July/August 2022

The Raleigh, N.C.-based Association of the Non-woven Fabrics Industry (INDA) COO Tony Fragnito was recently named president of the association by its board of directors. Dave Rousse was named president emeritus and will continue to assist Fragnito as needed until his retirement in January 2023.

Susan DeCourcey

Susan DeCourcey was named executive director for the Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles (SMART) Association, Bel Air, Md. She replaces Jackie King who has retired.

Deckers Brands, Goleta, Calif., named Anne Spangenberg president of Fashion Lifestyle, effective July 11, 2022. She reports directly to CEO and President Dave Powers.

Kim Poulsen was appointed CEO of Finland-based Spinnova Plc effec-tive August 1, 2022. The company’s Co-Founder and current CEO, Janne Poranen, will become chair of the board of directors; while current board Chair Harri Sundvik will become the deputy chair of the board.

Ana Hinojosa and Peter Cullinane have joined New Zealand-based Oritain Global in advisory roles.

San Francisco-based Levi Strauss & Co. announced Amisha Jain as the company’s new senior vice president and managing director of South Asia-Middle East and Africa
(SAMEA)

Ullhas Nimkar

England-based Society of Dyers and Colourists (SDC) has named Ullhas Nimkar president for a one year term. Based in Mumbai, India, Nimkar has been a member of SDC for 35 years.

Mark Pikaart has joined Schoeller Textil AG, Switzerland, as Western Regional Sales Manager, North America.

The National Council of Textile Organizations’ (NCTO’s) Fiber Council announced Abigail McBee as the recipient of the 2022 Paul T. O’Day Scholarship Award. She is the daughter of Gaffney, S.C., residents Emily and Douglas McBee. Her father is employed by Auriga Polymers/Indorama Ventures in Spartanburg, S.C.

Switzerland-based Crealet AG announced Andreas Wirz as CEO and Mario Kuster as head of research and development.

Alberto Paccanelli was re-elected president of Belgium-based EURATEX, the European Apparel and Textile Confederation, for two years.

Frank Stevens is the new COO at Sweden-based Polygiene Group.

Lillian Link

Southern Textile Association (STA) Secretary/Treasurer Link Lillian has retired after 27 years with the association. In other STA people news, at its recent Joint Annual Meeting of the STA and Fiber Buyers Groups, Russell Mims received the Steve Epps Lifetime Service Award, and Brad Burnett — STA president from 2010-11 and chairman 2011-12 — was presented with the David Clark Award for distinguished leadership and service. The Steve Epps Lifetime Service Award recognizes people who have been STA members for at least 20 years, are retiring or have retired, and who served the association in many capacities of leadership and service. The David Clark Award is given to STA members who have continued to provide leadership and service to the STA and the industry for a minimum of 10 years after their elected term has ended.

Germany-based Trützschler Group SE has expanded its board of directors with the addition of Dr. Ulrich Schwenken who will serve as CEO and Heinrich Krull who will serve as COO.

Jeff Smith

Jeff Smith has joined Ultrafabrics, Tarrytown, N.J., as head of Residential, North America.

Medical apparel manufacturer Careismatic Brands, Chatsworth, Calif., has named Girisha Chandraraj CEO and Sidharth Lakhani COO.

Lion Brothers Co., Owings Mills, Md., has hired apparel veteran Christopher Heyn as president and CEO.

Xcel Brands Inc., New York City, has appointed Ken Downing creative director of the Halston brand.

Herculite Products Inc., Emigsville, Pa., has hired Jake Ritchie as Midwest Regional manager for the Direct Sales team.

July/August 2022

Macy’s Appoints Emilie Arel To Board Of Directors

Emilie Arel

NEW YORK CITY — August 16, 2022 — Macy’s Inc. today announced the appointment of Emilie Arel, president and CEO of Casper Sleep, to its board of directors, effective August 15, 2022.

As president and CEO at Casper Sleep since 2021, Arel oversees all facets of the business, including the company’s commercial and brand strategy, as well as its wholesale strategy and developing retail partnerships. She brings over 20 years of experience, serving in various leadership roles at retail and consumer brands, such as Target, Gap, FULLBEAUTY Brands and Quidsi, an Amazon company with 10 brands.

“We are pleased to welcome Emilie to the Macy’s Inc. board of directors,” said Jeff Gennette, chairman and CEO of Macy’s Inc. “She brings two decades of impressive, digital-first and brick-and-mortar retail experience to our board, including leading the digital transformation at FULLBEAUTY Brands and implementing Casper’s omnichannel strategy to drive consistency for consumers. Emilie’s experience putting customers at the center of the shopping experience will benefit our board and the broader organization as we continue to provide Macy’s Inc. shoppers with a more personalized and immersive brand experience.”

“We are confident Emilie’s insights, retail merchandising expertise and proven ability to maximize the customer experience will be a valuable addition to our board as we engage both new and existing customers with our leading assortment of categories, products and brands via our omnichannel ecosystem,” said Paul Varga, Macy’s Inc. lead independent director. “We look forward to her contributions as we continue to deliver against our long-term Polaris growth strategy, while positioning Macy’s Inc. to capture additional consumer demand and market share.”

“I am honored to partner with a leading retailer like Macy’s Inc. and look forward to leveraging my omnichannel retail experience to build on the momentum the company has achieved in recent years,” said Arel.

With the addition of Arel, the Macy’s Inc. board will comprise 14 members. Arel will serve on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

About Emilie Arel

Emilie Arel, 44, is the resident and CEO at Casper Sleep, overseeing the company’s comprehensive business strategy, including commercial, brand, and operations. As a three-time CEO with over two decades of experience serving in various leadership roles, she has led complex e-commerce and omnichannel businesses, in addition to retail stores. Previously, Arel served as CEO of FULLBEAUTY Brands, a plus-size apparel company, where she led the company through a debt restructuring and put them on the path to a digital transformation. Prior to FULLBEAUTY, she served as the CEO of Quidsi, an Amazon company with 10 brands, including Diapers.com and Soap.com. Earlier in her career, Arel spent seven years with Gap Inc. where she held multiple merchandising and licensing positions and led a team of 12,000+ employees and 220+ stores. Before joining Gap, Emilie held various roles at Target Corp. for six years. Arel has earned MBAs from Columbia Business School and the University of California, Berkeley. She completed her undergraduate work at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Posted: August 16, 2022

Source: Macy’s Inc.

Hyosung TNC Commercializes World’s First Bio-Based Spandex

SEOUL — August 16, 2022 — Hyosung TNC has succeeded in extracting spandex from corn and commercializing the world’s first bio-based spandex.

Hyosung TNC announced on August 10, 2022, that it successfully developed bio-derived spandex, creora® bio-based, using a natural material extracted from corn instead of coal, and obtained a global eco-friendly certification.

Commercializing the world’s first bio-based spandex that reduces carbon emissions by 23 percent compared to conventional products

The creora bio-based spandex uses a corn-derived substance that obtained an eco-friendly certificate from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, replacing a part of coal-extracted raw materials.

The corn-derived substance has long been used for general fibers, wrapping papers, cosmetics, and liquid detergents, but not for high-functional textiles, such as spandex, as it is impossible to deliver unique elasticity and resilience due to technological limitations. Building on its technological prowess that leads the world’s spandex market, Hyosung TNC has made research and development efforts for more than a year, and successfully commercialized bio-based spandex for the first time in the world.

According to the Life Cycle Assessment, an assessment technique based on the international standards for environmental impact, when creora bio-based is applied to the products, it can reduce water use by 39 percent and carbon dioxide emissions by 23 percent, compared to conventional spandex products.

Obtaining an eco-friendly certification from SGS, the world’s leading international standard certification institute

In June 2022, the creora bio-based received the Eco Product Mark, a global eco-friendly certification, from the SGS (formerly Société Générale de Surveillance).

The Eco Product Mark is awarded to products that used eco-friendly raw materials, harmless to human body and produced in eco-friendly methods through ESG-oriented management.

As the European Union recently announced a full-scale adoption of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) in 2025, global demand for eco-friendly biomaterials is on the rise.

Data Bridge, a global market survey institute, expects the global biological fiber market to grow at an annual average of 5.5 percent by 2029,

“We will drastically expand the eco-friendly product business,” said Hyosung Chairman Cho Hyun-joon, signaling the group’s intention to collaborate with global brands.

Hyosung TNC will initially start production of the bio-based spandex at its production bases in Korea including facilities in Gumi, and then increase its production through global production bases, such as those in Vietnam.

In addition, it aims to continuously increase the use of natural raw materials for its products through collaboration with global fashion brands.

“We will play a pivotal role as an industry leader by steadily developing the next-generation eco-friendly textiles including biodegradable fiber,” Hyun-joon said.

Posted: August 16, 2022

Source: Hyosung Corp.

Barco® Uniforms Debuts Fresh Approach To Healthcare Apparel With New Barco Unify™ Collection

LOS ANGELES — August 16, 2022 — Barco® Uniforms today unveiled its new collection, Barco Unify™. Made to inspire optimism, hope and unity, Barco Unify introduces a fresh approach to healthcare apparel, crystallizing a new chapter in the Barco brand’s 93-year history.

“At Barco, we know our healthcare workers give us their very best care each and every day,” said Barco Uniforms CEO Ron Wagenseil. “In turn, we believe they deserve the very best from us, too. Their unwavering support, commitment and strength is what fueled the inspiration behind our Barco Unify collection, and we couldn’t be more excited to share the new line with the healthcare community today.”

With innovative fabrics & athleisure-inspired styles that are perfect for the workplace and beyond, Barco Unify seamlessly fuses fashion and function to meet the lifestyle needs of today’s modern medical professionals. Barco’s premium, superbly soft, LUXE360 fabric also features wrinkle-release and moisture-wicking technologies with 4-way stretch for optimal comfort that lasts all day long.

Available in four core colors and one trend color for women, Barco Unify offers coordinating separates for the modern minimalist with six new styles for women and three for men. With universally flattering fits, the new Barco Unify collection not only elevates and honors the individuals who wear them, but also reaffirms the brand’s longstanding roots.

The Barco Unify collection has all the must-have features for healthcare workers to feel empowered and comfortable:

  • Style: the women’s collection includes three scrub tops to suit any mood or style – the sporty Henley, classic V-neck, and Sweetheart neckline. A fresh new take on the slim-leg and jogger looks, these scrub pants are modern classics in the making, and finish off the look with the sporty warm-up jacket.
    • The men’s collection includes a classic V-neck and jogger combination that marries form and function with Luxe360 fabric. The warm-up jacket, with its modern fit and clean angles, is the perfect piece to round out the look.
  • Color & Fit: available in four core colors for women and men including Black, New Royal, Indigo, Steel, and an exclusive women’s only fashion colorway, Dusty Red, each piece features athleisure-inspired silhouettes and styling, in the LUXE360 stretch-twill for a sportswear look & feel.
  • Sizing: with 4-way stretch and supple draping, all Barco Unify styles are available in inclusive sizes to fit all bodies and never loses shape over time.

Barco Unify is now available at retailers nationwide with inclusive sizing ranging from XXS – 5XL, retailing for $31-$47. To keep up with the latest from Barco Uniforms and to find a retailer near you, please visit www.barcounify.com

Posted: August 16, 2022

Source: Barco® Uniforms

RISE® – Research, Innovation & Science For Engineered Fabrics Conference – To Focus On Rethinking, Reusing And Recycling Nonwovens This September In Raleigh

CARY, N.C.— August 16, 2022 — More than 20 industry experts will present their views on how material science innovations can create a more sustainable future for the nonwovens industry at the Research, Innovation & Science for Engineered Fabrics (RISE®) Conference, September 27-28 at North Carolina State University.

Starting with responsible sourcing of nonwoven inputs to developing realistic end-of-life options and circularity opportunities, RISE will focus on rethinking, reusing and recycling nonwovens and engineered materials at the Talley Student Union in Raleigh.

Co-organized by INDA and The Nonwovens Institute at North Carolina State University, registration is open and the full program is available on the RISE® website https://www.riseconf.net/register.html

Participants will learn what’s coming next with sessions on the following six themes: Towards a More Circular Industry; Advancement in Sustainable Inputs; Development in Natural Fibers; Sustainable Inputs: Fibers and Biofibers; Waste Not, Want Not, Sustainable Inputs from Waste Products; and Economic Insights and Market Intelligence.

The 12th edition of RISE® will bring together thought leaders in product development, materials science, and new technologies to connect and convene for the industry’s premier nonwovens science and technology conference.

Expert speakers will address the latest trends and innovations around circularity — an important component of sustainability strategies that aims to return a product into the supply chain, instead of the landfill, after users are done consuming it.

RISE® session highlights include:

  • The Global Plastic Crisis: Who Will Be the Winners/Losers in The Marketplace?: Dr. Bryan Haynes, senior technical director, Global Nonwovens, Kimberly-Clark Corp.;
  • Sustainable Fibers – Developments and the Future: Dr. Jason Locklin, director, University of Georgia, New Materials Institute and Dr. David Grewell, Center director, Center for Bioplastics and Biocomposites;
  • Thinking Differently: In a Changing World What’s Next for NatureWorks and Polylactic Acid Polymers (PLA): Dr. Liz Johnson, vice president of Technology, NatureWorks LLC;
  • PLA and PLA Blends: Practical Aspects of Extrusion: Dr. Behnam Pourdeyhimi, William A. Klopman Distinguished professor and executive director, The Nonwovens Institute, North Carolina State University;
  • Hemp is Strong – Are You?: Olaf Isele, Strategic Product Development director, Trace Femcare Inc.;
  • Exploring Natural Fibers in Nonwovens: Paul Latten, director of Research and Development & New Business, Southeast Nonwovens Inc.;
  • Potential Nonwoven Applications of Tree-Free Fibers Made from Microbial Cellulose:
 Heidi Beatty, CEO, Crown Abbey LLC; and
  • Ultra Fine Fibers Made from Recycled Materials: Takashi Owada, general manager, Teijin Frontier (U.S.A.) Inc.

The event also will feature the presentation of the RISE® Innovation Award, a special opportunity to tour the Nonwovens Institute’s state-of-the-art facilities with advance registration required, and poster presentations by North Carolina State University graduate students. Participants also will have opportunities to network during coffee and session breaks and two buffet lunches.

For full session descriptions and speaker bios, visit the RISE® website. https://www.riseconf.net/

Posted: August 16, 2022

Source: INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry

Freudenberg Performance Materials Introduces Freudenberg Friction Inserts

WEINHEIM, Germany —  August 11, 2022 — Freudenberg Performance Materials is introducing Freudenberg Friction Inserts to trade visitors at WindEnergy, the leading trade fair for the international wind energy industry. Freudenberg Friction Inserts is a unique technology aimed at increasing the power density of wind turbines. Freudenberg Performance Materials will be welcoming WindEnergy visitors to Stand 531 in Hall B6.

The Freudenberg Friction Inserts (FFI) technology is based on a special very thin nonwoven carrier material coated on one side with hard particles. The FFI are customized to fit each application, in terms of both the geometry and the construction parameters of the connection. As they do not create a gap they can be applied exactly where they are needed.

When placed in the joint, these hard particles penetrate into the surfaces of the two joining parts creating a micro interlock, thus reliably increasing the friction coefficient and achieving higher torque transmission in connections. This results in higher performance and a significant improvement in the efficiency of wind turbines. In addition, it enables the downsizing of components without compromising performance, reducing weight and material.

Increased safety and efficiency

Thanks to the innovative technology, FFI help to improve the reliability of connections and thus of the entire wind turbine. Furthermore, they eliminate slipping and prevent fretting of connections.

Wide range of applications for Freudenberg Friction Inserts

Other examples of applications for FFI are highly loaded flange connections between the rotor shaft and gearbox, connections between the main bearing and the machine carrier housing, the gearbox to generator, or at the pitch gear or ring gear. Precision-designed for their intended use, they increase the friction co-efficient between two components.

Joint stand with sister companies

The leading technology expert and market leader for sophisticated and novel applications in sealing technology Freudenberg Sealing Technologies will be exhibiting highlight topics, such as Seventomatic S95 for oil lubricated main shaft bearings, piston accumulators for wind turbine pitch control, MP/TP seals for offshore wind turbine foundation structures, gaskets for hydrogen electrolyzer.

Klüber Lubrication, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of specialty lubricants, is presenting its comprehensive range of predictive maintenance services designed to achieve high machine availability with lower costs.

Posted August 16, 2022

Source: Freudenberg

Alpaca Owners Association Announces Winners Of 17th Annual North American Student Design Competition

Kittson Hamill was the first place winner in the fashion design category.

LINCOLN, Neb. — August 16, 2022 — The Alpaca Owners Association Inc. (AOA) Student Design Competition was created to promote the use of alpaca fiber in fashion, textile and interior design at the fundamental level of educational institutions. The theme for this year’s competition was Alpaca: The Earth Friendly Fiber.

The competition is divided into two categories: fashion design and textile design. Entries required a presentation board, swatches and a one-page essay.

The top entries in each category and the winning essay received cash scholarships and will be spotlighted in the award-winning nationally distributed publication Alpacas Magazine. These finalists were invited to virtually attend the Alpaca Owners Association National Education and Fiber Conference, where their entries were on display.

Finalists in the fashion design category are:

  • 1st place – Kittson Hamill, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Ala.;
  • 2nd place – Celeste Graciano, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kan.; and
  • 3rd place – Yinan Zhang, Savannah College of Arts and Design, Savannah, Ga.

Finalists in the textile design category are:

  • 1st place – Rosemary Anderson, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio; and
  • 2nd place – Kelly Padulese Czyzewski, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pa.

The Student Design Competition is judged by industry professionals who will provide a critique for each entry. The scoring is based on an evaluation of individual entries rather than a comparative system.

The AOA Student Design Competition’s mission is to expose college-level art, fashion, and textile design students and professors to the wonders of designing with alpaca fiber. The competition is primarily self-funded through student entry sponsorship and donations to the program by individual alpaca farms and their affiliated organizations and businesses.

1 of 5
Fashion Design 1st place – Kittson Hamill, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Fashion Design
Fashion Design 2nd place – Celeste Graciano, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kan.
Textile Design 1st place – Rosemary Anderson, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
Textile Design 2nd place – Kelly Padulese Czyzewski, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pa.

Posted August 16, 2022

Source: Alpaca Owners Association

Michelman To Spotlight Fiber-Polymer Interface Adhesion Expertise And Solutions For Technical Textile Applications At CAMX 2022

CINCINNATI, Ohio — August 16, 2022 — Michelman is a manufacturer of advanced materials, including fiber sizing and surface modifiers used to produce reinforced plastic composites. The company — focused on the development and production of innovative and novel water-based functional dispersions and emulsions of polymers, resins, and waxes —  will showcase its Hydrosize® and Hydrosize Carbon fiber sizing solutions and its Unyte™ technologies for technical textiles at CAMX 2022.

Hydrosize is Michelman’s flagship line of sizing solutions designed for use in the manufacturing of glass, carbon, and natural fibers, including both chopped and continuous formats. They are used as lubricants, film formers, sizing agents, and binders during fiber manufacturing and composite processing. This technology allows fiber manufacturers to optimize the interfacial adhesion between the polymers and fibers by tailoring their reinforcement fibers’ surface chemistry to the matrix resin’s chemistry. This improved interface adhesion helps fiber producers and composite manufacturers produce stronger, lighter, and more durable composite parts.

Michelman will also feature its line of Hydrosize Carbon solutions that allow customers to leverage carbon fiber’s unique qualities and produce higher-quality composite parts. It also helps further exploit the traditional benefits of composites: design freedom, consolidation of parts, and integration of functionality while meeting light-weighting initiatives. Composites that require high-temperature processing typically require the use of high-temperature polyamide, polyimide, PPS, and PAEK-based resins.

Select Hydrosize Carbon grades provide excellent thermal stability and are specifically designed to withstand elevated processing and subsequent applications. Furthermore, the various grades offer a wide variety of solutions depending on resin compatibility, fiber type, and desired composite performance.

According to Steve Bassetti, Michelman’s director, Global Marketing for the company’s Fibers & Composites business group: “While fiber sizing accounts for a small percent of the finished product, it has a significant impact on the final properties of composite parts. Optimizing fiber polymer interfacial adhesion with Hydrosize enhances the performance of numerous mechanical and chemical properties, including thermal and hydrolytic stability, corrosion resistance, heat and oil resistance, impact strength, tensile and flexural strengths, compressive strength, fatigue performance, and electrical conductivity. It is a critical component that produces high-quality, high-performance composites.”

Michelman’s Unyte brand is a versatile family of water-based technologies that help achieve advanced form and function in woven and nonwoven materials used in the design of technical textiles and pre-preg fabrics. These solutions enhance textile products’ performance by improving adhesion, binding, processability, and chemical & heat resistance. The Unyte Bind series offers multiple solutions that improve fiber-to-fiber adhesion. Unyte Grip promotes the adhesion between fibers and polymeric matrices, helping to improve various functional or mechanical properties. Unyte Slip is beneficial for fabrics, nonwovens, and pre-pregs that need to be stacked or rolled without sticking together. Finally, Unyte Resist products are designed to provide excellent wet-out and moisture/chemical resistance to fabrics. They impart performance benefits, including chemical resistance, water resistance, and hydrophobicity under humid conditions to fabrics, wovens, and nonwovens.

Michelman will exhibit in booth #X26 at CAMX 2022, to be held October 17-20, 2022, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, Calif.

Posted August 16, 2022

Source: Michelman

Suominen To Implement Surcharges In North America

HELSINKI — August 16, 2022 — Suominen has announced general surcharges on all its products in North America effective immediately. These surcharges are a response to significant unexpected increases in raw materials, energy and freight costs.

“We have done all we can to mitigate these increases on behalf of our customers. Suominen can no longer absorb the full extent of these increases. We are living in an unusual time in the nonwovens industry with unprecedented and unexpected cost increases accompanied by volatility in demand patterns and supply chain disruptions. We understand circumstances are extremely challenging and we remain committed to serving our customers during this difficult period,” said Lynda A. Kelly, senior vice president, Americas.

Details of the surcharges will be communicated to customers via Suominen sales organization.

Posted August 16, 2022

Source: Suominen

 

ABB To Acquire Siemens Low Voltage NEMA Motor Business

ZURICH — August 11, 2022 — ABB announced today it has signed an agreement to purchase Siemens’ low voltage NEMA motor business. With manufacturing operations in Guadalajara, Mexico, this acquisition provides a well-regarded product portfolio, a longstanding North American customer base, and an experienced operations, sales, and management team. The business employs around 600 people and generated revenues of approximately $63 million in 2021. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2023.

This transaction is part of the Motion business area’s profitable growth strategy, and it will allow the NEMA motors division to enhance its product offering, expand its supply chain relationships, and improve support to its North American customer base. It also offers the opportunity to better support the customers in Mexico with local manufacturing and sales. ABB expects to benefit from identified synergies, and to use the R&D expertise, supply chain relationships, and market access to bring the combined portfolio to its full potential.

“This bolt-on acquisition creates strong value for ABB’s NEMA motors division,” said Tarak Mehta, president ABB Motion. “Investing in the business and opening up sales opportunities in North America and especially Mexico will allow this business to be margin accretive to the ABB Motion business within 24 months.”

“We have long appreciated the quality and design of these motors,” Jesse Henson, president of ABB’s NEMA motors division, added. “Now that we have met the leadership team behind them, I am even more confident that together we can grow our combined businesses faster than either of us could alone. We look forward to adding the Siemens low voltage NEMA motor portfolio to our existing offering of ABB and Baldor-Reliance® industrial electric motors.”

The global NEMA motor industry, roughly $2.7 billion in size, comprises industrial electric motors primarily used within North America. NEMA motors are essential components used to run equipment in industries such as food and beverage, oil and gas, mining & aggregate, and water & wastewater and in applications like those which move air, liquids, and units.

Posted: August 15, 2022

Source: ABB

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