TARRYTOWN, N.Y. — December 17, 2020 — Ampacet, a global masterbatch supplier, debuts the new Whispers Collection, special effects masterbatch that provides a textural and frosted matte finish for PET applications within all market segments.
An extension of the popular Modern Mattes™ line of special effects masterbatches, Whispers provides a tactile, textural feel in combination with a visual matte effect. The iced energy of the effect is provided without the added expense of a secondary process or mold change.
“The Whispers Collection imparts a look of frozen indulgence for an expressive and airy application of color that supports natural brand messaging,” said Linda Carroll, Ampacet director of Global Insight and Innovation.
Colors currently available include Blue Breeze, Calmed Coral, Golden Glimmer, Lucid Lilac, Muted Mauve and Soft Celadon. This collection of colors can be customized for any color pathway to accurately reflect the targeted brand message.
ARDEN HILLS, Minn./CARY, N.C.— December 17, 2020 — Truterra LLC — the sustainability business at Land O’Lakes Inc., one of America’s largest farmer-owned cooperatives — has announced a new collaboration with Cotton Incorporated, a not-for-profit research and marketing company representing Upland cotton, to advance the adoption of sustainable farming practices across 50,000 acres of cotton in the Mid-South sourcing region. The new initiative will tap the Truterra™ Stewardship platform and Truterra retailer member GreenPoint AG to help connect consumer brands to verified sources of more sustainable cotton in their supply chains.
Truterra and GreenPoint will work with participating cotton growers to establish an environmental sustainability baseline for each field, identify year-over-year improvement opportunities and model the impact of various conservation practices on sustainability and profitability. These efforts will help participating growers measure and improve water quality, land use, soil conservation, soil carbon, irrigation water use efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity and energy use on their cotton fields.
As part of this drive to deepen sustainability practices among U.S. growers, Truterra and GreenPoint Ag will also help participating growers enroll in the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol. The Trust Protocol is a system which will set a new standard in more sustainably grown cotton giving brands and retailers the critical assurances they need to source U.S. cotton.
“There is a growing number of consumer brands who are demanding more transparency about the practices used to grow products,” said Jason Weller, vice president, Truterra LLC. “At Truterra, we are committed to working with growers across the country to unlock the enormous untapped value and potential in the market for sustainability. This new collaboration expands our footprint into a new crop — cotton — and offers cotton growers a comprehensive view of all of the factors impacting the profitability, performance and sustainability of their farm business to enable them to not only meet consumer demand, but to make even smarter business decisions.”
“We have set ambitious, science-based sustainability targets for U.S. cotton production over the next decade, and our collaboration with Truterra and GreenPoint AG will help us engage more growers in this important effort,” said Jesse Daystar, chief sustainability officer, Cotton Incorporated. “New enrollment in the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol also will help meet the growing demand from consumer brands to source sustainably grown cotton for their products.”
“Through our long-standing partnership with Truterra, GreenPoint AG works with farmers to safeguard natural resources for generations to come and to help them build resilient farm businesses,” said Jeff Blair, CEO, GreenPoint AG. “It is exciting to be able to offer the precision data and analysis provided by Truterra to our cotton growers for the first time and to position them as a dependable supply source for some of the country’s largest buyers of cotton.”
Initially, the program will work with growers to analyze the 2020 agronomic data and generate sustainability insights that can be incorporated into the growers’ production decisions throughout the early spring months in advance of the 2021 harvest season. Truterra and Cotton Incorporated will look to expand the project to include additional acres in 2021.
MORRISTOWN, Tenn. — December 17, 2020 — In a year that has been challenging for all businesses, Jones Family of Companies has continued to thrive and progress. Along with the recent acquisition of Rontex America and the opening of a new office in Richmond, Va., Jones is improving its Operations and Human Resources teams across all facilities by bringing on even more highly skilled employees. The most recent additions to the Jones family are Pranil Vora as manager of Quality Engineering and Performance Improvement in Morristown, Tenn.; Alex Webster as Plant Operations manager in Humboldt, Tenn.; and Kassey Cruz as HR Generalist and Operations recruiter in Charlotte, N.C.
Vora joins Jones at the height of an admirable, decorated academic and professional career. While earning his Bachelor’s degree at the D.K.T.E Textile and Engineering Institute in India, Vora participated in three separate internships and received a number of achievements and certifications from institutions around the world, as well as having articles published in several notable textile publications. In May of 2020, Vora earned his M.S. in Textile Engineering from North Carolina State University in Raleigh. Professionally, Vora has worked in the Research & Development departments at Mann +Hummel’s filters division and most recently at The Nonwovens Institute, becoming proficient in several aspects of the nonwovens industry. Vora’s knowledge and skill in textile research will allow him to innovate products and methods of production, to ensure that Jones maintains the standards that its customers expect.
“We are thankful for the opportunity for Pranil to join our team,” said William Moore, director of Sales Operations and Innovation. “We were very impressed by his strong technical textile background and the experience he has gathered thus far, and we anticipate continued greatness from him during his career here.”
Since earning his bachelor’s degree from The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina in 2016, Webster has built a strong and diverse career in the textile industry. Immediately after graduation, he began working in management for Parkdale Mills, overseeing the carding department and assisting in upgrades to the Thomasville, N.C., production plant. In 2019, he began working for Frontier Yarns, moving between supervisor and management roles at three separate facilities across the southeast United States. Webster’s extensive leadership experience will provide even greater structure and efficiency to Jones’ Humboldt plant.
“Alex has exemplified leadership throughout his whole career. He is a great fit to take the lead in a management role at our Humboldt Fiber Plant and we are glad to have him,” commented Monica Cadaret, vice president of Operations. “The talent present in both Pranil and Alex will be great assets to us going forward, and I hope to see them elevate operations in all of our nonwovens plants to a whole new level.”
Cruz joins the Jones business office located in Charlotte. Cruz earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Montclair State University in New Jersey, achieving a certification in Human Resources Management in 2020. During her undergraduate, Cruz participated in an HR internship at Urban CoalHouse, gaining valuable experience in managing the infrastructure of a workplace. After graduation, she joined Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank in New York City as an HR Generalist, further developing her skill set in HR management and recruitment. With Jones, Cruz’s experience will allow her to lead direct recruitment efforts for manufacturing associates across all five nonwovens plants.
“Kassey brings to Jones a much needed skill set to attract, recruit, train, and develop associates for longterm careers at Jones,” stated Doug Mcillvaine, CFO at Jones.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — December 15, 2020 — Champion® has just dropped the Champion Defender Series, which incorporates personal protective equipment (PPE) functions into its design, straight from its C Lab. The multi-functional products protect consumers from harsh weather and harsh germs — right in time for the winter months ahead.
The Defender Series Reverse Weave Hoodie features two styles:
Defender Series Reverse Weave Hoodie with Attached Ribbed Inset Mask
The sewn-in Ribbed Inset Mask can be worn around the neck for warmth, or can be pulled up to cover the face. The shock cord on the back of the hood also can be cinched for a secure fit.
Defender Series Reverse Weave Hoodie with Two Detachable Scarferchiefs
The detachable Scarferchiefs may be worn whenever you need to cover your nose, face and neck. Can be worn around the neck or snapped into the hoodie.
Both styles are made of a soft and ultra-comfortable double layer of ribbed jersey with encased elastic trim, plus an inner pocket to hold a personal filter or disposable mask. The hoodies also have elongated cuffs with thumbholes to help cover hands, and use fabric that features anti-odor technology and can adapt to temperature to keep you cooler and drier.
The hoodie is a classic Champion design with an embroidered C logo on the chest. Sold exclusively on Champion.com and available in unisex men’s sizes.
COLUMBIA, S.C. — December 16, 2020 — Sigmatex Carbon Textile Solutions Inc., a manufacturer of carbon fiber textiles, today announced plans to expand operations in Orangeburg County. The more than $4.5 million investment will create 50 new jobs.
Founded in 1986, Sigmatex develops and manufactures carbon fiber textiles for composite material applications. The company works with clients from a diverse range of sectors including space, military, aerospace, automotive, renewable energy, consumer electronics, sports and leisure. Sigmatex designs, develops and produces cutting-edge materials that enable customers to achieve goals — whether space travel, generating green energy or equipping National Hockey League players with advanced hockey stick technology.
Located at 1 Sigmatex Way in Cameron, Sigmatex’s expansion will make the Orangeburg County facility the company’s North American headquarters and will include immediate investment in machinery and equipment — increasing capacity from 750,000 yards per year to three million yards per year.
The company’s expansion is expected to be completed by June 2021.
“At the heart of our business is our people,” said Sigmatex CEO Paul McMullan. “Since the day we decided to locate our business in S.C., we have been delighted with the skill and commitment of the local people we’ve brought on board, and that’s what made our decision to invest further into S.C. an easy one. The plant in Orangeburg will be our flagship operation, with industry-leading equipment, innovative new products and highly capable people. We believe it will be a recipe for success. We are grateful for the support of the Orangeburg County Development Commission and the South Carolina Department of Commerce and look forward to a thrilling next six months as we bring our plans to fruition.”
“It’s a great day when a company expands its footprint in our state,” said Governor Henry McMaster. “Sigmatex’s decision to further invest in Orangeburg County and create 50 new jobs is exciting news for South Carolina, and we look forward to their future growth.”
“We’ve worked hard to create a pro-business environment in South Carolina, and Sigmatex’s new expansion is further evidence that our strategy is paying off,” said Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt. “I congratulate this great company on their incredible commitment to our state, and we look forward to watching them continue to grow for years to come.”
“Orangeburg County is thankful for the additional investment Sigmatex is making in their existing plant located in the John W. Matthews Jr. Industrial Park on U.S. 301,” said Orangeburg County Council Chairman Johnnie Wright Sr. “The impact will create well-paying jobs for another 50 employees and for that, we are grateful. The fact that Orangeburg County will become the U.S. operational headquarters for Sigmatex is testimony that Orangeburg County has what it takes to be successful.”
“When companies invest and grow because they see the value in the local people and support network, it reinforces that we have something amazing beating in the hearts of our communities,” said Central SC Chairman W. Keller Kissam. “As a newer company with its original location in the county, Sigmatex’s announcement today is proof that existing industries can find great success in Orangeburg’s Global Logistics Triangle. Thank you Sigmatex for your dedication, and congrats to you and Orangeburg on many more successful years ahead.”
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — December 16, 2020 — Motion Industries Inc. — a distributor of maintenance, repair, and operation replacement parts and a wholly owned subsidiary of Genuine Parts Co. — is pleased to announce that Randy Breaux, Motion Industries President, is a 2020 award recipient of CEO of the Year, from the Birmingham Business Journal. The presentation honored winners and finalists — elite leaders from a range of industries — at a virtual event December 3.
The CEO Awards recognize excellence among top executives in the Birmingham metro area for businesses of all sizes. Breaux was named CEO of the Year in the category of Companies with more than 300 Employees.
Breaux has four decades of experience in the industrial manufacturing and distribution markets. Previous to becoming the company’s president in December 2018, he played a key role in setting corporate strategy, key acquisitions, growing supplier relationships, advancing marketing activities and overseeing corporate operations, as executive vice president. He joined Motion Industries in May 2011 following 21 years with ABB/Baldor Electric Company, a leading manufacturer of industrial electric motors, drives, and mechanical power transmission components, based in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
Breaux currently serves on several nonprofit boards in the Birmingham area. He has held committee and board positions in numerous industry associations, including past chairperson of the manufacturing council for the Power Transmission Distributors Association.
TÜBINGEN, Germany — December 16, 2020 — The management of CHT Germany GmbH thanks Dr. Ralf Brückmann for the long-lasting successful cooperation in the business field of General Industries. Dr. Ralf Brückmann will end his active role as head of BF General Industries on December 31, 2020, after 21 years with the company. Since joining the company on October 1, 1999, Dr. Brückmann has held major roles throughout the company. The success of the business field General Industries is largely due to his work and expertise. Dr. Frank Naumann: “We thank Dr. Brückmann for his commitment during more than two decades and wish him the best for the upcoming stage of his life.”
Dr. Ralf Brückmann is handing over an extremely future-proof and multi-faceted business field to his successor. Dr. Ralf Brückmann: “I am delighted that Levi Cottington has been found for the position and I wish that he will lead the division through the current challenging times with hands that are as prudent as they are fortunate, as I have done. I am convinced that he will continue to successfully develop the division both professionally and personally.” Cottington gladly accepts the challenge: “I wish Ralf all the best in this new phase of his life and that he will enjoy it to the fullest. I am proud to succeed him and to continue his work in his spirit.”
Levi Cottington, managing director of CHT USA Inc. takes over the management of the global business field General Industries of the CHT Group as of October 1, 2020. In his new function, Cottington combines both tasks. He reports directly to CHT Group management.
GRAZ, Austria — December 16, 2020 — International technology Group ANDRITZ and Suominen, a global manufacturer of innovative and sustainable nonwovens, have been working together successfully as business partners for the past few years.
Andritz has supplied and upgraded several spunlace lines and most recently supplied a Wetlace™ line for production of high-quality products such as flushable wipes, baby wipes, personal care and household wipes, thus supporting Suominen in reaching its goal to be the frontrunner in nonwovens innovation and sustainability.
Over the years, Suominen has developed its production improvement plans and identified important optimization potentials. Suominen has upgraded several machines and lines to a higher performance level and decided to retrofit some of their existing spunlace lines in collaboration with Andritz.
This enables Suominen to maintain its excellent performance in production and the highest product quality that is key in the ever more demanding nonwovens market. Most recently, Suominen and Andritz signed a service agreement for Metris Remote Assistance, which allows the Suominen equipment operators to have full online support from the Andritz process experts.
Andritz and Suominen also work closely together in R&D at the Andritz technical centers, which host a spunlace line on industrial scale and a wetlaid pilot line. All this supports Suominen in further developing new products and meeting future demands in terms of sustainability.
Petri Helsky, president and CEO of Suominen, said: “Andritz has been supporting us for years with our developments, allowing us to offer our customers some of the most competitive and highest quality products in the world. Andritz also provides Suominen with first-class service, which enables us to produce sustainable nonwovens for our customers.”
Andreas Lukas, senior vice president and division manager, Andritz Nonwoven, said: “Suominen is one of the world’s largest suppliers of wipe roll goods. We are proud to contribute to new generations of wipes together with Suominen. Suominen renews its trust in Andritz continuously. Our worldwide service organization assists Suominen by providing original spare parts and process support to maintain their production lines”.
CHARLESTON, S.C. — December 9, 2020 — Rush & Company has named Kimber McFadden vice president of Nonwovens and Industrial Textiles. Since joining Rush & Company in 2012, McFadden has dedicated her work to finding successful candidates for clients in the textiles and nonwovens industry. McFadden transitioned to the recruitment field from a successful career in real estate. Her work creating and managing sales teams has lent itself to her success with Rush & Company.
McFadden credits much of her success in partnering clients with talented potential employees to her targeted network. “Finding the best talent is so much more successful with a niche recruiter” according to Kimber, and her results prove her point. Kimber’s success at navigating the turbulence of the pandemic showed her potential for the leadership position. She has found the transition to virtual recruiting and remote work to be very helpful in finding the best candidate. As McFadden has explained, Zoom is a “tremendous tool” and companies with flexibility regarding virtual work have the best options in the job pool.
The South Carolina native received a Bachelor of Arts in French from the University of South Carolina. Having grown up on the coast, Kimber loves spending time on or by the water. She also loves traveling, and eagerly awaits the opportunity to see new places once again.
President Rick Rush welcomes Kimber to her new position and looks forward to seeing her success in the years to come. “Kimber has been a tremendous addition to Rush & Company, going back close to a decade. She has been instrumental in building our Nonwoven and Industrial Business and it is safe to say that she is the principal Search Consultant across the country in this sector. She has become a critical resource to Industry Leaders in helping them source the best talent solutions to drive their business forward. We are very fortunate to have her as part of our team.”
Rush & Company prioritized hiring from within since McFadden has gone above and beyond to show her dedication and skills. They cover every aspect of Textiles and Soft Goods, and every discipline within the industry. For media inquiries and more information, contact Deja Knight at the email address or phone number above.
Universal Gray, one of Pantone’s two colors of the year for 2021
CARLSTADT, N.J – December 10, 2020 – Pantone, a provider of professional color language standards and digital solutions for the design community, today announced PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray and PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating, as the Pantone® Color of the Year selection for 2021 — two independent colors that come together to create an aspirational color pairing, conjoining deeper feelings of thoughtfulness with the optimistic promise of a sunshine filled day.
Pantone’s Illuminating yellow, the second color of the year
As people look for ways to fortify themselves with energy, clarity and hope to overcome the continuing uncertainty, spirited and emboldening shades satisfy our quest for vitality. Illuminating is a bright and cheerful yellow sparkling with vivacity, a warming yellow shade imbued with solar power. Ultimate Gray is emblematic of solid and dependable elements which are everlasting and provide a firm foundation. The colors of pebbles on the beach and natural elements whose weathered appearance highlights an ability to stand the test of time, Ultimate Gray quietly assures, encouraging feelings of composure, steadiness and resilience.
“The selection of two independent colors highlight how different elements come together to express a message of strength and hopefulness that is both enduring and uplifting, conveying the idea that it’s not about one color or one person, it’s about more than one. The union of an enduring Ultimate Gray with the vibrant yellow Illuminating expresses a message of positivity supported by fortitude,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. “Practical and rock solid but at the same time warming and optimistic, this is a color combination that gives us resilience and hope. We need to feel encouraged and uplifted, this is essential to the human spirit.”
“The Pantone Color of the Year reflects what is taking place in our global culture, expressing what people are looking for that color can hope to answer.” added Laurie Pressman, Vice President of the Pantone Color Institute. “As society continues to recognize color as a critical form of communication, and a way to symbolize thoughts and ideas, many designers and brands are embracing the language of color to engage and connect.”
Usage
A marriage of strength and optimism, Ultimate Gray and Illuminating do not have to be used in equal proportions, either color can take precedence whether for apparel, beauty, home furnishings, product design or packaging.
Ultimate Gray and Illuminating in Apparel and Fashion Accessories
Illuminating punctuated by a touch of Ultimate Gray conveys a message of sunshine and strength. Enduring Ultimate Gray provides a great bouncing off point with Illuminating bringing in some brightness by way of a scarf, footwear, handbag, shawl, tops. With its energetic presence the marriage of Ultimate Gray and Illuminating are a great combination for activewear. The high visibility contrast of Illuminating and Ultimate Gray adds to its appeal for outerwear
Ultimate Gray and Illuminating in Beauty
A mix of warm and cool tones, combining Ultimate Gray and Illuminating in hair or nail makes a dramatic statement. Illuminating sparkles and shimmers when paired with Ultimate Gray in eye make-up.
Ultimate Gray and Illuminating in Home Decor
Ultimate Gray and Illuminating are a great combination to set the mood in any room in the home adding a dose of sunshine and positivity. Juxtaposing Illuminating with Ultimate Gray in table linens, sheeting and home accessories including pillows and tabletop infuses vitality and liveliness. Painting a front door in bright yellow Illuminating conveys a warm and welcoming message when supported by solid and dependable Ultimate Gray in the exterior finishes. The ideal combination for any office whether in the home or in a commercial space with Ultimate Gray providing the firm foundation for Illuminating, a vibrant yellow that heightens awareness and enhances intuition, lighting the way to the intellectual curiosity, originality, and resourcefulness of an open mind.
Ultimate Gray and Illuminating in Packaging and Multi-Media Design
Pairing Illuminating, the color of highest visibility and reflectivity with resilient Ultimate Gray produces a visually noticeable message no matter where it appears. The coupling of friendly Illuminating with quietly assuring Ultimate Gray infuses a message of vitality into a firm foundation of reliability, wisdom and experience for packaging and multi-media design.
Design with Ultimate Gray and Illuminating
Ultimate Gray and Illuminating are paired with versatile hues in a series of five palettes, available to designers as inspiration to incorporate into designs via the Pantone Connect digital color platform. Pantone Connect is available on mobile app and web, and as an extension app for Adobe® Creative Cloud® to make capturing, curating, and designing with Pantone Color easy and accessible. A featured Color of the Year page has all relevant color information for using Ultimate Gray and Illuminating across various physical and digital design media. Visit Pantone.com/connect.
ADOBE X PANTONE COLOR OF THE YEAR
Pantone has partnered with Adobe Stock to offer a handpicked Color of the Year collection of imagery to inspire creators and bring color to life. Ultimate Gray and Illuminating, Pantone’s choice for 2021, two independent colors highlight how different elements come together to express a message of strength and hopefulness that is both enduring and uplifting, conveying the idea that it’s not about one color or one person, it’s about more than one. With millions of visual assets, from still photography and design templates to fresh 3D, motion graphics, and audio, Adobe Stock is an endless resource for creatives seeking visual inspiration and essential design components. https://stock.adobe.com
See the Adobe Stock/Pantone Ultimate Gray and Illuminating gallery here: https://adobe.ly/PantoneCoY2021
ARTECHOUSE X PANTONE COLOR OF THE YEAR
The nation’s first digital art destination, ARTECHOUSE creates innovative, one-of-a-kind technology driven exhibitions and installations, across the United States. Their New York space, located in a 100-year-old boiler room in Chelsea Market, will serve as the backdrop of our official Color of the Year 2021 digital announcement to media and influencers across design and creative industries. Inspired by the optimistic and enduring effects of PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray and PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating, Pantone collaborated with ARTECHOUSE and their creative team to produce a visually compelling social media reveal. ARTECHOUSE will further immerse people in the colors through a unique augmented reality experience launching in 2021.
The color selected as Pantone Color of the Year 2021 was taken from the Pantone Fashion, Home + Interiors Color System.
