Gartex Texprocess India’s New Delhi Edition To Be Bigger Than Ever With More Than 200 Exhibitors Confirmed

NEW DELHI — July 28, 2022 — With participation of over 200 companies, Gartex Texprocess India is gearing up for a power-packed edition in New Delhi. The recently announced association with FABEXA will bring fabric manufacturers and suppliers from Gujarat on the show floor to deliver a strong push to the region’s textile and apparel sector.

Following the success of its first-ever Mumbai edition earlier this May, Gartex Texprocess India — a platform for garment and textile machinery, fabrics, accessories, and allied industries — is ready to open the curtains in New Delhi at Pragati Maidan from August 4-6, 2022.

Affirming strong support and recognizing the potential impact of Gartex Texprocess India, Shri Upendra Prasad Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, stated: “lndia is one of the prominent textiles and clothing producing countries in the world. Domestically, it is the second largest employment providing sector and accounts for 11.4% of lndia’s global merchandise exports during 2020 – 21 and holds a 4% share on the global trade in textiles and apparel. Gartex Texprocess India New Delhi will not only provide opportunities to overseas buyers to source their requirements but also provide a platform to domestic exporters, especially SMEs for expanding their export potential.”

Collocated alongside Denim Show, Fabrics & Trims Show and Screen Print India, the three-day show will converge more than 200 companies to create an extensive display of manufacturing technologies and finished products.

Top textile and apparel machine manufacturing brands such as: Aura, Fabcare, Jaysynth Dyestuff, Wenli, Baba Textile Machinery, Orange-O-Tec and Jack have confirmed their participation at Gartex Texprocess India, while the Denim Show unite leading denim producers of India such as: Jindal Worldwide Ltd, Arvind Ltd, Raymond UCO Denim Ltd, LNJ Denim, Siyaram Silk Mills Ltd,Kanchan Group and many more under its wing.

Meanwhile, Screen Print India will showcase manufacturing technologies for textile, digital and screen printing from brands such as DCC Print Vision LLP, JN Arora, Konica Minolta, Epson and Green Printing Solutions, among others.

With an aim to promote localization in the fabrics’ sector, organizers Messe Frankfurt India and MEX Exhibitions Pvt Ltd have joined hands with FABEXA, an arm of Ahmedabad’s nodal textile trade body Maskati Cloth Market Mahajan for the Fabrics & Trims Show. The FABEXA pavilion will host around 70 fabric manufacturers from Gujarat to demonstrate their expertise in fabric, cotton and natural based fabrics, including: Nakoda Fashion Pvt Ltd, Shashwat Textiles Pvt Ltd, Bhavna Processors Pvt Ltd, Viru Textile Mills Pvt Ltd, Panam Texfab Pvt Ltd and Shree Chamunda Fabrics. The trade fair will also welcome about 300 fabrics sourcing representatives as hosted buyers over the span of three-days.

As a highly-recognized industry exhibition, Gartex Texprocess India New Delhi 2022 is backed by the support of Ministry of Textiles as well as chief industry associations and trade bodies, comprising: The Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI), Denim Manufacturers Association (DMA), Maskati Cloth Mahajan, Retailers Association of India (RAI) and the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC).

Entering its seventh edition, Gartex Texprocess India will provide industry buyers an excellent platform to source the latest manufacturing machinery and behold the progress taking place in textile, garment production, screen printing and other allied sectors.

Posted: August 1, 2022

Source: Messe Frankfurt Trade Fairs India Pvt Ltd.

Cosmo Speciality Chemicals Appoints Sunil Vaidya Sales Head

Vaidya

NEW DELHI — July 28, 2022 — Cosmo Speciality Chemicals, a 100-percent subsidiary of Cosmo First Ltd., today announced the appointment of Sunil Vaidya as head sales – Textile Division. In his new role, Vaidya will be responsible for driving sales and development for Cosmo Speciality Chemicals nationally. He will report to Anil Gaikwad, business head, Cosmo Speciality Chemicals.

Vaidya comes to Cosmo Speciality Chemicals with more than 30 years of experience in sales and marketing, business development and strategic planning. He has in depth understanding of Textile Dyes & Chemicals industry and would capitalize his expertise to drive sales for the specialty chemicals business.

On the announcement, Pankaj Poddar, Group CEO, said, “With more than three decades long career in the textile industry, Sunil has knowledge and expertise across various domains of sales, development, and strategic planning.  I am delighted to welcome Sunil as part of Cosmo’s Team and confident that his addition would be instrumental in accelerating sales and powering growth for our speciality chemicals business in the textiles industry and beyond.”

Commenting on his new role, Vaidya said: “Within a few years, Cosmo Speciality Chemicals – Textile division has launched multiple products and built credibility across industry which can be witnessed by its phenomenal growth. I am thankful that the leadership has entrusted me with the responsibility of driving growth via sales for speciality chemicals business across markets. I look forward to leveraging expertise and R&D capabilities of the team to help unlock new market opportunities.”

Posted: August 1, 2022

Source: Cosmo Speciality Chemicals

Industry Continues To Grow Sustainable Practices

By Jim Phillips, Yarn Market Editor

The U.S. textile industry continues to make considerable strides in sustainable manufacturing.

For example, American & Efird — and its subsequent parent company, Elevate Textiles — has been establishing sustainability goals and publishing reports quantifying how it is achieving those standards for more than half a decade. Unifi, with its REPREVE® line of products, has also taken its place among the global leaders in environmentally friendly manufacturing methods and technology. Glen Raven published its first sustainability report in 2021. And more and more companies are joining the ranks.

“Many in the textile arena — the fiber producers, the yarn makers, the weavers, knitters, dyers and finishers — have achieved some remarkable results in what could be considered a relatively short period of time,” said one university ecology professor. “You used to think of textiles as a ‘dirty’ industry, one that left the air and water polluted. It was not uncommon at all to see once-beautiful rivers near a dyehouse be a different color every day, with no life-sustaining properties. You don’t see that today. Certainly, a bit of that is attributable to regulation, but much of it has been because of the efforts of environmentally responsible companies. Some other industries are following this lead, and, unfortunately, some are still lagging behind.”

U.S. Cotton Trust Approved As International Sustainability Standard

In addition to individual companies, entire segments of the industry are also making considerable headway in sustainability endeavors.

For example, The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol has been approved as a standard for sustainable cotton by Siegelklarheit, an initiative of the German Federal Government. By helping consumers to better understand environmental and social labels, Siegelklarheit wants to contribute to more sustainable purchasing decisions. U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol successfully passed Siegelklarheit´s assessment system. As a result, members of the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles (PST) can use the Trust Protocol as another standard to calculate their share of sustainable cotton.

The Trust Protocol is the only system that provides quantifiable, verifiable goals and measurement and drives continuous improvement in six key sustainability metrics — land use, soil carbon, water management, soil loss, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy efficiency. It is also the world’s first sustainable cotton fiber system to offer its members article-level supply chain transparency through the Protocol Consumption Management Solution.

“The Trust Protocol’s vision is to set a new standard in sustainable cotton production where full transparency is a reality and continuous improvement to reduce our environmental footprint is the central goal,” said Dr. Gary Adams, president of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol. “We commit to ensuring the protection and preservation of the planet, using the most sustainable and responsible techniques.”

Launched in 2020, the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol was designed to set a new standard in more sustainably grown cotton, ensuring that it contributes to the protection and preservation of the planet, using the most sustainable and responsible techniques.

U.S./Australian Consortium Successfully Diverts Cotton Waste

A 12-month trial on a cotton farm just outside the rural town of Goondiwindi, Queensland, Australia, has shown it is possible to divert large amounts of cotton textile waste at end of life from landfills to cotton fields with no harm done to soil health or cotton yields, according to Cotton Leads, a consortium of the U.S. and Australian cotton industries. Project collaborators are confident that with a solid business plan and more research, returning shredded cotton products to cotton fields could soon offer benefits to soil health, as well as a scalable solution to the massive global problem of textile waste.

“At the very least the trial showed that no harm was done to soil health, with microbial activity slightly increased and at least 2,070kg of Carbon Dioxide equivalents (CO2e) mitigated through the breakdown of these garments in soil rather than landfill,” said Dr. Oliver Knox, cotton-industry-supported soil scientist said. “The trial diverted around two tons of textile waste from landfills with no negative impact on cotton planting, emergence, growth or harvest. Soil carbon levels remained stable, and the soil’s bugs responded well to the added cotton material.”

He continued: “There also appeared to be no adverse effect from dyes and finishes, although more testing is needed on a wider range of chemicals to be absolutely sure of that.”

According to a farmer involved in the testing, the cotton fields easily “swallowed up” the shredded cotton material, giving him confidence that this composting method has practical long-term potential. “We spread the cotton textile waste a few months before cotton planting in June 2021 and by January and the middle of the season the cotton waste had all but disappeared, even at the rate of 50 tons to the hectare,” he said.

July 2022

Textile Activity At A Glance: July 2022

July 2022

Thanh Cong Realizes Efficiency Increase, Savings With Coats Digital’s GSDCost

The award-winning sportswear and knitwear manufacturer also benefited from an increase in orders; a significant reduction in overtime hours and material waste; and a happier workforce, with the introduction of scientifically assessed fair and achievable performance incentives

TW Special Report

Coats Digital is delighted to announce that following the implementation of Coats Digital’s GSDCost, award-winning sportswear and knitwear manufacturer, Thanh Cong Textile Garment Investment Trading JSC has realised a 14 percent efficiency increase and saved thousands of dollars with each manufacturing production run, due to more accurate and transparent costing and capacity forecasting. By establishing international standard time benchmarks, based on accurate Standard Minute Values (SMVs), the company also enjoyed an increase in orders, a significant reduction in overtime hours and material waste, and increased transparency around its labor costs to support an achievable performance incentive program.

Located in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, sportswear and knitwear manufacturer Thanh Cong Textile Garment Investment Trading JSC offers a fully integrated vertical production system of spinning, weaving, knitting and dyeing garment production. Since its inception in 1979, the company has achieved steady growth, and now boasts an annual turnover of over $130,000,000. Customers include CSW, Adidas, New Balance, Eddie Bauer, SanMar, Kohl’s and JCP, and it is listed as one of Vietnam’s Top 500 largest enterprises. Thanh Cong has additionally won a variety of awards, such as: Eddie Bauer’s Product Quality and On-Time Delivery Award; JC Penney’s Operational Excellence Award and a Gold Brand Certificate Award from Ho Chi Minh City.

Prior to implementing Coats Digital’s SaaS-based cost optimization solution, GSDCost, Thanh Cong based its cost and capacity forecasts on inaccurate historical data stored in multiple Excel spreadsheets which were notoriously difficult to update in real-time across all costing, capacity planning and manufacturing teams. As a result of inaccurate standard minute values (SMVs) regarding CM (Cost to Make) production times, and poor costing and planning visibility, Thanh Cong suffered low efficiency rates, high defect rates and late deliveries, which often resulted in additional air shipment costs and an unnecessary amount of material and people-hour wastage.

With rising CM costs in both labor and raw materials and a high variation in production quality, due to time studies based purely on historical experiences, Thanh Cong needed a standardized solution that would accurately record SMVs through effective, standard motion digitized codes so it could optimize its costing processes, significantly enhance global manufacturing efficiencies and ultimately ensure it remained profitable in a highly volatile industry environment.

Following the implementation of GSDCost, Thanh Cong was able to establish international standard time benchmarks based on standard motion codes and predetermined times. This enabled the sales, costing, planning and manufacturing teams to communicate efficiently using the same language, based on a scientific method for correctly analyzing manufacturing costs.

As a result, business units could confidently and fairly negotiate product prices with customers, and a more succinct single view of overall CM costs enabled Thanh Cong to realise a production efficiency increase of 13.82 percent.

Tran Thanh Bang, Thanh Cong Smart Factory team leader, said: “GSDCost is the only globally recognised international method-time-cost standard to successfully achieve cost optimisation and sustainable improvements to productivity. We certainly have not been disappointed. Coats Digital’s latest SaaS version of GSDCost has enabled us to not only increase our overall efficiencies by a staggering 14 percent, but has very positively impacted our bottom line, by saving us over $12,000 in costs per 22,000-piece production run.”

In a nutshell, because capacity planning and material requirements were based on real forecasts, Thanh Cong not only benefited from reduced overtime staff costs and material wastage, but also avoided having to pay extra high shipping and air-freight charges, as orders were significantly less likely to be delayed. Thanh Cong reports that it is now saving over $12,000 on a 22,000-piece order, as a result of higher efficiency cost planning, and the absence of emergency costs, previously required to deliver orders on time.

An open and transparent production capacity platform has also enabled Thanh Cong management to set achievable productivity goals based on a fair standard of working hours. The introduction of achievable performance incentives has consequently greatly improved staff morale and motivation, as goal setting targets are now based on realizable targets.

“GSCDCost will undoubtedly bring us more business opportunities as we can quickly respond to order requests, realistically take on more business, and know that we can meet promised delivery targets, every time.  Another great advantage is that there is no longer any disagreement between the sales and production teams regarding cost plans, which means a much more peaceful working environment, where staff can occupy themselves with more meaningful activities to enhance the business. Our staff are also enjoying working towards incentivised good performance targets, based on real and achievable goals,” Tran Thanh Bang added.

Coats Digital’s GSDCost method analysis and pre-determined times solution is widely acknowledged as the de-facto international standard across the sewn products industry. The solution supports a more collaborative, transparent and sustainable supply chain, in which brands and manufacturers establish and optimise ‘International Standard Time Benchmarks’ using standard motion codes and predetermined times. This use of a common language and standards supports accurate cost prediction, fact-based negotiation, and a more efficient garment manufacturing process, while concurrently delivering on CSR commitments.

Coats Digital’s enhanced feature of a globalized Fair Wage Tool combines the international standard time for any given style, with detailed factory efficiencies, contracted hours and the fair living wage for the country (data provided by the Fair Wage Network). This added tool enables brands and manufacturers to quickly agree the fair living wage allowance for any given garment, in any factory in the world.

Patrick Chau, Customer Success manager, Coats Digital, said: “We are delighted that Thanh Cong has realised such fantastic efficiency results and significantly increased its profitability as a result of implementing GSDCost. Thanh Cong’s planning and sales teams were quick at learning how to get the most out of the GSDCost solution and its waste reduction achievements and increased transparency around labor costs, will greatly support the company and its brand partners’ social responsibility goals to meet increasing consumer demands for a more transparent, sustainable and ethically responsible apparel supply chain.”

July 28, 2022

Quality Control: Finding The Right Solution In Changing Clothing And Footwear Markets

Quality remains the key factor for success in competitive clothing and footwear markets. With the industry facing multiple challenges, how can retailers maintain quality while implementing agile supply chains?

Global political instability; rising fuel and energy costs; regulators demanding greater sustainability and empowered, knowledgeable consumers seeking more reliable products from transparent supply chains that have a positive impact on the communities and environments in which they operate. The drivers impacting global garment and footwear markets are changing and intensifying.*

In the last few decades, textile and footwear brands and retailers have typically relied on global, linear supply chains. These have delivered cost reductions and consistency but, in an uncertain and physically disconnected world, they come with the inherent risk that supply could become disrupted and unreliable.

Response

Agile, dynamic supply chains are replacing traditional linear models. Brands and retailers are looking at diversification and near-sourcing to enable greater flexibility while reducing their environmental impact. A reduction in distance to market will result in a significant reduction in CO2 emissions.

There are multiple benefits to these new dynamic sourcing solutions. Alongside supply chain risk mitigation, they offer the chance to reduce transport costs, improve brand reputation and ensure compliance with market demands for sustainability.

However, there is a major downside. An increase in the number of suppliers in a chain can make it difficult to manage quality and, if quality is not maintained, this can result in products failing to sell, recalls, reputation damage and/or additional costs for rework.

Supply chain management

Brands and retailers need to be certain they are working with the right suppliers. They need to be certain that a factory can deliver on its promises, is choosing the right inputs and production methods, has the necessary accreditations for compliance, and that quality is maintained throughout production, storage and transportation. When every aspect of a supply chain is critical, the retailer cannot rely on output controls to maintain quality.

The impact of poor quality control isn’t always just financial. Real life examples of harmful and damaging failures include broken needles, scissors and wire in finished garments, retailers receiving moldy goods, and Chromium VI formation in leather materials. Output controls must be replaced with an effective upstream management system.

Moving quality control from the end to the start of the supply chain means brands and retailers can ensure a supplier’s factory can deliver the products they want by checking:

  • Capability to manufacture, store and transport a product to the required specification
    Capacity to manufacture the required amounts; and
  • Technical competencies and production processes to ensure they are right for maintaining and controlling quality.

However, managing dynamic supply chains can be challenging, especially when the ability to travel is disrupted by hybrid working models and the realities of the ’new-normal’.

Upstream solutions

Retailers should employ a range of solutions to ensure effective upstream management of the supply chain and the delivery of high-quality products:

  • Technical Factory Assessment (TFA) – evaluates a factory’s capability and process management, identifying potential process risks and areas for improvement;
  • Production Readiness Check (PRC) – assesses a factory’s readiness for mass production in relation to a specific order – reducing costs and mitigating risks; and
  • Onsite Production Control (OPC) – on-site assessment and preventive advice to secure bulk quality at an early stage.

SGS Solution

SGS Advanced Field Service is an analytical tool that clearly defines potential problems in the supply chain. It supports effective supplier identification, material sourcing, operational process evaluation and data analysis. The service incorporates TFA, PRC and OPC to create a single, highly effective solution to upstream supply chain management. It also offers efficient upstream quality control solutions for issues such as Chromium VI formation, metal contamination and mold prevention.

SGS has specially developed strategies for both clothing – Garments Operational Optimization Diligence Services (GOODS) – and footwear – Footwear Operational Optimization Technical Service (FOOTS) – to help brands ensure their end products conform to regulatory and customer-specific requirements.

For brands and retailers operating in these new dynamic trading environments, SGS Advanced Field Service provides the ideal solution for ensuring competitiveness through continued enhancements in quality.

Reference:

*https://www.raconteur.net/supply-chain/is-onshoring-really-the-answer-to-supply-chain-nightmares/

July 28, 2022

Bluesign®: Helping The Textile Industry Successfully Negotiate The EU Green Deal

The European Union (EU) has set out plans to create a climate-neutral continent. How will this impact the textile industry and what solutions are available?

TW Special Report

“Our goal is to reconcile the economy with our planet, to reconcile the way we produce, the way we consume with our planet…the old growth model that is based on fossil fuels and pollution is out of date.” Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission President, 2019.*

What is the Green Deal?

The European Green Deal (EGD) is a set of initiatives that commits all 27 Member States to transforming the EU into a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy. It commits them to:

  • No net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050;
  • Decoupling economic growth from resource use; and
  • Ensuring no person and no place is left behind.

Impact on the textile industry

Textile consumption has been identified by the EU as having the fourth highest impact on the environment, after food, housing and mobility. It is also one of the top three pressures on water and land use and top five for resource use and greenhouse gas emissions. Set against these negatives, the industry does employ more than 1.5 million citizens.

The EU has therefore set several goals for the textile industry. By 2030, all textile products must be:

  • Durable, repairable and recyclable;
  • Largely made from recycled fibers;
  • Free from hazardous substances; and
  • Produced in ways that respect social rights.

Impact on chemical use

The ‘Environment and oceans’ section of the EGD contains a specific strategy for chemicals – ‘Chemicals strategy for sustainability’ – which includes nearly one hundred actions. Its primary objectives are:

  • Better protection for citizens and the environment;
  • Boosting innovation in safe and sustainable chemicals; and
  • Enabling a transition to safe and sustainable chemical use – by design.

Current regulations and directives, such as Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 on Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) and Regulation (EC) 1272/2008 on Classification, Labeling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures (CLP), will be directly impacted by the EGD. Therefore, its impact on the textile industry will be great.

Safety and sustainability by design 

The EU is looking to create multiple drivers for change. These include developing sustainable-by-design criteria to help companies remove substances of concern from the complete product lifecycle by substituting safer alternatives. In addition, they are looking to:

Measure industrial transition by introducing key performance indicators (KPI)
Amend IED (2010/75/EU) to include requirements for on-site assessments and restrictions on substances of very high concern (SVHC)

The EU’s strategy prioritizes a range of substances:

  • Carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic substances (CMRs);
  • Endocrine disruptors;
  • Persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) and very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB) substances;
  • Immunotoxicants;
  • Neurotoxicants; and
  • Substances toxic to specific organs and respiratory sensitizers.

In the future, a substance might automatically be restricted once there is evidence that it falls into one of these categories.

The EU operates a zero-tolerance approach to companies that fail to comply with REACH. Compliance audits will therefore be required in Member States and enforcement checks will be targeted at known areas of non-compliance, such as e-commerce sites, imports and CLP failures.

Moving forward

The market for greener textile products already exists. With the EGD, the EU is tapping into something that consumers are already demanding. Through legislation and positive exemplars, e.g., greener police uniforms, this market is set to grow as consumers become better informed and they are able to make more sustainable purchasing decisions.**

The EU may be leading the way, but this is a global trend. Forward-thinking manufacturers are already producing sustainable and responsibility sourced products to compete in these competitive, growing markets.

For some textile and garment manufacturers, this may be a new way of thinking and working. It is clear there is a commercial advantage in switching to more sustainable design and production methods but without expert support, it may be hard for them to meet the demands of the markets and the requirements of the EGD.

SGS Solution

Bluesign®, a member of the SGS Group, is a holistic system that provides solutions in sustainable processing and manufacturing for the textile and clothing industries. Based on strict criteria, it supports and enables a company’s sustainable development, including corporate responsibility.

It provides a tool by which manufacturers can design a more sustainable business model, including access to a positive list for chemical substitution — replacing non-assessed and non-rated chemistry with safer and more sustainable alternatives.

Materials produced within a value chain assessed by bluesign can carry the bluesign®APPROVED label. Among other things, this means they are SVHC-free. A product can carry the bluesign®PRODUCT label if at least 90% of the textiles and 30% of accessories within it carry the bluesign®APPROVED logo.

Bluesign empowers manufacturers to ensure their supply chain is delivering products in accordance with strict sustainability criteria. With consumer demand for sustainable products increasing and the provisions of the EU EGD coming into effective, bluesign® offers manufacturers a better way to succeed in ever-changing competitive markets.

References:

*https://fashionunited.com/news/business/what-does-the-eu-s-green-deal-mean-for-the-textile-industry/2019121331305

**https://fashionunited.com/news/business/what-does-the-eu-s-green-deal-mean-for-the-textile-industry/2019121331305

July 28, 2022

Weaving A Network Of Circularity

The Swiss Textile Recycling Ecosystem is a network comprising fabric and textile manufacturers, waste collectors and sorters, as well as retailers, brand owners and technology providers. (Image Source: shutterstock_2019164822)

Worn Again Technologies initiates Swiss Textile Recycling Ecosystem

TW Special Report

Worn Again Technologies (WAT) has announced the launch of the Swiss Textile Recycling Ecosystem. Bringing together key industry players across the entire textile value chain, the initiative will support the creation of a circular economy based on Worn Again Technologies’ innovative polymer recycling technology.

To cause a paradigm shift in the fashion industry and realize true circularity requires all members of the value chain to be on the same page and working towards the same goals. The Swiss Textile Recycling Ecosystem is a network comprising fabric and textile manufacturers, waste collectors and sorters, as well as retailers, brand owners and technology providers. All these parties will cooperate to make their shared sustainability vision for the sector a reality.

The partners will provide different types of textile waste to Worn Again Technologies’ demonstration plant, which will process 1,000 metric tons of material per year and is being built near the WAT’s technology scale-up partner, Sulzer Chemtech in Winterthur, Switzerland. After advanced chemical processing, virgin-like recycled fibers, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and cellulose, will be provided to the same industry players to produce new high-quality fabrics.

The creation of Swiss Textile Recycling Ecosystem marks a key milestone in the upscaling of Worn Again Technologies’ recycling process technology.

More precisely, the consortium will be composed of WAT’s main shareholders, Sulzer, Oerlikon and H&M Group. In addition, Rieter will support short-staple spinning, Monosuisse will take care of PET fiber production, Coop will act as retailer, TEXAID will manage collection, sorting and provide feedstock together with Sallmann (ISA) and Serge Ferrari – all coordinated by Swiss Textiles.

The creation of Swiss Textile Recycling Ecosystem marks a key milestone in the upscaling of Worn Again Technologies’ recycling process technology. It also supports its ambition to create a circular economy where non-reusable, hard-to-recycle textiles can be reintroduced into supply chains to become new fibers, textiles and other products.

The construction of Worn Again Technologies’ first demonstration plant will start this year in Winterthur, Switzerland. This represents a crucial step towards upscaling and commercializing the company’s recycling process technology.

Bringing together key industry players across the entire textile value chain, the initiative will support the creation of a circular economy based on Worn Again Technologies’ innovative polymer recycling technology.

Erik Koep, CEO at Worn Again Technologies, comments: “Launching the Swiss Textile Recycling Ecosystem is a vision coming true. This leading group of likeminded organizations will help to shift the fashion industry from traditional, linear product lifecycle models to eco-conscious, circular material management. We believe that zero waste strategies can only become a reality if the entire sector is committed to acting as a whole. We see the Ecosystem as a way to align sustainability efforts across the whole textile value chain and as the next step towards a green fashion industry.”

Torsten Wintergerste, Chairman of Worn Again Technologies and Division President at Sulzer Chemtech, adds: “We look forward to working together with all members of the Swiss Textile Recycling Ecosystem. Their support is extremely valuable and their trust in our project is much appreciated. The Ecosystem members will support our textile recycling demonstration facility by providing textile waste that can be used as feedstock. The collaboration will also play a key role in scaling up our capabilities and building a network to support the implementation of industrial-scale plants globally.”

July 28, 2022

Lean Manufacturing Losing Pulling Power

New approach required to ensure a steady supply

By Claudia Jarrett

According to Opportimes.com, a strong rebound in global demand, supply disruptions and depletion of inventories have driven up raw material prices and transportation costs around the world — especially in North America. An increase in the price of raw materials, coupled with increasing uncertainty in manufacturing supply chains, has led many to rethink their stock management. Plant managers should consider the alternatives to lean manufacturing.

Lean manufacturing, which was previously coined just-in-time (JIT) manufacturing, was originally developed by Toyota in 1970. It is a production method designed to help reduce production time, while reducing response times to customers and suppliers. JIT also encourages manufacturers to order parts only when needed, as close as possible to the point of assembly, so there is minimal stock held in inventory.

Simply put, the strategy aims to increase efficiency by eliminating waste, optimizing processes and cutting costs. This is achieved by producing only what is in demand and not overstocking. By reducing the production time, the method improves the productivity rate and helps increase profits. In turn, lean manufacturing has been a popular method for manufacturers to ensure products are received only at the time needed, saving space in their inventories and reducing time in the production cycle.

The Current Landscape

COVID-19 exposed problems in lean manufacturing that have caused manufacturers to reconsider this methodology. JIT is built on forecast demand which, while reliable in the past, has now become more unpredictable. This is because forecast is based on historical data, but unpredictable social and political upheavals, such as the national lockdowns and conflict in Ukraine, mean that this data can no longer be relied on to the same extent. However, there are a few strategies to prevent stockouts even given the current levels of uncertainty over the future.

Manufacturers are now after alternatives to ensure components are in continuous supply. Conventional approaches, such as just-in-case (JIC), where manufacturers create a stockpile of components, also provide their own set of challenges. Businesses are instead wanting a middle ground, which offers reliability without reducing profits.

A solution is moving to nearshoring or reshoring. A supplier closer to production can significantly lower replenishment times and deliver parts faster at times of need. The issue of shipping parts has always hindered faster cycle times, while relying on suppliers overseas can add shipping time and coordination complexity.

Manufacturers can also implement a supply chain that operates on a global level, but also adapts to local demand. This is what we call a “glocal” supply chain. Companies like EU Automation rely on a reliable network of global suppliers and work with international sales experts, that speak more than 20 languages, to overcome linguistic and cultural barriers. Operating from four different locations — including the US — we offer manufacturers both the knowledge of global demand and local markets to ensure the right quantity of stock is delivered on time.

New methodology

By offering visibility over production, newer automation technologies can also help manufacturers decrease lead times and stay afloat during unexpected events. This provides manufacturers with the ability to target specific areas of production that need improving. Moreover, awareness of a component’s journey throughout a warehouse offers insight into waste and consumption rates.

Automated replenishment ensures businesses can manage warehouse assets. Automated devices identify components in short supply, before automatically reordering them from the distributor. This helps production managers to cope with demand, without worrying about component shortage.

Disruptions are likely to affect manufacturing for many months to come, and while manufacturers enjoyed the benefits of JIT production and lean manufacturing for many years, times have changed.

We are now living in an era where alternative approaches must be considered for a steady supply, with the reality being that supply chain difficulties and component shortages will likely persist for some time. Therefore, it is essential for manufacturers to adapt their stock management to avoid downtime and reduce delays — and consider the benefits of alternative approaches.

Editor’s Note: Claudia Jarrett is U.S. country manager at industrial parts supplier EU Automation.

July 28, 2022

 

Insempra Announces Strategic Investment In Solena Materials

MUNICH — July 26, 2022 — Insempra, a biology-powered company enabling businesses to make superior products in partnership with nature, today announces a strategic investment in Solena Materials Ltd., a synthetic biology company. Solena, a spin-out from Imperial College London, develops synthetic proteins for high-performance clothing fibers.

The investment will allow Insempra, formerly Origin.Bio, to accelerate its strategy of harnessing new technologies to advance biological production processes, creating naturally superior products to drive the regenerative revolution. Solena will be a major part of Insempra’s platform to deliver high-performance, intrinsically sustainable ingredients for a broad array of industries.

Solena is using computational design to develop new classes of synthetic proteins to produce high-performance clothing fibers, which can absorb large amounts of kinetic energy. Insempra will accelerate the development and production of these synthetic proteins on an industrial scale, offering better, biobased solutions to the petrochemically sourced, non-biodegradable materials or fibers extracted from nature or animals, such as silk, currently used in the textile and clothing industries. This technology also reduces other environmental impacts such as the rise of microplastics in water bodies coming from washing petrochemically-sourced textiles.

Jens Klein, founder and CEO of Insempra and CEO of Solena Materials, commented: “We are hugely excited by this investment in Solena, which will help to accelerate our market-first approach to develop superior, intrinsically sustainable ingredients. We look forward to fast-tracking Solena’s development and production of their unique synthetic proteins to develop customized, high-performance fibers for a variety of applications.”

Dr. James MacDonald, inventor, co-founder and CTO of Solena Materials, added: “The team and I are very excited to make this technology a huge success.”

Professor Paul Freemont of Imperial College London, added: “This investment from Insempra recognizes the potential of our technology to revolutionize high-performance fabrics, and their supply chains. Together, we can harness our synthetic biology capabilities to develop, produce and manufacture a new class of superior, more sustainable fiber technology.”

Insempra, a co-founder of Solena, will be the sole contributing shareholder in Solena, which is based at Imperial College’s Translation & Innovation Hub (I-HUB) in White City, London. Solena’s Board will be comprised of Dr James MacDonald of Solena, Professor Paul Freemont and Professor Milo Shaffer of Imperial College London, and Jens Klein and Andreas Heyl of Insempra.

Posted: July 27, 2022

Source: Insempra

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