Viably Vibrant

Each Delos rug in the Technicolor Collection, such as this Mantra style, is made using Aquafil’s ECONYL® solution-dyed nylon.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of its ECONYL® nylon, Aquafil partnered with Delos to create the Technicolor Collection of rugs.

By Rachael S. Davis, Executive Editor

ECONYL® regenerated nylon fiber recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. For more than 57 years, Italy-based Aquafil S.p.A. has specialized in nylon 6 production, but the company’s desire to produce more sustainable products led to research and development efforts that culminated in the introduction of ECONYL nylon a decade ago. The polymer is manufactured using a closed-loop nylon regeneration process to repurpose nylon waste such as old carpet and fishing nets. According to the company, the process creates a nylon that offers the same properties as a virgin, fossil fuels-based product. ECONYL also can be recycled and reimagined over-and-over again.

For every 10,000 tons of ECONYL raw material, Aquafil is able to save 70,000 barrels of crude oil and avoid 65,100 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. Aquafil also has decreased total greenhouse gas emissions by 58 percent compared to 2016.

More than 2,000 brands — including Gucci, Prada, adidas, Speedo, Interface, BMW and Mercedes Benz — specify ECONYL nylon for a host of fashion, interior and automotive products.

To celebrate the ECONYL’s 10th anniversary, Calhoun, Ga.-based Delos Inc. recently introduced the Technicolor Collection — a line of trend-forward tufted and hand-carved rugs featuring 16 designs. The Technicolor name was inspired by the vivid, high-saturation color of Technicolor film and television, and 1950s pop art. Color combinations are almost endless with more than 177 ECONYL colors to choose from, and the fiber is solution-dyed to ensure long-lasting color and commercially rated stain-free properties. The fiber also is bleach and wear resistant. Delos is a family-owned business established in 2005. Its rugs are made in America using state-of-the-art robotic tufting technology, and then hand finished by local craftspeople.

“Sustainability drives our processes at Delos,” said Ivan Phillips, co-owner. “We are committed to doing our absolute best to serve our clients and our planet. It’s the best of both worlds.”

The Delos Technicolor Collection debuted at NeoCon late last year. “We [were] excited to feature the latest designs made with ECONYL at NeoCon in Chicago …” noted Giulio Bonazzi, chairman and CEO, Aquafil Group. “We’re so proud that we have been able to move the industry toward more sustainable practices over the last decade, while continuing to work with our partners to make beautiful products.”

For more information about ECONYL®, visit econyl.com. For more information about Delos and the Technicolor Collection, visit thedeloscompany.com.

January/February 2022

Bast Fibre Technologies Completes Acquisition Of Lumberton Cellulose From Georgia-Pacific

VICTORIA, British Columbia — February 17, 2022 — Bast Fibre Technologies Inc. (BFT), a manufacturer of premium natural fibers, has completed its purchase of Georgia-Pacific’s Lumberton Cellulose LLC. The Lumberton, N.C., site is a highly automated state-of-the-art manufacturing facility with approximately 25 employees that will now operate under the new name of BFT Lumberton.

BFT plans to significantly expand capacity to over 30,000 metric tons per year, establishing BFT Lumberton as one of the largest fully integrated natural fibre processing parks in North America.

“As changes in consumer preferences and single-use plastics legislation drive demand for alternatives to synthetic fibers, consumer brand companies are seeking to manufacture products using fiber with minimal ecological impacts,” said BFT President Jim Posa. “The BFT Lumberton plant will produce all-natural, clean, soft, compostable fibers that are capable of displacing synthetics fibers in many nonwoven and textile applications and will bring valuable cleantech sector jobs to the local community.”

“We are very pleased to have a natural fiber supplier and INDA member bringing additional investment into the nonwovens industry and to North Carolina where we reside,” says Dave Rousse, president of the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA). “We wish BFT all the best with their plans in Lumberton.”

“BFT’s acquisition of the Lumberton facility is great news for the rapidly expanding North American hemp industry,” says Patrick Atagi, president and CEO of the National Industrial Hemp Council. “We’ve seen tremendous growth in demand for industrial hemp products made from the hemp stalk, particularly in construction and animal bedding. This facility provides confidence to domestic hemp growers and processors that there’s a reliable market for hemp fibers and a viable path towards whole-plant utilization.”

In addition to the planned capacity increase, the acquisition of the Lumberton facility diversifies BFT’s natural fiber offerings allowing entry into complementary product categories for cosmetic cotton, filtration, hygiene, and other nonwoven applications.

Lumberton Plant Manager Chuck Oxendine will continue in his role of overseeing the facility. “BFT’s commitment to natural fiber innovation meshes perfectly with our extensive technical production experience here at Lumberton,” Oxendine said. “With the acquisition complete, we will continue to provide excellent service to our current customers and begin work on the site expansion to build new bast fiber manufacturing capacity.”

“We are extremely pleased to have completed this acquisition and to establish Lumberton as our North American center of excellence,” said Noel Hall, BFT’s CEO and executive chair. “We look forward to working with the highly skilled team at BFT Lumberton as we move towards becoming a leader in the global production of truly sustainable natural fibers.”

Posted: February 17, 2022

Source: Bast Fibre Technologies Inc. (BFT)

Scott Burnett And Thomas Kobrak Bolster Baldwin’s Realigned, Customer-Centric Americas Sales Teams

ST. LOUIS — February 16, 2022 — Baldwin Technology Co. Inc. is pleased to announce that sales professionals Scott Burnett and Thomas Kobrak have joined the organization. Baldwin recently realigned its sales teams to provide a single regional point of contact for printing and packaging industry customers, optimizing service and simplifying access to the company’s process-improvement and consumables technologies, as well as access to technical experts.

Burnett is now serving as Baldwin’s regional sales manager for the west-central region. He is responsible for driving sales growth with print and packaging customers in Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming. His experience within the industry and the knowledge he gained from previously being a Baldwin customer at Cedar Graphics in Iowa uniquely position him to understand customers’ needs and share the value of Baldwin’s products.

“I am eager to build relationships with customers by articulating appropriate technology to enhance their throughput, efficiency and quality,” Burnett said. “By understanding clients’ needs and improvement goals, and partnering with them via Baldwin’s offerings, I will help them grow their businesses.”

In addition, Kobrak is now serving as Baldwin’s regional sales manager for the West Coast region. He is responsible for driving sales growth with print and packaging customers in Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and western Canada. Most recently, he was a sales representative for global film manufacturer Multi-Plastics.

“I look forward to contributing to the success of the Baldwin team,” Kobrak said. “I’m excited to build on my existing relationships within the print and packaging industries, and thrilled by the opportunity to serve new customers throughout my territory. I can’t wait to work with them and add value to their businesses by helping them exceed production goals via the Baldwin portfolio of products.”

Baldwin offers a range of process-improvement technology for the printing and packaging industries including cleaning, drying and spray automation systems; 100-percent defect-detection; register- and color-control solutions; LED, UV and IR systems; and corona surface treatment and rotary spray solutions. Baldwin’s Industry 4.0 platform, AMP IoT (Internet of Things), quickly connects the data from machines, accessories, management information systems and workflows to obtain a holistic view of production and overall equipment effectiveness, regardless of make, model or vintage of the assets.

Baldwin’s prior sales structure was built around its product lines. With the October 2021 realignment, the sales leaders for the Americas cover smaller regional geographies, and regional teams have access to the full Baldwin portfolio of equipment, consumables and service products. In addition to having one regional point of contact, Baldwin customers benefit from an expert U.S.-based service and support team, and aftermarket, consumables and upgrade programs. Craig Black leads Baldwin’s restructured sales teams as vice president of sales, Americas.

Said Black: “Through the organizational changes we made in October, our team is able to spend more time with our customers, better understand their changing needs and share our solutions, as we help provide value across their entire production process.”

Posted: February 17, 2022

Source: Baldwin Technology Co. Inc.

ANDRITZ To Supply Four Needlepunch Lines To Yanpai Filtration Technology Co., China

GRAZ, Austria — February 17, 2022 — International technology group ANDRITZ has received an order from Yanpai Filtration Technology Co., Ltd. (YANPAI®), China, to supply four needlepunch lines to its site in Tiantai. Start-up of the lines is planned from the third quarter of 2022 to the third quarter of 2023.

Andritz will deliver customized needlepunch lines for production of high-quality needlepunch filter felts. The lines will enable YANPAI to achieve state-of-the-art technical characteristics in terms of product quality and line performance. The drylaid web-forming equipment (cards and crosslappers) will be manufactured at the Andritz Wuxi premises, including 8 PRO 25-80 aXcess profile crosslappers for controlled web weight evenness. The 16 eXcelle needlelooms will be supplied by Andritz Asselin-Thibeau in France.

The proven Andritz needlepunch lines will ensure high output and also minimize the downtime required. This order once again shows the strong market position of Andritz’s aXcess and eXcelle equipment, which enable customized solutions to perfectly suit producers’ needs.

YANPAI is a China-based producers of nonwoven filters for dust and air treatment and for woven filter fabrics used in solid/liquid separation. Established in 1990, YANPAI was at the forefront in the development of new industrial filtration fabrics. Today, YANPAI is a company with facilities in China and the United States.

Posted: February 17, 2022

Source: ANDRITZ AG

INDA Appoints Jen Greenamoyer As New Director Of Government Affairs

Greenamoyer

CARY, N.C. — February 17, 2022 — INDA, The Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, has named experienced policy advocate Jennifer “Jen” Greenamoyer as its new director of Government Affairs to raise the association’s profile in Washington, D.C. She brings 25 years of experience at associations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and on Capitol Hill.

Most recently, she was senior government relations liaison and the principal lobbyist at the American Institute of Physics (AIP) for 15 years, where she represented the association to Congress and lobbied for appropriations. Greenamoyer has strong expertise in science policy and education that will enhance her role as an information resource for INDA members, staff, and others on government affairs’ matters affecting the industry.

She began her career working at the EPA in the Office of Water and then the Office of Policy. Greenamoyer also trained EPA staff on regulation development and worked on small business regulatory relief. On Capitol Hill, Greenamoyer worked as professional staff for the House Committee on Small Business where she specialized in regulations about environmental and labor issues.

As Director of External Affairs for the Sea Grant Association, she secured annual appropriations, monitored legislative developments, and represented the association to federal agencies and the Administration on issues of interest, funding opportunities and joint programs.

At INDA, she will serve as the liaison between the industry and government legislative and regulatory bodies by preparing formal submissions to the federal government articulating industry positions, and representing INDA on the Industry Trade Advisory Committee for Textiles and Apparel (ITAC 13) among other responsibilities in this key position.

“With her excellent experience and capabilities, Jen will be a great asset to INDA’s members by advocating on issues that directly impact our members and raising INDA’s profile with policymakers and government and business organizations in Washington, D.C.,” said Dave Rousse, INDA President. “She will play a critical role in supporting INDA’s new strategic plan that includes advocating for the nonwovens industry in public policy forums and achieving industry relevance among key stakeholders.”

“I am excited about this new opportunity to join INDA to be part of bolder and more strategic advocacy efforts for the nonwovens industry,” Greenamoyer said.

Greenamoyer holds Master’s degrees in Marine Affairs and Oceanography, both from the University of Rhode Island, and a Bachelor’s in Marine Science from Stockton College of New Jersey.

She begins her role Feb. 22 and looks forward to meeting industry professionals at the upcoming IDEA® and FiltXPO™ events, March 28-31, at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Greenamoyer succeeds Jessica Franken in this role after a brief overlap.

Posted: February 17, 2022

Source: INDA, The Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry

Orion Engineered Carbons Appoints Jeffrey Glajch As CFO

Jeffrey Glajch

HOUSTON — February 16, 2022 — Orion Engineered Carbons, a global supplier of specialty and high-performance carbon black, announced today that Jeffrey Glajch accepted the role of CFO for Orion with a planned joining date of April 18, 2022.

Glajch will succeed Bob Hrivnak, who currently serves in the dual role of interim CFO and chief accounting officer. Hrivnak will continue as chief accounting officer.

Glajch has more than 30 years of experience leading corporate finance and accounting control functions for both public and private companies. He joins Orion from Graham Corporation, a designer and manufacturer of vacuum and heat transfer equipment for energy markets and process industries, where he has served as CFO for the past 13 years. In this role, Glajch led all aspects of finance, business development, investor relations, risk management, legal, information technology and human resources. Prior to Graham Corp., he held senior financial roles at a number of companies.

Glajch holds an MBA from Purdue University, a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Clarkson University and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Carnegie-Mellon University.

“Jeff is a seasoned leader with a demonstrated track record of driving company growth and providing strong strategic financial leadership,” Orion’s CEO Corning Painter said. “We are excited about the experience he brings and look forward to him joining the Orion leadership team. We would also like to extend our thanks and appreciation to Bob, who as our interim CFO has ensured a seamless transition. We look forward to Jeff and Bob working together to further strengthen our excellent finance organization.”

Posted: February 15, 2022

Source: Orion Engineered Carbons

United States Cargo Shipping Arm Of Mediterranean Shipping Co., MSC USA, Expanding Operations In South Carolina

COLUMBIA, S.C. — February 10, 2022 — MSC USA, the United States cargo shipping arm of MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), today announced plans to expand its Charleston County operations. The company will invest more than $13.7 million and create 135 new jobs, expanding its local footprint to a total of more than 500 employees.

Located at 700 Watermark Boulevard in Mount Pleasant, MSC is adding 25,000 square feet adjacent to the existing building and relocating corporate functions from its northeastern headquarters to complement the expansion locally.

Founded in 1970 and headquartered in Switzerland, MSC has 524 offices across 155 countries with over 100,000 employees worldwide. MSC USA opened in 1985 and has been serving the U.S. market for over 35 years. With access to an integrated network of road, rail and sea transport resources which stretches across the globe, MSC’s shipping line sails on more than 230 trade routes, calling at over 500 ports.

The expansion is expected to be complete in 2023. Individuals interested in joining the MSC USA team should visit the company’s careers page.

The Coordinating Council for Economic Development has approved job development credits related to the project. The council also awarded Charleston County a $1.2 million Set-Aside grant to assist with the costs of site preparation and building construction.

“Our Mount Pleasant branch, like many other MSC USA branches in the United States, is set to grow exponentially,” noted MSC USA President and CEO Fabio Santucci. “The decision to expand in the region is a testament to Charleston County’s exceptional talent and resources. We would like to thank Charleston County Economic Development, alongside the state of South Carolina, its Governor and the mayor of Mount Pleasant for their community and business-friendly policies, which have made it possible for MSC USA to grow and flourish locally. We’re excited about the opportunity of drawing more talent to Mount Pleasant by continuing to invest in our workforce there.”

“When a world-class company like MSC USA expands its footprint in South Carolina, it further proves to the world that South Carolina’s ports offer companies unparalleled global connectivity,” said Governor Henry McMaster. “We congratulate MSC USA’s continued growth in Charleston County, and we look forward to many more years of their continued success.”

“South Carolina has earned a reputation as a place that excels at making a variety of complex products,” said Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III. “And, a critical factor in boasting a diversified, successful economy is the ability to efficiently and effectively transport products. MSC USA’s latest expansion is yet another testament that our state has the business climate and logistics capabilities companies are seeking.”

“MSC USA has been operating in Charleston for almost three decades, and their economic impact on our community is profound,” said Charleston County Council Chairman Teddie Pryor. “The addition of new capabilities at their Mount Pleasant headquarters signals another vote of confidence by MSC in the Port, our skilled workforce and the sound fundamentals of the Charleston region’s business climate.”

“South Carolina Ports congratulates MSC on their growth from humble beginnings to this year becoming the largest container line in the world,” said SC Ports President and CEO Jim Newsome. “We are proud to play a small, but growing, part in that great success story. MSC is a longtime partner of ours in facilitating international trade. As a top 10 U.S. container port, South Carolina Ports looks forward to continued success and growth with MSC.”

Posted: February 15, 2022

Source: South Carolina Office of the Governor

Cabot Corp. Breaks Ground On Specialty Compounds Facility In Indonesia

BOSTON — February 15, 2022 — Cabot Corp. announced the groundbreaking of a new specialty compounds facility in Cilegon, Indonesia. The new facility is co-located with Cabot’s existing carbon black manufacturing site and will add 20,000 metric tons of annual global capacity for specialty compounds, including black masterbatch and conductive compounds. It is expected that the facility will be operational at the end of 2022.

The new capacity will provide a reliable, local supply to support the increasing need for specialty compounds in the rapidly growing masterbatch and conductive compounds market in Southeast Asia and globally. This demand is driven by economic growth in the region as well as the evolving mobility landscape, increases in sustainable infrastructure developments and a rise in the production of electrical devices to support global connectivity needs.

The specialty compounds facility will incorporate Cabot’s latest technology advances into the plant design and operations. Additionally, being co-located with Cabot’s existing carbon black facility will enable Cabot to utilize integrated site economics through manufacturing efficiencies and reduced waste, including the use of recovered waste-heat energy from the carbon black facility. This will reduce the environmental impact of the project in alignment with Cabot’s recently announced ambition to achieve net zero carbon emissions globally by 2050.

“As a global leader in black masterbatch and conductive compounds, we are pleased to break ground on this new facility to expand our global reach and better serve our customers in the region and around the world,” said Aaron Johnson, senior vice president and president, Formulated Solutions. “This new facility will enable us to meet the growing needs of our customers for innovative solutions that improve performance of their products and support their sustainability needs. Furthermore, we are proud that this facility will incorporate state-of-the-art technologies and energy reuse to help us achieve our sustainability goals and net zero ambitions.”

“For more than 30 years, we have developed a strong presence in Indonesia with our carbon black facility and the support and partnership of the Indonesian government. We are excited to expand our footprint in the Cilegon community with our new masterbatch plant and continue to contribute to the economic development in Indonesia,” said Dixy Olyviardy, managing director, Cabot Asia Pacific South and president, Cabot Indonesia. “This investment is a testament to our ongoing commitment to deliver innovative and high-quality products that support the needs of our customers and address the key sustainability challenges of today’s world.”

Posted: February 15, 2022

Source: Cabot Corp.

The LYCRA Co. Launches LYCRA® DUAL COMFORT Technology For Ready-To-Wear & Wovens

WILMINGTON, Del. — February 15, 2022 — The LYCRA Co., a global developer of innovative fiber and technology solutions for the textile and apparel industry, announced today the launch of LYCRA® DUAL COMFORT technology for ready-to-wear (RTW) and wovens. The company’s latest innovation will help transform these garment categories by providing functional performance benefits with the sustainable features that today’s consumers desire.

LYCRA® DUAL COMFORT technology is unique in that it combines comfortable stretch and cooling comfort with long-lasting shape retention. The key to LYCRA® DUAL COMFORT technology is the new LYCRA® T400® A EcoMade fiber. Created with a proprietary process, the new fiber delivers the texture and appearance of a spun yarn, offering low-impact, comfortable and versatile garments with thermal comfort.

Consumers will appreciate the key benefits that LYCRA® DUAL COMFORT technology can bring to their garment wearing experience:

  • All-day comfort: garments move with the wearer and hold their shape throughout the day;
  • Cooling comfort: this technology helps keep the wearer cool and dry; and
  • Sustainability: LYCRA® T400® A EcoMade fiber contains both recycled and renewable content for reduced impact vs. virgin fibers.

LYCRA® DUAL COMFORT technology is the perfect solution for the emerging ‘new utility’ trend that blends rugged performance with tailored elegance and is designed to cater to the needs of cross-segment apparel categories – workleisure or outleisure. “Now that we’ve experienced all-day comfort, we expect versatile clothes made from sustainable fabrics that provide the freedom to embrace a casual, comfortable lifestyle,” said Ebru Ozaydin, strategic marketing director at The LYCRA Company. “Fabrics which offer versatile solutions can take the consumer from working hybrid to running daily errands or just a stroll in the park. The term ‘new utility’ has become a buzzword for defining lightweight apparel, combining everyday practicality and urban elegance using low-impact materials.”

LYCRA® DUAL COMFORT technology is only available from mills licensed by The LYCRA Company.

Posted: February 15, 2022

Source: The LYCRA Company

Bemis Associates Announces Major Investment In Novoloop

SHIRLEY, Mass. — February 15, 2022 — Bemis Associates fundamentally believes it is its corporate responsibility to commit to environmental sustainability by measuring and reducing all scopes of emissions across global operations. One approach, which it believes is critical to achieving their reduction targets, is through participating in both the funding and R&D of new sustainable technologies. As these technologies grow and scale, they will be integrated into the product line, allowing Bemis to decarbonize their supply chain and provide customers with innovative sustainable solutions.

Bemis’s investment in Novoloop is part of Novoloop’s Series A financing. In addition, Bemis is also actively engaging in joint development projects with relevant firms to help increase the speed and scale of rolling out new sustainable products and technologies. By strategically investing in environmentally focused technologies, Bemis will continue to solidify its position as a leader in sustainability and to offer a variety of environmentally friendly products to the market. These efforts will help Bemis move farther away from relying on virgin petroleum-based inputs and will enable Bemis to be first to market with new advancements. Bemis has a long history of identifying strategic partnerships, new products, and industry opportunities to sustain growth and longevity. This exciting new partnership with advanced upcycling startup, Novoloop is just one more example.

Novoloop has been a pioneer in the chemical transformation of plastic waste into high-performance chemicals and materials since 2015. The company’s proprietary process technology, ATOD™ (Accelerated Thermal Oxidative Decomposition), breaks down polyethylene into chemical building blocks that can be synthesized into high-value products. Polyethylene is the most widely used plastic today yet only 9 percent is recycled and virtually none is upcycled.

Novoloop’s technology can upcycle carbon content found in common plastic waste like grocery bags, packaging, and agricultural plastics that is too low value for material recovery facilities to bale and sell. Instead, the plastics are deposited into landfills or incinerators. Novoloop’s ATOD technology aims to increase commercial demand for waste polyethylene.

The first product based on Novoloop’s ATOD process is Oistre™ (OYST-rah), a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) for use in high-performance applications such as footwear, apparel, sporting goods, automotive, and electronics. Oistre is the first TPU made from post-consumer polyethylene waste that matches the performance characteristics of virgin TPUs made from petrochemicals. At the same time, based on initial screening life-cycle analysis, Oistre’s carbon footprint could be up to 46-percent smaller than conventional TPUs. Together, the companies will introduce Oistre into the Bemis product portfolio as a first step to replace virgin petroleum-based thermoplastic polyurethane.

Novoloop’s technology offers an opportunity for a significant impact. Not only would scaling Novoloop’s technology throughout the Bemis value chain have a meaningful reduction in carbon footprint, it would also mean that a previous source of waste would be diverted from landfill and upcycled into a more sustainable Bemis product.

Posted: February 15, 2022

Source: Bemis Associates Inc

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