COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — July 23, 2021 — Continuous Composites Inc. today announced the successful closing of its $17 million Series A financing led by B. Riley Venture Capital (BRVC), a subsidiary of B. Riley Financial Inc. (B. Riley). This latest investment follows prior funding rounds led by strategic partners Arkema S.A. and Saint-Gobain S.A. .
B. Riley Venture Capital employs a strategy focused on investing in late-stage private growth companies with a path towards public markets. BRVC’s mission closely aligns with the company’s growth strategy, and access to B. Riley’s full suite of investment banking solutions makes BRVC an ideal partner for Continuous Composites. This round of financing provides Continuous Composites with the growth capital to commercialize its proprietary Continuous Fiber 3D Printing (CF3D®) product offerings, as well as advance and protect the company’s expansive patent portfolio.
CF3D is an innovative additive manufacturing solution that combines high-performance continuous fibers with rapid curing resins in a 3D printing process to enable affordable manufacturing of complex composite structures. An industry-agnostic automated solution, CF3D is comprised of configurable hardware, proprietary software, and tailorable material solutions for strong yet lightweight applications.
“We are thrilled to partner with Tyler and the entire Continuous Composites team as they bring their disruptive technology to the market,” said Todd Sims, president of B. Riley Venture Capital, who will be joining the Continuous Composites board as part of this investment. “We were drawn to Tyler’s vision and leadership, the attractive revenue and margin profile of the business, and their blue-chip customers, both industrial and governmental, which we see as clear validation of the CF3D® technology,” Sims added.
Tyler Alvarado, Continuous Composites CEO commented: “This round of financing provides us with the growth capital to address the extraordinary demand from our customers. Over the years, we have taken a purposeful approach toward building breakthrough technology supported by a strong team and intellectual property portfolio, and we welcome Todd and the B. Riley team to our stakeholder group as we advance to the next phase of corporate development.”
MÖNCHENGLADBACH, Germany — July 23, 2021 — Denim manufacturers employing trusted Monforts technologies continue to lead the field when it comes to sustainable fabric manufacturing, rapidly adopting every new advance in fibres, dyes and chemicals, as well as process and supply improvements and recycling options into their operations.
Many took the opportunity to showcase their latest activities at Première Vision’s Digital Denim Week, held from July 5-9.
Holistic
The new Naveena Denim Mills (Pakistan) Holistic collection, for example, employs a suite of sustainable materials such as organic cotton and post-consumer and post-industrial waste cotton that has been shredded and recycled at its in-house unit in Pakistan.
Hemp and Tencel provide sustainable and aesthetic qualities to the collection and the company is replacing conventional elastane with Roica’s Cradle-to-Cradle certified degradable option and polyester with CiClo — a material developed by re:newcell of Sweden that repurposes discarded cotton textiles, such as worn-out denim jeans, through a process akin to recycling paper.
“At Naveena, we constantly ask ourselves how we can create lasting social and environmental impact while designing new products and services for the market,” said Aydan Tuzun, Naveena’s executive director of Global Sales and Marketing.
According to Première Vision experts, denims featuring blends with bio-sourced fibres such as nettle and kapok are now being used to attain softer handles, a lighter feel and natural waterproofing, avoiding the need for additional finishing treatments. Both are highly insulating fibers, while thanks to its almost silk-like visual and tactile advantages, soy fiber is an eco-friendly alternative and biopolymers made from corn, beet and sugar cane are all emerging as potential new solutions.
Open secrets
Supply chain transparency is also becoming increasingly important, and Turkey’s Bossa is now sharing information on its dyes, energy sources and recycled content use with its customers. For organic cotton in particular, Bossa provides QR codes with which brands can identify the names of individual farms and their locations, as well as details such as the origins of specific seeds and the use of irrigation by growers.
“We believe that if we are doing something good, it shouldn’t be a best-kept secret, and we are also sharing this information with other denim manufacturers,” said Per Besim Özek, Bossa’s Strategy and Business Development director. “Traceability is already an expectation rather than a differentiator since brands want to see the data. Some retailers will even establish ultimatums, asking suppliers to prove specific targets have been met, in order to retain their business.”
Turkey’s Orta’s new Denim Route — inspired by the historical Silk Road for trade between the East and West — is an interactive supplier map detailing the regions from which it sources cotton, dyestuff, chemicals and various fibers to complement its other transparency initiatives.
Via a dedicated app, the Denim Route shares three years’ of LCA (life cycle assessment) data on each of the company’s fabrics featured. By scanning the QR code on a product’s hangtag, users can pull up the data for detailed information.
More than just a label saying that garment are ‘ethically-made’ or ‘sustainably-sourced,’ transparency of sourcing back to the first steps of the supply chain, the processes and the companies involved are becoming a consumer mandate, the company says.
Game changer
Meanwhile, a living and breathing piece of clothing that absorbs carbon dioxide while simultaneously producing oxygen was introduced at Digital Denim Week 2021 by Azgard 9 (Pakistan) .
Treated with microbial pigmentation, this garment — which is currently being analysed by all of the company’s global customers, from large luxury fashion groups like LVMH to fast fashion brands like Zara — basically behaves like a plant or tree.
During its life cycle, it will improve the immediate environment of the wearer and produce approximately the same amount of oxygen as an oak tree. In addition, the garment is water resistant and breathable, with advanced antimicrobial and anti-odor properties.
“While brands are thinking about their next collections, we have been thinking about collections of and for the future,” said Azgard 9 CEO Ahmed Shaikh. “Essentially we want to provide a climate positive result simply from everyone wearing clothes. The goal now is to turn this into a mainstream concept.”
Caretakers
“Our photosynthetic coating is a living layer of photosynthetic microorganisms that we embed into textiles,” explained Dian-Jen Lin of the Post Carbon Lab in London which has worked with Azgard 9 on the development. “What this means is that it absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and releases oxygen during both its production and the user phase.
“It’s radical because like a plant, textiles treated with microbial pigmentation have basic survival needs and require an adjustment in mentality and behavior by the consumer. They have to adopt a caretaker role, but we’ve developed the coating so it responds to artificial light and only needs a little moisture — you can hang it up after you shower and the humidity will be enough.”
A modern Monforts denim finishing range.
“It is really inspiring to see such innovations continue to emerge from the denim sector,” said Monforts Marketing Manager Nicole Croonenbroek. “Monforts has a leading position in the field of denim finishing with its well proven range for resource-efficient and economical processing and our partners are constantly setting themselves new goals in respect of sustainable production — and more importantly, going beyond them. We work closely with them to constantly optimize processing parameters and achieve further savings in energy, water and raw materials throughout the dyeing and finishing stages of production as their partner for value added finishing.”
The key vertically-integrated users of Monforts equipment present at Première Vision Digital Denim Week included AGI Denim (Pakistan), Azgard 9 (Pakistan), Berto (Italy), Bossa (Turkey), DNM (Turkey), Kilim (Turkey) and Orta (Turkey).
BASEL, Switzerland — July 22, 2021 — H.B. Fuller, a global adhesives provider, has today announced a strategic partnership with Covestro, one of the world’s largest polymer suppliers, to deliver an adhesive with a reduced climate impact for the woodworking, composites, textiles and automotive industries.
“We are driven by the very present need to reduce CO2 emissions and look after the world around us, and so too are our customers”, said Iñaki Sigler, H.B. Fuller’s Global Product Manager for Woodworking and Composites. “This inspires us to continually explore new avenues to reduce our products’ environmental footprint and encourage our supply chain to do the same. Together with our partner, Covestro, we see this new, strategic product development as an investment in all our futures and a commitment to a more sustainable world.”
Bio-based feedstock partly replaces fossil raw materials via the mass balance approach
The new ingredient used in H.B. Fuller’s adhesive is a bio-attributed raw material created via a mass balance approach and will replace a proportion of previous fossil raw materials. Renewable raw materials are used as feed stock at the very beginning of the value chain and processed together with fossil-based ingredients in the same production units. The characteristic of the renewable feed stock process is then attributed to the end-product.
“We are excited to supply H.B. Fuller as our first customer for adhesive applications with a mass-balanced product,” said Dr. Thorsten Dreier, head of Coatings and Adhesives at Covestro. “With the increased use of such alternative raw materials, we want to become less dependent on petrochemical feedstocks and contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions. Alternative raw materials are part of a comprehensive program to work with our partners to drive the transition to a Circular Economy and ultimately become fully circular ourselves.”
The usage of an equivalent amount of the alternative feed stock is guaranteed by Covestro through a third party verified certification method. By gradually converting its production to alternative raw materials and working with reliable partners, who in turn collaborate with many certified suppliers, Covestro aims to replace fossil materials and make its value chains more sustainable. As mentioned, the correct raw material balance, the allocation method, and the raw material sourcing — according to defined sustainability standards — is ensured via an independent third-party certification.
A no-compromise approach
H.B. Fuller is able to use the new drop-in solution immediately in its existing manufacturing processes without any technical conversion. No adjustments are required at its customers’ facilities either. Product quality is in no way inferior to conventional counterparts, but the lower attributed CO2 footprint makes products more sustainable. In fact, the company has made sure that its customers’ own products and processes will not be compromised in any way. The ‘reformulation’ of the reactive hot melt adhesive has no impact on its performance, nor on their customers’ own manufacturing and can be treated in exactly the same way as the product it replaces.
The new solution represents an evolution of previous sustainable product development and will likely extend into other products and areas of production. Iñaki Sigler concludes, “We believe that any way CO2 emissions can be reduced should be embraced, no matter how small, because many small steps can add up to a strong economy of scale and a giant leap forward for the adhesives industry.”
Both companies believe that the strategic agreement and the innovative process they are now launching together can play a major role in driving the circular economy forward, reducing carbon emissions and replacing the extraction of finite resources with partly renewable raw materials.
GREENSBORO, N.C.— July 22, 2021 — Kontoor Brands Inc., a global lifestyle apparel company with a portfolio led by two of the world’s most iconic consumer brands, Wrangler® and Lee®, today announced the appointment of Mame Annan-Brown as executive vice president of Global Communications and Public Affairs, effective August 11, 2021.
Annan-Brown will have responsibility for all aspects of global corporate communications — developing, leading and executing a cohesive internal and external communications strategy. This includes oversight of message development, media relations, owned and digital content creation as well as employee relations and engagement. She also will have responsibility for leading government affairs strategies to achieve positive outcomes, developing Kontoor’s position on key legislative and regulatory issues. Additionally, she will serve as a representative and advocate for Kontoor’s interest among government agencies and other select associations. As a member of the company’s Executive Leadership Team, Annan-Brown will report to Kontoor’s president and CEO Scott Baxter.
“Mame brings more than two decades of experience in delivering high-impact corporate communications strategies and has a proven track record of positioning leading global institutions, as well as emerging brands,” said Baxter. “Her experience in engaging stakeholders, enhancing reputation and building high-performing teams make her the perfect addition to Kontoor as she takes on this incredibly important role.”
Annan-Brown joins Kontoor from the International Finance Corp. (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, where she served as Head of External Relations since 2018. Prior to that, she was Head of Communications at IFC Asset Management Company (AMC), Chief Communications Officer at Results for Development Institute (R4D), Director of Marketing & Communications at United to End Genocide and Vice President of Investment Bank, Marketing & Communications at JPMorgan Chase & Co.
“The environment in which we operate has become increasingly complex. Having someone with Mame’s credentials and global perspective will be critical in helping us navigate policy changes, while also continuing to position Kontoor and our brands as an industry leader,” Baxter added. “We are thrilled to welcome Mame to our executive team and look forward to her valuable perspective as we enter the next phase of growth at the company.”
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — July 22, 2021 — Billabong and Wrangler® are pleased to announce the launch of their first-ever collaboration — the Billabong x Wrangler Collection — which celebrates the best of both brands and the exciting result achieved when you put a western spin on vintage surf. The Billabong x Wrangler Collection’s first installment launches today in anticipation of back-to-school season, with a second fall-inspired installment in September 2021.
For decades, both Billabong and Wrangler have been committed to making products you want to live in forever. The parallels between surf and western culture, along with the origin stories of the brands, make this unexpected partnership a perfect fit. Billabong founder Gordon Merchant’s favorite pair of Wrangler jeans influenced the fit for the first pair of Billabong boardshorts, which were created as a new offering at a time when boardshorts were stiff, abrasive and uncomfortable.
This collection — which is made with eco-conscious materials, including recycled P.E.T., organic cotton and hemp — is a nod to that origin story, while taking cues from the Wrangler brand’s own unique history and its deep connection to cowboy and rodeo culture.
“Whether you’re passionate about riding in the rodeo arena or riding a wave, a shared love for the outdoors can connect us all,” said Holly Wheeler, vice president of global brand marketing at Wrangler. “As we continue to offer new apparel through meaningful collaborations, it’s great to work with a brand like Billabong that aligns with our values and was inspired by our product from the very beginning. The result of our brands authentically coming together is a truly unique, sustainable collection that sits at the intersection of surf and western.”
“Wrangler denim has always been synonymous with timeless craftsmanship and quality and we were really fortunate to work intimately with the team there,” said Brad Lancaster, vice president, Men’s Creative, Billabong. “We’re also feeling really good about the materials we used to create this collection. End to end it’s a sustainable line, using recycled PETs, hemp and organic cottons and recycled materials for the trims — a first for Billabong, and certainly a step in the right direction for the planet.”
There are more than 40 styles in the Men’s collection. A highlight of the collection includes the Icons boardshort, a bold-colored, interchange boardshort that pays homage to the original boardshort style and soul from the ’70s.
The women’s offering is equally robust, with a wide array of styles, materials and silhouettes. The first release is a collection laced with the spirit of the ’70s and country soul, where shoreline tropicals meet western-spun surf graphics and under-the-sun accessories. The second release draws from Wrangler’s primary palette of vibrant retro hues, with a thoughtful assortment of fresh-spun range jackets, denim, fleece and high-waisted cords to face the onset of a changing season.
“Both of our teams are intrigued and enamored with the cultures we live in, so it was a true pleasure and honor to celebrate the collision of two distinct worlds in a modern take on our early years,” says Billabong Women’s Creative Director Allison Roberts. “Just as a denim designer obsesses on creating the most functional and comfortable jeans for riding, we as a surf brand obsess on making the best product for life in and around the ocean. The result is a beautiful intersection of well-worn workwear, forever denim pieces, country surf and timeless bikinis.”
To bring the collection to life, Billabong tapped into the spirit of the Wrangler-inspired Billabong origin story with some of the surf brand’s most recognizable faces of today. Shot in and around the idyllic pointbreaks of Northern New South Wales, Australia, the campaign celebrates a free-and-easy era when function and fashion were one and the same. The premium design collaboration with Wrangler comes through Billabong LAB, a platform that supports artists, musicians, designers and photographers.
The Billabong x Wrangler collection is available on billabong.com, wrangler.com and select retailers.
LOS ANGELES — July 19, 2021 — Platinum Equity announced today it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Unical Aviation Inc. and certain of the company’s affiliates, a leading provider of aircraft parts and components to the global commercial aerospace market, from affiliates of the company’s founders.
The acquisition includes Unical Aviation, Unical MRO, Unical 145 and Unical Aero. Unical Defense Inc., an affiliate that serves government defense contracts, is not included in the sale to Platinum Equity. The transaction is expected to close during the third quarter of 2021. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Platinum Equity, a Los Angeles-based global investment firm with more than $25 billion of assets under management, has substantial experience investing in supply chain and logistics businesses, including in the aerospace sector. The firm currently owns Incora, a global aerospace and defense supply chain service provider based in Fort Worth, Texas. Unical will operate as a standalone company in Platinum Equity’s portfolio.
With more than 85 million parts and over 1.3 million unique airframe and engine part numbers in stock, Unical is one of the largest suppliers of new and used serviceable material for the global aerospace industry. The company sources, re-certifies and resells aircraft parts to commercial airlines, cargo operators, aircraft lessors, and aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) businesses. Unical is vertically integrated with its repair stations, providing a competitive advantage with quick to market service.
“Unical is one of the largest and most trusted suppliers of aftermarket parts and services to aviation customers around the world,” said Platinum Equity Partner Jacob Kotzubei. “As post-pandemic air passenger traffic rebounds and the air cargo market continues to grow, the need for available inventories of quality parts is expected to increase. The aviation industry also anticipates significant levels of fleet retirement, which will create ample levels of supply to meet that growth in demand. As a critical link in the aviation supply chain with more than 30 years of experience, we believe Unical’s value proposition will be more important than ever.”
Founded in 1990 and headquartered in City of Industry, Calif., Unical has more than 450 employees and supplies aircraft parts and components to over 2,100 aviation customers around the globe through a network of dedicated facilities in the United States, Europe and Asia.
“We are excited to partner with the Unical team to build on the company’s impressive legacy,” said Platinum Equity Managing Director Dan Krasner. “With Platinum’s financial capacity and operational resources, we intend to accelerate Unical’s growth and significantly expand its position within the aerospace aftermarket. We will invest in the people, processes, systems and inventory required to help the company move forward stronger than ever as the commercial airline market recovers.”
Lazard is serving as financial advisor, Morrison & Foerster as legal advisor, and Alvarez & Marsal as restructuring advisor to Unical. Sheppard Mullin is serving as legal advisor to the seller. Morgan Lewis is serving as legal advisor to Platinum Equity on the transaction.
LONDON — July 22, 2021 — A groundbreaking range of wearables which uses virus neutralizing technology to kill off Covid-19 and other infectious diseases like the flu and norovirus has been launched by a United Kingdom-based company.
Akhand Armour says its technology— which it has initially rolled out on a range of face masks, sanitizing face mask pocket cases, glasses cases, shopping bags and mobile phone cases — reduces virus transference by neutralizing landed infected droplets and removing them from circulation.
The wearables have been independently tested and certified at MSL, a UK microbiological testing laboratory and are the first to achieve an ISO certification for non-medical face masks and wearables.
Founder Meena Hanspal said: “As soon as infected droplets land on the wearables — which are impregnated with a virus destroying tech — the outer wall of the coronavirus is destroyed, rendering it useless … Killing it off means it cannot infect and cannot mutate, so not only do we mitigate contact-based transmission, we mitigate the likelihood of variants developing.”
The wearable technology effectively acts as a “self-sanitizing eco-system”, continuously neutralizing infected droplets as they land.
Hanspal added: “This means that users are what we call ‘human virus neutralizers’, moving through the community. There will be strength in numbers — the more people using the tech, the greater the community-shielding effect.”
The new wearables arrive just as the United Kingdom starts to fully open up after spending most of the past 18 months in some form of lockdown.
Akhand Armour, which terms the new technology “Adaptive Non-Medical PPE™”, says that virus neutralizing technology has been around for decades and is “well tested, robust tech” which has been repurposed to help reduce community transmission.
Hanspal added: “I realized at the height of the pandemic that expertise here in the UK was being underutilized — it’s as though the information needed by the public in order to better protect themselves was being withheld from them. We’ve now democratized PPE, opening it up for the general public.”
Dr. David Greensmith, one of Akhand’s scientific advisors and Programme Leader for Infectious Diseases at the University of Salford, said that traditional face coverings could become contagious surfaces by collecting microbes through use.
He added: “A covering which is designed to prevent transmission may, after time, facilitate it.”
He goes on to say “A face covering augmented in the way Akhand Armour has developed can ultimately reduce the likelihood of microbe spread between individuals … and effectively contribute to a respective reduction in R value.”
Hanspal added: “This is especially true when the virus is airborne. With mixed messaging around masks throughout the pandemic, the public were being ‘penalised’ for seemingly not knowing how to wear masks properly — but this is an unfair interpretation of what’s really happening out there”.
“Expecting the general public to wear masks in the same way as one would in medical settings is an almost impossible ask. In the real world, people find themselves having to re-use the same mask multiple times a day. It’s usually stuffed in a pocket and re-worn whilst rushing about living busy lives”.
“We take the stress out of masking” Hanspal said. “We’ve engineered wearables fit for ‘Covid World’. We disguise it as everyday wear, make it easy to use whilst at the same time make sure it works by self-sanitising on the fly. We make it easy for the user and easy for the people around the user.”
The T4 Quad-lock Transformer Face Mask uses two different virus destruction technologies to self-protect whilst the sanitizing face mask pocket case also continues to destroy virus on both the mask and in the user’s pocket between uses.
Remaining active for the life of the textile, the wearables are much more sustainable than disposable face masks, with each T4 Quad-lock mask saving upwards of 400 disposable masks per person.
Akhand Armour has also developed scarf-mask hybrids, called a Scarsk™, for people who do not like wearing masks, and a baby changing blanket for use in public baby changing rooms or when traveling.
“Even when restrictions are removed, many people will be hesitant about potential risk since Covid numbers are rising steeply,” Hanspal said.
“Using an anti-viral wearable when you go out will dramatically reduce those risks, helping to neutralize the virus within the community.”
All of the products have been engineered to be diversity friendly, with 2nd Skin Form Fit accommodating multiple face shapes, hats, turbans, beards, headwear and hearing aids.
Having been tested to 50 washes Akhand says “there are no shortcuts — not only have we ensured the tech is well tested, we have gone above and beyond what is normally expected. They start working immediately providing an transmission intervention — all you’ve got to do is pull it out of the bag”.
“We remove the panic. The tools work with you to continue to neutralize infected droplets in the background so you can get on with whatever you’re doing. We’re like your virus reducing partner — we support your journey instead of interfering with it — we can help people to start socialising more freely”.
The wearables look and feel like an ordinary luxurious fabric. The T4 Quad-Lock System and wearables not only outsmart the virus, they also outsmart ordinary face coverings.
SINGAPORE — July 21, 2021 — The Dole Sunshine Co. today announced its partnership with Ananas Anam, the London-based company behind Piñatex®, a vegan and natural alternative to leather made from sustainably sourced pineapple leaf fibers. Through the collection and extraction of fiber from pineapple leaves from its farms in Philippines, one of the largest pineapple plantations in the world, Dole is not only taking another step toward its Promise of zero fruit loss by 2025 but is also contributing to a world where sustainable material alternatives are becoming increasingly important as global lifestyle brands look for these alternatives for their products.
Dole, which launched its six-prong Promise in June 2020, is committed to making an immediate and lasting impact when it comes to food waste, eliminating processed sugar and plastics, and improving nutrition access globally. In addition to its partnership with Ananas Anam, Dole is working towards a more circular economy and finding new packaging solutions for its products to reduce not only food waste, but plastics overall.
“At Dole, we believe purpose — and therefore our Promise — must permeate everything we do to address these global challenges head on. Addressing food waste is absolutely important to us, as it is connected to our business and our lives in so many ways,” said Pier-Luigi Sigismondi, global president, Dole Sunshine. “I believe to create tangible solutions and real systemic change to address this issue, we need to converge our purpose with creativity, innovation, and technology. Our partnership with Ananas Anam coupled with global lifestyle brands’ use of this innovation truly bring this convergence to life in a new way.”
Through this partnership, Ananas Anam’s Piñatex is made of fiber extracted from Dole’s harvested pineapple plant leaves, which when dried and processed create a non-woven mesh to form the base of the sustainable material. The use of the pineapple leaf fiber also presents the opportunity to build a scalable commercial industry for developing farming communities and livelihood improvement for small scale cooperatives/growers.
“At Ananas Anam, we aim at meeting the challenges of our times by developing innovative products in which commercial success is integrated with, and promotes, social, ecological and cultural development. By connecting on a deep level with the people we work with, we build ecosystems that are bound together, symbiotically grow together in order to bring about positive changes into the world”, said Dr. Carmen Hijosa, founder and chief creative & innovation officer at Ananas Anam.
“Through our partnership with Dole, our entity in the Philippines will access a much larger volume of pineapple leaf fibres, to meet the ever-increasing demand for Piñatex not only in fashion, but also in the upholstery and automotive sectors. Working closely with Dole’s teams on the ground will help us to create a wider positive social impact among farming communities and to continuously reduce our environmental footprint by valorizing waste at scale”, said Melanie Broye-Engelkes, CEO of Ananas Anam.
Piñatex has been used by global lifestyle brands including Nike, Hugo Boss, H&M, Paul Smith and the Hilton Hotel London Bankside for the world’s first vegan suite.
TURIN, Italy— July 21, 2021 — Comau was named a GM Supplier of the Year winner in General Motors’ 29th annual Supplier of the Year awards.
GM recognized 122 of its best suppliers from 16 countries for performance in the 2020 calendar year. The annual awards highlight global suppliers that distinguish themselves by exceeding GM’s requirements, in turn providing GM customers with innovative technologies and among the highest quality in the automotive industry.
This is the third year running that Comau has received the Supplier of the Year award, in addition to having received the GM Innovation award at the 2016 Supplier of the Year event.
“As GM works to achieve a future with zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion, we are proud to have innovative and dedicated suppliers around the world as partners in this mission,” said Shilpan Amin, GM vice president, Global Purchasing and Supply Chain.
“Throughout a challenging year, our suppliers have showed resilience and dedication in working toward our shared goal of long-term sustainability for our planet and the communities we serve, while meeting our present needs,” Amin said. “We are pleased with what we’ve accomplished together in the past year and we are excited by the opportunity that lies ahead.”
The 2020 Supplier of the Year winners were selected by a global team of GM purchasing, engineering, quality, manufacturing and logistics leaders. Winners were chosen based on performance criteria in Product Purchasing, Global Purchasing and Manufacturing Services, Customer Care and Aftersales, and Logistics.
“Comau is honored to be named Supplier of the Year for the third time in a row. As a leader in high-performance framing, bodyside and Body in White systems, we appreciate GM’s recognition of our commitment to their success. This important award reflects our customer-centric approach to creating and sharing value, which has been a fundamental pillar of our longstanding collaboration,” said Giacomo Del Panta, Chief Customer Officer. “I would also like to thank the extended Comau team, whose dedication to achieving exceptional results continues to drive our ability to bring high-quality, innovative manufacturing solutions to meet the evolving needs of the automotive industry.”
BROOKLYN, N.Y. — July 21, 2021 — Fil Doux Textiles, a Brooklyn-based textile company producing mill-direct, luxurious upholstery, tannery-direct leather, and Otratex — the first-ever degradable vinyl alternative — is proud to announce that Robin Love has joined the team as the senior vice president of sales. In her new role, Love will harness the company’s continued momentum to further propel Fil Doux Textiles’ position as a trailblazer in the sustainable manufacturing and textiles segment for hospitality, cruise, and contract. Enmeshed in an exciting chapter for the brand, Love will play a critical role in fostering innovation as she oversees sales, product development, and project management.
“This is a super exciting stage for the company, as we unveil new launches and initiatives,” said Leo Novik, CEO and founder of Fil Doux Textiles. “Having Robin at the helm, who has a proven track record in successfully directing strategy and sales for multinational companies, makes her the perfect fit.”
Touting an impressive resume, including her prior role as the first female Vice President of Century Furniture, Love’s long standing pulse on the industry is unmatched. Spanning 30 years as an industry leader and disruptor, Love’s experience also includes time at Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, and JANUS et Cie. Through her leadership, Love has broken barriers, forging a pathway for women in a typically male-dominated field and creating opportunity for all. In line with the mission of Fil Doux Textiles, Love continues to push the envelope on what is expected, aligning with the company’s core philosophy to always innovate.
“I was drawn to Fil Doux Textiles because of its reputation as an innovative company that isn’t afraid to step outside of the box,” Love said. “Fil Doux Textiles’ emphasis on sustainability is also close to my heart, and I’m happy to be with a company that values taking care of our planet. Working alongside Leo and the team has already proven to be a creative and rewarding process and I am excited to see the future that we will build together.”
Love will continue to push ahead Fil Doux Textiles’ initiatives of sustainability through her product and project management to ensure only the highest standards are upheld. Building on the success of the company’s position as a MindClick Leader, Love and the team are continuing to make strides to better the textile production for the industry. By setting high environmental standards, Fil Doux Textiles serves as a leader in responsible green fabric production.
