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

Messe Frankfurt Suspends Events In Russia

FRANKFURT AM MAIN, Germany — March 2, 2022 — The Russian invasion of Ukraine poses an unprecedented threat to peaceful coexistence in Europe. Messe Frankfurt supports all sanction measures taken by the Federal Government. Against this backdrop, the Messe Frankfurt Board of Management decided to suspend events of its subsidiary Messe Frankfurt RUS until further notice.

Posted: March 2, 2022

Source: Messe Frankfurt Group

Pioneer Of Modern Textile Printing Technology, Peter Zimmer, Has Passed Away In Kufstein Austria

Peter Zimmer

KUFSTEIN, Austria — February 12, 2022 — On February 12, 2022, Peter Zimmer, the visionary pioneer of modern textile printing technology, passed away in Kufstein, Austria. He died only a few days after celebrating his 98th birthday with family and friends.

Peter Zimmer dedicated more than 70 years of his life to developing new and revolutionary ideas for textile printing, thereby majorly altering production methods and machinery in the printing sector

He set of his career in his parents’ company in Kufstein, where his family had relocated after having been expelled from Bohemia in the aftermath of the Second World War. In Kufstein, the family machinery business had to be rebuilt from zero. Zimmer joined the efforts after having spent time away at school, acting and in the mountains, which helped him to process and overcome the horrors of his time as a soldier.

Introduction to the market of sweeping technological advances, evidenced by numerous patents, helped the company to strive and prosper within a very short period. Rotary screen printing, the magnetic roll rod system, directly patterned galvanic screens, rotary screen carpet printing with widths of up to 5 meters and repeats of over 3 meters as well as the first digital carpet inkjet printer, the Chromotronic, are associated with the name of Peter Zimmer.

On top of being the gifted and dedicated technology developer Zimmer also earned a reputation as a knowledgeable and personable salesman and consultant. He is to this day remembered and admired especially in the regions of the Middle East as well as Pakistan, India and Bangladesh.

The last decade of his life, Zimmer immersed himself with great energy and devotion into developing a digital printing/dyeing system for fiber strands and sliver. This system enables the reproducible in process color creation by means of additive color. This technology is his legacy

No problem too hard, no mountain too high — the core of Peter Zimmer’s life!

Posted: March 2, 2022

Source: Zimmer Austria Inc.

Sumo & Kelheim Fibres Develop Sustainable And High-Performance Absorbent Washable Diaper Pad

KELHEIM, Germany— March 2, 2022 — Up to the age of three, a baby uses around 5,000 diapers — and although common disposable diapers score points with their convenient handling, parents are increasingly looking for a healthy and sustainable alternative to these products, which are in most cases synthetic. After all, they cause an enormous amount of plastic waste — in Germany alone, 10 million diapers are disposed of every day.

There are two ways to solve this dilemma: Either disposable products are made from bio-based or biodegradable materials, or reusable products with a longer life span replace disposable products.

Founding team Luisa Kahlfeldt and Caspar Böhme go even further and combine both with their “Sumo Diapers.” They have created a reusable cloth diaper that is made entirely of sustainable materials while offering high performance and innovative design.

The Sumo Diaper is a fitted cloth diaper that consists of a waterproof cover and absorbent inserts. The cover is sewn in such a way that a pocket is formed: this is where the absorbent pad is inserted to prevent slipping.

To further enhance the performance of this absorbent pad, the Sumo team went in search of a partner and found one in the renowned viscose special fiber manufacturer Kelheim Fibres. “Kelheim Fibres’ specialty fibers are a perfect fit for us. Like all the fabrics we have developed for Sumo diapers, the fibers in the insert developed with Kelheim are based on cellulose and are biodegradable. They are as good to baby’s skin as they are to the environment, and — thanks to their targeted functionalization — they outperform other cellulosic fibers, as well as synthetic fibers,” said designer Kahlfeldt.

Beyond that, Kelheim Fibres brings decades of experience from the hygiene sector, especially for sensitive applications where high absorbency is required (such as tampons), and has made a name for itself in the industry as an innovation pioneer.

Together, Sumo and Kelheim Fibres have developed a high-performance absorbent pad that uses no fossil materials.

The basis for the innovative design form Kelheim’s functionalized specialty viscose fibers with adapted cross-sections. Needle-punched/thermobonded nonwovens with a blend of specialty viscose and PLA bicomponent fibres were chosen to ensure the product’s washability. PLA stands for polylactic acid made from natural and renewable raw materials. By combining nonwovens, usually found mainly in the single-use sector, with reusable products, Sumo and Kelheim Fibres have chosen a completely new approach.

Inside the pad, the specialty fibers from Kelheim score with their special properties: In the distribution layer (ADL), the trilobal cross-section of the Galaxy® fibre forms capillary channels that enable efficient and optimized liquid distribution and thus optimum use of the capacity of the absorbent core, offering the lowest rewet values.

In the absorbent core, the segmented hollow fibrer Bramante stores liquid not only between but also inside the fiber. The liquid remains there even when pressure is applied to the construction, providing excellent rewet values. Bramante can absorb up to 260 percent of its own weight in liquid (cotton only achieves values of around 50 percent here).

The innovative nonwoven construction with the specialty fibres from Kelheim performs significantly better in tests in terms of air permeability, liquid absorption and rewetting than commercially available solutions made of synthetic fibers or cotton in knitted structures, and has earned Sumo diapers a place among the finalists for the IDEA® Long-Life Product Achievement Award.

Dr. Marina Crnoja-Cosic, director New Business Development at Kelheim Fibres, said: “Working with Sumo is inspiring and professional in equal measure. We share a passion for driving the transformation to a bio-based society with innovative solutions. The entire Kelheim Fibres project team, led by Innovation Manager Ilka Kaczmarek and Project Manager Dominik Mayer, is very proud that our fibers are now part of the Sumo diaper, offering young parents a sustainable product that meets their need for a comfortable, reliable and skin-friendly diaper solution for their babies.”

The launch is scheduled for the first of May.

Posted: March 2, 2022

Source: Kelheim Fibres GmbH

OrthoLite Introduces Cirql Midsole Foam Solution To Revolutionize And Drive Sustainability In The Footwear Industry

AMHERST, Mass. — March 1, 2022 — OrthoLite, the 25-year industry leader of branded, high performance, comfort footwear solutions, today unveiled its first-ever midsole foam innovation to elevate sustainability in the footwear industry: Cirql.

OrthoLite Cirql is the critical solution needed to achieve true circularity within the footwear industry, and is the world’s first EVA plastics-free, recyclable, biodegradable and industrially compostable foam. Powered by plants, Cirql offers a pure foam alternative to conventional plastics and is made from responsibly-sourced plants and biodegradable materials.

The GMO-free, plant-based material utilized in Cirql is free from any “forever chemicals,” and is created through a zero-waste, chemical-free foaming process. The patented ground-breaking process ensures unmatched sustainability in a midsole that delivers on OrthoLite’s highest standards of performance, comfort, and sustainability.

“At OrthoLite, operating sustainably has been central to our DNA since our inception 25 years ago, and Cirql represents our continued commitment to this effort and a natural extension of our mission and vision,” said Glenn Barrett, OrthoLite founder and CEO. “Worldwide footwear production has increased by over 20 percent since 2010 with no signs of slowing down. As an industry, the onus is on all of us to help mitigate our environmental impact on the planet. It’s going to take an industry wide commitment and a concerted effort, and Cirql is a major step in that direction.”

Containing no forever-chemicals or persistent microplastics, at the end of its useful life cycle, Cirql can be industrially composted, making it the first ever, soil-to-soil solution for footwear foam. Cirql effectively biodegrades back into nutrient-rich, soil compost. Additionally, Cirql foam is able to be depolymerized and recycled for reuse.

Patented worldwide and with a commitment to full transparency and third-party validation,

Cirql has undergone extensive third-party testing and analysis to include a complete Life Cycle IVL Assessment and is Certified Industrial Compostable – (Din Certco), REACH-certified (EU) and USDA Certified Bio Preferred®, RSL compliant (Intertek), certified GMO-free, certified Vegan and Hypoallergenic.

Cirql’s extensive testing and certifications confirm the critical importance of measuring and validating the full environmental impact of the raw materials, finished product, production and manufacturing process, transportation, and distribution.

Cirql is headquartered in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and led by General Manager and Cirql Vice President Matt Smith. With more than 21 years of international experience in the footwear industry, Smith has built the Cirql division from the ground up, leading production direction, and establishing and managing partner relationships. Together with the Cirql team, he also facilitates the ongoing support and education required on the Cirql technologies, including: product development, innovation, and R&D.

“With its global reach and impact, Cirql technology sets a new standard in truly sustainable footwear,” said Matt Smith, General Manager and VP of Cirql. “Our flagship factory, the Cirql Center of Excellence, is a model for the way we resource factories to evolve toward a zero-waste production process and end of life product solutions. Our model can be used as a template for footwear brands and their Tier 1 factory partners to move away from traditional foam materials and processes and into a new era for sustainable footwear manufacturing.”

Cirql is a revolutionary alternative to conventional EVA plastics and provides footwear brands and their factory partners a more sustainable choice in materials and the ability to make a shift from what is currently utilized for midsoles. The technology is available to footwear brands that share a vision for the future of sustainable footwear. Applications run the spectrum from athletic to casual, fashion, work, and kids footwear. OrthoLite invites its partners to join them on this journey.

Posted: March 1, 2022

Source: OrthoLite

Green Theme Technologies Helps Power ARTILECT Technical Apparel To Award-Winning Status

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — March 1, 2022 — Green Theme Technologies Inc. (GTT) is proud to share the news that its dry textile finishing EMPEL® platform has helped to propel partner brand ARTILECT to award-winning status.

ARTILECT’s new for FW22 Silverton Shell was recently awarded the Slide x OTS 2022 Winter Trade Show Award for Best Softshell, and the Formation 3L Shell being recognized by Outside Business Journal as one of the Top 50 hottest new products for Fall/Winter 2022.

“Artilect understands how consumers now demand high performance AND sustainability. Their jackets combine gifted aesthetic functional design with superior EMPEL rain protection to make exceptional products,” said Martin Flora, VP of Business Development with GTT. “The problem with many PFAS-free water repellent finishes in the market,  they don’t hold up in the rain.  Our EMPEL platform is unique: it outperforms all existing water-repellent technologies, lasts longer and removes toxic PFAS from textile finishing.”

EMPEL currently delivers the highest performance water repellent DWR, anti-wicking and stain release treatment in the global market, and ARTILECT is using the EMPEL DWR on several of their newest pieces.

“The FW22 ARTILECT Systems collection demonstrates our obsession with the future of performance and sustainability, and we’re introducing an array of groundbreaking, world-first technologies from many of the biggest and most innovative suppliers,” said ARTILECT founder and co-CEO, Trent Bush. “We are also very proud to be one of the first performance apparel brands to be completely PFA/PFC free in our fabrics.”

Posted: March 1, 2022

Source: Green Theme Technologies, Inc.

Scott Bader Expands Its Crestabond® MMA Structural Adhesive Production To North America

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE, United Kingdom — March 1, 2022 — Scott Bader is pleased to announce its Canadian site, based in Drummondville, will begin manufacturing Crestabond® structural adhesives in 2022.

The expansion of the Crestabond® production to Scott Bader ATC will allow Scott Bader to meet the growing demand for its high-quality MMA primerless structural adhesives within the North American market. It will also significantly reduce transport emissions and delivery times, helping Scott Bader to deliver a faster, more efficient service for its customers with less environmental impact.

The initial production at Scott Bader ATC will focus on the innovative Crestabond M1 series of 10:1 structural adhesives, suitable for bonding a range of substrates including composites, thermoplastics and metals. The range benefits from varying working times to suit a host of applications in multiple industries including marine, automotive, wind energy and construction.

Ingrid Skalleberg, Scott Bader’s global product manager for Adhesives, said: “We are delighted to increase production of our Crestabond structural adhesives. North America is a key strategic growth area for us so to be able to produce Crestabond at our Canadian site, and offer our North American customers shorter lead times, is a great step forward.”

Scott Bader invests in North America

The expansion of Crestabond production to Scott Bader ATC follows the news that Scott Bader has invested $16 million in a new production site in Mocksville, N.C.

The investment sees the acquisition of a 110,000 square foot industrial unit on a 15-acre site, which with further investment will be developed into a state-of-the-art gelcoat and structural adhesives manufacturing facility. It will be the company’s second North American manufacturing site; the new development isexpected to create 27 new jobs locally, with 21 in manufacturing and the other roles shared across HR, R&D, commercial support and applications.

In keeping with Scott Bader’s 2036 vision to steer towards sustainable growth, while increasing its global footprint — environmental impact has been a key consideration throughout the North Carolina development and will remain central to the investments in its new site. Investing in people and technology to ensure both the build and ongoing operations are as efficient as possible.

Posted: March 1, 2022

Source: Scott Bader Co. Ltd.

IDEA 2022 Exhibitor Preview: Albarrie

BARRIE, Ontario — February 8, 202 — Albarrie, a major manufacturer in the North American nonwoven’s textile market, will be showing off its diverse range of engineering and manufacturing capabilities in booth #2214 at IDEA 2022 in Miami, Florida.

Whether exploring new designs or getting competitive quotes on current fabrics, Albarrie produces unique customized nonwoven needle punch textiles using advanced technology. Albarrie partners with organizations to innovate fabric solutions for product design by sharing their knowledge and passion for textiles and the environment. Albarrie has the ability to run low minimums, fabric trials and testing and produces quantities that fit specific needs.

Albarrie is a team of engineers, designers, fabricators, and technical support experts who envision a world where technical industrial fabrics are the solution to environmental issues. For over 40 years, Albarrie has been committed to needle punch nonwoven fabric innovation and has partnered with hundreds of companies to develop technical fabric solutions for the most demanding processes worldwide.

Albarrie’s Capabilities include:

Research & Development — Albarrie has an in-house team of scientists dedicated to developing unique textile solutions for demanding applications such as industrial air filtration, secondary oil containment, high-heat conveyance, and more.

Custom Needle Punch Felt Production — With several production lines available, Albarrie can produce technical felts from 6 to 120 ounces per square yard (oz/yd ), in narrow or wide width formats. Fiber blending, layering, and an assortment of finishing treatments such as heat setting, calendaring, singing are available.

Converting & Fabrication — Albarrie is fully capable of converting rolled goods for prefabrication requirements by OEM’s or producing finished goods for use within industrial processes.

Spiral Needle punch Production — Using an advanced Rontex spiral needle loom, Albarrie can produce seamless felt tubes in a wide array of fiber combinations. Coupled with various finishing techniques, these seamless felt tubes are applicable for conveyor roller covers, protective packaging, insulation, and gaskets.

Brand Name & High Heat Fibers — Albarrie uses the highest-quality fibers for their fabrics. Their fabric experts will advise you on fiber and fabric types to achieve best product performance.

Resin Impregnation — Albarrie’s unique process of resin impregnation ensures fibers are fully submerged and hardened for a durable product that withstands harsh environments. They turn soft fabric into hard boards.

Customer Service & Technical Support — A trusted team of inside and outside technical sales representatives are dedicated to supporting every aspect of their valued customer relationship, from product selection and design to order fulfillment. They also offer free pre-qualification lab testing to ensure our services are suitable for your application.

Albarrie’s other capabilities and product finishes include slitting, rewinding, die cutting, lamination, extrusion coating, welding, CNC machining, heat setting, singing, chemical treatment and more.

Posted March 1, 2022

Source: Albarrie

Ultrafabrics Extends Product Warranty To Five Years

TARRYTOWN, N.J. — February 23, 2022 — Ultrafabrics has extended its product warranty period from two years to five years from date of shipment.

The extension from the industry’s standard two years proves Ultrafabrics’ commitment to its portfolio of expertly crafted polyurethane fabrics. Specifiers, designers and manufacturers, across industries, trust Ultrafabrics and its ability to engineer lasting performance, comfort, and style into each and every material. The new warranty is an extension of the outstanding product quality and personal service Ultrafabrics provides to its clients every day.

An average 99.8% of shipped Ultrafabrics orders are never returned for flaws or quality
concerns. This industry-leading percentage is a testament to Ultrafabrics’ precise
manufacturing innovation and tireless pursuit of perfection. The new extended warranty
covers any defects in materials or workmanship, giving clients and their customers even
more peace of mind than before. Ultrafabrics stands confidently behind its product portfolio
and commits to continuing its investment in innovation, research and development to create high-quality polyurethanes suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.

Nicole Meier, director of Branding at Ultrafabrics, commented: “Ultrafabrics’ products span
many industries, including commercial architecture and design, healthcare and residential,
recreational vehicles and contract furniture. The ability to confidently speak to all these
markets about the fact that we stand behind our fabrics and their attributes for a full five
years is monumental. We want our clients to be worry-free. By removing all concerns about
our fabrics, we are enabling our clients to be more confident in their end products.”

The new extended warranty is effective from the beginning of February 2022.

Posted March 1, 2022

Source: Ultrafabrics

1...698699700...2,629Page 699 of 2,629

Sponsors

Breaking News

Load more

Digital Issue

2026 Quarterly Issue Number I

View Latest Digital Issue

FEATURED ARTICLES

© Copyright 2017 Textile Industries Media Group, LLC.