Norstat Offers Lauer PCNorstat Inc., Rockaway, N.J., offers its Lauer line of industrial PCs for machinery and automation end-uses. The PCs are equipped with 12-, 15- or 18-inch resistive touch screens. A front side alpha-numeric key pad with finger mouse is used to access information. Certain models provide connection for an external PS/2 keyboard or a mouse. A standard Intel Celeron 433-megahertz (MHz) processor can be upgraded to an Intel Pentium III 700-MHz processor. Other options include 256 MB of RAM, CD-ROM, Ethernet, nickel-plated face plates and front side foils.January 2002
Solutia Introduces Vapor-Phase Heat-Transfer Fluid
Solutia IntroducesVapor-Phase Heat-Transfer FluidSolutia Inc., St. Louis, has introduced Therminol VP-3 vapor-phase heat-transfer fluid. The low-odor fluid has a boiling point of 243°C 14°C lower than the boiling point of 257°C for current vapor-phase heat-transfer fluids.That boiling point difference of just 14°C can have a major impact on the efficiency of nylon and specialty polymer operations, said Dale Kline, worldwide business manager, heat-transfer fluids. It enables manufacturers to easily process or spin nylon 6 or specialty polyester-based polymers at a lower temperature, which they could previously achieve only by operating a conventional biphenyl/ diphenyl oxide heat-transfer system under vacuum.January 2002
Industry Situation
N
ot much has changed for spinners, weavers and knitters in the United States. At a recent
meeting of textile executives, several were asked, “What are your feelings on the current state of
affairs in the textile industry?” The answers were generally the same. They might be summed up in
what one of them said: “Never in my 30 to 40 years have I seen anything like it. There have been
times when one or two segments have been bad, but I have never seen a time when all segments were
like we have now. I don’t know what is going to happen.”
One attendee responded a little more positively. He said, “I know of a few areas that are
doing okay. Some are doing so because their competition has closed down and they are getting some
of that business. Others have come up with new/different products, and a few have found a little
life in their military/uniform markets. Also, a few areas of knitting are doing very well. In fact,
I think that there are some positive signs
out there. First of all, plants stopped off during the past several months to reduce or
eliminate inventories. Inventories have really hurt. So this year will start out with very low or
no inventories. Secondly, the pipelines are about empty.” He went on to say, “I look for things to
pick up in the later part of the first quarter or in the second quarter. With inventories at such a
low level and the pipelines almost empty, any movement would translate into a positive response
from spinners, weavers and knitters.”
So, have we seen the worst of it? The optimistic outlook of the above presenter appears to
fall in line with overall views of the general economy. Economists are projecting that the general
economy will begin to improve in the third or fourth quarter of this year. If this is true, and if
history repeats itself, then we in the textile industry should expect to see an upturn during the
first or second quarter. This follows from past eco-nomic trends that indicate the textile industry
leads the general economy into a slowdown or recession, and it leads the economy out of a
recession.
How valid are these trends? No one knows. But there is one thing for certain; we in textiles
knew the economy was in recession long before it was openly stated by economists.
Cotton Prices
In the cotton market, things have become much more aggressive. Prices hit a 27-year low
during the past few weeks, and this led some speculators into the market. Last month, the Yarn
Market reported the price of cotton at 26.77 cents per pound for the base-grade
seven-designated-markets average. This month, the quoted price is 33.36 cents per pound. This is a
6.5-cent increase, or about 25 percent. As we have moved down and out of this “trough,” there has
been a large volume of fixing by producers, cooperatives and mills. Does this mean that someone
sees a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel?
Focus On The Customer
Maybe it is time to focus more on our customer needs. It has been stated many times that the
weaving machine is one of the most effective yarn testers in the plant.
If you ask a weaver what he needs most for effective weaving, he would probably say strong
or stronger yarns. However, if you ask the same question of the weaving machine/customer, the
answer would probably be, “more consistent or uniform yarn strength.” Stronger yarns alone, or on
average, may not lead to improvements in weaving performance. In fact, lower average yarn strength,
with less variation, may contribute more to improvements in weaving performance.
As variations in yarn strength are reduced, measurements become more closely clustered about
the average, and extreme measurements are reduced/eliminated.
As a result, one would expect better weaving performance. More recently, a purchaser of
weaving yarns was asked, “What are the most important issues that you have with yarns purchased?”
He listed imprint bruises, cobwebs, overshots, no/bad/trapped transfer tail, loose ends, cuts,
tangles, rolled selvages, damaged sleeve/cone, wild yarn, malformed package/soft/hard, and run-outs
as having serious impacts on quality and production.
An interesting list, particularly since many spinners have no measurable system for these
types of defects. Given all of this, how can we give the weaving machine/customer a package that is
free of anything that might cause it to stop?
January 2002
ATMI Makes Major Cuts In Staff
Reflecting the adverse business conditions in the U.S. textile industry, the Washington-based
American Textile Manufacturers Institute (ATMI) has announced a major downsizing that will result
in the elimination of a number of key senior staff positions.ATMI President Charles A. Hayes,
Guilford Mills, said that over the next 60 days the positions of director of government relations
(chief lobbyist) an assistant director of government relations, chief economist, and director
of membership and administrative services will be eliminated. Executive Vice President
Carlos Moore will go on half-time status until a new executive vice president is hired, and he will
focus on international trade and cotton issues. While some industry observers believe the move
could seriously weaken the industry’s ability to lobby Congress and the administration, Moore said
the industry’s lobbying strength comes from its members and its textile state supporters in
Congress. He says the industry has succeeded in getting strong commitments from Congress and the
administration to address critical international trade and economic issues. “Much of the hard
work is done,” he said. ” Those commitments are in place, and our staff, our members and our
supporters in Congress are committed to following through and getting them implemented.
Beyond that, Moore said, ATMI will continue to have the services of Boyden Gray, a former
White House chief of staff, who has been successfully lobbying the administration. In
making the announcement, Hayes said: “These changes in no way diminish our continued committment to
lobby our industry’s issues in Washington. There should be no confusion as to the high priority
that effort has.”
Quality Fabric Of The Month: Intelligent Fabrics
In an effort to eliminate materials and processes that generate pollution or waste,initiatives are being taken to manufacture “intelligent” fabrics that use environmentally sustainable processes as well as eco-friendly raw materials such as biodegradable or recyclable fibers and optimized dyestuffs/auxiliary chemicals.Biodegradable materials are returned to the earth as “biological nutrients” at the end of their useful lives. Recyclable materials, or “technical nutrients,” are reused over and over in new textile products.
A number of players within the industry — such as visionary architect William McDonough and chemist Michael Braungart, McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC), Charlottesville, Va.; textile manufacturers Rohner Textil AG, Switzerland, and Victor Innovatex Inc., Quebec; textile distributor DesignTex (a Steelcase Company), New York City; and others — are collaborating to introduce at competitive prices such fabrics for use in contract furniture and transportation
applications. These fabrics include Rohner’s fully biodegradable Climatex® LifeguardFR™, a blend of wool and Austria-based Lenzing’s Redesigned LenzingFR™ — a beechwood-based cellulosic fiber
containing a flame retardant derived from a natural source and developed by Switzerland-based Clariant. Rohner has granted Victor Innovatex exclusive rights to manufacture the jacquard-woven fabric in North America.
Climatex LifeguardFR is a redesign of Rohner’s award-winning Climatex Lifecycle™, a wool/ramie climate-control seating fabric that complies with MBDC’s Sustainable Design Protocol™ for environmental soundness of materials and processes used. The fabric is dyed using 16 dye
chemicals from Switzerland-based Ciba that are free of negative environmental impacts, while complying with industry standards for lightfastness, durability and color process reproducibility. All colors except black can be produced.
Flame retardation has been among the least environmentally compatible properties found in commercial fabrics. Rohner claims the addition of Clariant’s sustainable flame retardant meets the most stringent flame-retardation standards, including those for aviation applications.
Climate-control properties are inherent in the fibers used. Wool conserves heat and absorbs moisture, while Redesigned LenzingFR transports moisture.
Victor Innovatex is introducing Climatex LifeguardFR as part of its Eco Intelligence™ Initiative (EII), which also includes fully recyclable Eco Intelligent™ Polyester made using titanium, a safe alternative to antimony, a toxic heavy metal. The fabrics are among others the
company is developing for Steelcase and DesignTex.
For more information about Climatex® LifeguardFR™, contact Jean François Gagnon (418) 227-9897;
or Beth McInnis (212) 741-4016, Ext. 21.
January 2002
Celanese Acetate And Teijin Form Marketing Alliance For Acetate Filament
KRONBERG, Germany, Dec. 20 /PRNewswire/ — Celanese AG (NYSE: CZ)(Frankfurt: CZZ) and Teijin
Limited announced today that they have signed a Marketing and Sales Assistance Agreement. Under the
terms of the agreement, Teijin will market Celanese Acetate filament products in Japan as an
independent consultant and assist in sales inthe Asia region. In a related move, Teijin will
discontinue production of acetate flake at its Matsuyama site in December 2001 and acetate filament
inFebruary 2002. The marketing alliance evolved out of ongoing joint venture discussions between
the parties. Both companies acknowledged that a contemplated jointventure was no longer viable due
to market conditions. The marketing alliance is the best way to meet the ongoing needs of Teijin
and Celanese acetate filament customers in the region. Celanese Acetate Textiles is the world’s
largest cellulose acetate filament producer. Its products are found in women’s and men’s apparel
fashions, linings, home furnishings and industrial end uses. Celanese acetate filament is currently
manufactured in the United States, Mexico and Belgium. Teijin Limited, established in June 1918,
was the first Japanese companyto produce rayon yarn and remained an innovator and leader in the
developmen tand commercialization of fibers. Today, the company’s operations encompassfour segments
— fibers, chemicals and plastics, pharmaceuticals and medical products, and diversified
businesses. The company has production and sales subsidiaries and affiliates in more than 10
countries. The parent company also has five overseas offices, as well as six plants and six
research institutes in Japan. Consolidated sales for the year ending March 2001 were761 billion
yen. Celanese AG is a global chemicals company with leading positions in itskey products and world
class process technology. The Celanese portfolio consists of five main businesses: Acetyl Products,
Intermediates, Acetate Products, Technical Polymers Ticona and Performance Products. The
Performance Products business consists of oriented polypropylene films (OPP), sweetenersand food
ingredients. Celanese generated sales of around euro 5.2 billion in2000 and has about 12,700
employees. The company has 30 production plants andsix research centers in 11 countries mainly in
North America, Europe and Asia.Copyright © 1996-2001 PR Newswire Association Inc. All Rights
Reserved.
Flexico Aims For Early 2002 Narrow Elastic Production
Flexico Inc., Mexico, a joint venture between The Moore Co., Westerly, R.I., and Grupo Industrial
Zaga, Mexico, is preparing for production of its narrow elastic fabrics beginning in early 2002.We
signed our agreement only one year ago, and Im pleased to say that progress at our new
manufacturing facility is on target. Well be shipping product to intimate apparel and orthopedic
soft-goods customers in just a few months, said Goran Elovsson, president, Flexicos U.S. Division
and executive vice president, George C. Moore Co., Moores narrow elastics division, Greensboro,
N.C.The 50/50 partnership initially increases George C. Moores capacity by 40 percent and expands
overall product lines, including the new Goflex®, an embossed knit product for use in intimate
apparel.
December 2001
Datacolor Introduces New Package Flow Machine
Datacolor, Lawrenceville, N.J., has introduced the Ahiba Multiprecise TC machine, representing the
latest technology in package flow machines. The machine was designed to help correlate laboratory
dye recipes to production-scale dyeings improving accuracy and repeatability for processes
requiring a flow technique.The Ahiba Multiprecise TC features programmable dyeing parameters; two
high-temperature dyeing chambers that run independently; specially designed sample holders; and a
patented pump that allows the dyebath to flow from the inside to the outside of the package,
ensuring level dyeing, according to Datacolor. Circle 261.
December 2001
PGI Develops Restructuring Plan Produces Fabric For DuPont
Polymer Group Inc. (PGI), North Charleston, S.C., is in the process of finalizing a restructuring
plan, which the company hopes will result in a fourth-quarter restructuring charge of no more than
$150 million.Jerry Zucker, PGI chairman, president and CEO, said, This decision will result in a
repositioning of assets throughout our system, reducing much of the trial, qualification and
commercialization costs of our Apex® programs and a material reduction in our manufacturing costs.
This restructuring will result in annual savings in the range of $55 to $60 million once fully
implemented.In other company news, PGI recently entered into a supply agreement with Wilmington,
Del.-based DuPont. Under the agreement, PGI will use DuPonts Nomex® fiber in the manufacture of its
Miratec®/Apex® fabric for the DuPont Advanced Fiber Systems business. DuPont introduced various new
thermal-protective apparel fabrics made from Nomex earlier this fall.The combination of the Nomex
fiber and the Miratec/Apex technology yields a fabric that capitalizes on the thermal-protective
properties of Nomex fiber and the unique characteristics of PGIs Miratec/Apex technologies, said
Grant Reeves, COO, Oriented Polymers Division, PGI.Miratec fabrics are manufactured using PGIs
proprietary Apex laser and fabric-forming technologies.
December 2001
FiberBuys Offers Contact Feature
FiberBuys.com, an on-line fiber resource center, is offering a supplier contact feature for all
products in hopes of facilitating quick, easier communication between buyers and sellers. Motivated
by customer demand, the feature allows buyers that have questions about specific products to
contact suppliers directly.To use the supplier contact feature, customers log on to the
Fiberbuys.com website, click on an envelope-shaped icon adjacent to the specific product and type a
question or comment. An e-mail is sent directly to the supplier of the designated product.The
supplier contact feature gives us the ability to find out what our buyers really want and to get it
to them in the most efficient, effective manner, said Patricia Liskoff, director of operations.
December 2001
