Germany-based DyStar has signed a memorandum of understanding to acquire Charlotte-based Yorkshire
Americas Inc.’s textile dyes business in North, Central and South America. The acquisition, which
is expected to be completed by the end of this month, is subject to shareholder and government
regulatory approval.
February 2004
Greenville-based Batson Group Inc. will represent Switzerland-based Cavitec, a business unit of
Santex AG, in the United States and Canada. Batson is to offer Cavitec’s complete line of coating
and laminating systems, impregnation lines and nonwovens finishing equipment.
February 2004
Other major trade organizations including the National Textile Association and the American
Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition also have voiced their opposition. Again, the major concerns
revolve around the cumulation rules of origin and TPLs that will allow CAFTA countries to buy yarn
from Mexican, Canadian and Asian countries and export duty-free finished goods manufactured from
these yarns to the United States.
Mixed Feelings On Business
Yarn prices seem to be holding relatively steady from the previous reporting period. As one
major spinner said, “Our business isn’t where we want it; however, it has picked up substantially
in the last month.”
Another spinner added, “Some of our customers are beginning to realize that they had better
not put all their eggs in one basket — so we are beginning to get some orders from folks we haven’t
heard from in a while.”
Textile manufacturers are hoping their business may follow the same trend as other
manufacturing sectors. A survey released by the Institute for Supply Management indicated
manufacturing orders rose faster in December than in any previous period in recent history. At the
same time, low interest rates have fueled record-setting construction activity, according to a
report from the US Department of Commerce. In fact, residential construction, which has tremendous
implications for the textile industry, has hit an all-time record rate of close to $500 billion.
Job Growth?
On the other hand, the US economy added only 1,000 jobs during December, according to data
from the US Department of Labor. Although the unemployment rate dropped to 5.7 percent for
December, the fall in unemployment actually was the result of 309,000 people giving up their job
searches and dropping out of the labor force.
As one textile executive said: “We keep hearing about this jobless recovery. How can there
be a recovery if people don’t have the jobs to sustain it?”
Another executive said: “The administration thinks you build a recovery around tax cuts and
people refinancing their homes. The only way to have real recovery is by having fair trade policies
that will put people in manufacturing back to work.”
It has to be disappointing that, while manufacturing orders are up, this sector of the US
economy gave up another 26,000 jobs in December.
February 2004
Italy-based Bonino Carding Machines S.a.s. has formed a new division to market its Aircarding
technology-based Turbo Cards. The patent-pending technology will be available in individual
machinery or turnkey plants. Various natural or man-made fibers and blends can be processed using
the Aircarding technology. A special feature on the machine allows manufacturers to add secondary
products, such as powder or foam, into the fiber blend. According to Bonino, fiber laydown can be
controlled in the X, Y and Z directions, while maintaining even web distribution.
“Our new Aircarding machinery is able to form a nonwoven web from very light weights to very
heavy weights per square meter at high production rates,” said Chiara Bonino, marketing director.
February 2004
The Performance Fabrics Division of Consoltex Inc., headquartered in Quebec, has developedThe stretch fabric offerings of the S3 Technologies product range also includes new four-way
stretch double-faced fabrics. Targeted to the technical outdoor apparel collections of such sports
apparel producers as Patagonia, REI and Mountain Equipment Co-op, the new fabrics have a nylon
abrasion-resistant face and moisture-management polyester back; are wind-resistant and breathable;
and are coated with a Super Water Repellant finish, which, according to Consoltex, is five times
more durable than other water-repellent finishes.
Consoltex’s new T-400 fiber fabrics feature such properties as abrasion resistance, lasting
recovery, relaxed stretch and low shrinkage, according to the company.
February 2004
The Fibers Group of Bayer Polymers LLC has become a separate legal entity from its parent company.
However, the new company, Dorlastan® Fibers LLC, remains linked to Bayer Polymers, which is to
become part of a new chemicals and polymers company being organized by the Bayer Group, Germany
(See
Textile
World News,
TW, December 2003).
Dorlastan Fibers is headed by Werner Nahl, president, Global Sales and Marketing. Other
officers include: Karen Flowe, executive vice president and COO; Hal Martens, vice president,
marketing; and David Stover, vice president, finance.
“With this fresh beginning, our group looks forward to a more entrepreneurial approach to
conducting business,” Nahl said. “We will continue to concentrate on our strengths and work with
our customers on their specific needs.”
Dorlastan Fibers maintains manufacturing facilities in Dormagen, Germany, and in Goose Creek,
S.C. In recent years, both locations have undergone expansions that together have doubled the
companys production capacity.
February 2004
France-based NSC Nonwoven launched the Thibeau CA21 card during a recent open house at its
NSC Group Wuxi NSC Hongyuan (PRC) plant.
February 2004
Italy-based Lawer S.p.A., represented in the United States by the Batson Group Inc., Greenville,
has introduced two dispersers that work in combination with Lawer’s SILOS-DOS system to automate
the weighing, dissolving and dispensing of sodium hydrosulphite used in the dyeing process. The
systems eliminate human handling and potential accidents related to such handling of this dangerous
chemical. The HYDRO-DOS system is used in combination with the SILOS-DOS to dispense bulk
quantities of sodium hydrosulphite delivered in International Bulk Carriers. The RBF system is used
to dispense small to medium quantities of the chemical delivered in 50- or 100-kilogram drums.
Dispensing takes place via a single stainless steel pipeline into the dye machine side tanks.
February 2004
Cognex Corp., Natick, Mass., has developed its In-Sight® Explorer software for use with its line of
In-Sight vision sensors. The software simplifies vision application development and configuration;
offers secure, password-protected operation; and enables efficient management of vision sensor
networks.
Cognex also has introduced its cost-effective MVS-8501 frame grabber for use with high-speed
analog cameras that use the newest progressive scan CCD sensor technology. Its single-channel
architecture supports up to four multiplexed cameras, and it also is compatible with standard speed
analog interlaced and progressive scan cameras.
February 2004
The Xetma Group, with locations in Germany and Switzerland, has supplied an Optima XPPS
double-polishing and shearing unit to Dohler S.A., Brazil.
Xetma’s Multisystem XREB raising, emerizing and brush-sueding system has been installed at
Lauffenmuhle GmbH and Kufner Textilwerke GmbH, both based in Germany.
February 2004
