BRIXEN, Italy— September 27, 2022 — The winners of this year’s Durst’s RSC Label Master Awards were officially revealed for the first time during Labelexpo Americas in Chicago from September 13-15, where insights on the new Tau RSC platform, its printing technologies, ink systems, software and important developments were provided.
Durst Group showcased the highly successful and globally placed Tau RSC technology. In addition to spotlighting its ecosystem of printers and software, Durst presented the awards to the winners by the machinery. Visitors received deep insights into the award winners from experts.
Martin Leitner, Durst’s Product manager for Label & Flexible Packaging, said: “The Tau RSC is a true game changer for us as a company and for all our customers. With that in mind, we challenged them to take part in the Durst RSC Label Masters awards. There were an impressive number of entries. They were all truly inspiring, making it a difficult task for the judges to choose the winners.”
This year, the judges consisted of international representatives of the industry:
David Pittman – Editor, Digital Labels & Packaging;
Vladimir Tyulpin – Avery Dennison, Global Segment Digitaldruck;
Matthew Burton – Sales Director AB Graphic International;
Christian Ring & Bernhard Zölch – Owner Design Agencie Die guten Agenten; and
Durst Team – Label & Flexible Packaging.
China’s Shandong Golden Realm Industrial captured the RSC Combination Print category for its Cloisonne label with ancient enamelling technique), RS Druk was runner-up and Color Press, third. The 100 percent RSC Print category winner was Shanghai Yingcai Printing of China, for its Flying Crane – Embroidery Label entry. Runner-up was Clever Systemtechnik, with The Label Makers in third place. Nanning Jiecheng Label won with Longevity Spring in the category Innovation. Shandong Golden Realm and RS Druk respectively were second and third.
“Since the Durst Tau RSC platform was launched just over five years ago, we have achieved over 300 installations worldwide in less than five years. This demonstrates that our printing solutions have been very well received by the market. We are looking forward to the future despite these uncertain times for everybody,” Leitner concluded.
LUDWIGSHAFEN, Germany— September 30, 2022 — BASF for the first time offers neopentyl glycol (NPG) and propionic acid (PA) with a cradle-to-gate product carbon footprint (PCF)1 of zero2. Produced at BASF’s Ludwigshafen Verbund site, Germany, the products are available globally as “NPG ZeroPCF” and “PA ZeroPCF.” BASF achieves the zero PCF for NPG and PA by using renewable raw materials in its unique Verbund production system via its biomass balance (BMB) approach. For NPG, BASF additionally uses renewable energy for production.
NPG ZeroPCF and PA ZeroPCF are “drop-in” solutions: They are identical in quality and properties to the standard products, allowing customers to use them in their production without the need for adjustments to their existing processes. In this way, customers can simply and efficiently reduce emissions from purchased goods or services (Scope 3) and increase the share of renewable raw materials in the value chain, thus contributing to the shift to a circular economy.
Biomass balance approach with waste-based renewable raw materials
BASF manufactures NPG ZeroPCF and PA ZeroPCF in its integrated Verbund production system applying its BMB approach. For this, BASF feeds renewable raw materials into its Verbund in the very first steps of chemical production and attributes a corresponding share of the renewable raw materials to specific sales products by means of a certified mass balance method. The renewable raw material used is waste-based. BASF’s biomass balanced products are certified according to recognized standards like either REDcert2 or ISCC plus.3 In the production of NPG ZeroPCF, BASF additionally uses renewable energies via Renewable Energy Certificates.
The PCF comprises the total greenhouse gas emissions that occur until the product leaves the BASF factory gate for the customer, from the extraction of resources through manufacturing of precursors to the making of the final chemical product itself. On its journey to achieve net zero CO2 emissions by 2050, BASF is the first large chemical company to make the individual carbon footprints of all its sales products available to its customers.
NPG ZeroPCF and PA ZeroPCF certified Carbon Neutral by the Carbon Trust
BASF has achieved Carbon Neutral certification from global climate change consultancy the Carbon Trust for its NPG ZeroPCF and PA ZeroPCF. The Carbon Trust certifies products as Carbon Neutral that are either carbon neutral through temporary natural upstream carbon sinks like plants4 or through carbon credits purchased by the manufacturing company. BASF achieves the cradle-to-gate product carbon footprint of zero for NPG ZeroPCF and PA ZeroPCF without purchasing carbon credits.5 The certification will be reviewed on an annual basis.
Neopentyl glycol with broad application fields
An essential field of NPG application is powder coatings, especially for the construction and automotive industries as well as for household appliances. Besides emitting minimal to zero volatile organic compounds (VOC), the coatings process with powder coatings also reduces processing times and energy requirements. By applying NPG ZeroPCF, the carbon footprint of the powder coating resins can be reduced significantly. This can help manufacturers in the construction, automotive, white goods and furniture industries to achieve their upstream Scope 3 CO2 emission reduction targets.
Due to its high chemical and thermal stability, the versatile polyalcohol NPG has proven itself in many further applications, in particular as a building block for the production of polyester and alkyd resins for various coatings and plastics. Other areas of application for NPG include the manufacture of lubricants, plasticizers and pharmaceuticals: It is used as a building block in the synthesis of, for example, hormones, cardiovascular drugs and painkillers. With decades of expertise, BASF is today among the leading NPG producers globally.
Wide range of uses for propionic acid
For decades, BASF customers have been utilizing PA, which is fully biodegradable, as a mold inhibitor for the preservation of food and feed grains. In this application PA offers economic and ecological benefits over preservation through drying or storage in airtight silos. Other application areas of PA include the production of crop protection agents, flavors and fragrances, pharmaceuticals, solvents and thermoplastics. With decades of expertise, BASF is among the leading PA producers globally.
1 BASF’s product carbon footprint (PCF) calculations follow the requirements and guidance given by ISO 14067:2018. In a methodology review, TÜV Rheinland has certified that the PCF methodology SCOTT developed and used by BASF SE for calculating the PCFs of BASF products is scientifically- based, is in accordance with ISO 14067:2018, and reflects the state of the art (ID-Nr. 0000080389; BASF SE – Certipedia).
2 The product carbon footprint (PCF) of NPG ZeroPCF and PA ZeroPCF is zero in a cradle-to-gate assessment, taking into account all product-related greenhouse gas emissions and the biogenic uptake of the renewable raw materials used in the value chain and attributed to the products via a certified mass balance approach. The calculation does not include downstream value chain emissions such as transportation emissions from factory gate to customer, emissions from further processing and the end-of-life emissions (e.g., from waste treatment).
3 REDcert2 and ISCC plus are standards for the use of sustainable biomass as raw material in the chemical industry. Regarding BASF’s biomass balance approach, certification according to these standards confirms that the biomass used is sustainable and has been fed into the production Verbund in the required amount. It also confirms that the sustainable biomass has been correctly attributed to the corresponding sales products. The certifications are awarded on the basis of on-site audits conducted by independent auditors.
4 A carbon sink is a natural or artificial system that extracts more CO2 from the atmosphere than it releases into it. Plants are an example of a natural carbon sink, as they remove CO2 from the atmosphere through photosynthesis (biogenic uptake). The raw materials used in BASF’s biomass balance approach are plant-based and the biogenic uptake is accounted for in the calculation of the cradle-to-gate product carbon footprint.
5 To achieve carbon neutrality for NPG ZeroPCF and PA ZeroPCF in relation to their complete product life cycle (cradle-to-grave), all downstream value chain emissions have to be offset by the respective actors in the value chain, e.g., by purchasing carbon credits.
MARIETTA, Ga. — September 29, 2022 — Reflective Apparel, known for making people visible with its robust line of ANSI safety workwear, introduces WildSpark™, high-visibility workwear and uniforms designed be visible and comfortable on the job, while being stylish after work.
WildSpark performance apparel can be used in situations where American National Standards Institute (ANSI) safety standards are not required, but visibility still needs to be a focus. High visibility is important in any environment where there is heavy equipment, moving vehicles or low visibility. This includes not only workplace environments, but also after-hours safety.
“We believe that everyone should be visible and safe at all times, not just on the job,” said Scott A. Corrao, president of Reflective Apparel. “People should be visible at work, as well as when they walk to the bus stop, ride their bike, or walk their dog after work. In my 25 plus years in the safety industry, I’ve seen employers encourage their employees to use hearing, eye and respiratory protection whenever it is needed, not just at work. Safety awareness shouldn’t stop at the job site.”
WildSpark high-visibility workwear has reflective properties that are discrete in the daylight, but provide high-vis retro-reflectivity in low-light situations. With the added features of UPF50+, moisture wicking and anti-microbial technologies, employees can transition from work to personal activities without feeling like they are in workwear.
The high visibility and reflective properties of WildSpark garments allow people to “Be Safe and Be Seen” while at work or play. These patent pending reflective designs are strategically incorporated onto the fabric.
“Until you shine light on a WildSpark garment, you would assume it was just fashionable, performance apparel,” said Becky Keith, vice president of sales for Reflective Apparel. “Once a headlight hits the garment, the retro-reflective properties are immediately apparent, making the wearer highly visible even in extremely low light situations.”
More than 7,000 pedestrians in the United States were killed in crashes involving a motor vehicle in 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). That equates to one death every 75 minutes. Reflective Apparel hopes to help reduce this number by making people more visible.
“Our philosophy is, as long as you are going to wear performance apparel, it should be reflective as well,” Corrao said. “Reflective gear doesn’t have to call attention to you when it isn’t wanted. We now have a solution to be comfortable, stylish and visible, all at the same time.”
Wildspark will be available wholesale, through Reflective Apparel’s network of distributors.
WEST CHESTER, Pa. — September 29, 2022 — Janet Devine, president of Sonobond Ultrasonics Inc., announced today that becoming part of the Inductotherm Group will now provide its customers with increased resources and benefits. Although Sonobond has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Inductotherm Group’s parent company for more than 30 years, Sonobond and its customers will now have greater access to advanced power supply technologies, global service resources, and expanded supply chain resources.
The launch of Sonobond’s new website is the first of many positive changes for the company. According to Devine, “our new brand logo and website represent a lot more than a new design. They signify our direct connection to more than 40 companies that offer advanced technology and manufacturing resources that will enhance our ability to deliver the innovative products our customers have come to rely on.”
Devine continued: “we wanted to take advantage of all the advantages and benefits Inductotherm Group provides for our customers, as quickly as possible, so transitioning our marketing materials to our new ‘Inductotherm’ look will continue after our new website has launched.”
ROCK HILL, S.C. — September 29, 2022 — FZ/T 01166-2022: “Textile Fabric Touch Determination and Evaluation Method: Multi-Index Integration Method” Standard Releases October 1, 2022.
The first textile industry standard that specifies how to test and evaluate the hand of textiles via a multi-index instrument is set to be released on October 1. SDL Atlas is pleased to offer the FTT® Fabric Touch Tester which meets the requirements of this new standard.
The standard includes: rules on the scope of applying the test method, definitions of the primary physical indicators, the testing principle and main parameters of testing instruments, the sample preparation and test procedures, the calculation formula of the result, rules on the subjective evaluation method, and provides the modeling procedure and reference example for the readers who have the need to establish their own evaluation model.
“Hand feel has continued to be difficult to communicate just as color was decades ago,” says SDL Atlas President Chuck Lane. “This new standard now provides a common method for the industry to speak the same language regarding hand feel. The FTT is a key component in communicating this traditionally objective measurement, just as the spectrophotometer does the same for color.”
Dr. Junyan Hu, chief technology officer, Best Pacific International Holdings Ltd. said, In a historic day, the standard “Textile Fabric Touch Determination and Evaluation Method Multi-index Integration Method” (FZ/T 01166-2022) has been officially implemented. The formal implementation of this standard will take a new step in the objective measurement of the subjective feeling of contact between fabric and skin, and will help the evaluation and quality control of subjective feelings in both the virtual world and in the real world.”
The new FZ/T 01166-2022 standard can be purchased beginning October 1, 2022, from the China Quality Standards Publishing and Media Co., Ltd. website: http://webstore.spc.net.cn.
Committed to providing customers confidence in standard based testing, SDL Atlas has offices and experts in the United States, United Kingdom, Hong Kong and China, plus agents serving over 100 countries, SDL Atlas is ready to support its customers with instruments, consumables, and services anywhere in the world.
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — September 29, 2022 — Sensoria® Health www.sensoriahealth.com, developer of Remote Patient Monitoring and Artificial Intelligence wearable solutions, and Defender, next-generation designer and manufacturer of innovative foot care solutions for people with complex foot care issues, announced today at the DFCON Conference the availability of the Foot Defender® powered by Sensoria Smart Boot, the world’s first smart diabetic footwear. Available now, the Foot Defender powered by Sensoria is designed to help heal diabetic foot ulcers and reduce the risk of amputations for extended quality of life. The solution combines the Foot Defender Smart Boot with Sensoria Core microelectronics and the Sensoria Patient Mobile App and Clinician Dashboard to monitor a patient’s diabetic foot ulcer healing and rehabilitation compliance to the clinician’s prescribed stabilization and mechanical offloading protocol.
The Foot Defender powered by Sensoria is designed to improve patient adherence to mechanical offloading, monitors patient usage, activity, improves outcomes, and reduces healthcare cost. Designed by Dr. Jason Hanft, a leading podiatrist, together with a former Nike industry-leading shoe designer, Michael DiTullio, to create a protective boot specifically built to better protect foot wounds in a form factor that patients will actually want to wear, Foot Defender powered by Sensoria is available now; visit https://sensoriahealth.com/diabetic-foot-ulcer-boot/ for more information.
Shoe-Like Design Alleviates Foot Contact Pressure by up to 50% as Compared to Other Protective Diabetic Boots
Foot Defender powered by Sensoria has an easy-to-use shoe-like design with a low-profile abrasion resistant compression-molded outsole that alleviates average contact pressure across the foot by up to 50 percent as compared to other protective boots on the market. Used for both stabilization and offloading, the boot is non-intrusive, cost-effective, and readily usable or embeddable and deployable for a broad spectrum of devices and patient types, whether they are bed-bound, chair-bound, or ambulatory. The Foot Defender powered by Sensoria solution is compliant to the IWGDF guidelines and is the most referenced product in the latest offloading clinical gold standard guidelines. It is also currently being validated by USC Keck School of Medicine and Baylor College of Medicine, which received a $2.5 million R01 NIH grant to validate its clinical value.
Reduce the Risk of Diabetic Amputations
In the United States, 80 million people will be older than 65 years of age in the next few years, according to the CDC. In addition, every 20 seconds world-wide, a limb is amputated due to diabetes; and every 1.2 seconds, there is a new Diabetic Foot Ulcer (there is no amputation without an ulcer). After an amputation, there is a 50 percent chance that the same patient will have the other limb amputated within two years, with patient five-year life expectancy worse than most cancers. In addition, Diabetic Foot Ulcers are responsible for more hospitalizations than any other complication of diabetes, driving direct costs of at least $40 billion dollars annually worldwide and at least $17.5 billion in the United States alone.
“Usually subjects with diabetic foot ulcerations wear their offloading devices in just 28 percent of their daily steps. And there is strong evidence that uncomplicated plantar ulcers can be healed in 8 to 12 weeks. Yet current standard of care in U.S. clinical trials have a 76 percent treatment failure rate at 12 weeks,” said Dr. David G. Armstrong, professor of Surgery at USC Keck School of Medicine. “Through the marriage of Sensoria Health’s sensors with the Foot Defender, AI/ML algorithms, custom microelectronics, and remote monitoring cloud software, the system extends the reach of clinicians and potentially contributes to deliver better outcomes for our patients. By injecting sensing technology into footwear and garments that are already a part of the patient workflow, we can likely improve adherence, accurately monitor patients, improve outcomes, and reduce healthcare cost around the world.”
“Combining Foot Defender with Sensoria’s smart technology offers the best of biomechanical engineering and modern footwear design with mobile, plus cloud patient monitoring to promote faster healing, improve overall compliance and ensure healthier outcomes,” commented Dr. Hanft. “It’s a game-changing solution that brings the science of off-loading and protecting diabetic feet into the 21st century.”
Availability
The Foot Defender powered by Sensoria is available now. For more information, see https://sensoriahealth.com/diabetic-foot-ulcer-boot, contact Sensoria Health at Info@Sensoriahealth.com or contact Defender to purchase at Info@DefenderOps.com. The solution may be reimbursable by Medicare and additional codes may be available for remote patient monitoring.
GHENT, Belgium — September 28, 2022 — Milliken & Company, a diversified global manufacturer with more than 70 locations worldwide, is partnering with European recycling leaders EREMA (Engineering Recycling Maschinen und Anlagen Ges.m.b.H.) and PreZero at the upcoming K 2022 show to highlight the use of our Hyperform® HPN® performance additives in recycled polypropylene (rPP) compounds. Our common purpose is to close the loop and advance circularity.
At the October 19-26 trade fair in Düsseldorf, the Austria-based recycling machinery manufacturer EREMA will put its technology on full display. Operating in the EREMA Circonomic Centre in the outdoor area (OA/-CE03) of the fairgrounds, it will present a live recycling demonstration of recycled material supplied by German environmental services provider PreZero (Hall 8B/A57).
For the live recycling demonstration, the partners will use post-consumer waste that was collected by PreZero. Then, in an example of true value-chain collaboration, PreZero leverages its formulation expertise using EREMA recycling technology and Milliken’s Hyperform HPN additive to make the recycled PP resins. EREMA’s machinery innovation allows PreZero to create odor-optimized premium rPP pellets directly from contaminated post-consumer material.
Hyperform HPN upgrades the recycled PP by improving the material’s physical properties while also reducing the cycle time needed to process it. Additionally, these additives also provide for better dimensional control and crystallization stability during the post-injection molding period.
The efficient use of our HPN nucleating agent brings the performance of rPP closer to that of virgin PP. As PreZero likes to say: “With our plastic recycling activities we give seemingly worthless material, waste, a new life.”
Milliken’s popular Hyperform HPN performance additives contribute to faster, trouble-free production of both virgin and recycled PP and deliver proven energy savings. “UL Environment & Sustainability, a unit of the global UL group, has reviewed and certified that Hyperform HPN enabled an average of 5-8 percent energy savings for firms that injection mold thin-wall PP products,” notes Wim van De Velde, Milliken’s Global vice president – Plastic Additives. “This helps users to lower costs, reduce carbon emissions[1] and advance circularity while producing stronger, lighter products. They also enable greater use of rPP in an increased number of applications.”
At the K show, EREMA will run its patented INTAREMA® TVEplus® RegrindPro® extruder system with ReFresher technology, which sets new standards in the recycling of materials that are difficult to process such as heavily printed films and very moist materials. This is made possible through ultrafine filtration, thorough melt homogenization, and high-performance degassing in a single step. The proven basic principle of TVEplus technology is that melt filtration takes place upstream of extruder degassing.
As Michael Heitzinger, managing director of EREMA Engineering Recycling Maschinen und Anlagen GmbH, explained: “The efficient interplay of our ReFresher technology with this proven extruder system makes it possible to achieve odor-optimized premium recycled pellets directly from contaminated post-consumer material. The unbeatable combination of top pellet quality and odor optimization opens up completely new application opportunities for recycled plastics.”
Visitors to K 2022 can watch a live recycling demonstration in the EREMA Circonomic Centre in the outdoor area (OA/-CE03) on two different days: Friday, October 21, from 10.00 am-1.30 pm, and on Wednesday, October 26, from 2.30-5.30 pm.
For more information on Milliken’s purposeful collaborations, visit us in Hall 06/6A27 at the K Show or k2022.milliken.com.
CARY, N.C. — September 29, 2022 — Product development and innovators in nonwovens & engineered materials gained valuable expert insights on material science innovation and sustainability at the 12th edition of RISE® – Research, Innovation & Science for Engineered Fabrics conference.
INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, and The Nonwovens Institute, North Carolina State University co-organized the event, Sept. 27-28 at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, N.C.
More than 20 industry, academic, and government experts from across the globe presented technical developments in sessions focused on circularity and sustainable inputs from such sources as Polylactic Acid Polymers (PLA), natural fibers, biofibers, and waste products. Participants called the conference “thought provoking” with outstanding speakers.
Highlights included presentations on:
Achieving Supply Chain Circularity, by Dr. Kat Knauer, program manager – V Research, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, NREL;
The Global Plastic Crisis: Winners/Losers in the Marketplace, by Dr .Bryan Haynes, senior technical director, Global Nonwovens, Kimberly-Clark Corp.;
Sustainable Fibers – Development and the Future by Dr. Jason Locklin, director, University of Georgia – New Materials Institute;
PLA & PLA Blends: Practical Aspects of Extrusion by Dr. Behnam Pourdeyhimi, William A. Klopman Distinguished professor, and executive director, The Nonwovens Institute, North Carolina State University; and
Mitigation of Quat Incompatibility with Cotton and other Cellulosic-based Substrates, by Dr. Doug Hinchliffe, Research Molecular Biologist, USDA-ARS.
RISE participants found the high-quality and on-point technical program valuable.
Paul Latten, director of Research and Development and New Business, Southeast Nonwovens Inc., praised the high quality and depth of the science presented by speakers and said it will help him do a better job for his company and clients.
“RISE is an excellent conference for us to discuss concept strategies with the industry. I very much appreciate the focus on sustainability,” said Lars Heepe, Head of Research and Development and Intellectual Property, at Gottlieb Binder GmbH & Co. KG.
RISE® Innovation Award Winner
DiaperRecycle was awarded the RISE® Innovation Award for its innovative technology to recycle used diapers into absorbent and flushable cat litter. The annual award recognizes innovation in areas within and on the periphery of the nonwovens industry that use advanced science and engineering principles to develop unique or intricate solutions to problems and advance nonwovens usage.
By diverting used diapers from households and institutions, and separating the plastic and fiber, DiaperRecycle strives to decrease the climate-changing emissions of diapers from landfills. “I am thrilled and grateful to win this award as it proves we are on the right track,” said Cynthia Wallis Barnicoat, CEO of DiaperRecycle.
Other award finalists included Binder BioHook® by Gottlieb Binder GmbH & Co. KG and Sero® hemp fibers from Bast Fibre Technologies Inc. (BFT).
The event also featured poster presentations by North Carolina State University graduate students, a tour of the Nonwovens Institute’s state-of-the-art facilities, an industry reception, networking breaks and luncheons.
The 13th edition of RISE® – Research, Innovation & Science for Engineered Fabrics conference will be held Sept. 12-13, 2023, at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, N.C.
Posted: September 29, 2022
Source: INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry
Jim Kearns, executive director and CFO of Alsco Uniforms, recently was elected chair of the board of directors of TRSA – the organization Strengthening the Linen, Uniform and Facility Services Industry.
Teijin Holdings USA President Jane Thomas has again been appointed to the Investment Advisory Council of the U.S. Department of Commerce. She will serve until 2024.
Spartanburg, S.C.-based Milliken & Company has promoted David Smith to executive vice president and president of Milliken’s Textile Business. He replaces Chad McAllister who has left the company.
Ulrich Reifenhäuser, chief sales officer of the Germany-based Reifenhäuser Group, recently was awarded the 2022 Georg Menges Prize at the 31st International Colloquium on Plastics Technology. The award recognizes those who have contributed outstanding service to the transfer of research results into industrial practice.
Web Industires Inc., Marlborough, Mass., has promoted Kathrin Doyle Arena to vice president of human resources.
Matt O’Sickey has joined the Association of the Nonwovens Fabrics Industry (INDA), Cary, N.C., as director of Education and Technical Affairs. INDA also recently named Ryan Ragan director of Membership and Industry Relations.
Kraig Biocraft Laboratories Inc., Ann Arbor, Mich., has contracted Jeff Dorton to help the company develop innovative yarns and fabrics using its Dragon Silk™ spider silk fiber. Initial developments will be used by Spydasilk Enterprises, the company’s Singapore-based joint venture apparel brand.
Mayzo Inc., a specialty chemicals company based in Suwanee, Ga., has named Doug Hartman director of sales and customer care. He replaces Eduardo Padilla who was promoted to president of the company last year.
Elin Wengström has joined Coloreel, Stockholm, as vice president of marketing.
Cambridge, England-based Global Inkjet Systems Ltd. (GIS), a Nano Dimension division, has announced that GIS Co-founder Nick Geddes has joined the executive team at Nano Dimension as senior chief technology officer. Steve Williamson has been promoted to GIS general manager.
The New York City-based American Down and Feather Council (ADFC), a division of the Home Fashion Products Association (HFPA), has named Brett Rife chair. Rife is vice president of sales for Keeco LLC and succeeds former Chair Travis Stier.
Advanced Functional Fabrics of America Inc. (AFFOA), Cambridge, Mass., has announced the promotion of Michelle Farrington to chief technology officer. She will lead AFFOA’s integrated technology development team and is responsible for developing AFFOA’s technical strategy.
Steven Bethell of Bank and Vogue has joined the board of directors at Accelerating Circularity.
Conover, N.C.-based Nufabrx® has named former W.L. Gore & Associates CEO Dr. Jason Field board member; and Elise Donahue, former CEO of Airborne, South Beach Diet and co-founder of Prestige Brands, advisory board member.
Unifi Inc., Greensboro, N.C., has elected Frank Blake to its board of directors.
Dearborn, Mich.-based Carhartt has appointed Susan Hennike chief brand officer. She reports to President and CEO Linda Hubbard.
Chico’s FAS Inc., Fort Myers, Fla., has named Leana Less senior vice president of marketing.
Tommy Bruno has joined Culp Inc., High Point, N.C., as executive vice president of Culp Home Fashions. He replaces long-time employee Sandy Brown who is retiring at the end of the year. The company also named Teresa Huffman chief human resources officer; and promoted Forrest Buck to vice president of Information Technology.
Emilie Arel, president and CEO of Casper Sleep, has joined the board of directors at Macy’s Inc., New York City.
A.B. Carter offers years of experience in rings and ring travelers and can help customers optimize their spinning processes.
Driven to innovate and exceed customers’ expectations, A.B. Carter recently celebrated its centennial.
TW Special Report
Anniversaries are always special, but a 100-year anniversary is a significant milestone especially worth celebrating. Through innovation, quality production and exceptional customer service — all performed with a global outlook — A.B. Carter Inc., Gastonia, N.C., has reached that centennial. Established in 1922, the company has weathered the ups and downs of the U.S. textile industry and finds itself in a great position today and is ready to take on the next 100 years.
A.B. Carter bills itself as a company grounded in American heritage, yet driven to innovate. It aims to meet and exceed its customers’ expectations, and is committed to excellence in products and service.
History
A.B. Carter was founded in 1922 by Arthur Bynum Carter. A self-educated fellow, Carter began his career as a ring traveler sales representative working with spinning mills. It was during this time that Carter was introduced to the Boyce Weavers Knotter. Finding the technology interesting, Carter bought the patent and struck out on his own. He began manufacturing the knotter, modifying and tweaking the design until it was the finest weaver’s knotter sold all over the world — loved, in part, because of its simplicity.
Carter then began to expand his offerings and using his interest and prior expertise in ring spinning and ring travelers, began manufacturing metal travelers. Carter Traveler Co. soon began to supply high-quality ring travelers to customers in the United States and beyond. The company later added yarn spinning rings and nylon travelers to its portfolio.
Henderson Wise, A.B Carter president and CEO
“Our steel and nylon travelers have grown and evolved to be the global standard in all types of spinning and twisting applications,” said Henderson Wise, president and CEO, A.B. Carter.
“Mr. Carter worked his way up the ladder of success by the sweat of his brow,” Wise noted. “His passion and fortitude for the textile industry laid the foundation for our company.”
Product Portfolio, Vertical Production
Today, in addition to its travelers and rings the company’s diverse product portfolio includes bobbins, belts and accessories, splicing and knotting equipment, lab testing equipment, and some accessories for carpet yarn production.
The diversity of the business has been a positive for the company as the industry has changed over the years. “Through acquisitions and partnerships, we have added lines to complement our knowledge and work in all types of spinning and twisting applications,” Wise said. “We must continue to innovate as we move forward in this ever-changing industry.”
A.B. Carter operates a vertical manufacturing structure to ensure high-quality products with flexibility and customization in mind. The company maintains complete control over the manufacturing process for its steel travelers. The Carter Wire Co., a division of A.B. Carter, produces the highest-quality wire that is drawn to size, annealed and shaped. The formed travelers then are heat treated and finished to exact customer specifications. Quality is assured by the company’s advanced metallurgical lab and innovation center staff who conduct extensive tests on the company’s products.
A.B. Carter employees, friends and family recently gathered for a centennial celebration.
Customer-Oriented Innovation
A company’s longevity and continued success is determined by many other factors, but long-standing relationships with valued customers undoubtedly plays a significant role.
“Mr. Carter believed then, as we still believe today, that our customers are our partners, and we should always go above and beyond to serve them,” Wise said.
Customers depend on A.B. Carter’s technical assistance in the spinning process. “Our technical engineers have many years of experience to help optimize the spinning process along with our rings and ring travelers in all types of applications,” Wise said. “We value this relationship as we work to make our customers successful.”
A.B. Carter also relies on its customers to be partners in innovation. “We have stuck to our roots with continued innovation,” Wise offered. “Our research and development and engineering teams have worked diligently as the demands of spinning mills increase. Innovations are paramount as we partner with our customers to optimize the spinning process, and our partnerships are valuable because they propel us to improve and innovate.” The company currently is excited about a new traveler series that is showing excellent improvements in traveler life and yarn quality parameters in production conditions.
Team Atmosphere
A company’s success surely also is aided by a team of knowledgeable and loyal employees. Henderson says one of A.B. Carter’s greatest strengths and assets is its employees. “Many of our employees have been here for many years,” Wise said. “We have always had an open-door policy as this extended communication and genuine interest in all our employees makes everyone feel like they are an important member of the team.”
Global Reach
Spinning is a global enterprise, and in order to grow and remain successful, A.B. Carter is committed to doing business on the international stage, keeping up what Mr. Carter started all those years ago. “Spinning optimization is critical to mill profitability, and spinning mills today compete in a global market,” Wise said.
To support the company’s positive and growing global demand, in 2006, A.B. Carter opened a subsidiary in India — A.B. Carter India Pvt. Ltd. — to supply travelers and ring products to customers in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. “The team at A.B. Carter India does a great job in covering the markets in India and Bangladesh,” Wise said. “The spinning mills in those areas are very technical and run some of the highest spindle speeds worldwide. We have seen our market share increase there as recent innovations have allowed our customers to improve their processes and yarn quality.”
The company’s full global network also includes employees and offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai; Sao Paulo, Brazil; and Istanbul, Turkey; as well as 45 agents located throughout the world.
Celebrating The Milestone Anniversary
A.B. Carter recently held a company-wide celebration at its Gastonia headquarters that included employees past and present, the board of directors, shareholders, and friends. “A.B. Carter Inc. has a long and storied past and a great future as a global supplier in the textile industry,” Wise remarked. “I am extremely proud of our company and all our employees for achieving this great accomplishment.
“Our customer service and continued innovation are commitments that began 100 years ago with Mr. Carter’s drive and passion,” Wise continued. “We look forward to continuing our next chapter as we move forward in the ever-changing textile industry.”
