Q-Panel Offers Q/B Filter For Automotive TestingCleveland-based Q-Panel Lab Products has developed
the Q/B filter for use in the Q-Sun Xenon Test Chamber to test light stability of automotive
materials. Q/B filters meet the spectral requirements specified in automotive standards SAE J1885
and SAE J1960. The filters transmit a significant amount of short-wavelength ultraviolet (UV)
radiation below the sunlight cutoff of 295 nanometers (nm) a spectrum used to accelerate test
results for many materials.
April 2002
Q-Panel Offers Q-B Filter For Automotive Testing
Avondale Mills Inc To Receive Textile Worlds 2002 Innovation Award
Textile World honors Avondale Mills Inc. with the 2002 Innovation Award for its continued
commitment to innovation, investment in technology and enduring ability to succeed.Thriving in
todays textile industry takes special skills blending quality, price competitiveness,
state-of-the-art technology and dedicated people, to achieve a niche in a competitive marketplace
constantly fine tuning a forward thinking strategy.With more than 155 years of operating history
“the oldest textile manufacturing concern in the United States” Avondale Inc. continues to invest
in the future with sales of more than $600 million and more than 5,600 associates.Avondale Mills
thrust of high-quality, low-cost production has served it well as a leader in utility wear fabrics,
denim, sales yarn and specialty products for the tent, awning and boatcover markets.As Craig S.
Crockard, corporate vice president, planning and development said in the May 2001 Success Stories
issue of Textile Industries, Avondale believes the United States is still a great place to
manufacture textiles, especially when the latest technology is employed. Producing textiles at a
very quick turn-around, of very good quality and at low cost are the key factors in Avondales
corporate strategy.Avondale Mills joins Textile Worlds annual Innovation Award honorees, which
include Johnston Industries, Parkdale, Swift, Mount Vernon and MillikenandCompany.
Industry Group Attacking Strong Dollar Problems
Textile manufacturers have joined a broad-based coalition of labor industry and agriculture
interests who have launched a campaign against the strong dollar, which, they say, is raising havoc
in international trade. The Sound Dollar Caucus includes more than 40 trade associations
representing: textiles and textile machinery, steel, automobiles, paper and other forest products,
cotton, the AFL-CIO, and a wide range of other manufacturing industries.The U.S. dollar, which is
at a 16-year high, has the practical effect of making imports cheaper and raising the price tags on
American-made products abroad.The American Textile Manufacturers Institute (ATMI), one of the
founders of the Sound Dollar Caucus, blames devalued Asian currencies and U.S. strong dollar
policies for many of its current economic woes. ATMI says that in the late 90s, the currencies of
almost all the major textile-exporting countries were devalued, causing a “shock wave of
artificially low-priced textile and apparel products to hit the United States.”While the strong
dollar obviously is causing problems, Secretary of the Treasury Paul H. ONeil has stoutly defended
the administrations currency policies. He says that well-managed companies can deal with the
strength of the dollar, and there is an underlying fear that a weaker dollar would rekindle
inflation.With the administrations heels dug in, the dollar caucus has turned to Capitol Hill for
help. Members of Congress have formed their own Sound Dollar Caucus, and while they are concerned
about the problem, no one seems to have a simple or specific solution. One avenue appears to be
something known as the “Plaza Accord,” which President Ronald Reagans Treasury Secretary James
Baker negotiated in the mid-1980s when the currency imbalance was about the same as it is today.
Baker met with the financial ministers of a number of major trading nations, and they agreed to
take steps to bring their currencies into a better alignment with the dollar. While that effort was
successful, it is uncertain if or when the Bush administration would be willing to undertake such a
venture.
BASF To Cut Back Charlotte Textile Chemical Operations
BASF To Cut BackCharlotte Textile Chemical OperationsGermany-based BASF Corp. announced the company will discontinue textile and leather dye manufacturing operations at its facility in Charlotte by the end of 2002. The Technical Service Center and Marketing and Customer Service Group will continue to operate from the Charlotte site. The changes will result in the loss of 59 jobs.April 2002
Schlafhorst Introduces Universal Spinning Navel
Schlafhorst IntroducesUniversal Spinning NavelGermany-based W. Schlafhorst AGandCo. has developed a new spinning navel, KS K 4, for universal use in spinning yarns for knitting and weaving applications. The company claims the new navel enables spinning of yarn having enhanced quality and superior performance in downstream production processes.In knitting, fiber fly from yarns spun using the KS K 4 is significantly reduced and cleaning intervals are extended, according to Schlafhorst. In weaving operations, the processing of such yarns can lead to reduced costs associated with air consumption by air-jet weaving machines.April 2001
HunterLab Celebrates 50th Anniversary
HunterLab Celebrates 50th AnniversaryThe year 2002 marks Reston, Va.-based HunterLabs 50th year in
business. The company was established in 1952 by Richard S. Hunter as Hunter Associates Laboratory
Inc., a development, testing and consulting firm specializing in solutions related to the color,
appearance and related optical properties of materials.Today, the employee-owned ISO-9001-certified
company develops and manufactures spectrophotometers and colorimeters, and provides solutions and
support for color identification, measurement and control for a range of industries including
textiles, food, plastics, chemicals, paints and coatings, and others.
April 2002
Process Control Offers EXT Touch-Screen Control Panel
Process Control Offers EXTTouch-Screen Control PanelAtlanta-based Process Control Corp. has developed the EXT Series operator interface control panel for use with gravimetric equipment. The panel provides a central operator point to monitor and control an unlimited number of gravimetric blenders and Gravitrol® extrusion and line-speed control systems. The touch-screen interface utilizes the PCCWeb® used on all Process Control computer-controlled products.Features include password-protected remote access through a high-speed Ethernet connection. Interface protocols are available for a number of special formats.April 2001
Allertex Represents Santex Nonwovens Technoplants
Allertex RepresentsSantex Nonwovens, TechnoplantsAllertex of America, Cornelius, N.C., now exclusively represents Santex Nonwovens AG and Technoplants S.r.l. in the United States.Santex Nonwovens, Switzerland, manufacturers thermobonding ovens, Wavemaker vertical web forming systems, powder application and lamination technology.The Italian company Technoplants manufactures winding, cross-cutting and pad-stacking machinery for nonwovens production lines. The addition of Technoplants products to Allertexs existing technologies enables Allertex to offer turnkey lines to nonwovens manufacturers in the United States.April 2002
Philadelphia University To Host 2002 IDSA Conference
Industry Leaders and Top Academic Industrial Designers From Across the Northeast to Gather at Philadelphia University PHILADELPHIA, March 22 /PRNewswire/ — Industrial design professionals, professors, and students from across the Northeast will pour into the City of Brotherly Love on Friday, April 12 to attend the 2002 Northeast Regional District Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) Conference. Hosted by Philadelphia University, the conference will open on Friday and run through the evening of Saturday, April 13.”Every year the IDSA Conference is a huge success — a comprehensive smorgasbord of industrial design,” says Gotz Unger, director of the Industrial Design Program at Philadelphia University and 2002 IDSA Conference co-chair. “With the latest advances and techniques being presented and explored, projects and products on display, and top industry professionals offering their views and experiences through numerous lectures, we expect this year’s conference to be spectacular.”One of the conference’s highlights this year is a presentation, “New York, New Visions”, by Barbara Wilks and Tucker Viemeister. Appointed by Mayor Giuliani of NYC to help define the role of design during the rebuilding process in the aftermath of September 11, Wilkes and Tucker will share their stories of “Design Zero.”In addition to Wilks and Viemeister, Constantin Boym, Boym Partners, Inc.; Patricia Moore, MOORE Design Associates; Anthony Pannozzo, Herbst Lazar Bell; and Stephen Wilcox, Human Factors Section; are among the many scheduled to speak.Philadelphia University, founded in 1884, is a fully accredited, private university with 3,500 part- and full-time students from 47 states and 56 countries. The University offers more than 40 undergraduate and graduate degree programs leading to the bachelor of science, bachelor of architecture and master’s degrees. Academic programs encompass architecture, design, business, textiles, fashion, science and health.For more information, or to register for the 2002 IDSA Conference, please go to the Conference website at http://idisk.mac.com/idsaned/Public/idindex.htmCopyright 2002 PR Newswire
AATCC Signs Agreements With SDC And ASTM
AATCC SignsAgreements With SDC And ASTMThe American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC), Research Triangle Park, N.C., has signed memorandums of understanding with both the United Kingdom-based Society of Dyers and Colourists (SDC) and ASTM International, West Conshohocken, Pa.Each memorandum contains mutual cooperation in certain areas, including exploring new areas of color science and developing new standards of interest.March 2002