Columbia Sportswear’s SOREL Headquarters Moving To Washington County

PORTLAND, Ore. — October 18, 2022 — Columbia Sportswear Co. today announced that its SOREL brand is moving into an expanded headquarters building in early 2023.

SOREL’s momentum has been marked by rapid revenue growth and is expected to expand further over the next three to five years. The new headquarters provides room for team and resource enhancement and enables SOREL to continue attracting industry-best talent.

“This is an exciting and indicative moment for our brand,” said Mark Nenow, president of SOREL. “We thrive on shared creative energy to drive design, marketing and distribution of amazing function-first fashion footwear. All for our unstoppable consumer! Everything emanates now from SOREL’s new headquarters home!”

“This is really a story about dynamic growth,” said Craig Zanon, senior vice president, Emerging Brands. “SOREL is laser-focused on bringing a relentless flow of compelling products and stories to consumers and is on its way to becoming a leading force in the footwear industry.”

“When we purchased the SOREL brand in 2000, it was a small Canadian company renowned for its men’s winter work and snowboard boots,” said Tim Boyle, chair, CEO and president of CSC. “Now, it is a rapidly growing female-first brand creating exciting and differentiated products from sandals to wedges to sneakers to boots. It’s an amazing story and a testament to the creativity and drive of SOREL’s employees.”

The SOREL headquarters will be housed in an exclusive single use building on the Columbia Sportswear Co.’s Washington county campus.

Posted: October 18, 2022

Source: Columbia Sportswear Co.

Greensboro College Launches Workforce Initiative To Meet Growing Employer Demand In Aerospace And Manufacturing

GREENSBORO, N.C.  — October 18, 2022 — Today, The Center for Innovation and Workforce Development at Greensboro College launched the latest in a series of new professional development initiatives. The online program is based on industry input and will help students build the skills sought by global aerospace and manufacturing employers in the Greensboro region. With the tremendous growth of these industries in the Piedmont Triad, demand for skilled workers is at an all-time high. This new certificate and credentialing program will help meet that demand with qualified and ambitious professionals ready to demonstrate their capabilities and expertise.

“As we were reminded when President Biden and Boom Supersonic CEO Blake Scholl visited our state earlier this year, North Carolina is a national leader in aerospace manufacturing,” says Greensboro College President Lawrence D. Czarda. “Our institution is transforming its offerings to help our region remain at the forefront of this and other industries. By preparing the skilled workers of tomorrow, Greensboro College is building on its essential role in our community to help ensure the continued success of companies throughout our region. We look forward to seeing our students thrive as our local economy continues to grow.”

From the Wright Brothers’ first flight at Kitty Hawk to today’s innovative research and development, North Carolina has enjoyed a long legacy as an aerospace leader. According to PwC, the state ranks fifth in the nation for aerospace manufacturing attractiveness. It is home to top aerospace companies with major operations in North Carolina, including pioneers such as GE Aviation, Honda Aircraft Company, HAECO, Cyril Bath, Raytheon Technologies, and Spirit AeroSystems. In fact, North Carolina is home to more than 200 leading aerospace companies that specialize in airplane assembly and parts manufacturing*. With 13% employment growth from 2015-2019, North Carolina’s aerospace manufacturing sector has grown three times the national average. Here in 2022, North Carolina’s 450,000 manufacturing workers comprise 10% of the state’s entire workforce**.

“There are many factors that aerospace companies consider when making decisions about where to locate their operations,” says Kevin J. Baker, executive director of the Piedmont Triad International Airport, which generates an estimated $6 billion in economic impact for the local economy each year. “Every company we speak to identifies the availability of a trained workforce as their top concern. The Piedmont Triad has deep bench strength in the industry, but demand for skilled workers is constantly growing. As such, the new aerospace and manufacturing programs at Greensboro College are an essential element of an evolving workforce pipeline that will prove vital to our region’s ability to compete now and long into the future.”

The importance of this pipeline is clear to local economic development leaders such as NC Works Executive Director Chris Rivera. He states that “When we look at data specific to the number of individuals we have placed into employment in the manufacturing industry, we’re at about 6,500 people per year – and that figure is poised to increase.” With multiple high-tech companies such as Toyota, Boom Supersonic, and Vinfast moving into the area, there are plans for an additional 9,500 manufacturing job openings in the coming months.

The new program launched today at Greensboro College ensures that it will be at the center of preparing local workers to fill those openings and drive economic growth for years to come. The additional workforce development certification programs include technician training in:

  • Advanced Manufacturing Production;
  • Aerospace Electrical Assembly;
  • Aerospace Quality;
  • Aerospace Structures;
  • Apprentice Tool Making;
  • CNC Lathe Production;
  • CNC Machining Center Production;
  • Composites Manufacturing & Repair;
  • Drafting & CAD;
  • Mechatronics & Industrial Automation;
  • Quality Assurance; and
  • Safety.

Posted: October 18, 2022

Source: Greensboro College

Sinopec Produces China’s First Batch Of Large Tow Carbon Fiber

SHANGHAI — October 14, 2022 — China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. (Sinopec) has successfully produced China’s first batch of large tow carbon fiber at the company’s production base in Shanghai, making the company the first in the country and fourth in the world to possess large tow carbon fiber technology.

Sinopec’s production line has adopted its self-developed PAN (polyacrylonitrile) base large tow precursor and carbon fiber technologies. The project is being implemented in two phases and expects to be in full production in 2024, projecting an annual production capacity of 24,000 tons of protofilament and 12,000 tons of large tow carbon fiber.

Large tow carbon fiber refers to roving that contains 48,000 filaments or more. The high-performance material is often referred to as the “king of new material” and “black gold.” The product developed and manufactured by Sinopec Shanghai is a new type of high-strength carbon fiber with a carbon content of over 95 percent. It has outstanding excellent mechanical properties and a specific gravity that’s less than one fourth of the steel, yet a strength that’s seven to nine times stronger. It is also corrosion resistant.

As the material can be widely used in producing parts and components, it is expected to be used for an increasing amount of industrial infrastructure projects in China, including ones related to wind power, solar power, high-speed rail, and aviation.

“Sinopec has customized a special production line for large tow carbon fiber, including production equipment and techniques, which has enabled us to design oxidizing furnaces and carbide furnaces that revolutionizes not only the core technology of temperature field control, but also has a revolutionary energy-saving design, marking a major milestone in the development of China’s carbon fiber industry,” said Huang Xiangyu, carbon fiber expert and deputy general manager of Sinopec Shanghai.

Sinopec now owns 251 patents related to carbon fiber and 46 patents for carbon fiber composite materials, the largest number in China and third in the world, and through scaled up investment and industrial layout, Sinopec is committed to being a major contributor to the development of China’s carbon fiber industry.

Posted: October 18, 2022

Source: China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (SINOPEC)

Epson Introduces New High-Performance, Versatile Large Format Dye-Sublimation Printers

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. — October 18, 2022 — As print shops continue to see demand for transfer printing applications, Epson today announced two new 44-inch wide-format dye-sublimation printers – the SureColor® F6470 and SureColor F6470H. Designed to maximize productivity for print businesses, the versatile 4-color SureColor F6470 and 6-color SureColor F6470H generate fast output for quickly and efficiently producing high-quality transfer images. The new models will replace the renowned SureColor F6370 and join Epson’s expansive line of SureColor F-Series dye-sublimation printers.

The new models will be on display at PRINTING United in Las Vegas from Oct. 19-21 in Epson’s booth, C7730. The SureColor F6470H is a recipient of the PRINTING United Pinnacle Product Award in the “roll-to-roll dye-sublimation on metal category.”

Purpose built to create custom printed products, the SureColor F6470 generates 4-color output at speeds up to 820 ft2/hr1 to quickly and efficiently produce high-quality images for promotional and personalized goods, apparel, home décor, soft signage, and more. The SureColor F6470H prints unparalleled 6-color output at speeds up to 400 ft2/hr1 and allows for multiple ink configurations to meet various color needs — CMYK plus either Light Cyan/Light Magenta, Fluorescent Pink/Fluorescent Yellow, or Orange/Violet. The expanded color options make it an ideal solution for producing photographic panels, flags, and banners, with the ability to meet branding color requirements for corporate clients.

“These models are engineered to deliver the reliability and high image quality Epson is known for, with some of the fastest dye-sublimation printer speeds in the market,” said Tim Check, senior product manager, Professional Imaging, Epson America Inc. “With the expansion of three ink configurations, the SureColor F6470H provides the ability to hit specific corporate colors, making it a unique offering, and one that will open up opportunities for print shops in the high-end dye-sublimation photo market.”

The new models feature an innovative 1.33-inch PrecisionCore® MicroTFP printhead with Nozzle Verification Technology (NVT) for exceptional and consistent print quality. An integrated ink pack system utilizing 1.6-liter UltraChrome® DS Ink packs allow the printers to continuously deliver rich color saturation and contrast. Designed with ease of use in mind, both models come with a 4.3-inch touchscreen control panel, an easily accessible maintenance area, a built-in cutter for roll-to-sheet convenience, and a media take-up reel system for unattended printing. Additional features include:

  • PrecisionCore MicroTFP printhead with NVT – Delivers consistent, high print quality day after day
  • Astounding image quality – Highly efficient UltraChrome DS Ink delivers extraordinary color saturation and high color contrast
  • Seamless workflow – Powerful Epson Edge® Print workflow software, featuring Adobe® PDF Print Engine
  • Versatile media support – Features a media take-up reel for unattended printing and a built-in cutter for roll-to-sheet convenience
  • Performance optimized for Epson DS Transfer Paper – Universal, Rigid Photo Optimized, Adhesive Textile, and Multipurpose paper types available
  • Low user maintenance – Easily accessible maintenance area helps ensure consistent, reliable performance
  • Epson Cloud Solution PORT2 – Provides live production monitoring of printer fleet, including production rates and printer utilization

Availability

The SureColor F6470 ($8,195 MSRP) and SureColor F6470H ($8,695 MSRP) will be available in early 2023 through authorized Epson Professional Imaging resellers. The models are designed for use exclusively with Epson ink packs* and offer a one-year limited onsite warranty with extended service plans available. For additional information, visit www.epson.com.

Posted: October 18, 2022

Source: Epson America Inc.

Nordstrom Announces CFO Transition

SEATTLE — October 17, 2022 — Nordstrom, Inc. today announced that Nordstrom Chief Financial Officer Anne Bramman has informed the company of her intention to step down from her role. She will remain with the company through the reporting of Nordstrom’s third quarter 2022 financial results to facilitate a smooth transition. Her last day with the company will be December 2, 2022.

“Anne is an outstanding CFO. Since she was named CFO in 2017, Anne’s leadership has been vital in helping us in many areas, particularly navigating the numerous challenges of the last few years,” said Erik Nordstrom, chief executive officer of Nordstrom, Inc. “I’d like to thank Anne for her deep commitment to our customers, our employees, our shareholders and our values. As a result of Anne’s guidance through the pandemic, Nordstrom has the financial strength and flexibility to successfully manage through a changing environment. She also sponsored multiple strategic initiatives to improve profitability and develop capabilities to fuel our long-term growth. Anne has elevated the finance organization through her commitment to excellence and talent development. We wish her well as she takes this next step.”

“It has been a privilege to work alongside our leadership team and the many talented individuals throughout the company,” Bramman said. “With Nordstrom well positioned for success, I felt that this is the right time to transition to the next chapter in my career.”

Michael Maher, Nordstrom’s senior vice president and chief accounting officer, will assume the role of interim CFO upon Bramman’s departure. Nordstrom has commenced an internal and external search process to identify a permanent CFO.

Maher joined Nordstrom in 2009 as controller and has more than 25 years of finance and accounting experience. As chief accounting officer, he is responsible for accounting, financial planning and analysis, business development, treasury and investor relations. Prior to his appointment as Nordstrom’s chief accounting officer in 2020, Maher served as senior vice president, finance from 2017 to 2020. From 2011 to 2017, he held various finance leadership roles for the Nordstrom business.

“We are fortunate to have a deep bench of talented leaders at Nordstrom,” Nordstrom added. “Michael’s knowledge of the Nordstrom business and more than two decades of related experience will support the continued execution of our financial priorities as we conduct a search for our next CFO.”

The company is reaffirming its fiscal year 2022 financial outlook that was previously provided on August 23, 2022.

Posted: October 18, 2022

Source: Nordstrom, Inc.

Governor Ivey Hosts Second Annual Made In Alabama Showcase — Shaw Industries Group Featured

MONTGOMERY, Ala.— October 14, 2022 — Governor Kay Ivey, in partnership with the Alabama Department of Commerce, hosted the second annual Made in Alabama Showcase to recognize some of Alabama’s top companies.

Governor Ivey selected 14 top-rated businesses for their work in producing exceptional goods for our state and invited them to exhibit their products at the Alabama State Capitol. The 11 honorees that were able to attend showcased their products, discussed their company’s history and gave away promotional items to the public.

“Our state is blessed to have numerous companies producing outstanding Alabama-American made products every single day. During Manufacturing Month, I am proud to recognize 14 of the best our state has to offer,” said Governor Ivey. “Alabama made products speak to who we are as a state, and we could not be more excited to showcase these exceptional companies’ products and service to all our visitors today.”

Since 2017, Governor Ivey has charged her administration, especially the Alabama Department of Commerce with creating quality jobs for Alabamians. Her focus on economic development has attracted over $32 billion in capital investment and 65,000 new jobs.

“The ‘Made in Alabama’ badge is synonymous with quality, and it’s crystal clear that the companies being honored in today’s showcase have mastered the art of turning out an amazing variety of world-class products,” said Greg Canfield, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.

The honorees were nominated by the Alabama Department of Commerce, Manufacture Alabama, the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama and the Business Council of Alabama. The 14 honorees are as follows:

  • Frios Gourmet Pops, based in Mobile, produces gourmet popsicles for its franchisees across the country. The company has grown from a brick-and-mortar shop to pivoting in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic to be mobile by attending parties and corporate events in their tie-dye food trucks.
  • Shaw Industries Group Inc. offers a diverse portfolio of carpet, resilient, hardwood, tile and stone, laminate, synthetic turf and other specialty items for residential and commercial markets worldwide via its brands Anderson Tuftex, COREtec, Floorigami, Patcraft, Philadelphia Commercial, Shaw Contract, Shaw Floors, Shaw Sports Turf, Southwest Greens and more. Shaw’s fiber manufacturing plant in Andalusia, Alabama, is Covington County’s largest employer. Shaw continues to invest in plant upgrades at Andalusia that are improving efficiency and production, as well as ergonomics and safety of more than 1,100 Shaw associates who work there. Headquartered in Dalton, Georgia, Shaw is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, which employs more than 20,000 associates worldwide.
  • To Your Health Sprouted Flour Company is a national pioneer in producing organic sprouted grains. In their 17 years of business, they have grown to become the largest U.S. producer of sprouted grains, flours, legumes, seeds and nuts, producing close to one million pounds per year. They are located in Fitzpatrick, Alabama in Bullock County.
  • Victory Game Clocks is a female, veteran-owned and operated team sport timing supplier based in Roanoke, Alabama. Victory Game Clocks designs, manufactures and sells high-quality practice timers, play clocks, scoreboards, electronic down markers and timeout countdown clocks for football and other sports. Their products first hit the market in 2011, and today are used by professional, college and high school teams across the country.
  • WoodHaven Custom Calls designs top of the line turkey and deer calls in Heflin, Alabama. The calls can be customized as a mouth, wood or friction call. The idea for the company was built in the late 1980s from the owner’s desire to be the best turkey hunter he could be.
  • Red Land Cotton is a family-owned, direct-to-consumer e-commerce company crafting luxury bedding, towels and loungewear exclusively from cotton grown on their family farm in north Alabama. Red Land Cotton utilizes a supply chain that starts and ends in north Alabama. All of the cotton is grown, harvested and ginned on Red Land Farms in Lawrence and Colbert counties. It is manufactured in different communities across the United States before it returns as finished cloth to be cut and sewn and then distributed from Moulton, Alabama.
  • Golden Eagle Syrup founders, Mr. and Mrs. Victor Patterson Sr., produced their first can in Fayette, Alabama on October 28, 1928. The original manufacturing building still remains the home of Golden Eagle Syrup today. In efforts to keep the historic company viable, additional products, which incorporate the syrup, are being added. Caramel Corn was the first of these brought to market and is carrying on the tradition of quality products at fair prices. Golden Eagle Syrup remains a family-owned, family-run business; the present owners have a strong commitment to preserving the tradition and quality established by the founders.
  • Jack Daniel Cooperage manufactures white oak barrels for Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey. The Jack Daniel Cooperage is located in Trinity, Alabama and is home to approximately 175 employees. “JDC” was established in 2014 and currently produces approximately 1,200 barrels per day.
  • Specification Rubber Products began in 1968 as a manufacturer of molded rubber components for the waterworks industry, specializing in rubber gaskets. Today, their company is a primary supplier for ductile iron pipe, valve and hydrant producers. Not only do they help to make drinking water safe, but they also received the “Best Place to Work” award in 2021 from Rubber News, a national industry publication. All of their products are Made in the USA in Alabaster, Alabama.
  • Central City Urban Farm is a hydroponic artisanal family farm producing herbs, leafy greens and vegetables. They grow gourmet lettuces, arugula, kale, swiss chard, parsley, basil, chives and cilantro. The farm location is in the Sloss Business District in downtown Birmingham. Customers can purchase direct for home, institutional or restaurant consumption.
  • Hartzell Engine Technologies was formed in 2010 by Tailwinds Technologies from assets of Kelly Aerospace Energy Systems. This Montgomery company offers aircraft engine accessories and cabin heating solutions for manned and unmanned fixed and rotary-wing aircraft powered by piston, turboprop and turbofan engines. The company’s portfolio consists of Janitrol Aero, Fuelcraft, Plane-Power, Sky-Tec and Aeroforce Turbocharger Systems. Together, these five strong brands provide engine accessories and heating solutions for the general aviation industry.
  • Prystup Packaging Products, Inc. is in the business of manufacturing folding paperboard cartons that are used to package a wide variety of consumer goods products, employing 140 local citizens in its operations. Prystup Packaging Products, Inc. is a certified Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) and a member of the Women’s Business Enterprise Council (WBEC) since 2015 as well as a certified Native American Minority Business Enterprise with Corporate Plus designation since 1991. The company has been in business in Livingston, Alabama for more than 42 years.
  • Evonik is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. They have about 1,000 employees in Mobile and Birmingham, Alabama and another 32,000 employees across the world. Their facility in Mobile produces feed additives, hydrogen peroxide, specialty foams and much more. Plus, Evonik Birmingham Laboratories, a part of Evonik’s Health Care business line, serves pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and medical device customers worldwide.
  • Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Alabama employs more than 1,800 team members and builds over 3,000 engines each day. TMMAL is where the powerful V6 and V8 engines found under the hoods of Tacoma and Tundra trucks and Sequoia full-size SUVs are made as well as 4-cylinder engines for Camry, RAV4, Sienna and Highlander. There’s a very good chance if you or someone you know drives a Toyota, the engine came from the plant in Huntsville.

Posted: October 18, 2022

Source: Alabama Office of the Governor

SCTI Appoints Isabella Tonaco As Executive Director

Dr. Isabella Tonaco

SINGAPORE — October 13, 2022 — Sustainable Chemistry for the Textile Industry (SCTI™) has appointed Dr. Isabella Tonaco as executive director, effective November 1, 2022. With a mandate to inspire and trigger action at a global level, she will lead SCTI to drive transformational change in the textile and leather industries.

Launched two years ago by seven of the world’s leading chemical companies, the SCTI Alliance aims to enable brands, retailers and manufacturers to apply cutting-edge sustainable chemistry solutions that enhance the well-being of factory workers, local communities, consumers and the planet.

Dr. Tonaco will oversee SCTI activities to implement this mission. Based in Germany, she will work with SCTI member companies and stakeholders across the textile and leather value chain to help the industry achieve the highest levels of sustainability. Dr. Tonaco will report to the SCTI Executive Committee.

Dr. Wolfgang Anton Schumann, SCTI Chairman, said: “With its start-up spirit and support from the world’s leading chemical companies, SCTI will play a pivotal role in the ongoing transformation of the textile and leather industries. We are pleased to bring on board a leader of Dr. Tonaco’s caliber. She is a proven changemaker with a passion for the chemical industry and the ability to motivate and inspire others with her sharp vision.”

“As the world moves increasingly toward a circular economy, now is a critical time to transform the textile and leather industries,” Dr. Tonaco said. “I share SCTI’s vision of a global network of empowered industry players who are able to balance environmental, social and economic imperatives while implementing sustainable business strategies that lay the foundation for a new and better future for us all.”

Dr. Tonaco has more than a decade of experience in sustainability and has held various strategic and commercial roles in the chemical industry. Most recently, she was vice president of Strategy Execution and Marketing for Renewable Polymers & Chemicals at Neste, a global leader in renewable and circular solutions. Previously, Dr. Tonaco worked for BASF, where she established and executed the company’s global leadership position in certified sustainable palm-based ingredients for the Personal Care industry.

Before beginning her career in business, Dr. Tonaco was a research associate at the Max Planck Institute in Germany. She holds a PhD in biological sciences from Wageningen University in the Netherlands and a master’s degree in plant genetics from Lavras University in Brazil.

Posted October 18, 2022

Source: SCTI

Textile Equipment Manufacturer To Establish Global Headquarters In Rowan County, N.C., With $5 Million Investment

RALEIGH, N.C. — October 18, 2022 — Fab-Con Machinery Development Corp., a manufacturer of textile finishing equipment, will create 27 new jobs in Rowan County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest $5.3 million to relocate its headquarters and manufacturing operation to Salisbury.

“Fab-Con Machinery’s decision to create a home in Rowan County validates our reputation as the best state to do business,” said Governor Cooper. “When woven together, our state’s skilled workforce, quality of life, and textile supply chain create a foundation of success for global manufacturers like this.”

Serving the knitwear industry for more than five decades, Fab-Con designs, builds, and exports finishing machines for men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing, outerwear and underwear. Fab-Con has a global footprint that supports a major market share of more than 200 customers in Asia, and North, South, and Central Americas. This relocation will be the new home of the company’s global headquarters in a 90,000 square-foot facility as well as its machine manufacturing, administration, and sales operations.

“We are eager to start our manufacturing operations in North Carolina, and we look forward to benefitting from the strong workforce,” said Chris Snyder, vice president of Fab-Con Machinery Development Corp. “By relocating to North Carolina, Fab-Con will be more competitively positioned to operate at a lower cost. Several recently obtained U.S. and E.U. patents have given us a strong competitive advantage over our competitors both domestically and internationally. We appreciate the support of the economic developers and local and state officials for making this a reality.”

“Fab-Con is joining the largest textile mill industry in the nation,” said N.C. Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders. “Advanced manufacturers continue to innovate their operations to work faster and increase productivity – and North Carolina has the research institutions and workforce development partnerships to help provide the educated workforce to support that work.”

The North Carolina Department of Commerce led a team of partners in supporting Fab-Con’s relocation to North Carolina. The new positions, including machinists and fabricators, have a combined average annual salary of $73,081, which exceeds Rowan County’s overall annual wage of $48,360. Once filled, these new jobs have the potential to create an annual payroll impact of more than $1.9 million for the community.

A performance-based grant of $50,000 from the One North Carolina Fund will help with Fab-Con’s expansion. The One NC Fund provides financial assistance to local governments to help attract economic investment and to create jobs. Companies receive no money upfront and must meet job creation and capital investment targets to qualify for payment. All One NC grants require matching participation from local governments and any award is contingent upon that condition being met.

“We are excited to welcome these well-paying jobs to our community,” said N.C. Senator Carl Ford. “Fab-Con will find that Rowan County’s diverse employee base is poised to support the company’s current and future growth plans.”

“This announcement is a great win for our region and the entire state,” said N.C. Representative Harry Warren. “With our central location and transportation infrastructure, we can help Fab-Con quickly reach the global market.”

Joining the North Carolina Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina were key partners in the project that included the North Carolina General Assembly, North Carolina Community College System, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, Rowan County, Rowan Economic Development Council and the City of Salisbury.

Posted: October 18, 2022

Source: North Carolina Office of the Governor

YKK Develops AquaGuard® NATULON®, An Environmentally Friendly Water Repellent Zipper

TOKYO — October 13, 2022 — YKK Corp. has developed an environmentally friendly water repellent AquaGuard® NATULON® zipper. Beginning this month, YKK will spend about one year gradually replacing the conventional water repellent AquaGuard zipper with the environmentally friendly AquaGuard NATULON zipper, which has a tape made of recycled PET plastic.

The AquaGuard zipper has a polyurethane laminated water repellent tape and has been well received by customers for the 20 years since its launch in 2002. For the recently developed AquaGuard NATULON zippers, YKK not only adopted a green specification using recycled PET tape and a fluorine-free water repellent, but also improved the zipper’s opening/closing operability as well as the appearance of the zipper.

Key Points of the AquaGuard® NATULON® Zipper Development

(1) Switching to a green specification as an initiative toward achievement of the YKK Sustainability Vision 2050

YKK announced the YKK Sustainability Vision 2050, which is the Company’s sustainability goal for achieving climate neutrality by 2050. Goals were set up under five themes: climate change, material resources, water resources, chemical management, and respect of people. YKK is engaged in initiatives to achieve ten Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to these themes.

By using recycled PET for the tape, the AquaGuard® NATULON zipper contributes to resource utilization and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, switching the main material used in the water repellent finish (film) to one that is fluorine-free also leads to improvement of the manufacturing process environment. This move also meets the tightening of organic fluorine compound usage regulations in Europe and elsewhere.

Comparison of the AquaGuard® zipper and the AquaGuard® NATULON® zipper appearance. Top: Conventional AquaGuard® Bottom: AquaGuard® NATULON®

(2) Improvement of zipper opening/closing operability

The AquaGuard zipper is being widely used in wear and gear for fields such as sports and hardcore outdoor activities, including mountain climbing. In such items as sportswear, there are many situations in which the wearer needs to open or close a zipper while moving or wearing gloves. For this reason, the zipper used needs to open and close smoothly. To ensure that AquaGuard NATULON zippers can be used in such fields without worry, YKK made improvements to the structure of zipper parts such as the chain and slider, improving the pin insertion and the sliding force when opening and closing the zipper.

▼Improvement of the zipper sliding force (reference value: as compared with conventional AquaGuard® zippers)
No.3 CZT8: Improvement of about 40 percent/CZT10: Improvement of about 20 percent
No.5 CZT8: Improvement of about 30 percent/CZT9: Improvement of about 20 percent/CZT10: Improvement of about 30 percent
*Item Codes: T8: Shiny Transparent film; T9 Matte Colored film; T10: Matte Transparent film
*The operability differs according to the type of slider and surface processing

(3) Improvement of appearance

By reviewing the zipper chain configuration and processing conditions, a flatter appearance has been achieved.

*T8 and T10 indicate item codes.

“The AquaGuard NATULON zipper fulfills the desires of our customers that had been expressed in the past for a switch to green specifications as well as to improve operability,” said Hisashi Yoneshima, vice President, Product Strategy & Development Division, Global Sales Division. “The improvement of its appearance has also been achieved, and the zipper has been reborn into one that can be used with even less worry. YKK will continue to pursue further functionality of its fastening products while promoting the development of products that are friendly to the environment and will contribute to the achievement of a sustainable society.”

Posted October 18, 2022

Source: YKK Corp.

WhiteCycle: DITF Is Part Of An International Consortium For Plastics Recycling

DENKENDORF, Germany — October 14, 2022 — A consortium of 16 public and private sector organizations under the name “WhiteCycle” has set itself the goal of establishing a comprehensive and closed-loop recycling system for plastic waste. German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf (DITF) are part of this consortium and will make their contribution with a new synthesis process for processing recycled plastics.

Under the leadership of Michelin Group France, the consortium WhiteCycle was constituted at the beginning of July 2022. The aim of the European initiative is to establish an economic cycle to process inhomogeneous textile waste from different materials and to manufacture new, high-quality products from it. This project is intended to help achieve the targets set by the European Union for reducing CO2 emissions by 2030.

Complex, textile-containing PET waste such as tires, tubes or multilayer composite textiles from the clothing sector have so far been difficult or impossible to recycle. Under the WhiteCycle network, several projects and research approaches will be brought together to address the problem and provide new solutions.

The DITF will adapt an existing PET synthesis process to novel recycled monomers. The fundamental problem to be overcome is the impurities in the starting material due to its inhomogeneous composition. Together with the project partner Kordsa Teknik Textil A.S. (Turkey), the DITF are developing new synthesis concepts. Their aim is to eliminate possible disadvantages caused by residual contamination of the monomers. This is because, despite purification of the monomers prior to further processing, not all impurities can be removed. The approaches taken are demanding. For example, the type and quantity of additives used must be specifically adapted. These include catalysts, processing aids, nucleating and coupling agents, and chain extenders. In this way, it is possible to avoid the negative effects of unknown impurities. This improves the material properties of the recycled plastics, as they are thermally stabilized in the long term, which in turn results in improved mechanical and rheological properties. The modified process should enable recycled PET (r-PET) to have the same properties as commercial PET.

The consortium partners are pursuing other approaches to produce an improved recycling rate and higher-quality r-PET products: optimized sorting technologies for the sorting of waste are part of this, as is enzyme-based treatment of plastics to break them down into monomers in a sustainable way. Ultimately, the high-quality manufacture of new products from the recycled plastics will also help to close the raw material cycle.

Posted October 18, 2022

Sour e: DITF

1...578579580...2,631Page 579 of 2,631

Sponsors

Breaking News

Load more

Digital Issue

2026 Quarterly Issue Number I

View Latest Digital Issue

FEATURED ARTICLES

© Copyright 2017 Textile Industries Media Group, LLC.