Automatex, A Member Of The Swedish Textile Machinery Association (TMAS), Has Recently Supplied A Number Of Automatic Fitted Sheet Systems In Europe

STOCKHOLM, Sweden — March 3, 2022 — Automatex, a member of TMAS, the Swedish textile machinery association, has recently supplied a number of its latest Industry 4.0-enabled automatic fitted sheet systems to customers in Europe.

“Everybody is looking to automate right now, and not in the huge factories of the past, but with more compact and precisely targeted operations,” said Chuck de Sousa, the company’s head of business development. “It’s happening in Europe and beginning to snowball for us in the USA too. Our system provides companies with highly streamlined, just-in-time and sustainable production close to their customers.”

The Automatex model FDC-77735-B90D-EC system enables the full production and folding of six fully-fitted sheets per minute — approaching 3,000 an average shift — overseen by a single operator and eliminating many of the repetitive cut and sew operations of the past. Elastics insertion — usually a highly complex labor-intensive task — can be on all four sides of the sheet, two, or simply within the corners, depending on customer specifications.

Fabric is fed directly from the roll, with precise edge guiding and tension control, into a length-wise hemming and elastics insertion section with adjustable tension devices, before being measured and cross cut in an accumulator. It is then transferred to the cross hemming section, again with elastics insertion.

A side drop forming unit pre-forms the sheet before it is transported by a multi-axis clamp conveyor system to the corner sewing section, consisting of left and right overlock sewing heads. Here, the  corners are robotically sewn at 90 degrees and labels are also attached when specified.

Further customized systems for folding are also supplied as required.

“The system is very simple to program and operate, with remote access for troubleshooting capability,” de Sousa said. “It can be fully customized to the individual needs of the specific customer.”

“The automation enabled by the latest Industry 4.0 developments is currently top of the agenda for TMAS member companies,” added TMAS Secretary General Therese Premler-Andersson.  “Automatex is among companies leading the field in new technologies which enable significant resource savings to be achieved, while making production in high-cost countries once more profitable. Cost effective production closer to the customer also leads to more sustainable production while enabling companies to change their cost structures but also increase their capacities and flexibility while creating a cleaner working environment and fewer heavy lifts. Ultimately this is good for the plant, the production, the people and the planet.”

Posted: March 3, 2022

Source: The Swedish Textile Machinery Association (TMAS)

Industrial Fabric Association International’s (IFAI’s) Women In Textiles Summit, Leave Enriched, Energized, Empowered

ROSEVILLE, Minn. — March 3, 2022 — “Enriching.” “Empowering.” “Energizing.” These are just some of the attendee descriptions of the Industrial Fabric Association International’s (IFAI’s) Women in Textiles Summit, which took place February 16-19 in Georgia.

After being held virtually last year during the pandemic, nearly 100 business leaders and professionals of multiple generations converged on the Château Élan Winery and Resort in Braselton, Ga., to reconnect, learn and gain inspiration at the fourth-annual event. These women were able to share their experiences through several networking events and activities, gain insights into paths to success and hear compelling speakers with timely, relevant messages.

The summit featured engaging sessions, openhearted interaction and connection-building opportunities during business sessions and activities that included receptions, a wine tasting, yoga, a morning walk, a mindfulness break and a trivia contest. Indeed, the unique event provided a forum for growth and leadership.

Under the theme, “Continuing to Believe What is Possible,” the event was co-emceed by Apurba Banerjee, principal textiles engineer-Hand Tools at Milwaukee Tools, and Rachal McCarthy, president of NTI Global. A number of returning attendees were on hand, along with many first-timers, including Tanya Wade, intake administrator at the Manufacturing Solutions Center (MSC), Conover, N.C.

“This was my first time attending the Women in Textiles Summit and it did not disappoint!” Wade said. “There is nothing that can compare to the energy and comradery of a group of women who are on a mission to support and build up each other. And that’s exactly what this conference is all about. I met a lot of new friends and industry contacts and look forward to meeting more at the next Women in Textiles Summit.”

In a poignant Opening Day keynote, “Pivots & Pirouettes for the Post-Pandemic World,” Mary-Cathryn Kolb, founder & CEO of Atlanta-based brrr°, explained the challenges and opportunities she has experienced since launching the company in 2014, the pandemic notwithstanding. She said the highs are high and the lows are low — but the experience of entrepreneurship, especially now that the company is reaching the “tipping point of it being a fun ride,” is deeply fulfilling. Kolb discussed the devastating impacts of the pandemic and subsequent supply chain disruptions to her business, which pushed her team to look inward, strengthen as a team and emerge poised for growth.

In the Closing Day keynote — back by popular demand from the last in-person summit in 2020 — Karen Hinds brought numerous inspiring messages in her presentation, “It’s Not Too Late: How to Boldly Step into Your Greatness.” Hinds, author of several books and founder and CEO of Workplace Success Group, motivated attendees — in animated and entertaining fashion—through anecdotes and stories aimed at getting them out of their comfort zones, to find a network of people to “support and irritate” them, to establish financial security and to be sure to take time to for themselves to “relax, exercise and enjoy the ride.” By “irritate,” she said we all need people around us who “nitpick and test us” in order to think differently and reach our full potential.

Other presenters

Among other speakers sharing their insights and wisdom from the dais were:

  • Jennifer Fennell, CPM, director of Supply Chain at Polo Custom Products, Topeka, Kan., who discussed “How Supply Chain Can Capitalize on the Challenges of 2021” in the first of two Market Segments. She discussed the keys to managing her global team and keeping them engaged and forward-thinking—remotely—during the pandemic and “every supply chain nightmare imaginable. When faced with the unthinkable, we all rolled up our sleeves and went to work, together. COVID, this common enemy among us, brought us together in a unique and unbreakable way.”
  • Rachal McCarthy, president of NTI Global, a family-owned and operated industrial plastics and textile manufacturer, Dallas, Texas, who offered a personal testimony in, “Unbalanced: The Story of My Life, My Work, and My 4th Grade Nemesis.” She debunked the common work-life balance myth, saying, “Balance comes from you and what you need, despite what society wants us to think.” She told attendees they should “be real” with themselves and make behavioral changes for a more balanced life by identifying what contributes to their balance; setting goals that support that quest for balance; and stop “shoulding” and start doing.
  • Jasmine Cox, director of Textile Technology Programs and Business Innovation, Textile Technology Center at Gaston College, Belmont, N.C., who presented an interactive session on attracting and retaining new talent and some of the struggles women face in the industry. Mentorship and development are crucial factors in retention, she said, explaining methods for and the importance of each.
  • Melissa Henkle, director of Brand Sales at Unifi Manufacturing, Inc., covered the importance of sustainability in the second Market Segment, dubbed “A Wardrobe to Die For.” She discussed how the Greensboro, N.C.-based company is sourcing recycled materials, reducing energy, water and greenhouse gas emissions and helping plan for a future in circularity. She reported that as plastics and textiles make up high percentages of the contents of landfills, Unifi is working tirelessly to help reduce these numbers. The company recently reached the 30 billion milestone for converting recycled plastic bottles into polyester chips that are used in its REPREVE® yarn performance fibers, she said and explained Unifi’s REPREVE® Our Ocean program with brands collects ocean-bound plastics for recycling.

In a fascinating panel discussion through generations of textile and IFAI leadership, past and current chairs of the IFAI discussed how they navigated their responsibilities while also running their own companies and personal lives. Panelists included Amy Bircher, CEO & founder of MMI Textiles Inc., current IFAI chair; Katie Bradford, MFC, IFM, owner of Custom Marine Canvas and the first female chair of IFAI; and Kathy Schaefer, IFM, owner and COO of Glawe Awnings and Tent Company, IFAI immediate past chair.

The summit also included engaging roundtable discussions, where participants learned more about each other and the challenges they face. Topics included mentorships, professional advancement, supply chain disruption and “get to know” IFAI and other attendee companies.

“I felt energized after attending the virtual conference last year and was excited to attend my first IFAI Women in Textiles Summit in person this year,” said Meg R. Patel, marketing manager, Décor-Textile Division at Milliken & Company, Spartanburg, S.C. “Between the lineup of inspiring speakers on various relevant topics women are facing today and plenty of networking time, coupled with fun activities in a beautiful venue, it all enabled me to create deeper connections within the textile industry. I left feeling empowered and motivated to tackle the next challenge at work.”

Save the date

Next year’s summit will take place March 1–3, 2023, at the Francis Marion Hotel in Charleston, S.C.

Posted: March 3, 2022

Source: Industrial Fabric Association International’s (IFAI)

OEKO-TEX® Celebrates Anniversary: 30 Years Of Expertise As A Foundation For The Future

ZURICH— March 3, 2022 — The vision of the OEKO-TEX® Association, which was founded in March 1992 through a partnership between the Hohenstein Research Institute and the Austrian Textile Research Institute (OETI), is still reflected today in the organisation’s core values: trust, safety and sustainability. For three decades, OEKO-TEX has pursued the goal of building trust for companies and consumers and enabling them to make responsible decisions to protect people and the planet. “Our services bring transparency to the international textile and leather industry supply chains,” says OEKO-TEX Secretary General Georg Dieners. “They enable all stakeholders to make mindful decisions that help preserve our planet for future generations.”

OEKO-TEX® market leadership

In 1992, 20 years before the United Nations announced the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),OEKO-TEX launched STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX, now one of the best-known labels for product safety.

“It emerged from the Schadstoffgeprüft nach ÖTN 100 (tested for harmful substances according to ÖTN 100), developed by OETI in 1989 to address increasing public interest in textile ecology and health,” the Austrian Textile Research Institute reminds us. The limit values and test methods on which STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX is based were internationally standardised and are adapted to the latest scientific findings and legislation at least once a year – a principle that is applied to all OEKO-TEX standards.

Prof. Dr. Stefan Mecheels, owner of the textile testing service provider Hohenstein, added: “From the very beginning, we have considered the needs of all players in the textile value chain and continue to create solutions for current and future market requirements.”

At least seven SDGs are firmly integrated in the OEKO-TEX product portfolio. For example, Good Health & Well-Being(SDG 3) and Clean Water & Sanitation(SDG 6) are reflected in the STeP by OEKO-TEX factory certification and Responsible Consumption & Production(SDG 12) and Climate Action (SDG 13) are implemented through the comprehensive MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX product label.

Today, the international association consists of 17 independent research and testing institutes focused on textile and leather, with contact offices in over 60 countries. They are responsible for the joint development of the test methods and limit values in the OEKO-TEX Standards and carry out laboratory tests and factory audits according to globally uniform specifications. These comprehensive product and process audits ensure appropriate risk management, consumer and environmental protection and legal compliance. Withtheir wide-ranging research and development, the accredited OEKO-TEX test institutes provide important insight for innovations within the textile and leather industry. They work in close cooperation with manufacturers and make a significant contribution to the development of high-quality textile and leather products at all stages of the value chain.

Mirror of social and political development

Being close to the market, and ideally one step ahead, is essential to supporting companies who are adapting to constantly changing conditions and meeting consumer expectations. Therefore, the development of OEKO-TEX is not only a reflection of scientific knowledge, but also of social and political trends. The focus is always on standardising sustainable action and measures and making it easier for industry to quickly and comprehensively implement sustainability goals.

Exchange with third parties is particularly valuable for this purpose. OEKO-TEX participates in various international multi-stakeholder initiatives such as the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles, the ZHDC (Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals) and Greenpeace.

In addition to cooperation with external multi-stakeholder initiatives, the OEKO-TEX International Advisory Board (IAB) meets annually. The core function of the IAB is to help review consistent and market-oriented Standards development proposals by the OEKO-TEX Working Groups. In addition, OEKO-TEX is conducting a public stakeholder consultation to gain further insights from all interest groups, which it will integrate into further development of the Standards.

Using three decades of experience for the future

The founding goal of enabling responsible choices that preserve our planet for future generations has become increasingly urgent over the past 30 years. So, OEKO-TEX is even more resolute than ever indeveloping comprehensive solutions. We stand by industry and consumers as a trusted partner for the challenges ahead. In addition to the IMPACT CALCULATOR launched in January 2022, which helps STeP by OEKO-TEX certified production facilities reduce their carbon emissions and water consumption, this summer, the association will launch a service to help companies transition to the upcoming Due Diligence Laws.

Dr. Mecheels articulated the outlook: “As a community, we have a comprehensive view of the industry and this is a great added value for brands, manufacturers, retailers and ultimately consumers, in view of the growing importance of sustainable action, worldwide.”

Posted: March 3, 2022

Source: OEKO-TEX®

Lenzing Successfully Opens World’s Largest Lyocell Plant In Thailand

PRACHINBURI, Thailand— March 3, 2022 — The Lenzing Group is pleased to announce the successful completion of its key lyocell expansion project in Thailand. The new plant, the largest of its kind in the world with a nameplate capacity of 100,000 tons per year, started production on schedule and will help to even better meet the increasing customer demand for TENCEL™ branded lyocell fibers. For Lenzing, the project also represents an important step towards strengthening its leadership position in the specialty fiber market and into a carbon-free future.

The construction of the plant located at Industrial Park 304 in Prachinburi, around 150 kilometers northeast of Bangkok, started in the second half of 2019 and proceeded largely according to plan, despite the challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. The recruiting and onboarding of new employees has been successful. Investments (CAPEX) amounted to approximately 400 million euros.

“We are very proud of this achievement. Our sincere thanks go to the entire Lenzing team and especially to our staff in Thailand but also to many external stakeholders, who joined forces in times of a global pandemic to make this key project reality. To deliver such a huge project in time and at budget is an outstanding achievement given the challenges of the global pandemic”, said Cord Prinzhorn, CEO of Lenzing Group.

Robert van de Kerkhof, Member of the Managing Board, agreed with him and added: “The demand for our wood- based, biodegradable specialty fibers under the TENCEL, LENZING ECOVERO™ and VEOCEL brands is growing very well. In Asia in particular, we see huge growth potential for our brands based on sustainable innovation. With the production start of the lyocell plant in Thailand, Lenzing reached an important milestone in its growth journey, supporting our ambitious goal to make the textile and nonwoven industries more sustainable.”

Worldwide expansion of lyocell production

Pollution of the environment — especially marine pollution — is one of the biggest problems of our time. The fashion industry has an extremely negative impact on the environment with its fast fashion business model and the growing consumption of fossil resources. The lyocell production process is the most modern method for producing fibers from wood. It has been successfully applied on an industrial scale for about 30 years and is particularly environmentally responsible. The underlying idea of the lyocell process is to dissolve and process the pulp in a closed loop without any chemical derivatization.

Lenzing will continue to expand its production capacity for lyocell fibers in line with its sCore TEN strategy, which aims to generate 75 percent of its fiber revenue from eco-responsible specialty fibers such as TENCEL, LENZING ECOVERO and VEOCEL fibers by 2024. The Thailand site offers space for several production lines. The investment in the first phase already includes general infrastructure that would benefit future expansion. However, Lenzing will continue to look for opportunities to expand lyocell production in other parts of the world too.

Vision of a zero-carbon future

“Investments in Thailand and other Lenzing sites around the world support us not only along our transformation towards becoming a supplier of eco-friendly specialty fibers but also in implementing our ambitious climate tar- gets, thus further increasing our company value”, said Cord Prinzhorn.

In 2019, Lenzing made a strategic commitment to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions per ton of product by 50 percent by 2030. The vision is to be climate-neutral by 2050. Due to the established infrastructure, the site in Thailand can be supplied with sustainable biogenic energy and contribute significantly to climate protection.

Together with the key project in Brazil and the substantial investments at the existing sites in Asia, Lenzing is currently implementing the largest investment program in its corporate history (with more than approx. EUR 1.5 bn). Lenzing will continue to drive the execution of its strategic projects, which are to make a significant contri- bution to earnings from 2022.

Posted: March 3, 2022

Source: The Lenzing Group

Authentic Brands Group Finalizes The Acquisition Of Reebok

NEW YORK CITY — March 1, 2022 — Authentic Brands Group (ABG) today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Reebok from adidas. As it ushers in its largest acquisition to date, the global brand development, marketing and entertainment company is charting a new path for Reebok.

“Reebok is a brand that needs no introduction,” said Jamie Salter, founder, chairman and CEO of ABG. “The Reebok team has done an incredible job of cementing Reebok’s place in the minds and hearts of consumers. Through ABG’s operating model, Reebok will have the ability to evolve and embrace its iconic creativity, quality and innovation. It’s time to let Reebok be Reebok.”

With Reebok, ABG is taking a page from its playbook, connecting strong brands with best-in-class partners and a global network of operators, distributors, and retailers to optimize value in the marketplace. An essential pillar of ABG’s strategy is preserving Reebok’s DNA and a commitment to the brand’s heritage through the formation of Reebok Design Group (RDG) in partnership with SPARC Group. RDG is the global brand hub for the design, development and innovation for footwear and apparel servicing partners around the world.

“Product has always been at the forefront of Reebok, and we are committed to upholding the standard that our brand fans and consumers have come to expect,” said Matt O’Toole, president of RDG. “2021 was a banner year for Reebok, and in part that was a credit to our focus on the iconic silhouettes that immortalize the brand. Under new ownership, we have an exciting opportunity to reclaim our place in the market and take Reebok to even greater heights.”

Reebok has inspired, connected and created great products for athletes and consumers across the world for generations. The brand is deeply rooted in professional sports, sneaker culture and performance apparel and will continue to deliver on its mission of providing each and every consumer with the opportunity, products and inspiration to achieve and exceed their potential.

From creating the first spiked running shoe over a century ago, to its breakthrough THE PUMP™ technology, to today with its award-winning Nano and Floatride models, Reebok has pioneered in the athletic space and continues to introduce innovations that propel the industry forward. The Reebok Classic Leather and Club C have cemented itself as icons within the footwear industry with their timeless and classic designs that first debuted nearly 4 decades ago and continue to be reimagined through unexpected collaborations with world-renowned creatives and design houses.

“Reebok is one of the few super brands that has the permission to play in any space,” said Nick Woodhouse, president and CMO of ABG. “Its position at the intersection of fashion, sports and culture allows Reebok to be elastic while staying true to its celebrated ethos and unmistakable DNA.”

To support the new global structure for Reebok, ABG has assembled a roster of key players from around the world who will drive distribution and further Reebok’s business in key territories while upholding the brand’s integrity and values. Since announcing its definitive agreement to purchase Reebok in August 2021, ABG has secured a slate of trusted partners including New Guards Group, SPARC Group, Tristate, Trend Marketing, Al Boom Marine, Aditya Birla Fashion Retail Limited, The Falic Group, Accent Group, MGS, Bounty Apparel, Distrinando, SM Retail, CRC Sports, HSV Group, PT Mitra, JD Group and Foot Locker, Inc. More information on Reebok’s global partner network can be found below.

Posted: March 2, 2022

Source: Authentic Brands Group (ABG)

Neenah Announces Retirement Of Larry Brownlee In August; Succeeded By Kim Debrock As VP Controller And CAO

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — March 2, 2022 — Neenah Inc. announced today that Larry Brownlee, senior vice president, controller and chief accounting officer (CAO), has communicated his plans to retire in August. To ensure a smooth transition, Brownlee will remain with Neenah through the August 12 retirement date.

“Larry became Controller in 2004 when Neenah first became a public company and has been an integral part of the development and execution of our business strategies,” said Paul DeSantis, CFO. “During this time, he developed a talented global financial organization and ensured we maintained a strong financial position with disciplined decision-making. I want to thank Larry for being a trusted advisor and business partner and for his leadership, significant contributions, and personal dedication throughout his career.”

The company further announced that it had promoted Kim DeBrock to succeed Brownlee as vice president, controller, CAO, and a Section 16 Officer, effective immediately. DeBrock is being promoted from the assistant controller position, having served in positions of increasing responsibility since she joined Neenah in 2012. DeBrock’s previous experience includes serving as senior audit manager during her ten years with KPMG, Financial Reporting Controller with National Service Industries, and consulting engagements with GE Energy and Georgia Pacific. DeBrock is a graduate of Texas State University and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Posted: March 2, 2022

Source: Neenah, Inc.

Canada Goose Announces Donation To United Nations, Suspends Sales In Russia

TORONTO — March 2, 2022 — Canada Goose is deeply concerned by the conflict unfolding in Ukraine. We stand with all of those who are impacted by the violence. We are supporting humanitarian efforts, providing aid to assist with the refugee crisis, and taking further actions to help.

We have taken a number of actions in response to the conflict. Through the Canada Goose Response Program, we are donating $100,000 CAD to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) who are leading global humanitarian efforts in the region.

Further, while no Canada Goose retail locations have been impacted, in light of the challenged operating environment and evolving sanctions against Russian interests, we have decided to suspend all wholesale and e-commerce sales to Russia.

We will continue to monitor the situation as it evolves and join others around the world calling for peace.

Posted: March 2, 2022

Source: Canada Goose

Oliver Jentschke Joins Baldwin To Lead European Sales Team

Oliver Jentschke

ST. LOUIS — March 2, 2022 — Baldwin Technology Co. Inc. is pleased to announce that Oliver Jentschke, an industrial engineer with a long track record as a customer-focused sales leader, has joined the organization as vice president of sales for Europe. His experience leading and developing commercial teams, along with his results-driven approach and passion for enhancing the customer experience, will be instrumental as he builds and delivers Baldwin’s print sales strategy across Europe.

Baldwin Chief Commercial Officer Peter Hultberg, said: “I am delighted that Oliver has joined Baldwin to partner with our team and develop our strategy for serving existing and new customers in the print market, driving toward customer connectivity and value, and further growing our business in Europe.”

Jentschke is a highly skilled commercial leader, most recently working for ratioparts GmbH (part of Arrowhead Engineered Products), where he was the sales director for Europe. Prior to that, Jentschke was the sales director for Oerlikon and ROFIN-LASAG AG. He also spent time as the Business Development Manager for Rotoflex/Mark Andy Inc., where he and his sales team drove revenue growth and market expansion throughout Europe. Jentschke received an industrial engineering degree from the University of Cologne in Germany.

“I am very excited to be part of the Baldwin team and to be working in an industry that I have always enjoyed,” Jentschke said.

Baldwin offers a broad range of industry-leading process-improvement technology for the printing and packaging industries — including cleaning, drying and spray automation systems; 100 percent defect-detection; register- and color-control solutions; LED, UV and IR systems; and corona surface treatment and rotary spray solutions. Baldwin’s revolutionary Industry 4.0 platform, AMP IoT (Internet of Things), quickly connects the data from machines, accessories, management information systems and workflows to obtain a holistic view of production and overall equipment effectiveness, regardless of make, model or vintage of the assets.

Baldwin recently realigned its sales teams to simplify customers’ access to its process-improvement and consumables technologies, and optimize service for the printing and packaging industries. The company’s prior sales structure was built around its product lines. With the realignment, sales leaders cover smaller regional geographies, and regional teams have access to the full Baldwin portfolio of equipment, consumables and service products. In addition to having one regional sales point of contact, Baldwin customers benefit from an expert service and support team, and aftermarket, consumables and upgrade programs.

Posted: March 2, 2022

Source: Baldwin Technology Company Inc.

US Lighting Group Forms Futuro Houses LLC, A Manufacturer Of Fiberglass Pre-Fab Off-Grid Houses, To Diversify Its Products And Markets

EUCLID, Ohio — March 1, 2022 — US Lighting Group Inc., announced today it created Futuro Houses, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary, to meet the fast growing demands for affordable housing. Futuro Houses offers a self-sufficient, cost-effective, energy efficient housing solution for an off-grid lifestyle. Futuro Houses, with its revolutionary designs and state-of-the-art wood-free fiberglass and carbon fiber composite construction, perfectly fits into a market looking for longer lasting, futuristic material houses in a smaller footprint with the amenities of a traditional home.

“US Lighting Group’s management team is driving its 2022 strategic plan through market diversification. Extending our business into new markets, with new products is key to our growth and expansion. We are continually looking for ways to improve our bottom line and market diversification is helping to make this happen,” said Anthony Corpora, CEO and president of the US Lighting Group.

“Also, engineering a futuristic house with our core competencies in molded fiberglass and marine products shows how diverse we are in the use of fiberglass composites. We designed the first Futuro house to be extremely environmentally friendly, comfortable with a spacious living space, and highly energy efficient,” Corpora continued.

Futuro Houses employs the same lightweight fiberglass composite materials, marine gelcoats, windows, and Furrion appliances currently used in the manufacture of 100-percent molded fiberglass RV travel trailers by its sister company, Cortes Campers. Utilizing the same materials with which Cortes Campers is already manufacturing, gives the company multiple advantages in volume purchasing power, production efficiencies, and gains in economies of scale with more cost-effective production.

Futuro Houses first design is reminiscent of the UFO house designed by Finnish architect, Matti Suuronen, in the 1960s. Unfortunately, the original company went out of business due to multiple factors including windows that did not open, plus the original design was too cumbersome to ship cost effectively.

Futuro Houses has made major improvements by incorporating Cortes Campers RV double-pane acrylic windows that open. Futuro Houses has overcome the challenge of shipping the UFO house worldwide, by redesigning the entire shape of the house to fit inside an international shipping container. Like Cortes Campers, Futuro Houses does not use any wood in its construction, only 100% molded fiberglass, which will far outlast any traditional house made from wood.

Posted: March 2, 2022

Source: US Lighting Group, Inc.

KARL MAYER: New Features, The K.Management Dashboard Offers Even More Support For Day-To-Day Work

OBERTSHAUSEN, Germany — February 14, 2022 — Trade conflicts, supply bottlenecks and increased competition are leading to enormous cost pressure on producers worldwide, including warp knitting companies. Only those who use their resources optimally can survive. KM.ON has developed the k.management dashboard to enable manufacturers of warp knitted textiles to fully exploit their potential.

The smart tool uses near-time data from warp knitting machines connected to the KM.ON Cloud via k.ey to provide an overview of key figures, anytime, anywhere. The practical dashboard was launched in 2018. This was followed by continuous optimizations in cooperation with pilot customers, including Filesan.

Up to 15 employees from the Turkish manufacturer of warp knitted net articles — principally designed for agriculture — used the k.management offer for production planning and quality control purposes, while CEO Bilgin Türkoğlu was also constantly connected to production events. “I saved the link I needed at the time to my Google favorites. The dashboard was running constantly in the background. I checked the figures almost hourly,” explained the managing director, who until then had to call the Production Manager for further details every time the machine stopped for a longer period of time. While the dashboard is a useful tool for him, there is still room for improvement based on his feedback.

Input from Filesan and all other pilot customers led to an initial upgrade in March 2021. Further optimisations followed in October 2021. The latest generation dashboard now offers even more transparency in production with new functions, and therefore provides the basis for highly efficient management of all resources and processes.

“The machine situation remains unchanged, but customers can act proactively and promptly, by optimizing how employees are scheduled for example,” explained Marcel Wenzel, product owner at KM.ON. “No one has to routinely check the situation on the machines anymore.”

Detecting problems at a glance

To ensure highly efficient production, manufacturers of warp knitted textiles must avoid unnecessary, costly interruptions. Upcoming steps have to be planned in advance and real-time information has to be provided quickly. This is precisely what the k.management dashboard offers.

The tool provides a live overview of all machines that is available anywhere, highlights problems such as machine downtime using easy-to-understand symbols and also suggests the cause. Rapid detection makes efficient intervention possible. This allows customers to optimize their delivery reliability, machine utilization and machine downtimes, all while maximizing yield.

Sorting by activity pressure

To maximize machine utilization and thus profitability and delivery reliability, a special sorting function has also been integrated into the k.management dashboard. The feature shows the next planned machine stops and any unplanned down-time. Planned service interruptions occur, for example, due to beam changes and are sorted based on urgency. Unscheduled stops are triggered by things such as a yarn break, and are immediately recognizable thanks to the machines being ordered and grouped according to status.

By providing information about the upcoming measure at an early stage, resources can be used optimally: it is always clear which employee has to look after which machine and when, therefore meaning production runs as efficiently as possible.

Looking to the past to efficiently plan the future

Another challenge for warp knitting mills is the pressure to optimise their processes. Production processes must be extremely lean and cost-efficient. The k.management dashboard supports this via a function that displays the status history — running, stopped, offline — of each machine to date. When conducting a review, the maximum time span is three months. Based on the chronology, the value-added contribution of each machine can be analyzed in detail and compared with other machines to optimize important work processes.

Moreover, shift changes can be facilitated. As part of this process, answers to key questions about what happened during the last shift are handed over as well as the tasks. Features are currently being prepared for this, which relate to the frequency and type of production fault, the cause and time of a machine failure, the duration until machine operation is resumed or the causes of performance differences between machines.

Posted: March 2, 2022

Source: KARL MAYER Gruppe

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