Carhartt Outworks The Winter With Enhanced Yukon Extremes Collection

DEARBORN, Mich. — November 17, 2020 — With The Farmer’s Almanac calling for a cold winter and below-normal temperatures across several parts of the country, Carhartt is pleased to introduce its updated Yukon Extremes collection, built for men and women who battle extreme cold conditions. It’s the warmest and most durable gear made by America’s premium workwear brand.

While Carhartt’s original Yukon collection was developed over 25 years ago, the company is committed to evolving its products to not only meet the ever-changing needs of consumers, but to also improve its gear as well. The re-invented Yukon Extremes collection was updated this year to be warmer and tougher than any other cold gear on the market, without the weight.

Built to offer complete cold weather defense, the new Yukon Extremes collection has less bulk while adding warmth, increased movement and improved functionality. In addition, it’s the first time Yukon Extremes gear has been available in the company’s women’s line and also introduces a fleece offering.

“With Yukon Extremes, we knew we needed to offer a product that provided extreme warmth and durability at an affordable price point that could be used in the coldest environments — such as the Arctic,” said Alex Guerrero, senior vice president, general manager, Global Product at Carhartt. “We’re extremely proud of this updated offering and don’t believe there are any competitors in this high-end category that deliver the type of enduring value that we do.”

To ensure the Yukon Extremes collection would protect hardworking people in the harshest conditions, Carhartt sourced a variety of fabrics that were held to rigorous testing methods. In fact, the company also created its own abrasion testing so that it could aggressively test the durability. As a result, the company selected a 500-denier CORDURA® fabric shell and 3M™ Thinsulate™ insulation for many of the pieces. CORDURA, an innovative suppler of the most durable fabrics, is used extensively in military gear and apparel with proven performance in some of the world’s toughest conditions.

Additionally, throughout the design process, Carhartt worked closely with 3M to introduce a new reflective safety technology that offers retro-reflectivity and versatility.

The Carhartt Yukon Extremes collection includes:

Insulated Parka (men’s and women’s) — This parka packs a serious punch of warmth with a whopping 390 grams of 3M Thinsulate Featherless insulation. Its 500-denier CORDURA shell adds an extra layer of battle-tested toughness for incredible durability. With Scotchlite™ reflective material details, an adjustable hood and rib-knit storm cuffs designed to keep the cold out, consumers will be safe and comfortable in any cold weather condition. This is Carhartt’s warmest coat and was tested using our proprietary warmth rating measures.

Insulated Coverall (men’s and women’s) — These insulated coveralls not only keep consumers warm and moving comfortably in extreme cold, but also protects you from freezing weather, rain, snow and whipping winds. Like the parka, it also features a 500-denier CORDURA shell, as well as 150 grams of 3M Thinsulate insulation for warmth without the weight. Wind Fighter® technology tames the wind and Rain Defender® durable water repellent (DWR) keeps you dry and moving. The coveralls also offer 3M Scotchlite Carbon Black reflective taping on the center back and double front, are knee pad compatible and offer a number of functional pockets.

Insulated Active Jac (men’s only ) — This insulated active jac fights off cold, wind, and rain so you can work through whatever weather comes your way. A 6.5-ounce, 500-denier CORDURA nylon shell and 150 grams of 3M Thinsulate featherless insulation offer warmth without the weight. It also features an attached 3M Thinsulate hood with drawcord and 3M Scotchlite Carbon Black reflective taping on center back yolk and front pockets.

Insulated Biberall (men’s only) — These bibs are built to protect from freezing weather, snow, wet conditions and whipping winds. Made with 6.5-ounce, 500 denier CORDURA nylon shell and 150g 3M Thinsulate insulation, they also feature 3M Scotchlite carbon black reflective taping to show movement and create enhanced visibility. To ensure a perfect fit, the bibs offer adjustable elastic suspenders and feature a low profile buckle closure and two-way zip front. For impact protection and kneeling comfort, the bibs have double-layer knees with pockets that house the Carhartt knee pads.

Wind Fighter Fleece Active Jac (men’s and women’s) — When the temperatures are freezing and the wind starts to whip, this active jac is exactly what consumers need to stay warm and comfortable. With a 13-ounce low-pile Sherpa fleece with 500-denier CORDURA fabric overlays for added durability in high wear areas, this jacket is comfortable and lightweight while not removing warmth. For an added layer of safety, 3M Scotchlite Carbon Black reflective taping can be found on the center back yolk.

Full Swing® Insulated Coat (men’s only) — This insulated coat has extra stretch across the shoulders for a full range of motion and fights off cold, wind, and light rain so you can work through any weather. It also features a 6.5-ounce, 500-denier Cordura nylon shell, as well as 150 grams of 3M Thinsulate insulation for warmth without the weight. Consumers will also find a corduroy-trimmed collar with hidden snaps for attaching an optional hood, a droptail hem and numerous functional pockets.

Wind Fighter Fleece Vest (men’s only) — This men’s fleece vest provides lightweight insulation and wind-fighting protection to stay warm and comfortable. It features a 13-ounce low pile Sherpa fleece reinforced with 500-denier CORDURA fabric overlays, a mock-neck collar with full-zip front, a droptail hem and 3M Scotchlite Carbon Black reflective taping on center back yolk. Consumers will also notice a 3M reflective Carhartt patch.

* CORDURA is a trademark of INVISTA for durable fabrics.

Posted November 18, 2020

Source: Carhartt

Burlington Medical Partners With 3DLOOK, A Self-Service, Body-Scanning Technology That Supports Burlington’s Made-To-Measure Capabilities

SAN MATEO, Calif. — November 18, 2020 — Burlington Medical, engineers of the highest quality and lightest weight radiation protection aprons in the industry, recently partnered with 3DLOOK to offer a touch-free radiation protection garment measuring and fitting experience. 3DLOOK’s patented body scanning technology enables Burlington Medical customers to get precise body measurements remotely with just two photos in under 30 seconds.

“This is an industry first,” said Murry Pitts, CEO of Burlington Medical. “Digital provides a more accurate experience, from measure-to-measure consistency and the manufacturing of the radiation protection garment. The potential for this type of measuring is endless. Our goal is to continue using this cutting-edge technology well beyond the pandemic.”

3DLOOK standardizes the way that Burlington Medical measures for radiation protection garments, so customers will get a more accurate and consistent measurement. There’s no subjective measuring by hand or inconsistency from one measurer to the next. The 3DLOOK technology measures seamlessly from any location, any time. After taking or scanning two full-body images and submitting an order, each customer’s tailored apron is guaranteed to fit every inch of the wearer’s body.

“We spent a lot of time working with the incredible team at Burlington Medical and thinking about the user experience and convenience of digital measurements especially needed as COVID hit,” said Whitney Cathcart, CSO and cofounder of 3DLOOK. “There was a huge opportunity to deliver our contactless measuring solution immediately to help Burlington Medical continue to deliver customized radiation aprons efficiently. Their digital-first mindset sets a standard for other apparel companies to embrace our digital scanning solutions.”

During the pandemic and beyond, Burlington Medical is committed to the safety of all customers and staff. With 3DLOOK, there’s no need to risk person-to-person contact as all measurements can be made digitally. For added convenience, customers are able to store and access their measurements online, paving the way for a more streamlined ordering process.

It’s all possible through 3DLOOK’s partnership with Gerber Technology’s made-to-measure system. This allows companies like Burlington Medical to supplement their in-person fittings, operate online, and meet a greater customer demand, all while remaining digitally competitive and forward-thinking in the industry. The technology offers a simple way to digitize measurement capture and automate the entire workflow, which is needed now more than ever with COVID-19.

“Burlington Medical is a great example of an agile, future-oriented company,” said Karsten Newbury, chief strategy and digital officer at Gerber Technology. “The integration between our AccuMark Made-To-Measure platform and 3DLOOK helps Burlington to develop products meant for the shape and size of their actual customers. Systematically connecting their supply chain and leveraging data gives them the agility and efficiency to compete and win in today’s new reality.”

Posted November 18, 2020

Source: 3DLOOK LLC

Södra’s OnceMore® Hits New Milestone: 20-Percent Recycled Content

VÄXJÖ, Sweden — November 18, 2020 — Södra has successfully added 20 percent used textiles to its OnceMore® dissolving pulp. The achievement by the long-established Swedish wood and fiber-processing group is a significant step towards more sustainable solutions for the fashion industry.

The ground-breaking OnceMore technology was launched in 2019 with 3-percent recycled textile content but ever since, Södra has been working hard to increase the recycled content in the new material. Johannes Bogren, vice president of Södra Cell Bioproducts, said: “OnceMore has the potential to shake up the fashion industry and will enable large volumes of used cotton and cotton-polyester blends to be turned into new clothing and textiles. We are delighted with the progress achieved so far.”

OnceMore is produced at Södra’s technically-renowned Mörrum mill. “We have invested in the pulp mill where we have produced standard dissolving pulp for some time and where we can now also manufacture OnceMore,” Bogren added. “Södra is supplying OnceMore pulp on a continuous basis to a number of customers that manufacture textile fibres around the world. The product has had a highly positive reception and the market is showing strong demand. We are following our roadmap, to increase capacity to 25,000 tonnes of textile waste that can be added to pulp production by 2024, which will require a number of additional investments in the mill.”

Södra has held numerous constructive meetings with brands interested in making products based on OnceMore which they see as an important potential step towards a more circular fashion industry.

“One key requirement was to increase the percentage of the added recycled textiles, and by reaching a share of 20 percent we have now achieved an important goal. But we are not stopping now — our target is 50 percent,” Bogren said.

Another recurring request from customers has been certification according to the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS).

“We received our RCS certificate in June, which is proof that we can offer products containing recycled textiles. Now I hope that the rest of the textile supply chain will follow suit so that RCS-certified garments and other textile materials based on our OnceMore technology will soon be available in stores,” Bogren concluded.

Posted November 18, 2020

Source: Södra

Recycled PET: Customized Polyester Thanks To Viscosity Build-Up In The Vacufil Vacuum Filter

REMSCHEID, Germany — November 17, 2020 — The BB Engineering VacuFil process enables the reutilization of polyester waste into high-end textile filament and fiber products.

Sustainable handling of natural resources is a global task, something that needs to be addressed now and not just in the future. This relates in particular to the further development of the circular economy for post-consumer or post-production waste. For this reason, the recyclability of PET products made by the man-made fiber industry is attributed special significance. Modern resource-friendly packaging would not be conceivable without man-made PET fibers and commodities generally made from chemicals, such as beverage bottles, cleaning materials, etc. As a raw material that is — along with polyolefins and polyamide — such a dominant raw material, it is essential that polyester is also recycled.

For PET bottle material, the recycling of polyester materials and the possibilities for converting the waste into new high-end products within the polyester filaments, fibers and nonwovens market are state-of-the-art. Across the globe, consumers in the markets are demanding sustainable products and the careful utilization of resources — increasingly in the textile sector as well. Leading fashion companies, sports apparel and furniture manufacturers and the automobile industry, i.e. for car seats and interior cladding components, are increasingly focusing on sustainable products and products made from recycled materials. Today, they are already telling suppliers of filaments, fibers and nonwovens that they will be switching from exclusively virgin polyester to recycled polyester — in some cases up to 100 percent — for the manufacture of their textile products in the near future. Consumers’ social awareness has been the trigger for this development.

The original idea — namely to manufacture sub-premium goods using recycled polyester raw material, i.e. for use in insulating materials — is short-sighted from today’s perspective. Recycled polyester has long been prevalent within the high-end textile segment. Viewing polyester as a valuable resource rather than as waste is an important and proper development.

Manmade fibers and filaments made from recycled bottle flake material require corresponding single-variety collection or pre-sorting of the bottle material being recycled and comprehensive cleaning before they are shredded into polyester flakes. It is then possible to spin these flakes directly into POY filaments (DTY in the downstream process), staple fibers, nonwovens and BCF endless filaments. Today, the technology is so refined that the products achieve a quality standard that corresponds to virgin material in many applications.

However, there are also many cases in which the material quality and/or property achieved does not comply with the market requirements. For numerous textile applications, parameters such as viscosity and homogeneity are crucial and must be subject to virtually no fluctuations. In other words, to enable recycled polyester to be used here in the first place necessitates its pre- treatment. And this is carried out by the VacuFil recycling process, a BB Engineering GmbH development. The VacuFil enables the manufacture of extremely homogeneous, viscosity-stable rPET melt and hence a precisely definable and reproducible raw material for downstream processes (i.e. spinning plant). As a manufacturer of components and systems for producing manmade fibers, BB Engineering (BBE) is familiar with the dire impact that even the smallest viscosity deviation has on the spinning plant process. With the VacuFil, the company has succeeded, depending on the intended end application, in aligning the melt with the process in a targeted manner. Macro- and microscopic melt homogeneity is achieved by means of homogenization drying, controlled plasticizing, gentle filtration and controlled vacuum degassing.

In the downstream processes, the melt can either be first granulated or fed directly into the end product’s manufacturing process. Recycled polyester, produced using the BBE VacuFil process, can even be used for more challenging downstream processes, including the manufacture of FDY filaments, for example. Here the material is subjected to extreme loads throughout the entire manufacturing process. In the FDY single-stage process, the filaments are drawn and taken up at speeds of up to 4,500 meters per minute.

BBE is headquartered in Remscheid/Germany and is a joint venture between Brückner Group GmbH, the world market leader for machines for the polyester foil industry and headquartered in Siegsdorf/Germany, and Oerlikon Textile GmbH & Co. KG, the world market leader for systems for the manmade fiber industry and headquartered in Remscheid/Germany. BBE is a pioneer in the development of processes for using recycled materials, particularly polyester flakes, and converting them into contemporary, market-appropriate products for filaments, fibers and nonwovens for manmade fiber industry consumers. “Our decades of competence kicked in while we were developing the VacuFil. What Oerlikon Barmag brings to the table as a technological leader in the field of filament yarn spinning systems, BBE complements with considerable know- how in the area of extrusion and filtration and in systems construction and engineering!” stated Dr. Klaus Schäfer, CEO of BBE.

BBE is the exclusive supplier of extrusion filter technology for various manmade fiber industry polymers, particularly polyester, for its parent companies. As a result of its association with the Brückner and Oerlikon Textile groups, BBE is always aware of the requirements of the further-processing industry in terms of granulate and melt made from recycled polyester. It is also, and particularly, for this reason that the further development of post- consumer PET material and post-production PET material is of special interest to BBE’s parent companies and the reason for them bundling their recycling know-how to form the BB Engineering joint venture.

BBE is located at the same site in Remscheid as Oerlikon Barmag. When it comes to the downstream processes with the VarioFil spinning system — the basis for spinning high-end manmade POY and FDY fiber filaments for textile and industrial applications that has been tried-and-tested for decades now — BBE is already an established manufacturer of compact and flexible systems for the manmade fiber industry. VarioFil R spinning systems have been used for converting PET regranulates and — directly — PET flakes into POY/DTY for both textile and carpet applications. And spin-dyed products made from PET recycled granulates are also being produced using VarioFil systems. The development, construction and assembly of VacuFil and VarioFil units are carried out exclusively in Remscheid, very much in line with the company’s tried-and-tested ‘Made in Germany’ machine construction philosophy.

VacuFil premiered at the ITMA 2019 in Barcelona, garnering considerable attention at the trade fair. Since then, numerous tests have been conducted on the pilot system at the Remscheid site using authentic waste material supplied by various customers. The polyester recycled using the VacuFil has been successfully spun into POY and FDY. Various target viscosities and starting materials are not a problem for the VacuFil thanks to the innovative key component, the Visco+ vacuum filter. A reactor is not required. The VacuFil unites gentle large-scale filtration and swift intrinsic viscosity build-up for consistently-outstanding melt quality. The attached vacuum unit, which is automatically regulated between 1 and 30 mbar, removes volatile contamination, ensures a controlled IV increase and additionally achieves an ideal melt homogeneity, which is vital for the downstream spinning performance. Comprising an inline viscosity measuring unit connected to the vacuum system, the IV can be continuously and reliably adjusted. Hence, producers are able to generate the specific kind of recycled polyester they require for their application. The excellent degasification performance additionally relieves energy-intensive pre-drying.

With their modular structure and a performance spectrum of between 300 kilograms per hour (kg/h) and maximum 3,000 kg/h, VacuFil systems open up various possibilities for processing polyester waste. Bottle flakes, agglomerated spinning waste or a mixture of both can be processed into high-quality PET granulate or fed directly into downstream processes (i.e. the spinning plant). The entire recycling process is controlled and monitored by Oerlikon Barmag’s GUIDE system, guaranteeing the accustomed reliability. With an optional 3DD mixer, the market-proven mixing technology manufactured by BBE, producers can not only add additives to the melt, they can also easily change rPET ratios in the main melt from between 5 and 50 percent stream in order to comply with legal standards.

Customer requirements can be optimally catered for with various system configurations. “The close collaboration between the future operators of the system and our experts ensures that projects are successful. Tests carried out using authentic raw material supplied by customers in our small-scale production system guarantee a sophisticated process that complies with the mentioned requirements. With our process visualization system, customers always have a close eye on the broad operating window and the optimum operating point. And if this is occasionally not the case, our software supplies useful process optimization information. This saves costs and increases productivity!”, explains Matthias Schmitz, VacuFil product manager.

Posted November 18, 2020

Source: BB Engineering GmbH

Hologenix Adds Two Board Members

LOS ANGELES — November 17, 2020 — Hologenix, a material sciences company dedicated to developing products that amplify human potential including its flagship product Celliant®, is proud to announce the addition of Leslie Margolin and Michael Haynes to its board of managers. They join recent additions Kevin Blaney and Scott Carlin and each should have a dramatic impact on all aspects of the Hologenix brand and business.

Foremost on the Hologenix agenda is Celliant, the responsive textile that converts body heat into infrared energy and is a key ingredient in world-class brands spanning multiple industries. It is clinically proven to temporarily increase local circulation and improve cellular oxygenation for stronger performance, faster recovery and better sleep.

“Each new board member has incredible experience and accomplishments in diverse fields and they will be powerful additions to the leadership of Hologenix,” said Seth Casden, Hologenix CEO. “We innovate at the intersection of so many fields — health and wellness, material science, athletics, apparel and lifestyle, to name a few — and our new Board members will give us a holistic view of the marketplace, helping us best meet customer demand and our aggressive growth targets. We couldn’t be happier to have them join us.”

Leslie Margolin brings deep knowledge of healthcare systems. She has more than 30 years experience working to improve the quality, efficiency and accessibility of healthcare in a number of leadership positions including President of Cigna HealthCare of California,  President of Anthem Blue Cross (California), leader of hospital and health plan operations nationally for Kaiser Permanente, and currently as CEO of The Margolin Group.

From the human performance point of view, Michael Haynes certainly understands peak athletics — he’s a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the NFL 100 All-Time Team and a Super Bowl Champion during an iconic career with the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Raiders.

Recent board addition Kevin Blaney focuses on the financial perspective with a wealth of experience in the banking sector as Managing Director at Kroll Bond Rating Agency and a former Managing Director at Bank of America. Scott Carlin brings media and entertainment thinking to Hologenix’s leadership, having served as President of HBO Domestic Television Distribution, as well as Executive Vice President for Warner Bros. Domestic Television and Lorimar-Telepictures.

With these new additions to the Board, Hologenix has four industry leaders in disciplines that directly impact innovation and strategic growth, setting the stage to continue the realization of its mission to amplify human potential.

Posted November 18, 2020

Source: Hologenix

Filo Presents The 55th Edition On December 15, 2020

BIELLA, Italy — November 18, 2020 — On Tuesday, December 15, 2020, at 10.30 a.m., Filo presents its 55th edition in a webinar.

In the first part of the online meeting, Paolo Monfermoso, general manager of Filo, will show operators the news about the February 2021 appointment. The second part of the meeting will be reserved to the product development proposals elaborated for the 55th edition of Filo by Gianni Bologna, Filo’s creativity and style manager.

The presentation of the exhibition and the product development proposals will be the first stage of the path leading to the 55th edition of Filo, scheduled at MiCo – Milan Convention Centre – February 24-25, 2021.

Filo has chosen to host the presentation of December 15 through a webinar, partly because of the many limitations related to health emergency, but especially because the online event highlights the new way to present the product development proposals, which includes live speeches and previously registered videos.

The theme for the 55th edition of Filo chosen by Gianni Bologna (responsible for Filo’s creativity and style) is “Single tickets”, using three key words: re-creating, re-thinking and re-starting.

Posted November 18, 2020

Source: Filo

Suominen Increases Its Capabilities In The Americas By Upgrading One Of Its Production Lines in Bethune, S.C.

HELSINKI — November 17, 2020 — Suominen reports it will increase its capabilities in the Americas by upgrading one of its production lines in Bethune, S.C. The investment will widen Suominen’s offering to its customers in the United States in line with the Suominen strategy targeting growth and profitability.

“This investment allows us to produce new innovative, top quality products which are the result of joint product development with one of our major customers,” said Petri Helsky, president and CEO of Suominen.

The total value of the investment is approximatley 6 million euros ($7.1 million) and the investment project will be finalized during the second half of 2021.

Posted November 17, 2020

Source: Suominen

Champion® Athleticwear And Super Mario Bros.™ Level Up With Limited-Edition Anniversary Collection

WINSTON SALEM, N.C. — November 18, 2020 — Today, Champion Athleticwear, makers of authentic athletic apparel since 1919, launched a limited-edition capsule collection in partnership with Nintendo® to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. Available to shop globally, the new Champion x Super Mario Bros. collaboration features unique Super Mario Bros. graphics playfully displayed on classic Champion apparel.

The Champion x Super Mario Bros. collection uses some of the Japanese box art created for the original Super Mario Bros. and utilizes the vintage prints, reinventing them through a Champion lens. Using the authentic apparel brand’s products as the canvas, the collection puts a new twist on classic characters. From a monochrome Toad jumping atop Champion’s Cloud Dye Tee to Fire Mario bouncing fireballs across Champion’s Reverse Weave™ Hoodie, each apparel item taps into nostalgic facets of the popular video game. Plus, there’s even a nod to Mario’s well-known outfit with a super-limited quantity of red Super Fleece 3.0 Overalls, emblazoned with Champion’s script logo.

Champion celebrates teams across all facets of sports, redefining what ‘team’ looks like in today’s culture. While staying connected to one’s squad proves more important, albeit challenging, than ever this year, Champion wanted to reinforce the value of team with this playful collection. To commemorate the whole squad of beloved characters in Super Mario Bros., Champion utilized unique graphics including Mario, Princess Peach, Toad and Bowser throughout the product assortment, all against a Champion backdrop.

“As a brand that celebrated its centennial anniversary last year, Champion was thrilled to commemorate another iconic brand’s milestone,” said David Robertson, Director Champion Global Brand Marketing. “From the beginning, Super Mario Bros. has represented teamwork by introducing many beloved characters who work together for the greater good. Champion is a brand that celebrates teams, in any shape or form, and we’re excited to welcome the whole Super Mario Bros. crew to ours.”

Featuring notable Champion apparel items, the collection includes a variety of Reverse Weave hoodies, crews, joggers, anoraks and t-shirts, offering a unique play on beloved fan favorite characters and items. Spanning men, women and youth apparel, items range in price from $30 to $150. Starting November 18th, assorted pieces can be shopped in the United States on Champion.com and in various retail partners, including Finish Line, PacSun, Jimmy Jazz, Tilly’s, Zumiez and Shiekh Shoes, before it’s game over for this collection.

Posted November 17, 2020

Source: Champion

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Advanced Manufacturing Research Moves Wind Turbine Blades Toward Recyclability

GOLDEN, Colo. — November 17, 2020 — A new material for wind blades that can be recycled could transform the wind industry, rendering renewable energy more sustainable than ever before while lowering costs in the process.

The use of a thermoplastic resin has been validated at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Researchers demonstrated the feasibility of thermoplastic resin by manufacturing a 9-meter-long wind turbine blade using this novel resin, which was developed by a Pennsylvania-based company called Arkema Inc. Researchers have now validated the structural integrity of a 13-meter-long thermoplastic composite blade, also manufactured at NREL.

In addition to the recyclability aspect, thermoplastic resin can enable longer, lighter-weight, and lower-cost blades. Manufacturing blades using current thermoset resin systems requires more energy and manpower in the manufacturing facility, and the end product often winds up in landfills.

“With thermoset resin systems, it’s almost like when you fry an egg. You can’t reverse that,” said Derek Berry, a senior engineer at NREL. “But with a thermoplastic resin system, you can make a blade out of it. You heat it to a certain temperature, and it melts back down. You can get the liquid resin back and reuse that.”

Berry is co-author of a new paper titled, “Structural Comparison of a Thermoplastic Composite Wind Turbine Blade and a Thermoset Composite Wind Turbine Blade,” which appears in the journal Renewable Energy.

The other authors, also from NREL, are Robynne Murray, Ryan Beach, David Barnes, David Snowberg, Samantha Rooney, Mike Jenks, Bill Gage, Troy Boro, Sara Wallen, and Scott Hughes.

NREL has also developed a technoeconomic model to explore the cost benefits of using a thermoplastic resin in blades. Current wind turbine blades are made primarily of composite materials such as fiberglass infused with a thermoset resin. With an epoxy thermoset resin, the manufacturing process requires the use of additional heat to cure the resin, which adds to the cost and cycle time of the blades. Thermoplastic resin, however, cures at room temperature. The process does not require as much labor, which accounts for about 40 percent of the cost of a blade. The new process, the researchers determined, could make blades about 5 percent less expensive to make.

NREL is home to the Composites Manufacturing Education and Technology (CoMET) Facility at the Flatirons Campus near Boulder, Colorado. There, researchers design, manufacture, and test composite turbine blades. They previously demonstrated the feasibility of the thermoplastic resin system by manufacturing a 9-meter composite wind turbine blade. They followed that demonstration by manufacturing and structurally validating a 13-meter thermoplastic composite blade compared to a near-identical thermoset blade. This work, coupled with work by Arkema and other Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation partners, demonstrated advantages to moving away from the thermoset resin system.

“The thermoplastic material absorbs more energy from loads on the blades due to the wind, which can reduce the wear and tear from these loads to the rest of the turbine system, which is a good thing,” Murray said.

The thermoplastic resin could also allow manufactures to build blades on site, alleviating a problem the industry faces as it trends toward larger and longer blades. As blade sizes grow, so does the problem of how to transport them from a manufacturing facility.

This work was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Manufacturing Office. NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy’s primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. NREL is operated for the Energy Department by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC.

Posted November 17, 2020

Source: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

Gildan Listed On The 2020 Dow Jones Sustainability Index For The Eighth Consecutive Year

MONTREAL — November 17, 2020 — Gildan Activewear Inc. announced today that it has been listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index. This marks Gildan’s eighth consecutive year of inclusion on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI), recognizing the company’s success and commitment in areas related to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices. Gildan is the only apparel manufacturer to be included in the North American index.

“We are again pleased that Gildan has been included on the DJSI and that our scores reflect our continuous commitment to high achievement levels in all areas of ESG,” said Glenn Chamandy, president and CEO at Gildan. “Our eighth consecutive inclusion is the result of the hard work and dedication from our teams around the world to our vision of Gildan as a leader in ethical and sustainable apparel manufacturing. Despite a challenging global environment for all in 2020, I am particularly proud that Gildan continues to be recognized for its ability to manufacture responsibly, thanks to our unique vertically-integrated business model that allows us to care for our people, conserve the environment, and create stronger communities,” he continued.

“We congratulate Gildan for being included in the DJSI North America Index,” said Manjit Jus, global head of ESG Research and Data, S&P Global. “A DJSI distinction is a reflection of being a sustainability leader in your industry. With a record number of companies participating in the 2020 Corporate Sustainability Assessment and more stringent rules for inclusion this year, this sets your company apart and rewards your continued commitment to people and planet.”

This year, Gildan was able to increase its scores in all dimensions and showed significant improvement in areas related to labor practice indicators, operational eco-efficiency, and risk and crisis management. Gildan also achieved top score in the corporate governance, codes of business conduct, environmental reporting, social reporting, and corporate citizenship and philanthropy categories this year.

Environmental Reporting

In 2019, Gildan launched an updated Global Environmental & Energy Policy, which focuses on strengthening its environment and energy performance as one of its key priorities while embracing a proactive culture through the implementation of initiatives that build on its practices, guaranteeing that its environmental footprint is among the best in the industry. To ensure that the Company’s policy is upheld at all its operations and that it is in compliance with all applicable environmental laws and regulations in the countries where it operates, the Company has a comprehensive Environmental Management System (EMS). The EMS allows the Company to evaluate its procedures for managing critical areas such as water use and wastewater discharge, energy generation and consumption, chemical handling and storage, raw materials selection, waste generation, biodiversity protection, emissions and spill control. Over the years, Gildan has invested significantly in systems and technologies to closely measure, monitor, and optimize the operational sustainability of its facilities.

Social Reporting

Gildan is committed to adopting the best labor practices and working conditions to ensure that the human rights and dignity of all its employees and those of its business partners are respected. A such, in 2019, Gildan updated its Human Rights Policy to include the Company’s most important social issues and identify, understand, and address actual or potential adverse human rights risks in connection with its operations and extended supply chain. In every location where the Company operates, Gildan offers fair wages, competitive benefits, safe and healthy work environments, and professional and personal development opportunities. Gildan also has rigorous systems in place, like its grievance mechanisms, to identify, prevent, and mitigate the risk of human rights violations in its supply chain.

Code of Business Conduct

Gildan has a comprehensive framework governing corporate compliance policies including a Code of Ethics, a Code of Conduct, and an Anti-Corruption Policy, among other policies. The Gildan Code of Conduct guides the Company’s activities wherever it operates and is aligned with internationally recognized standards such as the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the Fair Labor Association (FLA). The Company has several processes and training in place to increase awareness and compliance with its codes across the organization and expects its business partners to adhere to the same ethical and business conduct standards that it has adopted internally.

Created jointly by S&P Dow Jones Indices and SAM, the Dow Jones Sustainability Index family is a best-in-class benchmark for sustainable business practices which are critical to generating long-term shareholder value. The Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index was established in September 2005 to track the performance of companies from Canada and the United States that lead the field in terms of corporate sustainability.

Posted November 17, 2020

Source: Gildan

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