Wes Burgess Named Chief Product Officer Of Cocona Labs

BOULDER, Colo. — March 30, 2022 — Cocona Labs, the makers of temperature-regulating 37.5® Technology, is pleased to announce Wes Burgess as their new chief product officer. Burgess steps into the role after working with Cocona Labs for nearly ten years, and most recently serving as the vice president of sales, engineering and business development.

“Wes’s work with Cocona has been critical to developing new 37.5 materials and connecting new brands with our technology,” Blair Kanis, president of Cocona Labs, said. “Under his lead, we’ve brought in over 50 new manufacturing partners for internationally recognized brands and commercialized new products featuring 37.5 Technology. We’re excited to have him on our executive team as we continue our expansion into footwear and home goods and even more sustainable 37.5 materials.”

Burgess comes from a long career of business management and product innovation. After graduating from NC State University with a B.S. in Textile Engineering and an MBA from Wake Forest University, Burgess served as a Technical Manager for Unifi, Inc. Burgess served as the Associate Director of Fabric Development at Massif Mountain Gear, where he directed fabric and technology development for the technical apparel brand, and Director of New Product Development for Cortland where he developed electro-optical-mechanical cables and custom, heavy-lift synthetic ropes and slings before transitioning to Cocona Labs.

“It is incredibly rewarding to be a valued part of such a dynamic team serving world renowned partners,” Burgess said. “I’ve especially enjoyed mentoring team members and partnering with our supply chain and brand partners to grow the business, while expanding into new markets. The opportunity to meet, learn from and befriend incredibly talented people all over the world is a true joy.”

As 37.5 continues to grow, Burgess will head partnership expansion in new markets like China, India and Indonesia.

Posted: March 29, 2022

Source: Cocona Labs

Delta Apparel Launches New ‘On-Demand’ Digital First Solution

DULUTH, Ga. — March 28, 2022 — Delta Apparel Inc., a provider of core activewear and lifestyle apparel products, today announced the expansion of its digital print business through the installation and utilization of newly developed digital print technology designed to meet the market demands of its unique “Digital First” offering by its DTG2Go business unit.

In collaboration with Fanatics, a global digital sports platform and leading provider of licensed sports merchandise, DTG2Go has installed this new technology in four of its existing digital print facilities. This business process is the first of its kind, revolutionizing the made-to-order business model with garment quality, print aesthetics and repeatability standards required to support the Fanatics Commerce real-time licensed sports merchandise business model. This unique digital production process will allow custom orders to be produced, packaged and shipped to the end consumer within twenty-four hours from receipt of order.

Robert W. Humphreys, chairman and CEO of Delta Apparel, commented, “It has truly been a pleasure working alongside the Fanatics team to combine our prior experiences in systems, technology and apparel to build an integrated process that meets the high quality and repeatability standards that Fanatics’ passionate customer base demands.”

Humphreys continued: “This new technology significantly increased our capacity allowing us to proudly meet the high demand for garments for fans of the L.A. Rams after their recent Super Bowl victory. Additional equipment will be installed this quarter further expanding our overall digital print capacity as we prepare for future growth with Fanatics. After months of teamwork to develop this integrated process, we are looking forward to a long-term relationship with Fanatics as they continue to service their markets with excellence.”

Danny Sweem, CEO of M & R Printing Equipment Inc. said, “The Polaris is the new north star of high volume direct-to-garment printing and we were very excited to demonstrate its exceptional throughput that provides a retail quality product worthy of Fanatics’ standards. Delta and their DTG2Go team have been great partners throughout the development of the Polaris, and we look forward to strong growth together.”

The company anticipates continued growth in its DTG2Go on-demand digital print services. As a result, DTG2Go is increasing its fleet of digital equipment with printers and dryers and continuing to invest in front-end technology.

Posted: March 29, 2022

Source: Delta Apparel Inc.

Web Industries Announces John S. Madej As Company President

MARLBOROUGH, Mass. — March 29, 2022 — Web Industries Inc., a global provider of contract converting and turnkey manufacturing services, announced today that John S. Madej has joined the company as president. He will report to Mark Pihl, who will continue in his current role as chief executive officer.

Madej joins Web Industries from Hollingsworth & Vose (H&V), where he most recently served as chief operating officer and previously as chief financial officer. He joined H&V in 2009 as vice president and general manager of the Energy and Industrial Systems Business Unit. He was also the division president of the Engine and Industrial Filtration Division.

For more than 24 years, Madej served in a variety of leadership roles at General Electric (GE). He was president and CEO of Exatec LLC, a GE-Bayer joint venture. He also served as a product general manager based in Tokyo, Japan, for four years. Preceding his overseas assignment for GE, Madej held foundational positions in sales and market team leadership in multiple industry segments ranging from business equipment to automotive. Madej earned a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from Union College.

“John is a gifted leader and strategist. His experience as a global industrial executive and ability to successfully scale and grow businesses profitably will help us position the company for significant growth ahead,” says Pihl. “John is a leader who puts people first and has a strong commitment to teamwork and continuous improvement. As Web continues to evolve in our strategic markets and expand internationally, look for John to apply his experience to focus our market teams on providing exceptional value to customers by building strong partnerships and driving innovation through operational excellence and next-generation technology.”

“I am excited to join the Web Industries team and work together to continue to develop the company and expand the growing business,” says Madej. “Working closely with its customers, Web Industries has a successful track record of global growth across diverse markets. I look forward to collaborating with the team, expanding the company’s capabilities and delivering improved productivity and performance for our customers into the future.”

Posted: March 29, 2022

Source: Web Industries Inc.

Indorama Ventures’ Hygiene Fibers Group Features Strengthened Sustainability Portfolio At The IDEA Show, Miami

BANGKOK, Thailand — March 29, 2022 — Indorama Ventures Public Co. Ltd. (IVL), a global chemical company, said today its Hygiene Fibers Group features a further strengthened sustainability portfolio at the IDEA Show in Miami from March 29 to April 1 with the launch of the Deja Carbon Neutral polypropylene fiber range and significant advancements in their Biotransformative Polypropylene Fibers and Nonwovens Technology.

As a global leader in PET recycling, IVL is committed to the delivery of a circular economy and recognizes that alternative sustainable solutions, such as carbon neutral fiber and biotransformation technology, provide valuable circular solutions when recycling may not be possible. Deja Carbon Neutral polypropylene fibers have been developed in response to customer demand for solutions to meet sustainability targets and objectives. Having undertaken a fully accredited Life Cycle Assessment on their processes and materials, IVL Hygiene Group subsidiary FiberVisions in Covington, U.S. now offer this select polypropylene staple fiber range, which balance greenhouse gas emissions with verified carbon offset projects in partnership with Strive, a leading provider of global climate solutions. The IVL Hygiene team look forward to engaging in discussions with customers at the IDEA Show on how Deja Carbon Neutral PP Fibers can enhance sustainable product offerings.

Advancements in dual solution Biotransformation (PP), designed to be recyclable and time-set biodegradable, will feature strongly at the IDEA Show. A shelf stable polypropylene and stored, treated fibers and nonwovens can be recycled as normal. If diverted into the environment, it is scientifically designed to break down in natural conditions and to biotransform, leaving behind no toxins or microplastics. The IVL team will showcase the groundbreaking technology at the show, with a video demonstration of the process and sample PP fiber and nonwovens materials.

All the six brands that make up the Hygiene Fibers Group — Auriga, Avgol, FiberVisions, Indorama Asia, Trevira and Wellman International — will be represented at the IVL booth. The IVL Hygiene Group offers a comprehensive range of sustainable polymers, technologies and material, a global and regional footprint, and security of supply. The range includes recycled materials, multipolymer biodegradable solutions for both durable and non-durable products, ISCC Plus Certified Fibers and Nonwovens, and Deja Carbon Neutral polypropylene fibers,

Significant advancements in recycled materials can be discussed with the Wellman International team, recycling pioneers for more than 50 years, at the IDEA Show. Recently commissioned technologies at its site in Mullagh, Ireland, allow PET to be recycled without compromising on quality. Sister bands Auriga, IVL Asia, and Trevira also offer a strong recycled PET (rPET) fiber portfolio to the hygiene industry. IVL’s Fibers business segment’s rPET portfolio is represented by the Deja brand platform, differentiated by a performance-led suite of sustainable solutions that help customers to achieve sustainability targets while also responding to end-consumers’ demand for transparency and environmental responsibility. Fibervisons and Avgol continue to develop sustainable fiber and nonwoven PP solutions, including PP recycling technologies.

Trevira will focus on the recently launched range of bicomponent fibers based on PLA and PBS (polybutylene succinate). Both biopolymers offer an exceptional technological opportunity for environmental care and sustainability. PLA and PBS are recyclable and 100% biodegradable under industrial conditions.

Avgol understands that there is no one single solution to Nonwovens sustainable developments, and adopt a holistic approach. Biotransformation PP is a key area of development, seeking a safe, proven, sustainable solution for absorbant hygiene products. Incorporating natural components, improved recyclability for PP, are key areas of focus for the company.

Shachar Rachim CEO, Hygiene Fibers Group said: “Indorama Ventures’ Hygiene Group is delighted to meet our customers face to face at the IDEA Show again. We are focused on working with customers to find solutions that add value to business, and also future focused and sustainable. I am particularly pleased at the progress we have made in biotransformation technology, which we look forward to sharing with you at the show. Biotransformation PP goes beyond biodegradation as it breaks down completely into non-toxic components that do not harm the environment. This, and also our latest developments in Deja™ Carbon Neutral PP Fibers, and the many other sustainable innovations for fibers and nonwovens, is what differentiates the IVL Hygiene Group as a partner of choice to the hygiene industry.”

Posted: March 29, 2022

Source: Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited (IVL)

Medline And Hologenix Partner On New CURAD Performance Series Line Powered By CELLIANT

LOS ANGELES — March 29, 2022 — Medline, a leading medical product distributor and manufacturer, and materials science innovator Hologenix® are excited to announce that they have partnered on a new line of CURAD® brand orthopedic products powered by CELLIANT® infrared technology.

Celliant, the flagship product of Hologenix, is a proprietary blend of natural minerals that allows textiles to convert body heat into infrared energy, returning it to the body and temporarily increasing local blood flow and cellular oxygenation. This aids significantly in muscle recovery, increases endurance and improves overall performance in healthy individuals, among other benefits.

“This is another innovative introduction for the time-honored Curad brand,” said Sarah Cooper, senior manager, Product Management at Medline Industries LP. “Our partnership with Hologenix substantially increases our commitment to expand the use of infrared in our orthopedic soft goods market, where we think it has great potential.”

“We are honored indeed to partner with such a renowned company as Medline,” said Seth Casden, Hologenix co-founder and CEO. “For us, this represents a major expansion of CELLIANT infrared (IR) bio-responsive textiles into the sports medicine field.”

Several years in development, the new CURAD orthopedic product line powered by CELLIANT will officially launch later this year.

*The FDA determined products containing Celliant are medical devices because they are intended to temporarily increase blood flow and local circulation at the site of application in healthy individuals.



As part of the 513(g) submission process, the FDA reviewed and commented on appropriate health and wellness claims for CELLIANT® products.

The FDA has determined that Celliant products are medical devices as defined in section 201(h) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and are general wellness products.

The FDA has not approved or designated Celliant products for any purpose and has not made any determination about, or endorsement of, its stated use or benefits.



Celliant is designated as a Class 1 Medical Device in Australia, Canada, the European Union, Japan, New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. Celliant is cleared to market in China, India, Indonesia, Korea, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam, with more countries and regions to follow.

Posted: March 29, 2022

Source: Hologenix, LLC

PolyQuest Launches PQRenew Recycled Bottle Flake And Resins

WILMINGTON, N.C. — March 29, 2022 — PolyQuest Inc. officially announced the company has trademarked its PQRenew™ brand of recycled bottle flake and resins — an exclusive product line furthering sustainability solutions.

Since 2006, the Wilmington, N.C.-based company has been systematically developing its owned and tolled asset infrastructure and has produced over 1 billion pounds of high-quality post-consumer bottle flake (rPET flake), post-consumer resin (rPET PCR), and post-industrial resin (PIR), which are now branded as PQRenew.

The PQRenew brand is a natural extension of PolyQuest’s amplified recycling footprint across the U.S., including operational enhancements at PQ Recycling in Farmingdale N.Y., and PolyQuest’s recycling facility in Darlington, S.C. PolyQuest remains dedicated as an invaluable resource, partner, and key distributor of virgin thermoplastics and manufacturer of recycled thermoplastics.

“The comprehensiveness of the PQRenew product portfolio allows customers to choose various technical options for recycled PET,” indicated John Marinelli, PolyQuest’s CEO.  “The key for us moving forward is to select partners that have strategically and financially committed to sustainability, who mesh well with our culture and values, and have common goals and objectives.  Win-win would be our condensed perspective on these relationships.”

PQRenew includes 100-percent recycled content applications and top mechanical recycling technologies reducing waste and greenhouse gas emissions. More details are located on polyquest.com/pqrenew including key PQRenew product highlights.

Posted: March 29, 2022

Source: PolyQuest, Inc.

Datatex Is Proud To Announce A New Customer In Italy: Argar S.r.l.

ZUG, Switzerland — March 29, 2022 — Argar is a knitting manufacturer whose certified knitted fabrics are used for the production of personal protective clothing, for professional (PPE), technical and sport use.

The features of their fabrics are very specialized as they need to guarantee the safety of the user. In particular they can be fireproof, antistatic and antibacterial, with high-visibility and protection from static electricity.

Since the accurate management of a complex supply chain is a key factor for Argar, in order to assure the compliance with all the safety protocols, the company decided to adopt Datatex ERP Solution suite. Among other modules they will implement the PDM, to collect and organize data related to the entire product life cycle and the CATS module, that maps defects in real time and suggests how to handle them.

We are thrilled to start this new project in the world of protective clothing!

Posted: March 29, 2022

Source: Datatex AG

VEOCEL™ Brand Partners With Suominen To Champion Carbon Neutral Nonwovens Fabrics

LENZING, Austria — March 29, 2022 — Lenzing’s VEOCEL™ brand today announces that Suominen, the globally leading nonwovens supplier and manufacturer for wipes, is the first partner to adopt the industry’s first carbon neutral VEOCEL branded lyocell fibers.

Carbon neutral VEOCEL Lyocell fibers were first introduced by Lenzing in June 2021 as a solution for nonwovens industry partners and brands to reduce climate impact through the use of fibers with a net-zero carbon footprint. Materials and goods produced with VEOCEL Lyocell fibers signify Lenzing’s care for the environment and commitment to offering climate friendly solutions which limit global warming.

“Recently, an industry-wide shift towards carbon neutrality has been observed in Europe, with many companies transforming to an eco-friendly business model. With VEOCEL and Suominen coming together to offer carbon neutral fibers for nonwovens in Europe, we hope to address the growing demand from brands and consumers for products with a reduced carbon footprint,” said Jürgen Eizinger, senior commercial director EU/AM/MEA at Lenzing. “The VEOCEL brand will remain committed to reducing the impact of climate change by offering innovative solutions for our nonwovens partners, paving the way for a net-zero nonwovens industry.”

A collaborative effort to achieve net-zero

The European Climate Law requires that greenhouse gas emissions and removals are balanced within the European Union by 2050 at the latest, with the aim of achieving negative emissions thereafter to curb climate change. The nonwovens industry as a whole still uses many fossil-based materials and requires a significant amount of energy for production processes. Achieving decarbonization within the nonwovens supply chain may take many years, as well as a collaborative effort across the value chain. The partnership between VEOCEL and Suominen to offer carbon neutral VEOCEL Lyocell fibers will allow Suominen to achieve its sustainability goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Alongside the collaboration with Lenzing, Suominen launched its first carbon neutral nonwovens product to the market. The BIOLACE® Zero is a sustainable and carbon neutral product made of 100-percent VEOCEL Lyocell fibers. It is currently available in all of Suominen’s plants across Europe.

“The growing demand for sustainable products with less greenhouse gas emissions is a strong driver in the market. Sustainable products made of renewable fibers and carbon neutrality corresponds with market needs and acts as leader in the market,” said Marika Mäkilä, senior manager, Category Management, Europe at Suominen. “As a long-time partner of Lenzing, we share a joint mission to reduce the environmental impact of our products. Adhering to our purpose of expanding the possibilities of nonwovens, we hope that this collaboration will show the wider supply chain that, together, we can make net-zero possible.”

As a driver of change for the nonwovens industry, Lenzing will continue to bring together like-minded partners such as Suominen to develop innovative solutions that offer raw materials with a net-zero carbon footprint, at the same time fostering Lenzing’s strategic commitment to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions per ton of product by 50 percent by 2030 and to be climate-neutral by 2050. This reinforces Lenzing’s pledge to the Science Based Targets initiative around reduction of total global carbon emissions, a quest driven by the UN Paris Agreement.

Posted: March 29, 2022

Source: Lenzing Aktiengesellschaft

Culp The Sustainable Furnishings Council, And North Carolina State University Promote The Future Of Sustainability During High Point Market

HIGH POINT, N.C. — March 29, 2022 — Culp Inc. — together with its consolidated subsidiaries, CULP — is proudly hosting the Sustainable Furnishings Council’s 15th Anniversary industry-wide celebration in the Culp Innovation Center at Congdon Yards on Friday, April 1, 2022, from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. CULP collaborated with the Sustainable Furnishings Council (SFC) and students from North Carolina State University to create a tangible nod to the future of sustainability within the home furnishings industry. On display at the event will be an upholstered chair made completely from sustainable materials and with circularity in mind.

As the only publicly traded textile company member of the SFC, CULP supports the organization’s mission in raising awareness and promoting the adoption of environmentally conscious practices within the home furnishings industry. CULP utilizes a variety of processes designed to reduce the environmental footprint of its manufacturing facilities. The company has also created multiple successful fabric lines that combine sustainability with performance through its use of yarn made with an average of 30-percent recycled fibers from post-consumer plastic bottles, including its ChillSense with Repreve® mattress fabric product line and its LiveSmart Evolve® upholstery fabric product line.

“As an innovative company, we are always looking towards the future and seeking to promote the betterment of tomorrow for our customers, our associates, our communities, and our planet,” said Iv Culp, president and CEO of Culp Inc. “Working with the students from NC State, and seeing their enthusiasm and expectation for a more sustainable future, truly helps to strengthen our commitment to increase our company’s integration of best practices and affect positive environmental change as a leader within the home furnishings industry.”

Led by NC State Assistant Professor of the Practice of Industrial & Product Design, Rico Ruffino, students enrolled in the Sustainable Materials and Technology course created a concept chair from idea to completion using sustainable materials and cutting-edge manufacturing processes. Explaining the project, Professor Ruffino stated, “The chair is made with renewable materials and the design is intended for all the materials to separate and be reused. The frame is made from sustainably sourced white oak; the cushioning for the arms is a product containing rubberized coconut fiber; the seat and back cushions are made of a natural latex biodegradable, plant-based material; glueless pocket springs for support; and it is covered in CULP’s LiveSmart Evolve fabric. The students are very proud and excited that their work will be displayed at the SFC celebration.”

The event promises to be an exciting evening promoting the vision of sustainability in home furnishings, with many industry leaders in attendance. “When the Sustainable Furnishings Council began in 2007, our founder’s showroom was located in what is now the Culp Innovation Center at Congdon Yards,” explained Susan Inglis, executive director of the SFC. “As we celebrate our accomplishments of the past 15 years, induct a new Executive Director, and anticipate a successful future, we are thrilled that our event will be held in the place where it all began. We are grateful to CULP for allowing us to use their space for our event, and we can’t wait to celebrate with them, along with other SFC members and guests from the industry — everyone is invited!”

Posted: March 29, 2022

Source: Culp, Inc.

International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) Statistics: No Capacity Growth And Drop In Consumption

ZÜRICH, Switzerland — March 29, 2022 — The International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) has published the International Textile Industry Statistics (ITIS) on productive capacity and raw material consumption in the short-staple organized (spinning mill-) sector in virtually all textile-producing countries in the world.

The global number of installed short-staple spindles remained stable in 2020 at 221 million units (See Figure 1). The number of installed open-end rotors slightly decreased from 7.4 million in 2019 to 7.2 million in 2020 (See Figure 2). The decreasing trends observed in both segments in previous years (mainly due to scrapping of outdated machinery in China) seem to have come to an end. The tendencies observed in other regions are stable. The number of installed air-jet spindles increased in 2020 in all regions except in Europe, East and Europe, West.

The substitution between shuttle and shuttleless looms continued in 2020 but the number of installed shuttleless looms has shrunk for the first time from 1.68 million in 2019 to 1.64 in 2020 (See Figure 3). Total raw material consumption in the short-staple organized sector has sharply decreased from 46 million tons in 2019 to 41 million tons in 2020 (See Figure 4). Consumption of raw cotton, synthetic, and cellulosic short-staple fibers decreased by -12 percent, -14 percent, and -9 percent, respectively. This effect mainly reflects the reduced levels of production during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Posted: March 29, 2022

Source: International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF)

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