Craig Arnold appointed Executive Vice President Polyolefins, Circular Economy Solutions and Innovation & Technology
VIENNA, Austria — December 7, 2023 — The Supervisory Board of Borealis has appointed Craig Arnold as the new executive vice president Polyolefins, Circular Economy Solutions and Innovation & Technology with effect from February 1, 2024.
Craig Arnold is currently the chief commercial officer at Ferroglobe PLC in Madrid, Spain. Prior to this appointment, he had a long-standing career at Dow Inc., where he held various senior management roles, including an executive secondment (from Dow Inc.) and advisor to the CEO at the Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW) in Singapore; president Dow Sub-Sahara Africa in Johannesburg, South Africa; Global Commercial vice president, Dow Industrial Solutions for EMEAI in Zurich, Switzerland; and president Dow Australia & New Zealand in Melbourne, Australia; as well as other senior corporate roles separately in Texas and Michigan. He has also served on many industry associations, academic and government related bodies.
Thomas Gangl, Borealis CEO, will assume responsibility for the Polyolefins, Circular Economy Solutions and Innovation & Technology segment on an interim basis effective January 1, 2024, until Craig Arnold will resume his role as Borealis executive board member.
Arnold has an educational background in Chemical Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. He holds dual Swiss-South African citizenship, is married and proud father of two children.
“I am delighted we bring such an experienced Commercial executive onboard of the Borealis Executive Board. I warmly welcome Craig and look forward to working closely with him,” commented Daniela Vlad, chairwoman of the Borealis Supervisory Board and OMV executive vice president Chemicals & Materials.
HANNOVER, Germany — December 7, 2023 — Under the direction of Jamie Metrick, managing director of Elte, a jury of international experts from the design and carpet industry selected the most convincing designs in eight categories. A total of 206 carpet designs were submitted worldwide for the Carpet Design Awards 2024 . Of these, 24 entries reached the final round of the competition.
Design, Quality and Craftsmanship
The awards — presented in collaboration with COVER and HALI magazines — celebrate contemporary carpet design and reflect the innovations and trends within the industry. In selecting the finalists, the jury paid particular attention to the design, quality and exquisite craftsmanship of the handmade rugs. In selecting the finalists, the jury paid particular attention to the design, quality and exquisite craftsmanship of the handmade rugs. “The competition this year is fierce as there are some outstanding rugs up for awards.
It’s going to be exciting to see industry veterans battle it out with less discovered designers and brands,” reveals Jamie Metrick, head of the jury. Carin Terins, also a member of this year’s CDA jury and RugVista AB’s purchase and creative director, was particularly pleased with the creativity and quality of the submissions: “I am fascinated by the passion and creativity that designers and artists possess, as demonstrated by this competition. The mix between contemporary and traditional elements, the variation between colourful and finely tuned neutrals, the beautiful craftsmanship and the importance placed on sustainability, all give me great hope for the future of the industry.”
Three exclusive examples of each category made it to the finals . They will be on display in Hall 3 throughout DOMOTEX.
EUCA Award honors Carpet Importers
During the Carpet Design Awards, the European import trade for handmade oriental carpets will also be honored. The EUCA Award has been presented by the European Carpet Importers Association since 2007 and is being awarded for outstanding achievements in this field for the sixteenth time.
All winners of the eight CDA competition categories and the EUCA Award will be announced at a ceremony on the second day of the fair, 12 January 2024 at 6 p.m. at the Carpet Design Awards exhibition area in hall 3, booth D24.
The Finalists – who will win?
Category 1: Best Studio Artist Design
Original small scale production design from an artist or designer
Pomme d’Or, Maison Rhizomes | Berlin (DE)
Rhizomes 1 White, Maison Rhizomes | Berlin (DE)
Maschera, Dena Lawrence | Perth (AU)
Category 2: Best Modern Design Superior
Original contemporary designs showing optimum use of materials
1923 Runner (Prototype), Christopher Farr Editions| London (UK)
Kanoa by KAVI, Jaipur Rugs | Jaipur (IN)
Labyrinth – Charcoal, Wool & Silk | New Jersey (US)
Category 3: Best Modern Design Deluxe
Original contemporary design showing optimum use of materials
Sakshat by KAVI, Jaipur Rugs | Jaipur (IN)
Charm, SAHRAI MILANO | Milan (IT)
The Raw Earth (Stefan Heyer), Knots Rugs Ltd | London (UK)
Category 4: Best Transitional Design
A new rug that interprets traditional designs for a contemporary audience
Kismat Manchaha, Jaipur Rugs | Jaipur (IN)
Indigo Ripples, Manglam Arts | Jaipur (IN)
Jeevan Manchaha, Jaipur Rugs | Jaipur (IN)
Category 5: Best Flatweave Design
Original rug design demonstrating the flatweave technique
Curb – Gill Thorpe x FLOOR_STORY, FLOOR_STORY | London (UK)
Chalet, Creative Matters | Toronto (CA)
Illuminata, Edelgrund GmbH | Hamburg (DE)
Category 6: Best Collection
Contemporary Traditional or Transitional design collections demonstrating a common theme
Verso – Gill Thorpe x FLOOR_STORY, FLOOR_STORY | London (UK)
White & Beige Collection, Maison Rhizomes | Berlin (DE)
Espressionismo Floreale Collection, Laura Niubó | Los Angeles (US)
Category 7: Best Interior
A high-end customisation project or rug installation represented by high-quality images
Knots Rugs x Knowle Hall, Knots Rugs Ltd | London (UK)
TRISSINO, Italy — December 7, 2023 — Sustainable compacting with Compas is the environmentally-friendly route to controlled shrinkage. Sperotto Rimar’s revolutionary compacting technology brings unmatched results without adding chemicals.
Compas is an open-width compacting and finishing machine for knitted and woven fabrics, which uses a unique compacting concept. This is based on a belt with specific elasticity characteristics, which enhances the fabric compacting process.
Revolutionary and effective
The belt is set to a control level of pretension and the fabric contacts the belt at the point when it is at its maximum tension. When the tension is released and the belt returns to its original position, the fabric follows, so that it is compacted lengthwise.
This compacting revolution guarantees optimum compacting capability for both knitted and woven fabrics. Outstanding residual shrinkage values are achieved with all fabric types, including extremely difficult ones such as 100-percent viscose knitted and woven articles. Finishers are amazed by the natural stretch effect on the fabric warp achievable on 100-percent wool worsted fabrics and end-users appreciate the silky and smooth touch which has become a recognized feature of Compas.
Compas is compact
The design of the Compas system enables easy handling of all machine operations — especially the tension control applied to the fabrics, which is critical in compacting processes.
During operation, fabrics are warm and somewhat humid and are subject to lengthwise tensions which can severely impact the results. The Compas configuration ensures very short distances between machine elements. Even the pin tenter controlling the fabric width is integrated into the main body of the machine. This minimizes the distance between the point where the fabric leaves the pins and the compacting section, where the lengthwise shrinkage is actually imparted.
The compactness of the machine also limits energy consumption, unlike systems comprised of several separate units where both energy and steam requirements are increased dramatically.
Innovations with an ‘eco-attitude’
The Compas pin tenter has a V-shaped steaming unit which follows the fabric so that steam is applied only where fabric is running. That means the steam is exploited to maximum effect, without wasting energy.
Sperotto Rimar developments are designed to express the company’s stated ‘eco-attitude’. The sophisticated technology of Compas embodies this policy, by empowering more sustainable finishing with a closed-loop cooling circuit to save precious water. Indirect rubber belt cooling enables recycling with totally unpolluted water. This contrasts with conventional compacting machines using standard rubber belt technology, which can consume up to 4 cubic meters of water per hour.
Another plus comes from the fact that water is not sprayed directly onto the compacting belt, avoiding water absorption by fabric being processed. This responsible use of water further underlines the eco-attitude.
ANDRITZ Laroche project team with Alessandro Giana, co-owner of Sfilacciatura Negro in front of the new generation Exel line Photograph: ANDRITZ
GRAZ, Austria — December 7, 2023 — ANDRITZ recently started up a new textile recycling line at Sfilacciatura Negro’s plant in Biella, Italy. Designed for processing post-consumer textile waste with automatic removal of hard parts, the tearing line supports the company’s expansion into new recycling segments.
In view of the growing demand for sustainable fibers in the re-spinning and nonwoven industries, Sfilacciatura Negro Biella decided to expand its recycling capabilities. The company has extensive experience in recycling industrial textile waste and already operates two tearing lines. Based on its long-term collaboration with ANDRITZ, it is now stepping into the recycling of post-consumer clothing waste.
“Our approach is based on circularity. We make new fibers from textile waste that would otherwise end up in landfills,” Tiziano Negro, CEO of Sfilacciatura Negro, explains and adds, “Having worked with ANDRITZ for a long time and knowing their expertise in both textile recycling and nonwovens, we are convinced they are the right partner to support our company in our ambitious diversification project.”
The new generation recycling line ANDRITZ supplied to Sfilacciatura Negro is the result of ten years of close cooperation, trials in its technical center, and visits to customer lines in Spain and Portugal. ANDRITZ has tailored a complete line from feeding of sorted waste bales to baling of the recycled fibers. It is designed for highly efficient, energy-saving operation and features automated separation of hard points while maintaining a very good material yield. An automated filtration unit is provided for airflow and dust management. Only one operator is needed to manage the entire line up to the recycled fiber baler. The baler can produce film-wrapped and tied bales with a weight of up to 350 kilograms.
Sophie Balmary, Director of Human Resources and Legal Affairs, and Member of Executive Committee – Photo: Carbios
CLERMONT-FERRAND, France — December 6, 2023 — Carbios, a pioneer in the development and industrialization of biological technologies to reinvent the life cycle of plastic and textiles, today announced the appointment of Sophie Balmary as director of Human Resources and Legal Affairs. Her mission will be to support the growth of Carbios’ organization and operations: to steer organizational changes, develop talent and contribute to the development of a stimulating and fulfilling working environment, as well as to secure Carbios’ operations within the framework of its industrial and commercial development. Sophie Balmary joins the executive committee and reports to Emmanuel Ladent, CEO of Carbios.
Ladent said: “I’m delighted to welcome Sophie to the team, to help make Carbios an even more attractive company where talent can grow and flourish, and contribute to the success of our social and environmental mission. Her extensive experience in human resources in multinationals in the industrial sector will be invaluable to Carbios’ ambitious and sustainable development.”
Balmary commented: “Carbios’ mission to bring plastic and textiles into the circular economy represents an innovative and socially responsible approach. To accomplish this mission, the commitment of our employees, their development and the attractiveness of Carbios will be essential contributing factors. In an increasingly complex regulatory environment, the compliance of the company’s operations will play a crucial part for its sustainable growth. I’m proud to join Carbios and its teams, with the opportunity to contribute to the success of an innovative French company that will truly benefit us all.”
Trained as a lawyer, Sophie Balmary began her career at Renault in 1995, contributing to major projects involving changes to the Group’s legal structure and mergers & acquisitions. In 2003, she joined the Renault Group’s Human Resources Department, taking on various responsibilities, including Recruitment for France, managing the establishment of Head Office and Social Relations for France. In September 2017, she joined Michelin as Director of Social Relations, France. Her previous experience at Renault was crucial in strengthening social dialogue within Michelin by combining responsibility, agility, and social cohesion, capitalizing on her legal skills and in-depth understanding of industrial and human issues.
MIAMI — December 6, 2023 — Informa Markets Fashion — organizer of wholesale fashion events across the United States including MAGIC, PROJECT, COTERIE and Sourcing at MAGIC — is gearing up for the first MAGIC Miami, an immediates-focused women’s market regional event showcasing a vast selection of trend, young contemporary, modern sportswear, footwear, accessories, home, gift and beauty brands. The event will take place January 8-9, 2024, at the Miami Beach Convention Center.
This show opens the opportunity to explore the latest trends, place orders outside of the standard purchasing season and connect with key industry players in an international winter travel destination. Exhibitors and attendees will have the chance to work and play in a city renowned for its commerce, culture, fashion, sandy beaches and year-round sunshine. With iconic events such as Miami Swim Week, Art Basel and Miami Fashion Week, coupled with its status as the gateway to Latin America, Miami is quickly becoming an international art and cultural capital with a vibrant arts scene.
“Highlighting local brands and retailers that are contributing to Miami’s booming business ecosystem is so important for us,” says Jordan Rudow, vice president of MAGIC. “The southeast is a key region for both retail and fashion brands looking to expand into regional markets.”
Notable local retailers in attendance include Forema Boutique, Island Style Resort Wear at The Ritz-Carlton Fort Lauderdale, Prinzzesa Boutique and Mario Pucci, among others. Exhibiting brands include ASTR the Label, Sam Edelman, and Miami-based footwear brands Maker’s Shoes and Carrano USA.
For the latest information follow @magicfashionevents and register to attend as a retailer or as a member of the press at www.magicfashionevents.com
ST. GALLEN, Switzerland — December 6, 2023 — bluesign technologies ag, the gold standard in sustainable textile certifications, has recently joined the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) as a Business Service Member. A bluesign delegation headed up by Björn Härenstam will be attending the annual PPAI EXPO in Las Vegas January 15-18, 2024.
Since 2000, bluesign has partnered with apparel industry brands, manufacturers, and chemical suppliers to help create safer workplaces and textile products that are less impactful on the environment and people. Consumers can trust that bluesign-labeled textiles and products from the chemical inputs to the final production have met the strictest standards throughout the supply chain.
The PPAI is a 14,000+ member strong association made up of suppliers and distributors of promotional products and services including specialty advertising, branded apparel, business gifts, premiums, incentives, and recognition awards.
Through bluesign’s membership in the PPAI, both organizations hope to provide leadership to advance sustainability efforts in the promotional products industry.
Daniel Rufenacht, CEO of bluesign, said: “The team at bluesign is eager to share our 20+ years of expertise on environmental stewardship with all members of the PPAI community. I am confident that we can help this sector of the apparel industry to improve impacts on our planet’s limited natural resources, reduce harmful emissions, and also ensure the health and safety of consumers and workers throughout the supply chain.”
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — December 6, 2023 — Kraig Biocraft Laboratories Inc., the biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of spider silk, today announced that its senior management team is en route to Vietnam to prepare for the spring rearing season. They will meet with the team from its wholly owned Vietnamese subsidiary, Prodigy Textiles, third party contractors, and government officials, including provincial leadership.
This trip will lay the ground work for the upcoming spring rearing season, strengthening its team, and preparing its facilities. The company is leveraging the winter offseason to align its staff and contractors to ensure ideal conditions for the launch of the 2024 season. Senior management will also meet with hatcheries and spinners to look for opportunities to expand the company’s integration into the supply chain and to vet additional production locations and partners, for 2024 and beyond.
Kraig Labs U.S. team just concluded a very productive month of onsite work with its senior sericulture consultant for India. Following up on that work, management plans to implement advanced rearing protocol across all of its operations domestically and overseas. The company also plans to bring these consultants to Vietnam in the spring of 2024 to work directly with its production team as the company builds out its capabilities.
The Interior.Architecture.Hospitality LIBRARY jury members Gerhard Sperling, Jasmin Grego and Felix Diener at Heimtextil 2023 Photograph: Messe Frankfurt/Thomas Fedra
FRANKFURT AM MAIN, Germany — December 6, 2023 — Between New Work, Healing Hospital, Outdoor Spaces and Sustainability: What are the key challenges in contract design and what do future-proof textile solutions look like? Heimtextil will provide answers to these questions January 9-12, 2024 ,with its Interior.Architecture.Hospitality program. The proven format will now be even more extensive and international. In addition to the numerous high-profile TALKS & TOURS, the LIBRARY is one of the central tools for experts from the fields of architecture, interior design and hospitality.
In 2024, the curated Interior.Architecture.Hospitality LIBRARY presents innovative functional textiles from selected exhibitors, including Edmund Bell, Futura Leathers, Marburger Tapetenfabrik, Proneem, Textaafoam or Vanelli Tekstil. The material library focuses on the following properties: flame-retardant, sound-absorbing, lightfast, antimicrobial, dirt-repellent and scrub-resistant. A large number of companies presented their products to the renowned expert jury, which includes Gerhard Sperling (German Home Textile Industry association), Jasmin Grego (GREGO Jasmin Grego & Stephanie Kühnle Architektur) and Felix Diener (Marburger Tapetenfabrik).
Function meets innovation meets design: the jury members agreed on the remarkably high quality of the submissions: “As the challenges in architecture increase, so do the demands on textile solutions. This makes it all the more important to me that the innovations from Heimtextil exhibitors continue to inspire me”, reports Jasmin Grego from the jury meeting, which took place in Frankfurt am Main at the end of November 2023. Her jury colleague Gerhard Sperling adds: “The technological developments of functional textiles have taken on an impressive dynamic in recent years, which the submissions for the Interior.Architecture. Hospitality LIBRARY 2024 have once again confirmed. It was not easy for us to make a selection, but in the end, we were able to present a result that really reflects the new state of the art for functional textiles.”
Felix Diener emphasized the special added value of the LIBRARY for Heimtextil visitors: “I generally welcome the fact that this material library is also available online. But in order to be able to judge the design quality, especially in terms of haptics, structures or designs, it is essential to experience textiles live. The LIBRARY is also irreplaceable for this.” On the boulevard in hall 4.0, the curated material library presents pioneering functional textiles for the contract business. In the LIBRARY TOURS, the three jury members will personally guide through their selection.
Interior.Architecture.Hospitality LIBRARY at Heimtextil 2023 – Photo: Messe Frankfurt / Thomas Fedra
Knowledge formats reflect the future
The Interior.Architecture.Hospitality formats at Heimtextil focus explicitly on the special needs of the contract sector. “We are observing two strong trends that are leading to an increased need for information and networking in the contract sector: On the one hand, the requirements for the design of hotels, public buildings, care facilities, restaurants or offices are increasing in terms of sustainability and legal requirements are also playing an increasing role in the selection of suitable textiles. On the other hand, modern textiles are becoming more and more efficient and are therefore also taking on new key functions such as sound insulation, fire protection and hygiene. Both developments are reflected in our Interior.Architecture.Hospitality programme”, says Bettina Bär, Show Director Heimtextil. The programme includes customised knowledge and networking formats, for which Messe Frankfurt has been able to attract numerous renowned thought leaders. In 2024, the programme will be expanded and become even more international. The focus topics “Health & Care”, “Outdoor”, “Sustainability & Climate” and “New Work” will be the common thread running through all days.
The detailed Interior.Architecture.Hospitality programme is currently available in the event calendar.
Interior.Architecture.Hospitality FINDER
A total of over 2,600 global exhibitors will be presenting their innovations at Heimtextil, including numerous companies with special products for the contract business, which can be found quickly and easily via the Interior.Architecture.Hospitality FINDER. Among the exhibitors listed are well-known companies such as Bedding House (Netherlands), Elastron (Portugal), Lameirinho (Portugal), mah-ATN (Germany), Martinelli Ginetto (Italy) and Mundotextil Industrias Texteis (Portugal). In addition, many new exhibitors have also announced their participation, including Infloor-Girloon (Germany), Klassik Lamitex (India), Manifattura Tessile Calusiese (Italy) and MP (Italy).
Interior.Architecture.Hospitality TALKS & TOURS and TOURS
Together with renowned partners, Heimtextil presents high-quality lectures and themed tours. Among them are AIT dialog and AHGZ / hoteldesign, the bdia and world architects. Various TALKS & TOURS and TOURS will take place on all four days of the fair. For example, Corinna Kretschmar-Joehnk from JOI-Design will be reporting on the topic of “HOSPITALITY Design Trends – Revival of materiality in the contract sector” and guiding visitors to selected exhibitors. Yordanka Rotta from Aboutlama Interior Architects will guide visitors through Heimtextil on the subject of “Tradition – Innovation – Future”. Or Dr Regina Dahmen-Ingenhoven will explain how she uses textile solutions for ephemeral spaces, wellbeing and sustainability. The programme will be offered in German and/or English. For the first time, there will also be a TOUR in Italian. The entire programme is available in the Heimtextil event calendar.
Interior.Architecture.Hospitality LIVE TALKS by Architonic
On the Thursday of the trade fair, 11 January, Architonic editor-in-chief Simon Keane-Cowell will be inviting the stars of the international design scene to talk about current topics in the industry. In 2024, he welcomes Carole Baijings (industrial designer), Werner Aisslinger (Studio Aisslinger) and Felix Diener (Marburger Tapetenfabrik).
Heimtextil Conference “Sleep & More” – hall 11.0
At the Heimtextil Conference “Sleep & More”, renowned international sleep experts will provide insights and best practices. There will also be relevant offers for visitors from the contract sector. They will find up-to-date knowledge and inspiration ranging from bedroom design and the hotel needs of Gen Z to the use of artificial intelligence in professional sleep analysis. For example, Julia von Klitzing from Hotelkompetenzzentrum will report on the hotel of the future. The programme can be viewed online in the Heimtextil event calendar.
Further highlights at Heimtextil
From the future-oriented Heimtextil Trends 24/25 to the megatrend of sustainability and the associated Econogy programme: In addition to the specialized Interior.Architecture.Hospitality programme and the Heimtextil Conference ‘Sleep & More’, trade visitors will find a wide range of informative and inspiring offers at Heimtextil 2024 that will help them to advance their business.
HICKORY, N.C. — December 6, 2023 — TSG Finishing CEO Brian Rosenstein and executives will hold an event to showcase the company’s innovations and resilience, underscoring the U.S. textile industry’s importance to the economy, while honoring six employees who are celebrating their 50 year anniversaries with the company.
N.C. Senator Dean Proctor and Longview Mayor Marla Thompson will also make remarks at the event.
Founded in 1901, TSG Finishing is one of the largest textile finishers in North America. With three processing plants in the Hickory, NC area, it provides value-added services to all textile markets including medical, military, automotive, construction, home furnishings and filtration.
The North Carolina textile industry, which is the second largest in the United States, employs 32,585 employees across the state. Further, every single textile job supports three additional jobs in supporting industries within a community.
The entire U.S. textile supply chain produced $65.8 billion in output in 2022 and employed 538,000 workers. TSG is part of the broader textile industry that is a critical manufacturing segment contributing to job growth, investments, and innovation. From 2012-2021, capital investment in U.S. yarn, fabric and apparel & sewn products manufacturing totaled $20.9 billion.
Thomas Gangl, Borealis CEO, will assume responsibility for the Polyolefins, Circular Economy Solutions and Innovation & Technology segment on an interim basis effective January 1, 2024, until Craig Arnold will resume his role as Borealis executive board member.
