PARIS — January 9, 2024 — Lectra announces the signature of an agreement to acquire the majority of the capital and voting rights of the American company Launchmetrics.
As a major player in the fashion, automotive and furniture markets, Lectra contributes to the Industry 4.0 revolution by providing software, cutting equipment, data analytics solutions and associated services to brands, manufacturers and retailers.
Founded in 2015, Launchmetrics develops and sells an innovative cloud-based SaaS platform, composed of seven modules, dedicated to brand performance, for marketing and communications professionals in the Fashion, Lifestyle and Beauty markets.
In a complex and constantly changing environment — the boom in artificial intelligence usage, development of multi-channel distribution, emergence of new consumer behaviors, and changing regulatory and CSR constraints — brands must create a strong identity, develop a differentiating position to gain visibility, and optimize the identification and retention of consumers.
To support their customers during the launch of collections and at all key moments of communication with their ecosystem, Launchmetrics has developed a cloud-based platform which — by harnessing aggregated marketing data — enables its customers to orchestrate the launch of their brand campaigns, precisely measure their effectiveness, and maximize their return on investment.
Launchmetrics is a world-renowned technology company with an unparalleled marketing data asset in the Fashion, Lifestyle and Beauty markets, thanks to its mastery of Industry 4.0 technologies such as data, the cloud, and, in particular, artificial intelligence.
In 2023, Launchmetrics’ revenues are expected to be around 45 million dollars — including more than 40 million dollars in recurring revenues — and an adjusted EBITDA of around 5 million dollars generated from close to 1,700 customers in around 20 countries, including prestigious fashion brands.
“Launchmetrics wanted to join forces with the Lectra Group in order to accelerate the development of its offering on a global scale, alongside a fashion technology leader,” declares Michael Jaïs, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Launchmetrics. “The alliance of Launchmetrics and Lectra will enable us to enrich our respective offers with even more artificial intelligence and complementary data — both product and marketing — to provide our customers with a unique value proposition.”
“This acquisition naturally fits with Lectra’s approach to expanding its presence in the Fashion market, by covering additional strategic links of its customers’ value chain. Combining our existing solutions with those of Launchmetrics establishes the Group as the only technological actor to support its customers from product development to production, then from collection management to marketing, e-commerce, and traceability,” adds Daniel Harari, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lectra. “After seven acquisitions over the past six years, this new strategic step enables Lectra to continue to push the boundaries by defining a new framework for Industry 4.0 in Fashion and is fully aligned with the 2023-2025 strategic roadmap, presented in February 2023,” he concludes.
CARMEL, IND. — January 8, 2024 — Textile supplier TVF is entering its 50th year in business. Co-founded and incorporated in Carmel, Ind., in 1974 by Dick Hanzel and Dick Leventhal as Top Value Fabrics, TVF has evolved over five decades from a few rolls of fabric on a garage folding table into a comprehensive fabric partner, a center of expertise with global connections, and a coast-to-coast logistical authority.
Tad Calahan
“In our 50-year journey, TVF’s rise has been nothing short of remarkable. We’re on a path of continued growth, excellence, and unbeatable service,” said TVF President Tad Calahan. “From humble beginnings, our dedicated team, customers, vendors, and partners have propelled us to being a leader within our industry. Looking ahead with our amazing team of employee owners, we are committed to pursuing our vision of helping our customers and our team reach their full potential.”
Throughout the year, TVF will be honoring the Golden Anniversary with celebrations, including an in-person gathering of all employees this summer, special recognition posts on social media and online, and themed events that pay tribute to employee and customers past and present.
“I’m incredibly excited to be celebrating TVF’s 50th anniversary along with its amazing team and valued customers,” Empowered Ventures President and CEO Chris Fredericks said. “TVF’s journey from privately-owned small business to an ESOP success story, and now to being the foundation for a growing employee-owned holding company, is nothing short of amazing! I’m grateful to TVF’s employee owners, and everyone who has worked for TVF in the past, for building and growing such a great business and workplace.”
You can connect to an interactive timeline on our website that highlights some of the most significant moments since our official founding on October 10, 1974. Some key dates include:
1986: Spurred by growth, the company headquarters was located to 401 W. Carmel Drive in Carmel, Ind., where it remains today.
1987: West Coast operations launch and current Vice President of Business Development Robert Hinsch came aboard to develop a sales and distribution to expand the company’s reach across the west coast.
1993: TVF established our office and warehouse facility in Carson, Calif., where it remains today.
1996-1997: Offerings expand into apparel products.
2002: Vinyl offerings greatly expand with the addition of vinyl coated and vinyl laminated polyester.
2006: TVF adds a print media line of fabrics.
2010: TVF co-founder Dick Hanzel agrees to sell 100 percent of the business to a newly-formed employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) created by Chris Fredericks, who would be named TVF president.
2017: TVF acquires California-based Pacific Coast Fabrics, increasing its home décor and print media depth.
2020: Following an extensive research process, Top Value Fabrics is rebranded as TVF with the tagline “Fabric. Expertise. Delivered.”
2021: Empowered Ventures, TVF’s 100-percent employee-owned holding company is launched following TVF’s successful ESOP transition.
2022: Using expert insight, a comprehensively refreshed TVFinc.com is launched to deliver a more hands-on feel and showcase our full spectrum of products and industry knowledge.
2023: Tad Calahan is named president of TVF. He succeeds Chris Fredericks, who turned his full attention to leading Empowered Ventures.
LEXINGTON, N.C. — January 9, 2024 — Navis TubeTex, a provider of advanced machinery solutions, is proud to announce its strategic partnership with Fibroline, a Lyon, France-based technology, and engineering company, which developed and patented revolutionary dry impregnation technologies. The Fibroline technology can impregnate powder form materials in a controlled manor throughout porous structures. Fibroline operates four business units including medical solutions, nonwovens & textiles, technical yarns, and composite materials.
Under the terms of the partnership, Navis TubeTex and Fibroline will launch “Fibroline USA”, a unique innovation center dedicated to the promotion of Fibroline’s cutting-edge dry impregnation solutions for the U.S. market. Additionally, Navis TubeTex will be responsible for manufacturing and delivering the machinery required for U.S. customers, ensuring seamless access to Fibroline’s groundbreaking technology.
“We are thrilled to announce this strategic partnership with Fibroline,” said Will Motchar, president and CEO at Navis TubeTex. “Fibroline’s expertise in dry impregnation technology aligns seamlessly with our commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions to our customers. This collaboration further demonstrates our strategic mission to provide sustainable solutions for coating, dyeing, and impregnation.
“We believe that this partnership with Navis TubeTex and the creation of Fibroline USA will significantly enhance our reach and impact in the U.S. market,” said Jerome Ville, CEO at Fibroline. “Navis TubeTex’s reputation for excellence and commitment to innovation make them the ideal partner to introduce our dry impregnation solutions to a broader audience. We look forward to a successful collaboration that will revolutionize the industry landscape.”
This partnership between Navis TubeTex and Fibroline represents a strategic alignment of expertise and resources, poised to elevate the standards of dry impregnation solutions in the U.S. market. The companies are committed to providing customers with unparalleled support, cutting-edge technology, and a seamless experience as they embark on this transformative journey together.
BACHENBÜLACH, Switzerland— January 9, 2024 — The SF-Filter Group, headquartered in Bachenbülach (Canton of Zurich), has acquired Hermans Brems NV at the beginning of the year, a former distribution partner based in Halen, Belgium. With this acquisition, the group strengthens its position as one of the leading independent distribution platforms for mobile and industrial filters in the European market and expands its presence in Belgian Flanders.
Since its founding in 1968, SF-Filter has evolved into a leading provider of filter solutions for applications in areas such as air, fuel, hydraulics, oil, and pneumatics. With a broad range and end customers, as well as resellers, the company has established itself as a relevant one-stop-shop. Under the guidance of the funds advised by the investment company Equistone, SF-Filter has been pursuing an ambitious growth strategy since 2022, aiming to continuously expand its market position as the preferred filter partner throughout Europe through further acquisitions. Just in October 2023, the group acquired Busse & Kuntze Filter GmbH, one of the most well-known full-range suppliers for industry and commerce in Germany.
Through the acquisition of the former distribution partner Hermans Brems supported by Livingstone Partners, SF-Filter gains access to customers in the attractive Flemish aftermarket. Hermans Brems’ location will continue to be operated under the current management, and the employees will be fully retained. SF-Filter will primarily provide operational support and drive the further growth of Hermans Brems by giving the distribution access to the entire range of over 140,000 filters and support in digitalization investments. Hermans Brems is among the most renowned filter specialists in Flanders and has been established in the aftermarket for mobile and industrial filtration for decades.
“We are pleased to welcome Hermans Brems, a long-standing distribution partner, into the group, strengthening our regional presence in the Flemish market,” says Daniel Infanger, CEO of the SF-Filter Group. “The acquisition marks a successful start to 2024, where we intend to continue our growth strategy through further acquisitions.”
Geert Kleynen, managing director of Hermans Brems, explained: “We look back on extremely positive experiences with the previous majority owner, HSH Invest NV. For the next stage of development, we have found an important strategic partner in SF-Filter, who has already distinguished themselves through successful collaboration in the past. By continuing our business operations from our location in Flanders, we can ensure the best possible support for our customers, now further expanded through full access to the wide range of products and services from SF-Filter.”
Angela Augusto, Rachael Frame and Polly Armond in Woolstore
PUDSEY, England — January 9, 2024 — AW Hainsworth, a 240-year-old fabric manufacturer and woolen mill responsible for the look of iconic England, has hired three textile graduates from northern universities.
Angela Augusto, Rachael Frame, and Polly Armond are the newest additions to the Hainsworth team and part of the company’s future of textile expertise.
Augusto and Frame have joined the team as Technical and Innovation managers, responsible for driving innovation, product development and continuous improvement. They have recently graduated with a Masters in Textile Science from the University of Leeds and are already applying that knowledge at the mill.
Armond is a Design and Development manager joining the Replin team to create bespoke fabric designs for aviation and rail. Polly studied textiles at Manchester Metropolitan University, specializing in weaving, and is already contributing to key projects as part of the design team.
AW Hainsworth is committed to bridging the skills gap in the UK textile industry, and these recent hires are part of that pledge. The family-run, heritage textile mill is also investing significantly in UK textile innovation— ensuring continuous quality, skills and sustainability improvement to secure the firm’s future as an innovator in fabric development.
As part of this, AW Hainsworth completed the development of a UKAS-accredited, state-of-the-art laboratory in 2022 that includes a range of advanced instruments and machinery to enhance in-house testing abilities.
Amanda McLaren, managing director of AW Hainsworth, commented: “We are so pleased that Angela, Rachael and Polly have chosen to join us and excited to leverage the knowledge they all bring to their roles. All three talented graduates have settled into life at the mill seamlessly, and we are excited to see what their careers at AW Hainsworth will bring.
“It’s no secret that there’s a huge skills gap to fill in the UK textile industry, largely due to a shift away from creative education in schools and lack of new people joining the workforce. That’s why it’s essential that we hire and develop apprentices and graduates with a passion for the industry and hunger to learn.”
AW Hainsworth is a vertical textile mill that creates exquisite woollen cloth, high-performing textiles, and iconic fabrics for customers worldwide. It can process a product from raw fibre to finished cloth entirely from its site in West Yorkshire. The specialist textile company is the parent company to Hainsworth Fabric of a Nation, Hainsworth Protective Fabrics, Hainsworth Toptable, Natural Legacy by Hainsworth, John Atkinson, Hainsworth Technical Felt, Northern Rubber by Hainsworth, and Replin by Hainsworth.
RONSE, Belgium — January 9, 2024 — Devan Chemicals, a provider of sustainable textile finishes, is excited to announce its upcoming participation in Heimtextil 2024. Devan invites attendees to explore their booth in Hall 11.0, booth A21, and experience firsthand the latest sustainable textile finishes that Devan has developed.
Devan technologies provide innovative solutions for product developers and portfolio designers, addressing the growing demand for sustainability and transparency in the corporate world. Introducing the latest advancements in technology, Devan is proud to showcase the newest additions to their R-Vital NTL Range and Thermic High Cooling technology.
R-Vital® NTL Range
R-Vital® NTL enables textile manufacturers to boost their textiles with a range of active, natural ingredients that have a positive effect on the body and mind. Elements such as Chamomile oil and Arnica Montana are absorbed by the skin and have relaxing, moisturizing or hydrating effects. The biobased content of the R-Vital well-being technology is more than 97 percent, readily biodegradable (OECD 301B).
R-Vital NTL Regenight™: Devan and Lucas Meyer Cosmetics join forces to launch a ground- breaking technology, R-Vital NTL Regenight, a technology which improves sleep quality and also improves nighttime skin recovery. Using an upcycled oil soluble fraction obtained from Australian Tea tree oil distillation process, Regenight acts through both inhalation to improve nighttime rest and through topical action to provide skin recovery. Tested in real-life context using proven biometric technology, the dual action provided individually by Regenight proposes a breakthrough approach to reduce the impact of poor-quality sleep on the skin.
R-Vital NTL Chamomile oil: Chamomile oil is known for its moisturizing and soothing properties. Additionally, this oil is believed to have antioxidant and inflammatory properties. Furthermore, chamomile oil is renowned for its calming effects and potential to reduce stress and anxiety, helping improve sleep quality.
R-Vital NTL Warming: Engineered to deliver a gentle warmth, the R-Vital NTL Warming technology ensures a cozy and comfortable sleeping experience. This blend is a solution that infuses a sense of warmth, promoting physical and emotional well-being.
R-Vital NTL Arnica Montana: Harnessing the natural benefits of Arnica Montana, this ingredient, is celebrated for its potent healing and recovering properties.
Thermic High Cooling
At Heimtextil Devan will also present a new high cooling technology that provides an optimal and refreshing sleeping climate, ensuring a cool and restful night’s sleep. Thermic High Cooling is based on reactive microencapsulated phase change materials (PCMs). The smart heat exchange mechanism keeps the body within its comfort zone. This makes the body suffer less from night sweats, and results in a longer, healthier and more comfortable sleep with fewer awakenings. This new formulation with high cooling level and high solid content, presents around 30 percent more cooling than standard PCM formulations. One padding allows to achieve high cooling level (no need to run multiple applications). A Bio-based version is also available — Thermic® Bio — where the PCMs are derived from sustainable, natural sources.
Devan Chemicals’ presence at Heimtextil 2024 underscores the company’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of textile innovation. Visitors to the Devan booth will have the opportunity to engage with the technologies firsthand, gaining insights into the future of textiles and the role they play in enhancing daily living.
“We are excited to unveil these groundbreaking technologies at Heimtextil 2024. Our commitment to sustainability and performance has driven us to develop solutions that not only meet but exceed the expectations of today’s consumers,” said Dr. Roberto Teixeira, CTO at Devan Chemicals. “We invite everyone to visit our booth in The Sleep and More Hall 11.0., experience the future of textiles, and explore how Devan Chemicals is shaping the industry.”
Heimtextil attendees can find Devan Chemicals at Booth nr A21 in Hall 11.0. to discover more about these innovative technologies and explore potential collaborations.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — January 9, 2024 — Kraig Biocraft Laboratories Inc., the biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of spider silk, today announces its Vietnamese subsidiary, Prodigy Textiles (Prodigy), has joined the Vietnam Sericulture Association (VSA).
Kraig Labs’ and Prodigy’s senior management met with leaders of the VSA in December. These meetings took place during the company’s management review of current operations and planned expansion of recombinant spider silk production in 2024.
The company is excited to work with the VSA and support their vision for enhancing silk production and strengthening overall sericulture in Vietnam.
“Joining the Vietnam Sericulture Association is part of Kraig Labs’s commitment to building strong ties within the sericulture industry and expanding our operational role in the continued growth of Vietnam as a global leader in silk production,” said company Founder and CEO Kim Thompson. “We believe that there is a very large potential to increase and grow Vietnam’s silk production, and we are working to make our recombinant spider silk a part of that growth.”
FRANKFURT AM MAIN, Germany — January 9, 2024 — With more than 2,800 exhibitors from 60 countries and a 95-percent level of internationality, this year’s Heimtextil continues to grow. At a panel discussion during the opening press conference, the leading trade fair for home and contract textiles put the spotlight on the significance of artificial intelligence (AI). How is AI speeding up the design process? Which tried and tested processes have already been introduced in the home textiles sector? What measures are necessary to prevent copyright infringements? Experts discussed a variety of ideas and solutions — from tool combinations to integration in corporate guidelines.
With more than 2,800 exhibitors from 60 countries and a 95-percent level of internationality, Heimtextil 2024 marks the beginning of the new trade-fair year. And, with a 25-percent increase in the number of exhibitors compared to the last edition, the leading trade fair for home and contract textiles continues to grow across all product segments and attract many different nations. “Our trade-fair brands are back and more resilient than ever before. Moreover, they offer small to medium sized companies in particular a high level of international stability. Despite a gloomy economic backdrop, Heimtextil continues to expand and offer a market overview of the latest global trends in the home and contract textile sector”, said Detlef Braun, Member of the Executive Board of Messe Frankfurt, in his opening statement.
Heimtextil 2024
At the opening press conference, panel participants Anja Bisgaard Gaede, founder of the Spott trends & business agency, Danny Richman, AI consultant and inventor of the AI‑based Fabric Genie design app, and Olaf Schmidt, Vice President Textiles & Textile Technologies of Messe Frankfurt, discussed the potential of artificial intelligence for textile product design. The discussion was chaired by Alexandra Bohn, Style Content Director of F.A.Z. Quarterly.
Artificial intelligence in textile product design
ChatGPT, Midjourney, Dallee: powerful tools for text, image and design generation have been very easily accessible for companies and private individuals since 2023. Today, they are a fixed part of everyday life and are leading to enduring changes in working processes. The panel discussion focused on how artificial intelligence is speeding up creative processes, enabling the rapid production of designs and transcending time‑consuming drawing processes on computers. Moreover, AI offers recommendations for material choices — based on specific criteria and the desired properties of the final product, whether for sustainability or in the contract business.
Heimtextil 2024: trade fairs as aids to transformation
One of the key roles played by Heimtextil is the investment in knowledge and the exchange of information with the aim of bringing transformations to life. Olaf Schmidt underscored the rapid growth of AI and explained why Messe Frankfurt is actively focusing on AI and bringing together international experts in this edition of Heimtextil, with a panel discussion and workshops in the Heimtextil Trend Space: “AI is fundamentally redefining the economy, markets and industries. As trade-fair experts, we know how to aid transformation efforts and reduce levels of complexity. With the global home textiles industry at Heimtextil in Frankfurt, now is the optimum time to spotlight the potential of artificial intelligence”, said Olaf Schmidt. The strength of the global Texpertise Network is also evident in this context: the Network embraces over 50 textile trade fairs in 12 countries and aids the exchange of information about artificial intelligence between many different markets along the textile value chain.
Increasing the potential of AI in textile design: easy and inexpensive
In his keynote address, Danny Richman presented a tried and tested aid: Fabric Genie, an AI design application for online shops. Users upload images of their room and describe their design requirements. The AI then generates proposals from which users can choose the design wanted. In his address, Richman also referred to the public’s reaction to the ability of AI to produce unique textile designs. “AI is superior to humans in terms of its ability to spot patterns in data. At the same time, this potential is easy and inexpensive for companies to take advantage of. Thanks to AI, it is not difficult to generate backend codes or to integrate custom-made applications via APIs”, said Danny Richman.
Artificial intelligence at the Heimtextil Trend Space
Anja Bisgaard Gaede looked at how companies can get started with AI and which aspects they should take account of during implementation. In this connection, she discussed not only technical questions but also the composition of corporate guidelines and protection against copyright infringements. Attention was also paid to ways in which AI is being used for textile design, as well as its limits. Gaede explained the importance of suitable prompts and distinguished between effective and less effective commands. Another focus was on combining the AI tools currently available. “It is time to forge ahead with KI. But with caution and with an eye to what is required to be successful in this. Hybrid machine and human interaction as well as collective intelligence are component parts of tomorrow’s workflows,” said Anja Bisgaard Gaede.
She also offered a preview of the AI applications and workshops in the Heimtextil Trend Space where visitors can experience and test artificial intelligence and augmented reality up close. Thanks to the AI-Image-Creator, they have the opportunity to generate unique textile works of art using a variety of prompts. Parallel to this, another tool offers valuable factual knowledge in the field of text-based learning.
Heimtextil 2024: even more textile innovations, materials and design
Worldwide business contacts and the place-to-be for the international textile interior-design sector — this year, Heimtextil brings textile innovations, materials, interior design and trends to life more intensively and in an even greater variety than ever before.
On a total of 17 levels, retailers, wholesalers, designers, furniture and bedding specialists, interior designers, interior decorators, architects, hotel designers and many other decision-makers can be sure of finding the broadest and deepest range of home, household and contract textiles: from decorative furniture fabrics to bedrooms and bathroom textiles, not to mention functional textiles, wallpapers, carpets, curtains and sun-protection systems.
The leading international trade fair for home and contract textiles has added two new halls for 2024. The first is Hall 5.1 for the new Carpets & Rugs product segment where 100 global suppliers have rolled out their latest products and design highlights for their first joint presentation in Frankfurt am Main. The broad spectrum to be seen stretches from hand and machine woven carpets to dirt-absorbing runners. The second supplementary hall has been opened this year for the global sourcing segment where private label excellence meets volume products – with a great range of high-quality industrial and artisan household textiles (Halls: 10.0 to 10.4) and home textiles (Halls 6.0, 5.0 and 6.1).
Beyond a range of products unparalleled worldwide, the global meeting place for the sector is once again distinguished by an indispensable visitor and content programme, which includes the Heimtextil Trends 24/25. Under the headline theme of New Sensitivity, they reveal a new sensitivity for the future via three compelling categories ‘plant-based’ ‘technological’ and ‘bio-engineered’.
The Interior.Architecture.Hospitality programme stands for the latest developments in the contract sector while the FINDER lists exhibitors with corresponding products. Additionally, experts guide visitors to selected exhibitors and present highlights on ‘Health & Care’, ‘Outdoor’, ‘Sustainability & Climate’ and ‘New Work’ within the framework of the Heimtextil TALKS & TOURS. In the LIBRARY, visitors will find a presentation of functional textiles curated by an expert jury.
For the first time in 2024, all relevant knowledge and product offerings on the main topic of sustainability can be found under the heading Econogy – from Econogy Talks to the Econogy Finder, an expert-checked overview of certified exhibitors with sustainable products. Other components of the Econogy offering include the Econogy Hub, the platform for seal providers and certifiers, and the one-hour Econogy Tours.
This year, the focus is once again on high-grade knowledge content for the specialist bed trade and the hotel industry: at the Heimtextil Sleep & More Conference in Hall 11.0, international sleep experts share their insights and best practices – from bedroom design and the expectations of Generation Z on hotel accommodation to the use of artificial intelligence for professional sleep analysis.
CHÂTEAUNEUF-LES-MARTIGUES, France — January 9, 2024 — Sicomin, a formulator of high-performance epoxy resin systems including the GreenPoxy® bio-resin range, has confirmed its GreenPoxy 33 will be used by SPLEENE Kiteboarding in its new Eco Line RIP 39 boards.
Designed with a commitment to genuine sustainability and developed during a 2 year collaboration with the Technical University of Applied Sciences Augsburg and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, all aspects of the Eco Line RIP 39’s construction were reviewed. Flax fiber multiaxial reinforcement plies, a CNC milled wood core and bamboo rail sections, are press molded together using Sicomin’s GreenPoxy 33 bio-epoxy resin system to produce the world’s most sustainable twintip kiteboard.
EcoBoard Lamination
Sicomin’s GreenPoxy 33 is an entirely CMR free resin system that has been optimized for a wide range of production processes including the hot press production used by SPLEENE for the new boards. Seamlessly substituted for traditional resins, GreenPoxy 33 allows manufacturers to quickly adopt greener processes, enabling eco-friendly performance with no compromise on ride quality, durability, or performance.
In addition to redefining the environmental expectations for a kitesurfing board, the new Eco Line RIP 39 also delivers on the water. SPLEENE Kiteboarding’s unique deck, core and base design details coupled with the added vibration damping of the natural flax and GreenPoxy laminates, mean the new boards perfectly balance explosive pop for tricks and jumps with long term comfort that keeps riders out on the water.
SPLEENE Ecoboard in action
“We chose Sicomin’s GreenPoxy 33 primarily for its compatibility with our hot press moulding process. Of course, we wanted a great bio-resin, but it also had to be both production ready and backed up by an exceptional track record. There is no gain if bio-alternatives lead to delamination or increased fragility in the part,” said Sebastian Fitz, operations director at SPLEENE. “Our collaboration with Sicomin allowed us to achieve awesome on the water performance without compromising our commitment to sustainability.”
The Eco Line RIP 39 represents just the beginning of SPLEENE’s eco-initiative. The company plans to expand the usage of GreenPoxy resins across its other twintip board lines, aiming for an entirely eco-friendly production across its range during 2024.
PARIS — January 9, 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 more than 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 will be selected in each of the 11 categories:
Aerospace – Parts
Aerospace – Process
Automotive & Road Transportation –Parts
Automotive & Road Transportation – Process
Building & Civil Engineering
Circularity & Recycling
Digital, AI & Data
Equipment, Machinery & Heavy Industries
Maritime Transportation & Shipbuilding
Renewable Energies
Sports, Leisure & Recreation
The international jury representing the entire composites value chain includes:
•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 VP/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 will take place in Paris on February 8th, 2024.
PARIS — January 9, 2024 — Lectra announces the signature of an agreement to acquire the majority of the capital and voting rights of the American company Launchmetrics.
