Renegade Plastics To Debut Zero-PVC, Fire Retardant Coated Fabrics At Techtextil North America

ATLANTA, Ga.— May 3, 2023 — Renegade Plastics will debut their next generation zero-PVC fire retardant coated fabrics at Booth #2113 at Techtextil North America in Atlanta, Georgia May 10-12, 2023. Renegade Plastics is the first-ever supplier of fire retardant PVC-free polypropylene coated fabrics that are healthier for our people and planet.

Fire retardants usually contain harmful chemicals, which according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences can cause damaging health effects such as endocrine and thyroid disruption, immunotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, cancer, and disruptions to fetal and child development and neurobehavioral function.[1] As researchers shed more light on the impact of fire retardants on human health, consumers are more concerned with the materials that they touch in their everyday lives, and are often willing to pay a premium for safer products.

To meet this demand, Renegade Plastics has introduced a zero-PVC flame retardant coated fabric that uses a proprietary flame retardant formula that does not require brominated or halogenated additives. This evolutionary fabric meets California Title 19 fire retardant standard as well as European Toy Safety Standard EN71-3:2019. Renegade’s PVC-free fabrics can be recycled by most plastics recyclers and can be cleaned with strong cleansers like bleach and acetone without degrading the fabric’s coating. The material’s recyclability has been verified by third-party labs.

Renegade Plastics evolutionary fabrics are ideal for product manufacturers looking to meet sustainability goals. They are an eco-friendly alternative for applications such as play mats, gym mats, mattresses, and other products where humans come in contact with coated fabric surfaces. All of Renegade’s proprietary polypropylene-based fabrics are free from free from forever chemicals like lead, phthalates, dioxins and PFAS.

“We are proud to debut the world’s first zero-PVC, fire retardant coated fabrics at Techtextil,” says Renegade Plastics Co-Founder, Curran Hughes. “This show attracts leading decision makers from the global textile industry that are looking for innovative, game-changing fabrics. Our goal is not only to introduce safer, more sustainable fabrics to the marketplace, but build a circular economy for industrial fabrics and plastics that will eliminate toxic chemicals, reduce carbon emissions, and pave the way to a healthier people and planet one yard of fabric at a time.”

Renegade Plastics was named Quality Fabric of the Month by Textile World in August 2022 and won the Cleantech Open 2022 U.S. National Grand Prize in October 2022.

[1] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Flame retardants. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Retrieved April 28, 2023, from https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/flame_retardants/index.cfm 

Posted: May 3, 2023

Source: Renegade Plastics

Ultrafabrics Announces Huge Color Refresh Of Its North American-Made Uf Select Collection

TARRYTOWN, N.J. — May 3, 2023 — ULTRAFABRICS, producer of high-tech performance fabrics in 11 global markets, has announced a color refresh for its North American-produced line, Uf Select.

Ultrafabrics leads the market in color choices for its performance fabric collections, far surpassing its competitors, and to the celebration of designers who trust Ultrafabrics to take projects to the next level. These 38 new colors bring the total to 89 colors of Uf Select available for the US market and 64 for the UK/Europe.

Nicole Meier, Director of Branding at Ultrafabrics, says, “Creative directors, architects, designers and specifiers across all markets trust our expertise in color and its importance in their design process. We take that trust seriously and continually refine our offering to ensure they find exactly what they need, whether it’s the perfect white for a luxury car interior or dynamic magenta for a hospitality project, design leaders know they can find it here.”

She adds, “Our process for creating color with our experts is lengthy and time consuming, ensuring that a depth and richness of each tone is achieved in every light and environment. We don’t leave anything to chance.”

Inspired by the masters of the art world

Who better to inspire a color refresh than history’s greatest painters? Of the 89 colors in the Ultrafabrics collections, the 38 new ones are inspired by Matisse, Monet, Van Dyke, Van Gogh, Vermeer and Whistler. New color collection Matisse Blue is inspired by a finely ground blue glass called smalt, which came into use in the 15th century and continues to be an important hue in artists’ palettes today. Monet Green references the Middle Ages, when Italian painters used natural, green pigments like soil and plant extracts in their art. Van Dyke Brown, named after the Flemish painter, is a dark brown color that evokes hues of the earth’s soil. Van Gogh Yellow includes an ochre found across the world, derived from natural minerals in various shades from yellow to brown. Vermeer Red references the opulent range of fuchsias, reds and purples created by the important cochineal beetle insect dye source. Far from dull, Whistler Gray, adds tremendous depth and is influenced by shadows and contrasting darkness and light.

The new colors have been introduced into the Uf Select Montage and Impasto collections to bring a continued focus on hospitality applications. Montage offers a natural and subtly distressed look with its weathered, rich surface that mimics collage. Impasto, which is only available for the US market, balances a classic appearance with a strong visual impact that features a textural quality reminiscent of layered paint on a canvas.

Uf Select is North American-produced for speed to market and supports the intention to reduce transportation carbon footprint

The Uf Select collections are made in North America and were launched in 2021 to expand color and texture selection, and to minimize lead times with the ultimate intention of reducing the brand’s transportation footprint. Twenty-five timeless and current colors from Montage and Impasto are now available for quick shipping in North America, with up to 100 yards shipping within 48-hours.

Meier says of the launch, “The old adage is that you can’t have a product that is good, fast and reasonably priced, you can only have two out of three. We reject that. Uf Select is premium quality, competitively priced and we will get clients up to 100 yards in 48 hours through our Quick Ship offering. With these new colors and our warranty, designers can rely on Ultrafabrics to take projects to the next level.”

Posted: May 3, 2023

Source: ULTRAFABRICS

Rebuilding Sri Lanka’s North: Weaving Hopes And Dreams Through The Apparel Sector

SRI LANKA — May 3, 2023 — When the civil war in Sri Lanka ended in 2009, the apparel sector was one of the first industries to enter the Northern Province, hoping to infuse much-needed investment to rebuild the community. Over a decade later, the apparel industry remains the only large manufacturing sector that has ventured north to set up large-scale operations employing over 8000 individuals in the region.

Among them are Dianna, Durkadevi and Harshani, who have been dedicated employees with leading apparel manufacturing companies in the north for nearly a decade. They share their stories of dreams, personal growth, opportunities manifested and how employment through the apparel sector has placed within reach a future filled with possibilities.

Located over 340 kilometres from Sri Lanka’s capital city of Colombo – Kilinochchi and Vavuniya have been in the throes of a thirty-year civil war which ended in 2009. While this brought about post-war socio-economic challenges, an urgent need to rebuild the livelihoods of the community was imperative.

Recognizing the role the sector plays in the development of the country, this paved the way for companies like MAS Kreeda Vaanavil, Omega Line Vavuniya and Hirdaramani Industries, who were among six companies to enter the Northern Province, to provide job opportunities in the war-torn region and infuse further investment into the economy.

It is no easy feat to set up operations in a rural location. It took at least three years until factories could open its doors. But its impact on employment and the communities have been immense. With over 80% of employees being women in these factories, the female labour force participation rate has steadily increased over the years. For a number of these women this was their first entry into formal employment. This saw the need to introduce programmes that uplift women and create further opportunities towards financial independence.

Creating a workspace that considers the well-being of its employees and environment has also been a critical factor for which the industry already had established a track record of moving factories out of congested Industrial zones to more remote locations. Manufacturing plants are set up on greenfield sites with an emphasis on sustainable operations and reducing the industry’s environmental footprint. From creating LEED or green building certified facilities, introducing renewable energy sources like biomass and solar energy, to responsible chemical use to attain zero toxic status in all products and processes, factories in the north have made a long journey to go beyond just compliance with regulatory frameworks and building sustainability into their core operations.

A large part of the exports of these companies are to the EU and qualify for the EU’s GSP+ scheme. The current scheme comes to an end in 2023 and Sri Lanka will need to reapply for the new scheme that comes into effect in 2024. Many companies in the north and east are dependent on GSP+ which is essential to their growth strategy, especially for the workforce which produces apparel primarily for European countries. These factories are a testament to the effectiveness of the scheme which have then benefitted these communities like no other industry.

Empowering women

With a name alluding to the ‘Rainbow’ usually attached with hope, MAS Kreeda Vaanavil currently employs over 2000 individuals in the Northern Province. Having opened its doors in 2012, the factory produces over eight million pieces annually for its primary market in Belgium,1 with over 80% of its products exported under the GSP+ scheme.

Under the MAS 2025 Social Sustainability Strategy, “Empowering Women” was recognized as a standalone pillar, for which a number of initiatives including Women Go Beyond (WGB) have played an essential part to ensure career advancement and skills development.2

As part of the company’s journey in sustainable systematic change, empowering 100% of women on the factory floor, creating a world-class workplace and introducing meaningful employment have been an ethos for MAS Holdings.

This commitment was reflected on the factory floor, where women like Dianna, who has been working with the company for nearly ten years and hails from Jaffna, were provided growth opportunities for single mothers like herself. From a sewing operator to now a team leader heading seventy associates, her goal is to only move upward in life.

“My family’s, and my future would have been uncertain if factories like this did not exist in Kilinochchi. When I joined the industry, I did not know how to operate a sewing machine, but I was trained by my supervisors and given the opportunity to grow, even though I did not finish school. I joined the company during a critical time in my life when I didn’t even have a source of income. When I saw how the women were working here, I was inspired to know that I, too, could be financially independent. This is hope,” she says with a smile.

Cross-collaboration and learning opportunities

Travelling further south within the Northern Province is Omega Line, which commenced operations in Vavuniya in 2013. The company supports the livelihoods of over 2600, amongst whom over 88% are women. The apparel manufacturer produces over 34 million pieces annually under the GSP+ scheme3.

The heart and soul of the company are women from the region which has enabled Omega Line to spearhead several female empowerment programmes, some of which provide growth opportunities for operator-level staff to enter management.

Under Calzedonia, its parent company in Italy, Omega Line gives its team the opportunity to experience cross-collaboration training in its headquarters in Verona, Italy, a unique initiative given to selected factory-level staff.

Residing close to the factory with her mother and sister is Durkadevi, one of the few female technicians at Omega Line. She looks forward to travelling to Italy to visit the parent company for further training. Her entrance to the apparel industry was one of self-reflection. She says that although she initially joined as an auditor, she shifted to the technical department as her management saw her capabilities in this area.

“When I stepped foot in the factory for the first time, I told myself this opportunity is for me. I came with hopes and dreams of one day being able to put food on the table without difficulty or purchase new clothes, which was something I could not afford to do earlier. But never did I think that I would get to travel overseas for training opportunities which would give me exposure to learn skills from countries like Italy,” she said proudly.

Promoting equal opportunity

Located a few minutes away from the Vavuniya Town, Hirdaramani Fashions (Pvt.) Limited commenced operations in 2012 and is also a company that gives prominence to women empowerment programmes. During the war, the abandoned building was once riddled with bullet-holes. Today, the building has been transformed into a state-of-the-art facility, housing over 1400 employees who produce over 2.5 million pieces a month. 80% of the products are exported to the EU under the GSP+ scheme.

With a largely female workforce, the ‘The Wonders of Wellbeing’ (WOW) programme is a holistic strategy that integrates wellbeing into the business agenda and culture. It’s based around five key pillars – mental, relational, physiological, economic, and environmental – and includes a wide range of tools and initiatives to achieve measurable impact.

From teaching tools to improving financial literacy among employees, to creating equal workplace opportunities, the company also appoints wellbeing champions to embed wellness into the organizational culture by advocating it daily at factory level.

Harshani Priyarathne, who has been with the factory since its inception as a recorder in the cutting department says companies like Hirdaramani has provided learning opportunities for her, even though she could not complete her Advanced Levels due to financial difficulties. Her husband too has been working at the factory for over two years as a store supervisor for which both have been given the opportunity to rise up the ladder and earn a stable income to look after their child.

“I always say the factory is like a campus, where you are allowed to learn various skills in apparel manufacturing compared to other industries,” Harshani stressed. “When I began at Hirdaramani Industries, there was only one building. I was sent to Colombo for training to learn Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) to be implemented in the Vavuniya factory, where I also trained my colleagues. This was a great learning opportunity which gave me the confidence to build a career in the apparel sector.”

“I want to be a manager and I am currently doing a diploma in apparel management. I take pride in the work I do because the contribution of the apparel sector is immeasurable. I always say there are opportunities in the apparel sector for everyone, and it doesn’t matter if you are qualified or not.”

Though Dianna, Durgadevi and Harshani entered the apparel sector by chance, it paved the way for career growth and learning opportunities. Their stories are among hundreds in the Northern region where women are given financial freedom to support families and discover their potential. To unleash the true potential of the North for exemplary women like them, requires concerted efforts by the Government and relevant stakeholders. This means further strengthening relationships built with countries in the EU, and availing of the benefits of GSP+ to boost trade for the development of the community at large.

1 https://www.ft.lk/Front-Page/mas-goes-north/44-85772

2 https://www.masholdings.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/MAS-Holdings_Communication-on-Progress-2020.pdf

3 https://www.calzedoniagroup.com/en/world-in-progress/supply-chain/our-production-facilities/our-production-plants/omega-vavuniya#:~:text=Omega%20Line%20Vavuniya%20was%20founded%20on%203%20August%202013%2C%20in%20Vavuniya.

Posted: May 3, 2023

Source: The Joint Apparel Association Forum

Lenzing On Track For Recovery After Anticipated Difficult Start To The Financial Year

LENZING, Austria — May 3, 2023 — The business performance of the Lenzing Group, a leading global supplier of specialty fibers for the textile and nonwovens industries, during the first quarter of 2023 largely reflected market trends. However, after the market environment had deteriorated significantly in the third and fourth quarters of the previous year, signs of recovery emerged during the first quarter in terms of demand as well as raw material and energy costs. Textile fibers recorded moderate but steadily improving demand. Business with fibers for nonwovens and with dissolving wood pulp performed better than expected. Raw material and energy costs were still at an elevated albeit decreasing level.

Revenues increased by 1.3 percent compared to the prior-year quarter to EUR 623.1 mn. This growth was primarily due to higher pulp revenues, while fiber revenues were down. As a consequence, earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) decreased by 66.2 percent year-on-year to EUR 29.7 mn in the first quarter of 2023. The net result for the reporting period amounted to minus EUR 64.9 mn (compared with EUR 34.1 mn in the first quarter of 2022) and earnings per share amounted to minus EUR 3.03 (compared with EUR 0.87 in the first quarter of 2022).

Lenzing launched a reorganization and cost-cutting program in the third quarter of 2022 and is fully on track with its implementation. More than EUR 70 mn in annual cost savings are targeted once the program has been fully implemented. Moreover, further measures were launched to bolster free cash flow. This amounted to minus EUR 132.3 mn in the first quarter of 2023 (compared with minus EUR 102.9 mn in the first quarter of 2022), particularly due to the negative result and the completion of strategic investment projects. In addition to the cost-cutting program, further steps to reduce working capital are currently being implemented and currency and energy price hedging are being reorganized. All measures are being implemented against the background of a solid liquidity reserve of EUR 639.5 mn.

“After the crisis year of 2022, the negative after-effects were still clearly evident in the first quarter of 2023. However, we noted signs of recovery in terms of demand as well as energy and raw material costs during the quarter. Lenzing has successfully made great efforts in relation to both costs and liquidity and is well prepared for an upturn in demand,” notes Stephan Sielaff, Lenzing Group CEO. “In the medium and long term, we continue to anticipate a strong growth in demand for Lenzing’s sustainable products. We are convinced that our two investment projects in China and Indonesia will further strengthen our positioning in this respect.”

Focus on sustainable specialty fibers

In addition to the continued implementation of the reorganization and cost-cutting program, the implementation of the “Better Growth” corporate strategy was also advanced in the first quarter of 2023. The corporate strategy aims to better serve the structurally strong growth in demand for biodegradable and responsibly produced specialty fibers under the TENCELTM, LENZINGTM ECOVEROTM and VEOCELTM brands. In accordance with the strategy and following the successful implementation of the two key projects in Thailand and Brazil, Lenzing will continue on its profitable growth trajectory, sharpen its focus on sustainable and high-quality premium textile fibers and nonwoven fibers, and in parallel further advance the transition from a linear to a circular economy model.

Since 2021, Lenzing has invested more than EUR 200 mn in production sites in China and in Indonesia in order to convert existing capacities for generic viscose into capacities for environmentally responsible specialty fibers.

In Nanjing (China), the conversion of a production line to TENCELTM brand modal fibers for textiles and apparel was successfully completed in the first quarter of 2023. For the first time, Lenzing can thereby also offer locally produced TENCELTM fibers to its Chinese customers and consequently serve structurally growing demand on an even better basis. Due the conversion of the line with a nameplate capacity of 35,000 tonnes per year, the fiber portfolio of the production site now consists exclusively of environmentally responsible specialty fibers. Moreover, Lenzing is continuing to work consistently on the gradual conversion of the Chinese site to green energy in order to further reduce carbon emissions.

As part of the investments at the site in Purwakarta (Indonesia), Lenzing is creating additional capacity for LENZINGTM ECOVEROTM fibers. Lenzing is investing locally in reducing carbon emissions as well as air and water emissions. The conversion work is proceeding according to plan, and the site will be converted into a pure specialty viscose supplier prospectively before the end of the year.

Changes on the Managing Board

Lenzing also recently announced personnel changes on its Managing Board. Robert van de Kerkhof, Chief Commercial Officer Fiber and a Managing Board member since 2014, informed the Supervisory Board that he would not be available for a further extension of his contract, which runs until December 31, 2023. He will continue to drive forward the sustainability area, including the Carbon Roadmap, as Chief Sustainability Officer until the end of his current term of office. CEO Stephan Sielaff will essentially assume responsibility for sales in the Fibers Division. The Lenzing Managing Board will thereby be reduced from four to three members as of January 1, 2024.

Outlook

The war in Ukraine and the more restrictive monetary policy pursued by many central banks in order to combat inflation are expected to continue to influence global economic activity. The IMF warns that risks remain elevated overall and forecasts growth of 2.8 and 3 percent for 2023 and 2024 respectively. The currency environment is expected to remain volatile in the regions relevant to Lenzing.

This market environment continues to weigh on the consumer climate and on sentiment in the industries relevant to Lenzing. However, the outlook has brightened somewhat recently.

Demand picked up tangibly after the Chinese New Year. As a consequence, capacity utilization improved and stocks were further reduced both at viscose producers and at downstream stages of the value chain.

In the trend-setting market for cotton, signs are emerging of a further buildup of stocks in the current 2022/23 crop season. Initial forecasts for 2023/24 anticipate a more balanced relationship between supply and demand.

However, despite signs of recovery in both demand and raw material and energy costs, earnings visibility remains limited overall.

Lenzing is fully on track with the implementation of the reorganization and cost reduction program. These and other measures are aimed at positioning Lenzing in the best possible way for the expected market recovery.

Structurally, Lenzing continues to anticipate growth in demand for environmentally responsible fibers for the textile and clothing industry as well as for the hygiene and medical sectors. As a consequence, Lenzing is very well positioned with its “Better Growth” strategy and plans to continue driving growth with specialty fibers as well as its sustainability goals, including the transformation from a linear to a circular economy model.

The successful implementation of the key projects in Thailand and Brazil as well as the investment projects in China and Indonesia will further strengthen Lenzing’s positioning in this respect.

Taking into account the aforementioned factors and assuming a further market recovery in the current financial year, the Lenzing Group continues to expect EBITDA in a range between EUR 320 mn and EUR 420 mn for 2023.

Posted: May 3, 2023

Source: Lenzing Aktiengesellschaft

ITMA 2023 Exhibitor Preview: Automation Is Central For Members Of TMAS – The Swedish Textile Machinery Association

STOCKHOLM, Sweden — May 3, 2023 — Fully integrated technologies with up-to-the-minute automated features for the end-to-end production of fully-finished garments and home textiles will be demonstrated by members of TMAS – the Swedish Textile Machinery Association – at the ITMA 2023 exhibition in Milan, Italy, from June 8-14.

“Technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and automation are becoming increasingly important in the textile industry and in Milan, Swedish companies will showcase new machines and software that can help streamline production and improve efficiency,” says TMAS secretary general Therese Premler-Andersson.

In partnership with a number of other companies, for example, ACG Kinna (Hall 9, stand C108) drew considerable crowds to demonstrations of its robotic pillow filling system at the last ITMA show in 2019.

With the ability to fill and finish some 3,840 pillows per eight-hour shift, automated units cover the entire process – from the opening and weighing of the fibre to the filling of the product and on to the sewing and packing processes.

The system has been further developed to include new features including an integrated marking solution which allows the customer to print QR codes, batch numbers and dates on the pillows’ labels, and a unique software for automatically detecting pre-programmed faults which will be introduced in Milan.

Single source potential

In addition, following its acquisition of the portfolio of Nowo, Kinna is now a single-source supplier of such lines. Nowo’s portfolio of textile production machinery, primarily for fibre processing and quilting, is well established and includes the highly successful Nowo Vac pillow filling system and the Noworoll ball fibre machine.

“The integration of Nowo’s range into our portfolio enables us to now oversee complete projects from start to finish for the highly automated production of pillows, quilts and other finished products,” says the company’s sales and marketing manager Tomas Aspenskog. “This provides our customers with a number of advantages in terms of transparency and the elimination of bottlenecks. When multiple suppliers are involved in building a line, it can often be difficult for customers to keep them aligned and ensure the construction of one line component is not holding back the completion of others.”

Materials handling

Eton Systems (Hall 9, stand B202) provides automated material handling systems consisting of individually addressable product carriers designed to eliminate manual transportation and minimise handling, radically increasing the time for adding value to garments and other finished items.

These advantages have proven to be a powerful incentive for textile manufactures across Europe and the United States to bring some production closer to home, which has been a notable trend in the past few years.

At ITMA 2023 Eton will launch its new software platform, ETONingenious™ which is a real-time system used to manage, control and follow up on production in the Eton system. ETONingenious™ continuously gathers, processes and presents powerful, value-adding product information to operators, supervisors, quality control personnel and management.

Utilizing the latest development environment, it features a web-based user interface and runs on any browser – laptops, PCs, tablets and even mobile phones – without any client installation requirements. It is also easy to integrate with any existing ERP system and is industry 4.0 compatible. Dashboards provide a clear and easy overview of production.

“ETONingenious™ will help companies reach their production targets, freeing up more time for supervisors, reducing throughput time, identifying bottlenecks and helping to adapt production in real time,” says CEO Jerker Krabbe

Major benefits

For Premler-Andersson, the AI and advanced automation already being used in a number of ways by TMAS members such as ACG Kinna and Eton has the potential to revolutionise the textile industry, improving production efficiency, quality control and design processes.

“AI-powered systems can, for example, help detect defects in fabrics and garments during manufacturing processes,” she explains. “By using computer vision in the machinery, different defects such as stains, holes and uneven stitching can be rapidly identified and corrected at an early stage. Predictive maintenance is another benefit. AI is being used to monitor machines and predict when they are likely to need maintenance. This can help prevent breakdowns and reduce downtime, improving overall efficiency. AI is also proving valuable in R&D for TMAS companies, enabling data from different sources to be coordinated in order to optimise product design and reduce time and costs via the sensor-controlled optimisation of a host of different parameters.”

We look forward to demonstrate the Swedish capabilities at ITMA 2023 to continue futureproof the textile industry.

Posted: May 3, 2023

Source: TMAS – The Swedish Textile Machinery Association

ANDRITZ Successfully Starts Up New Needleloom At Foss Floors In Rome, GA.

GRAZ, Austria— May 3, 2023 — International technology group ANDRITZ has successfully started up the new velour loom it delivered to Foss Floors, Rome, Georgia (USA). The loom produces flooring from recycled plastic for a wide range of applications. Start-up took place in early 2023.

This new 5.3 m loom, type SDV, will enable Foss Floors to meet the growing customer demand for high-quality products. Every year Foss reuses over 18 million kg (40 million pounds) of plastic to make its floor coverings, which translates into 2 billion plastic bottles recycled into carpet.

This is the second velour loom supplied by ANDRITZ to Foss Floors in four years. Kevin Nasser, General Manager Operations at Foss Floors, says: “We bought our first velour loom from ANDRITZ in 2019 and have been very satisfied with the operation and performance of the machine as well as the quality of products. This was, of course, an important consideration in the choice of supplier for our new investment. We relied on ANDRITZ during a supply chain crisis to deliver a necessary machine on time to fulfill the growing demand for our velour product line. The ANDRITZ team fulfilled their promise, and we are more than satisfied with the performance of our new SDV loom!”

ANDRITZ is one of the global market leaders for supply of nonwoven production technologies, with a full range of needling technologies, including velour equipment, which allows customers to address a variety of applications such as automotive, household, flooring, acoustics, geotextiles, filtration, and synthetic leather.

Foss Floors is a well-known leader in needlepunched felt products in North America. Its facilities are located in Rome and Chatsworth, Georgia, and it distributes a vast array of flooring products worldwide. One of the company’s key strengths is its agility for product diversification to satisfy customer needs. Foss Floors also strongly expresses its unwavering commitment to environmentally sustainable manufacturing.

Posted: May 3, 2023

Source: ANDRITZ

Standard Fiber Partners With Majestic Highclere Castle

FOSTER CITY, CA — May 3, 2023 — Standard Fiber, one of the world’s largest suppliers to the home textile and hospitality markets, has established a licensing agreement with Highclere Castle, enabling the company the rights to develop and distribute a broad assortment of top of bed, bath and pet products all designed with the distinctive English elegance and charm the famous estate exudes.

Highclere Castle, home of the Carnarvon family since 1679, is a working estate and farm of approximately 5,000 acres in the North Wessex Downs, and officially designated ‘an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’. The Castle and its grounds are recognized worldwide as the location of the award-winning Downton Abbey television series and movies. Today, it is the private home of the Lord and Lady Carnarvon, who open the estate for tours and guests to enjoy a truly regal experience.

Standard Fiber is in the process of building collections of products directly through the influence of Lord and Lady Carnarvon who are generation owners of the castle. These licensed products include Sheet Sets, Towels & Bath Accessories, Bathrobes, Throws, Blankets, Pillowcases, Duvet Covers, Fashion & Basic Bedding, Pet Beds & Accessories.

“We are thrilled to have established a collaboration with Highclere Castle and are looking forward to working closely with Lord and Lady Carnarvon to deliver a bespoke collection of products designed with a fresh, innovative, and creative interpretation of their brand”, said Chad Altbaier, Standard Fiber CCO.

“The English allure and the regal estate experience is trending in today’s creator economy where storytelling is key,” said Lady Carnarvon. “If you are familiar with Highclere Castle website, you will know storytelling is my passion! We are very excited to work with the Standard Fiber team their creative expertise in the development of our luxury products for bed, bath, and pets under the Highclere Castle brand.”

Under the licensing agreement, Standard Fiber’s Highclere Castle collection will be sold in the US, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. It will also be offered under limited distribution in the European market.

Posted: May 3, 2023

Source: Standard Fiber

NCTO Member Barnet Hosts Congressman William Timmons (SC-04) To Tout Innovation And Capital Investment In South Carolina’s Vibrant Textile Industry

WASHINGTON, DC — May 3, 2023 — National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) member Barnet met with Congressman William Timmons (SC-04) this week at the company’s international headquarters in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where the company manufactures advanced textile materials and is currently expanding operations, underscoring continued growth and investment by the U.S. textile industry.

“As a leader in the Upstate region’s manufacturing of synthetic fibers, polymers, yarns, and other solutions, Barnet welcomed the opportunity to introduce Rep. Timmons to the range of innovative products our team produces here in his district,” said Chuck Hall, Barnet’s president and CEO. “We greatly appreciate the congressman’s support of South Carolina’s textile industry and are grateful for his help addressing many challenges that manufacturers in the state face.”

Barnet is a global manufacturing, recycling, and trading company, specializing in a wide range of fibers, polymers and yarns. Founded in Albany, New York in 1898 by William Barnet, the company has been dedicated to a vision of being the world’s most respected, creative, versatile, and sustainable global solution provider to its customers and suppliers. The company currently employs over 500 associates worldwide.

At Barnet, Rep. Timmons toured the company’s production line for Nega-Stat®, an advanced yarn that eliminates static discharge from fabrics that are used in a range of industrial environments.  Without this protection, a static discharge could damage sensitive electronic equipment or cause an incendiary discharge—potentially leading to an industrial explosion.

The congressman also viewed firsthand Barnet’s new carbon fiber investment at the site, which will expand the company’s production and create new manufacturing jobs.  This investment will produce modified and precision cut carbon fibers for a range of nonwoven, composite, and engineered plastic applications.

Barnet operates three manufacturing facilities in the U.S., employing 300 people.

Barnet is part of the broader domestic textile industry that is a major factor in high-tech and sustainable innovation in the production of everything from heart valves and stents to aircraft bodies and advanced body armor. The entire U.S. textile supply chain produced $65.8 billion in output in 2022 and employed nearly 538,000 workers.

Posted: May 3, 2023

Source: National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO)

Ocean State Innovations Acquires Cloud9 Fabrics

PORTSMOUTH, R.I. — May 2, 2023 — Textile provider Ocean State Innovations (OSI) announces the acquisition of Cloud9 Fabrics of Cranford, N.J. Cloud9 Fabrics predominately offers organic fabrics to the quilting trade.

Cloud9 has been in business for more than 14 years and also offers a selection of apparel fabrics for home sewing. It uses only 100-percent certified organic cotton in the manufacturing of their cotton base cloths and eco-responsible low impact dyes for printing and dying. President and CEO of P&B Textiles Ed Odessa stated: “The synergy between Cloud9 Fabrics and P&B Textiles will result in OSI becoming a much more important resource for the home sewer.” Cloud9 Fabrics, in conjunction with P&B Textiles, will allow OSI to offer different cotton substrates to the home sewing industry.

Cloud9 has a sister brand, Felicity Fabrics, which is aimed specifically at more traditional quilters who are looking for the Cloud9 designer flair with a focus on smaller prints and strong supporting basics that work across all of the collections.

”We are thrilled that Cloud9 and Felicity Fabrics are now part of our team. With their outstanding design sense and knowledge of the industry, there is no doubt that this newly created collaboration will be a resounding success,” said David Odessa, executive vice president and CEO of P&B Textiles.

Posted: May 2, 2023

Source: Ocean State Innovations (OSI)

Piana Nonwovens Becomes Global Recycled Standard Certified

CARTERSVILLE, Ga. — April 28, 2023 — Piana Technology, the 440-year-old Italian-made textile company known for innovations within the fiber and nonwovens textiles markets, is certified to the Global Recycling Standard (GRS) for its Piana Nonwovens business unit.

The Georgia and Arizona based textile facilities specialize in vertically and cross-lapped nonwovens. Since 2015 and 2019, in each location respectively, the company has manufactured a variety of intermediate products that are behind many of the common household products used today.

The GRS is a product standard that verifies and tracks recycled raw materials through the supply chain. It includes criteria to prevent the use of potentially hazardous chemicals, and verifies positive social or environmental production at facilities – this includes requirements for worker’s rights and safety, as well as an environmental management system to set and track environmental goals. Both Piana Nonwovens facilities were assessed by a third party to verify their conformance to the standard, and were awarded a scope certificate in March.

All eligible nonwoven products from Piana Nonwovens will be made with at least 50% recycled GRS material. It’s a step forward for Piana Technology’s mission to offer traceable technologies that have a smaller environmental footprint, on top of their organization-wide purpose of becoming a powerhouse of sustainable innovation.

“We are proud to demonstrate our commitment to traceability, social, and environmental standards through this certification,” said Daniela Leal, Sustainability manager at Piana Technology. “It is always our priority to work for the benefit and wellbeing of people and the planet.”

Posted: May 2, 2023

Source: Piana Technology

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