Albany International Publishes Inaugural Sustainability Report

ROCHESTER, N.H. — November 8, 2021 — Albany International Corp. released its inaugural Sustainability report, focused on the company’s management approach and accomplishments in key environmental, social and governance areas.

“At Albany International, we have long demonstrated that by living by our core values of safety, accountability, integrity, respect, passion, and innovation — we can drive our business forward and make an impact that benefits our people, our communities, and the world at large,” said Bill Higgins, president and CEO. “In 2020 we began establishing more formalized and scalable approaches to our sustainability practices, reporting and systems. We undertook these tasks to ensure we prioritize our sustainability efforts to include what is not only most impactful to our business, but also most important to our stakeholders.”

Key Highlights:

  • Established the Albany Sustainability Council with Board oversight and cross functional global representation across the company;
  • Assessed and researched views and preferences of key stakeholder groups, including current and prospective employees, customers, partners, environmental groups and investors;
  • Evaluated reporting frameworks to assess which standards are best aligned with our business and our stakeholder’s interests and prepare to report to those standards.

The report, and associated Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) disclosures, can be accessed on Albany International’s Investor Relations website.

Reporting Standards and Framework

Albany International’s approach to sustainability reporting is intended to evolve and we expect to refine our assessments of the most important sustainability topics from our stakeholders’ perspective, deepen the scope of our reporting on select topics, and broaden the set of topics covered in our reporting.

The company is disclosing information and data on a variety of subjects covered by several reporting standards. The company has adopted the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) reporting standards for the Industrial Machinery & Goods industry under the SASB’s Sustainable Industry Classification System® (SICS®) and is disclosing information and data to that standard. Given the company’s significant aerospace composites business, the company has elected to supplement its disclosure by reporting certain relevant topics contained in the SASB Aerospace & Defense standard.

Posted November 8, 2021

Source: Albany International Corp.

Mattress Brand Sleemon Forays Into The U.S. Market; Set To Launch Ultrcool™ Mattress Topper

CASTLETON, Vt. — November 8, 2021 — Sleemon, a supplier of mattresses for IKEA and 5-star hotels in the Asia-Pacific region, is making inroads into the U.S. market by launching the Sleemon UltrCool™ Mattress Topper on Amazon on November 8, 2021. This offering features Sleemon’s up-to-date and advanced innovation, UltrCool Technology, a high-performance fabric that dries faster than any other mattress, elevating your sleeping experience to a higher level. With this launch, Sleemon plans to broaden the distribution of its products to new and existing customers in a move that is integral to its future expansion plans.

The Ultimate Sleeping Experience, with UltrCool™ Technology

Every night while you sleep, you create a warm and humid environment due to body heat and sweat. When this moisture is trapped in the mattress, it causes increased body temperature, irregular breathing and discomfort on waking up. To cope with these problems, Sleemon has designed a mattress topper that uses UltrCool Technology, which can quickly absorb and disperse moisture, thus keeping the body cool, and promising a comfortable and restorative sleep.

“We have adopted the most self-advanced technology, UltrCool, in the Sleemon UltrCool Mattress Topper. It disperses trapped heat, regulates body temperature, reduces sweating, and provides relief from body aches and pains, making sure you wake up feeling refreshed and energetic all day,” said Chen Ayu, chairman of Sleemon.

Sleemon’s Most Comfortable Mattress Topper

Extremely cozy and cool on contact, the newly launched Sleemon UltrCool Mattress Topper is the ideal solution for comfortable sleep throughout the night. UltrCool technology helps customers get their most comfortable and coolest sleep yet. It uses high-tech fabric that quickly absorbs and disperses sweat and moisture through its four-tube fibers. It also dries faster than any other mattress with similar benefits, keeping your skin cool and dry all night long.

Available in two thickness options, 2 inches and 3 inches, the Sleemon UltrCool Mattress Topper uses high-density gel-infused memory foam with perforated holes to alleviate pressure points by distributing weight evenly and reducing pressure buildup. Furthermore, it optimally supports the body offering personalized support and relief from pain, especially the lower back and tired joints.

The Sleemon UltrCool Mattress Topper is fitted with thick corner straps firmly securing it in place on the mattress for maximum comfort. The durable foam material also ensures that it will keep its shape for years to come. This topper instantly upgrades the comfort of any mattress giving you the welcome feeling of sinking into a plush and supportive cocoon each night.

The Sleemon UltrCool Mattress Topper is ideal for warm homes and infants, children who get overheated and perspire while sleeping, adults and the elderly with bodyache or painful joints, and in general, people who prefer a cool, dry and airy environment while sleeping.

Further to this launch, Sleemon also plans to expand its product line in the coming months with the introduction of two new offerings, the Sleemon Breathable Memory Foam Mattress Topper and the Sleemon Adjustable  Gel Memory Foam Pillow.

Posted November 8, 2021

Source: Sleemon

NRF: Retail Imports Near Record Pace Despite Port Congestion As Holiday Season Begins

WASHINGTON — November 8, 2021 — Imports at the nation’s congested container ports are expected to remain at near-record levels for the remainder of the year as retailers rush to move merchandise from docks to shelves in time to meet the expectations of holiday shoppers, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

“Dockworkers are unloading ships as fast as they can, but the challenge is to move the containers out of the ports to make room for the next ship,” NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said. “We need better empty return procedures and more chassis, truck drivers, rail capacity and warehouse workers to keep the system moving. Retailers have enough inventory on hand to make sure shoppers won’t go home empty-handed this holiday season. But there are still items sitting on the docks or waiting on ships that need to make it to store shelves and online sellers’ warehouses. Retailers want to make sure customers have product choices.”

More than 70 ships were reported waiting to dock at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach last week, and the wait at Los Angeles has averaged two weeks over the past month. Those delays, in turn, can push back the vessels’ arrival at other ports on their schedules. Some carriers have announced plans to divert to other locations, but congestion is building nationwide.

“The once-vaunted supply chain continues to come under pressure from all sides,” Hackett Associates Founder Ben Hackett said, citing issues ranging from port congestion in the United States to electrical shortages impacting production in China. “It does not look like the congestion will improve any time soon, with most commentators suggesting problems will continue well into 2022 – and that is assuming COVID-19 does not spike again.”

Congestion and disruptions that began in 2020 have continued through the current “peak season” for shipping when retailers normally stock up for the holidays, but many retailers anticipated the challenge and began bringing in holiday goods months ahead of schedule to be sure sufficient inventory would be available. NRF has forecast that holiday sales will grow between 8.5 percent and 10.5 percent over 2020.

U.S. ports covered by Global Port Tracker handled 2.14 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units in September, the latest month for which final numbers are available. That was down 5.9 percent from August but up 1.4 percent year over year. A TEU is one 20-foot container or its equivalent.

Ports have not reported October numbers yet, but Global Port Tracker projected the month at 2.19 million TEU, down 1.2 percent from October 2020. The year-over-year decline would be the first since July 2020, after which unusually high import volumes began to arrive when stores closed by the pandemic reopened and retailers worked to meet pent-up consumer demand and to stock up for the holidays.

Even with the year-over-year decline, October would be among the five busiest months on record since NRF began tracking imports in 2002. Busy cargo is expected to continue through the end of the year, with November forecast at 2.17 million TEU, up 3.3 percent year-over-year, and December at 2.18 million TEU, up 3.5 percent.

January 2022 is forecast at 2.21 million TEU, up 7.6 percent from January 2021; February at 2 million TEU, up 7 percent year-over-year, and March at 2.17 million, down 4.1 percent year-over-year.

The first half of 2021 totaled 12.8 million TEU, up 35.6 percent from the same period last year. For the full year, 2021 is on track to total 26 million TEU, up 17.9 percent over 2020 and a new annual record topping last year’s 22 million TEU. Cargo imports during 2020 were up 1.9 percent over 2019 despite the pandemic.

Global Port Tracker, which is produced for NRF by Hackett Associates, provides historical data and forecasts for the U.S. ports of Los Angeles/Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle and Tacoma on the West Coast; New York/New Jersey, Port of Virginia, Charleston, Savannah, Port Everglades, Miami and Jacksonville on the East Coast, and Houston on the Gulf Coast. The report is free to NRF retail members, and subscription information is available at NRF.com/PortTracker

Posted November 8, 2021

Source: The National Retail Federation (NRF)

Techtextil India Gears Up For Its First-Ever Post-Pandemic Edition Through Its Hybrid Exhibition In November

MUMBAI — November 8, 2021 — Techtextil India is ready to make a comeback through its hybrid edition launch from November 25-27, 2021. With a series of live product demonstrations, insightful knowledge sessions and B2B networking opportunities, the multimodal trade fair will provide a strong avenue for technical textile professionals to reimagine their business potential.

After a successful grand edition in 2019, Techtexil India is all set to return for the very first time since the pandemic. The three-day exhibition will be hosted in a hybrid format from November 25-27, 2021, Bombay Exhibition Centre, Goregaon which will unite technical textile players from across its varied application areas. Top technical textile brands including JB Ecotex, PARK Nonwoven, Loyal Textiles Lenzing, Mehala, Meera Industries, amongst many others will showcase their latest products at the hybrid fair. Moreover, leading German brands exhibiting at Techtextil India 2021 will be hosted under the German pavilion.

The conjunction between the physical exhibition and the online business matchmaking platform will make way to a wider range of networking. Local and international visitors who are unable to attend the venue will be able to witness the exhibition virtually through the ‘MFI virtual app’ which will host live knowledge sessions and product demonstrations for visitors. The two-day multimodal trade fair allow the visitors to search for specific products like fibers, yarns, nonwovens, machinery, coated textiles with easy to use filters further to which they can share their query or connect directly with the respective exhibitors.

At the same time, visitors attending the venue will be welcomed under a well-organized physical exhibition following the government-authorized safety protocols of ‘MFI SafeConnect’. These protocols will enable visitors to engage in secure face-to-face interactions with exhibitors and witness the latest technical textile technologies and innovations in-person.

Apart from being an ideal platform to source the latest technical textile products, Techtexil India has always been a crucial meeting place for the industry to interface and build new relationships with professionals from across the value chain. Even amid the disruption created by consecutive lockdowns, Messe Frankfurt India continued to keep the flame of industry burning, to remain connected and well-informed through a series of webinars and Techtexil India Digital Connect sessions.

Returning for the very first time post-pandemic, Techtexil India 2021 will act as a unifier for the technical textiles segment players to come together and discover the way forward for the industry.

Commenting on the aim and focus of the hybrid exhibition, Raj Manek, executive director and board member, Messe Frankfurt Asia Holdings Ltd., shared: “After a tough and lengthy period of slowdown, I am sure that the industry is eager to head full steam forward and regain its momentum. There are plenty of lucrative opportunities in technical textiles, owing to the reforms and schemes introduced by the Indian government. Through Techtexil India 2021, we aim to provide a collaborative atmosphere that the industry needs to get back on its feet and look ahead towards the future. Moreover, the return of face-to-face exhibition combined with the virtual model will open doors to excellent sourcing, collaborative and learning opportunities for professionals. I greatly look forward to welcoming the technical textile industry back on the showfloor of Techtexil India.”

Alliance with the Government of Tamil Nadu

In a bid to strengthen indigenous production through the state and attract investors, the nodal agency for investment promotion and facilitation for the Government of Tamil Nadu – Guidance has signed up for Techtextil India 2021. Furthermore, technical textile players from Tamil Nadu such as Cyber Textiles India Pvt Ltd., Jayashree Spun Bond, Lenzing AG India, Liester Technologies, Loyal Textile Mills Ltd, Milltex Engineers Pvt Ltd., Superfil Products Pvt Ltd., Uster Technologies (India) Pvt Ltd. have also confirmed their participation for the exhibition.

Announcing a close co-operation with Messe Frankfurt India for the 2021 edition, Pooja Kulkarni, IAS MD & CEO, Guidance Tamil Nadu, stated: “While there are several inherent advantages for the growth of technical textiles in Tamil Nadu specifically, many raw materials used in the production of sanitary products, artificial ligaments, seat belt webbings, airbags are still heavily imported. In this context, the alliance with Techtextil India Forum can help us reduce import dependency and bring investments in R&D, manufacturing, innovation by partnering with global technical textiles companies.”

With 50 percent of India’s textile mills in Tamil Nadu and complementary clusters of knitting, weaving and medical devices manufacturing in Coimbatore, and Tiruppur, the region provides immense opportunities for Meditech investments. Two petrochemical and refinery units — One in Cuddalore and another in Nagapattinam by CPCL is in the process of being established in Tamil Nadu. These units will enable availability of MMF raw material for the textile industry across the state. Hence, manufacturing in Tamil Nadu can be a win-win arrangement for investors as India provides access to the burgeoning market as well.

International expertise with German pavilion

Techtexil India 2021 edition will feature an exclusive German Pavilion showcasing products and technologies from top German manufacturers, including Autefa Solution Germany GmbH, DILO Systems GmbH, Emtec Electronic GmbH, Georg Sahm GmbH & Co., Karl Mayer Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Merz Maschinenfabrik GmbH and Oerlikon Barmag Zweigniederlassung der Oerlikon Textile GmbH & Co.

Moreover, the Indian representatives of brands from Austria, China, Italy, Spain, Taiwan, Turkey, the UK and the USA have also participated at the exhibition.

Product launches and live demos

The showfloors of Techtexil India 2021 will be flurried with product launches and latest technological offerings brands across the different application areas.

The physical exhibition format will showcase a series of key product launches from brands, including Autefa Solutions, DiloGroup, Meera Industries, Sicam, Suntech Geotextile and Weavetech, among others while the virtual exhibition format will feature live product demonstrations exclusive for the visitors tuned in live.

The return of Techtextil India through the new hybrid edition will provide a strong reboot to the industry by facilitating business collaboration, sourcing and learning opportunities in technical textiles.

Posted November 8, 2021

Source: Messe Frankfurt Trade Fairs India Pvt Ltd.

Carrington Textiles Wins Award For Supporting The Healthcare Sector During The Pandemic

ADLINGTON, United Kingdom — November 8, 2021 — European workwear fabric manufacturer Carrington Textiles was awarded the ‘Services to the Pandemic’ award for its support to the healthcare sector in the United Kingdom and Europe, after increasing capacity at its main processing facility in the United Kingdom and supplying more than 10 million meters of specialized fabric for medical workwear during the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.

The company received the accolade at the Professional Clothing Industry Association Worldwide (PCIAW) Awards and Summit in London, an annual event that celebrates the innovation and achievements of individuals and businesses from the industry. The two-day affair started with an insightful summit gathering companies from around the globe to discuss the challenges and solutions for sustainability in textiles, followed by an elegant black-tie evening ceremony to recognize the efforts of people from around the workwear and uniform sectors who make the difference.

Carrington Textiles received the ‘Services to the Pandemic’ award due to their around-the-clock work with some of the biggest garment providers to the NHS and the healthcare sector in France, Germany, Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, managing to supply the equivalent in specialized fabric of over 5 million sets of uniforms, including scrub suits or tunics and trousers.

Additionally, as manufacturers from the fashion industry re-purposed their production for scrub suits, and self-created ‘scrub hubs’ proliferated around the nation, Carrington Textiles supported with much-needed supplies of fabric.

The global textile manufacturer also received the highly commended award under the ‘Best Fabric and Fibre Innovation’ category for the development of their Antiviral Finish for workwear fabrics, a product that the company has been offering long before the start of the global pandemic in 2020, however, as key workers from around the world were demanding extra protection, the company’s objectives were to run tests on the product to make sure this solution was effective. In August 2020 Carrington Textiles was able to go to market with its Antiviral Finished Fabrics for workwear tested under the ISO 18184: 2019 standard.

Carrington Textiles’ Managing Director, Neil Davey, said: “We are delighted to be recognized by the PCIAW for our work during the pandemic, but every supplier up and down the supply chain was just as important as Carrington Textiles in delivering garments to the NHS and wider European healthcare sectors, so this is very much a shared award by the entire workwear sector.”

Posted November 8, 2021

Source: Carrington Textiles

NCTO Commends House Passage Of Infrastructure Package; A Step Forward In Reconstituting A Domestic PPE Supply Chain

WASHINGTON — November 5, 2021 — The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), representing the full spectrum of U.S. textiles from fiber through finished products, issued a statement today welcoming House passage of a bipartisan infrastructure bill that will provide billions of dollars in new spending to revitalize the nation’s roads, bridges and railways and help reconstitute a domestic supply chain for face masks, isolation gowns and other personal protective equipment (PPE).

“We commend the House for getting the bipartisan infrastructure bill across the finish line today, and we are pleased the legislation will now go to President Biden for his signature. This is the first step in a long-term strategy that is critically needed to permanently onshore PPE production to ensure our nation is prepared for the next health security crisis,” said NCTO President and CEO Kim Glas. “This infrastructure package will help incentivize the reshoring of PPE production by guaranteeing long-term federal contracts and expanding Berry Amendment rules to more federal agencies’ purchases of PPE products, important priorities of the U.S. textile industry.”

NCTO worked with congressional allies to include a version of the Make PPE in America Act, legislation co-sponsored by Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.), in the infrastructure legislative package. The bill ensures all PPE purchased by the Departments of Homeland Security, Health and Human Services and Veterans Affairs are Berry Amendment-compliant (containing 100 percent domestic content); guarantees long-term contracts (a minimum of two years) to U.S. manufacturers; and creates a tiered preference for PPE made in the Western Hemisphere by our free trade partners using U.S. components, after domestic manufacturing capacity has been maximized.

“This bill within the infrastructure package will help onshore critical production of critical medical supplies, ensuring that taxpayer dollars do not go to China and other offshore PPE producers but are instead utilized to bolster the federal purchase of American-made PPE,” Glas said. “In fact, applying these strong procurement rules across our government for purchases of PPE will unequivocally lead to investments in this sector and help onshore this industry longer term.  We can’t thank Senator Portman and Senator Peters enough for their unwavering support.

“The U.S. manufacturing industry has produced over a billion lifesaving PPE and other medical products over the last year, demonstrating that domestic textile manufacturers have the technical capabilities and existing capacity to make the United States fully sufficient in terms of our national PPE needs.

“But this sufficiency will only permanently materialize if several proper government policies are put in place that incentivize the long-term investment to bring PPE production back onshore. This will require several steps, including incentives for the private sector to purchase American-made PPE; best-value contracting principles for federal purchases; and further industrial expansion efforts under the Defense Production Act (DPA) for U.S. textile and apparel production. This Berry amendment and long-term contracts provision is a critical first step and we are thrilled that it was included in the bipartisan infrastructure package that will be signed into law in the coming days.”

Posted November 6, 2021

Source: The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO)

Centric Brands And WHP Global Partner To Acquire Joe’s Jeans

NEW YORK CITY — November 5, 2021 — Centric Brands LLC and WHP Global announced today they have signed a definitive agreement and received court approval to purchase the Joe’s Jeans brand, which will be subject to customary closing conditions. As part of the agreement, WHP will own the worldwide intellectual property in all global territories other than China and Centric will continue to operate Joe’s Jeans under a long-term exclusive license for their core categories and geographies across retail, wholesale, and e-commerce channels.

Founded in 2001, Joe’s Jeans has redefined premium denim with its inherently LA sensibility and distinctive point-of-view. With an emphasis on incorporating technology into design, the brand creates product for men, women and kids that is innovative and fits flawlessly. Joe’s Jeans offers denim, apparel, and accessories and is available at premium department stores in the United States, at specialty boutiques globally, 10 Joe’s Jeans stores, and at the digital flagship www.joesjeans.com. This year, Joe’s Jeans is celebrating its 20th anniversary and is buoyed by strong Ecommerce demand, on-trend fits in women’s, and men’s Kinetic denim.

“We have significantly invested in Joe’s Jeans throughout our years of operation and have established the brand as one of the leading premium denim resources,” said Jason Rabin, CEO of Centric Brands. “Celebrating its 20th year, we look forward to partnering with WHP Global to further develop the brand and new avenues to grow the business.”

Centric Brands is a global lifestyle brand collective that designs, sources, markets, and sells high-quality products in the kids, men’s and women’s apparel, accessories, beauty, and entertainment categories. The company’s portfolio includes more than 100 owned and licensed iconic brands collectively generating approximately $2.5 billion in annual global sales.

“The acquisition of Joe’s Jeans in partnership with Centric is a win for WHP Global as it expands our growing fashion vertical which already includes ANNE KLEIN and JOSEPH ABBOUD,” stated Yehuda Shmidman, chairman and CEO at WHP Global. “Together with Centric, we will look to build upon the core business and expand around the world to new geographies.”

WHP Global is a leading New York based brand acquisition and management firm backed by equity capital from funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. and leverage financing provided by BlackRock. Following the close of the transaction, WHP’s portfolio — including Joe’s Jeans, William Rast, Toys“R”Us, Babies “R”Us, Anne Klein, Joseph Abboud, and Lotto – will collectively generate approximately $4 billion in annual global retail sales.

Posted November 5, 2021

Source: Centric Brands LLC

The Colombia Investment Summit 2021 Concluded With Promising Opportunities For 150 New Foreign Investment Projects

MIAMI, Florida — November 4, 2021 — With a portfolio of more than 150 projects valued at more than $8 billion, Colombia Investment Summit 2021, recently concluded its seventh year with promising business leads and impressive supporting testimonials from international companies that recognize the foreign direct investment potential in the country

“The Colombia Investment Summit is a dynamic platform for networking and attracting foreign investment opportunities, which continues to captivate the interest of businesses from around the world and multilateral organizations that are inquiring about our country,” said Flavia Santoro, president of ProColombia. “The outcome of our Colombia Investment Summit is very satisfactory, and these leads ultimately contribute to the growth and economic reactivation of Colombia.”

More than 300 multinationals from Europe, Asia, Latin America, and North America participated in the summit and held business meetings with Colombian entrepreneurs, project representatives, and support entities. During this year’s event, the president of the Inter-American Development Bank- IDB, Mauricio Claver-Carone reaffirmed the support of the multilateral organization to the 5G road infrastructure program of the National Government. “We are interested in supporting the bicentennial program of the fifth generation of concessions in the country,” said Claver-Carone. “The IDB is convinced of the enormous potential of Colombia as a destination for foreign investment and we are committed to helping the government and investors to take advantage of the opportunities.”

Part of these initiatives also include the legal, financial, and technical structuring of the project to restore the navigability of the Magdalena River, valued at more than $375 million.

The Colombia Investment Summit 2021 also left a strong impression amongst  international business executives who recognize Colombia as an attractive investment destination and acknowledged the advantages of its national market.

For Javier Villamizar, operating partner at Softbank — a multi-sector fund of Japanese origin  that has made significant investments in Colombian ventures such as Rappi, a delivery startup; Ayenda Hoteles, one of the fastest-growing hotel chains in Latin America;  and Platzi, an e-learning platform, among others, Colombia has a friendly ecosystem to invest in. “We invest in talent and we bet on entrepreneurs. We need a country that has made investments over the last few years in talent training, and we’ve consistently seen this in Colombia for the last two years. The combination of talent and government support makes it an attractive market.”

In addition to entrepreneurship, there are sectors with important development and investment opportunities, such as renewable energies.

For Federico Echavarría, general manager of AES a Fortune 500 company that generates and distributes electrical power, “Colombia is a pro-market economy, the electricity sector operates under market rules. That is very important for a multinational, to be able to install its operations in a country that believes in the market, and at the end of the day, contribute to the benefit of the final consumer. Colombia is a country that welcomes foreign capital, AES in Colombia feels comfortable, feels welcome, and feels that it contributes to the development of the country.”

The infrastructure segment also reflects the dynamism and potential for attracting foreign investment, said Federico Gimeno, vice president of business development at  I Squared Capital, a global infrastructure investment manager, “We have already invested in Colombia twice, in infrastructure, and we expect to continue investing in the near future. I Squared Capital looks for markets where there are possibilities of growth, where there is economic dynamism, but at the same time where there are clear rules of the game and an important investor protection. We look for support from governments both at a national and local level for all investors who are looking to support the development of a country”.

Posted November 5, 2021

Source: ProColombia

Using Technical Warp Knitted Fabrics From WEFTTRONIC® II G To Provide Greater Efficiency On Construction Sites

OBERTSHAUSEN, Germany — November 5, 2021 — Due to the strong economic growth in emerging markets and low interest rates in most developed countries the global construction market is experiencing a sustained period of growth. The future forecasts are also optimistic. In particular, planned investments in renewable energy infrastructure and urbanisation will continue to ensure full order books for construction companies and their suppliers.

The booming market rewards innovations for greater efficiency and speed in construction, as demonstrated by the textile solutions created on machines developed by KARL MAYER Technische Textilien. These well-thought-out products offer a variety of advantages across different applications.

Greater efficiency in infrastructure and house building

In new road construction, warp knitted, geogrids with large stitches increase the structural capacity of subsoils while also taking on filtration and separation tasks, thereby making additional layers superfluous. Used under the asphalt surface, these open structures also ensure a longer service life for both motorways and rural roads alike. The reinforcement prevents reflective cracks and wheel track rutting caused by truck tyres, and also distributes traffic loads horizontally.

In infrastructure projects, geogrids are also used to secure slopes. These textile solutions represent significantly better value than their steel counterparts, offer excellent static load capacity and can be installed with minimal interference with nature.

Technical warp knitted textiles with tighter stitches are used in building construction to reinforce security gates. Despite their thin design and low weight, these powerful items protect against attacks from most electric power tools, and can be quickly installed in just a few steps.

In addition to this, warp knitted fabrics with weft-insertion and with coatings are also used to make cost-effective roofing systems for industrial buildings. The flexible, stable roofing membranes adapt perfectly to the specific structural conditions, are UV-resistant, and reflect incident sunlight. This reduces the amount of energy used to air condition the building.

In building construction, plaster grids are a firm fixture in the cladding of interior and exterior walls. The glass fibre structures prevent cracks from forming and spreading while also distributing the forces that act upon the walls optimally across the entire surface, thus ensuring a long service life. Warp knitted variants can be produced much more efficiently than comparable woven products.

In the construction and renovation of concrete structures, open grids made of carbon or AR glass are increasingly replacing steel as the reinforcement material of choice. Textile concrete solutions, e.g. for curtain walls, are lightweight and easy to handle, require fewer resources, produce minimal emissions and are extremely durable.

High-performance warp knitted fabrics with weft-insertion also offer advantages when renovating pipes. These dense textiles enable engineers to repair defective sections of pipe, rather than replacing them completely. This avoids costly excavation work that destroys natural environments. In addition to this, the pipe system can be returned to use within a very short time.

The warp knitted products aimed at the construction industry were a real highlight at the KARL MAYER exhibition booth at ITMA ASIA + CITME in Shanghai in June 2021. In order to reach customers on a more global scale, the products are currently being presented as part of the world market leader’s own hybrid exhibition.

A machine with good sales and business prospects

WEFTTRONIC® II G is used to produce most textile solutions for the construction industry. “The high-performance raschel machine with course-oriented weft-insertion is our key machine for this application,” said Hagen Lotzmann, sales director at KARL MAYER Technische Textilien. It was developed as an efficient means of producing light to medium-weight grid structures made of glass and polyester fibres, and has long since guaranteed continuous customer sales. It also offers great potential for growth in the future.

In particular, the geo and road grids produced on the weft-insertion machines from Karl Mayer Technische Textilien provide a stable source of business. The company serves a broad customer base, especially in China. Other important sales regions include India, which manufactures for the domestic market but also for export — mostly to the USA — and much of Eastern Europe.

WEFTTRONIC II G warp knitted plaster grids are also booming in countries such as Belarus, Serbia and Hungary, as well as in China. Buyers include numerous weaving mills that have been impressed by the efficiency advantages afforded by this innovative machine. One WEFTTRONIC II G can replace up to 20 weaving looms, depending on the opening width of the grids produced. Fewer machines also mean lower operating costs.

The WEFTTRONIC II G can cut personnel costs by up to 60 percent, not to mention needing less hall space.

Although it was not on show in Shanghai, the WEFTTRONIC II G was the subject of many discussions at the Karl Mayer booth at ITMA ASIA+ CITME in June 2021. The sale of one machine was negotiated and concluded during the exhibition, and a framework agreement was also signed for further deliveries.

Regional Sales Director Jan Stahr is pleased with the success of the WEFTTRONIC II G, saying that a repeat order has also been received from the buyer of the prototype. The consensus within the industry is that the machine will result in a shift in technology, says the sales professional — a summary based on opinions shared by exhibition visitors. He was even approached by a manufacturer of textile glass fibres, who wanted to optimise their products with regard to the processability with the warp knitting technology t in order to stay in business.

Come, see and try it out

Anyone who wants to witness the performance of the WEFTTRONIC II G for themselves can visit the Karl Mayer Technische Textilien customer centres in Chemnitz and, as of August 2021, Changzhou. What’s more, both sites also offer visitors the chance to try out the system’s processing performance themselves. A visit is always worthwhile, especially for manufacturers of woven plaster grids. But Hagen Lotzmann also expects to see great interest from Chinese warp knitting customers. Manufacturers often make their own textile glass fibre material, and can run tests to see for themselves that their yarns run smoothly on the machine.

Posted November 5, 2021

Source: KARL MAYER Gruppe

Indorama Ventures Reports A Strong 3Q21 Performance On Record Volumes

BANGKOK, Thailand — November 5, 2021 — Indorama Ventures Public Co. Ltd. (IVL), a global sustainable chemical producer, today reported a strong 3Q 2021 performance amid record production volumes. The company maintained its positive outlook for the rest of the year and 2022, noting caution as headwinds including higher energy prices and supply chain disruptions weigh against resurgent consumer demand.

IVL reported EBITDA of $478 million in Q3 versus $552 million in the previous quarter and $240 million a year earlier. Production volumes reached 3.73 million metric tons, a record, as the global recovery drove consumer demand for IVL’s products.

As the global economy recovers from the pandemic, consumer appetite and increasing Brent crude oil prices are testing supply chains and driving a commodity boom, with manufacturers running at full capacity. This has driven increases in freight prices and a shortage of materials.

D K Agarwal, CEO of Indorama Ventures, said: “The recovery in major economies from the pandemic has benefited us through the year, and we expect strong demand for our products to continue into next year. However, the recovery is uneven as some nations in Asia are slower to reopen, and resurgent consumer demand is being met with higher energy prices and supply chain disruptions. Our business model of integrated and regional supply across a diversified geographical and product base is proving its robustness. Building sustainability across all our businesses is a key focus as our colleagues work tirelessly towards a future ready organization.”

Still, IVL posted a solid YTD performance, ending the first nine months of 2021 with EBITDA of $1,512 million, up 123 percent YoY. The Integrated Oxides & Derivatives (IOD) segment will start to reap the full benefits of the hot commissioning of the Lake Charles gas cracker (IVOL) in Q4 and beyond, as well as continued advantaged shale gas economics.

In Q3, Project Olympus, the company’s cost saving and business transformation project, achieved $63 million in efficiency gains, and is on track to achieve a total $610 million of savings by 2023. IVL also implemented enhanced disclosures in governance, strategy, risk management, and metrics and targets, and launched a comprehensive financial policy and governance structure to accelerate environmentally driven projects.

IVL this week strengthened its Indorama Management Council (IMC) — the company’s highest operational management committee — by rotating experienced executives and adding the COOs of the Fibers and Integrated Oxides & Derivatives (IOD) segments. The appointments will help build the segments into self-sustaining organizations while also rotating expertise across the IMC.

3Q 2021 Performance Summary

  • Consolidated Revenue of $3,867 million, an increase of 9 percent QoQ and 50 percent YoY;
  • EBITDA of $478 million in Q3 versus $552 million, a decrease of 13 percent QoQ and an increase of 99 percent YoY;
  • Reported annualized EPS of THB 4.53 and core annualized EPS of THB 4.09
  • Core ROCE of 12.2 percent, down 190bps QoQ and up 747bps YoY

Posted November 5, 2021

Source: Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited (IVL)

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