Eurecat And Canmartex Set Up Spin-Off Aracne Specializing In Predictive Quality Control Systems For Knitwear Textile Manufacturing

From left to right: Miquel Rey, Xavier Plantà and Xavier López (Eurecat) and Enric Martí, Josep Maria Dalmau and Vicenç Lloret (Canmartex)

BARCELONA, Spain — October 31, 2023 — The Eurecat technology center and textile business Canmartex have set up the spin-off Aracne, which is to deliver predictive quality control systems for the knitwear manufacturing process. Its business plan envisages the market release of its first product in the second half of 2023 with a sales forecast of 6 million euros by 2025.

The Aracne system predicts knitting faults in large-diameter circular knitting machines caused by broken or worn machine parts such as needles and platens, thereby reducing production defects by more than 50 percent and fostering the circular economy.

It also monitors the drop of fabric when it is being manufactured to spot defects appearing at that time due to other reasons, such as yarn or mechanical problems or holes in the fabric.

“The key difference with respect to other technologies already on the market is that Aracne’s technology is a predictive system which anticipates defects” by harnessing “photonic and Internet of Things systems coupled with artificial intelligence algorithms which predict potential manufacturing faults before the fabric is made,” said Xavier Plantà, director of Eurecat’s Industrial Area and the spin-off’s CTO.

“The ability to predict defects makes it possible to warn the production manager, who can then assess them and decide what to do,” noted Enric Martí, the spin-off’s CEO. This means “we can anticipate faults before they happen and most importantly take action and remedy the causes which lead to them.”

The innovation, which has been developed specifically for large-diameter circular knitting machines in partnership with textile machine manufacturer Canmartex, “helps drive the industry’s sustainability, boost production and cut costs while enhancing the innovative positioning of businesses,” adds Josep Maria Serres, a researcher in Eurecat’s Advanced Manufacturing Systems Unit.

Real-time analysis of the most critical components

An estimated 92 million tons of waste is generated annually by the textile industry, 25 percent of which is produced during fabric manufacture. Here, Aracne’s technological solution enables real-time analysis of the degradation of the most critical components in the manufacturing process.

The idea is to carry out predictive control using digital technologies to prevent typical quality problems or defects such as holes, streaks and spots which are generally only identified after the manufacturing process by experts or automated computer vision-based systems once they have already occurred.

The innovation Aracne brings to the market as a result of Eurecat’s technology transfer and valorisation has a direct impact on knitwear weavers and large-diameter circular knitting machine manufacturers. The prediction and quality control technology developed is expected to be adapted to other textile value chain processes in the future.

The new company is based in Argentona and draws on a number of patents for technologies which identify and show defects. Each of them can be purchased as a module which means manufacturers can tailor the solution to their knitting machines.

The project was nominated for the Innovation in Sustainability Award at the most recent ITMA, the leading trade fair for the textile industry held this June in Milan, and also picked up a prize at the Factories of the Future Awards 2023 in the category for Best Research and Development of Artificial Intelligence applied in industrial plants.

Posted: October 31, 2023

Source: Eurecat

Archroma Celebrates A Century Of Sulfur Dye Innovation At Its Castellbisbal Site In Spain

CASTELLBISBAL, Spain — October 31, 2023 — Archroma, a global supplier of specialty chemicals towards sustainable solutions, today celebrated 100 years of sulfur dye innovation at its manufacturing and research hub in Castellbisbal, near Barcelona in Spain.

The milestone was marked at an on-site ceremony attended by more than 250 guests, including authorities from the Catalan government, senior Archroma leaders from Spain and overseas, current and former staff, key customers and suppliers and other important stakeholders.

“Delivering consistent product quality and breakthroughs that have shaped the development of sulfur dyes, Archroma Castellbisbal has a heritage of excellence that has stood for a century. The expert team here is now poised to lead the next wave of advancements in the textile industry with a goal to continue to enhance the effectiveness and eco-friendliness of sulfur dyes and dyeing processes,” said Mark Garrett, CEO of Archroma Group. “Archroma remains committed to maintaining Castellbisbal’s high standards and to investing in our people and facilities here.”

The Castellbisbal site traces its roots back to 1921, when Joan Cardoner Vidal founded a dye manufacturing company that was eventually bought by Sandoz, which was subsequently acquired by Clariant, and later, SK Capital to create Archroma. Its breakthroughs have helped sulfur dyeing technology become a staple in the production of denim, casual wear and workwear fabrics over the past 100 years, with excellent color fastness and cost-efficiency.

Home to a leading research center that has contributed numerous innovations, Castellbisbal is particularly known for the creation of Archroma’s DIRESUL® RDT range in the 1980s, which entered the market as the first low sulfide pre-reduced sulfur dyes.

Recently, Archroma developed the cutting-edge DIRESUL EVOLUTION BLACK which enables a significant impact reduction in the dye synthesis, allowing for the creation of new black denim styles.

Among patented technologies from the Castellbisbal-based research team are the DIRESUL EarthColors and FiberColors dyes, which use waste from the food and textile industries respectively as raw materials. These revolutionary innovations manufactured at Castellbisbal for customers, brands and retailers, help to advance circularity in the textile industry.

The Castellbisbal site also leads the industry for its rigorous quality control measures, and contributes to the local community by partnering food banks and social service organizations, and collaborating with academic institutions specializing in chemistry. Castellbisbal also produces dyes used for the paper market, including DIRESUL NATURAL BROWN P and DIRESUL BLACK PFT.

® Trademark of Archroma registered in many countries.

© 2023 Archroma

Posted: October 31, 2023

Source: Archroma

Introducing NATIVA™, Supplier Of Regeneratively Farmed Luxury Wool

Nativa Regenerative Farming

PARIS — October 31, 2023 — NATIVA™ a supplier of sustainable luxury merino wool. Part of 150-year-old French Chargeurs Group, NATIVA was born out of a passion for a fiber of incomparable quality, while supporting animal and soil welfare, as well as farming communities around the world.

A pioneer of regenerative farming, NATIVA is based on four fundamental pillars: Animal Welfare, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Environmental Practices, and Land Management. NATIVA is committed to transparency and integrity with a certification process conducted by independent groups which independently visit farms and industry partners for approval.

When it comes to industry standards, NATIVA wool holds a dual RWS- NATIVA certification. This states that NATIVA wool complies with the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS), while incorporating additional requirements, guaranteeing the highest wool standards. All NATIVA wool incorporates NATIVA Blockchain, which digitally tracks and logs every step of the wool’s journey, from farm to brand.

“NATIVA is pioneering a new way of producing the world’s finest Merino wool. By supporting our farming partners through regenerative farming practices and instilling trust and traceability throughout the fashion supply chain with Blockchain, consumers can feel confident in the quality and strictest environmental and ethical standards when they see the NATIVA name.” said Nicolas Sapelli, NATIVA Sourcing director.

At the heart of NATIVA’s identity are its farmers with NATIVA working hand-in-hand with regenerative farmers in Australia, Uruguay, Argentina and USA. NATIVA’s partnership network also extends to leading research institutes, universities, and sustainability pioneers, such as Quantis, a leading environmental sustainability consultancy.

Taking sustainability further, NATIVA Regen is NATIVA’s global Regenerative Agriculture Program. NATIVARegen improves the quality of the soil and restores natural biodiversity at farm level, resulting in better nutrients, cleaner water and a healthier overall habitat. NATIVARegen assists nature in what it does so well — providing balanced ecosystems where all beings, large and small, cohabitate. This restores hope in a system in which animals, plants and people can work together to thrive.

NATIVA is honored to introduce its farmers by name and to collaborate with partner brands such as Stella McCartney, Gucci and Pangaia to share their stories. Having worked with Stella McCartney since 2019, NATIVA was recently invited to participate in the ‘Stella Sustainable Market’ held during the brand’s Summer ’24 Paris Fashion Week catwalk show.

By joining NATIVA, the world’s leading fashion brands are able to prove their commitment to transparency, sustainability and responsibility. NATIVA incapsulates and embraces the standards of responsibility expected by today’s global fashion consumers.

Posted: October 31, 2023

Source: NATIVA™ — A brand of Chargeurs Luxury Fibers, a division of Chargeurs Group

Heberlein Success Story Continues: New Swiss Owners For Long-Established Company

Management at Heberlein Technology AG: (left to right) Roland Messmer, COO; Roger Rueegg, CMO; Martin Zuercher, CEO; Patrick Buchmueller, CTO; Erich Peter, CFO.

WATTWIL, Switzerland — October 31, 2023 — Heberlein, founded in 1835, successfully completed the sale of its business on October 31, 2023. The new joint ownership comprises the company’s management, alongside industry expert Daniel Lippuner and the Renaissance investment foundation. From November 1, 2023, the company will operate under the name “Heberlein Technology AG”.

The owners are committed to investing in the long-term success of a business that already combines traditional values with innovative power. The brand is known for its high level of expertise, as well as its tailor-made solutions for the textile business. As the world’s leading supplier of jets for synthetic yarns, Heberlein develops, produces, and distributes key components for the man-made fibre industry. Around 80 employees and an efficient infrastructure in Wattwil, Switzerland, ensure that international customers can continue to rely on quality and reliability.

The Renaissance investment foundation was established by pension funds, for pension funds, and has been investing in unlisted Swiss SMEs for over 20 years.

Under the new ownership, the Heberlein business will continue unchanged at the current location in Wattwil with the current management and all current employees.

The board of directors and management of Heberlein AG welcome this solution and are convinced that the existence of the company and its traditions will now be secured in the long term and that it will continue to develop successfully — positive news also for the business location of Toggenburg and the canton of St. Gallen.

Martin Zuercher, CEO of Heberlein, said of the transaction: “With this sale, we are opening a new, positive chapter in the company’s long history. With the Renaissance investment foundation, we found an owner who is focused on long-term success. Together with the energetic management team, I look forward to continuing to make a significant contribution to Heberlein’s success in the future.”

Posted: October 31, 2023

Source: Heberlein AG

Solico Engineering Showcases Composite Collaborations And Customer Showpieces At METSTRADE 2023

Vanquish 55

OOSTERHOUT, Netherlands — October 30, 2023 — Solico Engineering, a name in composite engineering, will showcase a number of cutting-edge customer collaborations at METSTRADE 2023, Amsterdam.

Vanquish 55 Powerboat – Solico Engineering will present its engineering work package for the Vanquish 55 Powerboat at METSTRADE. Boasting an exceptional speed of up to 70 knots, the VQ55 Sports Line is the first yacht of its size to be developed in a wind tunnel, enabling a vessel that outpaces any other yacht in its category.

Solico provided the FEA optimized engineering package for the hull, deck and swimming platform, customizing the ability for Vanquish to deliver a hull per month from its composite tooling.

Leonardo Yachts Flax-Built Eagle 46 – Solico will also present a model of the Eagle 46 yacht, that has been engineered to be built using revolutionary flax materials. This sustainable marvel exemplifies Solico’s commitment to eco-friendly engineering solutions. The flax-based construction offers a green alternative without compromising on quality and performance, demonstrating the possibilities for sustainable innovation in the yachting industry.

EX-CORE® Foam-Filled Door Panel – Solico’s display of the EX-CORE foam-filled JD-70 door panel, demonstrates a revolutionary advancement in the future of composite materials. Originally developed by Donkervoort for automotive applications, EX-CORE is a versatile technology that uses syntactic foam technology to create carbon-fibre parts by using the foam core to push the carbon skins against the mould surface. Operating almost in reverse to normal composites, the process enables cored seamless composite parts that offer significant weight reduction whilst also enhancing noise reduction and structural integrity. EX-CORE has also been used for several new components in the Solico engineered Wajer Yachts range.

Posted: October 31, 2023

Source: Solico Engineering B.V.

VDMA @ ITMA ASIA: Smart Technologies For Green Textile Production

FRANKFURT, Germany — October 31, 2023 — At ITMA ASIA + CITME end of November in Shanghai, 40 VDMA members will present their technologies and solutions for the Chinese and Asian markets under the heading “smart technologies for green textile production”. This year’s ITMA ASIA is the first major post-Corona textile machinery fair in China.

The exhibiting VDMA members cover nearly all different machinery chapters with a focus on spinning and manmade fibers, nonwovens, weaving, braiding, knitting & hosiery, finishing & dyeing and textile processing.

The VDMA Textile Machinery Association and VDMA China will be present in the industry hub in Hall 8 zone B to support the members before and during the fair. The industry hub is also contact point for visitors who want to inform themselves about the exhibiting VDMA members.

The VDMA members are looking forward to deepening existing customer relationships and setting up new ones at ITMA ASIA + CITME. Further information: www.vdma.org/itma

Posted: October 31, 2023

Source: VDMA

Avient And Coloro Collaborate To Offer Sustainable Fiber Colorants For Dope-Dyeing To The Global Fashion Textile Industry

Avient and Coloro Collaborate to Offer Sustainable Fiber Colorants for Dope-Dyeing to the Global Fashion Textile Industry

SHANGHAI, China — October 31, 2023 — Avient Corporation, a premier provider of specialized and sustainable material solutions and services, and Coloro, a  universal color system that decodes color as the human eye sees it, today announced a new collaboration to offer dope-dyeing matches of Coloro colors to the global fashion textile market. With this collaboration and recent Global Recycle Standard (GRS) certifications and bluesign® SYSTEM PARTNER achievements, Avient strengthens its ability to supply the global textile industry with top-quality specialized colorants for the dope-dyeing of synthetic fibers and help brands achieve sustainability goals.

When Coloro recently launched its unique color feasibility intelligence to the fashion and textile industry to illustrate achievable colors, it included Avient’s range of standard colorants to match its colors into the dope-dyeing process. Dope-dyeing, or spin-dyeing, is considered a more sustainable coloring process for fibers because it uses no water and requires less energy than the widely used bath-dyeing process. The colorant is in the form of concentrate pellets added to the polymer pellets during the extrusion and melting process. The plastic mass is then shaped into filaments, spun, and texturized into an already-dyed yarn. No water is involved, and no wastewater is created, reducing the number of steps and, as a result, the amount of energy needed to add color.

“Major textile brands are under pressure to show how they will implement sustainability strategies to reduce CO2 emissions, water use, and wastewater,” said Bob Lee, general manager of Greater China, Color & Additives at Avient. “This is where dope-dyeing and Avient’s colorant technology, along with Coloro’s colors, can help. We’re excited to work together to help fashion brands and creatives determine which colors can be achieved in the dope-dyeing process, offering a faster, eco-conscious color selection.”

“One of the keys to a successful fashion season for brands or retailers is to consistently come up with a fresh color range. However, there was previously limited information on the achievability of selected colors in the final garment, especially when making color decisions based on sustainability and circularity,” said Detlev Pross, Chief Strategy Officer of Coloro, Shanghai. “As we now have over 300 well-known brands and retailers using our colors in the global supply chain, potentially creating millions of garments in Coloro colors, we see it as our responsibility to help them address and minimize emissions and pollution created through color application and processing. It was a natural and obvious choice to collaborate with Avient as a global leader in sustainable color and material solutions. We are grateful and excited that they immediately supported this project to help provide Coloro colors for dope-dyeing.”

Avient and Coloro are currently offering 226 Coloro colors as standard colorants for dope-dyeing, with plans to expand in the future. Both companies are working together to explore additional solutions and applications to help brands reduce waste and emissions while providing more sustainable color choices.

Posted: October 31, 2023

Source: Avient Corporation

Haptic Testing Solution “Made In Germany” – emtec TSA Tactile Sensation Analyzer At International Fast Textile

LEIPZIG, Germany — October 30, 2023 — Device manufacturer emtec Electronic will introduce the TSA Tactile Sensation Analyzer, a state-of-the-art device that greatly simplifies and enhances the process of determining textile haptic qualities, including new parameters such as thermohaptic and friction. Additionally, the new device features improved measuring method for springback behavior and an integrated camera to capture sample images. In cooperation with Black Swan Textiles, a novel method for digitization and categorization of the emtec TSA sample data in a virtual data-base has been developed – the Virtual Haptic Library. Accessible worldwide and in real time, the cloud-based database is especially useful for quality control and acts as a virtual market place.

The device – already well-known in the paper industry and originally established as the TSA Tissue Softness Analyzer – has been adapted and enhanced to fit the needs of the textile industry regarding the relevant haptic parameters. Parameters that have long been measured include softness, smoothness, stretch, and the deformation/recovery behavior. Now, with the additional testing parameters of thermohaptic and friction, this cutting-edge device offers unparalleled accuracy in assessing the tactile qualities of textiles, ensuring that manufacturers can meet the highest standards of quality and comfort. Comparisons to results with traditional hand panel testing methods using “touch experts” reveal a correlation of up to 100%.

Commenting on the upcoming event, Alexander Gruener, Global Business Development Manager for emtec Electronic, expressed excitement about the potential impact of the TSA Tactile Sensation Analyzer on the textile industry. “We’re especially thrilled to introduce our new technology at the Ninth International Fast Textile trade fair in Warsaw. The TSA is a testament to our innovative commitment to provide modern solutions for the painpoints of the industry in obtaining objective haptic numbers. We are profoundly convinced that the combination of this testing de-vice with the cloud-based database will be a game-changer within the textile area.”

Emtec invites industry professionals, including textile manufacturers, vendors and purchasers, fashion labels, retailers and chemical suppliers to visit the Mewes-Polska booth no. C1.62b to experience firsthand the capabilities of the TSA Tactile Sensation Analyzer. Ulli Kasten (emtec Global Sales Manager), Tuğçe Karataş (emtec Application & Technical Support) und Renata Wegrzyn (Mewes Polska) will be onsite to answer any questions.

Posted: October 31, 2023

Source: emtec Electronic GmbH

Sensor And Automation Specialist Balluff Celebrates Grand Opening Of Production Facility In Aguascalientes Mexico

Balluff opened its new production facility in Aguascalientes, Mexico, on Oct. 27, 2023. The new smart factory will enable the sensor and automation specialist to achieve its planned growth while creating resilient supply chains.

FLORENCE, KY — October 30, 2023 — With the 7,000 m² greenfield facility, Balluff is regionalizing its supply chain and is clearly committed to the Americas’ trading area with the 50 million euro ($53 million) investment. “We believe that business is local and regional – and so is production. That’s why the new site in Aguascalientes plays a key role in supplying our customers in the Americas region with locally produced products, high availability, and short delivery times,” says Frank Nonnenmann, managing director and head of supply chain at Balluff. Mexico is not new territory for Balluff – the sales location in Querétaro has been in operation for 21 years. Balluff also has Americas subsidiaries in Canada, the United States, Argentina, and Brazil.

Fast implementation

Balluff organized the site construction in Aguascalientes as a fast-track project, from the business case to site selection to building construction. This means carrying out multiple phases in parallel. “The design phase of the new factory, the commissioning of the local construction company, and the contract negotiations, for example, ran in parallel,” explains Andreas Schönle, manager of strategic projects at Balluff who is responsible for the construction and ramp-up of the new facility. In the process, Balluff benefited from the good cooperation with the contractor and the local authorities. The project was approved internally a year ago, the official groundbreaking ceremony took place in January – and production is able to start after only eight months. The grand opening brings together customers, partners, and government representatives. A family day afterward gives employees and their families the opportunity to celebrate and get to know the site.

Creating perspectives

As a fourth-generation family business, Balluff plans ahead. “One of the guiding principles at Balluff is: we think and act today for tomorrow,” explains Nonnenmann. “Our strategies are always future-oriented – in terms of economic efficiency and the environment, technology and product quality, but above all in terms of the people in our company. In this way, we can offer our employees and our business partners and customers a long-term and sustainable perspective.” Anyone who starts at Balluff can make a career here. The company’s management is also local – Edgar Gonzalez, who has called Aguascalientes home for many years, leads the new operation site. Currently, Balluff has 70 employees in Aguascalientes, but that number will increase quickly. The plan is to have 100 people on the team by the end of the year – and 700 by 2027 at the latest. Balluff offers modern working environments, the latest production technology, and an energy-efficient technical infrastructure. The installation of a 500 kWp photovoltaic system on the roof of the production and logistics hall is underway. This will enable the site to cover about a third of its needs with its own electricity in the future. Balluff expects to save around 350 tons of carbon dioxide per year.

Steady expansion and strong team spirit

Following the successful start of production, Balluff will gradually expand manufacturing in Aguascalientes: Additional assembly lines for sensor and network technology for the American market will follow. Gonzalez is looking forward to the new tasks and is confident of a smooth production start-up: “In the past months, we have already been able to experience how well the international cooperation between the various Balluff locations works and we have benefitted from the experience of our colleagues.” Teams of experts from Hungary, China, and Germany trained the employees in Mexico before the start of production. Gonzalez emphasizes, “Our colleagues have worked very hard for us. We clearly felt the special Balluff family spirit: everyone working together.”

Balluff is starting in Aguascalientes with a production area of 7,000 m² and the option to expand this if required. The space for this has already been reserved. For the sensor and automation specialist, the establishment of the Mexican production site is a milestone and just one of several major projects this year – Balluff is significantly optimizing its own production network this year. In addition to the Aguascalientes project, the company has significantly expanded its production sites in Veszprém, Hungary, and Chengdu, China. With the expansion of production capacities in three regions, Balluff is creating the conditions for more stable global supply chains, shortened delivery times, and advanced sustainability.

Posted: October 30, 2023

Source: Balluff, Inc.

ProTact By Haartz™ Line Expands Its Offerings To Include MultiCam® Patterns

ACTON, Mass. — October 30, 2023 — The Haartz Corporation, a global lsupplier of highly engineered and uniquely designed textile materials, announced that its ProTact by Haartz™ material is now available in MultiCam® patterns. MultiCam® is an original combat-proven pattern officially issued for use by the US Army for its Afghanistan operations in 2010 and remains a leading name in concealment pattern solutions.

The different camouflages from MultiCam® incorporate unique high-resolution patterns designed using tests that studied how camouflage works in nature to increase its wearer’s concealment properties. Variants can be applied to printed textile applications across different global environments, elevations and light conditions.

ProTact by Haartz is a multi-layer textile laminated material that provides military, law enforcement, SWAT teams and other first responders with a durable material tested against flex and fatigue, fabric fraying, high-temperature laundering and high-temperature and humidity endurance. The design of ProTact material is adaptable and can conform to a wide range of patterns including each MultiCam® variant and can be scaled to meet growing demand.

“We’ve received tremendous feedback since launching ProTact by Haartz and are eager to expand the line of materials to include the high-demand variants of the MultiCam® family of patterns,” stated Samit Sadavarte, director, business development – new markets at Haartz. “The broad uses of MultiCam® across multiple global environments is an area of high growth for Haartz as we continue to build on the demand for reliable military textile materials and applications. This expansion also exemplifies the desire by Haartz to continuously adapt our offerings to meet the needs of our customers – which has been a consistent theme throughout our more than one hundred years of operation.”

Laminates are available in multiple different patterns and materials – including colors like black, ranger green, tan 499 and wolf gray and patterns like the widely used Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP), Vietnam Tiger Stripe and Desert Tiger Stripe and Woodland M81. With the addition of MultiCam®, variations have expanded to include MultiCam®, MultiCam® Arid, MultiCam® Tropic, MultiCam® Alpine and MultiCam® Black.

ProTact is a versatile replacement to the widely used Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment (MOLLE) system due to the high-energy laser ablation cutting processes that can be used when manufacturing tactical vests and other materials. Laser ablation prevents fabric tearing and allows for attachment points to be placed anywhere on the fabric and flexibility for applying a webbing feature in various sizes, shapes and locations. Wearers can also easily adjust their ballistic load carrier to remove ballistic plates when they are no longer needed.

ProTact by Haartz is Berry Amendment compliant and is available to large-scale manufacturers and smaller individual companies in the United States and Europe in 500x500d, 500x1000d and 1000x1000d yarn structure constructions.

To learn more about Haartz and the ProTact line of laminates, please visit www.haartz.com/products/ProTact.

Posted: October 30, 2023

Source: The Haartz Corporation

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