Absorbent Hygiene Professionals Advanced Their Business At Hygienix™

CARY, N.C. — November 17, 2023 — INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, connected absorbent hygiene and personal care professionals throughout the supply chain at the ninth edition of Hygienix™, the event for absorbent hygiene & personal care markets, held in New Orleans, Louisiana, Nov. 13-16.

Senior-level leaders enjoyed presentations in these key topics affecting the future of absorbent hygiene:

  • AHP Trends, Innovation & Market Statistics
  • Redefining Absorbent Hygiene: Navigating Consumer Voice, Sustainable Innovations and the Circular Economy
  • The Proof Is in the Pudding – Demonstrating What’s Possible in AHP
  • Sustainability Inside & Out – Inputs & Packaging
  • Words Matter! Shaping Consumer and Industry Thoughts
  • Neither Fish nor Fowl: Designing Hybrid AHP Products
  • There Be Dragons: Tales of Innovation

The winner of the Hygienix Innovation Award™ was the Sequel Spiral™ Tampon by Sequel. The Sequel Spiral Tampon features a proprietary spiral design that is engineered to be more fluid mechanically efficient, meaning it is designed to absorb more evenly and not leak before it’s full. In August 2023, the Sequel Spiral Tampon received clearance from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a medical device and the company will now begin a series of consumer trials, with broad availability expected in Q1 of 2024.

New this year to Hygienix was Lightning Talks and pre-conference webinars. Lightning Talks are short presentations covering new trends, products and ideas in absorbent hygiene. The pre-conference webinar topics featured the new Quality Audit Program from INDA and EDANA, an in-depth look at the period care product category, and North American trends and insights in baby diapers.

Back by popular demand was a hands-on workshop providing attendees with information on the various absorption systems used in disposable hygiene products. This workshop focused on the components and interaction of the absorption system in common commercial hygiene products. The workshop was led by Jim Robinson, principal, Absorbent Hygiene Insights LLC.

Jim Robinson received the honor of being named the 2023 INDA Lifetime Technical Achievement Award winner for his decades of technical advancements that have grown the nonwovens industry. Robinson has 33 years in the absorbent hygiene industry, including 28 years as a Technical Service Manager at BASF. Robinson has extensive knowledge of SAP applications, absorbent core formation, and hygiene article design, performance and testing.

Hygienix 2024 will be held Nov. 18-21, in Nashville, Tennessee at The Renaissance Nashville Hotel. Stay tuned for more information on this must-attend event.

Posted: November 17, 2023

Source: INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry

Paka® Wins ISPO Award With New Apu Parka

BOULDER, Colo. — November 16, 2023 — Paka®, an innovator in alpaca apparel, is thrilled to announce that their Apu Parka, the warmest ethically-insulated jacket on the market, won the ISPO award, the most prestigious international award in the outdoor industry. The Parka’s alpaca-based PAKAFILL® insulation ‚ a sustainable, traceable and regenerative alternative to synthetics and down — made the jacket a standout.

The ISPO judging panel evaluates submissions paying particular attention to innovation and trend character, quality of workmanship, and functionality. They seek to award products that make sports more enjoyable, more accessible, safer or simply that motivate people to experience the world of sports in all its diversity.

The Apu Parka was called out for its advantages in innovation and functionality: the jacket features the first-ever alpaca fiber insulation with PAKAFILL, which keeps you safe and warm in extreme conditions down to -20 degrees F.

“This jacket has inner values!” the ISPO jury ruled on the Apu Parka. “Paka has processed alpaca wool into fleece in a patent-pending process, making the natural material accessible to outdoor fans. The special properties of alpaca wool make this jacket a universal favorite.”

The Paka team spent years developing and refining PAKAFILL to revolutionize the way people stay warm outdoors. PAKAFILL tests warmer than all synthetic insulators on the market according to IDFL Laboratory and Institute, is naturally antibacterial and odor resistant, and stays warm even when wet. The insulation in the jacket offers warmth from renewable, natural fibers without harming any animals.

“We’re humbled and honored to receive Paka’s first ISPO Award,” Kris Cody, Paka founder and CEO, said. “Since sewing the original jacket myself with raw alpaca fiber in Peru, we’ve been on a journey to change the outerwear industry. Our patent-pending alpaca insulation is proof that we can design alongside nature and still make the most functional products.”

Posted: November 17, 2023

Source: Paka®

Cinte Techtextil China 2024 To Connect With Future Markets Through Innovation

SHANGHAI — November 17, 2023 — With the markets in good health and various innovations gaining traction, Asia’s leading technical textiles and nonwovens trade fair will take place from September 19-21, 2024, at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. In its capacity as a well-established platform for the latest textiles, nonwovens, and equipment, the 18th edition of the fair will offer business opportunities across the industry supply chain. With the previous edition attracting 467 exhibitors from 13 countries and regions across 40,000 square meters, the organizers are looking to build on that success at next year’s show.

“In this industry, there are many factors that contribute to market growth, but there is no substitute for the connections made and value added at B2B trade fairs,” said Wilmet Shea, general manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd. “Well-positioned as the industry’s leading regional trade fair, Cinte Techtextil China is the ideal platform to bridge business gaps, and to showcase and source the most innovative products on the market. We are constantly on the lookout for value-adding factors, and preparations are already well underway for our next edition.”

Respectively, the global technical textiles and nonwovens markets are expected to expand at a CAGR of 4.7 percent and 8.7 percent between 2023 and 2030. Already the leader for both sectors, APAC is set to experience the highest growth during the forecast period, due to a raft of factors such as sector-specific developments, the implementation of favourable policies, and improving economic conditions.

Trends have an important role to play in market evolution, and one clear example is the rise of e-mobility. Speaking at the previous edition, Jenny Zheng, Strategic sales at J.H. Ziegler Nonwovens and New Materials (Huzhou), said: “The new-energy vehicle industry’s rapid development means more opportunities for automotive interior accessories. Recycled and bio-based materials have become more important for sustainability and improved product performance. Technological advancement, customization, and intelligent and high-end development are also future trends.”

Though trends may change, Cinte Techtextil China has consistently proven to be a vital point of connection for key industry players. One long-term exhibitor, Steven Liu, Sales Manager of Sanitized (China), attested to this in 2023: “Cinte Techtextil China is a very professional technical textiles platform that attracts both high-quality exhibitors and visitors. The buyer profile has matched with our company’s positioning. In addition, this show’s organization, logistics, supporting services, and atmosphere are the reasons we keep coming back. It has played a really positive role in our business and product promotion for many years.”

With next year’s fair expected to again see strong domestic and international participation, the previous edition featured the return of the Taiwan Pavilion, the 40-exhibitor strong European Zone, and seven Chinese regional pavilions. At every edition, multiple fringe events enhance business connections and provide valuable insights to fairgoers. In 2023, key highlights included the 11th China International Nonwovens Conference, the Advanced Technical Textiles Industry Chain Synergistic Innovation Development Forum, various marine textile and rope netting events, and the “Kingsafe Dangs” University Students’ Showcase.

Exhibiting at the European Zone, Francesco Forte, chief business development officer of Monosuisse Group, said: “This is our most important fair to expand in the Chinese market. To be here for a few days, with a large number of existing customers present, is highly valuable to us. In addition, Cinte Techtextil China covers multiple application areas, and that is meaningful to us as we have some very diverse product segments.”

The fair’s product categories cover 12 application areas, which comprehensively span a full range of potential uses in modern technical textiles and nonwovens. These categories also cover the entire industry, from upstream technology and raw materials providers to finished fabrics, chemicals and other solutions. This scope of product groups and application areas ensures that the fair is an effective business platform for the entire industry.

The fair is organized by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd; the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT; and the China Nonwovens & Industrial Textiles Association (CNITA).

Posted: November 17, 2023

Source: Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd

Wear What You Want, When You Want With Knix’s Newest Innovation: Leakproof Shapewear

NEW YORK — November 16, 2023 — Knix, intimate apparel brand and champion of living unapologetically free is excited to announce its new innovation in Leakproof technology: Leakproof Shapewear absorbing about 0.8 to 3 teaspoons of liquid, which is the equivalent of about 1 to 3 regular tampons or about 1 to 2 pantyliners.

Knix is the ultimate destination for Base Layers: Bras, Underwear, and Shapewear designing products for real bodies. The new Leakproof Shapewear offerings give people the freedom to wear what they want, when they want — combining form, fashion and function. These new innovations in Leakproof Shapewear provide an all-in-one solution giving people the option to go commando and achieve the seamless look they expect from shapewear with the added protection of leakproof technology.

Designed to make you feel comfortable in your own skin any day of the month, our Leakproof Shapewear enhances your natural shape — giving you the confidence to feel protected against life’s leaks.

The new Leakproof Shapewear is available in two different silhouettes: the Leakproof High Rise Shaper Short and the Leakproof High Rise Shaper Brief — both perfect base layers to wear under your favorite outfits for a seamless look and feel. The Knix Leakproof Shapewear is available in sizes XS to XXXXL. The Leakproof High Rise Shaper Short retails for $65 USD and the Leakproof High Rise Brief retails for $55 USD. The new Leakproof Shapewear is launching November 16th, 2023.

Posted: November 16, 2023

Source: Knix

DuPont™ FilmTec™ Fortilife™ NF1000 Membrane Now Available Globally

WILMINGTON, Del. — November 16, 2023 — Starting today, DuPont™ FilmTec™ Fortilife™ NF1000 membrane elements are now sold worldwide. The high-productivity nanofiltration elements help enable increased wastewater reuse and resource recovery in some of the most challenging applications—with reduced energy consumption—compared to earlier versions of the technology.

DuPont’s Fortilife NF1000 product is being honored this week with a 2023 R&D100 Award, which celebrates the 100 most innovative and revolutionary technologies launched in the past year. While now globally available, Fortilife NF1000 was first launched in the Asia Pacific region where Minimal Liquid Discharge (MLD) solutions have been more widely adopted to meet both wastewater management regulations and business goals for circularity.

“As the world strives to treat and reuse more wastewater—from municipal applications to the most challenging industrial waters — FilmTec Fortilife NF1000 helps enable our customers to refine wastewater into valuable fractions to optimize the reuse potential and minimize waste,” said Alan Chan, global vice president and general manager, DuPont Water Solutions. “Industrial wastewater management — from coal-to-chemical and textiles to petrochemical and power production — can benefit from the use of NF1000 to recover water, salts and other valuable resources for reuse.”

Fortilife NF1000, a spiral-wound nanofiltration membrane, yields high water flux with exceptional high-pH durability while accomplishing challenging separations in high-pressure industrial wastewater applications.

Industrial wastewater generators are often required to practice zero-liquid-discharge (ZLD) to comply with local regulations. Traditionally, wastewater, comprised of salts and organic compounds, is sent to large evaporators or crystallizers to separate water from the solid waste. This can be an extremely energy-intensive and costly process. DuPont’s approach is to utilize a minimum-liquid-discharge (MLD) strategy using reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) elements to reduce the volume of water sent to final thermal treatment, helping reduce operational costs while simultaneously recovering water for reuse.

In MLD systems, Fortilife NF1000 can be used upstream of RO to remove divalent ions and organic compounds or downstream of RO in selective-ion separation for improved crystallization efficiency with a purer brine composition or valorization of salts. Fortilife NF1000 can help increase water recovery, reduce energy consumption, and provide opportunities for resource recovery or valorization.

“Our customers’ top needs in the industrial wastewater space are improved recovery and better reliability — with a focus on sustainability and lifetime costs,” said Verónica Garcia Molina, global market leader, Industrial Water & Energy, DuPont Water Solutions. “With NF1000’s high active area and durable construction, use of the element can help our customers reduce energy requirements and costs, extending the membranes’ lifetime and reducing capital expenditures.”

DuPont’s water technologies help purify more than 50 million gallons of water every minute around the world, enable water reuse and recycling, desalination, and the safe access of both ground and surface water. DuPont offers solutions to a variety of water and sustainability challenges faced by industrial water users and water treatment municipalities through a broad portfolio of membranes, resins and systems (including reverse osmosis (RO) membranes, ion exchange resins (IEX), ultrafiltration (UF), electrodeionization (EDI), nanofiltration (NF), membrane bioreactor systems (MBR), membrane aerated biofilm reactors (MABR), and closed-circuit reverse osmosis (CCRO) systems).

Posted: November 16, 2023

Source: DuPont

Milliken & Company Garners EcoVadis Gold Rating

Milliken received a gold rating on its 2023 EcoVadis assessment.

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — November 16, 2023 — Milliken & Company, a diversified global manufacturer, received a gold rating on its 2023 EcoVadis assessment. EcoVadis provides trusted business sustainability ratings for more than 100,000 organizations representing more than 200 industries. Milliken’s 2023 EcoVadis score, assessed across its specialty chemical, textile, floor covering and healthcare operations, places the company in the top 2 percent of organizations rated.

“We are committed to making real, positive and tangible impacts on the world around us. Our EcoVadis rating helps translate our work across the value chain,” states Halsey Cook, president and CEO of Milliken & Company.

Last year, Milliken announced its path toward becoming net-zero by 2050. Using short- and long-term science-based net-zero targets, which were verified by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), Milliken continues to develop reduction pathways for its scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. As part of its broader sustainability work, these net-zero targets join Milliken’s existing 2025 People, Product and Planet Sustainability Goals.

“Milliken prioritizes sustainable performance and development for the benefit of our customers, our associates and our communities,” adds Kasel Knight, general counsel and head of sustainability at Milliken. “The EcoVadis rating is a third-party review of our work that helps us see how we’re doing and where we should focus.”

To explore Milliken’s sustainability initiatives, including its latest corporate sustainability report, visit sustainability.milliken.com.

Posted: November 16, 2023

Source: Milliken & Company

Columbia Sportswear Company Hires Cory Long As President, SOREL Brand

PORTLAND, Ore. — November 16, 2023 — Columbia Sportswear Co. — a global company in designing, sourcing, marketing, and distributing outdoor, active and everyday lifestyle apparel, footwear, accessories, and equipment products — today announced that Cory Long will be joining the company as President of the SOREL brand.

Cory Long, President of the SOREL brand. Photo: Business Wire

Long is a veteran of the footwear and apparel industry, most recently serving as global general manager and chief global merchant of DC Shoes. He has leadership experience at an array of brands, including Mitchell & Ness, Asics, Supra, and Converse.

“We are delighted to have Cory join the SOREL family,” said Craig Zanon, senior vice president, Emerging Brands. “His strength of leadership and consumer-champion mindset will be key in fueling the next era of SOREL growth.“

Long will begin in December 2023.

Posted: November 16, 2023

Source: Columbia Sportswear Company

Bipartisan Senators Urge CBP To Stop Imports Of Clothing Made With Forced Labor By Ramping Up Oversight And Enforcement Of Supply Chains

WASHINGTON, D.C. — November 15, 2023 — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Bill Cassidy, R-La., Tim Kaine, D-Va., Thom Tillis, R-N.C.,  Mark Warner, D-Va., Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Tim Scott, R-S.C., called on U.S. Customs and Border Protection to ensure Chinese companies aren’t evading U.S. laws against forced labor and costing American jobs, by stepping up oversight and enforcement provisions in trade agreements with Central American and North American trading partners.

The senators urged Acting CBP Commissioner Troy Miller to enforce the Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement and United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which allows the agency to conduct oversight of trading partners’ supply chains, including visits to and audits of apparel factories.

“Recent reports of textile and apparel mill closures in the United States raise serious concerns as the lack of effective customs enforcement has been cited repeatedly as a key factor contributing to declining demand,” the senators wrote. “Insufficient enforcement can create a pathway for banned Xinjiang cotton to infiltrate regional supply chains and undermine efforts to enforce the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. For this reason, robust and consistent enforcement of the origin and content rules in U.S. trade agreements, along with the longstanding U.S. ban on products made with forced labor, is essential to securing this supply chain and guaranteeing workers, businesses, and consumers the benefits bargained for in CAFTA-DR and USMCA.”

As a significant producer of cotton, it is critical that the United States take every step necessary to support domestic textile and apparel producers, the senators said, urging CBP  to take actions that are quicker, tougher, and directly responsive to the trade cheating that happens before these products are sent to the United States and keep those textiles from entering our country. U.S. trade agreements can’t be undercut on foreign soil.

The Senators highlighted several significant steps that could be taken immediately and efficiently to improve enforcement:

  • Significantly increasing on-site and surprise verifications of textile facilities in the CAFTA-DR and USMCA regions.
  • Providing technical assistance and information sharing arrangements with customs authorities in the CAFTA-DR and USMCA region to root out materials made with forced labor or country of origin labeling concerns that may ultimately be bound to the United States.\
  • Improving targeting of illicit or fraudulent shipments by providing a Spanish language version of e-Allegation and asking governments, companies, and NGOs in the region to share information regarding this reporting portal.
  • Conducting a comprehensive review of existing enforcement authorities and penalties for textiles and apparel, and creating a strategic plan that outlines how CBP will maximize its existing tools and resources to ensure full compliance with CAFTA-DR, USMCA, and other relevant trade rules.

Read the full letter to Acting Commissioner Miller here.

Posted: November 16, 2023

Source: UNITED STATES SENATE Committee on Finance

Pacific Textiles Chooses Rimini Support™ For Faster, More Comprehensive Coverage And Care Of SAP S/4HANA System

LAS VEGAS — November 15, 2023 — Rimini Street Inc., a global provider of end-to-end enterprise software support, products and services, the leading third-party support provider for Oracle and SAP software, and a Salesforce and AWS partner, today announced that Pacific Textiles, a global leader in the textile manufacturing industry, has selected Rimini Support™ to support its highly customized, mission-critical S/4HANA implementation, the backbone of their manufacturing operations.

Rimini Street’s faster, more comprehensive software support has enabled Pacific Textiles to achieve significant reduction of IT costs, freeing resources to focus on projects and investments for competitive growth and advantage, including the move to a new data lake architecture.

Vendor Support Quickly Diminishes in Value and Experience After Implementation

Pacific Textiles is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of customized knitted fabric in the textile industry, and its products are used in the production of over a billion garments each year. The company collaborates closely with apparel brands to design fabrics that meet customized orders, delivering more than 3,000 new samples for its customers each month.

The company heavily relies on SAP software to run its business including sales order entry, production planning, material procurement and many other critical ERP functions.

“When we purchased SAP, the closest product we were offered to fit our needs was the Mill Products industry solution, traditionally used for paper products and steel manufacturing. Obviously, textiles didn’t fit quite well into that, so we required an extensive number of customizations,” said Hubert Tsang, chief information officer, Pacific Textiles.

“SAP support was helpful during our initial implementation. But the service quality deteriorated after that. It became a slow, cumbersome process. With standard SAP support, we’d submit a ticket, wait a while for them to process it, go back and forth, then wait endlessly for a resolution. Ultimately, we were only able to solve most of our problems by spending more on SAP professional services,” shared Tsang.

Rimini Street Cuts Support Response Time and Spend on Software Maintenance

Frustrated with the quality, speed and cost of vendor support for S/4HANA, Pacific Textiles began searching for a third-party support provider and quickly chose Rimini Street because of the company’s size, scalability and rich enterprise-grade capabilities. In addition, Rimini Street was the only option that offered Pacific Textiles the multi-language support they required as a global business.

With the move to Rimini Support, Pacific Textiles is benefitting from:

  • Maximum 10-minute response time instead of 4 hours with SAP, a 96% reduction in response time commitment
  • Direct access to a named, dedicated Primary Support Engineer (PSE)
  • Expert support for its highly-customized systems not covered by vendor support
  • Significant reduction in IT support costs
  • Freed resources to reallocate towards growth projects

“With the money that we’ve saved by moving to Rimini Street, Pacific Textiles is now able to work on key, strategic projects that we’ve been wanting to do for years,” said Tsang. “In manufacturing, we collect and analyze tons of data so we can understand and optimize the performance of our machines. We had wanted to move to a new data lake architecture, but too much budget was wrapped up in IT support. Rimini Street helped us free up the funds to take on this important project which will support our AI innovation roadmap.”

“At Rimini Street, we view ourselves as much more than just a support vendor,” said Craig Mackereth, executive vice president of global service delivery. “Rimini Street is a strategic partner that plays a critical role in the larger business success of organizations like Pacific Textiles. We’re not aiming for simple transactions — we’re fostering long-term collaborations.”

Learn more about how Pacific Textiles has benefited from Rimini Street here: https://www.riministreet.com/resources/video/pacific-textiles-experiences-better-faster-results-with-rimini-support/

Explore the full Rimini Street portfolio of ultra-responsive, trusted and proven support, managed services, security, integration, observability, professional services and Rimini ONE™ end-to-end outsourcing solutions for SAP, Oracle and Salesforce applications to support competitive advantage, profitability and growth.

Posted: November 16, 2023

Source: Rimini Street Inc.

YKK Launches New Water-Repellant Zipper Designed To Work In Circular Systems — New Dynapel™ Zipper Uses GTT EMPEL® Technology

DynaPel™ uses EMPEL® technology

ATLANTA, GA — November 16, 2023 — YKK announced the release of its new DynaPel™ water-repellant zipper featuring GTT EMPEL® technology. Designed to be compatible with garment recycling systems, DynaPel uses EMPEL technology instead of the standard PU film to achieve its water repellency. The lack of a PU film helps remove one of the barriers of textile-to-textile recycling of performance apparel by eliminating the urethane material, which presents challenges to garment recycling processes.1

“DynaPel™ is a valuable addition to our growing collection of fasteners designed for circular systems,” said Terry Tsukumo, vice president, Product Strategy Division, Global Sales Headquarters, YKK Corp. “By employing EMPEL technology, we can achieve the robust water protection expected from YKK products while eliminating the challenges that PU poses to recycling systems.”

Conventional chemical and mechanical garment recycling systems cannot process the polyurethane film commonly used on water-repellent zippers, necessitating the removal of zippers from garments before recycling. This additional processing step often deters recyclers from accepting garments with PU zippers, resulting in unnecessary waste.

EMPEL® technology uses advanced green chemistry devoid of PFAS and a specialized manufacturing process that allows the chemistry to penetrate the yarn and encapsulate it with a water-repellent layer through molecular cross-linking. The molecular cross-linking creates an extremely durable layer that is highly resistant to abrasion and invisible to the eye.

“DynaPel™ represents a new generation of sustainable, high-performance water-repellant zippers,” stated Tsukumo. “It is the future of water protection for zippers.”

DynaPel zippers were showcased at the Outdoor Retailer trade show in Salt Lake City and will be featured at the ISPO trade fair in Munich, Germany. Notably, DynaPel has been nominated for the Best New Product Award in the ISPO Textrends competition held at ISPO.

1 It is recommended to trial products in the targeted recycling system to fully assess its processability.

Posted: November 16, 2023

Source: YKK

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