Gustavo Figueroa Joins MagnaColours Team

BARNSLEY, England — March 8, 2022 — MagnaColours Ltd. is delighted to inform its customers and partners that Gustavo Figueroa has transitioned across to the MagnaColours team as Business Development Manager for the Americas.

After spending 13 years of his career at Avient, Figueroa will now represent the MagnaColours brand in the Americas region, as Magna takes the next step in its journey as part of Avient Corp.

Figueroa has over 20 years’ experience in the screen-printing industry, and during his time at Avient has supported the growth of its entire portfolio of specialty inks including Wilflex, Rutland, Printop, Zodiac, and now Magna.

Figueroa is looking forward to building relationships with MagnaColours’ customers and partners, whilst continuing to provide high levels of support to brands, printers, distributors across the region.

Posted March 8, 2022

Source: MagnaColours

37.5Ⓡ Technology Incorporates Enhanced Biodegradation (+EB) Into All Products

BOULDER, Colo. — March 8, 2022 —  Cocona Labs, the makers of temperature-regulating 37.5Ⓡ Technology, announced this week that after nearly four years of testing, all 37.5 fibers and yarns going forward will incorporate an Enhanced Biodegradation (+EB) technology to accelerate the natural biodegradation of synthetic textiles in landfills. Unlike standard synthetic materials that can take centuries to biodegrade, the +EB additive enables 37.5 synthetic fibers and yarns to biodegrade in just a fraction of that time without impacting durability or performance.

Textiles have long been known to be a major component of landfill waste. Synthetic fibers represent more than half of all global fiber production and show virtually no natural degradation in lab tests. It’s estimated 17 million tons of textile waste are contributed to landfills every year, much of which will remain unchanged during the remainder of our lifetime (and far beyond). Cocona Labs’ decision to add the +EB additive to all the company’s 37.5 products — at no additional charge — was made to address this issue.

Unlike typical synthetic fibers that can take hundreds (if not thousands) of years to biodegrade, 37.5 Technology’s +EB additive rapidly accelerates synthetic fibers’ natural degradation after being deposited in a landfill. Based on laboratory tests, 37.5 +EB fibers are projected to biodegrade 50 to 80 percent in just 80 to 100 years so that synthetic textile waste may be more quickly reclaimed.

“Incorporating +EB technology into all 37.5 products is an important step to bringing more sustainable practices to the textile industry,” Jeff Bowman, CEO of Cocona Labs said. “Given the growing mass of synthetic materials sitting in landfills and the problems associated with it, we are excited to make this technology available at no additional charge. We believe deeply that manufacturers and suppliers need to be doing better, so we are.”

Cocona Labs recognizes that these issues are not easy ones to tackle but remains committed to its vision that discarded textiles can be transformed from a problem to a solution. +EB technology will be incorporated into all 37.5 yarns, fabrics, and fills by July 2022.

Posted March 8, 2022

Source: 37.5 Technology

MFG Chemical Hires Katy Zukis As Business Development Manager

Katy Zukis

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — March 7, 2022 — MFG Chemical, a global supplier of specialty and custom chemical manufacturing, announces the hiring of Katy Zukis as Business Development manager. In addition to driving top line sales growth, Zukis will be shaping MFG Chemical’s Oil and Gas SBU strategy, optimizing the product portfolio and developing a robust pipeline. Zukis will work out of MFG Chemical’s sales office in Houston.

Zukis has broad chemical industry experience, including positions in manufacturing, purchasing, product management, customer service/transportation, business management with P&L responsibility, as well as her extensive sales experience. Previous employers include Huntsman Cargill, Texaco and Dow Chemical. Katy earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Arizona, Tucson.

Joe Dymecki, MFG Chemical vice president, sales & marketing stated, “Katy is a chemical industry expert with many years of experience who we feel confident will help MFG continue to meet and exceed customer expectations.”

Zukis stated: ”I’m happy and proud to assume my new responsibilities at MFG Chemical, a high-quality custom chemical manufacturing company with three recently upgraded ISO 9001: 2015 Certified manufacturing plants, a pilot plant, and an exceptional staff of world-class experts. MFG Chemical is ideally positioned to meet the growing custom chemical manufacturing needs of its customers.”

Posted: March 8, 2022

Source: MFG Chemical, LLC

Tidal Vision Products: Chitosan From Crab Shells Certified To Treat Potable Water

SEATTLE — March 8, 2022 — Tidal Vision Products Inc. — an innovator of chitosan chemistry solutions for water treatment, textiles, and agriculture — announced today it has been officially certified by NSF International to sell its biodegradable, naturally derived chitosan product, Tidal Clear™ PW, to drinking water treatment facilities. The move signals an industry shift in drinking water treatment processing, an industry where non-biodegradable aluminum-based coagulants are still commonly used.

“We are grateful and excited that Tidal Clear has been officially certified by NSF International,” said Peter Moore, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Tidal Vision. “This is an important acknowledgement of our ability to deliver a consistent, low cost and convenient chitosan solution to the drinking water treatment industry. The industry now has an all-natural, biodegradable product to meet their previously unmet potable water treatment needs.”

Product certification by NSF, a global leader in public health standards and protocols, serves as an important tool to ensure the safety and suitability of chemicals used in the treatment of public drinking water, and is required in most U.S. states and Canadian provinces and territories.

Treatment plants in the United States process about 34 billion gallons of wastewater every day, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Conventional non-biodegradable treatment products contain metals like aluminum and iron in ‘clean’ water. These metals are often discharged as wastewater sludge at treatment plants. Traditional treatment products, while non-biodegradable, are utilized because they are cationic, or positively charged, and therefore bind to the anionic or negatively charged contaminants in the water.

Biodegradable chitin has a net-positive charge, the only natural, positively charged biopolymer in the world. In nature, chitin is found in the shells of crustaceans and insects.

Tidal Vision extracts chitin from crab shells, a commonly discarded byproduct of the seafood industry, and manufacturers it into Chitosan. The company’s proprietary manufacturing process produces chitosan in a ready to use liquid form. Tidal Vision’s expertise in chemistry results in chitosan that is consistent batch after batch and can be individualized for the needs of any client. In water treatment, chitosan binds to suspended solids, heavy metals and minerals, hydrocarbons and other pollutants. In the end, only clarified water remains.

Tidal Vision’s mission is to create positive and systemic environmental impact.

Posted: March 8, 2022

Source: Tidal Vision Products, Inc.

Covestro, Huafeng And Cyclone: Reducing The Carbon Footprint Of Footwear Production

LEVERKUSEN, Germany/SHANGHAI  — March 8, 2022 — Covestro, textile technology company Huafeng and green fiber technology company Cyclone from China have jointly developed a solution to produce high-quality running and sports shoes in a much more sustainable way than before: recycled fabric made from CYCLONE® recycled polyester (rPET) yarns is used as the shoe upper and selectively coated using Huafeng’s HAPTIC® technology. In the process, Huafeng uses a polyurethane (PU) dispersion from the INSQIN® portfolio of Covestro, half of whose carbon content comes from bio-based raw materials. The greenhouse gas emissions for each pair of shoes produced in this way are around 230 grams of CO2 equivalent less than a pair using conventional fossil-based PU dispersions and virgin PET fabric.

“This is good news for anyone who wants to maintain an athletically active, healthy lifestyle in the most environmentally friendly way possible,” said Tony Wu, global marketing manager, Textile Coatings, Covestro. He emphasizes that the increased sustainability achieved does not compromise the durability, appearance or comfort of the footwear upper. In combination with Huafeng HAPTIC® printing technology, 3D shapes can be applied to textile fabrics creating trendy designs and high performance in athletic footwear.

Impranil® eco DLS, as a partially bio-based binder, is part of the INSQIN® range of waterborne textile coating resins. Its use contributes to reduced greenhouse gas emissions with around 60 grams of CO2 equivalents per pair of shoes. The value comes from internal calculations verified by independent external experts.

It is obvious that the difference in the CO2 footprint becomes even greater when solvent-based PU textile coatings are used for comparison. The use of fabric based on recycled PET yarns mitigates greenhouse gas emissions by about 170 grams of CO2 equivalent per pair of shoes.

To share the experience and findings with the industry, Covestro, Huafeng and Cyclone jointly hosted a webinar globally to introduce the three technologies and the synergy created from this co-development. The recorded webinar can be accessed here.

“Sustainability is key to our market success at Huafeng. With the help of the partially bio-based PU dispersion of Covestro, we were able to introduce more renewable ingredients into our HAPTIC® coatings, further improving their sustainability,” said Dr. Thomas Schmidt, director of Innovation at Huafeng. Dr. Torsten Pohl, head of Global Textile Coatings at Covestro, added, “The combination of our partially bio-based INSQIN® PU coating binder with Huafeng HAPTIC® printing on recycled PET fabric shows how partners in the value chain can work together creating more sustainable products.”

Posted: March 8, 2022

Source: Covestro

National Retail Federation: Near-Record Import Levels Expected At U.S. Ports As Congestion Continues

WASHINGTON — March 8, 2022 — Imports at the nation’s major retail container ports are expected to be at near-record levels this spring and summer as consumer demand and supply chain challenges continue to result in congestion, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

“Consumers are still spending and the supply chain is still working to keep up,” NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said. “Growth rates have slowed down from the off-the-charts numbers we saw last year, but volume is close to the highest we’ve ever seen. Everyone in the supply chain is trying to reduce congestion, but there is still work to be done. Retailers are also planning for potential additional disruptions this summer from West Coast port labor contract negotiations.”

NRF recently sent a letter urging the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association to begin contract negotiations well before their July 1 contract expiration to avoid any delay in reaching a settlement and additional congestion that might result.

“Congestion continues on both coasts, with ships queuing for berths at multiple ports,” Hackett Associates Founder Ben Hackett said. “Problems remain with clearing import containers to their inland destinations while export containers are still being held back due to lack of space at the terminals. Until supply chain problems are sorted out with more drivers, trucks and inland storage space, we do not expect to see a rapid decline in the backlogs being experienced.”

U.S. ports covered by Global Port Tracker handled 2.16 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units — one 20-foot container or its equivalent — in January, the latest month for which final numbers are available. That was up 3.6 percent from December and up 5.2 percent year-over-year.

Ports have not yet reported February numbers, but Global Port Tracker projected the month at 2.07 million TEU, up 10.5 percent year-over-year. March is forecast at 2.17 million TEU, down 4.5 percent year-over-year; April at 2.24 million TEU, up 4.2 percent; May at 2.26 million TEU, down 3.2 percent; June at 2.23 million TEU, up 4 percent, and July at 2.26 million TEU, up 3 percent.

Many of those monthly totals will come close to the record of 2.33 million TEU that was set in May 2021, which was up more than 50 percent year-over-year because of the shutdown of stores and overseas factories in the spring of 2020.

The first six months of 2022 are expected to total 13.1 million TEU, up 2.4 percent year-over-year. Imports for all of 2021 totaled 25.8 million TEU, a 17.4 percent increase over 2020’s record high of 22 million TEU that was set despite the pandemic.

How to build a stronger and more sustainable supply chain will be addressed as retailers, industry experts and technology innovators meet at the NRF Supply Chain 360 conference in Cleveland in June.

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

Posted: March 7, 2022

Source: The National Retail Federation (NRF)

Precision Textiles Develops First FR Barrier Designed To Work With Four-Way Stretch Ticking

TOTOWA, N.J. — March 7, 2022 — Precision Textiles — a supplier of coated fabrics, nonwovens and laminations for the bedding, automotive and healthcare industries — will introduce the industry’s first glass-free, fire retardant barrier designed to work with four-way stretch ticking that will not compromise the feel of the mattress. The company’s patent-pending IQFIT Contour will debut at the ISPA Expo in Orlando, Fla.

IQFIT Contour is more than just a simple FR solution. Made with 100-percent glass-free knit construction, the product also enhances the performance of other specialty mattress technologies. It is a high-performance, four-way stretch and recovery FR solution system with versatile application options that help improve the pressure relieving characteristics of foam, hybrid and Smartbed mattress designs. IQFIT Contour is Proposition 65 compliant, and also meets New York State’s recently implemented FR use regulations.

“IQFIT Contour uses a highly breathable design with almost three times the elongation making it perfect for use with compression packaged mattresses or mattresses sold with adjustable bed bases,” said Garrett Graven, product development manager of Precision Textiles.

Scott Tesser, CEO of Precision

“IQFIT Contour is not just another product we developed to pass FR Safety requirements,” said Scott Tesser, CEO of Precision Textiles. “It’s an industry first that our R&D team worked tirelessly to perfect so we could help our customers enhance the sleep comfort of their mattress designs. What we’ve developed works in concert with the comfort layers our manufacturing clients have invested so much thought, time and money into while supporting improvement and efficiencies along their assembly and production lines.”

Precision Textiles will feature IQFIT Contour in Booth #1600 at the ISPA Expo, which is scheduled to take place from March 8-10 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.

Posted: March 7, 2022

Source: Precision Textiles

INDA, The Association Of The Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, Announces Six New Board Members And Officers

CARY, N.C. — March 7, 2022 — INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, today announced six new board members and its 2022 slate of officers to guide the success of the nonwovens industry and its members.

Elected by the INDA membership to three-year terms that began on March 1, the new board members bring a high level of diverse expertise and insight to the management of the association as it moves forward with its vibrant growth.

“I am delighted to welcome such a strong group of new board members who bring deep industry knowledge and insights to provide strategic stewardship for our association,” said Dave Rousse, INDA president. “We look forward to working with them to advance INDA’s new value proposition to enhance our industry’s leadership position and deliver greater value to our members.”

The new board members are from global companies including Lenzing Group, Bast Fibre Technologies, Reifenhauser Reicofil, Rockline Industries, Hollingsworth & Vose Co. and Principle Business Enterprises.

INDA also announced Dr. Bryan Haynes, R&E Technical Director Kimberly-Clark, has been named chairman of the Board. Barbara Lawless, vice president, sales and marketing, Medical Products, Precision Fabrics Group Inc. has been elected vice chair of Finance, and Richard Altice, president and CEO of NatureWorks, has been appointed to INDA’s executive committee.

The new board members are:

  • Jürgen Eizinger, senior commercial director, Nonwovens Business EU/AM/MEA, Lenzing Group — Eizinger has nearly 20 years of fiber industry experience. He has been with the Lenzing Group since 2001 and most recently was vice president of the Global Nonwoven Business. He has worked at multiple locations around the world and held various commercial, engineering and technical customer services roles.
  • Jim Posa, resident and general manager, Bast Fibre Technologies Inc. — Posa has 30-plus years of nonwovens experience and has successfully led businesses from startups to some of the largest companies in the nonwovens market. He has developed and implemented strategic business, development, operational and acquisition growth plans. His teams have worked with businesses focused on most of the major end use markets such as hygiene, wipes, filtration, medical and industrial. As a senior executive, Posa has led global businesses at Fiberweb, BP/Amoco, CEO of a Nisseki/Amoco joint venture (ANCI), Lydall, and Nitto America. A long-time INDA supporter, he has previously served on committees and as a Board member.
  • Markus Mueller, sales director and board member, Reifenhauser Reicofil — Mueller brings to the INDA Board 35 years of experience with Reifenhauser in the nonwovens and film industries. His experience has included roles as PLC Engineer, Commissioning Engineer, Project manager and sales manager. Mueller has extensive knowledge of the global hygiene and medical nonwovens markets. He holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from the Technical University of Cologne.
  • Matt Koele, director of Global Materials Development, Rockline Industries — Koele is based at Rockline’s headquarters in Sheboygan, Wis.  Before joining Rockline in 2012, he has held several business and Research and Development (R&D) leadership positions at SC Johnson and Kimberly-Clark Corp. An inventor with over 10 patents, Koele is a magna cum laude graduate of Michigan Technological University in Chemical Engineering.
  • Mike Clark, president, Filtration Solutions, Hollingsworth & Vose Co. — Clark joined H&V in 2003 and has held numerous leadership positions in the U.S. and Germany. He previously served as the president of the High Efficiency and Specialty Filtration Division from 2009 to 2020. Before joining H&V, Clark was a strategy consultant for eight years working with Fortune 100 manufacturing companies. He holds a bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
  • Dr. Andrew Stocking, president and CEO, Principle Business Enterprises Inc. (PBE) — Stocking joined PBE in 2017 after a career in engineering, technology, nonprofits and government. He was named president and COO in 2018, then president and CEO in 2020, becoming the third-generation leader of the family-owned organization. He previously held roles in the private sector and within federal government offices, including the Department of Energy and Congressional Budget Office. He earned a BS in Chemical Engineering and an MS in Civil Engineering from Stanford University, and a Ph.D. in Resource Economics from the University of Maryland.

Other Officer Changes

Dr. Wendy Warner, vice president, sales and marketing, Spunlace Hygiene & Wipes, Glatfelter, moves up to vice chair, Planning.

Chris Astley, senior vice president and chief commercial officer, Glatfelter, has concluded his two-year term as INDA board chair and normally would continue as an INDA Officer in the position of past chair.

However, since Glatfelter acquired Jacob Holm and INDA Bylaws allow only one Board member per company, Astley is stepping down, allowing Warner to continue as an INDA Officer on the Board and to assume the role of chair in two years.

The 21-member board is comprised of elected Board Officers. One-third of the entire Board is elected each year for a three-year term by a majority vote of INDA’s general membership. INDA’s Executive Committee, empowered to act on behalf of the Board between meetings, consists of the Board Officers plus four appointees.

Posted: March 7, 2022

Source: INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry

Solace Capital Partners Acquires Sun Mountain Sports

LOS ANGELES — March 7, 2022 — Solace Capital Partners today announced that it has acquired Sun Mountain Sports Inc., a producer of golf equipment and apparel, from founder and golf industry innovator Rick Reimers. The company will remain headquartered in Missoula, Mont., and will continue to be led by its current management team, including long-time executive Ed Kowachek, who will assume the role of CEO, and Blake Ludwig, CFO. Reimers will retain ownership of Sun Mountain Motor Sports, which produces electric golf carts under the Finn Scooters brand. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 1981, Sun Mountain is known for its best-in-class brand and many innovations in golf bags, push carts, and outerwear. The company developed the first lightweight golf bag and modern stand bag and is the leading independent golf bag manufacturer in North America. The company was the first to introduce golf-specific performance outerwear and rainwear and has been credited with inventing the three-wheel golf push cart. Today, Sun Mountain’s products are sold in national retail stores, specialty golf stores, and pro shops, as well as online and internationally. Sun Mountain’s focus on quality and performance has earned it the trust and preference of golfers everywhere.

Brett Wyard, a nanaging partner at Solace, said, “Sun Mountain is widely recognized as the standard in golf bags, push carts and outerwear due its superior product quality and commitment to innovation. Under Rick’s ownership, the company has built a stellar reputation for excellence, and we see attractive opportunities to grow the business and bring its wide range of products to as many golfers as possible. We look forward to working alongside Sun Mountain’s highly-experienced, long-tenured management team and talented employees to continue to provide solutions for golfers and steward the company in its next phase.”

Kowachek said: “Our mission will always be to create original, world-class golf products that enhance our customers’ experience and performance on and off the course. We are pleased to partner with Solace, which possesses substantial financial resources and operational expertise, to execute our mission on an even larger scale. I have been incredibly fortunate to work with and learn from Rick over the years and will strive to continue the legacy of a man who did so much to improve the sport of golf.”

Reimers said: “For 40 years, Sun Mountain has watched and listened to golfers and worked diligently to create products that make the sport a more enjoyable experience. I am proud of the patents we have earned, the innovations we have ushered in, and the lifelong friends I have made along the way. Solace brings a shared sense of values and deep appreciation for the brand, and I am confident that under Ed’s and the Sun Mountain team’s leadership, the Company’s best days are ahead.”

Three Ocean Partners served as financial advisor to Sun Mountain and Herrick LLP served as its legal counsel. O’Melveny & Myers LLP served as legal counsel to Solace.

Posted: March 7, 2022

Source: Solace Capital Partners / Sun Mountain Sports

Levi Strauss & Co. Announces More Than $300,000 In Humanitarian Aid For Refugees In Eastern Europe And A Temporary Suspension Of Commercial Operations In Russia

SAN FRANCISCO — March 7, 2022 — In response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, which is driving growing numbers of refugees into countries across Eastern Europe, Levi Strauss & Co. (LS&Co.) today announced that it is donating more than $300,000 to nonprofit organizations providing aid to those impacted by the ongoing conflict. The company and the Levi Strauss Foundation are giving $200,000 to the International Rescue Committee, which is helping to support individuals and families displaced by the conflict, while the company’s Beyond Yoga brand is giving $100,000 to CARE, which is responding to the immediate needs of the people of Ukraine.

In addition, the company is offering employees a 2-to-1 match, up to $200,000, for donations to a slate of organizations committed to ensuring that the most vulnerable communities get the support they need, including several that are ensuring discrimination doesn’t occur at border crossings. LS&Co. and its licensee partners are also working to donate jackets, backpacks and warm clothing to people who have been displaced from their homes.

Given the enormous disruption occurring in the region, which makes normal business untenable, LS&Co. is temporarily suspending commercial operations in Russia, including any new investments. The company is committed to supporting its employees, partners and their families affected by this decision in the months ahead.

In 2021, approximately 4 percent of the company’s total net revenues were derived from Eastern Europe, half of which was related to Russia. But any business considerations are clearly secondary to the human suffering experienced by so many. The LS&Co. community continues to be saddened by the devastating conflict in Ukraine and our thoughts are with all of those who have been affected, including our employees, partners and their loved ones.

Posted: March 7, 2022

Source: Levi Strauss & Co.

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