FRX Polymers Announces Appointment Of Industry Veteran Dr. Mike Goode To Chief Commercial Officer’s Post

Dr. Mike Goode

CHELMSFORD, Mass. — September 27, 2021 — FRX Polymers Inc., a global supplier of polymeric halogen-free flame retardant solutions, announced today the appointment of industry veteran Dr. Mike Goode as chief commercial officer. The appointment — announced by Marc-André Lebel, president and CEO of FRX Polymers — bolsters the company’s leadership team as it ramps up commercial activities for its breakthrough line of polymeric halogen-free flame retardant (FR) products.

Goode will have direct overall responsibility for sales, marketing, application development, and research activities within FRX Polymers, and will report to Lebel.

“We’re thrilled to announce this important leadership appointment as FRX Polymers hits an inflection point for accelerated growth of its unique non-halogen polymeric flame retardants for a range of markets,” Lebel said. “We’re excited to be able to attract someone of Mike’s stature to help us expertly manage and direct our technical and marketing resources through this growth phase.” Lebel said Goode brings a wealth of commercial and technical knowledge and experience in the flame retardant business, and an in-depth understanding of regulatory matters, and has a keen interest in sustainable chemistry which is so vital today in flame retardant additives.

Goode has worked in phosphorus-based flame retardants and fire-resistant chemicals for 28 years. “I look forward to joining FRX’s dynamic team and playing a key role in the commercial success of this groundbreaking FR technology,” Goode said. “Our global strategic plan is to marshal our technical and marketing resources with the goal of delivering exponential growth for our unique FR products.”

Specifically, Goode envisions a strong potential to grow FRX Polymers’ sustainability footprint in the area of flame retardant additives for high-performance applications in textiles, electronics, automotive, medical, and coatings.

Most recently, Goode was vice president of sales and marketing for ICL Industrial Products’ bromine and phosphorus-based flame retardants businesses in the Americas for 13 years. Previously, he worked at Chemtura in several commercial and technical roles including vice president of research, development, and technology, and vice president of marketing for Polymer Additives. Goode earned his undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees from Oxford University, U.K., and began his career at ICI working in textile dyes as well as additives for plastics and coatings.

Lebel said Goode has worked extensively on sustainable chemistry and has known FRX Polymers from its early days, advising on applications and the first toxicology testing of the company’s patented key monomer.

FRX’s patented Nofia® branded products have already made major inroads in a range of end uses and have the potential to disrupt the fire-retardant supply chain. Nofia products’ unique properties coupled with an outstanding sustainability profile allow them to be used as a replacement for many of today’s sustainability challenged FR additives. The recognized advantages of the Nofia range have caught the attention of numerous companies and these non-halogen products are being applied by best-in-class multinationals across plastics, textiles, and consumer electronics supply chains.

Nofia phosphonates are produced using sustainable green chemistry principles such as a solvent-free production process, no waste by-products, and near 100-percent atom efficiency. FRX Polymers’ portfolio includes an extensive and growing patent estate. To date, the company has more than 100 granted applications. The company has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the EPA’s Environmental Merit Award, the Belgium Business Award for the Environment, and the Flanders Investment of the Year Award. FRX Polymers was also recognized six times on the Global Cleantech 100 list.

Posted September 27, 2021

Source: FRX Polymers Inc.

Carhartt Launches New SuperDux™ Collection For Hardworking People Who Love The Rugged Outdoors

DEARBORN, Mich.— September 27, 2021 — Over the past 18 months there has been an increasing number of people finding their way back to the land, spending more time outdoors, discovering new passions and re-igniting old ones. Which is why Carhartt brought back its SuperDux™ line of versatile outerwear that’s born from work and built for play.

Introduced by Hamilton Carhartt’s son, Wylie Carhartt, the original SuperDux line was launched in 1930 and featured a variety of waterproof products for hunters and fishermen alike. Today, this highly functional gear — including a variety of jackets, vests and bibs for both men and women — is perfect for fishing, hiking, camping or any outdoor excursion. The SuperDux line truly represents the intersection of classic Carhartt durability and technical outdoor performance.

“Carhartt has been building outdoor gear for hardworking people since 1930,” said Alex Guerrero, senior vice president, general manager, Global Product at Carhartt. “With our newly updated SuperDux line, consumers get a one-of-a-kind combination of fabric and features that offer the versatility and functionality for the outdoors, but grounded in the durability they expect from our brand.”

Each piece in the new SuperDux line features Carhartt’s Rugged Flex®, Rain Defender® and Wind Fighter® technology — making it built to stretch and move with you, and adding an extra layer of protection against outdoor elements. The gear also features the look of traditional duck with either a lighter nylon fabric (35-percent weight reduction) with 3M Thinsulate™ for warmth without added weight or a unique, nylon stretch shell laminated with a dense Sherpa to keep warm while offering a softer touch.

The Carhartt SuperDux collection includes:

  • Relaxed Fit Insulated Traditional Coat (Men’s and Women’s);
  • Sherpa-Lined Detroit Jacket (Men’s);
  • Relaxed Fit Sherpa-Lined Active Jac (Men’s); and
  • Relaxed Fit Sherpa-Lined Jacket (Women’s).

All jackets feature storm cuffs for added protection, an adjustable drop-tail hem for a custom fit and coverage and a variety of secure pockets.

  • Relaxed Fit Sherpa Lined Vest (Men’s); and
  • Relaxed Fit Insulated Bib Overall (Men’s and Women’s).

Bib Overalls feature a Sherpa-lined top, Thinsulate down the leg, and CORDURA® reinforced kick panels for maximum wear and tear protection. The women’s bib overall also includes a zippered drop seat.

Posted September 27, 2021

Source: Carhartt Inc.

Sustainable Apparel Coalition And Higg Welcome Tommy Hilfiger As The Newest Brand Partner To Launch Sustainability Profiles

SAN FRANCISCO/AMSTERDAM — September 27, 2021 — Today, the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC), a global multi-stakeholder nonprofit alliance for the consumer goods industry, along with its technology partner Higg, have welcomed Tommy Hilfiger as the latest brand partner to launch the Higg Index Sustainability Profiles. The profiles, which feature data-backed environmental claims, provide customers with unprecedented visibility into a product’s impact and deliver a unified approach for transparency in the fashion industry.

Tommy Hilfiger, which is owned by PVH Corp, will be adding Higg Index Sustainability Profiles to a selection of their products as part of a pilot program in partnership with Amazon, the SAC and Higg. The pilot, featuring 247 products, will run for six weeks on Tommy Hilfiger’s owned EU ecomm. The products will also be added to Amazon’s Climate Pledge Friendly program. In line with Tommy Hilifger’s vision to create fashion that wastes nothing and welcomes all, this pilot marks a definitive step in the brand’s journey to communicate more transparently with its customers.

“The SAC is proud to welcome Tommy Hilfiger as the newest brand partner to join the Higg Index transparency program. This marks a major milestone in the brand’s sustainability journey and we are thrilled to collaborate with them. We look forward to working with the team as we continue to expand the program to include environmental and social impact providing a consistent way for brands, retailers, and manufacturers to share sustainability performance information with their customers. Sharing this information is necessary to help customers  make better and more informed decisions and drive transparency at scale.” said Amina Razvi, executive director of the SAC.

Transparency is critical to driving systemic change for a healthier planet and overcoming greenwashing, which continues to be a serious problem in the fashion industry. As public interest in sustainability grows, consumers and governments are demanding greater accountability and transparency from brands. France, for example, recently passed a bill that will require businesses to feature carbon labels on their products, setting the expectation that businesses take responsibility for their environmental impacts, starting with disclosure.

“Real, tangible change in the fashion industry cannot be accomplished alone. Our belief has always been that industry partnership and collaboration is essential to creating the future of fashion that we all very much want to see. We are proud to be a partner of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition and excited to pilot the Higg Index Sustainability Profile on our European ecommerce sites, to support our consumers on their journey to shop more sustainably. Transparency is essential in our vision to create fashion that Wastes Nothing and Welcomes All and we’re excited to expand this program in the coming seasons,” said Esther Verburg, executive vice president, Sustainability, Business & Innovation, Tommy Hilfiger Global.

“Tommy Hilfiger is setting a great example for the fashion industry through its commitment to transparency,” said Higg CEO Jason Kibbey. “By using contextualized data to back up sustainability claims, it’s taking an important step to provide greater visibility into the environmental impact of its products while also strengthening its relationship with customers.”

“This new approach to transparency from the SAC community is a long awaited and brave initiative that could provide the systemic change the industry has needed to make for some years. As with all new initiatives, the SAC Transparency Programme is not perfect, but the foundations are there for the programme to be ground-breaking. But to achieve its potential, SAC needs to clearly define the 10 year roadmap for the programme and act with confidence to deliver to that roadmap,” said Dr. Mark Summer, a lecturer in Sustainable Fashion, University of Leeds, United Kingdom.

The SAC and Higg launched the first phase of the transparency program, starting with a product’s material environmental impacts, in May, with Amazon, H&M and Norrona as the first brand partners to participate. By 2023, the program will expand to incorporate social data from facilities, becoming the first holistic system for communicating sustainability performance across a product’s lifecycle.

After spending a decade developing and launching the groundbreaking suite of Higg Index tools, offering credible sustainability data, the SAC believes using a common language and leveraging consistent, systematic measurement is critical for improved performance at scale. While the Higg Index tools continue to evolve with the latest science and technology, the tools are currently the most comprehensive and widely adopted value chain sustainability measurement tools in the industry. As a result, the Higg Index sets a solid foundation to unlock transparency at scale and spur collective action towards industry transformation.

Posted September 27, 2021

Source: The Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC)/Higg

Solvay Expanding Operations In Greenville County, S.C.

COLUMBIA, S.C.  — September 17, 2021 — Solvay, an advanced materials and specialty chemicals provider, today announced the completion of an expansion to its current operations in Greenville County. The expansion will create 30 new jobs.

Located at 7139 Augusta Road in Piedmont, Solvay’s expansion includes the recently acquired Cytec Engineered Materials and increases the company’s capacity to meet growing demand.

With the project now complete, Solvay is working toward qualifying products to meet customer-specific requirements. Individuals interested in joining the Solvay team should visit the company’s careers webpage.

The Coordinating Council for Economic Development awarded Greenville County a $200,000 Set-Aside grant to assist with site preparation.

“The thermoplastic composites solutions that will be manufactured in our Greenville facility will help our energy, aerospace and automotive customers achieve better environmental responsibility and affordability by offering more lightweight solutions that deliver superior performance,”  said Solvay President of Growth Platforms Mike Finelli

“Solvay’s expansion is yet another example of the unparalleled success companies are finding in South Carolina,” said Governor Henry McMaster. “We thank Solvay for their continued partnership with our state and look forward to their future growth in Greenville County and beyond.”

“South Carolina has a rich history in the chemical production sector, and today’s announcement by Solvay shows that this industry continues to flourish in the Palmetto State,” said Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III. “We congratulate Solvay on this expansion and thank them for their commitment to South Carolina.”

“We’re pleased that Solvay is once again expanding operations in Greenville County,” said Greenville County Council Chairman and Greenville Area Development Corporation Board Member Willis Meadows. “Solvay is a leader in our business community and a world-class manufacturer, and we appreciate their investment here. Their decision is an important affirmation of our continued focus on advanced manufacturing and on supporting existing industry.”

Posted September 24, 2021

Source: South Carolina Office of the Governor

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai Visits Milliken & Company And American & Efird In Visit Highlighting U.S. Textile Industry

WASHINGTON — September 23, 2021 — Milliken & Company and American & Efird (A&E) hosted United States Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Katherine Tai in two separate visits to the companies’ state-of-the-art textile manufacturing facilities today, marking an unprecedented visit to the heart of the U.S. textile industry in the Carolinas by the nation’s top trade chief.

Ambassador Tai’s visit comes at a pivotal time for the U.S. textile supply chain, which produced $64 billion in output in 2020 and employed nearly 530,000 workers. The industry has been at the forefront of a domestic production chain manufacturing over a billion personal protective equipment (PPE) items during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Ambassador’s visit to Milliken included a tour of the company’s Magnolia plant in Blacksburg, S.C., and a round table discussion highlighting the important role women contribute to textiles, the critical need for policies supporting a domestic supply chain, and the significant impact of the sector to the U.S. economy. Milliken is one of the largest textile companies in the U.S., employing more than 6,000 associates domestically and an additional 1,350 associates globally. Milliken’s Textile Business alone employs 2,500 people across eight counties in South Carolina and is the fourth largest manufacturing employer in the Upstate.

“Milliken is honored to host Ambassador Tai at our Magnolia plant to discuss not only the invaluable contributions we make every day to our community and our nation, but also the importance of sound trade policies that bolster domestic production and the co-production chains we have built, in particular with our Western Hemisphere trading partners,” said Chad McAllister, executive vice president of Milliken & Company and president, Textile Business. “To have Ambassador Tai on-site at one of our U.S. facilities is an opportunity to showcase our breadth of innovation in the industry and our passionate team of American workers who help our business succeed. We are fortunate and thankful for Ambassador Tai’s leadership as well as her commitment to understanding the challenges and opportunities of our industry.”

U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai thanked the industry and said, “I want to thank NCTO for organizing this event. As United States Trade Representative, I am committed to helping all of your companies build on the success by finding market opportunities and helping reach new customers. I want to ensure that our trade policy matches the innovation and changes happening in the textiles industry. With your help, we can continue addressing critical issues. In doing so, we will help the textiles industry maintain its competitive edge and ensure it remains a global standard-bearer in the years to come.”

On the second leg of her trip, Ambassador Tai visited American & Efird’s manufacturing facility in Mount Holly, N.C. American & Efird operates as part of Elevate Textiles and its global portfolio of advanced products and distinguished textile brands, including A&E, Burlington, Cone Denim, Gütermann and Safety Components, and representing more than 500 years of textile manufacturing knowledge.

During the visit, U.S. textile executives spanning the fiber, yarn, fabric, and finished product textile and apparel industry participated in a round table with the Ambassador at which they discussed the competitiveness of the domestic industry, outlined priority issues in Washington, such as the importance of the Western Hemisphere co-production chain and ways to jointly support domestic supply chains through Buy American and Berry Amendment policies that help onshore production, spur investment, maintain the safety and security of our armed forces and generate new jobs.

“It was an honor hosting Ambassador Tai at our manufacturing facility in Mount Holly, employing 380 valued associates and just 2 miles from where the company started 130 years ago,” said Sim Skinner, CEO of Elevate Textiles. “A&E maintains a significant manufacturing footprint in the Carolinas with 1,200 total associates, and we contribute significantly to our local community and the entire manufacturing base in the United States, touching every aspect of life, from the threads in Superbowl footballs to flags on the moon and most recently, to the very PPE products protecting our frontline heroes and fellow Americans against COVID-19 and the Space X suits that are orbiting Earth right now.  We had an engaging discussion with the Ambassador on our company’s and industry’s innovation and competitiveness, and on the policy priorities that we believe will help ensure our competitiveness and long-term investment in the domestic textile industry.”

National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) President and CEO Kim Glas said: “We want to sincerely thank Ambassador Tai for visiting Milliken and American & Efird today. Her leadership in the international trade policy arena and her understanding of the unique challenges confronting domestic manufacturers and U.S. workers under the international trade system is unparalleled. The U.S. textile industry is one of the most dynamic, innovative industries in the U.S. economy and our co-production chain with our Western Hemisphere trade partners is essential. Trade policies are essential to this manufacturing sector and workforce. We look forward to working closely with the Ambassador and her office to advance policies that bolster domestic production.

“We are grateful to Ambassador Tai for participating in an engaging and substantive discussion with industry leaders today on a whole host of policies, ranging from the importance of Buy American and Berry Amendment government procurement policies to maintaining strong rules of origins in free trade agreements to the need to address larger systemic trade issues with China.”

Posted September 23, 2021

Source: The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO)

Introducing Juicy By Juicy Couture: Launching Exclusively At JCPenney

LEWISVILLE, Texas — September 23, 2021 — JCPenney today announced the launch of Juicy by Juicy Couture, a new brand expansion from Juicy Couture, the athleisure brand created from the off-duty celebrity lifestyle. Bringing accessible, casual luxury to JCPenney, Juicy by Juicy Couture offers women’s and kid’s apparel, shoes, sleepwear, watches, and accessories rooted in the brand’s bold LA-inspired style. The new women’s collection — featuring a unique spin on the brand’s signature track suit — is now available in 500 JCPenney stores and online at jcp.com/juicybyjuicy.

“We are thrilled to unveil Juicy by Juicy Couture and offer our customer a new, glamorous lifestyle brand to shop,” said Michelle Wlazlo, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer, JCPenney. “At the heart of JCPenney, we stand for quality, value, and style, and promise inclusive and affordable fashion for our customers. The launch of Juicy by Juicy Couture delivers on that promise and highlights the diverse style offered only at JCPenney.”

“For more than two decades, Juicy Couture has brought iconic LA style and attitude to consumers around the world,” said Jarrod Weber, group president lifestyle, chief brand officer, Authentic Brands Group (ABG), owner of the Juicy Couture brand. “Juicy by Juicy Couture combines distinctive design elements and styling that pay homage to the brand’s unique ethos. This launch marks an exciting era in fashion for Juicy at JCPenney and we are extending the brand to a new fanbase.”

Juicy by Juicy Couture launches just in time for the fall season as fashionable and cozy loungewear continue to reign supreme. From joggers and leggings to cropped sweatshirts and hoodies, the collection features bold colors, prints, patterns, and track silhouettes for everyday comfort. The inclusive collection for women is available from XS-3X to showcase her bold spirit and coveted style. The women’s assortment launches in select stores and online on Sept. 23, with expansion in baby and kid’s apparel, women’s and kid’s sleepwear, footwear, home, and accessories throughout 2021 and gift sets just in time for the holidays.

Posted September 23, 2021

Source: JCPenney

Health Supply US Completes Deliveries Of American Made Medical Gowns To Strategic National Stockpile, Pledges Continued Investments In Domestic Manufacturing

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — September 23, 2021 — Health Supply US (HSUS), a U.S.-based manufacturer of medical devices and supplies, has completed final deliveries of 100-percent American-made medical gowns to help replenish the Strategic National Stockpile, the company announced Thursday.

HSUS successfully delivered more than 8.7 million domestically produced medical isolation gowns over the past 12 months in response to the nation’s demand for critical medical supplies due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During peak production, HSUS created and supported thousands of jobs across five states. Nearly 85 percent of the manufacturing jobs were held by women and people of color.

“Our American workers and factories stand ready to continue producing critically-needed medical gowns right here in the United States,” said Aaron Petrosky, executive vice president of HSUS. “We’ve proven through American ingenuity and innovation that the United States can still compete in the global marketplace. Indeed, the future can be made in America — by all of America — if we commit to continue investing in our domestic industrial base.”

In September 2020, the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency, in coordination with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, awarded HSUS nine prime contracts worth a total of $194 million after a rigorous open and unrestricted competition. The contract terms and conditions required 100-percent of the end item’s materials and components must be manufactured in the United States, in compliance with the Berry Amendment.

Amid supply chain disruptions during the COVID-19 peak, HSUS committed to restoring domestic manufacturing capabilities by investing millions of dollars in equipment, facilities, workforce training, and research and development in the United States. In partnership with Dow Inc. and Gerber Technology (now a Lectra Company), HSUS developed new, highly efficient methods to significantly increase the throughput of its production lines. To ensure compliance with U.S. regulatory standards, HSUS completed full product safety testing, government-led facility inspections, and QA/QC audits at each of its domestic manufacturing locations.

“In anticipation of the current contemplated changes to the Buy American Act in 2021, which we are following closely, we pledge our resources and continued commitment to supporting our nation’s efforts to revitalize our domestic industrial base, in order to secure a diverse and resilient public health supply chain,” Petrosky said.

Posted September 23, 2021

Source: Health Supply US (HSUS)

Higg Launches Traceability Partner Program For Supply Chain Sustainability

SAN FRANCISCO — September 23, 2021 — Higg, a technology platform that enables consumer goods companies to measure, manage, and share the social and environmental impacts of their full value chain, today announced a new program enabling comprehensive traceability across the global supply chain. The Higg traceability program, a global collaboration beginning with technology partners atma.io by Avery Dennison, FibreTrace, and TrusTrace, aims to fast-track global brands’ efforts to track the hidden impacts within their manufacturing processes, ensure fiber integrity, and to understand, communicate, and accelerate product sustainability.

The Higg traceability program is designed to enable consumer brands to identify and share the supply chain provenance of billions of items with their upstream value chain partners and highlight and disclose sustainability information — on their own and other ecommerce platforms — to the public and other stakeholders.

“Consumer goods businesses face a tremendous urgency to accelerate sustainability improvements and need comprehensive tools and contextualized data that can illuminate untracked areas of the supply chain,” said Higg CEO Jason Kibbey. “Together with some of the world’s most advanced traceability innovators, we’re bringing robust new capabilities onto the Higg platform to enable brand and retailer customers to understand and trace product certifications and provenance.”

The program launches with a cohort of innovation partners including atma.io by Avery Dennison, FibreTrace, and TrusTrace: leading solution providers in the end-to-end tracking of materials and product origins, and unified in identifying and illuminating essential sustainability management data. These providers will be integrating their unique services onto the Higg platform in order to connect a network of 45,000 users, 500 brands and retailers, and tens of thousands of manufacturers’ factories, bringing product chain-of-custody tracking to the robust platform.

“We’re thrilled to partner with these organizations, all of whom are committed to advancing transparency and sustainability, and each of whom brings unique capabilities needed by the industry,” Kibbey said. “Higg is laser-focused on aggregating quality environmental, social, and governance data to provide a single source of truth for consumer goods industries. Partnering with best-in-class traceability innovators is a critical step in helping our customers make better informed sustainability decisions.”

“atma.io connected product cloud is built on Avery Dennison’s leadership in digital ID technologies that combine physical and digital worlds. In collaboration with the Higg platform, we are helping reimagine supply chains for the greater good by combining item-level traceability data from atma.io together with environmental and social impact data from Higg,” said Max Winograd, vice president, atma.io & connected products, Avery Dennison Smartrac. “This gives brands and retailers a complete view of their supply chain and an opportunity to provide accurate sustainability insights to consumers and other key stakeholders.”

FibreTrace brings a unique advantage to the program because the technology is implemented at raw fiber source, tracing and verifying that fiber throughout the global supply chain in retail in addition to collecting primary farm data that is third party verified, adding a new layer of data and depth.

“Without transparency we can’t improve the impact of the global textile industry for future generations,” said Shannon Mercer, CEO of FibreTrace. “FibreTrace combines physical and digital traceability for verification of a fiber’s sustainability credentials — combine this with Higg’s ability to incorporate data across every facility in a supply chain … it empowers brands to make best practice sustainable decisions right from the start.”

Higg’s traceability partners will enable blockchain technologies to support tracking and tracing of a product’s chain of custody, streamline certification claims, and address material movement, supplier data, consumer engagement, and brand protection. The collaborative approach across the global industry seeks to provide both immediate, verified insights to Higg users, and allows brands to better fulfill the expectations of the public, the satisfaction of corporate sustainability goals, and the oversight of regulatory agencies.

Representing the world’s largest dataset for the footwear, apparel, and textile industry, and providing services to the largest global consumer goods retail platforms, Higg will enable its traceability partners to broadly engage with global corporations while providing Higg platform customers access to leading traceability solutions. As part of this program, key social and sustainability data from Higg will also be made available for direct integration into partner platforms, creating more robust solutions for both partners and their customers.

Today’s announcement follow’s Higg’s recent launch of Sustainability Profiles, a first step in a joint initiative with the Sustainable Apparel Coalition to enable fashion brands and retailers to connect sustainability-related product claims at point of purchase to verified data.

“Sustainability cannot exist without traceability, which is why TrusTrace is on a mission to bring true transparency to brands who really want to know what they sell,” said Shameek Ghosh, CEO and co-founder of TrusTrace. “In collaborating with Higg, our technology can be leveraged to drive more sustainably-conscious and socially-responsible decisions across the global supply chain — while simultaneously equipping the TrusTrace platform with key data from Higg that will help our customers make better, more informed sourcing decisions. It’s a win-win for all involved!”

Posted September 23, 2021

Source: Higg

Retrofitting CNC Systems To Safeguard Against Cyberattacks

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — September 23, 2021 — FANUC America, a supplier of CNCs, robotics and ROBOMACHINES, introduces an upgrade solution for legacy CNC machines running on operating systems older than Windows 10. The Panel i Replacement Program retrofits FANUC CNCs with a powerful industrial PC available with touch or non-touch LCD display, solid-state drives and Windows 10 IoT Enterprise.

FANUC CNCs running on obsolete operating systems, such as Windows 7, XP or older, are no longer supported by Microsoft and therefore not receiving their critical updates. If machines connect to an online network, this can leave sensitive manufacturing equipment open to major cybersecurity breaches. Retrofitting industrial PCs on these machines allows businesses to safely and securely connect their CNCs to their network and take advantage of Industrial Internet of Things data.

“To stay competitive, you need real-time operational information from your CNC machines to make data-driven decisions,” says Jon Heddleson, general manager of Factory Automation for FANUC America. “But we realize there is a lot of legacy CNC equipment still in use today. To fill this critical cybersecurity need, this program allows FANUC CNC users to unlock IIoT advantages by connecting their machines to the business network in a safe and secure way.”

Connecting CNC equipment allows operations to safety and securely run machines remotely as well as collect important production data critical for effective business decisions. In addition to offering cybersecurity protection, the FANUC Panel i Replacement Program provides two screen size options, a faster CPU, more memory and larger storage.

Posted September 23, 2021

Source: FANUC America Corporation

Durak Tekstil Increased Its Sales By 20 Percent Despite The Pandemic

BURSA, Turkey — September 23, 2021 — Making investments that increased its production capacity during the pandemic, Durak Tekstil has started to reap fruit in 2021. Durak Tekstil increased its turnover by 20 percent in the first half of the year compared to the same period of the previous year and reached the market success it targeted in terms of sales and orders.

Durak Tekstil, an industrial sewing and embroidery thread manufacturer, announced that it achieved successful results in the first half of 2021 despite the pandemic. The company made an investment that increased its capacity by 30 percent in 2020, and recorded a significant increase in sales in both Turkish and export markets. Reaching a global turnover of $25 million throughout the last year, Durak Tekstil achieved a 20-percent turnover increase in the first half of 2021 compared to the first six months of the previous year, with the realization of consumer demands that were delayed in the first six months of 2021.

Underlining that Durak Tekstil is a strong brand with a 50-year history in the industry, board member and marketing director Yiğit Durak emphasized that they have achieved successful results with the production and sales measures they have taken despite the pandemic that has been in effect for two years.

“Thanks to our quick decision-making and taking the necessary steps during the pandemic, we have progressed in accordance with our plans in both investment and production legs,” Durak said. “In this way, in a period of lockdowns and temporary decreases in demand, we made an investment that expanded our capacity by 30 percent, as well as increased our employment by 10 percent to over 350. Because we knew that a bigger market awaited us after the crisis. The results of the first half of 2021, which we achieved with our monthly production capacity of 250 tons, confirmed this view”.

Providing information about the 2021 year-end targets, Durak stated that Turkey’s total growth expectation is 7 to 8 percent, while Durak Tekstil aims to grow by 20 to 25 percent.

Innovation is part of our corporate identity

Durak Tekstil carries out its production and sales activities in line with the five-year strategies it has determined through long studies. In the vision of growth; product innovation, institutionalization, market analysis considering customer needs and market knowledge are the main points. Durak expressed the increase  achieved in sales with this vision as follows: “Five years ago, domestic sales had a 75-percent share in our total sales while exports were at 25 percent. Today, the exports have reached a share of 60 percent with a significant increase. According to our strategic plans, we anticipate that the share of exports in our total sales will be 75 percent in 2023”.

The product range continues to expand with continuous R&D

Stating that they made sales to more than 70 countries in 5 continents, Durak emphasized that the company strengthened its competitive position in the global market from year to year. Relaying that they have made a significant progress in the European market with the effect of product quality and logistics advantages as well as their rich product range, Durak said: “Our industrial sewing and embroidery threads are preferred in several different fields and applications in the textile industry. Especially apparel, bedding, shoes, and embroidery became prominent as our main sectors. We observe a significant increase in demands for our threads with technical features. For example, our flame retardant threads have become one of our most attractive products in recent years. Our product range continues to expand to respond to new demands in the market through continuous R&D”.

Explaining that 5 percent of its annual budget is allocated to R&D, Durak emphasized that this rate is already well above the average in the textile industry. Noting that R&D studies have been carried out within the scope of the design center for a long time. “We are establishing an R&D Centre to take this to a further stage,” Durak said. “Products developed through R&D create high added value. For example, one of our threads with technical specifications attracts great attention in Germany and finds buyers in the market at 5 times the price compared to similar ones. In addition to developing new products, we also receive support from R&D for a more environmentally friendly and sustainable production. Our carbon footprint has decreased over the years through its contribution. We plan to expand and diversify our recycled thread portfolio, which currently accounts for 5 percent of all our products. We are improving ourselves with new technologies and methods for a more sustainable textile production”.

Stating that they are continuing their efforts to obtain the Turquality certificate, Durak disclosed that they primarily want to grow in foreign markets within a certain standard system and corporate structure. “The textile industry demands a faster, higher quality and stable supply of products,” Durak noted. “As the Turkish textile industry, we are the most serious partner in this regard. We can reach the power to meet new demands by increasing our capacity and flexibility with the investments we will make. Durak Tekstil has determined becoming stronger in current markets and making a good entry into potential markets that it has never been to, in order to double its global power as its basic strategy. As a result, we offer new products with high added value to the market and achieve growth results that reflect positively on the industry”

Posted September 23, 2021

Source: Durak Tekstil

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