Bally Ribbon Mills Highlights 3D Weaving Capabilities at JEC World 2025

BALLY, Pa. — February 28, 2025 — Bally Ribbon Mills (BRM) — a designer, developer, and manufacturer of highly specialized engineered woven fabrics — announced it will highlight its 3D weaving capabilities at JEC World 2025, which will be held on March 4-6, 2025, in Paris-Nord Villepinte, France, Booth #6M38. BRM will highlight its film infusion capabilities for 3D woven joints; woven thermal protection systems (TPS); and advanced woven composite 3D structures, including 3D near-net shapes.

In BRM’s film infusion process, a frozen sheet or film of resin is infused onto the custom 3D woven joint. Film-infused 3D woven joints ship as pre-made assemblies, ensuring consistent quality control from the industry-leading experts in fabrication and saving customers the cost of infusing the resin themselves. BRM has perfected the science and art of 3D continuous weaving to fabricate such structures as “Pi – π,” double “T,” “H,” and other complex shapes. Offering the optimal blend of strength, durability, and structural integrity, these complex woven structures are used primarily in aerospace applications, often in airframe structural components and subassemblies including stiffeners and joints.

Those who visit the booth will see lightweight materials like 3-D woven fabrics and learn about its multifunctional thermal protection systems (TPS) for atmospheric re-entry. BRM has implemented innovative weaving technologies to develop complex webbing for aerospace products. The woven TPS billet to be showcased at the booth is part of a line of products that was selected as the critical component of the heat shield on the Orion Crew Capsule, which helps protect against the extreme temperatures of atmospheric re-entry.

In partnership with NASA, BRM developed the 3D Orthogonally woven 3DMAT Quartz Material for the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) compression pads. The 3DMAT Quartz Material was named the 2023 NASA Government Invention of the Year.

Also on display are lightweight, cost-effective, advanced woven 2D and 3D composite structures. Using a multi-dimensional continuous weaving method, BRM produces textiles that can be fabricated into near net-shape structures. These advanced weaving capabilities offer customers new solutions that reduce weight and cost. The technology weaves complex shapes automatically, eliminating many costly, time-consuming, and labor-intensive processes.

Posted: February 28, 2025

Source: Bally Ribbon Mills (BRM)

Stein Fibers Rebrands As Everra: A Bold New Name For A Sustainable, Evolving Future

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — February 28, 2025 — Stein Fibers is proud to announce its rebranding and name change to Everra, effective immediately. This new name represents a bold evolution for the company and reflects its ongoing commitment to sustainability, innovation, and leadership in the global PET market.

As Everra, the company will continue to serve as a sustainability-focused, market-leading distribution partner in the PET industry, helping transform recycled plastic bottles into new products. Everra’s expanded focus will include adjacent PET markets like polymers, filaments, and fine denier fibers, as the company continues to adapt and innovate in response to the growing demand for sustainable solutions.

“Our name may have changed, but our essence remains,” said Jaren Edwards and Robert Taylor, co-CEOs of Everra. “Everra represents our readiness to meet emerging challenges and seize new opportunities as we evolve. While we honor our past, we are committed to charting a bold path forward, delivering sustainable solutions to an ever-evolving world.”

Founded in 1976, Stein Fibers began as a domestic polyester fiberfill distributor and grew into a global leader in synthetic fibers. Today, the company serves markets across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas, providing high-value products that meet the evolving demands of the PET industry. With the transition to Everra, the company is embracing new market opportunities while staying true to its legacy of customer responsiveness, operational excellence, and sustainability.

As Everra, the company remains steadfast in its mission to help the world turn recycled plastic bottles into new products, reinforcing its position as a leader in sustainable solutions. This rebranding signifies Everra’s clear dedication to its diverse customer base across various industries and applications while also expanding into adjacent sustainable markets such as polymers, filaments, and fine denier fibers.

The name Everra is derived from the words “Ever,” “Evolving,” and “Terra” — symbolizing enduring partnership, constant evolution, and a deep commitment to sustainability. The company’s logo reinforces these values, featuring a knot for partnership, a link to fill supply chain gaps, and clasped hands to represent a collaboration towards a sustainable future. Everra, “Forever committed to delivering sustainable solutions to an ever-evolving world.”

Posted: February 28, 2025

Source: Everra  — Formerly Stein Fibers, LLC

AATCC, TAI Sign MOU; AATCC Announces New Student Chapters

The American Association of Textile Chemists & Colorists (AATCC), Durham, N.C., has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with The Textile Association (India) (TAI) to strengthen collaboration within the global textile industry.

The MOU aims to promote communication, reduce duplication of efforts, support standards development, and create joint educational programs including conferences, seminars, and training.

Members of both organizations will receive a 30 percent discounted membership in the other, along with special introductory offers for TAI members. Additionally, Texas Tech University Professor Dr. Seshadri Ramkumar has been appointed as AATCC’s first Ambassador to India.

“The textile industry in India represents a robust and dynamic sector,” said AATCC President Christina Rapa.“… We eagerly anticipate supporting the Indian market with high-quality testing standards, comprehensive training programs, and valuable networking opportunities in the years ahead.”

In other AATCC news, the organization recently announced two new student chapters — at the University of Georgia,Athens , Ga., with Faculty Advisor Suraj Sharma; and Bangladesh-based Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology (AUST) with Faculty Advisor Mohammad Tajul Islam.

2025 Quarterly Issue I

Universal Fibers® Announces Latest Investment Into Japanese Market

OSAKA, Japan — February 27, 2025 — Universal Fibers Inc. is delighted to announce its latest facility, now operating in Japan. Building on two decades of service to the Japanese market from our Asia Pacific base, this new venture represents a significant expansion of its global service commitment. Located in Osaka, Universal Fibers Japan, is poised to meet the increasing demands for sustainable, high-performance fibers in this vital market.

Universal Fibers exclusive textured fiber finish featured: Art Color

“Japan is a pivotal market for us, and the establishment of Universal Fibers Japan allows us to enhance our local presence significantly,” stated Roger Seow, vice president of International Sales. “With direct investment in local manufacturing capabilities and talent, we are excited to introduce our groundbreaking Thrive® matter, the world’s lowest carbon footprint fiber, to the Japanese market.”

The texturing facility will manufacture a variety of finished yarns, including chemistries in both nylon 6 and nylon 6,6, while catering to manufacturers and specifiers across commercial, residential, and automotive sectors. “This expansion is a testament to our unwavering commitment to excellence and customer service,” remarked Marc Ammen, CEO of Universal Fiber Systems. “We couldn’t be more pleased with this latest asset and the platform it provides Universal Fibers to expand in the region.”

Universal Fibers exclusive finish techniques featured: Helix, metallic Art fibers, and Heather Helix yarns

“Having assets on the ground in Japan enhances our agility and speed to market, ensuring better logistical support and shorter lead times,” commented Masaya Okuda, Country Sales manager for Universal Fibers Japan. He further noted, “This proximity also allows for deeper engagement with our customers, enabling us to stay ahead of market trends and to offer innovative, exclusive products from Universal Fibers’ diverse portfolio.”

Posted: February 27, 2025

Source: Universal Fibers, Inc.

Textile Associations Call On President Trump To Stop Expected Penalty Tariffs On Canada, Mexico Imports And To Close The De Minimis Loophole

WASHINGTON — February 27, 2025 — The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO),

National Chamber of the Textile Industry (CANAINTEX), and Canadian Textile Industry Association (CTIA) issued a joint statement today urging President Donald Trump to reach a deal with Mexico and Canada to avoid imposing 25 percent tariffs on imports from these countries and to close the de minimis loophole immediately.

“All three of our countries are partners in a vital textile and apparel coproduction chain that generates $20 billion in two-way trade and helps support over 1.6 million jobs under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)—a trade deal that was negotiated during President Trump’s first term in office,” the associations said.

The U.S. textile industry ships $12.3 billion, or 53 percent, of its total global textile exports to Mexico and Canada. Those inputs come back as finished products to the United States under the USMCA.

Mexico exports $9 billion in textile and apparel to the United States. Mexico is the 4th largest exporter of textiles and the 6th largest exporter of apparel to the United States.

Canada exports approximately $1.8 billion in textiles and apparel to the United States and Mexico, with the United States being the destination for 64 percent of its total global textile export, including high-quality flame-resistant materials and medical equipment including PPE.

“While we fully support President Trump’s efforts to stem illegal migration and to address the fentanyl crisis as quickly as possible, we urge the administration to refrain from imposing penalty tariffs on imports from USMCA partners. We are focused on ensuring a normalized trading relationship between our countries,” said NCTO President and CEO Kim Glas. “Imposing penalty tariffs on imports from critical U.S. free trade agreement (FTA) partners will only serve to benefit China and other Asian countries that don’t play by the rules and to harm the U.S. textile industry and manufacturers in our Western Hemisphere supply chains.”

“As part of any deal with Mexico, Canada — and China — we also call on the Trump administration to end the de minimis tariff exemption immediately for imports from all countries. This loophole in U.S. trade law, which allows imports valued at $800 or less to enter the United States duty-free hurts our textile and apparel industries, rewards countries like China, and helps facilitate the flow of illegal and toxic products, such as fentanyl and fentanyl precursors into the U.S. market,” Glas added.

“Despite steps taken by our countries to prevent the importation of goods that are undervalued, made with forced labor or transshipped, we have seen firsthand how the Asian market has gained an unfair advantage through predatory trade practices, displacing companies and workers in our industries and undermining our critical coproduction chain,” said Rafael Zaga Saba President of CANAINTEX.

“Canada is seeking to preserve our strong coproduction chain with Mexico and the United States which spurs investment, trade and employment in our three countries,” said Jeff Ayoub, Chairman of the Board of CTIA. “These additional tariffs would harm our industries and workers, and we urge President Trump stop these expected tariffs from being imposed.”

“We look forward to working closely with the Trump administration and continuing to educate officials about the adverse impact of penalty tariffs on imports from Western Hemisphere countries and de minimis on our industries and workers, while highlighting the critical nature of our strong coproduction chain, which contributes to our overall investment, job growth, and economic stability,” the associations jointly added.

Posted: February 27, 2025

Source: The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), National Chamber of the Textile Industry (CANAINTEX), and Canadian Textile Industry Association (CTIA)

U.S. Textiles Enters A Positive,Yet Stormy, 2025

By James M. Borneman, Editor In Chief

It’s great to have a strong economic headline to start a year that holds such promise, despite facing a stormy international business undercurrent.

The first of the year Institute for Supply Management “Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business®”reported a Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI®) of 50.9 percent — great news for U.S. manufacturers.

Even better is the fact that the textile mills sector led the charge of manufacturing sectors reporting expansion. Any Manufacturing PMI report at 50-percent or above signals expansion and this is the first report at that level after 26 consecutive months of contraction.

Eight manufacturing sectors reported growth in January — all good company at the industrial core of U.S. manufacturing.

That said, the strength and impact of a stormy international business undercurrent caused by the new administration’s bold tariff rhetoric is the great unknown.

The Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates described the uncertainty without alarm. “At this stage, the situation is fluid, and it’s too early to know if the tariffs will be implemented, removed or further delayed,”said Hackett Associates Founder Ben Hackett.“As such, our view of North American imports has not changed significantly for the next six months.”

No sooner had President Donald J. Trump announced 25 percent tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports, they were paused for one month based on Canadian and Mexican support for assistance with illegal immigration and fentanyl interdiction at the respective borders.

It would seem at this writing that China is also facing increased tariffs and the suspension the de minimis exemption for shipments originating from China. Also on the block
is the $800 duty-free threshold for Chinese imports. It would appear that all goods from China, regardless of value, will be subject to formal customs processing and tariffs. Aside from that, a new 10 percent tariff looks like it will be imposed on all Chinese imports, in addition to existing duties.

This is a big swing in international commerce that could carry significant impacts on a broad range of businesses, including textiles.

Without getting in the weeds, the de minimis exemption was a customs accommodation for small packages, of little value, shipped internationally into the United States. An individual could receive a bottle of Scotch from an aunt in Scotland at Christmas without clearing customs and paying duty. Unfortunately, that accommodation became a loophole, then expanded to a loophole-based industry.

National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) President and CEO Kim Glas has been extremely active in supporting closing the de minimis exemption loophole. In mid-January she stated in a press release,“We have long called on the administration to use its existing authorities to mitigate the damage to our industry created by de minimis, which has functioned as a massive tariff loophole for low-cost, subsidized, and unethical Chinese imports.

“The U.S. textile industry … is experiencing severe demand destruction fueled by 4 million de minimis shipments a day flooding our market with cheap, often illegal imports because of this outdated trade provision that rewards Chinese e-commerce platforms, importers and tariff cheaters with an open door to the U.S. market.”

What a way to kick off 2025. Hold tight, the positive, stormy ride just started!

2025 Quarterly Issue I

Milliken & Company Invests In Tidal Vision, Launches PFAS-Free Firefighter Materials

Milliken & Company, Spartanburg, S.C., has announced an investment and strategic partnership with Tidal Vision, a bio-molecular technologies company specializing in chitosan-based biodegradable solutions.This collaboration will accelerate the introduction of biodegradable chemistries across Milliken’s markets.Tidal Vision’s proprietary technologies transform chitosan— a natural, biodegradable compound — into high-performance materials suitable for various applications.

“At Milliken, we invest with a long-term perspective, prioritizing partnerships that will drive meaningful growth,” said Halsey Cook, Milliken president and CEO. “Our approach is grounded in thorough research, strategic alignment with our core values, and
a commitment to creating lasting value for our customers.”

In other company news, Milliken reports it has become the first textile manufacturer to offer non-per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (non-PFAS) materials for all three layers of firefighter turnout gear — the outer shell, Horizon™; moisture barrier, Assure™; and thermal liner, Equinox™. The three products are layered together in a “composite” fabric that exceeds performance standards according to third-party testing. Milliken’s U.S.-based supply chain allows garment manufacturers to test the fabric as a system and maintain a complete chain of custody for faster delivery to firefighters, according to the company.

“Milliken is proud to be the only U.S. manufacturer offering non-PFAS fabric for every layer of turnout gear, but more importantly, we’re proud that these fabrics exceed performance standards,” said Marcio Manique, senior vice president of Protective Fabrics, Milliken.

2025 Quarterly Issue I

RTCM Holdings Acquires USW

Dallas-based RTCM Holdings Inc., doing business as Reclaimed Cleaning Textiles and World Wear Project, has acquired United-Southern Waste Material Co. (USW), creating the largest textile recycler in North Texas. Founded in 1914, USW specializes in recycling and repurposing clothing and wiping rags, operating from an 88,000-square-foot facility with more than 120 collection bins. Financial terms were not disclosed.

USW Co-Owner Mindi Levine Kahn, a third-generation family member, will remain with the company to ensure a smooth integration. The acquisition aims to support RTCM’s goal of diverting 100 million pounds of textiles from landfills annually, enhancing its capacity and long-term growth.

“USW’s operation will help us expand our capacity and drive essential long-term growth,”said Craig McAndrews, president and CEO of Reclaimed Cleaning Textiles.

2025 Quarterly Issue I

Rubi Awarded NSF Grant To Scale Carbon-To-Cellulose Technology

San Francisco-based Rubi, a company focused on sustainable manufacturing, has secured a $969,961 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to scale its carbon-to-cellulose platform. This technology uses cell-free biocatalysis to convert carbon dioxide into cellulose, aiming to replace traditional wood pulp, reduce deforestation, and lower the environmental impact of textile production.
The grant will support Rubi’s path to commercialization, building on its successful Phase I grant completion in 2023. Key milestones include an $8.7 million seed round co-led by H&M Group and Patagonia, strategic partnerships with major fashion brands and Walmart, and the debut of the world’s first carbon dioxide-derived yarn with GANNI.

“This award is a testament to Rubi’s vision for a symbiotic manufacturing future and our ambition to lead the next era of sustainable industry,” said Neeka Mashouf, co-founder and CEO of Rubi. “As we move into 2025, this grant will accelerate our efforts to scale CO2-derived, low-carbon cellulose for the textile industry ….”

2025 Quarterly Issue I

Leigh Fibers Restructures

Wellford, S.C.-based Leigh Fibers has completed a restructuring plan to further integrate its operations with ReVive Fiber — formerly Martex Fiber — focusing on long-term growth and profitability. Key changes include consolidating the Wellford facility into ReVive Fiber’s Spartanburg, S.C., location, with a limited Wellford presence through 2026. The Brownsville, Texas, facility will remain unchanged, and no production capabilities will be lost.

The company will shift its focus to its core competencies — engineered fibers, global trading and sustainability efforts — idling its nonwovens line to strengthen leadership in post-consumer textile waste diversion. Streamlined operations will enhance efficiency and responsiveness to market demands.

“Between Leigh’s 100 years in business and ReVive’s 50, we wanted to make sure we maintained the best of both and rekindled the spirit and culture that made these companies great,” said John Peoples, president of Leigh Fibers and ReVive Fiber. “By making these moves, we’ve put ourselves in a position to quickly restore profitability to the business and be able to make the investments necessary to support the needs of the market.”

2025 Quarterly Issue I

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