As More States Look To Tighten Fire-Retardant Regulations, Precision Textiles Stays Ahead Of Curve With Compliant Products

TOTOWA, N.J.  — February 11, 2021 — Precision Textiles — a supplier of coated fabrics, nonwovens and laminations for the bedding, automotive and healthcare industries — is keeping ahead of a growing trend by states to tighten fire-retardant (FR) chemical regulations in consumer products. By constantly upgrading its portfolio of chemical-free FR solutions for quilted mattress panels and borders, FR filler cloth, FR sock, cap and laminated FR solutions, the company is helping its customers before they encounter situations that could impede their production.

The first state to regulate these materials was California, whose legislature passed Assembly Bill 2998 in 2018 prohibiting the sale of mattresses, upholstered furniture and juvenile products containing FR chemicals. The Massachusetts government enacted a similar law, Amendment S.2988, in December 2020. The International Sleep Products Association is also tracking two new proposed bills in Georgia and Delaware which are expected to recommend similar guidelines.

Precision Textiles’ products that meet these regulations include the EcoFlex, IQFit, IQFit Natural and FireFlex mattress barriers; the Celluloft barrier for panels and borders; EcoLoft FR quilting fiber; the Endure FR filler cloth; and PureLoft, an organic FR barrier made with materials that are certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard, the Wool Integrity Program and the PGG Wrightson Wool Integrity Program.

“We’ve always been ahead of the curve regarding FR chemical regulations. We expect that other states will follow these states’ lead, so we encourage our customers to get ahead of this trend before it becomes an issue,” said Keith Martin, vice president of Precision Textiles. “We have been manufacturing products without harmful chemicals long before states began regulating their use, and as more and more states begin to implement new legislative regulations, our team is constantly monitoring the policies that may affect our customers. We pride ourselves in forecasting solutions before they become concerns, giving bedding manufacturers the reassurance that by partnering with Precision Textiles, their products will always be in compliance.”

Posted February 11, 2021

Source: Precision Textiles

VDMA: Webtalk On Technologies For Fine Gauge Fabrics In The Circular Knitting Industry

FRANKFURT, Germany — February 11, 2021 — The next VDMA technology webtalk is scheduled for February 17 from 2-4 p.m. CET and will focus on “Technologies for fine gauge fabrics in the circular knitting industry”.

Circular knitted fabrics in fine gauges are used in sportswear, home wear as well as in underwear and lingerie. They are just as trendy as they are challenging in terms of production. A high-quality fine-touch product requires an optimal combination of yarns, circular knitting machines, needles and dyeing.

The speakers and their topics at a glance:

Wolfgang Mueller, Mayer & Cie., will talk about the challenges that fine-gauge circular knitting entails. He will also present an optimal fine-gauge set-up for circular knitting machines. Yarn selection, yarn feeding, stitch formation and takedown are the four key factors for a premium product in the knitting process.

Roland Simmendinger, Groz-Beckert, will provide an insight into the high precision technology of circular knitting machine elements. The presentation will illustrate the challenges to knit a high-quality fine gauge fabric.

Ralf H. Stange from company Thies will show solutions when it comes to dyeing of fine gauge circular fabrics.

After the presentations, the experts will be available to answer the participants’ questions.

Registration is possible via this link (no participation fee):

https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/1911035184873300492

Posted February 11, 2021

Source: VDMA

The International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) And The International Apparel Federation (IAF), In Collaboration With The ITC, Unveil Standards Convergence Initiative At OECD Forum

ZURICH — February 10, 2021 — During a side session organized by the International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) and the International Apparel Federation (IAF) at the OECD Forum on Due Diligence in the Garment and Footwear Sector held online from February 1-5, the two organizations unveiled their joint initiative, the SCI or Standards Convergence Initiative. The SCI will serve as a global industry wide platform to discuss and develop a strategy as well as the tools to accelerate the reduction of audit and standard fatigue in the clothing and textile industries.

The auditing conduct of standard holders, along with brands, retailers and other buyers’ decisions determines if we are moving firmly in the direction of less unnecessary overlap of audits and standards. Therefore, one of the first steps of the SCI, in collaboration with the International Trade Centre (ITC), is to create transparency in the conduct of the main standard holders, brands and retailers and 3rd party standard holders, measuring to what extent they are contributing to the reduction of audit and standard fatigue.

For this purpose, the SCI has identified four criteria to use as a yardstick to judge standard holders’ commitment to reduce audit and standard fatigue. The four criteria are:

  1. Willingness to harmonize standards;
  2. Compliance with OECD and ILO guidelines;
  3. The use of existing platform to avoid audit duplication; and
  4. Global certification of auditors.

The four criteria will provide a foundation for a structural monitoring of standard holders’ efforts to reduce audit and standard fatigue that will be carried out by ITC. During the session at the OECD Forum, the ITC explained how its unique Standards Map Database will be used to measure and monitor standard convergence in the industry. First results of the monitoring are expected in the third quarter of 2021.

In addition to this monitoring exercise, from its global, industry wide vantage point, the SCI will actively foster collaboration between different actors that are each working on a partial solution. And, because large brands and retailers sticking to their own standards block the reduction of standard fatigue, the SCI will continuously call on these brands and retailers to either drop their proprietary standards in favour of 3rd party standards or to collaborate in other ways that observably reduce audit and standard fatigue.

More information about the SCI is available at www.standard-convergence-initiative.org

Posted February 10, 2021

Source: International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF)/International Apparel Federation (IAF)

Sun Chemical Releases Winter 2021 Regulatory Newsletter

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — February 10, 2021 — Sun Chemical released its Winter 2021 Regulatory Newsletter for customers which is available for download at www.sunchemical.com/sustainability/regulatory-newsletters.

“As a leading global supplier of sustainable solutions, Sun Chemical is pleased to provide regulatory updates to help educate and inform our customers regarding ever changing global regulations,” said Gary Andrzejewski, Corporate Vice President, Environmental Affairs, Sun Chemical. “We’re proud to offer our regulatory newsletters to our customers which offer guidance to better respond to and navigate these global and regional regulatory updates.”

The latest newsletter features details about the reclassification of titanium dioxide in Europe as well as regulatory updates for cosmetics, toys and more. Here’s a list of some of the regulations featured in the newsletter:

  • European Commission’s Cosmetic Products Regulation EC No 1223/200;
  • China’s State Council;
  • Indonesia’s updated version of the 2010 regulation on cosmetics notification;
  • South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety;
  • India’s standards bureau;
  • Amendments to the EU Toy Safety Directive (2009/48/EC);
  • India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry;
  • GCC Standardization Organization (GSO);
  • The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA);
  • The State Administration for Market Regulation and the Standardization Administration of China;
  • The United States Environmental Protection Agency; and
  • California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA).

As a global leader in sustainable, eco-efficient business practices, Sun Chemical strives to produce bio-renewable, recyclable and compostable products to help its customers meet regulations and reach sustainability goals. Sun Chemical’s annual Corporate Sustainability Report focuses on its commitment to new sustainable products and services to meet customer demand. The most recent report can be found here: www.sunchemical.com/sustainability/sustainability-report/.

Posted February 10, 2021

Source: Sun Chemical

Elkem Acquires New Plant In France To Accelerate Growth In Specialized Silicones

LYON, France — February 10, 2021 — Elkem has signed an agreement to acquire a brand-new plant near Lyon in France, custom-designed for producing highly specialized organo-functional silicones (OFS). The acquisition underpins Elkem’s strategy of growth and specialization.

The purchase price is in the low double-digit millions of euros, and production is expected by the end of the year.

“With this acquisition, Elkem continues to deliver on our growth and specialisation strategy. This new plant will enable us to more quickly extend our offerings within advanced high value products for attractive specialty markets, further strengthening our position as one of the world’s leaders in fully integrated silicone manufacturing,” says Michael Koenig, CEO of Elkem.

Organo-functional silicones combine the superior performance of silicones with the functionality, compatibility and potential reactivity of organic materials. The processing is advanced and gives OFS products with highly specialized properties.

“Elkem already has a broad global offering of advanced silicone solutions, ranging from commodities to specialties. We have recently complemented our portfolio of specialties with the acquisitions of Polysil and Basel Chemie. The acquisition of this new OFS plant provides the technology and capacity to further accelerate our growth, particularly within release coatings, personal care and other specialty markets. It is a good example of how we position for the future, in a complex market environment”, said Frederic Jacquin, senior vice president, Elkem Silicones.

The OFS plant is located near Elkem Silicones’ existing activities south of Lyon, including both the upstream plant in Roussillon as well as the production site and R&D center in Saint-Fons.

“This acquisition reinforces Elkem’s solid footprint in France. The new production capacity is in line with our strong commitment to support our development in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region,” said Bertrand Mollet, EMEA Region director, Elkem Silicones.

Posted February 10, 2021

Source: Elkem Silicones

Kornit Digital Presents Kornit Fashion Week Tel Aviv 2021

ROSH HA’AYN, Israel — February 10, 2021 — Kornit Digital, worldwide supplier in digital textile printing technology, proudly presents Kornit Fashion Week Tel Aviv 2021, March 28-April 1. The opening gala will be hosted by supermodel Bar Rafaeli and Tel Aviv Fashion Week founder Motty Reif. More than 40 fashion designers will be presenting, and the event’s core theme will highlight the collaboration of technology and fashion to achieve and elevate sustainable production and consumption practices globally.

“A decade ago, I started Tel Aviv Fashion Week in order to promote our local talent internationally,” Reif said. “For the past five years, we’ve been a driving force behind inclusivity in fashion, and now we are tackling the industry’s most pressing issue of our time and joining forces with Kornit in order to make production more sustainable — startup nation technology meets fashion, to change the world together.”

Fashion leads the e-commerce revolution, with apparel representing the top category for online sales, but the industry remains mired in obsolete and inefficient manufacturing processes which, among other issues, are responsible for up to 25 percent of water pollution globally. Consumer behavior has permanently disrupted traditional fashion cycles and created a significant opportunity for on-demand production in the fashion world — achieving true sustainability by producing only what is sold, eliminating overstocks, cutting down on wasteful shipping and transport, and eliminating waste and pollution of natural resources.

Kornit Digital’s patented single-step process meets the on-demand needs of the fashion industry globally. Its processes and technologies are also safer and compounds eco-friendly benefits with water-based inks and fixations meeting rigorous retail standards for sustainability.

As one of the preeminent platforms for innovation in the international fashion community, Kornit Fashion Week Tel Aviv will give observers great insight into the myriad ways technology empowers even the most demanding fashion designers to achieve sustainability without compromising their world-renowned quality.

“For more than a decade, Kornit has led the charge for on-demand production, and our innovations ensure fashion designers can deliver brilliant designs, limitless color combinations, the finest hand-feel, and unparalleled durability, all while changing the game with production practices that are simultaneously more profitable, more responsive to spontaneous and shifting demand, and more eco-responsible,” said Ronen Samuel, Kornit Digital CEO. “I couldn’t be prouder to present an event that is widely recognized as a beacon for global movements and agendas and demonstrate how diversity and individual expression can be enriched and celebrated hand-in-hand with our shared vision of a more sustainable world.”

Posted February 10, 2021

Source: Kornit Digital

Soft-Tex International Delivers On Promise To Expand Domestic Manufacturing, Distribution Capabilities And Repatriate Jobs

WATERFORD, N.Y. — February 10, 2021 — Soft-Tex International, a producer of bedding and home comfort products, announced today that it has opened a facility in Sugar Land, Texas, which will provide an immediate improvement in overall shipping efficiency and double the company’s production capacity for fiber-filled products, adding hundreds of new jobs over the course of 2021.

Delivering on promises of domestic expansion 
in the first half of 2020, Soft-Tex previously announced an expansion doubling capacity and set an aggressive target of continued domestic expansion by at least 20 percent per year for the next five years. The ramp up of the new facility will double the total of domestic capacity, far exceeding the annual growth target.

The Sugar Land facility will begin immediate warehousing and distribution operations which will improve overall shipping efficiency to both retailer warehouse networks and direct-to-consumer shipments with 3-day or better ground service coverage, as Soft-Tex scales inventory balancing. In parallel, Soft-Tex will add new production equipment for fiber-filled products and personnel in Sugar Land to begin manufacturing at the facility by June 1, 2021.

Soft-Tex Principal, Mark Smiderle, remarked on the opening of the Sugar Land and the company’s commitment to domestic supply chains noting: “As promised, Soft-Tex has delivered and now continues to expand upon its commitment to growing its domestic footprint. These efforts will continue to improve Soft-Tex’s, and in turn, our partners’ overall service quality, speed, and costs, which we recognize is critical to driving continued growth.”

New Initiatives for Domestic & Nearshore Supply Chains 
As offshore sourcing volatility continues in the ever-changing geopolitical landscape exacerbated by the continued pandemic, Soft-Tex has launched initiatives to shift volume for many other bedding product categories back to domestic and/or nearshore supply chains through investing in fabric and ticking partnerships and the planned launch of domestic foam pouring.

Posted February 10, 2021

Source: Soft-Tex International

Orion Engineered Carbons To Increase Acetylene Black Pricing

HOUSTON — February 5, 2021 — Orion Engineered Carbons S.A., a worldwide supplier of specialty and high-performance carbon black, today announced that it will increase pricing for acetylene black.

Following the acquisition of its acetylene black plant in France, the company adjusted the facility’s strategic focus, requiring new investments to better serve the growing market demand for acetylene black used in lithium-ion battery production.  In addition to these strategic investments, the company has also been confronted with rising costs for packaging, transportation and environmental obligations.

Against this backdrop Orion will raise its acetylene black prices by 20 percent globally on March 1, 2021, or as contracts allow.

Posted February 9, 2021

Source: Orion Engineered Carbons

American Textile Co. Announces Key Digital Transformation Hire

Herleman

DUQUESNE, Pa. — February 4, 2021 — Bedding manufacturer American Textile Co. (ATC) announced that Karl Herleman has joined the company as senior vice president of Information Technology. The move reflects the company’s continuing transformation into a digitally-focused, consumer-first partner to the leading retailers in the world. As consumer shopping behavior shifts online at a record pace, technology plays an expanding role in the success of both manufacturers like ATC, as well as the retailers they serve. Herleman will be responsible for accelerating the implementation of systems that help to create a world-class omni-channel customer experience with the company’s retail partners, inform decision-making, and streamline workflows.

“We saw extraordinary demand across our business in 2020, much of it driven by the digital transformation happening in retail. Information technology that supports our retail partners and meets evolving consumer needs is a strategic imperative,” said CEO and President Lance Ruttenberg. “Every night, millions of people in the U.S. and a growing number around the world sleep on our pillows, sheets, and other bedding products. Our diverse brand and product portfolio addresses a broad range of barriers to sleep including comfort, allergies, and stress. Technology that helps more people discover these solutions supports our vision of leading the way to better sleep.”

Herleman joins ATC from Management Science Associates, where he was senior vice president of Information Technology, Strategy, and Innovation for 8 years. While there, he helped drive the firm’s use of analytics and informatics to provide insights and solutions in the fast-moving CPG industry. Prior to that, Herleman was the Chief Information Officer at Miami Dade College, providing technology leadership for 8 campuses and over 165,000 students. He has additional leadership experience at Gartner, where he was a Group Vice President for the global research and advisory company.

American Textile Company was recently recognized for its Tranquility™ brand, which was the No. 1 selling weighted blanket brand in 2020, according to global analytics firm NPD.

Posted February 9, 2021

Source: American Textile Co.

Kemp Administration Announces Georgia Made Medical Manufacturing Act

ATLANTA, GA — February 5, 2021 — Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced the roll out of House Bill 304, the Georgia Made Medical Manufacturing Act, carried by Representative Jodi Lott (R – Evans). One of the Kemp Administration’s key initiatives for the 2021 Legislative Session, this bill will incentivize the production of medicines and medical devices in Georgia, limiting the state’s need to compete with other states or foreign nations for critical supplies.

“One of the lessons we learned early on in the pandemic is that we cannot waste time in bidding wars with others for life-saving supplies,” Governor Kemp said. “Last session, we incentivized the production of PPE in the Peach State to alleviate that problem, build up our stockpile, and make it easier to stay in business in the era of COVID-19. HB 304 is a natural next step to that program and will help us build on Georgia’s momentum to become a leader in all sectors of the health care industry. No one state or nation should hold a monopoly on critical medicines and medical supplies, and we should bring these industries and the jobs that come with them back to America and here to Georgia.”

During the 2019-202o Legislative Session, the State of Georgia enacted a PPE Tax Credit to incentivize manufacturers of personal protective equipment, including those existing Georgia manufacturers which did not traditionally manufacture PPE but began doing so in response to COVID-19. The Georgia Made Medical Manufacturing Act is modeled off that legislation, increasing the amount of credit available under the Jobs Tax Credit to incentivize job creation and investment in the medical equipment and pharmaceutical manufacturing industries.

This measure will work to ensure collaboration between the public and private sector in Georgia to cultivate long-term growth and development of the state’s health care ecosystem. Currently, the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s COVID-19 Suppliers Map features more than 350 suppliers of PPE throughout the state.

Posted February 9, 2021

Source: Georgia Office of the Governor

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