The American Floorcovering Alliance Elects A New Board Of Directors And Temporarily Scales Back Operations

DALTON, Ga. — February 28, 2022 — The American Floorcovering Alliance (AFA) announced today the election of:

  • John Karr of ProdTek Inc. as president;
  • Paul Yacobucci of Piedmont Commercial Carpets as vice president; and
  • Nadeem Moughrabi of Polycom as Secretary/Treasurer.

After reviewing the impact the pandemic has had on AFA activities, notably FloorTek Expo participation in 2021 and the cancellation of Domotex/Hannover in 2021 and 2022 (where AFA sponsored the annual Georgia/U.S.A. Pavilion), the board voted to take the following steps:

  • Suspend all FloorTek Expo planning for 2022, looking to a resumption in 2023.
  • Downsize AFA office space by selling the current building at 210 W. Cuyler St., Dalton, Ga.
  • Survey the membership to ascertain how the AFA may better serve their interests in the future.

The AFA is a non-profit flooring industry advocate that traces its roots back to 1979 as the group that organized the first industry trade show (CMMA), held in Dalton, GA. In the 1990s, the emphasis shifted to showcasing floorcovering equipment manufacturers and helping members market their products overseas. During that time, the organization became a 501c3, and later in 2002, it became the American Floorcovering Alliance. The following year, its trade show for manufacturing was branded FloorTek Expo.

“We have a proud history of being an industry pioneer and showcase for 43 years and have helped put Dalton, Ga., on the map as the flooring capital for the world,” commented Stephanie Manis, executive director of AFA. “At this point, the board has wisely voted to step back and assess the direction of AFA, while at the same time being good stewards of its assets.”

Posted: February 28, 2022

Source: The American Floorcovering Alliance (AFA)

Carrington Textiles Launches New Educational Online Platform

ADLINGTON, United Kingdom — February 28, 2022 — Global workwear fabric manufacturer Carrington Textiles has launched its new Carrington Knowledge Hub, an online platform that aims to serve customers with highly technical textile content that’s shared in an easy to digest style, via a user-friendly site that can be accessed free from anywhere in the world.

The new Knowledge Hub was developed by the textile manufacturer to add value to the customer journey by providing educational support that will help keep the company’s stakeholders engaged and feel more empowered with the variety of industry knowledge on offer.

Highly categorized content in the form of videos, blog pieces, podcasts, white papers, and case studies; as well as the use of state-of-the-art technology, are the main attributes of the new Knowledge Hub, which also features ‘intuitive’ capabilities that understand the content visitors are interested in, so it can recommend similar resources for the user to engage with.

Sales Director Paul Farrell said: “We are proud to deliver our new Carrington Knowledge Hub, a tool that will help us at Carrington Textiles to share the vast understanding we — as a company — have of the complex workwear textiles market in a way that’s not overwhelming, yet remains highly technical, relevant and current.”

This first phase of the site features an easy to navigate menu with a simple yet sleek layout, that can be accessed either through the Carrington Textiles main website, or via the address hub.carrington.co.uk. The next phases will feature more advanced technology on categorization and password-protected content.

Posted: February 28, 2022

Source: Carrington Textiles

Indorama Ventures Reports Record FY2021 Performance As The Global Recovery Drove Volumes

BANGKOK, Thailand — February 28, 2022 — Indorama Ventures Public Co. Ltd. (IVL), a global sustainable chemical producer, today reported a record FY2021 performance as the economic recovery drove demand across the company’s global footprint. The company committed to being an industry leader in sustainability under its new ‘Vision 2030’ strategy.

Aloke Lohia, Indorama Ventures Group CEO, said: “In 2021 we proved the resilience of our global footprint and our integrated portfolio across the polyester value chain. The past two years were an unprecedented period of disruption in which our business model’s robustness and our teams’ agility were tested. Having reset our business plan for the ‘new normal’ era, I have never been more confident in our model, our strategy, and our teams. Under our Vision 2030, IVL is ready to take the next step in our journey as an industry sustainability leader”.

2021 Summary

In 2021, IVL delivered Core EBITDA of US$1,743 million (up 55% YoY) on production volumes of 14.72 MMT (up 7% YoY). Consolidated Revenue increased 38% YoY to US$14,629 million as consumer confidence rebounded and the company’s resilient model benefited from rising inflation, energy price hikes and supply chain shocks.

Macroeconomic tailwinds supported IVL’s performance, including government stimulus packages. In premium western markets, higher freight rates improved the company’s local import parity pricing advantage. In the fourth quarter, the introduction of China’s dual control policy widened polyester margins.

IVL’s largest Combined PET segment posted a 39% increase in Core EBITDA to US$1,103 million in the context of strong demand and low inventories. The resetting of PET contracts in 2022 is expected to capture higher freight rates and the consequent beneficial impact on import parity. The segment is expected to enjoy improved margins in 2022.

Integrated Oxides & Derivatives (IOD) recorded a Core EBITDA of US$377 million, up 228% from a year earlier. With higher oil prices expected to continue into 2022, the segment will continue to benefit from shale gas economics, improving MEG spreads, and upside from Lake Charles (IVOL) ethylene cracker, which resumed operations in late 2021. The Oxiteno acquisition, expected to close in H1 2022, will bring complementary products, green energy innovation, and geographical diversification to the IOD segment.

Fibers segment delivered a 37% increase in Core EBITDA of US$268 million as volumes rose 11%. Margins widened due to tighter markets and a favorable product mix, with setbacks coming from energy and commodity price increases, while the ongoing semiconductor shortage impacted the Mobility vertical.

Mr D K Agarwal, CEO and CFO at Indorama Ventures, said: “The performance was a result of a number of important macroeconomic factors, such as heightened crude oil prices, supply disruptions, and resurgent consumer confidence as vaccinations were rolled out in the pandemic’s second full year. These factors led to improved margins and benefited us as a preferred regional supplier that can react quickly to fulfill our customer needs. Our transformation programs that we started three years ago are also delivering efficiency gains faster than planned. As the world emerges from the pandemic, our increased confidence in IVL’s resilient model sets a strong foundation for further growth through 2024.”

Business Plan 2022-24

At IVL’s annual Capital Markets Day on 10 February 2022, the company announced its three-year business plan to leverage its global footprint, ongoing transformation initiatives, and high levels of integration across the company’s three business segments to drive earnings growth, extract efficiencies, and lift productivity.

IVL will continue to invest in its platform, its people, and strengthen systems to unlock its full potential to contribute to EBITDA growth and deliver our aspirational 15%+ ROCE by 2024. Disciplined capital allocation of about $5 billion of free cash flow will create opportunities to meet stakeholders’ expectations.

Project Olympus, the company’s efficiencies and business transformation project, is tracking ahead of 2023 budget, and the company raised its expectation to more than US$650 million in annual recurring EBITDA gains by 2024.

Vision 2030

IVL outlined its ‘Vision 2030’ ambition to grow organically with sustainability as its priority, guided by its new purpose statement: Reimagining Chemistry Together to Create a Better World. Vision 2030 progresses IVL’s journey towards ‘net zero’.

Under Vision 2030, IVL plans to invest in technology to capture carbon from its operations, increase renewable energy consumption, and phase out coal. It will invest more in PET recycling and introduce bio-based feedstock in about a third of its polyester-based value chain. Additional measures to future-proof the company include developing leaders with a growth mindset and empowering them with the right tools to lead.

Mr Lohia added: “2021 has proven IVL’s innate agility which has always allowed us to take advantage of periods of great change. The pace of disruption is now so much faster than it has ever been. Having reset our business for the ‘new normal’ era, it’s time to also reset our longer-term ambition and become a global industry leader in sustainability. More than 80% of our feedstock is polyester related, which is possible to be bio-renewable or circular. We are confident in our ability to deliver on our aspirational Vision 2030 that grows shareholder value under our purpose of reimagining chemistry together to create a better world.”

Posted: February 28, 2022

Source: Indorama Ventures

Gov. Edwards, Origin Materials Announce $750 Million Sustainable Materials Facility In Ascension Parish, Louisiana — To Produce Plant-Based Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)

BATON ROUGE, La.  — February 16, 2022 — Governor John Bel Edwards and Origin Materials, a carbon-negative materials company committed to leading the global transition to sustainable materials, announced that the company plans an investment of at least $750 million to develop a biomass manufacturing facility in Ascension Parish that will result in 1,057 new direct and indirect jobs.

The plant in Geismar will utilize sustainable wood residue — sourced partly from Louisiana’s timber mills and managed forests — to produce plant-based polyethylene terephthalate (PET) used in packaging, textiles, apparel and other applications. Hydrothermal carbon, which can be used in fuel pellets, also will be produced at the site. Made with renewable feedstocks, Origin’s patented technology platform is designed to reduce the carbon emitted during the production of widely used products ranging from food and beverage containers to parts for the automotive industry.

The project will create 200 new direct jobs with an average annual salary of more than $90,000 plus benefits. Louisiana Economic Development estimates an additional 857 indirect jobs will result in Louisiana’s Capital Region. The company estimates 500 construction jobs will result at the peak of development for the new facility.

“I welcome Origin Materials’ plans for a new facility in Louisiana,” Governor John Bel Edwards said. “Their unique process of developing PET products from renewable wood fibers is yet another example of how the global shift toward sustainability can be a catalyst for economic investment and job creation in our state. The company’s carbon-negative mission aligns with our Climate Action Plan’s approach to limiting the severity of climate change while maintaining economic competitiveness in a low-carbon future.”

The plant will be located on an LED Certified Site — the 150-acre Parks Geismar site in Ascension Parish — signifying that it has been deemed development-ready after an extensive review. The company expects construction to begin in mid-2023 and for the plant to be mechanically completed and operational by mid-2025.

“The demand for ‘net zero’-enabling materials is extremely strong, and we believe this plant will be instrumental in addressing demand for our products in the United States and internationally,” Origin Materials Co-Founder and Co-CEO John Bissell said. “We are grateful for the partnership of Louisiana Economic Development, the Baton Rouge Area Chamber and Ascension Parish for the support they have provided in the site selection process. The local talent is world-class across refining, forestry and agronomy, feedstock logistics and chemicals. The site sits along the Mississippi River with easy access to barge and rail and plentiful local wood residue feedstock. The proposed incentive package for building in the area is compelling and the local industrial cluster can provide access to hydrogen, ethylene, water treatment and more.”

Headquartered in West Sacramento, Calif., Origin Materials was founded in 2008. The company has partnered with leading consumer brands including Danone, Nestlé Waters and PepsiCo in its creation of recyclable, plant-based PET plastic consumer products, as well as Ford Motor Company and global chemical companies. This largest-of-its-kind Geismar-based facility will join the company’s network of locations, including its West Sacramento-based pilot facility and its Ontario, Canada-based production site, which is currently under construction.

“As Ascension Parish transitions toward a greener future, we look forward to welcoming Origin Materials to our business community,” said Ascension Parish President Clint Cointment. “This project is significant in an emerging bio-based chemical market as well as an investment in our local labor force.”

To secure the project, the State of Louisiana is offering Origin Materials a competitive incentive package that includes the services of LED FastStart, ranked the No. 1 statewide workforce development program in the nation for the past 12 years. Additionally, the company would be eligible for a $6 million performance-based award to be paid out over six years, to reimburse site infrastructure costs. The company is also expected to utilize the state’s Quality Jobs and Industrial Tax Exemption programs.

“This project points to a future of transformational changes in the manufacturing of chemicals and plastics,” Baton Rouge Area Chamber President and CEO Adam Knapp said. “Origin Materials’ decision to locate its largest plant-based plastics operation here speaks to our region’s continued advantages for workforce and supply chain, even as technologies change for the future. AEDC and LED have been excellent partners in their work to support the company’s decision to locate in the Capital Region.”

Posted: February 25, 2022

Source: Louisiana Office of the Governor

High-End Furniture Company Serena & Lily To Create 75 Jobs At New Distribution Facility In Rincon, GA

ATLANTA, GA — February 24, 2022 — During his remarks today at the Savannah State of the Port, Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that Serena & Lily, a high-end furniture company, will create 75 jobs as it locates its first East Coast operation in a 1.2-million-square-foot distribution facility in Effingham County.

“Our unmatched logistics infrastructure through air, land, and sea is an asset to any company that chooses to locate here,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “We are home to the nation’s fastest-growing port, and Georgia has established itself as the logistics hub of the Southeast. We are excited Serena & Lily chose Georgia to grow their business, and we look forward to helping them reach markets all over the world.”

Based in Sausalito, Calif., Serena & Lily chose Effingham County for a new $55 million distribution facility located at Georgia International Trade Center on Highway 21 in Rincon. Hiring will begin in February 2022 with additional warehouse associate positions filled by March 2022. Individuals interested in job opportunities at the facility should visit www.serenaandlily.com/careers/careers.html.

“After comprehensive exploration, we believe Effingham County will be an ideal location for Serena & Lily’s first East Coast distribution center, and look forward to partnering with local, county and state authorities to foster the growth of our brand,” said Sean Connelly, Chief Operating Officer of Serena & Lily. “With its proximity to the Port of Savannah and our East Coast customers, this facility will play an integral role in supporting our infrastructure network to shorten lead times and ultimately enhance our customer experience.”

“We are thrilled to have a reputable company like Serena & Lily locate in our community,” said Troy Smith, Chairman of the Effingham County Industrial Development Authority. “We owe a special thanks to our development partners at Chesterfield and Stonemont for helping attract world-class companies to Effingham County.”

“We’re excited to welcome Serena & Lily to the logistics community, and as a customer of Georgia Ports,” said Griff Lynch, Executive Director of the Georgia Ports Authority. “The Port of Savannah’s broad carrier network and landside connectivity will provide the furniture and décor company efficient access to global suppliers and domestic markets.”

The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) was represented by Global Commerce Assistant Director Alyce Thornhill in partnership with the Effingham County Development Authority, Georgia Ports Authority, and Georgia Power.

“When we speak to companies all over the world, the connectivity and service provided by our world-class Georgia ports continues to be a determining factor in their decision,” said Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson. “I am confident that Serena & Lily will find success here as they establish their East Coast operations in Rincon.”

Posted: February 25, 2022

Source: Georgia Office of the Governor

Felix Schoeller Group: Announces Two Personnel Changes To Its Board Of Executives

OSNABRÜCK, Germany— February 25, 2022 — The Felix Schoeller Group announced two personnel changes to its Board of Executives (BoE).

Stephan Igel (CSO EMEA) is leaving the company for personal reasons and at his own request. His successor will not be decided for the time being. Another change took place on January 1, 2022. In his function as Vice CEO APA Yong Li Gao was appointed to the BoE of the globally operating speciality paper manufacturer. He succeeds Peter Cornelißen, who retired at the turn of the year.

Stephan Igel leaves the company

Stephan Igel, chief sales officer Europe Middle East Africa (CSO EMEA) of the Felix Schoeller Group, has left the company for personal reasons and at his own request with immediate effect. Stephan Igel has held several positions within the Group since 1992. Most recently, he has been responsible for the Group’s overall EMEA sales and purchasing as a BoE member since 2020.

“As a member of the management board, Stephan Igel played a significant role in the successful internationalization of the Group and the strategic expansion of our decor business. We thank him extraordinarily for his performance. We regret his leaving and wish him all the best for his personal and professional future,” said Hans-Christoph Gallenkamp, CEO of the Felix Schoeller Group. Stephan Igel’s responsibilities will be reassigned within the management team for the time being.

Peter Cornelißen retired; Yong Li Gao newly appointed to the BoE.

The Felix Schoeller Group has appointed Yong Li Gao as a new member of the BoE starting January 1, 2022. In his role as vice chief executive officer APA (Vice CEO APA), Yong Li Gao has regional responsibility for the company in the Asia Pacific region and specifically China.  Li Gao succeeds Peter Cornelißen on the BoE.

Peter Cornelißen has worked for the global specialty paper manufacturer since 2002. From 2002 to 2017, he was CFO and managing director of the Felix Schoeller Group. In 2018, Peter Cornelißen went to China on behalf of the company to play a key role in setting up the joint venture Winbon Schoeller New Materials Co., Ltd as a member of the Board of Directors (BoD) and in the role of BoD Advisor. After leaving the Felix Schoeller Group’s BoD, Peter Cornelißen will continue to advise and support the further development of the Winbon Schoeller New Materials joint venture until further notice.

53-year-old Yong Li Gao joined the Felix Schoeller Group on September 1, 2020. He initially served as Deputy Vice CEO APA before taking over as Chief Representative in charge of the sales office in Shanghai on 1st January 2021. On 1st April 2021, Yong Li Gao was assigned the role of Vice CEO APA. He was appointed to the BOE of the Felix Scholler Group on 1st January 2022.

“We are very pleased to welcome Yong Li Gao as a new member of the Felix Schoeller Group BoE,” says Hans-Christoph Gallenkamp. “Yong Li Gao has many years of operational and strategic experience in the international industrial environment. His expertise will make a lasting contribution to the expansion of our business activities in Asia and especially in China.”

The Felix Schoeller Group’s BoE now consists of Hans-Christoph Gallenkamp (CEO/CSO), Georg Haggenmüller (COO), Matthias Breimhorst (CFO), Michael Szidat (CEO NA) and Yong Li Gao (CEO APA).

Posted: February 25, 2022

Source: Felix Schoeller Holding GmbH & Co. KG

Culp Inc. Conducts Company-Wide Global Giving Initiative

HIGH POINT, N.C. — February 25, 2022 — In conjunction with Valentine’s Day celebrations, High Point-based textile company, Culp Inc. together with its consolidated subsidiaries, CULP, decided to “Share the Love,” not only with its local High Point community, but also with communities of the company’s facilities around the world. February 1-14, CULP conducted the company’s first-ever global giving initiative, aptly named, “Share the Love.”

The original concept for the giving initiative was to conduct an employee food drive for a local food pantry in High Point, but the idea quickly grew from there. “Originally, we were considering a food drive with the associates at our Cut and Sew facility and our corporate headquarters, both located in High Point,” said Teresa Huffman, senior vice-president of human resources at Culp Inc. “We made a connection last fall with Rockingham Family Charities, and after realizing their food pantry shelves were almost depleted, we knew we could help. So, we decided we would also conduct a food drive at our Stokesdale facility at the same time. Excitement for the idea led to a global initiative to include all of CULP’s worldwide facilities in the Share the Love campaign.”

In preparation for the event, CULP’s facilities in North Carolina, Tennessee, Canada, Haiti, and China sprang into action and identified local organizations they wanted to support. “For our international facilities to participate, we had to consider the cultural norms for each country. We wanted each location to participate in a way that was significant for them,” Huffman explained.

CULP’s U.S. and Canadian locations all donated food to local food banks. Associates from CULP’s China facilities contributed to help cancer patients, and CULP’s associates in Haiti made blankets in house with CULP fabric, and then donated them to a local orphanage and the local police department.

“We always want to support the communities in which we operate,” said Culp Inc. President and CEO Iv Culp. “We are thrilled with the success of our first company-wide giving campaign, and I am extremely proud of our associates around the world for contributing in such a meaningful way.  We look forward to ongoing opportunities to help people in need with this type of global giving initiative.”

Posted: February 25, 2022

Source: Culp Inc.

Gunze Launches TENALEAF™ Absorbable Adhesion Barrier In Japan

OSAKA, Japan — February 23, 2022 — Gunze Ltd. is pleased to announce that it has obtained medical device approval to manufacture and sell TENALEAF™, the first sheet-type absorbable adhesion barrier made in Japan. The company is planning to launch the product in March 2022 through its subsidiary Gunze Medical Japan in the Japanese market.

As the average life expectancy increases, the possibility of undergoing multiple surgeries in one’s lifetime also rises. The use of an absorbable adhesion barrier is expanding to reduce postoperative organ adhesions, which can lead to difficult second and subsequent surgeries. Also, in order to improve the patient’s clinical outcome, laparoscopic surgery has recently been growing.

Gunze developed its absorbable adhesion barrier by applying proprietary absorbable material technology with the goal of providing an innovative solution in this area. This device provides surgeons with a new option during open surgery and minimally invasive surgery, which can enable easy manipulation, provide moderate adhesive strength for repositioning and conformable placement. The company strives to expand its recognition by informing the new product features and benefits to surgeons and their patients.

What are “postoperative organ adhesions”?

They typically occur after surgical intervention, where organs and/or tissue adhere to each other during the tissue remodeling process. It occurs frequently regardless of the surgical procedure, and may cause postoperative complications such as intestinal obstruction and infertility, which may require removal of adhesions in the second or subsequent surgery.

Posted: February 24, 2022

Source: Gunze Ltd.

Neenah Invests In Meltblown Capacity To Meet Increased Demand

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — February 24, 2022 — Neenah Inc. — a global manufacturer of specialty materials focused on filtration media, specialty coatings, engineered materials, and imaging & packaging — announced a 25 million euro investment in new meltblown capacity in its Germany-based filtration facility.

Neenah is committed to accelerating growth in life science and industrial filtration markets. Its portfolio of meltblown products promotes higher filtration efficacy and lower energy usage, which customers value. Neenah’s electrostatically charged NeenahPure® media solutions support HVAC, air pollution control, and air purification systems, delivering market leading efficiencies of more than 99.9 percent.

“Clean air and water are critical to our communities and environment. Meltblown technology effectively removes harmful particles from the air we breathe and the water we drink. This new meltblown line intensifies our innovation efforts and allows us to continue to grow with our customers,” said President and CEO Julie Schertell.

While this investment provides an opportunity for new growth, it also supports the needs of our existing customers. The new meltblown line is expected to be online in mid-2024.

Posted: February 24, 2022

Source: Neenah Inc.

Chargeurs Protective Films Appoints John Turner As Managing Director Of Americas

DAYTON, Ohio — February 23, 2022 — Chargeurs Protective Films (CPF) today announced the appointment of John Turner as managing director of the Americas and a member of the executive committee. An expert in building high-performing teams, Turner will lead all business functions within North and South America in support of Chargeurs’ global growth strategy and will report directly to Etienne Petit, CEO of Chargeurs Protective Films.

“I’m happy to welcome John to our Chargeurs Protective Films Executive Committee as the new head of our Americas business,” Petit said. “His professional experience along with his strong performance management and leadership skills will help drive growth for the business. All the best to John in this exciting new role.”

Turner joined the Chargeurs Protective Films division of Chargeurs Group in 2018 as the commercial director for Novacel Performance Coatings Inc. (NPC) After just a year, he was promoted to general manager. Under his leadership, Turner reshaped the commercial strategy for NPC while launching a disciplined innovation process for new product development that has fueled double-digit growth since his appointment.

Prior to joining CPF, John spent nearly a decade at Avery Dennison where he held various leadership roles in operations and supply chain management. Most recently, he managed Avery Dennison’s global supply chain for heat transfer label and paper product lines with a total revenue responsibility of more than $600 million.

Turner holds a BS in Business Administration with a concentration in Supply Chain Management and International Business from the Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee.

“Chargeurs Protective Films continues to lead the temporary surface protection market through sustainable product innovation that consistently delivers high performance products for our customers,” said Turner. “As the new Managing Director for the Americas, I look forward to working with our exceptional team to execute our growth strategy over the coming years while delivering great value to our customers and shareholders.”

Posted: February 24, 2022

Source: Chargeurs Protective Films (CPF)

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