EMIGSVILLE, Pa. — April 30, 2021 — Herculite Products Inc., a manufacturer of high performance and custom fabrics, is pleased to announce that Pamela Funk has been hired as manager of Human Resources.
Pam comes to Herculite with a wealth of human resource management experience, most recently as director of Human Resources for 4 years at United Fiber and Data in York, Pa. Prior to that, Pam spent 16 years in progressively responsible human resource management positions at Perform Group in York.
Pam received a B.A. in Psychology with Human Resources Concentration from Shippensburg University and an MBA with Human Resources Concentration from York College.
Lauren Choi wearing a dress made using fiber made from recycled red Solo cups.
BELMONT, N.C. — April 30, 2021 — In 2019, Lauren Choi, then an innovative senior majoring in Material Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University, was sent a Los Angeles Times article by her mom about China banning imported U.S. recyclables. The article described how plastics shipped abroad could not be recycled because they are dyed, contaminated, or mixed with other non-recyclable waste.
Distraught to see no compulsory bilateral environmental agreements between the two countries, the story made a profound impact on Choi. She started a project, The New Norm, to find a way to use plastic waste to produce sustainably made textiles that would not harm the environment.
“At an early age, I had a strong interest and desire to work with sustainable products that would not damage but protect our planet,” Choi said. “While in college my interest focused on creating sustainable textiles for the fashion industry. After reading this article, I saw it as an opportunity to step up and do something.”
Choi began The New Norm’s search for a plastic product that was easily accessible and inexpensive. She selected red Solo cups, a popular brand of cups used at parties, picnics and many social gatherings. The cups are made of polystyrene (#6 plastic). It is estimated that the approximately 7.4 billion Solo cups, lids and containers that are produced each year end up in landfills or oceans.
“Over time, I received grants and other funding to build a small extruder in my garage that enabled me to test the concept,” said Choi. “The long-term goal is to operate as a B2B wholesale fabric company, targeting higher-end womenswear brands, but I needed to first produce fiber and clothing on a larger scale.”
To inquire about blending the Solo cups into a suitable fiber-grade polymer, Choi contacted Gaston College’s Textile Technology Center (TTC) and the Catawba Valley Community College Manufacturing Solutions Center (MSC). Together, they worked with The Polymer Center of Excellence, a polymer lab in Charlotte, N.C., to conduct testing and determine the polymer blending and pellet extrusion process. Through this network of polymer engineers and textile specialists, Choi got in contact with Dart Container, the makers of Solo cups, and is now working in collaborative efforts with its recycling initiative.
In 2020, the TTC and the MSC formed a partnership creating the Manufacturing & Textile Innovation Network (MTIN), to work together to develop a regional workforce focused on advanced materials and textile testing development.
“When Lauren initially reached out to the Textile Technology Center for assistance with her research, I was extremely excited to help,” said Jasmine Cox, process coordinator at the TTC at Gaston College. “Sustainability is such an important concept that directly impacts the textile and apparel industry. Being able to transform a common household item like a Solo cup into a garment is amazing. I knew that the TTC and partner organizations would be able to help The New Norm produce a great product,” Cox said.
The process included grinding recycled Solo cups into a pellet size suitable for the melt extrusion. Then the polymer pellets were melted through a combination of applied heat and friction, after which the molten polymer was forced under pressure through a small “shower head” opening, called a spinneret, on the TTC One Shot Extruder. This produced a prototype filament. The TTC Physical Testing laboratory then ran initial tensile, or tension, tests to determine ultimate strength and durability of a product.
Watching every stage of the testing process, Choi learned it was necessary to start small and work her way up to achieve successful fiber blends that could be turned into yarn and then a knit and woven fabric samples.
“Both the TTC and MSC have introduced me to experts in the industry,” Choi said. “I’m very grateful for this pool of advisors who helped me while working on this project. You need to seek advice and listen so that you can make the proper decisions. Stay on your feet but be flexible to change. Don’t give up and keep going.”
“These centers are wonderful tight knit facilities with good one-on-one communication,” Choi continued. “They were able to do multiple fiber tests and stay on budget until they could extrude a yarn successfully. You can’t create something so unique without building a relationship of trust. I don’t believe we would have accomplished these projects in the same timeline otherwise.”
Although Choi graduated from Johns Hopkins in 2020, she elected to pursue The New Norm for a year to continue with the project. “Everything we’ve done so far would not have been possible without both centers. I’ve personally learned so much and as I look back to see what we’ve achieved in one year, I know we wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the centers,” said Choi.
COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — April 28, 2021 — Continuous Composites, a composites additive manufacturer, has announced the execution of a Joint Development Agreement with Saint-Gobain, a France-based multinational manufacturer and distributor of high-performance solutions. The strategic collaboration was formed to advance and certify Continuous Composites’ patented Continuous Fiber 3D Printing (CF3D®) for commercial aerospace applications.
Saint-Gobain will bring Continuous Composites’ CF3D production systems in-house to be located at Saint-Gobain’s manufacturing centers of excellence in the U.S. or Europe, providing access to state-of-the-art facilities and testing equipment. Engineers from both companies will collaborate on the technology, focusing on a wide range of CF3D material solutions, including high-temperature components.
Through collaboration, Saint-Gobain will offer innovative solutions enabled by CF3D to new and existing applications for aerostructures, engine parts, and interiors. Saint-Gobain will lead the certification of the CF3D process and materials for commercial aerospace applications.
CF3D is an automated manufacturing solution for additively manufacturing strong, lightweight, aerospace-grade composite components applicable to many industries. By combining high-performance continuous fiber with rapid curing thermoset resins, CF3D increases the efficiency of the composite parts manufacturing process to deliver substantially lower cost and shorter lead times as compared to conventional methods. CF3D offers a wide range of materials for manufacturing both traditional and high temperature composites, as well as multi-functional structures enabled by printed sensors and wires.
“This innovative technology will help our customers solve weight and structural challenges that are inherent in aerospace applications,” says Scott Huth, general manager, Aerospace, Saint-Gobain Mobility. “Together, we are fast-tracking CF3D for aerospace and we are thrilled to be part of this technology.”
“Saint-Gobain has a longstanding reputation for driving innovation, working with cutting edge technologies in a multitude of industries, and CF3D® is no exception,” says Tyler Alvarado, CEO of Continuous Composites. “The demonstrated performance of CF3D meets the strict standards of the aerospace industry, and we are proud to be partners with Saint-Gobain through their equity investment and JDA.”
Aqualung launches all new XSCAPE collection featuring eco-responsible wetsuit.
SOPHIA ANTIPOLIS, France — April 27, 2021 — Aqualung, a global designer and manufacturer of dive and water sports gear, today announced the launch of its all new XSCAPE collection. Featuring a 100 percent neoprene-free wetsuit and a rash guard made from sustainable materials, the XSCAPE line is designed for a variety of water activities and reflects Aqualung’s commitment to innovation, ocean discovery and sustainability.
Made with Yulex® eco-friendly natural rubber and ultra-stretch fabric, the 4/3mm XSCAPE wetsuit provides enhanced comfort for diving in warm waters or above surface activities in colder temperatures, and can be used for scuba diving, snorkeling, freediving, paddling or a variety of other water sports. The flexible and lightweight XSCAPE wetsuit, available in a red and olive design for men and a tropical-inspired print for women, connects consumers to nature and the natural materials the collection is made from. The suit also features Powertex knee pads, recycled, quick-drying fleece around the torso area to provide additional warmth and comfort, and a reusable mesh bag for storage after use or collecting trash from the beach or water.
“The XSCAPE collection continues Aqualung’s legacy in innovation, and their tireless work to create the most forward thinking and eco-conscious dive company in the world,” said Aqualung global ocean ambassador Philippe Cousteau Jr., the grandson of one of Aqualung’s original founders, Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau. “We all have the power to change the world with the choices we make, and the XSCAPE sets the new standard for wetsuits and rash guards that are stylish, functional and sustainable.”
The new collection’s long-sleeve rash guard for men and women, and matching women’s leggings, offer maximum comfort and breathability and can be used above or below the surface. All rash guards and leggings feature UV protection and are made with polyester fabric sourced from recycled plastic bottles. The entire XSCAPE line comes in plastic-free packaging with hangtags made from recycled cardboard.
“Our aim was to design the ultimate eco-friendly wetsuit that could be used for all kinds of water sports,” said Laurent Boury, senior vice president of Brands at Aqualung Group. “Aqualung is committed to using environmentally-friendly materials and processes whenever possible to help reduce our carbon footprint, and we made design choices to ensure the XSCAPE collection was as sustainable as possible.”
“The collection name, XSCAPE, is meant to evoke the feeling of freedom and the quest for wonder that surround exploration, travel and Aqualung’s storied history, including the first ‘aqua-lung’ created by Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau and engineer Emile Gagnan that made underwater exploration possible,” Boury added.
The XSCAPE collection is available at authorized Aqualung retailers. Inventory may vary by region.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — April 29, 2021 — HanesBrands, a global marketer of branded everyday apparel, today announced that Michael Dastugue has been named CFO, effective May 1, 2021.
Dastugue will bring more than 30 years of financial leadership and transformation experience at large organizations to the company. He has an extensive background in financial planning and analysis, corporate strategy, accounting, tax and external reporting.
“Michael has an impressive record of delivering results and building capabilities,” said Steve Bratspies, HanesBrands’ CEO. “He has been a driving force in large-scale change programs and in positioning companies for long-term growth. Michael is an outstanding leader with a strategic mindset, and I look forward to partnering with him as we unlock our Full Potential.”
Most recently, Dastugue was executive vice president and CFO at Walmart U.S., where he led financial activities at the company’s $370 billion U.S. segment. Dastugue played a key role in Walmart’s transformation, helping drive improved profitability and productivity across the organization. Prior to that, Dastugue served as executive vice president and CFO at Sam’s Club, Walmart’s $57 billion club division. Before joining Walmart in 2013, Dastugue was CFO at J.C. Penney, where he held a number of financial and real estate leadership roles during 20 years.
“HanesBrands has a strong foundation and is executing an aggressive strategic plan,” Dastugue said. “I look forward to joining the new leadership team, driving the growth agenda and helping the company reach its Full Potential.”
Dastugue holds a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University and an MBA from the University of Texas.
DALLAS, N.C. — April 29, 2021 — Don Rusch has been appointed as the new director of the Textile Technology Center (TTC) at Gaston College.
Rusch will be directing, managing, supervising and coordinating the programs and activities of the TTC. He is a seasoned industry leader with more than 25 years of experience in textile plant operation.
“I am truly excited and grateful for the opportunity to serve Gaston College and Textile Technology Center,” Rusch said. “In my new leadership role, I look forward to working with industry partner’s and clients as we continue to focus on key areas of growth and innovation for the state and region.”
Rusch will oversee all day-to-day aspects of the TTC and will be working with the new Manufacturing and Textile Innovation Network (MTIN), a ground-breaking network that partners Catawba Valley Community College’s Manufacturing Solutions Center (MSC) with Gaston College’s Textile Technology Center. He will oversee 25 employees at the Textile Technology Center.
“The TTC is an exciting and unique place to experience the cutting edge and innovative evolution occurring in today’s Textile Industry,” Rusch said. “I look forward to the challenge of preserving our excellent reputation as a pro-customer oriented and state-of-the-art facility. We have a future pipeline of projects coming our way.”
A graduate of the North Carolina State University Wilson College of Textiles, Rusch has a vast array of experience from Fiber Science, Process & Product Development, Technical Services and Operational Management with companies such as Eastman-Kodak, Springs Industries and Beal Manufacturing. He has also worked extensively in the Product Development Labs at the TTC.
“I could not be happier with the selection of Don Rusch as the new Director of the Textile Technology Center (TTC),” said Sam Buff, vice president and general manager of the MTIN. “He has a wealth of industry experience required for this job. Don led the TTC’s Product Development Labs for 3 years, where it enjoyed a significant expansion of capabilities, staffing and sales. The TTC is in great hands.”
Posted April 29, 2021
Source: The Textile Technology Center at Gaston College
CARY, N.C. — April 29, 2021 — INDA, the Association of the Nonwovens Fabrics Industry, announces publication of the eighth edition of the annual North American Nonwovens Supply Report for its members.
Based on extensive research, producer surveys and interviews with industry leaders, the report provides an overall view of North American supply, including the key metrics of capacity, production and operating rates, in addition to regional trade, through the year 2020. The 72-page report contains 36 figures and 11 tables, with two new figures this year.
“One of INDA’s key services is to provide valuable data and actionable industry information to enhance decision making in our capital-intensive industry. This report is the most complete and accurate portrayal for both rolled goods for sale and also material produced for internal consumption in North America. It also presents the industry operating rates in key areas; the essential element for strategic planning and business investment decisions,” said Dave Rousse, INDA president.
The report — and the quarterly INDA Market Pulse and monthly Price Trends Summary — are provided to the approximately 375 INDA member companies and associates as part of their membership. The data gathered for this annual report serves as the foundation for the biannual North American Nonwovens Industry Outlook, which was recently published in December of 2020.
Findings from this year’s Supply Report include:
In 2020, North American nonwoven capacity increased to 5.552 million tonnes, a net increase of 0.7 percent (39 thousand tonnes) over 2019. This growth figure accounts for not only the addition of new lines, but also machine productivity increases and line closures to arrive at a net increase growth figure. In the last three years, 51 lines have come online and 22 lines have been shut-down. Furthermore, as a result of the pandemic some of the new line additions planned for 2020 have shifted to 2021.
Operating rates in 2020 were two-sides of the same coin, as some end-use markets were completely shut-down for a few months, notably building and vehicle construction, and other end-uses were operating full-out…if they could. Producers were challenged by workforce and transportation issues. As a result, the overall operating rate only increased one-percentage-point over 2020. Additionally, as the operating rate is based upon tonnage, the increased demand for lighter-weight materials – medical apparel and fine-fiber meltblown – affected the total tonnage output, as some lines were running full-throughput of surface area, but not tonnage.
North American imports and exports, in tonnage, increased 51.2 percent and 14.2 percent respectively year-over-year. Imports were led by China (+97,200 tonnes, +121 percent) and India (+11,000 tonnes, +37 percent). Even with the significant shifts in North American trade dynamics, nonwovens tend to stay where they are produced, with the net trade balance (imports less exports) accounting for less than ten percent of the region’s capacity.
“This is a great time to be in nonwovens,” said Brad Kalil, director of Market Intelligence & Economic Insights, INDA. “We are in a business that is expanding faster than the economy as production growth exceeded U.S. real GDP for the seventh consecutive year. Production growth also exceeded capacity growth for the fourth consecutive year. The overall operating rate for the industry also improved for the fourth consecutive year. Lastly – and most importantly – we are in a business that protects and improves people’s lives. This has been brought to the forefront recently with the benefits of protective medical apparel, respirators, face masks, and disinfecting wipes, now known by all. The nonwovens industry has responded to the pandemic and will continue to provide materials that keep the surfaces we touch clean, make safe the air we breathe, and provide a barrier to keep our bodies safe.”
Posted April 29, 2021
Source: INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry
WASHINGTON, DC — April 29, 2021 — National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) President and CEO Kim Glas is testifying today on “Supply Chain Resiliency and the Role of Small Manufacturers” before the Small Business Committee’s Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax, and Capital Access at 1:00 p.m. ET.
In written testimony submitted to the committee, Glas provides an overview of the incredible resiliency of the U.S. textile industry during the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of the ensuing economic crisis, existing options available to small manufacturers to access capital, and policy recommendations to strengthen the entire industry domestic supply chain.
“One silver lining associated with the immense challenges posed by the COVID-19 crisis is that it afforded the domestic textile industry an opportunity to demonstrate its enormous resiliency, flexibility, and overall value to the U.S. economy,” Glas says in the testimony. “Despite the fact that there was virtually no [full] U.S. production of textile-based PPE prior to the pandemic, the heroic actions of domestic textile manufacturers resulted in the ability to supply homegrown PPE at the height of the greatest healthcare emergency our country has faced in the past 100 years.”
“As we exit the current crisis, rational federal policies are once again needed to ensure a stable overall environment where small businesses can compete and thrive, and targeted initiatives are required to ensure that domestic supply chains for critical materials, such as PPE, exist in the United States,” Glas notes.
Glas details five key policy recommendations supported by 20 trade associations and labor groups, representing the entire domestic supply chain aimed at strengthening the integrated U.S. textile sector:
Strengthen Buy American procurement rules;
Provide funding assistance for companies to reconstitute domestic supply chains important to U.S. national and healthcare security;
Key contracting reforms;
Streamline the SBA loan application process; and
Provide additional funding for workforce training.
Please view the full written testimony by NCTO President and CEO Kim Glas here.
Posted April 29, 2021
Source: National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO)
SPARTANBURG, S.C. — April 28, 2021 — This month, Milliken & Company donated more than 23,000 reusable fabric gowns to Richland County School District One in Columbia, S.C. The donation helps to address the need for additional personal protective equipment (PPE) as schools return to in-person learning.
“Teachers across the country continue to face some of the most challenging situations in response to the pandemic. Our hope is that this gown donation helps Richland One teachers feel empowered and, most importantly, safe while they work to educate our community’s children,” said Chad McAllister, executive vice president of Milliken & Company and president of the Textile Division.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) requires that school nurses and special education teachers have access to gowns. The DHEC-approved gowns will be distributed to schools and offices throughout Richland One, although special education teachers and nurses will be given priority.
“Richland One would like to thank Milliken for its generous donation,” said Eunice Jones, Richland One’s Coordinator of Nursing Services. “Keeping our students and staff safe is our priority. This donation will allow continued support to our staff by allowing them to have the necessary resources to provide high quality care.”
The donation was possible due to a limited supply of excess inventory of Level 1 PPE gowns at a S.C.-based Milliken manufacturing facility. In response to the pandemic, the Textile Division at Milliken pivoted its manufacturing process to begin supplementing U.S. demand for PPE, specifically Level 1 PPE gowns. These gowns can be laundered up to 25 times, making them a sustainable alternative to single-use gowns.
The donation to Richland One follows a similar donation to 15 school districts across Upstate South Carolina in October 2020. In total, Milliken has donated more than 46,000 reusable fabric gowns to teachers across South Carolina.
“Positively impacting the communities where our associates live and work is a pillar of Milliken’s value system. Although our footprint spans the globe, knowing these gowns are supporting so many teachers right here in our company’s home state of South Carolina is an amazing feeling,” McAllister added.
CLERMONT-FERRAND, France — April 28, 2021 — Carbios, a company pioneering new enzymatic solutions to reinvent the lifecycle of plastic and textile polymers, announces the termination, on April 28, 2021, of the non-exclusive and non-binding Expression Of Intent with Equipolymers previously announced in the press release dated April 6, 2021.
Carbios confirms its plan to build a first-of-a-kind production unit after site selection is completed in 2022.
Carbios remains committed to continuing the current discussions with a significant PET producer, announced on April 26, 2021, for the purpose of selecting the most suitable site to build this first industrial and commercial unit.
