Milliken & Company Returns To Forbes Best Employers For Diversity List

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — April 25, 2023 — Milliken & Company, a global diversified manufacturer with materials science expertise, has been included on Forbes Best Employers for Diversity list for the second year in a row. The 2023 list, comprised of 500 U.S.-based companies, recognizes employers across 25 industries who are prioritizing diversity-related best practices within their organizations.

“At Milliken, we’re committed to inclusion,” says Milliken’s President and CEO Halsey Cook. “By fostering diverse teams globally, we get better solutions to the challenges facing our customers,”

Diversity and inclusion anchor Milliken’s associate-centric culture. Exercising diverse hiring practices and fostering an inclusive workplace are a part of its 2025 Sustainability Goals, and progress toward these two goals is reported annually through Milliken’s “For HumanKIND” report. It also influences a range of organizational resources positioning mental and physical well-being, flexibility, safety, productivity, and personal and professional development.

“People power all we do at Milliken, so it’s important we prioritize a workplace culture where everyone can bring their authentic selves to work each day,” adds Milliken CHRO Craig Haydamack. “When our people — and our hometown communities — are engaged and valued, we can live out our purpose of positively impacting the world for generations to come.”

Along with Statista Inc., Forbes curates this annual list, which surveys 45,000 U.S. employees on three criteria: direct and indirect recommendations, and diversity key performance indicators.

Posted: April 25, 2023

Source: Milliken & Company

Autoliv Expands To Vietnam And Invests In New Airbag Cushion Plant

STOCKHOLM — April 20, 2023 — Autoliv Inc., a worldwide supplier of automotive safety systems, today announced its plan to build a new state of the art airbag cushion and fabric plant in Vietnam, serving Asia. The investment in the new textile facility is in response to customer demands and is intended to meet expanded future airbag production needs for the growing Asia market.

The new facility will be built in Amata City Ha Long Industrial Park, located in the northern part of Vietnam. The facility will showcase Autoliv’s manufacturing capabilities utilizing Manufacturing 4.0 concepts by integrating new technologies into the operations. This is the first Autoliv investment in Vietnam.

“I am excited to open our first Autoliv facility in Vietnam. We continuously look for ways to improve our footprint and reduce our costs structurally, and the new plant will complement our existing footprint in Southeast Asia. With the significant growth in demand for our restraint system products in Asia, Autoliv Vietnam will play an increasingly important role in meeting our customer demands,” said Colin Naughton, President Autoliv Asia.

The site area will be approximately 90,000 square meters, and the new production facility is expected to begin production of airbag cushions for our airbag module assembly facilities in Asia by late 2025. When fully operational, the facility can employ up to 2,000 people.

Posted: April 25, 2023

Source: Autoliv, Inc.

Creative Home Ideas To Invest $15 Million In Liberty County, Ga.

ATLANTA — April 18, 2023 — Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced that Creative Home Ideas, a YMF company and design-house focused on home fashion, will create 70 new jobs and invest more than $15 million in a new distribution and light manufacturing facility in Liberty County.

“Last year, 85 percent of jobs created through economic development projects were located outside metro Atlanta, and we’re proud to welcome even more opportunity to rural areas like Liberty County,” said Governor Kemp. “Through our reliable infrastructure, growing broadband connections, and world-class workforce development programs, the Peach State is attracting unprecedented levels of job creation. This is just the latest example of that success, and we’re thankful that Creative Home Ideas had Georgia on their minds when they made this choice.”

Started in 1981, Creative Home Ideas is a family-owned business with expertise in designing, manufacturing, and distributing fresh and innovative home decor. The company’s collections include bedding, bath, kitchen, window treatments, decorative pillows, throw blankets, and rugs.

“YMF Carpets is very excited to be expanding our operations into the South,” said Yaron Shemesh, CEO YMF Carpets Inc. “The facility we are planning will include light manufacturing which will allow us to grow our business and reach company goals while taking advantage of the proximity to the port of Savannah. We have enjoyed working with Liberty County and are looking forward to establishing a long relationship with the Georgia Ports Authority as well as the Midway community.”

Creative Home Ideas’ new facility will be located at 1962 Sunbury Road in Midway, Liberty County. Operations are expected to begin in 2024. The company will be hiring for light manufacturing, warehouse, shipping, customer service, and back office personnel. Interested individuals can learn more about working at Creative Home Ideas at Creative_Home_Ideas_Sunsbury_Road_Hiring@ymfinc.com.

“We are pleased and excited that Creative Home Ideas, a company with a reputation for innovation and growth, has selected Tradeport East Business Center as the best location to make a substantial investment for its future growth,” said Liberty County Development Authority Chairman Allen Brown. “Like the other corporations that have preceded them in selecting and investing in Tradeport East, we are confident that Creative Home Ideas will also find that Liberty County is a prime location to Come Grow Globally!”

“We’re happy to welcome New Jersey-based Creative Home Ideas to Coastal Georgia,” said Executive Director of the Georgia Ports Authority Griff Lynch. “Its new distribution center will not only boost the local economy, it will set the company at the center of a logistics hub that puts global and domestic markets within easy reach.”

Senior Project Manager Adela Kelley represented the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s (GDEcD) Global Commerce team on this competitive project in partnership with Liberty County Development Authority, the Georgia Ports Authority, and Georgia Power.

“Creative Home Ideas is a great addition to Georgia’s community of home-improvement companies, bringing with it many iconic brands,” said GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson. “By working with Georgia Ports Authority, Liberty County has created a successful environment for companies to grow by connecting them to domestic and international markets. Port activity supports one in nine jobs across the state, and that impact continues to grow as Georgia solidifies its position as a global business and logistics hub. We’re thankful for the dedication of partners like Liberty County and the Ports, and congratulations to Creative Home Ideas!”

Creative Home Ideas – a YMF Company, is a family-owned business, started in 1981 with expertise in designing, manufacturing, and distributing fresh and innovative home decor. A design house focused on home fashion, coupled with the ownership of manufacturing facilities and coast-to-coast distribution centers, allows for high-quality products brought to market fast — at reasonable prices. Creative Home Ideas is dedicated to providing unique luxury home furnishings at affordable prices, all readily available online, at major department stores, and bedding and bath specialty retailers nationwide.

Posted: April 25, 2023

Source: Georgia Office of the Governor

NEMO Introduces 100-Percent Recyclable Sleeping Bag

DOVER, N.H. — April 24, 2023 — NEMO — an award-winning, independent designer of outdoor gear and accessories built to improve the adventure experience — has created its first recyclable sleeping bag with the updated Forte™ Men’s and Women’s 20F/35F series. It is also the first product in NEMO’s Endless Promise™series, which represents a key step toward the brand’s goal to cut emissions intensity in half by 2030. With this new collection, NEMO is taking responsibility for the entire life cycle of each product. Every Endless Promise item is designed to be repairable, resellable, and — most crucially — recyclable to keep it out of the landfill.

To make an immediate impact with this collection, NEMO took its existing top-selling, 3-season Spoon™ shape synthetic sleeping bag and redesigned it using just a single material family. Now 100-percent recyclable, the 2023 Forte is a standout in sustainability as well as comfort and performance.

  • The Classic Spoon™ shape continues to be a game changer for side sleepers, offering more room at the shoulders and knees for a less-constricted feel.
  • Upgraded Thermo Gill™ vents feature a new multistage zipper system that dramatically increases the usable temperature range of the bag and allows for fine-tuning of comfort.
  • Oversized Blanket Fold™ insulated draft collar provides comfort and temperature regulation.
  • Integrated pillow pocket perfectly fits NEMO’s Fillo™ pillow or extra clothes.
  • Full-length double-slider YKK zipper with plow makes getting in and out a breeze.
  • A material suite including: Recycled liner; bluesign® approved shell fabric; and Zerofiber™ PCR insulation (made from 100-percent post-consumer recycled materials) that packs down small while maintaining loft and warmth, even when wet.

Endless Promise is NEMO’s commitment to reduce resource consumption and keep gear out of the landfill. All Endless Promise products are painstakingly designed to be mono-polymer in order to be easily, fully recyclable at the end of their usable life. The new line of Forte bags can be sent to NEMO for resale or recycling; customers will receive a NEMO gift card for the resale value if the bag is in good enough condition for a new owner or, if the bag has reached the end of its adventures, a $20 NEMO gift card as thanks for recycling. NEMO has partnered with Unifi, a leading textile recycler, to turn spent Fortes into Repreve® polyester yarns so each Endless Promise product can live on, endlessly, as a new item.

“From the start, NEMO has produced only products that deserve their place in the world by being truly different and better than what already exists,” said NEMO CEO and founder, Cam Brensinger. “We do this because we’re hyper-aware of the resources required — and waste created — by manufacturing. In our earliest years, we introduced the “Ditto” program, which upcycled production samples and manufacturing rejects turned into (now, highly coveted) wallets and totes. In 2009, we also launched the first recycled fabric tent with bamboo poles. With our Endless Promise Collection, we’re not just being mindful, we’re taking 100 percent responsibility for our products, long after they’re sold.”

The updated Forte Men’s and Women’s bags are available on NEMO’s site now and will be at retailers worldwide in June 2023.

NEMO has also just published its first annual Sustainability Report recapping the brand’s efforts in 2022 towards its goal of cutting its emissions intensity in half by 2030. Through key areas — Design & Innovation, Responsible Sourcing, Carbon Accountability, Advocacy for People and the Planet, and Corporate Governance — NEMO is using Science Based Targets to reach its goal and create products that are not only better for the planet, but superior in performance.

Posted: April 25, 2023

Source: NEMO

Motion Industries Names New Senior Vice President And CFO

Cummings

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — April 24, 2023 — Motion Industries Inc. — a distributor of maintenance, repair and operation replacement parts, and provider of industrial technology solutions — is pleased to announce the promotion of Patrick Cummings to senior vice president and CFO, effective immediately.

Cummings graduated from the University of Alabama at
 Birmingham in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in accounting.
 He began his career with Ernst & Young in 2006. In 2011, he
 moved from public accounting to industry, joining Walter
 Energy as its Internal Audit Manager. He joined Motion in
2012 as AVP of Corporate Compliance. Since then, he held 
the position of U.S. Controller from 2014-2019, before becoming vice president of Financial Planning & Analysis, until he was asked to serve as interim CFO after Greg Cook, Motion’s previous CFO, moved to the U.S. Automotive Group at Genuine Parts Company (GPC).

“Patrick will become a vital part of the Motion executive team, leading Motion to achieve our financial goals in the coming years,” said Randy Breaux, Motion’s president. “His promotion is well deserved. It makes me extremely proud and happy that after a nationwide search, the Motion candidates proved to be the ‘best in class,’ which says a lot about Motion, our succession planning/process and our teammates.”

Cummings will report directly to Breaux. He will also work closely with Bert Nappier, executive vice president and CFO of GPC, and the CFOs of the other GPC business units worldwide.

Posted: April 25, 2023

Source: Motion

Designtex Appoints New Vice President Of Marketing

Reich

NEW YORK CITY — April 24, 2023 — Designtex is excited to announce that Oriana Reich has been named vice president of marketing effective April 17, 2023. As a creative leader and brand builder that works at the intersection of culture, design and commerce, Oriana joins the team with extensive experience leading creative marketing strategy implementation around brand identity, image, product communications and narrative-building. With much of her career spent abroad, she delights in connecting a global community of creative talent to solve challenges with compelling and imaginative brand campaigns that reach customers where they are and prepare them for the future.

After collaborating with Designtex over the past year and a half guiding a new brand narrative and providing creative direction for product launches and the new website, Reich will now join the team full time with responsibilities that include: managing and setting the direction for internal/external creative, marketing and go-to market strategies; developing engaging marketing, branding, digital, content and social media strategies, communication and customer experiences; accelerating and amplifying the Designtex brand strategy and branded initiatives across all platforms.

Reich is a native New Yorker and completed her undergraduate degree in Arts & Design at Central Saint Martins College (University of the Arts) in London. She lived in Hong Kong for 13 years where she led marketing efforts at an international architecture firm and subsequently established her own branding and design studio serving as creative partner and strategic collaborator to clients in the architecture, fashion, retail, wellness, property and hospitality sectors. Upon her return to the United States, she held leadership roles at Shaw Contract, the most recent as brand director responsible for a global brand transformation, product go-to-market strategies and creative direction.

Please join us in welcoming and congratulating Reich on her new journey!

Posted: April 25, 2023

Source: Designtex

Bradshaw Taylor Welcomes Emily Mckissock As Director Of US Sales For ARTILECT And Sherpa Adventure Gear

McKissock

OAKHAM, England — April 24, 2023 — Bradshaw Taylor — an outdoor, country and lifestyle company that brings dynamic brands to market across the United Kingdom, Europe and United States — today announces that Emily McKissock has joined the company as director of U.S. Sales for ARTILECT and Sherpa Adventure Gear. McKissock will oversee all aspects of sales and distribution in the US for the two brands.

A proven sales executive, McKissock brings more than 12 years of experience building and scaling retail and apparel businesses, creating and managing key relationships and partnerships, and leading and motivating teams. McKissock’s experience includes executive sales roles at Marmot, ExOfficio, Purist, and Specialized Bicycle Components, among other companies.

“We are extremely excited to have Emily join the Bradshaw Taylor team and to be supporting ARTILECT and Sherpa Adventure Gear,” said Sonia Prior, sales director. “I have no doubt that her experience and relationships will allow us to build our brands with our retail partners and further introduce and begin to establish the Bradshaw Taylor business in the market.”

“It’s an honor to join the Bradshaw Taylor team and to be able to focus on two innovative brands that have the combination of proven products and high-growth potential,” McKissock said. “There’s a lot of passion and a team that clearly cares about building long-term retail and industry relationships.”

Sherpa Adventure Gear was founded in 2003 by Tashi Sherpa, as a living memorial to the unsung heroes of Mt. Everest. Sherpa Adventure Gear seeks to honour the legendary high-altitude climbers by creating adventure gear that earns their praises, whilst focusing on providing economic and social stability to the people of Nepal through steady employment, quality working conditions and educational opportunities, recently celebrating achieving the purchase of 1 million school days for the children of Nepal. After years of partnering with the brand for European distribution, Bradshaw Taylor acquired Sherpa in 2020.

Founded by Trent Bush and Corry Taylor in 2019, ARTILECT is an apparel studio focused on elevating human performance in any environment and creating technical apparel systems that anticipate consumer needs from the inside out. To accomplish this, ARTILECT uses field-proven technologies in fabrics and construction and works directly with the world’s most innovative suppliers to push limits and set new standards in performance and sustainability.

Posted: April 25, 2023

Source: Bradshaw Taylor

Porcher Industries In Partnership With The Global Leader In Flax Fiber Production, Terre de Lin

BADINERES, France — April 25, 2023 — A pioneer in technical textiles and high-performance thermoplastic composites, Porcher Industries strengthens its partnership with Terre de Lin, the global leader in flax fiber production, based in Normandy (France). This non-exclusive technical and commercial cooperation aims to develop sales of flax fiber based reinforcements for thermoplastic composites implemented by thermocompression.

The new POLYPREG FLAX/TP thermoplastic composite reinforcements woven by Porcher Industries from these flax rovings, combined with the chemical expertise of Porcher Industries, constitute lightweight bio-reinforcements for making parts with a semi-structural appearance by ultra-fast thermocompression with infinite visual appearances.

TDL Technique, a subsidiary of Terre de Lin, is currently developing flax/thermoplastic rovings, aiming to bring increased productivity to the use of flax fiber in composites and better manage the end of life for recycling.

This environmentally conscious range is the answer to increasing designer demands for composite parts that are simultaneously modern, attractive, durable, and immediately recognizable as natural. By developing this type of solution, Porcher Industries wishes to contribute positively in the fields of 3 of its clients in the context of their GHG (greenhouse gas) evaluation. That’s what Porcher Industries has done with POLYPREG FLAX/TP and its subtly apparent flax fibers.

Pascal Joubert des Ouches, marketing director of Porcher Industries stated: “This partnership allows Porcher Industries to guarantee very large volumes for top vehicle and aeronautics suppliers, as well as sports brands seeking this high performance thermoplastic material with a lower environmental impact and which is easily recyclable”.

Posted: April 25, 2023

Source: Porcher Industries

Herculite® Products Announces GREENGUARD Gold Certification For Products

EMIGSVILLE, Pa. — April 25, 2023 — Herculite Products Inc., an innovator and manufacturer of high-performance and custom fabrics, is pleased to announce that three of its high-performance flexible composites have earned GREENGUARD Gold Certification. The entire assortment of Weather-Chek® awning fabrics, Sure-Chek Linen® healthcare curtain fabrics and Architent® Starfree Blackout tent fabrics have now completed the rigorous process to achieve this certification.

Recognized and referenced by more than 400 codes, rating systems, and procurement policies worldwide, UL’s GREENGUARD Certification Program requires that products meet some of the world’s most rigorous standards for low emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into indoor environments. The UL GREENGUARD Gold Certification Standard includes health-based criteria for additional chemicals and requires lower total VOC emissions levels to ensure that products are acceptable for use in environments such as schools and healthcare facilities.

“Herculite has long been an innovator in manufacturing safe fabrics for use in sensitive environments, having launched the Sure-Chek healthcare fabrics over 60 years ago. While our products have always been safe for indoor use, GREENGUARD Certification provides rigorous third-party certification to ensure that they are helping to create healthier indoor environments,” said Herculite’s President and CEO Peter McKernan.

These three product lines represent an initial wave of certification by Herculite as part of our commitment to manufacturing textiles designed to create healthy, sustainable, and aesthetically pleasing user-focused environments.

Posted: April 25, 2023

Source: Herculite Products Inc.

ITMA 2023 Exhibitor Preview: Thirty Members Of The British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA) In Attendance

MANCHESTER, England — April 25, 2023 — “Sustainability, circularity and Industry 4.0 have been the primary themes coming from the market for some time now and our members have responded with innovations spanning the entire supply chain — from fibers to finishing — and with a specific emphasis in many cases on improved software and digitised control solutions,” said BTMA CEO Jason Kent.

Fibres

On the fibers front, Leeds-based Fibre Extrusion Technology (FET) moved into 2023 with a record order book and its globally-installed multifilament, monofilament and nonwoven systems have now been employed by customers to process more than 40 separate polymers.

“The research projects we have collaborated in have become increasingly challenging in terms of technical specifications and this is enabling us to constantly expand the installations we can offer,” says FET managing director Richard Slack. “Following the surge in interest in our spunbond and meltblown technologies over the past few years — many of them to address the PPE shortages during the Covid-19 pamdemic — we are now seeing a lot of interest from the market in bio-based polymers produced from biomass feedstocks.”

FET’s newly-opened £1.5 million Fibre Development Centre will enable the company, which is at stand A101 in Hall 1 at ITMA 2023, to further accelerate new fiber trials and product R&D.

Meanwhile, Bradford-based Tatham (Hall 10, stand C212) is currently fielding a lot of inquiries for its established machinery for the processing of natural staple fibers — and most notably, its technologies for the decortication, fiber opening and fabric forming of hemp.

“There has been an explosion in the interest in hemp production, from farmers through to fiber production, and a wide range of new potential end-uses are being explored,” said Tatham Director Tim Porrit. “We look forward to discussing options with any companies looking to enter this field or expand their existing capabilities in Milan.”

Fabrics and composites

Since making its debut at ITMA 2019, Huddersfield-based Optima 3D (Hall 6, stand A213) has installed a significant number of its new 3D weaving machines that drew such interest in Barcelona four years ago.

The company’s looms offer many advanced features over conventional weaving machines, particularly in versatility, as a result of the comprehensive use of digital control systems allowing rapid parameter and sequence changes, coupled with an innovative shuttle system.

“Our aim from the start was to look at 3D weaving machine technology with a fresh pair of eyes and produce a machine that is simply better by design and delivers real benefits to our customers,” said Managing Director Steve Cooper. “The key interest in this technology has been in producing new structures from expensive fibers such as carbon into workable structures, as the essential reinforcements for composites.”

Composites production has also been a major area of development for Northwich-based Cygnet Texkimp (Hall 3, stand A107) which has developed an extensive portfolio of technologies for handling fibers and yarns like carbon and glass. The company’s latest launch is a multi roll stack developed within the £40 million UK Ascend program led by Tier-1 aerospace supplier GKN Aerospace. The stack enables high performance prepreg and towpreg materials to be manufactured more efficiently and sustainably without compromising the accuracy of the product, speed, or consistency.

“This space-saving machine offers a way to manufacture towpreg and prepreg materials quickly and accurately while delivering considerable cost and energy benefits,” explained Graeme Jones, wide web product director at Cygnet Texkimp. “It is a more sustainable and cost-effective way to process prepregs which offers the potential for them to be used more widely in high-volume and mainstream applications.”

Leeds-based Roaches International also works closely with the composites sector, supplying a range of autoclave and thermosetting technologies, in addition to its wide range of well-known textile performance testing instruments that are used by many leading fashion brands. Roaches will be highlighting its design and built of innovative machines which integrate into existing manufacturing plants, such as the latest vertical IR (infrared) bonding and chemical application line which can process narrow width yarns or textiles at up to 600 meters per minute on as many as six lanes. Roaches will have its largest stand at ITMA to date this year, at E302 in Hall 4.

Finishing

Cambridge-headquartered Alchemie Technology (Hall 7, stand D308) is the latest fast-rising company to join the BTMA.

“With our Endeavour, waterless, low energy dyeing and Novara, low energy textile finishing technologies, we are disrupting manufacturing processes that are responsible for over 3% of global CO2 emissions and 20% of global water pollution,” says Alchemie founder and CEO Dr. Alan Hudd. “Our solutions both dramatically reduce the environmental impact and the cost of dyeing and finishing, which has proven to be a compelling combination.”

Influence

“These are just a few examples of the textile machinery innovation that’s coming out of the UK right now,” Kent concluded. “It’s very exciting to see the accumulated know-how of our member companies continuing to exert a significant influence in advanced industries such as aerospace and automotive, while leaving no stone unturned in promoting environmental best practices through adapting to the latest demands of the market. BTMA companies have a lot more to unveil at ITMA 2023 and everyone is looking forward to fruitful demonstrations and discussions in Milan.”

Founded in 1940, the British Textile Machinery Association actively promotes British textile machinery manufacturers and their products to the world. The non-profit organization acts as a bridge between its members and the increasingly diverse industries within the textile manufacturing sector.

Posted: April 25, 2023

Source: The British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA)

1...503504505...2,638Page 504 of 2,638

Sponsors

Breaking News

Load more

Digital Issue

2026 Quarterly Issue II

View Latest Digital Issue

FEATURED ARTICLES

© Copyright 2017 Textile Industries Media Group, LLC.