Sun Chemical Releases Latest Edition Of Its Annual Sustainability Report

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — December 1, 2021 — Sun Chemical released the latest edition of its Corporate Sustainability Report, which focuses on the organization’s commitment to a robust sustainability strategy comprised of three key pillars: operations, products and services, and collaborations.

As part of its sustainability strategy, Sun Chemical organized a Corporate Sustainability Committee in August 2020 comprised of eight executive leaders, designed to guarantee company-wide engagement in sustainability initiatives and oversee the sustainability strategy. Under this committee, Sun Chemical has built a sustainable framework to guide future roadmaps in each of the strategy’s three pillars, which are referred to as the ‘five Rs’: Reuse, Reduce, Renew, Recycle and Redesign.

This framework supports a circular economy and reductions in carbon footprint, which can be applied from either an operational or product-oriented point of view. Each of these steps has enabled the company to align its sustainability goals with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The latest report shows that Sun Chemical achieved its recent energy and water usage goals and outlines ambitious new initiatives that align with the three key pillars strategy and ‘five Rs’ approach. Below is a list of some of these initiatives:

Operations

  • a long-term strategic target to reduce CO2 levels by at least 50 percent by 2030, building on the company’s previous target of 30 percent;
  • the reduction of water usage by 6 percent compared to 2019; and
  • the reduction of overall waste sent to landfills by 6.5 percent compared to 2019.

Products and Services

  • developing products that decrease overall packaging weight or waste, such as the water-based SunVisto® AquaSafe and sheetfed SunPak® DirectFood Plus direct-food-contact inks that enable packaging lightweighting by allowing for removal of protective film layers;
  • manufacturing products with market-leading levels of biorenewable content, like the SunVisto® AquaGreen platform of high-biorenewable-content water-based inks and coatings;
  • formulating solutions that enhance recyclability, such as SunSpectro® SolvaWash GR and FL washable/deinkable gravure and flexo-printable solvent-based inks that allow higher quality and yield of recycled PET from bottle recycling streams; and
  • developing solutions that fundamentally redesign inks that can lead to increased recyclability, such as the SunBar® Aerobloc printable barrier coating to achieve an excellent oxygen barrier with high lamination bond strengths to enable the next generation of recycle-friendly flexible packaging.

Collaborations

  • developing state-of-the-art proof-of-concepts for collaborative industry projects that contribute to the enhancement of packaging sustainability and recycling, including monomaterial MDO-PE barrier flexible packaging with Elif;
  • an EcoVadis sustainability score of 53/100, a bronze rating that puts Sun Chemical in the 69th percentile compared to similar businesses; and
  • bronze-level material health ratings from the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute for SunLit® Diamond sheetfed offset process printing inks and SunFashion™ BE Heatset Series mineral oil, varnish and flush-based process ink series.

“By focusing on the three pillars of our sustainability strategy, Sun Chemical remains committed to following sustainable practices and materials throughout the product lifecycle,” said Gary Andrzejewski, corporate vice president, Environmental Affairs, Sun Chemical. “Consumers want brands to not only provide high-quality products made with minimal waste and bio-renewable content, but to utilize sustainable best practices during all stages of production, from manufacturing to distribution. Sun Chemical’s strategic sustainability framework allows us to ensure the sustainability of end products by increasing bio-renewable content, improving recyclability rates and reducing waste.”

“The sustainability report shows Sun Chemical’s commitment to our sustainability goals, but we’re continuing to find new ways to improve,” said Michael Simoni, Global Product Stewardship leader, Sun Chemical. “By guiding future product development based on reuse, reduce, renew, recycle and redesign, Sun Chemical is able to develop the next generation of industry-leading, high-quality products that further increase the use of bio-renewable and recyclable materials for our customers.”

The Sun Chemical sustainability report is available to customers and can be requested online at https://www.sunchemical.com/sustainability/.

Posted December 1, 2021

Source: Sun Chemical, a member of the DIC Group

SDL Atlas Introduces The Next Generation Of HydroPro Hydrostatic Head Tester

ROCK HILL, S.C. — December 1, 2021 — SDL Atlas has introduced a redesign to the HydroPro Hydrostatic Head Tester. The HydroPro tests the water resistance to fabrics, determining the waterproof properties of fabrics such as canvas, coated fabrics, hood fabric, tarpaulin, rain-proof fabrics and geotextiles. This redesign ensures that the powerful and efficient HydroPro is the best value Hydrostatic Head Tester available.

New features of the HydroPro include:

  • Video recording and image capture show real time pressure for review after testing via computer software;
  • Testing pressure up to 5 bar;
  • New pneumatic sample clamping to avoid slippage and leakage;
  • The Fast Test function allows users to rapidly determine a failure point and perform other tasks during 80 percent of the standard test time. An alarm indicates fail pressure is close;
  • Automatic water filling and water level detecting;
  • Full color touch screen controller with preloaded routines for popular standards and custom programs;
  • Connects via Wi-Fi to our exclusive RemoteAccess App which alerts the operator when the test is 80 percent complete;
  • Capable of Pore Size test with optional fixture for BS 3321;
  • Capable of Blood Penetration Test with optional fixture for ASTM F1670, BS ISO 13994 and ISO 16603;
  • LED lighting of sample area; and
  • Clear safety shield.

Posted December 1, 2021

Source: SDL Atlas

Change In The Board Of Directors Of Rieter Holding AG

WINTERTHUR, Switzerland — December 1, 2021 — This E. Schneider has informed the Board of Directors that, after 13 years of membership, he will not stand for re-election as a member of the Board of Directors and Vice Chairman of Rieter Holding AG at the next Annual General Meeting on April 7, 2022.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors of Rieter Holding AG, I would like to thank This E. Schneider for his outstanding achievements as a member of the Board of Directors since 2009. With his extensive knowledge and long-standing experience, he has made a major contribution to the further development of Rieter. The Board of Directors owes him an immense debt of gratitude for his tremendous commitment as well as exceptional and trustworthy cooperation. We wish him all the best for the future,” says Bernhard Jucker, chairman of the board of directors of Rieter Holding AG.

The board of directors of Rieter Holding AG will propose Sarah Kreienbühl and Daniel Grieder for election to the board of directors at the Annual General Meeting on April 7, 2022.

Kreienbühl has been a member of the executive board of the Federation of Migros Cooperatives since 2018 and heads among other things Human Resources and Communications of the Migros Group. Before that, she spent 14 years at Sonova as Group vice president, Corporate Human Resources, where she was also responsible for Corporate Communications from 2012. Kreienbühl holds both the Swiss and French citizenship and graduated from the University of Zurich with a degree in psychology. With her expertise and extensive leadership experience, she will be able to make an important contribution to Rieter’s human resources policy as a member of the Board of Directors.

Grieder has been CEO of HUGO BOSS AG, based in Metzingen, Germany, since June 2021. He has been working successfully in the textile industry for more than 35 years: initially from 1985 to 2004 as an independent entrepreneur with his own sales agency, which worked for Tommy Hilfiger from 1997. He joined Tommy Hilfiger directly in 2004 and took on additional roles for PVH from 2010 to 2020. He most recently held the positions of Global CEO Tommy Hilfiger and CEO PVH Europe. Daniel Grieder is a Swiss citizen and studied at the Zurich School of Economics and Business Administration.

Bernhard Jucker, chairman of the board of directors, highlighted: “We are delighted that we have been able to attract Sarah Kreienbühl, a proven human resources expert, and Daniel Grieder, an extremely experienced textile manager with global expertise and know-how in the digitization of the textile value chain, to the Rieter Board of Directors.”

Posted December 1, 2021

Source: Rieter Holding AG

Messe Stuttgart Is Postponing R+T, A Trade Fair For Roller Shutters, Doors/Gates And Sun Shading Systems

ROSEVILLE, Minn. — December 1, 2021 — Messe Stuttgart is postponing R+T, a trade fair for roller shutters, doors/gates and sun shading systems that was scheduled to take place in February 2022.

“R+T is the most international event in Stuttgart. Three quarters of the exhibitors at the last edition of the world’s leading trade fair in 2018 came from abroad,” says Roland Bleinroth, president of Messe Stuttgart. “A risk evaluation in close cooperation with our exhibitors and partners revealed that a broad participation by international guests at R+T in February 2022 is no longer realistic on account of the travel restrictions that are now being increased again due to the pandemic. This is not compatible with the claim by R+T to be the world’s leading trade fair. We have therefore decided to consider other alternatives in the interest of everyone involved.”

Sebastian Schmid, department director technology at Messe Stuttgart, added: “In the last few weeks and months we have held intensive and transparent discussions with our customers every day regarding the staging of R+T. Right up to the end, we fought together with the exhibitors to stage R+T. Based on currently available information, the valid Corona Regulations of the federal state of Baden-Württemberg and the Safe Expo concept we have implemented would enable the event to be safely staged in February. However, the developments are very dynamic at present. In view of this situation, we realized that R+T will not be possible in its customary form and quality in February 2022. We therefore believe that it is our responsibility to give all participants planning security and postpone R+T until 2024. We will produce a digital video format for the trend topics and innovations in the industry. However, we will not stage a purely digital trade fair such as R+T digital.”

The next R+T will take place in its regular cycle February 19-23, 2024.

Posted December 1, 2021

Source: Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI)

INDA Hires New COO Tony Fragnito Will Oversee INDA’s Business Operations

CARY, N.C. — November 29, 2021 — INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, today announced that Anthony “Tony” Fragnito has joined the company as COO reporting to INDA president, Dave Rousse. Fragnito will take a lead role in updating INDA’s technology platform, financial operations and implementing INDA’s new Strategic Plan.

He brings decades of leadership experience assisting trade and professional organizations in realizing their organizational and operational potential. A certified public accountant, Tony brings strong financial acumen in addition to extensive technology, human resource and program management accomplishments from organizations representing a variety of professions and industries. He most recently was chief financial officer of International Society of Automation (ISA) in Research Triangle Park, N.C. Before that he was chief executive officer of XBRL International, Inc. an international consortium of companies which developed and promoted technologies for the collection of business and financial data. He is a graduate of George Mason University and a resident of New Hill, N.C.

“We welcome Tony to the INDA organization and look forward to leveraging his executive insights and proven track record as we continue to develop and implement INDA’s evolving strategic plan,” said Christopher Astley, chief commercial officer, Glatfelter, INDA Board Chair.

“Tony combines an entrepreneurial spirit with the strategic executive management skills INDA needs as we implement our new, 5-pillar strategic plan,” said Dave Rousse, INDA president. “I look forward to working with him to keep INDA an organization in constant pursuit of excellence providing ever greater value to our industry and our members.”

“It is an exciting time for me to join INDA and build on the strong programs that have helped the industry and members achieve success, shared Fragnito. “INDA has a strong team, well led, that I look forward to working with as we plow new ground toward industry relevance.”

Posted November 29, 2021

Source: INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry

ALUULA Commercializes The World’s Lightest And Strongest Soft Composite Materials

VICTORIA, BC — November 29, 2021 — A recent breakthrough discovery in the modification of polymers at the molecular level leads to the creation of a new class of world leading “lightest and strongest” composite fabrics. ALUULA Composites is pleased to announce that it has successfully launched an entirely new class of lightweight soft composites.

ALUULA has developed a patented proprietary technique for fusing disparate materials at the molecular level, removing the need for heavy glues while creating much stronger bonds between the laminated layers. Using the world’s strongest known polymers as input materials, the ALUULA process delivers technical results that are significantly better than anything currently available in the soft composite world. The weight of an ALUULA composite material can be as much as 50% lighter than competitive materials while still delivering equal or greater strength characteristics. The ALUULA process also allows the use of input materials that were previously difficult to bond to, unlocking “next level” technical specifications.

“Between the interest in our materials generated from the ISPO Awards and the transformational effect our composites have had in the Wind Sport sector, ALUULA is now in co-development conversations with industry leaders from a broad range of uses and applications. It is an extremely exciting time for our entire team” said ALUULA COO John Zimmerman.

The ALUULA Vaepor™ series was given the ISPO Textrends Best Soft Product Award for 2021/22, acknowledging the many benefits the material offers over current industry standards. The ALUULA Vaepor™ series provides the world’s highest strength to weight characteristics while remaining extremely durable. The comparative chart  shows the technical characteristics of the ALUULA Vaepor Series™ and other known materials.

The ALUULA Durlyte™ series was recognized by ISPO Textrends as a Top 5 winner at the 2022/23 Awards while also achieving finalist status at the 2021 Outdoor Retailer Awards. Using the same ALUULA process, the ALUULA Durlyte™ series is by far the most durable composite material available in its weight class. In third party abrasion testing, ALUULA Durlyte™ is almost 10x more abrasion resistant as any other material available in the market as shown in the comparative chart.

ALUULA is already in co-development with industry leaders in several industry sectors where the idea of Lighter and Stronger soft composites provides clear advantages. These efforts are driving further innovation and Intellectual Property in the material bonding sciences. Very promising additional cross linking technology development continues between ALUULA and its chemistry partners.

ALUULA composites are made on the rugged West Coast of Canada. The company is focused on sustainability with fully recyclable finished products being the goal.

To learn more or to request material samples, please send your request to info@aluula.com and take the opportunity to consult with some of our experts today to see how we can make our Lighter and Stronger composites work for you.

Posted November 29, 2021

Source: ALUULA Composites Inc.

Hexcel And Fairmat Announce Partnership To Recycle Carbon Fiber Prepreg Composites

NANTES, France — November 29, 2021 — Hexcel Corporation and Fairmat, a deep technology startup based in France, have announced an agreement to build the capability to recycle carbon fiber prepreg from Hexcel European operations for reuse in composite panels sold into commercial markets. As a result, it is intended that most of the carbon fiber prepreg cutoffs generated at Hexcel plants in Europe will be repurposed by the end of 2022.

“With Fairmat, Hexcel has found an industrial recycling solution for the carbon fiber prepreg cutoffs generated at our European facilities,” said Thierry Merlot, President, Aerospace – Europe, MEA/AP & Industrial at Hexcel. “This partnership represents a significant step as we continue striving to be an industry leader and a responsible steward of resources. From lightweight composites that help reduce emissions to improving our processes to reduce our impact on the environment, Hexcel is relentless in our pursuit of innovations that will lead to a more sustainable future. So, we are delighted with this key collaboration.”

Under the partnership, Fairmat will lease a former Hexcel facility in Bouguenais (Loire-Atlantique) where it will recycle cutoffs generated during carbon fiber prepreg production at Hexcel European plants. Hexcel expects most of its carbon fiber prepreg cutoffs in Europe will be recycled as part of this partnership by the end of 2022. Fairmat will begin to set up the new site in early 2022 with production scheduled to start in March 2022.

Fairmat has developed a virtuous recycling process capable of circularizing the manufacture of carbon fiber composite materials, thereby giving a second life to this high value-added material. Carbon fiber and resins are mainly cold treated, leading to reduced energy costs and avoiding traditional landfill or incineration solutions. Fairmat’s clean recycling process is expected to save 41 kg of CO2 emissions per kilogram of recycled carbon fiber composite compared to virgin prepregs. Fairmat is aiming for a capacity of 5,000 tons of recycled material annually in this first production site.

“We are proud of the trust Hexcel has placed in us by signing this strategic partnership,” said Fairmat Founding Chairman Benjamin Saada. “The commercial agreement covering the first tons to be recycled in Europe will enable us to complete the industrial scale-up of our virtuous recycling technology by the end of the year. I originally founded Fairmat with a totally circular vision in mind, so it was important for me to be able to reuse an existing industrial facility to launch our production. I’m delighted that Fairmat is rapidly advancing toward its goal of giving advanced materials a second life.”

Posted November 29, 2021

Source: Hexcel Corporation

Mimaki End Of Year Review & Looking Forward: Comments From Arjen Evertse

AMSTERDAM — November 29, 2021 — Mimaki a printer manufacturer with an extensive product portfolio, with technologies serve multiple markets, including Sign Graphics, Industrial UV, Textile and 3D. Despite the past couple of years, we still see growth within these markets, and likewise our technologies have continued to grow and develop with it. The end of this year concludes the end of my first six months within the Mimaki Europe leadership team. Myself, alongside fellow long-standing Mimaki employee Mark Sollman, were recently appointed to a management position. Working together with Danna Drion, we have enjoyed a successful few months as a new management team, despite some residual challenges following the pandemic.

With the pandemic continuing to disrupt businesses and persistent logistical issues with overseas imports, this year has presented many obstacles both within and outside of the printing industry. These challenges within the supply chain saw an accelerated need for localized production and on-demand digital printing.  Mimaki was able to support businesses with this increased demand and will, of course, continue to do so with our continually expanding digital technology offering.

This year our customers have continued to innovate and succeed with Mimaki technology, encouraged and supported by our virtual events and online workshops. These events were designed to aid customers in creating new business opportunities and to help them get the most out of their existing Mimaki equipment. We saw firsthand how our customers have adapted their operations to suit the needs of a volatile market during these difficult past two years, which led to many successfully bouncing back, or even maintaining and growing their business.

Sign Graphics has seen particular growth this year, especially with UV printing. We’ve held the number one market position in the sign graphics sector for two consecutive quarters, mainly because of the higher adoption rate of UV LED technology, which is over twice that of the total market. We expect to see this trend continue in the coming year due to the efficiency, sustainability and diversity of applications that these printers offer.  The Mimaki UJV100-160 for example allows users to print on a wide range of materials, including metallic foil, fabric, and heat-sensitive media, demonstrating the diversity of applications for UV LED.

While the economic and logistical situation surrounding the pandemic continues to be unpredictable, we have high hopes for the coming year. Mimaki will continue to support all of the core markets in 2022 and beyond, and we expect to see particular growth in the UV market as previously mentioned. We also expect to see further adoption of our 3D printing technology, due to our new end-to-end solution, the 3DUJ-2207 full-colour 3D printer combined with 3D Print prep Pro software and 3DCS-322 post-processing unit, being both cost-effective and high-quality, opening the market up to more model-making businesses.

Another trend we anticipate through 2022 is a higher demand for automation, an exciting prospect as it allows for Mimaki printers to work alongside other technologies in automated production workflows. As events begin to migrate from virtual to in person, this year we attended FESPA and Formnext and we look forward to even more tradeshows returning to our calendar in 2022. We have enjoyed developing our digital showroom and will continue to do similar virtual initiatives in the new year, but we can’t wait to demonstrate our newest, innovative technologies at more in person events.

Posted November 29, 2021

Source: Mimaki Europe B.V.

Huntsman’s AVITERA® SE Rose Gives Textile Mills A Competitive Advantage

SINGAPORE — November 29, 2021 — Huntsman Textile Effects has released the latest addition to the third generation of its revolutionary AVITERA® SE polyreactive dye range with the introduction of AVITERA® ROSE SE for brilliant bluish-red shades. The innovative new dye significantly outperforms the best available dyeing technologies for cellulosic fibers and blends, delivering substantial water and energy savings, exceptional overall fastness, and reduced costs.

AVITERA® ROSE SE slashes the water and energy required for production by up to 50% thanks to its unique low-temperature and high-speed wash-off technology. It further delivers excellent right-first-time performance, with outstanding compatibility, levelling properties, and on-tone build-up. The cost-effective formulation reduces recipe costs for medium-dark shades while both minimizing processing costs and eliminating reprocessing. It also increases mill output by up to 25% or more.

“The latest addition to our third-generation AVITERA® dyes opens new possibilities for designers and brands, with beautiful, long-lasting brilliancy across bluish-red shades along with optimal environmental and economic sustainability. Bringing eco-friendly performance and cost savings together in this way is a true innovation for an era of more demanding consumers and stricter environmental standards,” said Lutfu Okman, Vice President Global Revenue, Huntsman Textile Effects.

Using AVITERA® ROSE SE, brands can stand out with brilliant bluish-red textile products in a broader shade gamut. The dyes offer very good light fastness levels for classic bluish trichromatic element, with exceptional overall fastness performance. Products dyed with AVITERA® ROSE SE have the highest chlorine resistance, tailormade for stringent Japanese and US laundering requirements, and are suitable for use with Huntsman’s HIGH IQ® Lasting Color Eco color-retention program. With minimal chance of cross-staining, they are ideal for red-white striped cotton knit fabric.

AVITERA® ROSE SE is fully compliant with the most stringent industry and brand-specific restricted substance lists. It is bluesign® approved and is suitable for STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® certified textile products.

Launched by Huntsman Textile Effects in 2010, the first-generation AVITERA® SE dyes set the benchmark for sustainability in the textile industry. The second generation expanded the range’s color palette from the palest to the deepest and darkest shades. The third generation further enhances the economic sustainability of the AVITERA® range while delivering unrivalled environmental benefits, outstanding operational performance, and attractive textiles with exceptional overall fastness.

Posted November 29, 2021

Source: Huntsman Corporation

Arvato Supply Chain Solutions In Poland Extend Cooperation With The H&M Group

GUETERSLOH, Germany / STRYKÓW, Poland — November 25, 2021 — Arvato Supply Chain Solutions and the H&M Group laid the cornerstone for the expansion of the distribution center in Stryków, Poland today. The two partners, who have been working together in Poland since 2018, are extending their cooperation in Poland by several years. The expansion project is necessary in order to further strengthen a flexible capacity structure with fast process flows within the logistics region East Europe. Warehouse size will be expanded from 40,000 to 55,000 square meters by April 2022, increasing annual outbound capacity by around 30 percent. Currently, online customers in Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Bulgaria and Slovakia are supplied out of Stryków.

“We are very pleased to continue our trustful partnership with the H&M Group,” says Lidia Ratajczak-Kluck, Managing Director of Arvato Supply Chain Solutions in Poland. “The key factor for the client is our focused customer- driven quality level of our services.” The contract extension also marks the start of expansions at the Stryków distribution center, scheduled for completion in around six months. The logistics center will have a total storage area of 75,000 square meters on two levels, including the mezzanine. Further construction will soon follow with the completion of the high-bay warehouse and the expansion of the conveyor system to extend it to a total length of over 3.5 kilometers. The conveyor is part of the infrastructure needed to offer automated processes in e-commerce logistics, which also includes special sorter systems, self-propelled industrial trucks, dynamic warehouse replenishment, and the modern ERP system SAP S4/HANA. With the expansion of the logistics center in Stryków, Arvato Supply Chain Solutions is also creating new jobs. “Once full operations begin, we plan to have up to 450 employees and during peaks around 1,350 people” says Lidia Ratajczak- Kluck, quantifying the need.

“Speed and flexibility in the supply chain are important and this extension will contribute to strengthen our customer promise offering,” says Michael Schulz, Regional Logistics Manager East Europe at the H&M Group. “With a partner like Arvato Supply Chain Solutions, we are basically well positioned to meet the requirements of our growing East European customer base in the future as well.”

Posted November 25, 2021

Source: Arvato Supply Chain Solutions

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