Energy Efficiency In Textile Dyeing And Finishing — The German Textile Machinery Association (VDMA) Continues Technology Webtalks

FRANKFURT, Germany— August 20, 2020 — Energy efficiency will be the topic of VDMA’s next edition of Textile Machinery Webtalks on August 27, 2020, from 2-4 p.m. CEST.

Efficient energy management is of increasing importance in textile dyeing and finishing. Innovative machine designs with minimal water and energy consumption as well as the recovery and use of the heat energy produced in the processes represent valuable potential savings for any modern company.

The presenters at a glance:

  • Ludger Sommer, Thies, will show how to manage heat energy in wet processing.
  • Benjamin Schnabel, Brückner Textilmaschinen, is going to demonstrate how to make one of the most energy consuming processes in textile manufacturing more sustainable, eco-friendly and cost effective.
  • Fabian Buckenmayer, PLEVA Sensors and Controls, will inform about the specific opportunities for an energy-efficient textile production via measuring and controlling process parameters.

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

The webtalk series is very well received by the textile industry. During the first three webtalks, VDMA welcomed almost 900 registered participants from more than 50 countries.

Registration is still possible via this link (no participation fee): https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8777035596205356300

Further technology webtalks on other topics are in preparation. Please check www.machines-for-textiles.com/webtalk for updates.

Posted August 20, 2020

Source: VDMA

Nylstar Introduces Yarn Made From INVISTA Recycled Nylon 6,6 Polymer With Global Recycled Standard Certification

BLANES, Spain — August 20, 2020 — Meryl® yarn can now be produced with the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certification using INVISTA recycled nylon 6,6 polymer. Though containing 50 percent or more recycled content, the yarn will retain the world-renowned quality for which Meryl® is known.

Invista sources post-industrial nylon 6,6 material from its plant in Kingston, Canada, where fibers for airbags and carpets are produced. Through its proprietary process, Invista converts post-industrial fiber waste to pellet form and supplies it to Nylstar for spinning, enabling some of the world’s top fashion houses to deliver sustainable garments to the market. According to Alfonso Cirera, CEO and president of Nylstar: “We, through our Research Center for Advanced Recycled Materials, are the first to commercialize these recycled materials for use in fine denier yarns for the athleisure market.”

Recycled Meryl yarns are available with additional sustainability solutions, including
 dope-dye colors, solvent and silicone-free, zero microplastic pollution, and natural stretch without elastane. These yarn technologies were born from Nylstar’s commitment to reduce or eliminate the use of water, energy, and chemicals while promoting 100-percent recyclability in garment production. Nylstar is also currently working with retailers to rapidly develop collection and processing infrastructure to promote post-consumer recycling of garments made with Meryl yarns.

According to Mark Delaplane, vice president of Product Line Strategy at Invista: “Nylstar has the knowledge and technology to convert recycled polymer into specialty yarns. This is an exciting example of a win-win solution and preferred customer relationship that promotes environmental stewardship while delivering high quality products to the fashion industry. Thanks to our work with Invista, we can now offer our brand partners a new way to transition to closed-loop solutions without compromising the performance, hand-feel and durability consumers expect from Meryl yarns.”

Posted August 20, 2020

Source: Nylstar

Nufabrx Launches Shea Butter-Infused Face Mask

CONOVER, N.C. — August 20, 2020 — The makers of TheraMask bring you Soliscia by Nufabrx. The first of its kind and intended to keep you feeling safe and your skin feeling smooth. Nufabrx used its patented technology to infuse shea butter into each individual fiber, ensuring that wearers receive continued even moisture throughout each use. The mask is designed for comfort and breathability, while simultaneously delivering the well-known, potent moisturizer directly to the skin.

Nufabrx Founder and CEO Jordan Schindler saw the need to expand on its offerings to provide comfort to Americans as masks became mandated. As a call action to combat the redness, irritation and “maskne” some are now experiencing due to daily wear, Solscia by Nufabrx aims to revive and rejuvenate dried out skin. Soliscia provides superior filtration properties and relief through active ingredients that are embedded directly into fibers. Like its predecessor, Soliscia is also copper powered, reusable, and machine washable. All products are developed and produced in the USA.

Copper has been shown to be a natural deterrent on bacterial growth, while shea butter may improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. These face masks are designed to help reduce the spread of germs through the natural benefits of copper while moisturizing the skin; the fabric also creates a healthier environment for the wearer by reducing facial contamination. The products are durable enough to be machine washed and dried. Soliscia masks are environmentally friendly and are not intended to be thrown away daily like disposable masks.

To commemorate the launch of Solicia, Nufabrx is hosting a three-city event in San Francisco, Philadelphia and Charlotte to introduce customers to the new innovative product.

Solscia will be priced at $29.99 and available for purchase at www.Nufabrx.com and at the Dermatology offices of Blackhawk Plastic Surgery and Medspa, Bloom Facial Plastic Surgery, and Charlotte Plastic Surgery starting Thursday, August 20, 2020.

Posted August 20, 2020

New Monfortex Line Part Of A Long-Term Vision For German Dyer and Finisher Kettelhack GmbH

MÖNCHENGLADBACH, Germany — August 18, 2020 — Kettelhack GmbH — a Germany-based dyer and finisher of monochrome fabrics for high-quality and durable workwear and bed linen — has this year retired its existing Monforts sanforizing line after 35 years of daily service, replacing it with a new one.

The first line was installed in 1985 during a decisive time for the company.

Taking the helm in the early 1980s, Jan Kettelhack — the current CEO, owner and great grandson of Heinrich Kettelhack who founded the company back in 1874 — made a number of decisions that have secured its success over the following decades.

In 1982 Kettelhack had to vacate its existing plant in the city of Rheine due to urban development restrictions and despite a general sense of crisis in the European textile industry at that time, opted to relocate and build a new highly automated plant that was not reliant on mechanical and personnel-intensive processes. This was aligned with a greater focus on competitive international sales.

From 1986, the company’s proficiency as a specialist in solid-color textiles led to workwear textiles becoming a bedrock of the business. Continuous investments in machinery and technical equipment have resulted in a fully integrated and rationalized single source site dedicated solely to what the company does best — the expert dyeing and finishing of textiles.

Crucial process steps

These stages in the textile value-added chain, Kettelhack has observed, are crucial to the quality of a final product in workwear — whether it stands the test in everyday use, how comfortable it is, and how many washes it can withstand.

Central to this is the sanforizing process, which preshrinks a fabric by compressing it prior to washing. This limits any residual or further shrinkage in a made-up finished garment to less than 1 percent, to ensure perfect comfort and fit over an extended lifetime.

“We certainly can’t complain about the performance of the old Monfortex sanforizing line which gave us so many uninterrupted years of service, but certain spare parts for it were becoming increasingly hard to source, the control unit was becoming a little unstable and we couldn’t risk potential interruptions to our production schedule,” said Kettelhack Plant Manager Hendrik Pleimann. “In many ways, the new Monfortex sanforizer is much the same as the old one in terms of its mechanical reliability and robust construction, but of course today’s drives are much more efficient, and when it comes to the automation features and control units — and the data we can generate and analyse for increasing efficiency — that’s a whole new world.”

Qualitex 800

The 2-meter-wide Monfortex line benefits from the latest Qualitex 800 control system which allows all parameters to be easily automated via the 24-inch color touchscreen, including production speed, control of all fabric feed devices, rotation spray or steaming cylinder options, the width of the stretching field and the rubber belt pressure.

The integrated Compactomat system allows a continuous indication and control of the shrinkage values and the temperatures of the shrinking cylinder and felt calender. Up to 10,000 separate process parameter records can be generated and stored by the data manager.

Full line management can be optimized via the batch-specific calculation of all process material consumption and water and electricity use, with any standstill times analyzed and immediately corrected for the future.

Any further assistance required is available via Monforts Teleservice, with direct connection to technicians and virtual access to machine analysis.

Professional

Commissioning of the new Monfortex line at Kettelhack commenced in January and it was fully operational in a relatively short time.

“This was a very professional installation provided by the Monforts team with whom we have a very good relationship dating back many years, and everyone knew what was required from both sides,” Pleimann said. “Our operators have found the new line very user friendly and we are very pleased with how everything proceeded so smoothly. An unexpected benefit is that the new line is also a lot quieter, of course, which is something our operatives are appreciating.”

Key features of the Monfortex line are the proven fabric preparation, weft straightening and spreading units, prior to the compressive shrinkage machine with a 750 millimeter (mm) shrinking cylinder, and a felt calender equipped with 2,000-mm-diameter drying cylinder. The line also features an integrated automatic grinding unit.

Customer service

Kettelhack is processing primarily cotton and polyester woven fabrics, with lyocell becoming increasingly popular in workwear for its softness and comfort.

As part of its customer service, the company stocks more than a million meters of greige fabric and at least 1.2 million meters of finished and rolled standard fabric in its warehouse at any one time, with a further 750,000 meters permanently in production.

While a significant cost, this commitment ensures Kettelhack customers can be fully flexible and rely on it as a partner.

“As a family-run company with around a hundred employees, Kettelhack operates very differently to bigger businesses which have to constantly consider their immediate quarterly profits,” Pleimann concluded. “The thinking at Kettelhack is in terms of the next twenty years and ensuring that the business will be just as successful for the next generation as it is today. We also have a very flat organizational structure in which everyone is involved and takes an active part, which makes it a very nice place to work.”

Posted August 18, 2020

Source: A. Monforts Textilmaschinen GmbH & Co. KG

American Fiber & Finishing Introduces The Aerospace Industry’s Only AMS 3819D-Compliant Wiper

ALBEMARLE, N.C. — August 12, 2020 — American Fiber & Finishing Inc. (AF&F), a provider of industrial gauze and nonwoven wipers, has introduced a knit wiper that meets the updated AMS 3819D standard. Published by SAE International, AMS 3819D is the aerospace industry quality standard for wipers used for cleaning aircraft primary and secondary structural surfaces. To meet the standard, cloths must meet rigorous specifications and manufacturing requirements.

The wipers are 100-percent cotton and are Class 2, Grade A, Form 1. They are manufactured in a controlled process and not exposed to potential contaminates like silicone, oils, and grease or made from recycled textiles. The AMS 3819D specification eliminates recycled and reclaimed materials, thus ensuring a clean-wiped surface to which paint will adhere. The standard also requires all materials to be tested, approved and listed on AMS QPL.

“We are committed to maintaining exceptional standards of quality and innovation in the aerospace industry and in all of the industries we serve,” says Paul Robichaud, president and chief quality officer. “Our focus on quality assurance, integrity and innovative R&D have made us a leader in the aerospace wiper industry. The introduction of our AMS 3819D wipers demonstrates AF&F’s on-going commitment to excellence.”

The product is an exact cut wiper measuring 15 by 15 inches. The exact cut reduces waste and disposal costs. The AMS 3819D-compliant wipers are available and in-stock immediately to meet the updated standard, which went into effect on July 1, 2020.

Posted August 18, 2020

Source: American Fiber & Finishing

Dancing Leopard Selects Coats Digital VisionPLM To Support Rapid Growth

WALSALL, England — August 13, 2020 — Fast-growing womenswear brand Dancing Leopard looks to the future with Coats Digital’s Product Lifecycle Management solution, VisionPLM, to optimize, accelerate and connect its collection management, product development, and sourcing processes, increasing visibility, coordination and control.

Created in 2009, Dancing Leopard is a womenswear brand inspired heavily by its Indian and Balearic heritage. Through its garments, that uniquely combine vibrant prints with flowing fabrics, and its engaging digital presence, Dancing Leopard aims to inspire and empower women to be confident.

The garments are produced in a small factory in Delhi of which both companies share a long term relationship, while importantly, ensuring fair-trade standards are met.

Supporting Growth

The team at Dancing Leopard recognized that it had outgrown its largely manual systems and processes which had successfully got the company to this point, but were becoming increasingly time consuming and unable to provide the level of visibility, coordination and control necessary for the rapidly growing business. To help provide firm foundations for continued growth in the key areas of product development and sourcing, the team at Dancing Leopard searched for a PLM partner that could provide the essential combination of PLM functionality and industry best practice expertise.

“The journey we’ve been on to get the brand to where it is today has been amazing, but to support accelerated growth and to respond to the challenges of the industry, we needed to invest in a PLM solution,” said Jade Hildreth, founder and director at Dancing Leopard. “One particular objective is to improve the efficiency of the team, and replacing numerous and time-consuming spreadsheets with best practice digitized processes. This will reduce firefighting and instead allow time to focus on customer centric products, prints and fabrics, and key initiatives that will make a significant difference to the brand and the environment. In addition to this, process improvements, seeing ‘one version of the truth’ and closer supply chain management, mean that we will be able to plan and manage far more effectively. This will reduce the pressure on our supply chain partners and ensure that products meet delivery windows, and reach our customers far faster.”

VisionPLM is a fashion specific web-based solution which is tailored to suit the evolving needs of all businesses sizes, and is available on a Software as a Subscription (SaaS) basis, removing the need for additional IT hardware, infrastructure and expertise and allowing the solution to be scaled.

Dancing Leopard’s VisionPLM solution will include modules covering key business processes from initial design of products and prints; through development, sampling and costing to material and vendor sourcing and management; and end to end critical path management.

“It’s great to be working with Dancing Leopard, who are such an inspiring brand and have exciting plans for the future!” said Elliot Hurst, business development executive at Coats Digital. “Through several discussions we were quickly able to develop a strong understanding of their key business requirements, and it became quickly apparent that VisionPLM is a solution ideally suited to the immediate and future needs of their business. We look forward to working with the Dancing Leopard team on their digital transformation journey; and are confident that the unique ‘functional footprint’ of VisionPLM, from design inception to delivery, coupled with our wealth of industry experience will ensure a successful project.”

“Before VisionPLM, aligning material availability to production was a real challenge, which meant that we would be more reactive than proactive,” Hildreth said. “With VisionPLM, we have visibility of material stocks, designs and orders in a single solution, enabling us to quickly react to new trends and prints off catwalk and inspiration trips, and accelerate these through the product development cycle into production. Moreover, material requirement planning modules ensure that we are purchasing the right amounts of fabrics, benefiting from reduced purchasing costs, while integrated critical path management tools enable us to seamlessly coordinate this whole process.”

Posted August 18, 2020

Source: Coats Digital

Portman, Peters Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Require The Defense Logistics Agency To Issue Long-Term Contracts For American-Made PPE

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) introduced bipartisan legislation that will strengthen efforts to onshore production of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the United States by requiring the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to issue long-term contracts for American-made PPE. Reshoring production will ensure American workers, students, health care professionals, and more have the PPE they need as the economy continues to reopen. Domestic production of PPE supplies will also create manufacturing American jobs.

“The American people should not have to rely so heavily on foreign countries for personal protective equipment, and that’s why we must bring PPE production back to our shores,” said Senator Portman. “When I talk to PPE manufacturers about re-shoring this production to America, the number one thing I hear about is the need for long-term contracts. Multi-year contracts give producers the certainty to know that their investment in the United States will be worth it, because the government will be there to buy the PPE they produce. By re-shoring production of PPE, we can continue to support a safe and effective reopening of our schools, workplaces and the economy and I urge my colleagues to support this important bipartisan legislation.”

“Our nation’s dependence on foreign manufacturers for PPE, such as masks, gloves, and respirators, is a serious national security risk,” said Senator Peters, ranking member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. “I raised concerns about this problem in a report last year, and the shortages caused by the Coronavirus pandemic only underscore the need to incentivize American manufacturers to produce these critical supplies in the United States. Workers and companies in Michigan and across the country know how to manufacture great products, and this bipartisan bill will help provide certainty for American companies to create jobs, make PPE and strengthen our ability to respond to this and future pandemics.”

“We want to thank Senators Portman and Peters for introducing the ‘Make PPE in America Act’ to help onshore critical PPE production,” said NCTO President and CEO Kim Glas. “By using the purchasing power of the federal government to issue long-term contracts to American companies and its workforce, this legislation will ensure vital investment in the United States for years to come, while helping our nation become self-sufficient in lifesaving PPE materials.”

“We fully support the courageous and forward-thinking ‘Make PPE in America Act’ proposed by our own Michigan Senator Gary Peters and Senator Rob Portman from Ohio,” said Lance Keziah, CEO of Crypton. “As a Michigan-based textile manufacturer, we have seen decline across the entire domestic industry … an industry critical to PPE. This bill will provide long-term contracts to American companies of varying scale necessary to its production while supporting our essential workforce. This legislation will provide investment in the United States for years to come, insuring that our nation remains self-sufficient in supplying lifesaving PPE materials. Supporting American textile manufacturing means a more stable economy; affordable, sustainable PPE, and a healthy workforce.”

Posted August 18, 2020

Source: United States Senator For Ohio Rob Portman

Economic Development Organization 401 Tech Bridge Completes $6 Million Funding Round — Includes The Addition Of Advanced Materials And Technology Center In Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH, RI — August 18, 2020 — 401 Tech Bridge, an economic development organization that connects manufacturers, small businesses, research and development entities, trade organizations and state and defense agencies to collaborate in the development of new advanced materials and technologies, today announced the completion of a $6 million funding round. A recently secured $2.3 million implementation grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) rounds out the capital raise to support the launch of 401 Tech Bridge, which includes the addition of a new 17,000-square-foot Advanced Materials and Technology Center in Portsmouth, RI.

The EDA grant will cover construction costs for the new Advanced Materials and Technology Center, expected to open in the first half of 2021. Additional funding to create the 401 Tech Bridge organization was provided by the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP); the Office of Naval Research; the Rhode Island Innovation Campus; the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation; The Rhode Island Foundation; and the van Beuren Charitable Foundation.

“We are thrilled to be awarded this EDA grant that will further accelerate 401 Tech Bridge’s collaborative technology commercialization, increase jobs and aid the regional economic recovery,” said Christian Cowan, Chief Operating Officer of the University of Rhode Island Research Foundation, who conceived of the 401 Tech Bridge and brought its team and funders together. “Since its inception, 401 Tech Bridge has been leveraging its relationships to connect technologies to the organizations that can commercialize them—including being the first site to partner with the Office of Naval Research’s Naval X Tech Bridge initiative to expand collaboration and innovation among the Navy, academia and regional companies. Ultimately this helps to get advanced materials and technology innovations into the hands of users, for the benefit of all.”

As the first center of its kind in Rhode Island, the Portsmouth facility will include lab space for prototyping, testing and proof-of-concept builds; collaborative space for industry, government and academia to work with partners on design, modeling, testing and digital verification; a convertible open meeting space for presentations, training seminars, and events; and office space. Companies will be able to work with cross-functional teams to develop new ideas, and large entities can sponsor projects that leverage the expertise of small companies, universities and others. This site will help support and accelerate the growth of three key industries in the state of Rhode Island and its surrounding region—composites, textiles and undersea technology—and is expected to create 400 high-value Rhode Island jobs.

“Composites and textiles connect our past and future in Rhode Island’s economy,” said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, who worked with industry and academic partners to convene both the Composites Alliance of Rhode Island and the Rhode Island Textiles Innovation Network, and advocated for this 401 Tech Bridge grant. “This award is a milestone in our years-long collaboration within and between the two industries. The funding comes in time to boost our economy with local job growth in industries with a storied history, now uniquely positioned for innovation, growth and success.”

The new Advanced Materials and Technology Center facility will help further the ongoing work that 401 Tech Bridge has implemented on behalf of its partner organizations. It will substantially add to the capabilities of the newly opened 190,000-square-foot Fascitelli Center for Advanced Engineering at the University of Rhode Island’s Kingston campus, which facilitates transformational research, prototyping, testing and validation of concepts and engagement with industry partners, faculty researchers and students on sponsored projects.

“This is another positive step toward developing a strong, sustainable technological ecosystem here in Rhode Island,” added Senator Jack Reed. “This federal funding will help 401 Tech Bridge and its partners build on their success and attract more opportunities for entrepreneurship, investment, and innovation.”

401 Tech Bridge provides opportunities and resources to galvanize advanced materials and technology commercialization efforts and quickly meet changing demands for national defense, infrastructure and healthcare. The organization was formed to create a center of excellence to connect innovative companies to business opportunities—facilitating collaboration across industry, government and academia; opening R&D pathways; leveraging Rhode Island’s leadership in advanced materials and technology; navigating complex business relationships; and accelerating manufacturing development. It serves as a super-connector for Rhode Island companies that are developing leading-edge advanced materials and technologies; governmental organizations and major corporations with funded projects that call for advanced materials and technologies; and the region’s academic institutions who have related knowledge base and research capabilities. By facilitating these unprecedented connections and collaboration throughout its network, 401 Tech Bridge acts as a one-stop resource to help companies accelerate the journey from concept to prototype to commercialization while making the transfer of technology faster, easier and more collaborative.

Posted August 18, 2020

Source: 401 Tech Bridge 

Oxford Industries Announces New Independent Director: Milford W. Mcguirt Appointed To Board Of Directors

ATLANTA — August 18, 2020 — Oxford Industries, Inc. today announced the appointment of Milford W. McGuirt to the Company’s Board of Directors. Mr. McGuirt retired as Managing Partner of KPMG’s Atlanta Office and Mid-South Region.  He held a number of leadership positions during his 33-year career at KPMG, including as National Audit Sector Leader and National Industry Leader for the firm’s higher education practice. Prior to joining KPMG, he served as an audit manager with Coopers & Lybrand. He is a Certified Public Accountant and received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Western Michigan University.

“With more than 40 years of experience in public accounting and audit services, Milford brings valuable financial expertise and strategic leadership to our company,” commented Thomas C. Chubb III, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Oxford Industries.  “We are delighted to welcome him to our Board and look forward to benefiting from his experience, judgment and wisdom.”

Posted August 18, 2020

Source: Oxford Industries, Inc.

Inkcups Introduces Transparent Pin Curing For Helix® Printers

DANVERS, Mass. — August 18, 2020 — Inkcups announced the release of a new feature for Helix® digital cylinder printers — Transparent Pin Curing (TPC).

TPC is a specialized system that enables ultraviolet (UV) inkjet printing on clear products such as plastic bottles, glassware, spirit bottles and wine bottles, without the need to add a UV-blocking agent into the vessel. Traditionally, UV inkjet printing on clear vessels requires a stuffing agent known as a “foxtail” to block the UV light from curing the ink and damaging the print heads. With this new patent-pending technology, containers remain uncontaminated and sterile on the inside and print head life is protected. As an added benefit, removal of this extra step thanks to the TPC system also streamlines the production process.

“We have been developing and testing this new feature for some time and are excited to bring it to market. The revolutionary transparent pin curing system will simplify production, improve efficiency and is completely retrofittable to our fleet of Helix digital cylinder printers. It makes a significant difference for transparent items,” said Ben Adner, CEO of Inkcups.

The proprietary TPC system is available as a field-upgradable retrofit for existing Helix printers or on new Helix machines. These include the Helix Digital Cylinder Printer and Helix® Hi-Fi Photorealistic Rotary UV Printer, which was released in 2019. Recognized in the industry as very fast and reliable machines, they are ideal for use in print-on-demand, short and medium volume drinkware printing applications. Typical applications include full color imaging on glassware, stainless steel tumblers, plastic bottles and much more.

The TPC system feature is engineered and manufactured in the U.S. and available for order now.

Posted August 18, 2020

Source: Inkcups

1...996997998...2,629Page 997 of 2,629

Sponsors

Breaking News

Load more

Digital Issue

2026 Quarterly Issue Number I

View Latest Digital Issue

FEATURED ARTICLES

© Copyright 2017 Textile Industries Media Group, LLC.