The Nonwovens Institute Introduces New Comprehensive Spunbond And Meltblown Course — Virtually — In Response To Urgent Manufacturing Needs

CARY, N.C. — January 13, 2021 — Professionals in the nonwovens/engineered fabrics industry are invited to advance their technical skills in a new 2-day nonwoven short course in the “Virtual Introduction to Spunbond and Meltblown Technology”. This course was developed by North Carolina State University’s The Nonwovens Institute and launched by INDA, the Association of Nonwoven Fabrics Industry. The all virtual course is designed to help manufacturers meet the demand for comprehensive training in the spunbond and meltblown web forming processes used to manufacture respirator/medical face masks, wipes, absorbent hygiene, filtration media, sorbents, and insulation among other end uses.

The course will be held on consecutive Wednesdays, March 24 and March 31, 2021, for a total of 11.5 hours of rigorous training, and available for a two-week review after the course concludes. Production tours of NWI’s spunbond and meltblown lines led by NWI’s renowned team of industry and nonwoven expert instructors are a key component of the virtual agenda. To register or for more information, visit https://www.inda.org/education/advanced-training.php.

“Nonwoven professionals have expressed great interest in expanding their knowledge in spunbond and meltblown technologies. We want to meet that need in spite of COVID-19 restrictions, hence the virtual offering. This new course will ground participants in these growing technologies, so they can continue to expand their product lines and business,” said Dr. Behnam Pourdeyhimi, executive director of The Nonwovens Institute and Associate Dean of the NC State University College of Textiles.

Expert Instructors for the new course include:

  • Pierre D. Grondin, product development director, The Nonwovens Institute NWI;
  • Dr. Bryan Haynes, director of Research and Engineering in Global Nonwovens, Kimberly-Clark Corp.;
  • Dr. Jeffrey Krueger, raw material technology leader, Kimberly-Clark Global Nonwovens;
  • Amy Minton, physical testing lab manager, The Nonwovens Institute NWI;
  • David Nelson, assistant director, Industry Engagement and Education, NWI, 3M, (retired);
  • Dr. Behnam Pourdeyhimi, William A. Klopman Distinguished professor of Textile Materials and associate dean for Industry Research and Extension, North Carolina State University, and executive director, NWI

“INDA is delighted to partner with The Nonwovens Institute at NC State University on their new virtual spunbond and meltblown training course. INDA members, NWI members, and the industry at large will benefit from NWI’s expertise and the ability to further their professional development while complying with COVID-19 restrictions on large gatherings. The addition of virtual tours of their spunbond and meltblown lines will truly round out participants’ experience and knowledge,” said Dave Rousse, INDA President.

Posted January 13, 2021

Source: INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry

Campine Expands Recycling Activities

BEERSE, Belgium— January 11, 2021 — Campine has expanded its recycling activities with an innovative process to recycle chemicals directly out of post-consumer and industrial metal waste.

The company, located in Beerse near Antwerp, has two main activities — the recycling of lead from car batteries; and the production of antimony trioxide, a chemical additive. Antimony trioxide makes plastics and textiles flame retardant. It is produced out of antimony metal, which mainly comes from mining activities in China, and Central and Southeast Asia.

Beside these main activities, Campine’s Metals Recycling division has been developing a business to extract or concentrate other metals such as tin, antimony, silver and gold from industrial waste streams. Campine has now developed an innovative process to transform antimony containing fractions in industrial waste directly into antimony trioxide. The company invested 4.9 million euros in this. “The lead-alloys used for the manufacturing of new car batteries is containing less and less antimony, whilst the old used batteries, which Campine receives for recycling, still have a much higher antimony content.” explained Hilde Goovaerts, who is in charge of metallurgical technology at Campine. “With our new process we can recover the excess of antimony and transform it directly into trioxide, which can be used further in our Specialty Chemicals division. This innovation is almost exclusive to Campine, as we are the only company in Europe and by extension in the world, that combines the recycling of lead-acid batteries and the manufacturing of antimony trioxide” she concludes. The innovation has been recognized by the Flemish government, who officially awarded an investment subsidy of 1 million euros during its council meeting on Friday January 8th. The government confirms herewith the sustainable character of the innovation and the strive to develop circular processes in Flanders.

The demand for recycled products increases year-on-year. In 2018 Campine introduced as first company in the world a recycled antimony trioxide grade called ReGen™ (re-generated). “We were immediately sold out of the ReGen product as we had only limited volumes available” states CEO De Vos “With our new process, we will be able to produce on an industrial scale larger quantities for our customers, which already often use recycled polymers and will now be able to complement those with recycled additives. On top of this, it makes Campine – and to some extent Europe – less dependent on the dominant Chinese imports of antimony metal,” De Vos emphasized. Campine wants to provide at least 20% of its antimony metal demand through this type of recovery from regional waste streams. The new process to recycle antimony is already in its start-up phase and it will already contribute to Campine’s results in 2021.

Posted January 12, 2021

Source: Campine NV

Tyrone Michael (T.J.) Jordan Named To Cooper Tire Board Of Directors

FINDLAY, Ohio — January 11, 2021 — The Board of Directors of Cooper Tire & Rubber Company has named Tyrone Michael (T.J.) Jordan a director of the company effective January 10.

Jordan is the former President and Chief Operating Officer of DURA Automotive Systems, a leading tier one automotive supplier of electric/hybrid systems, advanced driver-assistance systems, mechatronics, lightweight structural systems, and luxury trim systems for premier automotive brands. In this role he was responsible for strategic growth and operational initiatives across the global enterprise. Under his leadership, DURA instituted new electric vehicle/hybrid smart technologies and an operational excellence transformation strategy to ensure the efficiency and flexibility needed to thrive during the next technological period of mobility evolution.

Jordan joined DURA in 2015 following a career of more than three decades, which included leadership roles with General Motors and United Technologies Corporation. During his 25-year tenure with General Motors, which included living internationally in Brazil, China and Mexico, he held positions of increasing responsibility in operations, purchasing, technology, business development, strategy, mergers and acquisitions, and engineering. His most recent role there was Executive Vice President, Global Operations and Customer Experience. Jordan also served for five years with United Technologies Corporation in leadership roles that included Senior Vice President, Global Operations and Supply Chain.

He received his Executive Aerospace & Defense Master of Business Administration (ADMBA) in Operations, Strategy & Finance from the University of Tennessee, a degree in Pre-law from Eastern Michigan University and a degree in Industrial Engineering Technology from Purdue University. Jordan also currently serves on the Boards of Directors of TPI Composites, Inc., Oshkosh Corporation, Trinity Industries, Inc., and on the Dean’s Advisory Board of the College of Business of Eastern Michigan University.

Cooper Board Chairman John J. Holland said, “T.J. is an accomplished and forward-thinking senior executive with significant experience in the automotive industry. We look forward to leveraging his automotive industry and operations leadership experience as Cooper continues to execute its strategic priorities and works to meet consumer demand for high-quality Cooper tires. We welcome T.J. to the board and look forward to his valuable counsel and insights.”

Posted January 12, 2021

Source: Cooper Tire & Rubber Company

Arris Wins BIG Innovation Award For Advances In Manufacturing

BERKELEY, Calif. — January 12, 2021 — Arris, a California-based manufacturing tech pioneer enabling the use of high-performance composites in mass-market products, today announced it has won the BIG Innovation Award.

Presented by the Business Intelligence Group, the BIG Innovation Annual Award recognizes organizations, products and people that are bringing new ideas to life in innovative ways. Arris was selected for its innovative approach to manufacturing. Arris’ flagship technology, Additive Molding™, is a high-speed manufacturing process that allows the world’s top brands to precisely align continuous carbon fibers and embed electronic components and multifunctional materials into a single topologically optimized part or component. The result: a cost-effective method for manufacturing lighter, stronger, faster, and more intelligent products at scale.

“More than ever, the global society relies on innovation to help progress humanity and make our lives more productive, healthy and comfortable,” said Maria Jimenez, chief operating officer of the Business Intelligence Group. “We are thrilled to be honoring Arris as they are one of the organizations leading this charge and helping humanity progress.”

“At Arris, we’re on a mission to reinvent manufacturing and deliver the products of the future,” said Ethan Escowitz, CEO of Arris. “We’ve successfully demonstrated how our technology can transform products in terms of design, weight, performance, and sustainability. We’re honored to receive the Big Innovation award and be recognized for our contributions to the future of manufacturing.”

Arris’ Big Innovation award is the latest recognition for the emerging company. Most recently, Arris’ Additive Molding Carbon Fiber Truss won the Red Dot: Design Concept 2020 award, the largest professional design concept competition in the world. The company has also recently teamed up with Skydio to revolutionize drone design and manufacturing, and has received investment from Robert Bosch Venture Capital to bring advanced composites to new sectors.

Posted January 12, 2021

Source: Arris

VF Corp. Announces Regional Transformation Plan To Enable Long-Term Growth In Asia

DENVER/SHANGHAI — January 11, 2021 — VF Corp., a global supplier of branded lifestyle apparel, footwear and accessories, today announced a transformation plan for its Asia Pacific operations focused on evolving the region’s organizational design and footprint, and building new capabilities to accelerate growth for its brands.

As part of its transformation initiative, VF will move the center of its brand operations from Hong Kong to Shanghai where the company currently employs approximately 900 office and retail associates. VF’s Asia Product Supply Hub, which serves as the base of operations for its global supply chain in the region, will also move from Hong Kong and relocate to Singapore. An additional shared services center for the region will be established in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. VF will activate a phased transition plan to guide these relocations over the next 12 to 18 months with the first moves expected in April 2021.

“Today’s announcement reinforces our commitment to invest in our business across the Asia Pacific region, while also supporting VF’s overall transformation plan to become a more consumer-minded, retail-centric and hyper-digital enterprise,” said Steve Rendle, VF’s chairman, president and CEO. “We established our presence in Asia 25 years ago and have continually shaped our business around the region’s many evolving opportunities. Now, we’re further transforming our Asia operations so we can better serve this fast-moving, technology-driven market with increased speed and capabilities.”

By placing its brands’ center of operations in Shanghai, VF aims to forge stronger and more relevant relationships with Chinese consumers. Relocating its Product Supply Hub to Singapore will enable greater integration across VF’s global supply chain network, which also includes key hubs in Europe and the Americas. Additionally, VF will redeploy some of its product supply talent and resources throughout its primary sourcing countries in the region to work more closely with key suppliers and drive greater efficiency.

Rendle continued: “We’ve made great strides in recent years to advance our brand strategy in Asia with new capabilities in digital and analytics, stronger relationships with the region’s digital titans, and the appointment of new VF leaders in both Tokyo and Shanghai. As we build on this strong foundation, we also see significant opportunities in creating a hyper-digital supply chain with a key hub in Singapore that will enable us to unlock greater speed and agility in how we make, source and move our products around the world.”

VF’s additional shared services center in Kuala Lumpur will help the company further expand the footprint of the back-end business functions that support its brands and supply chain operations across the Asia Pacific region. The new center will house various functions including digital technology, finance, human resources, and logistics. Hong Kong will remain a key retail market for VF and its brands.

Posted January 12, 2021

Source: VF Corp.

Columbia Sportswear Appoints Tim Sheerin as Senior Vice President of U.S. Sales for the Columbia Brand

PORTLAND, Ore. — January 11, 2021 — Columbia Sportswear Co. today announced the appointment of Tim Sheerin as senior vice president of U.S. Sales for the Columbia brand.

In his new role, Sheerin will report to Franco Fogliato, executive vice president, Global Omni-Channel.

“Tim brings a wealth of experience in commercial leadership,” Fogliato said. “His background in strategy, coupled with his years catalyzing high-performance teams, will help us accelerate growth for the Columbia brand in 2021 and beyond.”

Prior to joining Columbia, Sheerin spent twenty years in various senior-level sales and strategy roles at Nike. In his most recent role as vice president of North America Sales, he led Nike’s wholesale business across Nike and Jordan brands, supporting all product lines and categories for North America.

“In his new role, Tim is poised to consolidate the strong leading position of the Columbia brand with his knowledge of the U.S. market and extensive network of relationships with customers,” Fogliato said. “We could not be happier to kick off the year with a leader of his caliber.”

Posted January 12, 2021

Source: Columbia

Jones Family Of Companies Announces New Vice President Of Sales, New HR Leader

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — January 8, 2021 — Jones Family of Companies, a leader in sustainable nonwovens manufacturing, is entering the new year strong. At the end of 2020, Jones acquired Rontex America, opened a new business office in Richmond, Virginia, and added countless skilled employees to staff in their locations around the nation. Jones has not slowed down, always seeking out the best talent in the industry and the most effective placement of that talent to constantly improve the quality and efficiency of its products. Their most recent moves to achieve this are the promotion of Dennis St. Louis to vice president of sales, Bedding and Furniture channel, and the hiring of Anthony Lado as human resources director/HR leader – Talent Acquisition.

Dennis St. Louis

Dennis St. Louis is an expert in the textile industry, with significant experience as the leader of sales at six major textile companies from 1989 to present. For the past two years he has served at Jones as Senior Director of Sales, increasing business opportunities and strengthening key partnerships by demonstrating unwavering commitment to customer service, adding new accounts and maintaining expected service levels with existing accounts. St. Louis’ dedication to Jones clients has led to his promotion to Vice President of Sales.

St. Louis commented on his new role as Vice President of Sales. “As we move forward, our team is dedicated to expanding Jones’ portfolio of products through cost effective new developments and creating sales coverage and distribution solutions for our customers’ logistical challenges.”

CP Davis, CEO, added, “Dennis is a consummate sales and business development professional and will lead a very talented field sales team focused on growing and enhancing customer relationships with innovated products and value-added services.”

Anthony Lado

Anthony Lado, the new HR Leader for Jones, holds a master’s degree in Human Resources Management from Rollins College in Florida and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Central Florida. Alongside his thorough education, Lado’s background spans across a broad range of industries, including healthcare and durable goods manufacturing, as well as organizational development consulting. Most recently, Lado was the Human Resources Manager at Serta Simmons, a leading bedding manufacturer. He will be based out of Jones’ Morristown, Tenn., facility, where the flagship plant and distribution center is located.

“Anthony is a well-rounded and talented Human Resources leader,” CP Davis said. “He is dedicated to building long-term relationships between HR and employees in every department, and has a personal philosophy of creating efficient and positive work cultures that will fit well with Jones as we enter the new year.”

Posted January 12, 2021

Source: Jones Family of Companies

The LYCRA Co. Announces Gold Level Material Health Certificates For 25 Of Its LYCRA® Fiber Products

WILMINGTON, Del. — January 12, 2021 — The LYCRA Co., a global leader in sustainable fiber solutions for the apparel industry, is pleased to announce that 25 of its LYCRA® fiber products have been awarded Material Health Certificates at the Gold Level by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute. A listing of the products with Material Health Certificates, which are valid for two years, can be found on the company’s website and the website of the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute.

“Our goal was to make a step-change toward safe, fully optimized chemistries, so we looked to certify a broad range of products used across multiple fabric types and applications,” said Jean Hegedus, sustainable business development director for The LYCRA Co., who states these certifications underscore the company’s commitment to both transparency and safety.

“For each product type, we had to disclose our ingredients to the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute; and our suppliers, in turn, had to disclose their ingredients for full transparency,” said Dr. Francis Mason, a senior research engineer at The LYCRA Co., who oversaw the project. “The products with Material Health Certificates come from all six of our LYCRA fiber sites, so this recognition is truly global in scope.”

By specifying the fibers with Gold level Material Health Certificates, customers can be assured of transparency about the product’s ingredients and suppliers and The LYCRA Co.’s commitment to continuously improving the sustainability profile of its products.

The move to expand safe, fully optimized chemistries is a key component of The LYCRA Co.’s Planet Agenda platform for sustainability. Initially launched in 2008, Planet Agenda touches every aspect of The LYCRA Co.’s business and is based on the belief that having a healthy business also means having a healthy planet.

Posted January 12, 2021

Source: The LYCRA Co.

Shackleton Launches Expedition-Grade Performance Jacket Made From Recycled Plastic Bottles

LONDON — January 12, 2021 — Shackleton, in partnership with Blue Marine Foundation (BLUE), has developed the Antarctic Protector Parka, the world’s first expedition-grade parka engineered from 100-percent recycled fabrics. Post-consumer plastic bottles have been recycled and repurposed to create the fully waterproof shell and RDS-certified 95/5 800-fill goose down provides insulation down to -25ºC.

The Antarctic Protector Parka has been developed for BLUE’s field operatives working in Antarctica’s coastal zones which combine some of the wettest, windiest and coldest conditions anywhere in the world. “These notorious conditions set the standard for which all our apparel is developed to perform,” says Martin Brooks, co-founder of Shackleton. “We design and engineer expedition-grade apparel for people living and working in the most extreme environments. For Antarctica’s coast, that means seam-sealed waterproofing of minimum 20,000 H/H and insulation to minus 25. We believe the Protector is the first jacket to hit this performance standard using fully recycled fabrics.”

The Antarctica Protector Parka is strictly limited to 100 units, Shackleton will donate £100 to BLUE for every jacket sold.

The Protector Parka collaboration is part of a wider partnership between Shackleton and BLUE to campaign for the protection of Antarctica. Antarctica’s coast is under serious threat: as global warming melts the ice and the waters become more accessible, pressure is mounting from industrial fishing fleets, mining operations and unregulated tourism, threatening vital feeding grounds and habitats for thousands of species.

“Antarctica is our spiritual home — it’s where Sir Ernest Shackleton made his name as a polar explorer over a century ago and where our expedition-grade apparel is tested and used today. I’ve seen Antarctica’s jaw-dropping coastal zones first-hand,” says Shackleton co-founder Martin Brooks, “but these crucial environments are under threat in many ways, from over-fishing to mining. The only way to protect and preserve them from further human damage is to grant them the comprehensive MPA (Marine Protected Area) status they so obviously need and deserve.”

“It’s even more special to announce this partnership with BLUE on the 99th anniversary of Ernest Shackleton’s death on January 5th 1922. If The Boss were alive today, we’re sure he’d be doing his utmost to preserve this last great wilderness.”

BLUE’S Head of International Projects Rory Moore explains why this is so important.

“The mission is to help protect over four million square kilometres of ocean … without this protection, this pristine habitat and the thousands of species that rely on it are at grave risk.”

Blue Marine Foundation is the NGO leading the fight to create four million square kilometres of Marine Protected Area (MPA), incorporating the Weddell Sea, East Antarctica and the Antarctic Peninsula. Its aim is to protect this critical biodiversity, while mitigating the impacts of climate change and providing areas for crucial scientific research.

Antarctica is home to nearly 10,000 unique and diverse species, including 15 species of whale and five species of penguin. The nutrient-rich waters encourage blooms of plankton and swarms of krill, which form the basis of the entire ocean food chain. Designating the three proposed Antarctic MPAs — the Weddell Sea, East Antarctica and the Antarctic Peninsular — will protect biodiversity, while mitigating the impacts of climate change and providing reference areas for scientific research.

Posted January 12, 2021

Source: Shackleton

LA Gear Appoints Alexander-John As New Creative Director

LOS ANGELES — January 12, 2021 — Today, renowned footwear brand LA Gear, announced the appointment of artist and designer Alexander-John (AJ) as creative director. Taking the helm and designing for the new brand direction, AJ is kicking off his new position with the launch of “Light the Way,” a limited edition capsule collection, which will be launching Thursday, January 14th exclusively on NTWRK. The collection will feature a striking women’s sneaker with glow-in-the-dark accents, paying homage to LA Gear’s signature retro history, as well as apparel.

Inspired by AJ’s six sisters, “Light the Way” is AJ’s first-ever, women’s-only line. It was created to inspire and bring out the light, confidence and power within every woman. The debut collection for LA Gear aims to challenge the male-dominated sneaker culture to let individuals shine no matter what adversities they face. Featuring an updated “Light Runner” sneaker with glow-in-the-dark logo panels, the limited edition sneaker gives way to the notion that light is most appreciated in the presence of darkness.

Incorporating nods to LA Gear’s heritage “Tech Runner” style, the Light Runner will come in two color ways, green and pink, and feature heel flame construction details, mixed materials and translucent panels. Apparel will follow suit with a cropped hoody style and graphic logo leggings that give a throwback to the LA Gear of the 80’s.

“We’re so excited to bring on Alexander-John as Creative Director of LA Gear,” said Jay Jackson, executive vice president of ACI International. “AJ brings a deep passion and artistry of sneaker culture to our brand, which already has a rich history of iconic footwear collaborations. We look forward to seeing all the ways he propels the creativity of LA Gear forward and the products he creates for our existing fan base, while expanding our reach to a new customer.”

AJ has always had a love for sneakers and flare for creativity. Growing up his family couldn’t afford brand name styles, so he instead studied the fashion looks worn by the “cool kids” in his neighborhood, and decided to create his own designs, drawing with crayons on his white sneakers. AJ’s appointment allows him to bring his creative dreams to life, offering his innovative and unique designs to consumers around the world.

“My appointment as Creative Director of LA Gear is a full-circle moment for me,” said Alexander-John. “Being a kid who couldn’t afford the cool sneakers I’m excited to be able to bring affordability to sneaker culture, and to all the kids who would otherwise be without. Growing up in the 80’s, everyone knew LA Gear and their iconic collaborations. I do everything with purpose and meaning, and look forward to giving a heartbeat to my LA Gear designs, which I would have loved to wear both then and now.”

AJ’s debut collection for LA Gear will be available exclusively on NTWRK, beginning Thursday, January 14, 2021 9AM PST/12PM EST, coinciding with NTWRK PASSPORT Los Angeles; a city-focused editorial that spotlights world-class creators like never before. For more information, and to shop the LA Gear x Alexander John “Light the Way” collection download NTWRK from the Apple App Store or Google Play App Store, and follow @LAGear, @AlexanderJohnDesign and @NTWRK on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. All product launch details, pricing and retail availability can be found on NTWRK.

Posted January 12, 2021

Source: LA Gear

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