SFT-250 System Suitable For Research, Pilot Projects

Supercritical Fluid Technologies
Inc., Newark, Del., has engineered its SFT-250 Supercritical Fluid Extractions and Reactions
Processing System for use in research and pilot projects. Designed to perform extractions and run
reactions in a supercritical fluid media, the system features a stainless steel vessel that can
hold supercritical fluids at pressures of up to 10,000 pounds per square inch. Pressure vessels may
measure up to 4 liters in size. Proportional-integral-derivative controllers manage mixing,
pressures, pumping rates, safety interlocks and temperature zones.


January/February 2006

Quality Fabric Of The Month: Indoor Aesthetics For The Outdoors

Weave  Corporation, a Hackensack, N.J.-based upholstery fabric manufacturer that prides itself on its design and technology expertise, has introduced Weatherwize®, a line of jacquard-woven enhanced polyester fabrics designed to bring the aesthetics associated with fine
interior upholstery to the patio, sunroom and other outdoor settings, including boats and recreational vehicles. The yarn-dyed fabrics feature finely woven designs with a multitude of color possibilities in addition to outdoor performance attributes such as water repellency, ultraviolet
(UV) resistance, and antimicrobial and antifungal protection. They are available in a standard line of fabrics and also in small, custom runs.Roger Berkley, president and great grandson of company founder Louis Cohen, said Weatherwize offers cutting-edge, fashion-forward, value-added casual decor options to customers who want a more refined look than what typically is available with acrylic outdoor fabrics. In addition to its sophisticated designs and soft hand, the fabric is more pill-resistant than acrylic, and it also can be given a fire-resistant finish — a benefit not available for acrylic fabrics. Also, acrylic yarn has a relatively bulky size per denier that limits its use for more refined applications, he
said.

“We’re using much finer yarns and weaving fabrics with much higher picks per inch than acrylic fabrics. Therefore, Weatherwize fabrics have more intricate designs and weaves,” Berkley explained, noting the fabrics are elegant and comfortable enough to use indoors as well.

QFWeaNEW

 

Weatherwize® jacquard-woven enhanced polyesterupholstery fabrics add a refined touch to
casual outdoor settings.

UV resistance is incorporated into the yarn during dyeing, and antimicrobial properties and water repellency are added during the finishing process. The fabric is highly water-repellent, Berkley said, so it will stand up to a sudden rainstorm.

Because the fabrics are yarn-dyed, the company can dye smaller quantities of yarn in a greater range of colors than is possible with solution-dyed yarn, which typically is used when UV resistance is needed and requires large minimum lots to be economically feasible, he noted.

Weatherwize is sold primarily through high-end fabric wholesalers to interior designers, but a range of standard fabrics is available to consumers through retail fabric and furniture stores.
The company also offers Weatherwize trim in more than 140 colorways to complement the fabrics. In terms of characteristics and structures, the fabrics sold to the trade and in the retail market are comparable, Berkley said.

He added that the company, which produces Weatherwize at its plant in Denver, Pa., is able to produce custom runs as short as 25 yards and deliver them in one to three weeks. Orders of standard fabrics on a cut-length basis can be shipped within 24 hours.

Weave offers a three-year limited warranty on the performance of Weatherwize, provided the fabric has been properly cared for. It is easily cleaned using warm water and a mild detergent.

For additional information about Weatherwize®, contact Glenn Dragone (212) 921-8757, info@weatherwize.com.

January/February 2006

TYAA Plans Name Change As Signal Of New Direction

The Textured Yarn Association of
America (TYAA), Gastonia, N.C., plans to implement several changes to take it in a new direction in
response to the changing face of the textile industry.

Daniel McRae, vice president, membership, said TYAA plans to enlarge its focus both
vertically and laterally, and invite other textile industry segments to participate in the
association. As a signal of this evolving focus, the association will change its name to Synthetic
Yarn & Fiber Association (SYFA).

“The past few years have been difficult for everyone in the US textile industry,” McRae
said. “Textured yarn is a very specific segment of the industry, and we want to expand our
association to be more inclusive of other textile companies. We will be inviting the whole man-made
yarn and fiber industry, and also will include our downstream customers, as well as lateral
segments such as carpet and industrial fibers.”

McRae said TYAA’s Winter Conference — scheduled for March 21 at the Speedway Club at Lowe’s
Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. — will feature a look back at the history of the association and
the industry by Norman Cohen, TYAA’s founder and first president. The program also will include an
address by Mike Hubbard, vice president, NCTO; and a look toward the future by Chas Scott, TYAA’s
current president.

The organization’s Summer Conference and 2006 Annual Meeting is expected to be the first to
be held under the SYFA name. That event will take place July 26-29 at the Marriott Grand Dunes
Resort in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

January/February 2006

Ferrari Introduces Facade Covering, Marine Fabrics

The Ferrari Group, a France-based
composite textiles manufacturer, and its Pompano Beach, Fla.-based subsidiary, Ferrari Textiles
Corp., now offer Stamisol FT 371 membrane for building façade coverings, three Stamoid® Marine
fabrics for boating applications and Soltis® 86 translucent cover fabric.

Lightweight, flexible Stamisol FT 371 can be made into panels to fit a façade’s shapes and
curves. The composite comprises a woven polyester scrim controlled during coating to provide
dimensional stability in both warp and weft directions. The membrane features a dark interior
facing to enhance transparency and improve visibility toward the outside, and provides insulation
from the cold and protection from the sun.


Flexible, easy-to-maintain Stamoid
Top and Stamoid Tweed boat roofing fabrics are designed to withstand severe weather and excessive
heat and cold. Stamoid Open is a stronger fabric designed for permanent tops and curtains for large
or high-speed boats.

Soltis 86 for cockpit covers, sun screens, awnings, windbreaks, windscreens and sail shades
provides protection from the sun, diffusing light and affording improved visibility from inside to
outside. The fabric features Précontraint Ferrari® prestressing technology, which ensures
dimensional stability.

All products are recyclable using Ferrari’s Texyloop™ process, which is based on the
Vinyloop® polyvinylchloride composite recycling process developed by Brussels-based Solvay S.A. in
collaboration with Ferrari.



January/February 2006

Lenzing, Zimmer Sign Lyocell Agreement

Austria-based Lenzing AG and
Germany-based Zimmer AG have put an end to their differences about lyocell fiber technology patent
issues by completing a licensing agreement whereby Zimmer may use some of Lenzing’s key patents for
the construction of lyocell plants.

Both Lenzing and Zimmer own patents on their production processes for lyocell fibers, which
are made from the raw material cellulose. Lenzing currently markets lyocell under the TENCEL®
brand. Zimmer has developed its lyocell technology in a pilot plant in Germany.


January/February 2006

Levis Introduces IPod-Compatible Jeans

San Francisco-based apparel marketer
Levi Strauss & Co. has debuted its Levi’s® RedWire™ DLX Jeans for men and women. The new jeans,
which will be available worldwide this fall, feature a special joystick in the watch pocket for
easy operation of most iPod® systems.

Other design features include an iPod docking cradle built into the jeans and discreetly
housed within a side pocket, and a built-in retractable headphone unit. The jean’s aesthetics, such
as the white leather patch and joystick, and minimalist buttons and rivets, pay homage to the iPod’s
design, according to the company.

The jean is machine washable once the iPod is removed.


January 1, 2006

Importers Pleased To See Antidumping Action

Importers of textiles and apparel are hailing Congress’ repeal of the so-called Byrd Amendment
that made payments to companies involved in import antidumping cases. The importers maintain it a
was costly and unfair subsidy that encouraged companies to make greater use of antidumping
statutes. While domestic textile manufacturers would like to have seen the statute continued, it
has been of only marginal importance to them, since fabric manufacturers do not have standing in
apparel antidumping cases where most of the problems exist. They also have problems with the
overall antidumping statute, since it does not apply to state-owned economies like China and
Vietnam, and antidumping and countervailing duty cases are and expensive to pursue.

Eric Autor, vice president and international trade counsel for the National Retail
Federation, said the Byrd Amendment “represented an egregious example of corporate welfare that has
given hundreds of millions of dollars in no-strings-attached government subsidies to a handful of
companies at the expense of national security, natural disaster recovery and a host of critical
spending priorities.”

Kevin Burke, CEO of the American Apparel and Footwear Association, said the law was “an
abomination that should never have been enacted in the first place.”

The Government Accountability Office recently reported that nearly $1 billion has been paid
to companies under the Byrd amendment. In addition, the World Trade Organization has ruled the
subsidies are illegal, and several countries had begun taking retaliatory measures.


January 1, 2006

January/February 2006



Supima
 , Phoenix, now offers an electronic version of the Federal Trade Commission Bureau of
Consumer Protection Office of Consumer & Business Education’s Facts for Business pamphlet
titled “Calling it Cotton: Labeling & Advertising Cotton Products.” The document is available
under the Supima Textile Products or Supima Licensing links at
www.supima.com.


Pantone Inc.
 , Carlstadt, N.J., has made available the summer 2007 edition of the Pantone® View Colour
Planner.


Rapra Technology Ltd.
 , England, has published a handbook titled “Chemistry and Technology of Polyols for
Polyurethanes.”




The Dow Chemical Co.‘s Dow Latex business, Midland, Mich.,
has launched a website at
www.dowcarpetlatex.com.

Effective January 1, Florham Park, N.J.-based

Troy Corp.
 has increased by up to 10 percent the price of its Troykyd® defoamers, Troysol™ and
Troysperse™ surfactants and dispersants, and Troythix™ rehology modifiers.

At the beginning of the first quarter of this year, the

Lenzing Group
 , Austria, increased textile and nonwoven fiber prices by at least 5 percent.


International Textile Market Association (ITMA)
 , High Point, N.C., is seeking companies to host student internships for summer 2006.
Financial assistance is available for interested companies. For more information, contact ITMA
(336) 885-6842; www.itma-showtime.com.


Meese Orbitron Dunne Co.
 , Saddle Brook, N.J., features a powder-coated steel recessed safety tow hitch on its
100P bulk linen truck.


Yaskawa Electric America Inc.‘s Drives Division, New Berlin,
Wis., has released E7 Harmonic Estimating Tool software, which enables users to estimate and
calculate voltage and current harmonic distortion produced by the company’s E7 Variable Frequency
Drives on electrical systems at the point of common coupling and/or at the drive input terminals.


The Astrup Co.
 , Cleveland, has redesigned its website,
www.astrup.com, to
feature greater detail about product lines.

The 2006

American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists
 Technical Manual is now available in print and CD-ROM formats from the Research Triangle
Park, N.C.-based association.


MonoSol LLC
 has relocated its headquarters to: 707 E 80th Place, Suite 301, Merrillville, Ind. 46410;
(219) 762-3165; fax (219) 764-4785.

The

Carpet & Rug Institute (CRI)
 , Dalton, Ga., is now accepting paper topic, presenter and session theme ideas for the
2006 Annual Carpet America Recovery Effort Conference, to be held at Callaway Gardens, Pine
Mountain, Ga., May 1-4, 2006. To submit ideas, contact Robert Peoples (706) 847-1442;
www.carpetrecovery.org. In addition, CRI’s street address has changed to 730 College Drive. The
company’s post office box is unchanged.


Kaeser Compressors Inc.
 , Fredericksburg, Va., has released a 20-page, four-color catalog detailing its line of
premium rotary screw compressors from 3 to 600 horsepower.

Spartanburg-based

Apex Chemical Corp.
 of South Carolina Inc. has changed its name to Apexical Inc. Its website is now located
at
www.apexical.com and
its new e-mail address is info@apexical.com.

Effective January 1,

DAK Americas LLC
 , Charlotte, has increased polyester staple fiber prices by 4 cents per pound for all
products sold to carpet, home furnishings, apparel, industrial and fiberfill markets.


Tajima America Corp.‘s new national headquarters are located
at: 19925 S. Susana Road, Rancho Dominguez, Calif. 90221; (800) 869-9776, (310) 604-8200; fax (310)
604-8260.

Effective January 1, Fort Mill, S.C.-based

Wellman Inc.
 has revised the pricing structure for Fortrel® polyester staple fiber.

Lakewood, N.J.-based

Newson Gale Inc.
 has published a 24-page technical data and applications bulletin containing information
on controlling static electricity in hazardous areas.


January/February 2006

Streat Instruments Develops New Tumble Dryer Controller

Streat Instruments Ltd., New Zealand,
now offers its Streat Tumble Dryer Controller, which measures garment moisture in the exhaust ducts
of tumble dryers. A non-contact moisture sensor installed in the duct replaces the direct-contact
sensor traditionally used in Streat’s Drycom system.

The controller — which can be incorporated into existing dryers — detects when drying
conditions have reached the optimum, preset level, and then automatically switches the cycle from
drying to cooling, ensuring that garments are not overdried. Because the system relies on the
condition of the load as opposed to the timer used in previous systems, operators can expect energy
savings and consistent product quality, Streat reports.

The product has been installed in some Scottish cashmere and fine wool knitters’ finishing
departments.



January/February 2006

IKME Finishing & Knitting


M
 ilan hosted 225 exhibitors and more than 8,500 visitors at the second edition of the
International Exhibition of Finishing & Knitting Machinery (IKME 2005) held in mid-November
2005. Promoted by the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers (ACIMIT) and organized
by Fiera Milano International S.p.A., the show was enhanced by the addition of dyeing and finishing
exhibitors. Thirty-five percent of show visitors came from outside Italy from countries and regions
such as Germany, Turkey, Spain, France, central and Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and
Latin America.

ikmeentrance

“We received orders directly at the fair and established contacts that can be expected to
turn into contracts,” said Paolo Banfi, managing director and shareholder of Italy-based Comez
S.p.A. and newly elected president of ACIMIT. “The manufacturers’ commitment, aimed at improving
the performance of their equipment, was rewarded. Europe, and Italy in particular, confirmed their
leadership on the world textile scene. IKME Finishing & Knitting is one more reason to look
optimistically [to] the future, where technological leadership always wins.”

An IKME Finishing & Knitting and Italian Trade Commission collaboration attracted 60
buyers from Brazil, Russia, Syria, Iran, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey; along with representatives of
the academic world from Russia, Iran and Turkey.


Excellence On Display


The show featured an Excellence Area that displayed innovative products and techniques
accomplished using exhibitors’ technologies. According to organizers, the area was “designed to
satisfy two objectives: to provide a ‘live’ display of the innovative products that can be obtained
using the existing machines; and to experiment with a new kind of partnership between equipment
manufacturers and users — seen as a true and innovative market driver.”

“[The Excellence Area] introduced two strong messages,” Banfi said. “The first is we are
studying niches in more detail because, like a laboratory, within each of these niches we can find
some winning products, and some ideas for other products. The second is talking and working
together. This is a true revolution that is much stronger than it would first seem. In fact,
customers are increasingly asking for solutions rather than products, and this renewed relationship
with the customer promises to redraw the textile industry.”


Knitting Shines


Flat-bed knitting stalwarts Shima Seiki Manufacturing Ltd., Japan; Protti Fashiontronix
S.p.A., Italy; and H. Stoll GmbH & Co. KG, Germany; among others, attracted high visitor
traffic with their latest innovations.

With a focus on productivity, ergonomics and quality output, IKME gave visitors a first look
at several Stoll products. The company continues to concentrate on flexibility with multigauge
machinery and software developments. Gerhard Berger, communications manager, said this was the
first time the new generation of CMS flat knitting machines was on display.

“The apparel industry is very strong for knitwear,” Berger said. “I am confident it will
continue to grow. The market continues to shift, but with more consolidation and stability. The
knitter needs to offer a quality product with speed, and flexibility is the key issue. Machine
productivity within these parameters offers a return.”

Circular knitting technology also was on display. Companies such as Lonati S.p.A., Sangiacomo
S.p.A. and Santoni S.p.A. — all based in Italy — presented their latest innovations.

Marco Braga, sales area manager, Santoni, pointed to a trend in sportswear and
performancewear markets beyond the intimate apparel so strongly associated with seamless knitting
technology. According to Braga, the goal is to increase the value of the garment and reduce the
number of sewing operations necessary for completion.

Among several new developments he mentioned was the SM4-TR2 knitting machine, which offers
true transfer capability and utilizes a patented needle from Germany-based Groz-Beckert KG that
enables transfer on single jersey.

Warp knitting and crochet technologies also were on view from the likes of Italy-based Jakob
Müller Italiana S.p.A., Spain-based Valentin Rius Clapers S.A. and Comez. This was an area of great
interest, as was apparent in the Excellence Area, where the flexibility of these technologies
beyond traditional end-use applications caught the interest of visitors exploring industrial,
medical and automotive sectors.


Dyeing And Finishing


The addition of dyeing and finishing technology added depth to the exhibition. Leading dyeing
technology companies including Loris Bellini S.p.A., Master S.a.s., Tonello S.r.l., Tecnorama
S.r.l. and Cimi S.p.A. — all based in Italy — exhibited equipment at IKME. MCS S.p.A., also based
in Italy, presented its new Universal rope-dyeing machine featuring horizontal fabric positioning.
The machine’s fabric basket is introduced into the lower end of the dyeing chamber.

Nicola Canziani, president of Italy-based Brazzoli S.p.A., was happy with the turnout. “When
we discussed [this show] three years ago, I was pessimistic,” he said. “Now I realize I was wrong.
Customers have visited from Central and South America, Turkey, India, Iran — almost more than from
Italy. I am happy to be wrong.”

Marco Cortiana, managing director of Italy-based Cibitex S.r.l., introduced customers to the
new “Ready” machine — a shrinkage plant for knits for an in-line process of knit fabric.

cibitex_Copy
Marco Cortiana presents Cibitex S.r.l.’s new “Ready” shrinkage plant for knits

Tecnorama offered the Dose & Dye® system, which focuses on small-batch quality. On
display was a dyeing unit with a capacity of 10 to 100 grams in sampling and 1 to 10 kilograms in
small production.

Germany-based Lindauer Dornier GmbH, a well-known name in weaving, continues to make headway
in knit-finishing equipment. Andreas Mondry, manager, textile finishing machinery, explained how
Dornier technology allows the knitted fabric to remain in tubular form throughout the finishing
process by using uniquely designed squeezing technology. In addition, Mondry spoke of the company’s
tubular singeing process — which creates a stripe-free finish in tubular form with reduced fabric
loss — as an alternative to enzyme finishing.

Rossano Biancalani, general manager of Italy-based Biancalani S.p.A., spoke of a “very good
response” at the exhibition. “We have had visitors from all over and a good response from South
America,” he said. The company introduced the ONDA washing machine for very light and delicate
fabrics. The machine was developed for customers interested in small batch sizes.

Italy-based Avantec De Franceschi introduced the Turbo Pintora garment-dyeing machine with “
super-high spin.” According to the company, the Turbo Pintora’s design reduces dyeing times by 25
to 30 percent while increasing load capacity.


Show Success


Overall, IKME Finishing & Knitting 2005 was a different experience than IKME 2003, held
just prior to the International Exhibition of Textile Machinery (ITMA) 2003. The knit area was as
strong as expected, and the addition of dyeing and finishing equipment, along with the ability to
draw 35 percent of show attendees from outside of Italy, makes the show a strong contender for
future success.

January/February 2006

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