Global Cotton Yarn Players To Connect Amid Strong Demand At Yarn Expo Spring 2024

SHANGHAI — February 8, 2024 — The cotton yarn market has a wide-ranging influence, stretching from the ancient origins of cotton fabric to the high-tech fabric production techniques of today. Propelled by the growing demand for cotton yarn, robust textile industry development, and continuing technological advances, the upcoming fair is well-positioned to facilitate various business opportunities across the cotton sub-sector. Taking place from March 6-8, 2024 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the show will welcome over 500 exhibitors from 11 countries and regions, including 124 in the cotton category alone.

Cotton remains one of the main fibers of choice for apparel, home textiles, industrial textiles, and more. Advancements like genetically-modified cotton, combined with yarn manufacturing improvements, have further fuelled market expansion amid growing populations and economies worldwide. As the world’s largest producers of cotton and cotton-based products, China and India play major roles in the global market, which, following a healthy 6.3 percent CAGR, is projected to exceed $94.5 billion by 2028[1][2].

At the spring show, cotton exhibitors from China, India, and beyond are gearing up to meet strong international and domestic demand, with buyers able to source a wide range of related products.

32 exhibitor-strong India Pavilion in the spotlight

Maintaining its active role in India’s cotton yarn industry, the Cotton Textile Export Promotion Council (Texprocil) will again organise the India Pavilion, set to feature some of the country’s top suppliers. At last year’s show, Mr Murali Balkrishna, Joint Director of Texprocil, commented: “We facilitated exports of over USD 15 billion of Indian cotton textiles last year to more than 150 countries around the world. China has been our biggest market over the past few years. Yarn Expo was an opportunity to regain the market share lost during the pandemic by building old relationships and forming new ones. There is no other platform that can match up to these fairs’ sheer magnitude, and they’re among the world’s best.”

This edition’s pavilion will feature over 30 exhibitors showcasing an array of cotton-related yarns and other products, including pure cotton carding, pure cotton combing / compact spinning, viscose, blended yarn, modal yarn, recycled, organic / BCI yarns, polyester, and polyester cotton. Highlighted exhibitors include:

  • Amar International – one of the leading exporters of Indian cotton yarns, raw cotton, cotton waste for recycling purposes, woven and knitted fabrics, agricultural commodities and chemical dyes. Its high quality “AMAR” products have garnered meaningful recognition, winning the “Silver Award for Export of Cotton Yarns 2017-2018.”
  • Excel Enterprise – a manufacturer of cotton yarn, including BCI, Pima, dyed, melange, as well as 100% viscose and viscose blended yarns. The company utilises the high-quality Shankar-6 cotton variety for its range of “EXCEL” yarns, and maintains a strong foothold in leading markets such as Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Korea, Pakistan, and Thailand, as well as Europe and South America.
  • Siddhi Sales Corporation – the ginning and spinning company serves as a key supplier of raw cotton to over 60 spinning mills in India, and exports to more than 30 countries worldwide, with products highly sought after by spinners and textile fabric manufacturers operating in the global market.

International cotton players making Yarn Expo Spring debuts

Coinciding with China’s peak sourcing season, many international exhibitors will be returning to the fairground. Several major industry players will be making their first appearance at the fair, including:

  • Blinks International (Pakistan) – renowned as a premier textile sourcing house in Pakistan, the company specialises in procuring raw cotton, cotton yarn, and grey fabrics for the global market, with a particular focus on Asia, Europe, and South America. Products include mélange, core spun, compact spun, jet spun, slub, stretch slub, multicount, zero twist, and hollow yarn.
  • PT. Bintang Makmur Sentosa Textil Industri (Indonesia) – specialising in spinning, weaving and finishing, products include ring-spun yarn, open-end cotton yarn, rayon, polyester, and more. The company has a monthly production capacity of 250,000 spindles of yarn, equivalent to approximately 20,000 bales.
  • RÜTEX GmbH (Germany) – the company’s extensive assortment comprises raw white and coloured yarns, both single and twisted, designed for weaving and knitting. RÜTEX utilises various spinning systems, including OE, ring, compact, siro, airjet, producing worsted yarn, core yarn, and filament yarns (FDY, DTY, ATY, BCF).

Yarn Expo Spring is organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd and the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT. The fair will be held alongside Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Spring Edition, Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles – Spring Edition, CHIC and PH Value, with the resultant synergy allowing exhibitors and buyers to maximise their business opportunities.

For further information, please visit: www.yarn-expo-spring.com.

Yarn Expo Spring will be held from 6 – 8 March 2024.

Other upcoming shows:

Vietnam International Trade Fair for Apparel, Textiles and Textile Technologies

  • Ho Chi Minh City  – February 28 –March 1  2024

Intertextile Shenzhen Apparel Fabrics / Yarn Expo

  • ShenzhenShenzhen (Futian) June 5 – 7, 2024

Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Autumn Edition / Yarn Expo Autumn

  • Shanghai – August 27 – 29, 2024

Posted: February 8, 2024

Source: Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd

Between Matter, Form And Appearance, Timeless Luxury Makes A Big Comeback In Oerlikon Riri’s SS25 Collection

MENDRISIO, Switzerland — February 8, 2024 — The grammar of luxury is the language that Riri has always declined and infused into its accessories, details of style that enrich the creations of leading high-end fashion brands. This know-how is reflected in the zippers and buttons created by the Oerlikon Riri brand for the Spring-Summer 25 collection, which features two extremely elegant moods, made even more precious by the technological and craftsmanship contributions of Oerlikon Fineparts. The two brands cooperate as complementary parts of the Oerlikon Luxury business unit to offer the high- fashion market a range of accessories that explores every peak of luxury, from classic to tailor-made.

Enhanced Classic

Loudly quiet luxury.

Luxury tries to dress in simplicity but cannot hide from the discerning eye: classic gold, black, beige and dark brown colors, geometric and sinuous shapes that eschew static betray its nature, pure elegance. Elegantly basic or metalized tapes in gold and with glossy black enamels, PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition) body and puller finishes, the patented TRA-IN stainless steel button with Coeurdor’s light gold finish, and customized branding, ELOXAL chain with aluminum teeth colored in gray and gold: revisited and enhanced visions of the classic, on the heels of the Quiet Luxury trend. The gleam of metal is counterbalanced by the simplicity of wool yarn, GRS-certified recycled polyester and GOTS-certified organic cotton, for a final effect of utter class.

Faced Marble

Face modern elegance.

Marble and multifaceting are the main characters in the second trend of strong geometric inspiration: triangles, rhombuses and trapezoids create elegant and modern surfaces in which simple colors predominate on the theme of wood and marble. Materic effect is recreated on tapes with marble and black polished effect inserts, matte black PVD padlocks and buttons with hard blue stone inserts, mélange velvet and satin tapes, and geometric facets shape an algid and ethereal elegance.

Posted: February 8, 2024

Source: Oerlikon Riri

JEC Composites Innovation Awards 2024: 11 Winners Announced

PARIS — February 8, 2024 — Annually, the JEC Composites Innovation Awards recognize successful initiatives and collaborative efforts within the composites industry. Over the past 26 years, the program has engaged over 2,000 companies globally, honoring 225 companies and 573 partners for their outstanding achievements in composites innovation and effective partnerships. Criteria for the awards include partner involvement in the value chain, project complexity, and commercial potential.

The competition is open to any company, university or R&D Center with a compelling collaborative innovation or concept to showcase. The success of participants is closely tied to partnerships and collective intelligence. Beyond being a ceremony, these awards serve as a platform to spotlight potentially undisclosed projects, offering inspiration and motivation to an expert audience eager to explore new frontiers.

After pre-selection of the 33 finalists, one winner has been named in each of the 11 categories by an international jury representing the entire composites value chain:

  • Hüseyin Ates, CTO & Compounding BU leader, Kordsa
  • Pr. Alan Banks, Innovation & Industrial Engagement supervisor, Ford Motor Company
  • Pr. Christophe Binetruy, professor, Centrale Nantes / Nantes Université
  • Tamara Blanco, Composite Materials & Processes engineer & expert, Airbus
  • Dale Brosius, executive vice president/chief commercialization officer, IACMI – The Composite Institute
  • Michel Cognet, chairman of the board, JEC
  • Dr. Karl-Heinz Füller, manager Future Exterior and Materials, Mercedes-Benz
  • Dr. Sung Ha, professor, Hanyang University
  • Guy Larnac, technical domain coordinator for Materials, Structures and Industrialization JTFR, Ariane Group Pr. Véronique Michaud, head of Laboratory for Processing of Advanced Composites (LPAC), EPFL
  • Pr. Kiyoshi Uzawa, professor/director, Innovative Composite Center, Kanazawa Institute of Technology.

The awards ceremony took place in Paris on February , 2024.

Aerospace – Parts

ATG Europe (Netherlands)

Partner: ÉireComposites Teo (Ireland)

ATG Europe has developed a one-shot manufacturing process for uninterrupted prepreg fibre-placed lattice structures that aim to replace current satellite central tube designs. These cylindrical lattice structures offer optimal structural functionality at a reduced mass.

This innovation included the design, development and manufacture of a fully representative CFRP lattice central tube based on requirements for ESA’s PLATO satellite, including all necessary interface zones. Thermoset pre-preg carbon fibre tows and patches were manually laid-up onto a mandrel, consolidated and cured in an autoclave in a single step to form one integral part. The primary interface to the launcher structure was provided by a one-piece aluminium interface ring, which was assembled to the lattice cylinder through a hybrid joint.

Key Benefits
• One-shot manufacturing process
• Structural efficiency and significant mass savings
• Uninterrupted pre-preg fibres leading to optimised structural performance
• High specific stiffness
• Reduced manufacturing time and cost

Aerospace – Process

German Aerospace Center (Germany)
Partners:
• 9T Labs AG (Switzerland)
• Airtech Europe (Luxembourg)
• Ansys Switzerland GmbH (Switzerland)
• CEAD B.V. (Netherlands)
• Ensinger GmbH (Germany)
• Fiberthree GmbH (Germany)
• FILL Gesellschaft m.b.H. (Austria)
• Hans Weber Maschinenfabrik GmbH / WEBER additive (Germany)
• PRIME aerostructures GmbH (Austria)
• Siemens AG (Germany)
• Suprem SA (Switzerland)
• SWMS Systemtechnik Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH (Germany)

The EmpowerAX Demo Part is a multi-curved thermoset shell additively functionalised with short and continuous fibre- reinforced elements realised by DLR and 12 EmpowerAX members. It demonstrates the industrially available process chain for Additive Functionalisation.

The EmpowerAX Demo Part showcases the concept of Additive Functionalisation and its industrially available process chain. It is a collaborative project within DLR Innovation Lab EmpowerAX where DLR and twelve industrial players – from design and simulation experts over CAD-CAM specialists to printing and material suppliers – joined forces to demonstrate the capability of overprinting a multi-curved thermoset shell with high-performance, short- and continuous fibre-reinforced thermoplastic material. Cost-efficient composite manufacturing is combined with the high agility and design freedom of additive manufacturing.

Key benefits:
• Cost-efficient composite manufacturing
• Overprinting of a multi-curved shell
• Combining thermosetting and thermoplastic polymers
• Short & continuous fibre-reinforced materials
• Industrially available process chain

Automotive & Road Transportation –Parts

Toyota Motor Corp. (Japan)
Partners:
• Toyota Central R&D Labs., Inc (Japan)
• Toyota Customizing & Development Co., Ltd. (Japan)
• TISM Co., Ltd. (Japan)

A full-scale variable axial CFRP-aluminum semi-monocoque was designed, fabricated, and evaluated. It showed a 15% weight reduction with minimal fiber waste (4%) and assembly cost.

This technology aims to improve carbon neutrality through the effective use of carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRPs).
The technology creates 3D monolithic CFRP-aluminum structures by integrating anisotropic topology optimization, Turing pattern fiber path generation, tailored fiber placement and nano uneven anodization bonding, to optimize fiber function and material utilization.
A semi-monocoque prototype demonstrates the potential for weight reduction in large 3D structures with complex topology using large fiber tow (50K) placed on 5 km of design paths with only 4% fiber waste.

Key benefits:
• Full-Lifecycle Carbon Neutrality
• Weight Reduction
• Minimized Fiber Waste and Assembly Cost
• Optimized Material Usage
• Advanced Manufacturing Process

Automotive & Road Transportation – Process

Röchling Automotive SE (Germany)
Partners:
• Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology ICT (Germany)
• Röchling Industrial SE & Co. KG – Haren (Germany)

Reactive thermoplastic pultrusion enables the production of cost-effective and highly resilient automotive components. The profiles are integrated in the final part by injection or compression molding. The PA6-based composites allows simple recycling in without dismantling.

The innovation is the use of in-situ pultruded PA6GF profiles for cost-efficient composite parts in the automotive industry. The combination of a highly efficient production for the reinforcement elements by using continuous pultrusion with state-of-the-art injection molding allows a production at low cycle time and costs. The achievable fiber content of the pultruded profiles is higher than for alternative reinforcements and due to the same plastic material for injection molding and the pultruded profiles, the whole part can be recycled without any dismantling operations.

Key benefits:
• Cheap Processes and Raw Materials
• Sustainable – Just a Single Polymer
• Strong by Design and Reinforcements
• Light due to Material Savings
• Flexible use in Diverse Applications

Building & Civil Engineering

RENCO USA (USA)
Partners:
• Arquitectonica (USA)
• Catalyst Communications (USA)
• Coastal Construction (USA)
• DeSimone Consulting Engineers (USA)
• DeVit Consulting. Inc. (USA)

RENCO MCFR is a state-of-the-art structural building system comprised of interlocking composite building units of various types and sizes of blocks, columns, beams, joists, headers, decking, connectors, etc. These products are all adhesively joined (chemically bonded) to form monolithic structures.

RENCO products are manufactured with naturally occurring raw materials and newly composed materials from recycled products in an environmentally friendly manufacturing process. Yet it is economical, easy to work with, fast to construct, has superior strength and requires no maintenance after construction, EVER! The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) has verified and listed our Environmental Product Declarations (EPD).

Key benefits
• Less costly than a comparable wood, concrete, or steel structure.
• Stronger-passed ASTM and TAS Standards; able to withstand Cat 5 hurricane winds.
• Faster – No shoring, formwork, bracing or waiting for related inspectors
• Lighter – Similar in weight to a wood structure and 1/4 the weight of concrete.
• Fire, water, and pest resistant. Easy to build with.

Circularity & Recycling

B&M Longworth (Edgworth) Ltd. (UK)
Partners:
• Autotech Engineering (Gestamp) (UK)
• B&M Longworth (Edgworth) Ltd (UK)
• Brunel University London (UK)
• EMS-Grivory (UK)
• Ford Motor Company (UK)
• Gen2Plank Ltd (UK)
• TWI Ltd (UK)

The creation of ‘glassene’ a brand new, advanced material with price-point close to glass and performance to rival some carbon fibre, with impressively low LCA. Promotes structural reuse of composites on a mass scale.

EMPHASIZING aims to create a new advanced material with price close to glass fibre, performance to rival some carbon fibre and impressive LCA.
GRP from a range of sources (wind, marine, fibre production) reclaimed as 100% clean glass by DEECOM® pressolysis.
The fibres are chopped into 6mm lengths before a range of sizing chemistries are considered, assessed, and tested; then compounded with polyamide thermoset and injection moulded; creating a mass production, structural component, tested against the steel counterpart and with a characterisation data card.

Key benefits:
• Global GRP waste solution
• Enables wind/marine/glass fibre industries to have ‘zero waste from composites’
• Creates a new, green, low cost advanced material to directly displace virgin
• Recyclate can go back into industries looking to decarbonise = circularity
• Addresses the current advanced materials imbalance of demand vs supply

Digital, AI & Data

ReliaBlade (Denmark)
Partners:
• CEKO Sensors (Denmark)
• FORCE Technology (Denmark)
• Siemens Industry Software (SISW) (Belgium)
• Technical University of Denmark (Denmark)
• Zebicon (Denmark)

The wind turbine blade executable Digital Twin combines a reduced-order model with live sensor signal to assess structural performance in real-time. Physical and virtual sensors combined is key to perform Structural Health Monitoring.

The 12.6m wind turbine blade is manufactured using a conventional vacuum infusion process at DTU BladeLab. Non-crimp UD and BIAX fiberglass fabrics, sandwich core material and root inserts are placed as dry layup in the molds. Subsequently, vacuum infusion processes are conducted for each of the parts using an epoxy resin system. After the shells and webs have been infused and fully cured, the two airfoil shells and shear webs are bonded together using epoxy adhesive before the blade is trimmed.

Key benefits:
• Live monitoring of blade deformations
• Live monitoring of loads and remaining life
• Predictive maintenance assessment
• Remote monitoring and health assessment
• Model error reduction

Equipment, Machinery & Heavy Industries

Deutsche Institute für Textil- und Faserforschung Denkendorf (Germany)
Partner: Leitz GmbH & Co. KG (Germany)

A new modular cutting tool for woodworking machine is developed exploiting the mechanical advantages of CFRP. More than 50 % weight reduction and an increase in working speed of over 50 % is achieved.

Instead of replacing the metallic tool body with CFRP, new design principles were analyzed using numerical simulation. Following the principle of optimal load sharing, the virtual development resulted in a modular tool design, with triangular components that absorb the centrifugal forces and an outer shell that accommodates the bending and torsional loads. Load optimized orientation of carbon fibers leads to maximum stiffness and strength of the tool body. The final result features maximum weight reduction and increased productivity without compromising product quality.

Key benefits:
• Modular lightweight design with CFPR parts can replace standard cutting tools.
• New design exploits fiber strength and stiffness leading to rigid tools.
• Over 50% mass reduction and 50% higher speed and productivity possible.
• Scalability of design leads to a high application range.
• Usage with standard adapter and cutting knives, high processing accuracy.

Maritime Transportation & Shipbuilding

AYRO (France)
Partners:
• Alizés (France)
• Jifmar Offshore Services (France)
• Zéphyr et Borée (France)
• Neptune Marine (Pays-Bas)
• VPLP Design (France)
• ArianeGroup (France)

OceanWings® is a patented, automated, self-raising and lowering vertical wingsail system that enables newbuild or existing ships to reduce their fuel consumption and resulting carbon footprint by up to 50%.

The challenges of our technology include the wing’s ability to withstand winds of up to 100 knots, while ensuring the proper functioning of its operations: automatic orientation in relation to the wind, adjustable camber, reefable and furlable. Structure is therefore essential to meet these challenges. At AYRO, we have chosen to use composite materials to a large extent in the construction of our wingsails, for their high mechanical strength and lightweight.

Key benefits
• Up to 50% of fuel savings
• Automated and passive system
• Dimensioned for harsh sea environmental conditions
• Reefable and furlable system
• Adapted to new-build and retrofitted ships

Renewable Energies

Vestas Wind Systems A/S (Denmark)
Partners:
• Vestas (Denmark)
• Olin (Germany)
• Aarhus University (Denmark)
• Danish Technological Institute (Denmark)
• Stena Recycling (Denmark and Sweden)

CETEC’s Blade Circularity Solution renders epoxy-based turbine blades circular without altering the material’s design or composition. It employs a chemical process breaking down epoxy resin into virgin-grade materials, establishing a circular economy for blade manufacturing.
Our innovation redefines circularity for epoxy-based turbine blades. It precisely separates glass, carbon fibers, core material, metal components, and resin for dedicated recycling, optimizing reuse and enhancing circular value chains. Featuring cutting-edge chemcycling, it breaks down epoxy resin into chemical monomers, ensuring recycled materials achieve virgin-grade properties. Emphasizing sustainability, it operates efficiently using non-toxic, standardized chemicals with minimal energy input. Tailored for conventional epoxy-based turbine blades, it addresses an industry gap, supported by waste handlers’ interest and ongoing industrial scaling, promising swift lab-to-large-scale implementation.

Key benefits:
• Circularity for epoxy-based composite material
• Recyclability without modifying design
• New sustainable raw material source
• Strengthening the wind industry’s sustainability proposition
• Immediate scalability and mature recycling value streams

Sports, Leisure & Recreation

silbaerg GmbH
Partners:
• Sächsisches Textilforschungsinstitut e.V. (STFI) (Germany)
• bto-epoxy GmbH (Austria)
• Circular MTC e.V. (Germany)
• SachsenLeinen GmbH (Germany)

Snowboard with patented anisotropic coupling effect (A.L.D.-tech.®) made out of hemp and recycled carbon fibers with bio-based epoxy resin.

The innovation is the application of the Dry-Fiber-Placement (DFP) for the production of hybrid hemp and recycled carbon fiber (rCF) snowboard preforms. The process was currently only used to process continuous virgin carbon fibers. Thanks to the excellent material properties of the hemp tape and the directional rCF nonwovens, both materials can be processed automatically using DFP. This saves 75% of cutting waste of the hemp fibers and uses the cutting waste of our carbon fiber snowboards to save costs and reduces the CO2 footprint.

Key benefits:
• Green snowboard based on hemp fibers and recycled carbon nonwoven
• Using of Dry-Fiber-Placement for waste-reduced production
• Unidirectional or high-orientated semi-finished textiles for perfect properties Circular economy for high-performance snowboards made of virgin carbon fiber
• Green economy for the green snowboard by using bio-based epoxy

Posted: February 8, 2024

Source: JEC Group

Culp Uses Mattress Fabric Remnants To Make Blankets For Homeless

HIGH POINT, N.C. — February 8, 2024 — Culp Home Fashions, the mattress fabric manufacturing division of Culp Inc. (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, CULP) conducted its first “Spread the Warmth” initiative in January by sewing mattress fabric remnants into blankets and donating those blankets to local charities that work with homeless populations. In addition to the blankets made by CULP, employees were given the opportunity to purchase blankets from an Amazon wish list and have them shipped directly to one of the charities.

CULP’s mattress fabric manufacturing facility in Stokesdale, North Carolina, donated blankets to the High Point-based charity, Cover the City. This facility also shipped blankets to CULP’s window treatment production facility in Knoxville, Tennessee, which were then donated to the Tennessee Valley Coalition for the Homeless.

“All of our U.S. mattress fabrics facilities are certified as ‘Zero Waste to Landfill’ facilities,” explained Iv Culp, president and CEO of Culp Inc. “Ninety-five percent or more of the waste materials created in the manufacturing process are recycled, including remnant fabric. But with this Spread the Warmth initiative, we are able to use the remnant material to make blankets that provide warmth to people in need in our local communities, serving a higher purpose than simply recycling it.”

Commenting on the program, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Teresa Huffman, stated: “As a company, we always strive to support the communities in which we operate. We’re excited to have found a new way to do so. It’s an honor to work with the caring people at Cover the City and the Tennessee Valley Coalition for the Homeless who devote their time and energy to charitable initiatives. They make the world a bit brighter, and in this case, a bit warmer.”

Cover the City started in the winter of 2013 when founder and Executive Director, Amanda Anderson, noticed a homeless man sleeping on a bench behind a local business in High Point, North Carolina. So moved by the man’s plight, Anderson spoke with a friend at Open Door Ministries and asked how she could help those in need. Blankets were an immediate need at the time and continue to be a necessity during the winter months. Thus Cover the City was formed to help support the homeless population in shelters and those who do not utilize the shelters during the coldest times of the year. Since then, Cover the City has expanded to include six chapters in North Carolina, one in Ohio, and another in New York.

“We have quite a few companies who partner with us by collecting donations of blankets, and I had always wanted to ask CULP to be a partner, but I never thought about them actually making blankets for us,” Anderson commented. “Working with CULP has been amazing. When a member of their HR team contacted me, explaining that they had made hundreds of blankets to donate, I was so surprised and excited. We are very grateful to CULP for sharing their resources with people in need, and we’re thankful for their talented employees who sew and create these blankets.”

In January, CULP donated over 250 blankets to both charities. The company hopes to donate more later this year as they plan on participating in Cover the City’s November blanket drive. For more information on either charity, visit: www.coverthecityproject.org or www.tvchomeless.org.

Posted: February 8, 2024

Source: Culp Inc.

Ermenegildo Zegna Group To Open New Luxury Footwear And Leather Goods Production Facility In Sala Baganza, Parma, Italy

Credit – ACPV ARCHITECTS Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel

MILAN, Italy — February 8, 2024 — Ermenegildo Zegna Group announced today that it will open a new luxury footwear and leather goods production facility in Sala Baganza, Italy. The new facility, scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026, will expand the Group’s production capacity and allow for further focus on promoting and enhancing Italian craftsmanship.

Gildo Zegna, chairman and CEO of the Ermenegildo Zegna Group, said: “Luxury footwear and leather goods are flagships of Italian manufacturing. While we are creating a true center of excellence focused on these important aspects of the Italian luxury industry by opening this new facility, the center will be more than just a production facility.

Ermenegildo Zegna, Chairman and CEO of Ermenegildo Zegna Group , at the Group’s headquarters, in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, July, 12, 2023. – Francesca Volpi for Financial Times

It will play an important role as a training ground for a new generation of artisans, ensuring the ongoing viability of these important skills and working to preserve the uniqueness of Made in Italy. Parma is the ideal location for this project, building on the region’s long history of craftsmanship and expanding our presence there.”

The Group is developing this cutting-edge center for excellence to meet the growing needs of its brands, focusing mainly on men’s footwear and leather goods and further supporting the growth of ZEGNA’s Triple StitchTM. The facility will also act as an important research and development (R&D) center, further strengthening the Group’s personalization offer as it seeks to meet clients’ growing demands. The new facility is expected to be completed by December 2026 and to employ over 300 people at full capacity in 2027.

As approved by local organizations, the 12,500 square meter facility will be constructed on a 10-hectare plot of land in the northern Emilian Apennines, located 10 km from the center of Parma. The architectural and landscape design of the new complex, developed by the internationally renowned Milan-based architecture and interior design studio ACPV ARCHITECTS Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel, prioritizes the site’s unique environmental and natural features. In the ethos of designing an “oasis” as a tool for protecting and developing ecosystems, manufacturing and nature will coexist thanks to the innovative and sustainable architecture. Emphasizing a “design for tomorrow” philosophy, the facility will integrate large indoor and outdoor multifunctional spaces into the natural landscape and will be constructed with longevity and resilience at its core.

Posted: February 8, 2024

Source: Ermenegildo Zegna Group

Oerlikon Barmag: Gear Metering Pumps For Complex Processes

REMSCHEID, Germany — February 8, 2024 — Polyurethane (PUR) has become indispensable in many areas of modern life — automobiles, furniture, shoes, medical technology and insulation. However, its processing is extremely complex and requires customized solutions for the respective application. This is where precision gear pumps from Oerlikon Barmag come in to meet the highest demands in the chemical industry — from extremely precise metering to increased service life and efficiency. At UTECH Europe from April 23-25 in Maastricht, trade visitors can find out more about Oerlikon Barmag’s pump portfolio (booth G19).

The eccentric pump series covers a throughput range from 1 ml/min. to 30 l/h and, with a viscosity range from 1 mPas to 1,000 Pas, also conveys highly filled, highly viscous or abrasive media.

The gear metering pumps of the GM and GA series are mainly used for high-precision metering of demanding fluids under difficult conditions.

Focus on gear metering pumps
The high-speed metering pump of the GM series has been specially developed for metering poorly- lubricating and abrasive media. The main advantage of the pump is the sealed product chamber. The space touched by the media is limited to the area around the gears. The external, ball-bearing support points in the high-speed pump are externally lubricated and thus prevent the product to be metered from causing damage due to insufficient lubrication. This considerably extends the service life of the pump.

In addition, the increased speed range (30 – 500 rpm) allows an extended application range, for which several pumps of different sizes had to be used previously. This saves on production changeovers and significantly reduces the number of spare parts required. With its low weight of 1.4 kg, the compact pump (ø65 mm) promises significant space savings as well as less strain on the machine.

In addition to the proven GM pump in a square design for standard metering tasks, the GM pump in a multi-stage design conveys low-viscosity media (e.g. 250 bar, 100 mPas) under high pressure and the most difficult operating conditions. The round 2-stage GM pump has been specially developed for use in high-pressure technology. It masters the special challenge of pumping small flow rates with low viscosities. The pump is perfect for 0.05 to 20 ccm/rev feed sizes and is ideally suited for the production of PUR molded parts, block foam, refrigeration unit insulation or sandwich panels.

GA series for higher viscosity media

Manufacturing companies are constantly faced with the challenge of making their products and processes more efficient. Oerlikon Barmag supplements the proven GM series with the GA series, which has been specially developed for the demanding conveying of higher viscosity media. The GA series is available for conveying volumes of 1.25 – 30 cm³/rev (0.6-144 l/h). It is designed for pressures up to 200 bar, for viscosities up to 1,500 Pas and for temperatures up to a maximum of 225°C. With this pump series, Oerlikon Barmag offers customized solutions for process engineering processes where highly accurate and uniform metering is required.

Eccentric screw pump – robust and durable

High wear resistance, increased durability and robust appearance – the pump with a viscosity range from 1mPas to 1,000 Pas is tailor-made for pumping highly filled, highly viscous or abrasive media, such as filled adhesives, filled silicones or filled potting compounds. Eccentric screw pumps are used in sectors as diverse as the plastics industry, the automotive industry, the paint and coatings industry, the pharmaceutical industry and food technology. Customers benefit from a significant increase in productivity, as the maintenance intervals of the pumps are shortened and machine downtimes are significantly reduced.

The highlight of the eccentric screw pump is the multi-stage sealing system, which significantly extends the service life of the pump. The upstream shaft seal ring protects the slide ring seal from rapid wear caused by difficult media. The optimized alignment of the ball-bearing drive shaft, which runs centrally through the shaft seal ring, prevents any metal abrasion and thus ensures a significantly longer service life.

The drum pump – pumping and dosing in one

With the drum pump, the pump experts at Oerlikon Barmag are presenting a pump that is specially designed for conveying and metering highly viscous materials such as adhesives, silicones and other highly viscous materials from drums and other large containers and for pressures of up to 250 bar. One of its special features is that it discharges highly viscous materials from the drum and meters them directly without an intermediate stop.

The gear pump and drum follower plate are coordinated in such a way that the plate effortlessly reaches the bottom of the container, leaving behind only a very small residual quantity of < 1%. This in turn reduces material costs and has a positive impact on the production process. The dosing process, which was previously carried out in two steps and required scoop piston and metering pumps, can now be combined with the drum pump in a single unit.

Posted: February 8, 2024

Source: Oerlikon Textile GmbH & Co. KG

INDA: The World Of Wipes® International Conference 2024 Opens Registration

CARY, N.C. — February 7, 2024 — INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, announced that registration and tabletop exhibit reservations are open for the World of Wipes® (WOW) International Conference. WOW 2024 will take place June 17-20 at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, Minneapolis, Minn. The theme for this year’s event is “Wipes Innovation & Sustainability — From Inception to Perfection.”

WOW will feature not-to-be missed content in responsible sourcing, end-of-life solutions, and innovations in sustainability. Industry leaders, such as The Clorox Company, Kimberly-Clark Professional, and Nice-Pak, amongst others, will present their sustainability insights in formulations, industrial and institutional wipes, alternatives to plastics, production technologies, recycling options, and regulatory issues.

Preceding WOW will be three pre-conference webinars led by wipes experts:

  • Berry Global – “Unveiling Sustainability: Navigating the Complexity of Raw Materials Through Life Cycle Assessments” – Wednesday, May 29th, 11 am EDT
  • NatureWorks – “EU Biopolymer Regulations” – Wednesday, June 5th, 11 am EDT
  • RFA – “#FlushSmart – Fighting Toilet Crimes All Over the U.S.” and INDA – “Flushability Standards and Labelling” – Wednesday, June 12th, 11 am EDT

Full details for the conference and the webinars, including abstracts and speaker information, will be released in the next two weeks via the WOW website. https://www.worldofwipes.org/index.html

New this year is the Formulations 101 Workshop to be presented by Doug Cole, vice president – Global Product Development, Rockline Industries. The Workshop will take place during lunch on Tuesday, June 18th and the focus will be on skin care formulations and preservatives.

WOW kicks off with the WIPES Academy, June 17-18. The course will be led by Heidi Beatty, CEO, and her team of wipes professionals from Crown Abbey LLC. Participants will gain insights from product concept to commercialization. Participants will develop insights about materials, design, manufacturing, packaging, and cost implications for industrial, institutional and consumer wipes applications.

Back by popular demand is Lightning Talks. Tabletop exhibitors will give a five-minute presentation on their technologies, innovations, and capabilities. Participants may then follow up with the tabletop exhibitors during the evening reception.

Nominations are still being accepted for the World of Wipes Innovation Award®. Nominees will be selected from a range of products and technologies that have been commercially available two years prior to WOW 2024. Products and technologies may include end product components, fabrication techniques, or end-products that use a nonwoven technology. The deadline for submissions is Friday, April 15. Finalists will make their presentations to WOW participants on Tuesday, June 18, with the award being presented Thursday morning, June 20.

To register or reserve a tabletop display, visit WOW 2024. https://www.worldofwipes.org/index.html

Posted: February 7, 2024

Source: INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry

Coats Footwear Lines Up New And Trusted Solutions For Lineapelle

LONDON — February 7, 2024 — Coats Footwear — a global supplier of highly engineered structural components and performance threads — will be exhibiting at Lineapelle in Milan this February where it will showcase a range of new and trusted material solutions that are aligned with the ever-evolving needs of footwear and luxury accessory manufacturers.

Solutions on display at Lineapelle will reflect the company’s full capabilities — presenting a mix of recent innovations and established solutions that carefully balance performance, durability, comfort, styling, and sustainability. Specific emphasis will be placed on solutions for sports and safety shoes and elegance footwear, plus the lifestyle industry.

At the show, Coats Footwear team will introduce a product that’s been given a sustainable makeover: 4orest. Taking natural materials from the forest floor to footwear, this line of cellulose materials stands out for its sustainability credentials. Made with an average of between 45%-55% recycled content and over 80%-85% biodegradability, 4orest stands apart as one of the best performing eco-friendly options available to footwear manufacturers. Ideal for insoles in women’s shoes and beyond, 4orest ensures durability, strength, and reliability. Crafted from premium FSC certified virgin fibers, this innovative material is meticulously engineered to maintain dimensional stability – achieving more than 300 Kpa in the taped Mullen test for delaminating compared to virgin products that have a comparable 2mm gauge.

Cyclea

The team will also promote recent innovations including Cyclea — a new high performance reinforcement material that utilizes leather left over from manufacturing processes. This innovative circular loop technology is designed to help brands hit zero waste targets – with up to 100% recycled content achievable using leather left over from production and by recycling polymers.

Other well-known products under the spotlight will include:

  • Rhenoprint™ Multizone: A next generation process for manufacturing lightweight shoe counters and other reinforcement solutions, Rhenoprint™ Multizone can be used to meet the most diverse customer specific designs — with zero waste.
  • ecoVerde: A range of 100% recycled premium polyester core spun sewing threads. Precisely engineered, these threads can be used to create durable, attractive seams across a wide range of recycled fabrics and materials.

Bryan Whitfield, Global head of Sales – Brands at Coats Footwear, said: “Every year, more than a billion pairs of shoes are made that incorporate our threads and / or structural components. Our collaboration with leading footwear manufacturers is unparalleled in the industry, with brands calling upon our technical knowledge to help them improve their latest designs as well as their productivity through sustainable innovations. We look forward to Lineapelle 2024 and to sharing our expertise and insights with customers at this prestigious event.”

From heel counters to toe puffs, and everything in between, Coats Footwear offers more than 450 different products that encompass every aspect of shoe assembly.

Visit Coats Footwear at Lineapelle from 20-22 February at Fiera Milano RHO at Hall 24, Stands C7-C9 and D8-10. Alternatively, email: Communications.Footwear@coats.com for more information about Coats Footwear and its product portfolio or visit: https://www.coats.com/en/industries/footwear

Posted: February 7, 2024

Source: Coats Footwear

NCC Expresses Disappointment With Dicamba Ruling

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — February 7, 2024 — The National Cotton Council is extremely disappointed in a ruling by the Arizona Federal court that vacates the label for over-the-top use of dicamba products for the 2024 crop. The impacts of this ruling will be felt across the Cotton Belt as dicamba-tolerant varieties account for more than 75 percent of U.S. cotton acres.

The ruling comes at an especially problematic time of the year as many producers have already made their cropping decisions, secured seed, and are doing preparatory field work. The timing of this ruling also will not allow for the production of seed with alternative herbicide technology in time for 2024 planting. Without widely available alternatives, losing the foundational herbicides in the dicamba-tolerant weed control system will put millions of acres in jeopardy of reduced production. The loss of over-the-top dicamba products exacerbates an already difficult economic situation with current prices below the costs of production.

We urge EPA to immediately appeal the ruling. If allowed to stand, the court’s decision is another blow that will stifle the development and adoption of new technologies that not only increase productivity but bring forth environmental benefits such as the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, we urge EPA to move quickly in exploring all available options to mitigate the economic damage that will result if growers do not have access to this critical crop protection product.

Posted: February 7, 2024

Source: The National Cotton Council

Major Win For Rieter In Patent Dispute In China

WINTERTHUR, Switzerland — February 7, 2024 — In a judgment in December 2023, the Supreme People’s Court of the People’s Republic of China ruled in favor of in a legal dispute. The case concerned the infringement of a Rieter patent by a competitor’s draw frame. Rieter protects its innovations with patents and registered designs and consistently takes action against infringements of its intellectual property.

The latest generation of draw frames from Rieter RSB-D 55 – perfect sliver quality with highest productivity

Rieter draw frames are known for their stable operation with high sliver quality and productivity. Superb scanning precision and highest autoleveling dynamics ensure outstanding sliver evenness and thus the production of high-quality yarns. Draw frames have also been the subject of a patent litigation by Rieter in China at various levels of jurisdiction. Rieter had sued a competitor for unauthorized use of its patented draw frame technology.

In the summer of 2022, the Shanghai Intellectual Property Court confirmed the patent infringement identified by Rieter and prohibited the accused competitor from continuing to use Rieter’s patented technology. The infringing party was also ordered to pay damages to Rieter.

The culpable competitor then appealed the decision of the Shanghai court to the Supreme People’s Court of the People’s Republic of China.

In December 2023, the Supreme Court of China in Beijing upheld the Shanghai decision, confirming that the patent had been infringed. As a result, Rieter’s competitor is prohibited from selling the infringing machine types and is required to pay the damages determined by the court.

This Supreme Court decision represents a major success for Rieter in defending its proprietary technologies in China. It is further proof that foreign companies can effectively defend their intellectual property in China.

As the technology leader in spinning machinery manufacturing, Rieter invests around 5 percent of its turnover annually in research and development. Rieter protects its innovative products with patents and registered designs and takes consistent action against infringements of industrial property rights.

Posted: February 7, 2024

Source: Rieter Management AG

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