ANN ARBOR, Mich. — July 19, 2023 — Kraig Biocraft Laboratories Inc., the biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of spider silk, announces today that it has filled two key researcher positions. These new hires hit the ground running with nearly 50 years of combined sericulture experience. The new staff members have been integrated into roles at the intersection of R&D and production to strengthen the transition of new technologies from the lab to the field.

The new staff has introduced new egg treatment/hatching protocol systems that could reduce the rearing cycle by up to 40 percent during scale-up. Once proven, this approach may allow the Company to accelerate the delivery of its four-strain “double hybrid” production system to its third party contract manufacturer, cutting several months from its original timeline.

The new staff also identified and implemented alternative methods for screening the strength and health of our diverse silkworm colony. That work has led to addressing a previously unknown bottleneck in both laboratory and commercial production. We anticipate that over the next 60 days, this will lead to significantly increased throughput in our U.S. facility. Strengthening our team with these two sericulturists has dramatically enhanced the processes and systems for commercializing our spider silk technologies. We anticipate they will continue to add substantial value to our enterprise over the coming months.

“We are very excited to welcome these additional members to the Kraig Labs team,” said COO Jon Rice. “The 50 years of combined expertise and hands-on sericulture knowledge they bring to the team perfectly complements the bio-engineering prowess of our molecular biology team.”

The company remains laser-focused on the commercial production of its recombinant spider silk technology. The company has moved to allocate these additional resources and this new staff as part of its commitment to bringing its revolutionary spider silk technology to market. The company remains on track for the rollout of its double hybrid production system, and these additional team members further strengthen that timeline.

Posted July 25, 2023

Source: Kraig Biocraft

STOCKHOLM — July 19, 2023 — TrusTrace, a global SaaS company with a market-leading platform for supply chain traceability and compliance, today announced that Brooks Running, a global performance running footwear and apparel company, has selected the TrusTrace platform to deepen visibility across its manufacturing supply chain and help identify and mitigate responsible sourcing and business continuity risks.

“Brooks Running has recently partnered with TrusTrace to expand its commitment to tracing its supply chain in granular detail to help create a more sustainable business,” TrusTrace CEO and Co-Founder Shameek Ghosh said. “At TrusTrace we have a vision of the future where all value chains are traceable, circular and fair, and we are excited to partner with Brooks to support them on their journey towards achieving transparency and their responsible sourcing objectives. Through gathering granular data on where and how their products are produced, Brooks will be able to identify and work to improve the social and environmental impact of their supply chain, as well as comply with complex regulations.”

The partnership enables Brooks to make further progress towards the brands’ long term commitments to tracing its supply chain, respecting human rights and reducing environmental impact. “Visibility into the factories that manufacture Brooks products, materials and raw materials is critical to ensure our responsible sourcing standards outlined in our Supplier Code of Conduct are upheld,” explained Dave Kemp, director of Corporate Responsibility at Brooks. “The expansive and complex nature of our manufacturing supply chain makes this visibility difficult. TrusTrace enables us to identify and mitigate responsible sourcing and business continuity risks and increase due diligence for customs compliance.”

At the end of 2022, 100-percent of Brooks’ Tier 1 factories were using TrusTrace, with more than 130 Tier 2 and more than 70 Tier 3 factories invited to the platform. Looking ahead, Brooks will use TrusTrace to trace at the individual product level, enabling deeper transparency to consumers on where Brooks’ product and materials are manufactured, while improving efficiency of chain of custody data collection for compliance with laws and regulations.

TrusTrace is a leader in supply chain traceability and compliance, powering traceability programs for many of the largest fashion brands in the world. The platform empowers brands with verified data in real-time, as materials and finished goods move through the supply chain. Through its open architecture, the TrusTrace platform integrates seamlessly with retailer, manufacturer and supplier systems, as well as other third-parties, such as certification agencies, lifecycle datasets and other sustainability solution providers.

Posted July 25, 2023

Source: Brooks Running

FRANKFURT — July 19, 2023 — A new era of collaboration: Messe Frankfurt’s extensive experience and resources will combine with the Kingpins Show’s unique expertise, amplifying global reach and industry influence.

Messe Frankfurt, a global leader in trade fair organization, and Kingpins Show, the premier tradeshow specializing in the denim industry, are pleased to announce a strategic partnership that will further strengthen their commitment to fostering innovation, collaboration, and growth within the denim community. Messe Frankfurt’s new role as a shareholder in the Kingpins Show elevates the textile portfolio’s presence in the denim industry as well as solidifies their dedication to supporting the industry’s development.

Messe Frankfurt is the world market leader in trade fairs for the textile industry. With a unique portfolio currently comprising around 50 international trade fairs in 11 countries. These form the core of Texpertise, the textile business network, which stands for Messe Frankfurt’s entire textile commitment. Texpertise Network covers the entire value chain of the textile industry and, as a central communication platform, provides valuable information on the textile trade fair brands.

The Kingpins Show will continue to operate independently, maintaining its distinct identity and the essence that has made it a must-attend event for denim enthusiasts worldwide. As a shareholder, Messe Frankfurt brings its global network, unparalleled resources, and industry- leading expertise to strengthen the Kingpins Show’s position as a premier denim platform.

Already today, the denim segment is served at Messe Frankfurt’s own events such as Beyond Denim (Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics) and Denimworld (as part of Texworld Evolution Paris).

Andrew Olah, founder and CEO of Kingpins, stated: “Since the day we started Kingpins in 2004, we aspired to one day sell our show or partner with Messe Frankfurt — we were never ‘show people’, we were ‘industry people’ where as Messe Frankfurt is an 800-year-old exhibition company with all the knowledge, technique, and data needed. Now almost 20 years later, a kind of dream has occurred — now we are both ‘show people’ and ‘industry people’. We know this collaboration will really grow each other’s opportunities and quality.”

“Our partnership with the Kingpins Show is rooted in our admiration for their distinct vision and innovative approach to the denim industry,” said Constantin von Vieregge, president & CEO, Messe Frankfurt Inc. “We recognize the opportunity to learn from Kingpins, and together with our expertise we believe we can continue to be the stage for business encounters in the denim industry.”

Messe Frankfurt and Kingpins share a deep commitment to fostering sustainability within the industry. The partnership aims to drive positive change by encouraging responsible production methods, promoting circular economy initiatives, and supporting sustainable sourcing practices and will serve as a catalyst for collaborative efforts that prioritize environmental stewardship and social responsibility, ensuring a more sustainable future for the denim industry.

Detlef Braun, member of the Executive Board of Messe Frankfurt GmbH, the German parent company, emphasized: “We are pleased that with Kingpins we are strategically complementing our worldwide textile trade fair portfolio in a meaningful way. The international events of our textile business network ‘Texpertise’ cover the entire textile value chain. With the planned participation of Messe Frankfurt Inc. in Kingpins, we are adding an important premium brand in the denim sector and rounding off our existing portfolio.”

Attendees and exhibitors can anticipate an enhanced platform that combines the Kingpins Show’s signature flair with Messe Frankfurt’s extensive network, global reach, and unrivaled resources. This synergy promises expanded business prospects, increased market visibility, and accelerated industry innovation.

Stay tuned for further updates on the dynamic developments and novel opportunities that will arise from this transformative partnership.

Completion of the partnership is subject to final approval by the shareholders of Messe Frankfurt GmbH.

Posted July 23, 2023

Source: Messe Frankfurt/Kingpins

GENEVA — July 19, 2023 — Digital and physical traceability provider FibreTrace® and SGS, the global leader in testing, inspection and certification, will work in partnership to develop a new fiber integrity protocol for the textile industry. This will strengthen confidence in product claims across a range of materials for brands worldwide.

As consumer demand and market pressure simultaneously call for transparency and accountability across global supply chains, this fiber integrity protocol will combine testing, verification, chain of custody checking and product markers. As an independent expert, SGS will work with textile and footwear supply chain operators to verify data, conduct audits and ensure the traceability claims for materials are accurate and truthful.

SGS works with FibreTrace technology to enhance the robust implementation of verification and compliance across the full value chain. Services include:

• Supporting suppliers to demonstrate compliance and accurate reporting is implemented within the FibreTrace digital platform
• Reviewing the compliance and traceability of fibers and materials prior to the application of FibreTrace physical technology (for example at recycled polyester collection points)
• Helping brands/retailers to carry out on-site scanning and verify fibers with the use of FibreTrace physical and digital technology

This collaboration is on the pathway to developing supply chain traceability, servicing major manufacturing regions including (but not limited to) India, China, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Turkey, the United States, Japan, and South Korea.

SGS is widely recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. Providing a single consolidated source for testing, certification and verification services, consulting solutions and technical assistance, SGS helps the textile industry to reduce risk while improving efficiency and quality.

Shannon Mercer, CEO for FibreTrace commented: “The partnership with SGS allows the accelerated and robust implementation of FibreTrace across vast supply chains, with multi-fiber applications, multiple languages and multiple countries of origin and production.”

Yvonne Tse, vice president, Global Softlines at SGS said: “This welcome collaboration with FibreTrace marks another step forward to support the global textile industry towards full supply chain traceability. By embracing new technologies, we are better placed to ease the pathway towards traceability for producers, manufacturers, brands and retailers worldwide.”

Forward-thinking brands and manufacturers across the global textile industry can now demonstrate traceability with a hybrid service that incorporates verification, physical marker technology and blockchain in one platform.

SGS and FibreTrace share an understanding of the importance of innovation and are collaborating in harmonious pursuit of creating a more interconnected, transparent, and environmentally conscious world.

Posted July 25, 2023

Source: SGS/Fibretrace