March/April 2022

Peter Zimmer

Peter Zimmer recently passed away shortly after celebrating his 98th birthday. Zimmer spent some 70 years of his life developing new and revolutionary ideas for textile printing, including rotary-screen-printing technology, a magnetic roll rod system and the Chromotronic — the first digital carpet ink-jet printer. Even in the last decade of his life, Zimmer continued working developing a digital printing/ dyeing system for fiber strands and sliver. His achievements are his legacy.

Ultrafabrics, Tarrytown, N.J., has named Jennifer Hendren senior director of product development. In addition, Theo Haag, based in the Netherlands, was hired as European sales director.

Jenni Brown was appointed head of sales for Northern and Eastern Europe for global workwear manufacturer Carrington Textiles.

Schaumburg, Ill.-based Composites One recently named Leon Garoufalis president and CEO, and Al Dobbeck executive vice president and COO. The company’s former CEO Steve Dehmlow will continue as chairman of the board.

Sagee Aran was named to lead product development and commercialization initiatives for Israel-based nylon 6,6 producer Nilit. In addition, new hire Michelle Lea will direct worldwide marketing programs for the company.

Grand Rapids, Mich.-based X-Rite and Pantone LLC have named Chris Brooks president of X-Rite.

Farrell

Ruth Farrell was promoted to general manager for Kingsport, Tenn.-based Eastman Chemical Co.’s Textile Business. Farrell is based in Switzerland.

England-based Gen 2 Carbon, formerly known as ELG Carbon Fibre, has named Tim King technical sales consultant.

Ocean State Innovations, Portsmouth, R.I., has named Geoff Senko senior vice president of sales. He will be responsible for leading sales in North America and globally while supporting customers in various market segments.

Ashley Goldsmith, executive vice president and chief people officer of Workday Inc., was elected to the board of directors at Kontoor Brands Inc., Greensboro, N.C.

Mannington Commercial, Calhoun, Ga., has appointed Shane Totten to the new role of director of sustainability.

Peter B. McKernan was recently promoted to director of Supply Chain Management for Herculite Products Inc., Emigsville, Pa. He is responsible for managing all corporate planning and forecasting, and planned capacity scheduling.

Italy-based Kemin Industries has named Valter Dompè president of its Garmon Chemicals textile auxiliaries business unit. Dompè replaces Kimberly Nelson who has moved into a new role in another Kemin Industries’ business unit

Posa

Bast Fibre Technologies Inc., Victoria, British Columbia, named James Posa president and CEO. Company Cofounder and Former CEO Noel Hall has transitioned to executive chair.

Dr. Jonathan Goff was promoted from chief technology officer to president of Gelest Inc., Morrisville, Pa.

Delta Apparel Inc., Greenville, S.C., has named Simone Walsh vice president, CFO and treasurer.

Jeffrey W. Bruner — president of Hemp Black and 1973 graduate of the Kanbar College of Design, Engineering and Commerce — will be honored with a Leaders of Innovation Medal from Thomas Jefferson University at the end of April. The medal is presented to graduates who “make significant or trendsetting contributions to education, industry or other professional fields that exemplify Thomas Jefferson University’s mission and innovative spirit.”

The Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA), Cary, N.C., named experienced policy advocate Jennifer “Jen” Greenamoyer director of Government Affairs.

Chadd Coltrain was named director of Strategic Global Sales for Culp Home Fashions, the mattress fabrics division of Culp Inc., High Point, N.C.

Following the acquisition of England-based MagnaColors by Avient Corp., Gustavo Figueroa has transitioned from Avient to MagnaColours’ team as Business Development manager for the Americas.

Avery Dennison, Glendale, Calif., named Deon Stander president and COO.

March/April 2022

Circuitex®: Conductive Shielding

A close up of Circuitex® fabric

Noble Biomaterials’ Circuitex® can shield against high-frequency energy waves from directed-energy weapons.

By Rachael S. Davis, Executive Editor

Circuitex® was designed by Scranton, Pa.-based Noble Biomaterials Inc. for multi-spectral energy management. While the technology is not new, the company recently announced that Circuitex fabric and foam technologies are capable of reflecting high-frequency energy waves similar to those presumed responsible for the Havana Syndrome attacks produced by directed-energy weapons (DEW).

Circuitex advanced materials can move electrical energy and data through soft surface materials without the assistance of wires, making them suitable as either a conductive energy material or a conductive shielding material. The highly conductive materials are also flexible and super lightweight. According to Noble, the shielding effects of Circuitex perform across a broad range of the electromagnetic spectrum from 30 megaHertz up to 30 gigaHertz.

The genesis of Noble Biomaterials was in using silver to metalize fibers for antimicrobial consumer apparel applications. The company spent two years developing its proprietary technology, which bonds pure silver to the surface of a polymer. The innovation allowed Noble to capitalize on the antimicrobial effects of silver for apparel applications. From those beginnings, the company’s technologies have expanded into a variety of medical and antimicrobial products supplied to the U.S. Military and healthcare industry, while its consumer anti-odor business continues to thrive.

Circuitex® fibers

“We have always been in the intelligent fabrics business,” said Allon Cohne, chief marketing officer, Noble Biomaterials. “From preventing infections to eliminating odor to improving telecommunications, our technology adapts to provide a myriad of benefits. The more we learned about the technology, the more obvious it became that it would be a perfect platform to manage electromagnetic energy waves in order to solve some of the most challenging military and aerospace issues.”

Circuitex is typically used in applications requiring more than antimicrobial properties. Copper and other antioxidant minerals can be bonded to the polymer as well as silver depending on the required characteristics. “The core technology used for the Circuitex products is similar to the antimicrobial offerings, but we use a variety of polymer substrates, mineral-based active ingredients, and bonding techniques to optimize for very specific, and different, performance requirements” Cohne said.

Circuitex is available in fiber, fabric or foam options. “Most commonly, customers will incorporate our continuous filament fiber into fabrics, or simply purchase fully metalized fabrics from us, depending on their requirements” Cohne noted. “Foam could be used as a backing or layer in a laminate.”

In response to the growing threat of Havana Syndrome, Noble developed passive and active mitigation systems with the ability to counter DEW attacks in fixed and mobile locations.

“Circuitex is proven effective in mission-critical military and aerospace applications,” said Joel Furey, founder and chief commercial officer, Noble Biomaterials. “Noble Biomaterials has spent years developing multi-spectral energy management systems for security and protection. Whether the objective is to transfer or shield energy, our portfolio of products is uniquely suited to deal with the challenges of directed energy.”


For more information about Circuitex® visit noblebiomaterials.com


March/April 2022

 

 

Macy’s Announces $584 Million Investment To Build A Major East Coast Fulfillment Center In Rowan County, N.C.

RALEIGH, N.C. — March 31, 2022 — Macy’s Inc., the iconic American retailer, will invest more than $584 million to build its first automated fulfillment center in the Town of China Grove, N.C., Governor Roy Cooper announced today. Once fully operational, the company says it plans to employ 2,800 new jobs in Rowan County.

“We are delighted to welcome Macy’s and its state-of-the-art facility to North Carolina,” said Governor Cooper. “When you combine our robust transportation network with our skilled workforce and great quality of life, economic development wins like these will continue to be celebrated statewide.”

Macy’s Inc. operates one of retail’s largest e-commerce businesses integrated with a nationwide footprint of stores and fulfillment centers to deliver the most convenient and seamless shopping experiences. Macy’s expansion to North Carolina will locate a new 1.4 million square-foot automated fulfillment center to ship orders directly to customers nationwide, accounting for nearly 30 percent of the retailer’s digital supply chain capacity once fully operational.

“This state-of-the-art facility is a significant milestone for Macy’s Inc. as we invest in strengthening our omnichannel ecosystem. It will support growth of our business as a leading omnichannel retailer,” said Dennis Mullahy, Macy’s chief supply chain officer. “We are delighted to become a member of the China Grove community and look forward to partnering with local and state officials to bring jobs and drive opportunity for local residents.”

“When companies want to expand their operations and reach customers faster, North Carolina is always a top choice,” said N.C. Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders. “In addition to an inclusive workforce training system to help increase resiliency, North Carolina boasts a prime location that places iconic brands within a day’s drive of more than 170 million customers, alleviating supply chain issues and helping them maintain a continuity of operations.”

The North Carolina Department of Commerce led the state’s efforts to support Macy’s location to North Carolina. Salaries for the new positions will vary, but the project could create a potential annual payroll impact of more than $93 million per year for the region.

Macy’s expansion will be facilitated, in part, by a Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) approved by the state’s Economic Investment Committee earlier today. Using a formula that takes into account $564 million of the company’s investment as well as the new tax revenues generated by 230 JDIG-qualified jobs, the JDIG agreement authorizes the potential reimbursement to the company of up to $2,313,000 spread over 12 years. Payments for all JDIGs only occur following performance verification by the departments of Commerce and Revenue that the company has met its incremental job creation and investment targets. JDIG projects result in positive net tax revenue to the state treasury, even after taking into consideration the grant’s reimbursement payments to a given company.

Macy’s is locating to Rowan County, classified by the state’s economic tier system as Tier 2, the company’s JDIG agreement also calls for moving $257,000 into the state’s Industrial Development Fund – Utility Account. The Utility Account helps rural communities across the state finance necessary infrastructure upgrades to attract future business.

“Macy’s multimillion-dollar investment is a strong vote of confidence in Rowan County,” said N.C. Senator Carl Ford. “I am grateful for the diligent collaboration of local, state, and company officials that helped bring this project to our community.”

“This is yet another great win for North Carolina and Rowan County,” said N.C. Representative Harry Warren. “Our region is home to incredible talent that are ready to fill these new positions and support Macy’s growth strategy. Many thanks to our great local economic development folks, Rod Crider, County Commission Chairman Greg Edds, and their respective teams for the excellent work they continue to do bringing great companies to Rowan County.”

In addition to the North Carolina Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, other key partners in the project include the North Carolina General Assembly, the North Carolina Department of Transportation, the North Carolina Community College System, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, Rowan County, Town of China Grove, Rowan Economic Development Council, Duke Energy, Dominion Energy, Salisbury-Rowan Utilities, and Centralina Workforce Development Board.

Posted: March 31, 2022

Source: North Carolina Office of the Governor

Mizzen+Main Appoints Former Under Armour Executive Noreen Naz Naroo-Pucci As Chief Design Officer

DALLAS — March 31, 2022 — Mizzen+Main today announced the appointment of Noreen Naz Naroo-Pucci as new chief design officer, effective April 4, 2022. Naroo-Pucci, a veteran of the retail industry, was senior creative director and then vice president of Global Design Engine for Under Armour Inc. from 2008-2018. Most recently, she was the senior vice president of Design Menswear – North America for Calvin Klein, as well as co-founder and chief creative officer of KIK Axion Sports.

She joins a rapidly growing team that has already made an extraordinary impact in menswear and the apparel industry overall.

“Noreen is an industry leading talent that will drive Mizzen+Main to new heights, integrating and improving product, brand, and design in exceptional new ways. We’ve admired her work and look forward to her leadership on our team,” commented Founder and Chairman Kevin Lavelle.

“The team at Mizzen and the brand promise of creating the best-in-class product and the opportunity at hand has no ceiling,” Naroo-Pucci said. “Mizzen is the perfect storm of craft and purpose. We have the opportunity to take the art of being well dressed into the future, and I am super excited to see where we can take our modern Mizzen man by simply making and giving him beautiful, desirable, and meaningful products — all with purpose.”

The Mizzen+Main team is excited to add a high caliber global creative leader. As the brand continues to grow, Naroo-Pucci’s track record of commercial success as a visionary will help improve both the company’s products and brands at every level.

Having played a critical part in growing the Under Armour brand from $600million to $5billion in global revenue, Naroo-Pucci is eager to build again. And the Mizzen+Main team is all behind her.

Posted: March 31, 2022

Source: Mizzen+Main

Canada Goose Strengthens Executive Team, Appoints Carrie Baker President

TORONTO — March 31, 2022 — Today, as a part of its continued global expansion, Canada Goose Holdings Inc. has announced the appointment of Carrie Baker to president, Canada Goose, effectively immediately. The role will report to Dani Reiss, chairman and CEO, Canada Goose.

This announcement enhances the executive structure to accelerate its next phase of global growth. Dani Reiss will continue to oversee all aspects of the business, operations and strategy — with a consolidation of commercial leadership and marketing under Baker.

“Carrie has played an instrumental role in making Canada Goose the business it is today. She is a dynamic leader and proven operator, and I am excited to partner with her in executing the Company’s bold vision,” said Dani Reiss, chairman and CEO, Canada Goose. “This change in structure marks an important inflection point for Canada Goose, on our way to the next milestone.”

In her most recent role Baker was responsible for accelerating the North American business, one of the company’s fastest growing regions, achieving 36 per cent revenue growth in the first three quarters of fiscal 2022. A company veteran, Baker has been with Canada Goose for more than 10 years, having also held positions of executive vice president, chief of staff, and chief communications officer. Recognized as a strategic and collaborative leader through key stages of the company’s growth, Baker has helped lead critical initiatives including the company’s IPO and the development of its industry-leading Sustainable Impact Strategy.

“Seeing the company’s growth around the world and expansion into new categories over the last ten years, Canada Goose is truly a brand like no other,” Baker said. “I am proud of the incredible brand momentum we’ve built over the last decade, and our proven success in establishing sustainable industry standards, but it’s only the beginning — I am truly excited to unlock the incredible opportunity ahead of us.”

Ana Mihaljevic will assume the dual role of president, North America and executive vice president, sales operations & planning, expanding her operational leadership experience in Canada Goose’s most established commercial market. With almost two decades of experience, Ana has a strong track record of driving commercial performance and has played a pivotal role in establishing the Company’s insights, sales operations and planning functions as the Company has accelerated its direct-to-consumer business.

Posted: March 31, 2022

Source: Canada Goose

Oerlikon Publishes Sustainability Report 2021

PFÄFFIKON & SCHWYZ, Switzerland — March 31, 2022 — Oerlikon has published today its Sustainability Report 2021, outlining the progress and achievements of the company in environmental, social and governance topics.

“Sustainability is an inherent part of our strategy and technologies, which is reflected in our solutions for customers and in our own operations,” said Georg Stausberg, chief sustainability officer and CEO of Oerlikon’s Polymer Processing Solutions Division. “On our journey toward our 2030 targets, I am very pleased that we have made excellent progress in our sustainability achievements, initiatives and processes in 2021, especially against the challenging COVID-19 pandemic backdrop.”

In 2021, Oerlikon demonstrated that it was well equipped to respond swiftly and effectively to the pandemic to ensure the safety, health and well-being of its employees, customers, vendors and communities, and with minimal disruption to its operations and business.

In Oerlikon’s approach to sustainable innovation, collaboration remains a hallmark as the company remains focused on extending tool life, reducing fuel consumption in cars and airplanes, improving textile machinery efficiency, increasing recycling of fibers and materials and pioneering future technologies. In the report, there are many case studies and examples of how Oerlikon continues to help customers with cost-effective and climate-friendly solutions and services to build their business in key markets.

“We will continue to engineer solutions that contribute to a more sustainable planet, and further work on our environmental, social and governance performance in our operations in pursuit of the 2030 targets we have set for ourselves,” added Stausberg. “We recognize the need to implement improvements on an ongoing basis — that sustainability is not a sprint toward the finish line but a continuum on our journey to make Oerlikon a more sustainable and responsible company for all our stakeholders.”

Please find the online and PDF (download) version of the report on Oerlikon’s website: oerlikon.com/sustainabilityreport-2021

Posted: March 31, 2022

Source: Oerlikon

Ascend Agrees To Acquire Formulated Polymers Ltd.

HOUSTON — March 29, 2022 — Ascend Performance Materials has reached an agreement to acquire the compounding division of Formulated Polymers Ltd., an engineered materials manufacturer in Chennai, India. This acquisition will establish Ascend’s first manufacturing base in the subcontinent and strengthen Ascend’s global reach in the electrical and e-mobility application space.

The deal includes a world-scale manufacturing facility in Chennai as well as warehouses throughout India. Formulated Polymers, which has operated over three decades as a polyamide compounder in India, is currently a licensee of Ascend’s Starflam® flame-retardant polyamides.

“Demand for our materials in India is strong and growing,” said Phil McDivitt, Ascend’s president and CEO. “The team at Formulated Polymers has built an excellent, diversified business with a proven track record of technology development in polyamides. We are excited to build on their expertise to drive additional value-added growth in India and beyond.”

Ascend, a fully integrated producer of durable engineered materials, has grown its global production footprint with five acquisitions over the last four years, each focused on specific synergies with the company’s core business. This acquisition provides a significant growth opportunity for Ascend in India, one of the highest growth economies in the world.

“Being customer-focused is one of our values,” said John Saunders, Ascend’s vice president for Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and India. “We look forward to supporting our customers in a fast-growing market by continuing to invest in capacity, technical resources and product development to meet their needs.”

The deal is expected to close on May 1, after receiving necessary approvals. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Posted: March 31, 2022

Source: Ascend Performance Materials

IND HEMP And Hempitecture Announce Supply Partnership For Domestically Produced Hemp Fiber Nonwoven Insulation

IND HEMP Chief Strategy Officer Dr. Trey Riddle and Hempitecture CEO Mattie Mead show off the raw hemp bast fiber and finished Hempwool® insulation product at the IND HEMP Booth at IDEA22.

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — March 30, 2022 — IND HEMP and Hempitecture announce today at ‘IDEA22 — The World’s Preeminent Event for Nonwovens and Technical Fabrics — the coordinated supply chain partnership for the production and manufacture of natural hemp fibers for Hempitecture’s nonwoven Hempwool® insulation to be grown, processed and manufactured in the western United States. IND HEMP is coordinating genetics, agronomy and contracting production acres of industrial hemp fiber in Montana, Oregon, Washington and now Idaho. The company is the “supply” in supply chain performing “first touch” decortication processing — the initial separation of raw materials direct from the farm to produce a consistent supply of raw hemp bast fiber at scale. Hempitecture has market proven their Hempwool insulation product, branded as “the most sustainable, high performing insulation material on the planet” for the past few years and is currently in construction of the factory that will make the nonwoven airlaid insulation product in Jerome, Idaho.

“Hempitecture’s partnership with IND HEMP represents more than just a critical supply chain solution. It represents the restoration of American manufacturing, the empowerment of rural economies and forward thinking innovation in sustainable materials. We look forward to innovating the building products of the future with IND HEMP’s processed hemp fiber” shares Hempitecture Co-Founder and CEO Mattie Mead.

The two companies share values and a strong commitment to sustainability and doing better by the planet. Hemp can capture and remove more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere per acre annually than a forest or other agricultural crops. In addition to the carbon sequestered into the soil while the plant is growing, the plant biomass above the ground is an average of 45-percent carbon. When the fibers are processed into insulation and built into a home, that carbon dioxide is durably sequestered and locked up into the material, while also offsetting more energy intensive processes and the carbon footprints of existing materials, such as glass fiber insulation. The companies are aligned and working together with other stakeholders to present industrial hemp and it’s use in products to compete in the XPRIZE Carbon Removal Challenge, which is funded by the Musk Foundation with $100 Million in prize rewards to spur innovation in technologies and products to remove and sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, with modeled plans to scale to a gigaton of carbon dioxide removed annually.

“IND HEMP is dedicated to supporting rural economies and providing sustainable solutions to industry. We are excited about Hempitecture’s products and use of natural fiber in construction materials. This continues to showcase how IND HEMP’s products and sustainability benefits can be adopted successfully across a wide range of applications” Says Trey Riddle, chief strategy officer for IND HEMP.

IND HEMP is a family owned, mission-driven agricultural hemp food, feed and fiber production and processing company with a dedicated focus on creating opportunities for farmers and rural communities in Montana and across the west. IND HEMP has built the processing infrastructure — a 10 acre greenfield site with a 52,000 ft² production facility around a 5 ton per hour LAROCHE bast fiber decortication processing line that came online in Q1 2022.

Posted: March 31, 2022

Source: IND HEMP LLC

FABRIC, Fashion Incubator And Business Accelerator, Relies On Lectra’s On-Demand Microfactory For Domestic Manufacturing

NEW YORK CITY — March 22, 2022 — FABRIC, the Fashion And Business Resource Innovation Center, implemented Lectra’s solutions to make technology the central part of its operations, empowering designers to grow their brands to the next level thanks to on-demand domestic manufacturing.

From its early beginnings, the center realized that one of the best ways they could help designers be competitive in the industry as a whole was to integrate Gerber Technology, a Lectra company’s IoT-enabled solutions into their workflow. This foresight was critical when the pandemic hit, as people started to seize the opportunity to start their long-awaited apparel businesses but couldn’t access the resources or the manufacturing usually available overseas. The need to produce product domestically and in smaller batches, without a significant price increase for the customer, became essential.

The co-founders of FABRIC both knew first-hand how daunting, overwhelming and costly it was to start an apparel business and wanted to ease that burden for others. They called it “Democratizing Fashion”.

“We wanted to figure out how to provide the resources for an apparel entrepreneur under one roof and help these apparel entrepreneurs be more competitive with the bigger brands,” said co-founder Angela Johnson, on why they started FABRIC.

Its mission has resulted in helping nearly 800 apparel entrepreneurs bring their dreams to life and resulted in more than $6.8 million donated in free and discounted programs and services. FABRIC is unique in that it doesn’t turn away brands who need help finding the right resources to manufacture garments. The company focuses its efforts on helping a higher volume of smaller brands, instead of allowing the production needs of bigger brands to edge out those most in need of their services.

This strategy of small batches and unique products required a reinvention of the process, as well as an ability to connect the dots between the different systems and managing data from design to the final product. FABRIC always wanted to support 21st century manufacturing for smaller, digitally-native brands, and when it saw Gerber’s Innovation Center and Microfactory in New York City, it was able to realize the possibilities.

Upon visiting the Innovation Center, co-founder Sherri Barry remarked how seamless and integrated the process was and imagined the possibilities for her own customers. She noted the ability to “start with any surface design, have it patterned in Gerber AccuMark® 2D/3D, visualized with a 3D sample, digitally printed, then cut with an IoT-enabled cutter and sewn, really made on-demand production a reality.”

Gerber AccuMark allows the development of 2D digital patterns that can be visualized in 3D with production accuracy while avoiding the need for creating a physical sample and ensuring a perfect fit. When surface designs are involved, the images are positioned in AccuMark patterns, and then data is passed seamlessly to the Kornit Presto digital printer and accurately read and cut using the Gerber Z1 cutter with ContourVision™.

FABRIC continued to fuel the expansion of its technology suite by including Gerber YuniquePLM®, a cloud-based PLM system that helps to manage all the orders for its many brands. It also helps keep the data seamlessly connected to AccuMark and have it updated in real time.

Adopting technology also helped FABRIC successfully pivot during the pandemic to large-batch production of PPE thanks to having a fully integrated technology-based system.

Because of its reliance on Gerber’s technology suite, FABRIC and The Fashioneer’s complete microfactory are now able to provide cutting edge solutions and much needed resources to up and coming brands and designers nation-wide and may someday rival the traditional fashion hubs of the world.

Posted: March 31, 2022

Source: Lectra

Coloreel Opens New Market — India

STOCKHOLM, Sweden — March 31, 2022 — Coloreel, with its technology for digital dyeing of textile thread on-demand for more sustainable and creative embroideries, announced the sale of five single-head machines to new distribution partner in India, Apsom Infotex Ltd.

The deal is the first step for Coloreel entering the industrial embroidery market in India, one of the world’s largest markets for textile production and embellishment. Apsom is the market leader in the Digital Inkjet Print Market in India for textile and industrial applications with more than 25 years of experience from operating in India.

“We are very excited to finally be able to enter the Indian market,” said Sven Öquist, vice president, sales at Coloreel Group AB. “We have since long had great interest from decoration manufacturers on the Indian market but COVID has been delaying our market entry. Our new partnership with Apsom provides us with great reach into the Indian embroidery and digital print market and we are looking forward to many more orders to come.”

“It was love at first sight for the people at Apsom when we spotted the Coloreel technology at an oversees exhibition and the entire team has since been completely focused on bringing the technology to the Indian market,” said Anirudh Dadu, business development manager at Apsom. “In a traditional industry like textiles its very rare to see such a game-changing innovation. We are very excited to have the opportunity to distribute Coloreel in India being amongst the world’s biggest Apparel and Textile producing markets.”

Posted: March 31, 2022

Source: Coloreel

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