature is often neglected during testing or only roughly estimated based on black and white standard or panel reference temperatures.
At the core of the S³T system is an integrated, contactless IR pyrometer, which accurately and precisely measures and assigns the surface temperature of each specimen and can operate continuously during the complete exposure.
The S³T system allows for:
Better reproduction of natural conditions, such as heat uptake and color distribution
Better control of test parameters to avoid overheating of specimens
Continuous tracing of the specific sample temperature, allowing for the immediate detection of property changes, such as darkening, without disruption of the test
Investigation of specific sample characteristics, such as activation energies of photochemical degradation reactions, for cool pigments, IR-reflective coatings and heat and light stabilizers.
The Atlas S³T system is available now for the Ci4400 and Ci5000 Weather-Ometers. For more information, visit atlas-mts.com.
Germany-based BASF and Spain-based fashion brand Inditex have announced the launch
of loopamid®, a recycled nylon 6 (polyamid 6 or PA6) comprised of 100-percent textile waste. BASF has devised a circular solution for nylon apparel that permits blends of post-industrial and post-consumer waste — such as nylon and elastane — to be recycled in a textile-to-textile process over multiple cycles. According to BASF, the properties of the resulting nylon are identical to those of virgin nylon.
Inditex brand Zara has introduced a 100-percent loopamid jacket featuring loopamid in all components — including the fabric, buttons, filling, hooks and loops, and zipper. To make this happen, Zara partnered with other companies — including RadiciGroup, Velcro,YKK, Gütermann and Freudenberg, among other companies — to integrate loopamid into the garment components.
“BASF has reached an important milestone towards circularity in the fashion industry and pioneered an approach to close the loop for nylon textiles,” said Dr. Ramkumar Dhruva, president of BASF’s Monomers division.“ …We are in the process of scaling up our technology to serve our customers with commercial quantities. The capsule jacket together with Inditex is the proof that circularity is possible, and we are eager to further drive the sustainable transformation of the textile industry.”
“This collaboration is a great example of how, by collaborating all together, we can use the new technology to transform textile waste into a new resource,” said Javier Losada, Inditex’s chief sustainability officer. “This project is also a first step to move towards a circular solution, as the industry still needs to boost new collecting and recycling capacities in order to close the loop and scale recycling for post-consumer waste.”
Tacoma, Washington-based Toray Composite Materials America Inc. recently celebrated the
$15 million expansion of its TORAYCA™ T1100 carbon fiber production line at its Decatur, Ala., facility. The upgrade doubles production capacity for the fiber, which will support the increase in demand for defense applications.
“Toray provides high performance carbon fibers which are critical to our defense industrial base and national security,” said Congressman Dale Strong of the Fifth Congressional District of Alabama, who delivered opening remarks during a recent ceremony. “I want to thank them for their investment in Alabama and wish them continued success.”
“Our team in Decatur worked tirelessly to advance the commissioning of our upgraded carbon fiber production line to support the strong demand from the defense industry,”said Dennis Frett, president, Toray Composite Materials America.“As the [Department of Defense] prioritizes developing a resilient supply chain as part of the NDIS, Toray’s focus is to ensure that we are doing our part to produce and increase material availability for various defense programs.”
SHIRLEY, Mass.— February 13, 2024 — Bemis Associates Inc. today announced that it has expanded its EverFit™ family of elastic replacement adhesives, giving apparel designers a full range of support and breathability options to design consistent, all-day comfort into garments for a wide variety of uses and body types.
