Lenzing, Renewal Workshop, Salvation Army, Waste Management Join Eon Partner Network Data-Exchange To Close Fashion Retail Circular Economy Gap

NEW YORK CITY — December 16, 2020 — Eon has launched the industry’s first global Partner Network to build connected systems for the circular economy across fashion retail in collaboration with leading circular businesses: The Renewal Workshop, Trove, Reflaunt, Lenzing, Hallotex, Recurate, Optoro, Evrnu, Save Your Wardrobe, and Worn Again Technologies along with Salvation Army Trading Company and Waste Management.

The Eon Partner Network will unlock the fashion industry’s vision of a circular economy at scale by enabling brands and retailers to manage, direct and track the flow of garments across the value chain by connecting with those products using Eon’s Internet of Things platform.

Eon’s Internet of Things platform transforms the concept of a “Digital Passport” for physical products into viable reality by using the CircularID™ Protocol and creating a digital system of record for products across their lifecycle, giving brands unprecedented visibility into the journey and value of their products over time plus a transformational system for tracking and communicating with those products.

The Eon Partner Network will enable brands digitizing products on the Eon platform to provide participating circular business partners with instant access to connected product data crucial for enacting circular processes like recommerce and recycling. With Partner Accounts on the Eon Platform and accompanying devices for product scanning — RFID, NFC, QR code — these network partners will have the ability to immediately digitally identify and authenticate products that are connected on the platform and to drive their circular practices by accessing deep beyond-the-label data such as original sale price, images, key features and material content.

Additionally, network partners will have the ability to contribute to the ongoing enrichment of products’ digital passports by tying metadata to product lifecycle events — including location, resale price and channel — creating a continuous picture of a garment’s value in real-time and powering the re-monetization of a single product across multiple lifecycles.

“Making a circular system economically and operationally viable for the fashion industry hinges on the brands’ ability to communicate with their circular business partners about their products — and to connect, track and manage the products themselves. Eon’s Internet of Things platform delivers the enabling technology brands need to connect their products. Now, the Eon Partner Network unlocks the communication about those products between brands and their circular business partners — powering fully functional circular systems and enabling both brands and partners to capitalize on the ongoing value of their products and materials far beyond the first point of sale.”

– Natasha Franck, Eon Founder & CEO

The Eon Partner Network makes the promise of a digital system of connected products viable at scale using a functional language for communication and exchange of data between products digitized via the Eon platform.

“The launch of the Eon Partner Network is a transformational moment in the fashion industry’s journey towards a circular economy,” said Nicole Bassett Co-Founder The Renewal Workshop. “Like many circular partners today, the ability to instantly identify products and materials is our biggest struggle: No matter how a garment is made or what it is made with, reselling or recycling will become viable at scale only when brands are enabled with the technology they need to aggregate and share crucial circularity data. By brands granting us and other network partners access to that data through connected products and Eon’s suite of tools, the Eon Partner Network is opening the gates to a new circular reality for fashion.”

According to Eon Chief Strategy Officer Annie Gullingsrud, Eon has been in research and development on the language and platform architecture to enable this interconnected circular commerce network for several years.

“In partnership with leading global fashion brands and industry, Eon developed the CircularID™ Protocol, the global language for connected products, and has built a platform that supports the communication and data exchange between brands and circular partners using the CircularID Protocol. The launch of the Eon Partner Network is the culmination of Eon’s commitment to solve for the biggest obstacle facing circular economy—product and material identification — and is essential to ensuring products and materials can be managed and monetized at highest value.”

Over the next year, a growing number of brands will pilot the CircularID™ Protocol, bringing millions of connected products online via the Eon Platform and rapidly expanding access to those products and their data for circular businesses participating in the Eon Partner Network.

Posted December 15, 2020

Source: Eon

Kelheim Fibres Nominated For The “Cellulose Fibre Innovation Of The Year 2021” Award

KELHEIM, Germany — December 15, 2020 — Kelheim Fibres has been named as one of the finalists for the “Cellulose Fibre Innovation of the Year 2021” innovation award to be presented at the 2nd International Conference on Cellulose Fibres.

With its plant-based and biodegradable fibers, the Germany-based viscose specialty fibers manufacturer presents a significant contribution to a plastic-free future for AHP (absorbent hygiene products). In contrast to other natural fibers, which are already available in fiber-form and can only be treated on the surface, Kelheim’s technological flexibility offers the possibility to modify cross-sections and to introduce additives into the fiber matrix for intrinsic functionalization. Through these modifications, Kelheim tailors its fibers specifically to the requirements of the individual nonwoven layers of the AHP and is able to achieve comparable performance values to synthetic fibers.

In addition to this, the specialty fibers from Kelheim offer a very attractive ratio of cost to performance in comparison with other fibers of natural origin such as organic cotton. They are therefore not only able to enhance the performance of the final products more effectively than other bio-based alternatives, but are, at the same time, financially attractive.

“Consumers of absorbent hygiene products are often faced with a choice between sustainable solutions made from fibers of natural origin and products with better performance and good fluid management properties produced using synthetic fibers,” said Dominik Mayer, from Kelheim’s R&D team. “Our goal is to offer products to the consumer which combine both sustainability and performance. Our sustainable and functional fiber technologies now make this possible.”

The project is a good illustration of the central element of Kelheim Fibres’ innovation philosophy: the identification of unsolved problems in the market and the development of solutions in close cooperation with experts along the value chain using open innovation techniques. Fibers from Kelheim also offer a significant contribution to overcoming one of the biggest global challenges of our time, by reducing the amount of plastic waste in the environment. Step-by-step, or in this case layer-by-layer, Kelheim Fibres is moving towards a vision of a plastic-free future.

Kelheim’s developments include the hydrophobized Olea fibre — for fast acquisition and efficient transfer of liquid and for better rewet values in the topsheet — as well as the Galaxy® fibre — for an efficient and optimized distribution of liquids in the Acquisition Distribution Layer (ADL) via capillary channels — and the Bramante fiber that can store up to 260 percent of its own weight of liquids in chambers inside the fiber.

Kelheim’s fibers can also be processed in the textile sector, to enable solutions in the field of reusable hygiene products such as menstrual underwear.

All these fibers are already commercially available. Kelheim Fibres is cooperating with an innovative AHP manufacturer and an innovative nonwoven supplier to incorporate the fibers into new end products.

Posted December 15, 2020

Source: Kelheim Fibres GmbH

Cellulose Fibre Innovation Of The Year 2021: One Of Six Nominated New Technologies Or Applications Will Be Awarded This Title

HÜRTH, Germany — December 15, 2020 — For the first time ever, the innovation award “Cellulose Fibre Innovation of the Year” will be granted to the innovative cellulose fiber industry for the development of new technologies and applications. The election and award ceremony will take place at the 2nd International Conference on Cellulose Fibres (CCF), February 2-3, 2021, (online event). More information about the award can be found on www.cellulose-fibres.eu/award-application.

Cellulose fibers are the fastest growing fiber group in textiles, the largest investment sector in the bio-based economy, and a solution for avoiding microplastics. Producers and inventors along the entire value chain from feedstock to the final product joined the competition.

Out of twelve creative and promising inventions six have been finally nominated for the “Cellulose Fibre Innovation Award”. The selection was made by a jury consisting of nova‑institute employees and the advisory board of the conference. The audience will elect the three winners at the 2nd International Conference on Cellulose Fibres (www.cellulose-fibres.eu) which will be organized by nova-Institute on February 2, 2021.

Here are the six nominees:

Bast Fibre Tech, Canada: Compostable fiber products from agricultural hemp and flax waste

BFTi produces compostable fibre products out of agricultural waste from hemp and flax processing. Using biogenic waste from the production of fast-growing crops instead of using wood or fossil resources is environmentally and economically more sustainable. Applications for the obtained fibre with moisture absorbing properties are for example toilet paper and recyclable, thus flushable cleaning wipes.

Empa – Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Switzerland: Cellulose nanofiber assisted biomimetic aerogels for EMI shielding

Empa researchers combined cellulose-based aerogels with silver nanowires. The flexible composite blocks high-frequency electromagnetic radiation, which is traditionally achieved by using inflexible metal sheets or metallized foils. This ultra-light electromagnetic shielding material can be used to protect electronic components or the transmission of signals from electromagnetic fields caused by neighbouring electronic devices or motors.

Kelheim Fibres, Germany: Plastic-free absorbent hygiene products

Kelheim Fibres developed plant-based fiber solutions for absorbent hygiene products. These comprise specialty fibers for the single layers of AHP with different functionalities: a hydrophobized fiber for the top sheet, a trilobal fiber for the acquisition/distribution layer and a hollow fiber for the absorbent core. These biodegradable and sustainably manufactured fibers enable the replacement of plastic fibers without a loss of performance. The material has the potential to be used also for the production of textiles, such as reusable menstrual underwear. First commercial end-products using Kelheim’s fiber solutions are developed and intended to be launched in 2021.

Metsä Spring, Finland: Textile fiber based on paper‑grade pulp

The Metsä Group is developing a more energy-efficient process based on a new solvent family to produce Man-Made Cellulosic Fibre (MMCF). Using ionic liquids, the MMCF can be produced from paper-grade pulp, avoiding the use of energy-intensive dissolving pulp. MMCF, such as viscose, lyocell or ModalÒ, are important fibres for the textile industry.

OrganicDisposables, Poland: FibriTech – a porous and light material from cellulose for soilless farming

FibriTech is a new process for the production of porous and light material from cellulose and lignocellulose. A mixture of fibers can be used, including waste and recycled fibres. This extends the possible feedstock for usable materials and reduces waste. Desired properties are derived by the application of bio-additives. The resulting material can be used as a natural soilless substrate with favorable properties for both plants and soilless farming systems. Other possible applications are thermal and sound insulators and air filters.

Stora Enso, Sweden: Cellulose-based Foam by Stora Enso – a lightweight cellulose-based foam for packaging

“Cellulose-based Foam by Stora Enso” is a lightweight foam material made from cellulose. It is designed as an eco-friendly alternative for fossil-based packaging and cushioning materials such as expanded polystyrene or polyethylene. The foam has comparable shock-absorbing and insulating properties whilst being bio-based, biodegradable, compostable and recyclable in ordinary paper recycling.

2nd International Conference on Cellulose Fibre, February 2-3, 2020 (online event)

The “2nd International Conference on Cellulose Fibres” will cover the entire value chain from lignocellulosic feedstock, dissolving pulp, cellulose fibers — such as rayon, viscose, Modal, lyocell or new developments — to a wide range of applications, woven textiles (clothing) and non-wovens (wipes and technical applications). All these sectors have significantly gained momentum over the last few years.

The final programme is now available at: www.cellulose-fibres.eu/programme/

You can register to the online conference here: www.cellulose-fibres.eu/registration/

Kelheim Fibres (DE), Lenzing (AT) and Levaco Chemicals (DE) are supporting the conference as Gold Sponsors. Bronze Sponsor is NC Partnering (FI). Further information on our attractive sponsoring packages can be found at www.cellulose-fibres.eu/sponsoring/ – also the sponsoring of the Innovation Award is still possible.

nova-institute also wants to acknowledge the following associations and research institutions that actively participate as conference partners: BCNP Consultants (DE), C.A.R.M.E.N. (DE), CLIB – Cluster Industrial Biotechnology (DE), Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe (FNR) (DE), Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) (DE), IBB – Industrielle Biotechnologie Bayern Netzwerk (DE), ITA – RWTH Aachen (DE), Russian Textile Association (RU), Textile Exchange (DE/US), The Fiber Year (CH) and World BioEconomy Forum (FI).

Posted December 15, 2020

Source: nova-Institut GmbH

Filo Has Presented The 55th Edition

BIELLA, Italy — December 15, 2020 — The 55th edition of Filo has been presented to operators and the press today through a webinar which had a large audience. The International Exhibition of Yarns and Fibres for orthogonal weaving, circular knitting and technical fabrics will be held on Wednesday the 24th and Thursday the 25th of February 2021 at MiCo – Milan Convention Centre (via Gattamelata 5, Milan).

As usual, the meeting consisted of two parts: during the first one, Paolo Monfermoso, general manager of Filo, explained the objectives and the new projects of the Exhibition, while during the second part Gianni Bologna (creativity and style supervisor for Filo) described product development proposals for the 55th edition of Filo.

In his speech, Paolo Monfermoso did not hide the difficulties and the uncertainties which are still affecting textile industry: “Just because we are going through a difficult situation, our industry should increase its efforts to continue to propose the excellence of our supply chain in an international panorama. In this context, physically attended exhibitions play a fundamental role: for the companies which participate in, they represent an essential tool for promotion and communication, the privileged place where to meet both new and long-standing customers. This applies especially for the companies upstream of the production process, as it is the case with the exhibitors of Filo. Is it with this aim that we are working for the edition of Filo to be held on February 2021: we want to give life to an Exhibition which is increasingly focusing on concreteness and the ability to make possible the meeting between demand and supply of yarns of excellence, in order to give international visibility to the companies which believe in quality, careful treatments, sustainability of products and production processes.”

Monfermoso then focused on the high participation recorded by the online presentation of the 55th edition of Filo: “The webinar formula highlights the choice of presenting product development proposals through a mix of live speeches and pre-recorded videos. On the other hand, it allows us to reach all interested people in Italy and abroad in a single occasion and in a simple, effective and rapid way, from exhibitors to style offices and the press. Digital is a channel that allows us to dialogue with a much wider audience than the one that traditionally followed our meetings in Biella, Milano, Prato, thus confirming its usefulness in supporting the fair “in presence”.”

Developed by Gianni Bologna, the product development proposals of the 55th edition of Filo, under the title “Single tickets”, are divided into three sections: Re-creating, Re-thinking, Re-starting. Mr. Bologna says: “If we want to find the positive aspect in the difficult situation of today, we could find them within the stimulus which may arise to generate a new connection with labour conditions or with our nature itself. The problem is not to find novelties, but rather to give new values to the existing situations, or even better, to re-elaborate and re-consider the things that we already know how to do. In the three sections that make up “Single tickets” we find garments with no season and no time which express reassuring continuity with our handcrafted and artistic manual traditions. What we do not find is “exhibition” as an end in itself, but a nearly extremist discretion, with fabrics which are both elegant and anti-elegant, but most of all “convincing”. Last but not least, we have a hybrid style which uses urban sportswear comfort, blending it with sophisticated lines and materials for “special occasion” formal garments.

Posted December 15, 2020

Source: Filo

JEC Summit Sports & Health – Connect Exceeds Goals And Sets New Standards For JEC Digital Events

PARIS — December 15, 2020 — First edition of JEC Summit Sports & Health – Connect, an online event platform devoted to medical and sports equipment manufacturers using composites, ended last week going above and beyond its set goals. JEC Summit Sports & Health – Connect brought together professionals from the whole composites value chain and allows decision-makers to evolve and inspire through a subsequent event program. This summit was the first in a long line of events devoted to composites in the Sports and Health industry that are to come within the next two years.

The three-day event was conceived as a forum to gather composites professionals, affiliates, and high-profile speakers to share their expertise in composites materials involved in creating state-of-the-art medical devices and sports equipment.

“Following the enforced postponement of many trade shows, we took the step of becoming the first organizer to stage an online event dedicated to composites in the sports and health industry. We put together a high-level conference agenda and speaker roster, and devised some great ideas for virtual networking, said Christian Strassburger, event director at JEC Group. “I could not be prouder of what we achieved with many delegates from Europe and Americas tuning in, including representatives from more than 36 countries. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all our sponsors and partners. Their trust, support, and input were a crucial part of both the quality and success of the summit.”

The event attracted an audience of more than 1,100 professionals from the composites industry, from 36 countries, and helped organize 216 pre-arranged one to one meetings between buyers and sellers via our dedicated online meeting rooms, this without mentioning informal networking between participants. It reached these numbers, as participants logged on in considerable numbers to learn from the insights and ideas of the unparalleled line-up of high-level speakers who took part in the summit’s twenty-track conference.

The agenda for the JEC Summit Sports & Health – Connect featured tracks on current trends and Innovations in sports & health composite applications, with keynotes delivered by Dominic LeBlanc Senior Concept Engineer, at Callaway Golf, Christophe Lecomte, Director of Biomechanical Solutions R&D, at Össur, Fleur Jong, Professional Sprinter, and Co-founder of the Para Athletics Foundation and Damiano Salvatori, Materials Research Engineer, at the Straumann Group.

The panel of high-profile experts from Europe and America offered perspectives and inspiration for the next generation of medical and sports devices made of composites materials. The line-up included Bjorn Ivar Austrem, Technical Director, at Madshus, Laurine Calistri, Research Engineer, at Proteor, Anatole Gilliot, CEO of Suprem, Julien Duplay, Composites Methods Engineer, at Decathlon, Eric Jackson, President of Apex Watercraft, Stéphan Vérin, General Secretary, at EuraMaterials, Maximilian Segl, Principal Expert Composites, and Johannes Wölper, Development Engineer, both from Ottobock, and Matthew Dickinson, Senior Lecturer in Engineering, at University of Central Lancashire. Christos Karatzias, at Mitsui Chemicals Europe and Anthony Bert, at Helicoid Industries.

And one cannot omit the international startups that pitched all through the three-day event: ProsFit (Bulgaria), Alchemy (Greece), moi composites (Italy), Mercuris (Germany), Arevo/Superstrata (USA), Checkerspot/WNDR Alpine (USA), Ambrocio (Finland) Nairoby (Argentina). All gave inspiring and promising perspectives in the sector and what to look for in the near future.

Posted December 15, 2020

Source: JEC Group

ITMA ASIA + CITME 2020 On Track For Next June Showing

SINGAPORE — December 15, 2020 — Preparations for the seventh edition of ITMA ASIA + CITME are underway as scheduled. Following the completion of the stand allocation exercise, some 1,650 exhibitors have started to receive their certificate of admission and stand details from December 14, 2020.

Despite the ongoing global coronavirus pandemic, the combined show continues to receive the support of exhibitors from 25 countries, including the world’s most established textile machinery brand names.

Among the major exhibitors allocated space are: CHTC, Danis Makina, Electro-Jet, Eton Systems, Fong’s, Groz-Beckert, Itema, Jeanologia, Karl Mayer, MS Printing Solutions, Muratec, Oerlikon Barmag, Picanol, Reggiani Macchine, Rieter, SDC Enterprises, Santoni, Saurer, Savio, Shima Seiki, Staubli, Toyota, Tsudakoma, Vandewiele and Vanwyk.

Dr. Dirk Burger, CEO/CSO of Truetzschler Group, said, “We have never missed any ITMA ASIA + CITME exhibition since its first edition was in Shanghai in 2008. While this has been a difficult year for everyone, we are glad that the exhibition will take place next year so that we can connect with our customers face-to-face. After all, the combined show is the most significant platform in Asia and so we still need to have a consistent presence in this important market.”

Fellow exhibitor Jordi Juani, Asia Division Director of Jeanologia, agreed, “ITMA ASIA + CITME is one of the most relevant shows where we release the latest information on our products and services. Since we are focused in the Asian market, we want to be closer than ever to our customers, attending the show and giving extra support through our China team and our new hub in Hong Kong.”

The show owners, CEMATEX and Chinese partners – the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT (CCPIT-Tex), China Textile Machinery Association (CTMA) and China Exhibition Centre Group Corporation (CIEC), are pleased with the firm support and scale of the exhibition.

Ernesto Maurer, president of CEMATEX, explained, “The pandemic might have disrupted the world but exhibitors are eager to resume their marketing efforts. Therefore, the show has not suffered a significant change in support. While there have been some concerns about international business travel from some quarters, the combined show is still gearing up for a mega showcase.”

Wang Shutian, Honorary President of China Textile Machinery Association (CTMA) concurred, “Due to the global epidemic, some overseas participants have adjusted their exhibition plans. Still, we will have the presence of internationally renowned textile machinery manufacturers. Once conditions permit, we will be embarking on roadshows to promote the exhibition.”

ITMA ASIA + CITME will take place June 12-16, 2021, at the National Exhibition and Convention Centre (NECC) in Shanghai. It will be held over 6 halls with a gross exhibition space of 170,000 square metres. It is organized by Beijing Textile Machinery International Exhibition Co Ltd and co-organized by ITMA Services. Japan Textile Machinery Association is a special partner of the show.

The last ITMA ASIA + CITME combined show in 2018 welcomed the participation of 1,733 exhibitors from 28 countries and economies and registered a visitorship of over 100,000 from 116 countries and regions.

Posted December 15, 2020

Source: CEMATEX, CCPIT-Tex, CTMA & CIEC

Newly Commissioned Biostoom Waste-To-Energy Plant Delivers Steam And Electricity To Borealis In Beringen, Belgium

BERINGEN, Belgium — December 15, 2020 — Borealis and Bionerga announce the joint commissioning of Biostoom, a new waste-to-energy plant constructed and operated by Bionerga in Beringen, Belgium. The long-term agreement between Borealis and Bionerga, a Belgium-based specialist in recovering energy from waste, has enabled Borealis to move closer to its goal of sourcing 50 percent of its total electricity consumption from renewable sources for operations in its major business areas by the year 2030. The new Biostoom Beringen facility is allowing Borealis to reduce the amount of natural gas used in operations by supplying steam and electricity recovered from processing of non-recyclable waste collected from nearby communities. The first electricity delivery took place in August, and the first steam was delivered in October 2020.

New biosteam power station reduces dependence on fossil fuel-based energy sources

The newly-built Biostoom power station supplies steam and electricity generated from non-hazardous, non-recyclable waste collected from local households in nearby Limburg. By reducing its dependency on fossil fuel based sources of energy, Borealis is lowering its direct and indirect carbon dioxide emissions (defined as Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol) by 20 percent at its Beringen operations. The state-of-the-art facility generates steam and electricity exclusively for Borealis operations on site. The facility will supply nearly 100 percent of the electricity consumed by Borealis Beringen operations, of which 47 percent is considered renewable. The intake of natural gas will be reduced by around 40 percent.

“Life demands progress. Borealis is taking concrete steps to bring about a circular economy based on reuse, recovery and recycling. The Biostoom Beringen project is the perfect example of re-inventing for more sustainable living: if materials are not recyclable, recovering energy is the best alternative for waste that would otherwise be landfilled,” said Martijn van Koten, Borealis executive vice president Base Chemicals & Operations. “The fact that this project is sourcing non-recyclable waste from adjacent communities further strengthens the sustainability aspect.”

“The success of this project is the result of the careful planning and preparations carried out by highly-qualified Borealis and Bionerga teams,” says Thomas van De Velde, Borealis senior vice president Hydrocarbons & Energy. “This waste-to-energy recovery plant is bringing a sustainability step-change to the Borealis Beringen site. We aim to deepen and solidify co-operation with partners like Bionerga in the future.”

Posted December 15, 2020

Source: Borealis

Baldwin Expands Cleaning Portfolio With TowerClean™ G2 For Coldset Offset Presses

ST. LOUIS — December 15, 2020 — Baldwin Technology Co. Inc. has added TowerClean™ G2 for coldset offset presses to its range of best-in-class cleaning systems and consumables. Complementing the Impact Fusion™ and PREPAC® product lines, the TowerClean G2 is a combined blanket and guide roller cleaning system that enables consistent print quality, more flexibility and increased productivity through fast and efficient cleaning cycles, which optimize uptime and reduce start-up waste.

For efficient blanket cleaning, TowerClean G2 distributes spray evenly across the web, and its optional brushes aid in lint removal. Utilizing Baldwin’s precision spray technology, this innovative system also has a dual-side option for those printers running coated stock paper. In addition, TowerClean G2 offers various operation modes, including combined blanket and guide roller cleaning, blanket cleaning only and guide roller cleaning only.

“TowerClean G2 brings Baldwin surface cleaning technology to the small-format press market,” said Michael Stürmer, Baldwin’s vice president, Product Line Cleaning. “While highly valued for their format flexibility, these presses often do not have the space needed for conventional blanket cleaning. With its modular and expandable design, the TowerClean G2 provides several configuration options to meet production requirements.”

To support this new system, Baldwin offers its unique and Fogra-approved cleaning solvent TowerWash 2, which was specifically created for TowerClean G2.

“The TowerClean G2 was developed because of requests from customers, and we have, in fact, already sold two systems to web offset printers in Europe and the US,” continued Stürmer. “This new system further reinforces Baldwin’s strong commitment to creating innovative cleaning technologies for web offset customers.”

Posted December 15, 2020

Source: Baldwin Technology Company Inc.

Heimtextil, Techtextil & Texprocess: A Positive Outlook On Next Year’s Trade-Fair Trio

FRANKFURT AM MAIN, Germany — December 15, 2020 — New dates, new perspectives, new opportunities: from May 4-7, 2021, Heimtextil joins forces with Techtextil and Texprocess to bring together leading representatives of industry, trade, design, science and research at the same time and place. Olaf Schmidt, vice president, Textiles & Textile Technologies of Messe Frankfurt, offers insights into the current planning status and the outlook for the trade-fair trio.

What makes you confident that the trade-fair trio of Heimtextil, Techtextil and Texprocess can be held successfully in May 2021?

This year, we all experienced a previously unknown set of circumstances with unpredictable developments. None of us foresaw the consequences and the duration of the pandemic. And we are still at the point where we do not know when we will be able to draw up reliable plans again. Nevertheless, there is good reason to be optimistic. Towards the end of the summer, Germany’s fair and exhibition industry was given the go-ahead to hold fairs again — not long before the second wave hit us.

In view of this, we are relieved that we decided at an early stage to postpone the next Heimtextil from January until May 2021. For, although we are still far removed from having complete planning certainty, we are tackling the projects for Heimtextil, Techtextil and Texprocess 2021 with confidence — in the hope that the current, second lockdown and the no-less challenging winter months ahead of us will be followed next spring by an improvement in the corona situation. Looking towards Asia also gives us ground for optimism. There, in mid-October, Messe Frankfurt began holding fairs with up to 150,000 participants.

Despite the fact that the way China has handled the virus is not comparable with the European approach, we nevertheless see the situation there as encouraging. All the more so because we firmly believe that social distancing and an efficient supply of fresh air is much easier to regulate in exhibition halls than, for example, in a shopping centre. Moreover, we have prepared our hygiene and safety concept very thoroughly over the past months. Naturally, we remain in close contact with the appropriate authorities and our exhibitors, the vast majority of whom want to see the sector getting together in the near future. Accordingly, we are working flat out on holding our fairs safely in 2021.

How do you see the mood on the industry and trade sides, and what has been the exhibitor response to date?

From Germany’s home-textile manufacturers, furnishing specialists and retailers, we know that the order books are well filled at the moment. People were unable to travel much in 2020 and thus invested more in their homes. According to the Heimtex trade association, there was no summer downturn this year and some sectors were able to make up for the losses from the first lockdown.

Nonwoven manufacturers achieved a five percent increase in sales with the production of face masks and hygiene articles. Overall, however, sales of technical textiles fell for the first time after many years of developing in a positive direction. According to the IVGT textile association, revenues were down by approx. 13 percent between January and September, this year, compared to the same period in 2019.

Following a collapse in sales in the second quarter of this year, exports of textile machines from Germany are now increasingly stable. According to VDMA Textile Care, Fabric and Leather Technologies, Germany’s machine and plant manufacturers noted a drop of approx. 16 percent in exports to the EU 27 between January and September compared to the previous year. However, this is set to improve over the course of the year.

We have heard that many companies are hoping for a trade fair and personal encounters with customers and partners in the near future, to give their businesses an additional boost. Leading representatives of the home-textile sector recently rated the coming Heimtextil as a decisive source of impulses for their business in times of crises. Many of them have also reacted positively to the postponement of the fair until May, and the echo from our exhibitors has been correspondingly good. At present, around 1,600 companies have said they are interested in exhibiting at the next Heimtextil. Techtextil and Texprocess can also boast very good registration figures with over 85 and 65 percent respectively of the exhibition space at previous events already having been reserved.

We consider ourselves fortunate that our exhibitors and partners have shown such confidence in us and that, even in times of crisis, they continue to rely on our leading trade fairs. With a comprehensive hygiene and safety concept, we at Messe Frankfurt are doing everything possible to ensure that visitors and exhibitors feel safe and can attend our events with a good feeling.

What are the benefits for exhibitors and visitors of holding the three trade fairs — Heimtextil, Techtextil and Texprocess — concurrently on this one occasion?

In September, we decided to postpone Heimtextil from January to May, next year, and to hold it concurrently with Techtextil and Texprocess. In addition to the significantly improved prospects of success given by the later dates, holding the three trade fairs in parallel offers valuable synergistic effects for many participants, as well as the unique chance to discover large parts of the textile value chain at the same time and place — from fibres and yarns, via functional textiles and production and finishing processes, to finished products for a variety of applications, especially textile interior furnishings.

Thanks to the close proximity to manufacturers of innovative technical textiles and nonwovens at Techtextil, Heimtextil exhibitors and visitors have the opportunity to meet potential partners from a new area of business. From the point of view of many Heimtextil participants, the machines and new technologies for processing textile and flexible materials to be seen at Texprocess are a field of considerable interest. Specifically, this means that product designers, buyers or textile engineers from exhibiting companies at Heimtextil can also make business contacts at Techtextil and Texprocess, and discover the latest products on the market.

Moreover, the presence of retailers, furnishing specialists, interior architects, architects, designers, materials experts from research and development and machine and technology specialists means that the participants of all three events will receive impulses from sectors that are rarely to be found all together at the same venue. Thus, the trade-fair trio will be a ‘textile powerhouse’ offering inspiration, expertise and business opportunities in completely new constellations. In particular, Techtextil and Texprocess will offer more digital services for the first time. We will stream lectures and discussions, as well as install a new online matchmaking service. Thus, international participants will have the chance to obtain in-depth information during or after the event, as well as to make valuable contacts.

What are the next steps towards holding the fairs? What factors will be decisive for the trade-fair trio to be held successfully in May?

In February, we will have received binding registrations from our Heimtextil exhibitors. In the case of Techtextil and Texprocess, the deadline is the end of January. Only then — after these deadlines have — will we have a clearer view forward and our teams be able to plan the fairs in detail. As soon as possible afterwards, we will hold a press conference and provide details about the number of registrations received and the planning status of the individual events.

We hope very much that the situation will improve over the winter months and, in particular, that the travel restrictions can be relaxed. Under these circumstances, we are confident that, with our carefully prepared hygiene and safety concept, we will be able to hold a safe and highly successful trio of fairs.

Posted December 15, 2020

Source: Messe Frankfurt

The Sweet Living Group, Evercare Announce Global Distribution Partnership Of Zinc Oxide For The Textile And Laundry Detergent Industries

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va./RALEIGH, N.C.  — December 10, 2020 — The Sweet Living Group LLC (SLG), a provider of zinc oxide (ZnO) and nanoparticle zinc oxide technology for the textile and laundry detergent industries, and EverCare, a provider of hih-quality zinc oxides and raw material innovation, announce an exclusive partnership to distribute ZnO to the textile industry and SLG customers around the globe.

The SLG’s extensive intellectual property enhances textiles by: controlling odor, providing antimicrobial/mold and mildew-resistance, incorporating ultraviolet protection, increasing resistance to degradation, and enhancing flame resistance. SLG is a leader in innovation for the textile industry with 14 issued U.S. patents, five pending patent applications, and two trademarks encompassing ZnO and nano-ZnO for textiles.

EverCare is focused on innovation, supply and expertise of high-quality ultrafine zinc oxides for personal care and industrial applications, such as coatings, textiles, plastics and is bringing these innovations and high-quality products on the market under the Zano® and Tenray® brand names. The company is head quartered in Raleigh, N.C., and has production facilities and offices in The Netherlands and Belgium. Evercare is a division of EverZinc group, committed to creating products that matter and a provider of specialty zinc materials including fine zinc powders, zinc oxides, battery zinc powders.

SLG’s intellectual property scope of coverage allows its patents to be applied in both the textile and laundry detergent industries including industrial and commercial applications. The licensing program is administered for SLG by Blackhawk Technologies, which is one of the world’s most experienced intellectual property, licensing/patent companies.

“We recently commercialized our technology for the textile industry and are slated for global distribution,” said Ron Kramer, SLG Partner/COO. “We have a streamlined supply chain. EverCare produces the highest quality zinc oxides and we are working with our innovation production partner, Low Impact Technologies, to supply masterbatch fiber for global consumers. Low Impact Technologies is known for developing the most advance yarns, fabrics and garments available in the textile industries,” said Mr. Kramer.

“Our new partnership with The Sweet Living Group allows us to deliver EverCare’s innovations, technologies and key learnings from other industries to textile applications”, said Jeroen van den Bosch, EverCare’s managing director. “Together our two companies will be able to provide synergies to not only offer better technologies, but make it available quicker globally.”

“This partnership is a clear example of the strategic focus that is being applied in EverCare’s development of ultrafine zinc oxides for industrial application areas, which is one of the main reasons for the creation of EverCare in 2019”, said Vincent Dujardin, CEO of EverZinc.”

The zinc oxide technology of The Sweet Living Group, combined with Evercare’s Tenray zinc oxides will be commercialized under the EcoZinc® brand, providing protection for people, textiles and the environment.

Posted December 15, 2020

Source: The Sweet Living Group/EverCare

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