Soorty Announces Solar And Wind Power Projects 

KARACHI, Pakistan — May 25, 2022 — Soorty — a Pakistan-based, vertically integrated denim company — has announced a 6.26 MW captive Solar Power Project and 750 kW/369 kWh Reflex Energy Storage (solar hybrid controller). The project is dispersed across locations in Nooriabad and Landhi. This project will make Soorty the second facility in Pakistan to hold an energy storage solution.

For years, Soorty has been investing in disruptive technologies, developing environmentally and socially conscious denim production systems which help reduce the use of water, chemicals, and energy. With a strong focus on planet protection, human value, and commitment to its worker’s health and safety, using data-driven transparency as their guide, Soorty operates with the motto DENIM AS A POWER OF GOOD. As one of the largest vertical denim manufacturers in the world, Soorty knows that production at scale comes with an impact – one that has the power to change things. They are dedicated to making their impact on the environment and societies, a positive one, by using less of what is limited while making more and better use of it.

The 6.26 MW Solar PV project is expected to produce approximately 9,198 MWh (Megawatt hours) annually. The output energy will be used on-site resulting in substantial savings for the company. The energy generated will cut around 5656 Tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions over the life of the project, which is equal to plantation of approximately 229,950 trees.

Soorty has also sponsored NASDA Green Energy limited to produce wind power. Housed at Sindh, Pakistan the Windfarm has started producing 50 Megawatts of safe, renewable energy for national grid with effect from 1-May-2022.The energy generated with the initiative will save around 67,000 Tons of CO2 equivalent emissions per year on the national grid, which is equal to a plantation of approximately 300,000 trees per year.

Soorty defines themselves as engineers at heart with a need to be restorative by design; dedicated to becoming the world’s most responsible denim producer at scale and these various initiatives the company is committed is how this goal will become a reality.

Posted: May 25, 2022

Source: Soorty

Heimtextil Summer Special: Sustainability And The Circular Economy Increasingly In The Focus Of Manufacturers

FRANKFURT AM MAIN, Germany — May 25, 2022 — Due to the current challenges, sustainability is a theme that runs through all sectors of the textile value chain, triggering processes and releasing enormous innovative power in the process. Heimtextil in Frankfurt, International Trade Fair for Home and Contract Textiles, this year with a Summer Special from June 21-14, 2022, has been offering know-how transfer, networking and inspiration on the subject of sustainability for more than 10 years.

Sustainability strategy in the home textiles industry

Environmental pollution, microplastics and high water consumption as well as increasing consumption are buzzwords that hit the textile industry on the topic of sustainability. The production of textiles consumes large amounts of resources, which poses challenges for the textile industry, especially in times of rising prices and supply bottlenecks. For this reason, the home textiles industry has been dealing with the topic of circular economy for more than 10 years in order to save resources and make production and products more sustainable. Materials are not disposed of at the end of a product’s life, but are kept in circulation within the framework of sensible recycling and are reused in new products. At the same time, a functioning circular economy reduces the amount of waste and CO2 emissions. Manufacturers of home textiles are consistently pursuing the approach of a genuine circular economy and are focusing on reduction, energy efficiency, reuse and recycling.

Exhibitors present sustainable concepts and innovations

For example, the Spanish manufacturer, Francisco Jover S.A. (Hall 4.1, C14) generates 99 percent of the energy it needs from the photovoltaic system on its roof and recycles 100 percent of its plastic, paper and cardboard waste.

In addition, exhibitors such as Lech Fabrics (Hall 4.1, C91) are introducing high-quality PET fibers to their portfolio. Most fabrics used in the production of furniture are made of polyester. Therefore, according to Lech Fabrics, it is ideal to use plastics from other industries that would end up in the dustbin, or worse, in the forests and oceans. Lech Fabrics is therefore investing in innovation and expanding its portfolio of such products. In the process, the company says it saves 94 per cent water, 60 per cent energy and 32 per cent CO2 emissions in the production of its fibers from PET compared to new production.

The Austrian Lenzing Group is following the path of a holistic approach that encompasses the circular economy and renewable materials. As a producer of wood-based pulps and fibers, Lenzing is at the beginning of the value chain for the production of textiles and nonwoven products. Here, the intensive cooperation of the entire value chain and the traceability of raw materials within the value chain are elementary.

The value chain is attributed great importance in terms of sustainability: it makes it possible to transparently trace the holistic process that is necessary for the manufacture of a product. Through this year’s trio of fairs, Heimtextil Summer Special, Techtextil and Texprocess, large parts of the value-added chain will be represented at the Frankfurt Exhibition Centre and provide insights into large sections of the textile industry. At the Heimtextil Conference Sleep & More (Hall 3.0 D41), visitors can look forward to lectures on Wednesday and Thursday on topics such as supply chains, the circular economy and much more.

Sustainability – a focus topic at the Heimtextil Summer Special

The Heimtextil industry takes the subject of sustainability seriously and the trade fairs also show that sustainability is not a trend but has been increasingly anchored in the industry for years and is constantly developing through innovations. At the Heimtextil Summer Special, the measures and offers relating to sustainability will be brought to life. In the centre of the fair grounds, in Hall 4.0, the trend area under the motto ‘Next Horizons’ not only offers inspiration for the latest trend colours and materials but also shows how sustainable themes can be staged. Based on the Material Manifesto, local resources, environmentally friendly or borrowed materials will be used for the stand design. The Green Village (Hall 3.0, Stand D51) helps to keep track of official labels and certificates. Label providers and certifiers will provide exhibitors and interested trade visitors with answers to their questions and up-to-date information on current developments. This is also where you will find the SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) Lounge, which is being created in cooperation between Messe Frankfurt and the Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Network as well as the United Nations Office for Partnerships. Together with Messe Frankfurt’s Texpertise Network, the business network of the company’s around 50 international textile fairs, the lounge focuses on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The online Green Directory shows all suppliers of sustainably produced textiles. Finding one’s way around the fair is made easier by the exhibitors’ clearly recognisable stand sign. The Green Tours also offer the opportunity to be guided directly to selected sustainably producing companies and to learn more about their products. There will also be numerous specialist lectures, such as at the Heimtextil Conference: Sleep & More (Hall 3.0, Stand D 041). Here, high-calibre experts will provide valuable orientation for decision-makers in the hotel industry and hospitality trends will be examined from the point of view of sustainability and the circular economy.

Outlook: Heimtextil 2023

Around 2,200 international exhibitors have already registered for Heimtextil 2023. This current level, eight months before the event from January 10-13, 2023, is already around 75 percent compared to Heimtextil 2020 and shows the high relevance of Heimtextil for companies and the sector.

The Heimtextil Summer Special will be held June 21-24, 2022.

Posted: May 25, 2022

Source: Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH

CEMATEX Introduces Online Business Platform To Connect Global Textile Community 

BRUSSELS — May 25, 2022 — An online platform that allows ITMA 2023 participants to build connections, source technologies and solutions, share ideas and grow their business has been introduced by CEMATEX — the European Committee of Textile Machinery Manufacturers and owner of ITMA 2023.

ITMAconnect is the new one-stop sourcing platform and knowledge hub that complements the ITMA 2023 exhibition which will be held at the Fiera Milano Rho, Milan, June 8-14, 2023. It will enable exhibitors, visitors and industry partners to start their engagements before the exhibition, make appointments for in-person meetings at ITMA 2023, and continue their discussions even after the exhibition.

Ernesto Maurer, president of CEMATEX, said: “Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, we have been exploring ways to add value to our participants in the digital space. We are excited that with the launch of ITMAconnect, we now offer the global textile community enhanced opportunities that extend beyond the physical exhibition. We hope exhibitors will make full use of this online platform to keep their contacts engaged while generating new leads to grow their business.”

Exhibitors will be able to pinpoint business opportunities in advance by allowing them to have access to ITMA 2023 buyers early. They will be assigned ITMAconnect digital spaces for them to present their company information, upload brochures and press releases, and showcase their products. They can also start their engagements with the smart messaging and video meeting feature, and schedule in-person meetings via the business matching tool.

ITMA exhibitor Oscar Rius, CEO and co-owner of Rius-Comatex, enthused: “As an online platform, ITMAconnect offers us even more value to our participation at ITMA 2023 as we can establish a brand presence all year round. It’s a useful platform for us to discover, target and reach out to more buyers, pre and post exhibition.”

ITMA 2023 exhibitors will automatically become ITMAconnect subscribers. There are several subscription tiers offering varied features to suit the needs of the exhibitors. Access to the platform for exhibitors to prepare their digital showcases will be available from 15 November 2022.

Similarly, visitors will enjoy a two-in-one offer to gain access to ITMA 2023 as well as the online sourcing platform when they purchase their badges. Online access starts from March 8, 2023.

After the close of the exhibition, ITMAconnect will be open to non-ITMA 2023 visitors who will be able to purchase an ITMAconnect visitor ticket to gain access to the platform from June 15, 2023.

Access to ITMAconnect for all ITMA 2023 participants will expire on June 14, 2026.

Julieta Pagliuca, project manager of The Brazilian Textile and Apparel Industry Association (ABIT), shared: “It is great to learn that with ITMAconnect, we can now get in touch with ITMA 2023 exhibitors conveniently through the platform even before the exhibition. This will help our members plan their visits better since ITMA is such a big show and there are so many innovative technologies to explore.”

The ITMAconnect platform will also allow participants to access content all year round, making it the go-to knowledge hub for textile related content and events, including webinars, community forums and showcases by exhibitors.

Posted: May 25, 2022

Source: CEMATEX and ITMA Services

Rieter: Challenging First Half Of 2022 Despite Exceptionally High Order Backlog

WINTERTHUR, Switzerland — May 25, 2022 — Despite an exceptionally high order backlog and sustained strong demand, Rieter’s business situation in the first half of 2022 is characterized by the well-known supply chain bottlenecks, the repercussions of the COVID lockdown in China and the significant increases in material and transportation costs.

Further costs are added in connection with the takeover of the automatic winding business as of April 1, 2022.

These factors are adversely impacting both sales and earnings.

Rieter expects significantly higher sales in the first half of 2022 compared to the prior-year period (first half of 2021: 400.5 million Swiss francs ($417.3 million)). Rieter anticipates a loss at the EBIT and net result level in the first half of 2022 (first half of 2021: EBIT 9.0 million Swiss francs ($9.4 million), net result: 5.3 million Swiss francs ($5.5 million)).

The company is working intensively on the implementation of measures to minimize the impact of the supply chain bottlenecks, the COVID lockdown in China and the cost increases. The implemented price increases have a delayed effect, particularly in the machinery business. The integration of the automatic winding business is proceeding according to plan.

As soon as the situation in the sourcing markets has normalized, Rieter will benefit from the exceptionally high order backlog and the considerably improved market position as a result of the takeover of the automatic winding business as well as Accotex and Temco.

Rieter will provide a detailed report on the business results of the first half of 2022 on July 19, 2022.

Posted: May 25, 2022

Source: Rieter

Innovative Solutions And Continuous Research: The Italian Technological Leadership In Textile Machinery

TW Special Report

The Italian textile sector historically represents a benchmark in the world: from production to the finished product, the high quality standard and innovative technologies applied are the basis of an excellence recognized and appreciated globally.

The resulting competitiveness confirms the leadership of Made in Italy and demonstrates, for some time now, a commitment that goes beyond the market and looks to the future of the planet. An evolution that is the result of a constant search for innovative solutions, both on the strictly production level and on that of the environmental needs of a changing world.

It is with these premises that a virtuous plot is created, in which excellence and sustainability come together to chart new paths and redesign modernity. Green Label, signed by ACIMIT, is part of this transformation, promoting technological solutions that support the environment.

The reduction of hazardous substances in production processes, greater water savings and improved energy efficiency of production processes, as well as the recycling of materials that have reached the end of their useful life: these are the benefits of Green Label.

RINA, an international certification body, is responsible for validating the Green Label issuance process and its testing measures. On the basis of a standardized and certified procedure, RINA verifies both the way in which are measured and the operating conditions of the machines being labelled. Certification makes the above aspects concrete and achievable, enabling a process that allows companies to grow, becoming even more competitive and continuing to confirm the Italian leadership of the entire textile machinery sector.

The technology innovations implemented by Italian manufacturers involved in the project within their machines translate, as well as benefits in terms of environmental impact (reduction of emissions of CO2 eq. of the sample machine in use phase), also in economic benefits for the customers of our companies. The saving for the users of green-labelled textile machines was calculated by RINA on the information provided by the database of the Green Labels and on the quantity of material processed by the sample machine defined by each manufacturers. As regards the energy consumption the reduction also reaches 30 percent. As for the water consumption in the finishing sector the reduction is on average 27 percent.

Therefore, the use of green-labelled Italian machinery makes possible a win-win situation with clear economic and environmental benefits for both Italian manufacturers and their textile customers.

For more information visit https://www.green-label.it/en/.

This sponsored content was provided by the Italian Trade Agency (ITA).

May 25, 2022

Brenntag Specialties Announces New Agreement With Archroma

READING, Pa. — May 17, 2022 — Brenntag, a chemicals and ingredients distributor, has become a distributor for Archroma products in the United States and Canada.

Archroma’s portfolio includes, but is not limited to, the products falling under the trade names below. These products can positively impact whiteness, coloration, and stain and soil release for home care and household, industrial & institutional (HI&I) cleaning laundry products and detergents.
• Leucophor®
• Nylosan®
• Drimaren®
• Printofix®
• Hydroperm®
• Ultraphor®
• Kieralon®

“We are extremely excited to add Archroma to our portfolio of suppliers in HI&I,” stated Dr, Jeffrey M. Carey, vice president HI&I Americas. “Their strong line of specialty products fit well with our existing product portfolio and will further enhance our ability to provide world class solutions to our customers.”

Leucophor has a range of optical brightening agents to brighten detergents and eliminate greyness. Nylosan, Drimaren, and Printofix are a palette of dyes and pigment dispersions designed to get the desired color for detergents and cleaners. Hydroperm stain and soil release agents are used for laundry detergents and softeners. They help improve the removal of oily or fatty stains from fabrics even without “pre-wash” of the fabric.

“Archroma has built decades of expertise in dyestuff and specialty chemical solutions bringing color and performance to textile, paper, packaging, coatings, etc. We are very excited for future collaboration with Brenntag and their customers to bring laundry and detergent expertise to North America,” said Bryan Dill, head of Sales, North America, Archroma.

Posted May 24, 2022

Source: Brenntag

DOMO Chemicals Launches NYLEO®, The New Brand For Its Innovative Performance Fibers Product Line

GHENT, Belgium — May 19, 2022 — NYLEO® is the new brand for DOMO’s Performance Fibers product line, bringing together a compelling combination of well-established performance fibers and groundbreaking new solutions. Based on nylon 6,6, NYLEO is used in numerous applications in the textile, flooring, flock and abrasive markets. Thanks to its unique properties, it offers a wide range of actions to enhance product performance.

“In a fast-changing world, markets and consumers demand innovative solutions to meet the daily requisites for health, safety and sustainability,” said Nicolas Forien, sales director PA66 & Fibers at DOMO. “At DOMO, because we are a key polyamide player equipped with the world’s most recent polymerization line for staple fiber, we are committed to achieving cutting-edge breakthroughs in PA 66 fibers. This is demonstrated in our innovative NYLEO line of nylon 66 value-added solutions. These include new products for flame retardancy, enhanced biodegradability, and inhibiting bacteria.”

NYLEO merges a rich heritage in the nylon 6,6-based fiber market with a new focus on innovation with three pioneering products: NYLEO PROTECT with improved flame retardancy, NYLEO 4EARTH® with enhanced biodegradability, and NYLEO SAFE with bacteriostatic properties.

DOMO’s legacy of innovation in nylon 6,6 fibers
Based at its Valence site in France, DOMO’s Performance Fibers teams work passionately to create unique fibers designed to meet key market needs. DOMO has been producing world-class PA66 fibers since 1955 for such industries as nonwovens for abrasives and aeronautics, flooring for carpets, high performance textiles, flock for upholstery, automotive interiors and flooring, and many other consumer products. The NYLEO brand will now be applied to the full portfolio of polyamide 6.6 (PA 66) fiber products, including staple fibers, crimped tow and tow for flock. These are well known for their superior resilience, outstanding wear and abrasion resistance, higher tenacity, excellent dyeability and color fastness, consistent quality, and soft feel.

And now, NYLEO also represents cutting-edge innovation with its new line of PA 66 fiber products:

NYLEO PROTECT — In order to contribute to higher levels of safety in the Personal Protective Equipment, clothing, furniture and transportation industries, DOMO has developed a new flame retardant PA 66 fiber. NYLEO PROTECT combines all the advantages of PA 66, such as mechanical performance, comfort, low specific weight and outstanding abrasion resistance, with improved flame retardancy performance. Indeed, the limiting oxygen index (LOI) of NYLEO PROTECT has been improved to 28 percent, which is the level of typical flame retardant fibers.

NYLEO 4EARTH — More and more manufacturers are concerned about sustainability and the circular economy, with the aim to reduce their impact on the environment through better waste management. Based on the observation that the textile value chain is a major contributor to landfills, where most clothing ends its life, DOMO has developed this new fiber, which demonstrates enhanced biodegradation when landfilled. A traditional nylon 66 fiber decomposes in about 50-100 years. NYLEO 4EARTH with enhanced biodegradability decomposes in under five years.

NYLEO SAFE — Bacteria propagation has become a health concern of increasing urgency. Therefore, DOMO has developed a new bacteriostatic fiber to fight this problem. A bacteriostatic agent is introduced into the polymeric matrix, creating a long-lasting effect to protect the fibers and inhibit the growth of bacteria.

“The NYLEO brand represents an important step in our quest to strengthen DOMO’s nylon-based performance fibers business,” added Nicolas Forien. “It’s also a key milestone in our sustainability journey, as we endeavor to support our customers through our enhanced offering of sustainable solutions.”

Posted May 24, 2022

Source: Domo Chemicals

Alpine Group Undertakes Future-Fit Business Benchmark

LONDON — May 17, 2022 — Alpine Group — a longstanding manufacturing partner for renowned fashion brands that include The North Face, American Eagle Outfitters, Under Armour and Sweaty Betty — becomes the first textile innovation and apparel manufacturing business globally to undertake the Future-Fit Business Benchmark. The science-based strategic management tool aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and clearly defines the destination for businesses wishing to evaluate how much more needs to be done in order to take credible action towards a future-fit society.

Announced on the occasion of Alpine Group’s 40th anniversary, the adoption of the benchmark marks a significant step forward in driving progress for an industry where consumers, investors, and employees alike are demanding more accountability, especially from brands. Alpine Group’s sustainability commitments as driven by the Benchmark highlight the critical role that textile innovation and apparel manufacturing play in driving systemic change throughout the fashion value chain.

“In the early years when I was visiting textile and dyeing mills, I had seen with my own eyes the damage the industry was doing, and no one seemed to care about sustainability then. Fixing that broken system requires collective effort,” said Ashok Mahtani, co-founder and chairman of Alpine Group. “At Alpine, we have spent the past 40 years researching and pioneering sustainable breakthroughs in materials science and manufacturing technology. Adopting the Future-Fit Business Benchmark now is our way of accelerating change by bringing the rest of the industry — brands and partners alike — on this journey with us. We do it so that our innovation and manufacturing can positively impact the entire value chain.”

In line with the Future-Fit Business Benchmark, Alpine Group is pursuing a comprehensive sustainability strategy dubbed ‘Threading the Future’ that will address three holistic areas of impact, namely Materials and Innovation; People Development and Empowerment; as well as Environmental Impact and Community Action.

Group-wide commitments across the three fronts include:
Every Thread Counts (Materials and Innovation)
• By 2023, greater than 60 percent of all polyester will come from recycled bottle or textile waste (Paradise is a signatory on the Textile Exchange rPET challenge, committing to >45% rPET by 2025)
• By 2023, 100 percent of all MMCF (man-made cellulose fiber) from wood pulp will be sourced from Canopy Green Shirt fiber manufacturers — leading global standard for sustainable MMCF manufacturers
• By 2025, 100 percent of all cotton will come from sustainable sources according to guidelines defined by the Textile Exchange’s Sustainable Cotton Challenge (Paradise is a signatory on the Textile Exchange Sustainable Cotton Challenge)
• By 2025, 25 percent of all garments will be produced with solution dyed materials to reduce overall water consumption
• By 2030, 75 percent of all man-made cellulosic fiber will be from tree-free sources — e.g., agricultural waste, bacterial cellulose

Every Action Counts (Environmental Impact and Community Action)
• All manufacturing facilities across the Group will pursue the use 100 percent renewable energy by 2030
• Set a Science-Based Target, to set a clearly defined path in reducing the Group’s scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions in line with the Paris Agreement goals

Every Person Counts (People Development and Empowerment)
• Support a minimum of 250,000 women, on top of the 50,000 per year in the next five years through our Dignity Kits program. This program uses textiles waste to create kits that alleviate period poverty
• In Egypt, drive a HERfinance partnership with HERproject, digitalizing wages within the apparel workforce and empowering production floor team members to take advantage of the benefits of digital wages and enhance financial literacy

Lewis Shuler, head of Innovation at Paradise Textiles, Alpine Group’s dedicated innovation hub, said: “The apparel industry has long been mired in debates about the sustainability problem, often sidestepping each other even as greenwashing continues unabated. What our industry needs to make fashion fit for the future is more collaboration on more solutions from all angles.” He added: “Our sustainability innovations include our work on textile-to-textile recycling technology and processes that help to minimize waste at scale, and thus, at an accessible price point. Beyond textile recycling, we are also continuing to research and push for the use of better bio-based alternatives that deliver on performance, such as corn and hemp, while also deploying advanced Physical Tracer technology that facilitates transparency and authenticity to all materials we use.”

Alpine Group’s announcement as the first textile innovation and apparel manufacturing business globally to adopt the Future-Fit Business Benchmark follows the recent launch of its ‘Factory of the Future’ as part of Alex Apparels’ state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Egypt. Set to open in late 2022, the factory is expected to provide an additional 2,000+ jobs for the local community. The Group is in the process of securing LEED Gold certification for the facility, a voluntary environmental certification system to recognize the sustainability attributes of design, construction, operation and maintenance of buildings.

Commenting on the significance of Alpine Group’s announcement for the industry at large, Dr. Geoff Kendall, co-founder and CEO of Future-Fit Foundation, said: “The transition to true sustainability is going to be long and hard for any business — and like any journey, you don’t get very far unless you know exactly where you’re going. The Future-Fit Business Benchmark defines the destination all companies need to aim for and offers guidance to steer toward it. Unfortunately, many businesses still find the idea of real transformation daunting, so settle for incremental improvement to the unsustainable status quo. That widespread lack of ambition only serves to underline the importance of Alpine Group’s commitment to Future-Fit. It’s a milestone development that stands to pave the way for the fashion industry as a whole. Hopefully other organizations will follow Alpine Group’s lead — to play their part in building a better world.”

Posted May 24, 2022

Source: Alpine Group

“Here We Go” — Beaulieu International Group Is Ready For A Sustainable Future

WAREGEM, Belgium — May 19, 2022 — With an annual report entitled “Here.We.Go” and a sustainability report “Shaping sustainable living, together,” B.I.G. is also publishing a strong ambition for a sustainable future.

Offering sustainable flooring and material solutions will be the number one priority for the coming years.

The Group’s first sustainability report is built around a self-designed sustainability model — Route 2030 — which is based on achievable commitments, covers the main priorities and reflects B.I.G.’s vision in a sincere way.

“We fully realize that the road ahead is still long and bumpy, but if there is one thing we have learned in recent years, it is this: the greatest threat to our planet is thinking that someone else will save it. Today, we feel ready and equipped to take on our responsibility” said Pol Deturck, CEO.

Our vision for the B.I.G. change is to actively build a better future by reducing our carbon footprint to zero, taking care of our people and those around us, and doing business in a transparent, integer way. In this sense, it is the perfect translation of the Group’s purpose defined in 2021: shaping sustainable living, together.

Deturck added: “By 2030, together with a broad group of suppliers, stakeholders and partners, we want to be the leader in sustainable flooring and material solutions. Specifically, our future value proposition is based on products and services that are environmentally & climate friendly, circular and offered by talented, innovative people with an emphasis on integrity and respect for values. This results more in a recurring value proposition for the future.”

Clear growth ambitions
As a 100-percent family-owned international Group with a clear long-term vision, we stayed true to our plans and kept on investing in all areas of our business. Just as our past investments allowed us to thrive in 2021, today’s investments will make us even stronger in the years to come.

“The ambition for 2021 was to invest over 100 mio euro. But we were held back by external, unforeseen factors: from delays on quotes and execution to the lack of availability and resources due to the pandemic. If all goes as planned, we’ll make up for it in 2022 with an investment budget well over 100 million euro. The main areas of interest will be sustainability, innovation and Industry 4.0,” said Pieter-Jan Sonck, CFO of B.I.G.

Our global transformation strategy ONE B.I.G. is gaining momentum across all business units and regions. Some of the more concrete initiatives that saw the light of day in 2021 were our new platform for customer relationship management, the acceleration of digital solutions into our operations and the launch of the B.I.G. University offering learning trajectories for our people.

A significant milestone in turnover
Adding to the gradual top-line growth of recent years, the Group can look back on an unprecedented financial boom. The driving forces: favorable market conditions, a revitalized growth strategy and a team of nearly 5,000 first-class employees.

B.I.G. reported a turnover of 2.5 billion euros, an increase of 45 percent compared to 2020. The Group EBITDA amounted to 451 million euros, an increase of 120 percent compared to 2020 and a net result of 274 million euros, a growth of 215 percent compared to 2020.

Since the pandemic shook various macro- and micro-economic systems to their foundations, our integrated business model has proven to be a great recipe for resilience. B.I.G. was able to mitigate major supply chain risks thanks to its strong vertical integration, while we also balanced out local market dynamics with our vast geographical presence.

Fruitful year for all Business Units
It was a fruitful year for all three business units, but our business unit Polymers stood out. Exceptionally strong demand in Europe and North America, combined with raw material shortages and unplanned shutdowns of competitors, pushed prices and margins up to historical highs. Well aware that this combination of market conditions puts our overall figures into perspective, B.I.G. has proven to be capable of going the extra mile. The Polymers facilities ran at full capacity to meet the customers’ needs and hit all-time profit records during several months.

Our business unit Flooring Solutions also fared well. Most divisions and regions outperformed amid surging energy prices, disrupted supply chains, cost volatility in transport and raw materials, and other challenges. Our sustained focus on innovation, design and product differentiation led to an improved operating result at the end of 2021, and we continue on the same track.

The achievements by Engineered Solutions echo those of the other two business units, from volume increases to budget increases. B.I.G. took big leaps forward in all its key markets, including the automotive sector, geotextiles and filtration.

Posted May 24, 2022

Source: B.I.G.

Wilson College Of Textiles, Baldwin Technology Partner To Make Textile Finishing More Sustainable

RALEIGH, N.C. — May 19, 2022 — Zeis Textiles Extension (ZTE) at North Carolina State University’s Wilson College of Textiles is pleased to announce its new working relationship with Baldwin Technology Co. Inc., utilizing its precision spray technology for chemical applications, TexCoat G4™, in the dyeing and finishing lab. This mutually beneficial relationship will enhance sustainability in the textile industry by reducing energy, water, chemicals and processing time with innovative spray technology.

In addition to equipment partnerships such as this, companies within the textile industry can partner with ZTE to utilize the pilot lab for the opportunity to test new processes and products at an industry scale, exposing them to new technologies and possibilities without interrupting their manufacturing timelines. The labs within ZTE employ student workers and are available for use in their capstone and research projects.

“We are excited to be teaming up with Zeis Textiles Extension with our precision spray technology for textile finishing,” Rick Stanford, Baldwin Technology’s vice president of global business development for textiles, said. “NC State is recognized as a global leader in research and education for the textile industry. This opportunity exposes future textile leaders to the benefits of Baldwin spray technology in finishing and serves as a test site where brands, mills, chemical providers and others in the textile supply chain are lining up to experience Baldwin’s TexCoat performance and sustainability capabilities firsthand.”

Baldwin Technologies is a global equipment manufacturer for a number of industries. With more than 100 years in innovation and 35 years of experience in spray valve technology for offset printing, Baldwin is revolutionizing textile finishing by employing non-contact precision spray technology such as in the TexCoatG4™, which allows for even application of a wide range of low-viscosity water-based chemicals to one or both sides of the fabric.

Compared to traditional pad applications, the system enhances productivity, efficiency and sustainability by:
● Reducing water use by up to 50 percent;
● Reducing drying time and energy up to 50 percent;
● Recycling 100-percemt of chemistry used;
● Reducing downtime for changing or cleaning baths between fabrics; and
● Reducing water and chemical waste.

This partnership promotes Baldwin Technology and keeps the Wilson College at the cutting
edge of advancements in the textile industry, allowing both students and companies to gain
access to this eco-friendly finishing equipment. It has the potential, therefore, to revolutionize the current industry as well as that of the future, as students graduate and take their knowledge around the world becoming the industry leaders of tomorrow.

“We consider ourselves to be the industry arm of the college, bridging the research and
innovation being done between industry and academia,” said Andre West, director of ZTE. “Our partnerships with machine manufacturers, like this one with Baldwin Tech or our partnership with Sheima Seiki, for example, help serve as a vehicle to innovation.”

Posted May 24, 2022

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