CARBON FIBRE RECYCLING & REUSE CONFERENCE 2009 REVIEW

Steve Kay reports from Hamburg

The first ever Carbon Fibre Recycling and Reuse Conference, organised by Intertech Pira, was held in the Bergedorf district of Hamburg in early November. Over 50 delegates from all over the world attended the one and a half day conference, which featured over a dozen presentations on subjects such as an overview of the different recycling technologies available, operational challenges, and end user perspectives.

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Karl Mayer moves seamlessly into New Year

Obertshausen – Karl Mayer is holding an open-house event to demonstrate the DJ seamless machine series on 26 and 27 of January 2010 at its Obertshausen headquarters.

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ITMA 2011 expands offer with spotlight on innovation

Barcelona – CEMATEX, the European Committee of Textile Machinery Manufacturers, says that ITMA 2011, to be held in Barcelona, Spain from 22 to 29 September 2011, will be the world’s most comprehensive, one-stop platform for textile and garment makers. Online application for exhibition space will be available from 30 November 2009.

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US demand for nonwovens to increase by 5% per annum to 2013

London - According to a new report ‘Nonwovens US industry: forecasts for 2013 & 2018’, demand for nonwoven roll goods is projected to increase 5.0 percent per year through to 2013, driven by gains in key markets such as filtration, construction, wipes, medical disposables and adult incontinence.

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MBO at Oerlikon Enka Tecnica saves jobs

Übach-Palenberg - Oerlikon Textile is to focus on the component business and is selling Oerlikon Enka Tecnica based in Übach-Palenberg, in line with a management buyout.

“This is the optimum solution for all parties concerned. Oerlikon Textile Components is concentrating on its core competences. Due to the management buyout, all 110 jobs will be preserved, the new company has the possibility to operate in the market with more flexibility and latitude“, says Thomas Babacan, CEO of Oerlikon Textile and COO of the Oerlikon group.

The buyer of Oerlikon Enka Tecnica with the German locations in Übach-Palenberg (North Rhine Westphalia) and Gröbzig (Saxony-Anhalt) is Uwe Gaedike Beteiligung GmbH, Bonn. The transaction has been concluded with effect from 25 November 2009, the company said.

Enka Tecnica GmbH will continue to concentrate on the production of parts and components for the construction of high precision machines. The company provides customers in the spinning and nonwoven sector with individual solutions for spinnerets and special parts for the production of manmade fibres and nonwoven fabrics. In addition, Enca Tecnica carries out spinneret maintenance and offers an increasingly wide product portfolio in the micro product sector with special surface finishing, for example for the medical sector. Further close cooperation with the Oerlikon Textile units is expected.

Contifibre launches anti-laddering solutions

Casaloldo - According to Italian polyamide yarn producer Contifibre, laddering is one of the most frustrating and annoying things experienced by those who wear tights or stockings. With this in mind the company launched a development project more than two years ago to develop and commercialise a series of innovative yarns for the production of fine denier anti-ladder hosiery.

The result was Lycra Fusion covered yarns and Contifil polyamide, both of which are identical in their aim but completely different in their appearance in order to meet the various demands of hosiery consumers.

Lycra Fusion covered yarns were developed in close collaboration with Invista and recently launched at the Lycra Legwear Forum in Verona, Italy. The covered yarns have a matt cosmetic appearance with exceptional fit and comfort, Contifibre says and under the correct hosiery finishing conditions the special bi-component structure of this unique elastane reacts to bond each stitch so ensuring exceptional resistance to laddering, the company adds.

Lycra Fusion is based on Invista’s new patent-pending technology where the bi-component technology delivers fusibility with superior stress-strain performance functions helping to prevent runs whilst maintaining stretch and recovery benefits. According to Invista, Lycra Fusion fibre not only helps make hosiery ladder resistant, but it also improves the durability and wear life of legwear, delivers exceptional fit and maintains shape retention, can be adopted by hosiery makers on commercial machines and processes and provides a uniform appearance to hosiery.

Contifil was a direct development by Contifibre at its Contifashion development centre and is designed for those customers looking for elegant sheen and high level of transparency. Here too a bi-component yarn structure locks in the stitches during the hosiery finishing process to give a ladder resistant bright garment.

Contifibre says that thanks to these developments women no-longer need to live in fear of finding a place to change their tights or resort to the classic nail polish fix.

DyStar to maintain worldwide operations

Preliminary insolvency administrator Miguel Grosser informs staff

Employees of GmbH and foreign subsidiaries to keep job after institution of insolvency proceedings

Negotiations with potential investors continue

25 November 2009, Frankfurt - Operations at DyStar Textilfarben GmbH will continue even after the anticipated institution of insolvency proceedings next week.

“We are in a position to continue the activities of DyStar Textilfarben GmbH, i.e. the global supply of dyes, additives and services for the textile and leather processing industries, for the time being. This allows us to keep on the around 70 permanent employees of DyStar Textilfarben GmbH in Frankfurt. Maintaining the production and sales activities of our still solvent foreign subsidiaries also means that over 2,000 employees there will for now keep their jobs,“ the preliminary insolvency administrator appointed by the Frankfurt District Court, Miguel Grosser from the law firm Jaffé Rechtsanwälte Insolvenzverwalter, said today at a staff meeting in Frankfurt-Höchst.

Grosser informed staff at DyStar Textilfarben GmbH of the latest progress in the preliminary insolvency proceedings and the search for investors. “We are still in negotiations both to find a general solution for the German DyStar operations that filed for insolvency on 28 September 2009 and to work out individual solutions. We want to be clear as early as we can about which continuation concepts, if any, are feasible, “Grosser summarised.

Once the insolvency proceedings have commenced as expected on 1 December 2009, DyStar Textilfarben GmbH will have to generate the wages and salaries of its employees on its own again. The entitlement of employees to payment from the insolvency fund ends after November. “We have sufficient liquidity for the moment to continue paying the wages and salaries on time,“ Grosser emphasised.

In the DyStar group, DyStar Textilfarben GmbH is responsible for the purchasing, administration and global distribution of products. The four German production facilities in Leverkusen, Brunsbüttel, Geretsried and Ludwigshafen are combined in its sister company DyStarTextilfarben GmbH & Co. Deutschland KG, which filed for insolvency at the same time. The Frankfurt District Court appointed Dr. Stephan Laubereau from Pluta Rechtsanwalts GmbH as the preliminary insolvency administrator for these companies.

DyStar still seeking investor

Frankfurt - The preliminary insolvency administration of DyStar Textilfarben GmbH & Co. Deutschland KG today set up a works meeting to inform the employees on the current state of the investor process at the following locations: Frankfurt am Main, Leverkusen, Ludwigshafen, Geretsried and Brunsbüttel.

“There is no definite investor commitment at the moment“, explained the preliminary administrator Dr. Stephan Laubereau. “However, the search for a suitable investor continues. Investors can buy individual solutions or the comprehensive package.”

Employees will be released from work next week, if no investor comes forward before December 1st 2009. “This step is necessary because the insolvency administration has to bear all wages and salaries from 1st December. That is not an option due to the cash position,” Mr Lauerbrau said.

The release of employees is revocable if an investor is found. In addition the insolvency administrator explained that he is checking the possibility of an interim employment society.

Henri Lloyd to offer recyclable used polyester garments

Osaka - Teijin Fibers Limited announced today a program in the marine clothing industry for collecting and recycling used garments, launched in collaboration with Henri Lloyd, a major global brand of marine apparel based in the United Kingdom. Recycling will be carried out with Teijin’s Eco Circle, an environmentally friendly closed-loop system incorporating technology for the chemical recycling of polyester, which was introduced in 2002.

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Electronic flat machine shipments buck the trend

Wilmslow – According to a new report from Textiles Intelligence called ‘World Markets for Textile Machinery, 2009: Part 3 - Knitted Fabric Manufacture’, 2008 was a poor year for the international knitting machinery market as a whole. Global deliveries of single jersey and double jersey circular knitting machinery to the world’s mills declined, as did shipments of hand knitting and semi-automatic knitting machinery and shipments of electronic flatbed knitting machinery. However, according to the report, global shipments of electronic flatbed machinery were still the second highest on record, following two consecutive years of strong growth.

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Lenzing showcases renewable fibres for corporate wear

Lenzing - At this month’s A+A in Düsseldorf Lenzing presented its range of fibres made from renewable wood raw material for corporate and protective clothing. The company reports that its Lenzing FR and Tencel fibres have been very successful this year and are being used to an increasing extent in textiles for corporate clothing.

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New TenCate Defender M products

Almelo - TenCate Protective Fabrics is to launch new fabrics in its TenCate Defender M collection at the opening of Milipol 2009 in Paris today. According to the company, a new combination of fibres and an innovative dyeing method, now allow the colours navy blue and black to be produced.

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Knit-Rite expands medical hosiery business

Raleigh, NC – Developer and manufacturer of knitted medical textiles Knit-Rite Inc. is to expand its facility in Richmond County by investing more than $1.1 million at its plant in Ellerbe. The company specializes in circular and flat knitted medical socks and hosiery and the expansion will initially create 24 new jobs.

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Heathcoat spacer keeps police and military cool

Tiverton, Devon – UK manufacturer of warp and weft knitted fabrics, Heathcoat Fabrics Ltd, have introduced Coolmax into their collection of high tech spacer fabrics, which offer maximum and permanent evaporative cooling to users such as police or military. The next-to-skin side of the spacer fabrics are made from Coolmax polyester fibres from Advansa with an increased surface area. The fibres which have unique shaped channels in their cross section, create a transport system that pulls moisture away from the skin to the surface of the fabric and ensures that it evaporates fast, thereby helping to maintain a balanced body temperature.

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Performance hits it big at A+A

Sabine Anton-Katzenbach reports from Duseldorf

For many years the biannual A+A tradeshow in Düsseldorf, Germany has been playing an important role in setting the trends for work wear and safety clothing. In 2009 the fair once again proved its prospective character by emphasizing the latest tendencies for the sector. Product development in the fabric and garment manufacturing industries are being strongly affected by increasing wearing comfort, high durability and the best possible protection at work, as well as by fashionable looks and a commitment to sustainability.

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New combined protection body armour from TenCate

Almelo – TenCate Advanced Armour is introducing new versions of its TenCate Pro-Tector body armour at this week’s Milipol 2009 which takes place in Paris from 17-20 November. The Netherlands based company says that the new variants will offer the best available combined protection against hand gun projectiles, knives, spikes and fragment blasts as well as hypodermic needles.

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Rescheduling of shipments lifts Q3 revenues at Benetton

16 November 2009, Ponzano - Benetton Group Board of Directors approved the company’s consolidated results for the first nine months of 2009 and reviewed progress made in the achievement of the objectives set out in its reorganization plan.

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Biggest ever IDEA10 Conference & Expo

Cary, NC – INDA has announced that over 70% of the exhibit space for its IDEA10 International Engineered Fabrics Conference & Expo, one of the most important industry events for 2010 is already sold. INDA advises companies interested in participating in the triennial event to act quickly.

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FEATURE: Karl Mayer’s tailor made solutions for the denim sector

Obertshausen - The current worldwide financial crisis has led to consolidation of the international textile machinery building sector and European companies are now faced with with a whole set of new challenges. Here we look at how the Karl Mayer Group is reacting to this changing market situation by developing a new generation of economical, eco-friendly warp preparation machinery.

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Dienes appoints new Technical Manager

Overath – Mr Josef Nelles has been appointed Technical Manager with responsibility for CAD, Manufacture and Process Planning and Development, effective 1 November 2009.

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World's first nanofibre golf gloves

Osaka - Teijin Fibers Limited has announced that it has begun to market its high-strength polyester nanofibre Nanofront for use in the palms of golf gloves manufactured and marketed by Acushnet Japan Inc. under the FootJoy brand. Called Nanolock, the new product is the world's first golf glove to use nanofibre material, and will be available in Japan from November.

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coldblack wins Textile Design Award 2009

Langenthal / Sevelen – Schoeller Technologies AG has been awarded the Textile Design Award 2009 by the Swiss Textiles & Zumsteg Foundation for its sun reflector and UV protector textile finishing technology ‘coldblack’.

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Bangladesh’s knitwear exports suffer

Dhaka – According to The Daily Star, data released by Bangladesh’s Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) this week showed that the country’s knitwear sector earned $1.7 billion in the July-September quarter, a 9.74% decline compared to the same period last year. All of the country’s major export earners, including home textiles and raw jute, also witnessed sharp drops in export earnings, the report said.

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Manchester mill raided for illegal workers

Manchester - According to a report by the BBC, a number of people suspected of working illegally at a Manchester’s Majid House knitwear manufacturing mill have been arrested during a raid by the UK Border Agency. A total of 21 men and women believed to be of Pakistani and Afghan origin were arrested and are now being interviewed by officials regarding their immigration status.

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Knitters and brands warm to cool fibre

Hamm – Turkish owned polyester producer Advansa says its Thermocool polyester brand with cooling properties is now successfully established in the market just two years after its launch. The company says that more and more knitters are signing up to become licensees in order to be able to offer garment manufacturers access to the high-tech fibre for their collections.

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Lenzing at full capacity as upturn continues

Lenzing – The Lenzing Group’s business upturn in the second quarter has continued into the third quarter due to improving demand for cellulose fibres, the company said today. However, the global economic crisis made a significant negative impact on the company’s first quarter figures which has had a knock on effect on sales and results for the first nine months of 2009.

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CLASS named official eco supplier for Copenhagen Fashion Summit

Milan – Eco fashion and design network C.L.A.S.S. (Creativity, Lifestyle and Sustainable Synergy), has announced the commencement of its strategic partnership with NICE, the Nordic fashion industry educational project. The partnership will involve a series of joint activities which will lead to the common goal of increasing awareness and use of more responsible materials for everyday living.

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Pai Lung acquires Vanguard Supreme

Taipei – Taiwanese circular knitting machine builder Pail Lung Machinery Mill Co. Ltd., announced yesterday that it lead a consortium which has acquired Vanguard Supreme Machine Company of Monroe, North Carolina. The company will continue to produce machines and maintain their offices and factory in Monroe.

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Composites Europe shows further growth surge

Stuttgart – Composites Europe the European trade fair for the composites industry has once again registered noticeable gains at this year’s event which was held in Stuttgart from 27 to 29 October. With a 15% increase in exhibitor numbers and a 48% increase in trade visitors compared to the previous event, the show continues on its successful course unhampered. A total of 313 exhibitors from 25 countries and 6,120 trade visitors came to the fourth edition of the show.

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Texas Tech hosts ATNT conference in India

Lubbock, TX - The Institute of Environmental and Human Health (TIEHH) at Texas Tech University is to host the 6th annual international conference on Advances in Textiles, Machinery, Nonwovens and Technical Textiles, (ATNT) 2009.

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FIMAST confirms its place in hosiery machinery world

Billy Hunter reports

Brescia - Brescia and its surrounding area has always been the most important manufacturing centre for hosiery and sock manufacturing machinery as well as home to many internationally renowned producers of socks and hosiery. Last month’s FIMAST (International Textile Machinery and Accessories Trade Show) held at Brixia Expo - Fiera di Brescia, proved that the Italian and European hosiery machine building industry is still a dynamic force to be reckoned with and that FIMAST in Brescia is a viable and desirable alternative to FAST which ceased to exist after it was last held in 2005.

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Clariant reports Q3 improvements but still far from sustainable recovery

• Sales in Q3 down 14% in local currency and 19% in CHF

• Operating income before exceptional items decreased to CHF 107 million from CHF 178 million in the third quarter 2008, but improved from CHF 69 million in the second quarter 2009

• Cash flow from operations improved to CHF 193 million from CHF 147 million in the previous-year period

• Net debt reduced to CHF 751 million from CHF 1 209 million at year-end 2008

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Invista makes waves at MarediModa

Milan - Invista, owner of the Lycra fibre brand, is to be the headline sponsor of the fashion design and communication competition ‘The Link’ at this year’s MarediModa - IntimodiModa show, taking place in the Palais des Festivals, Cannes, France on 25-27th November 2009.

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Live with wool and reduce your carbon footprint

Sydney - Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) has launched the Wool Carbon Alliance, a group of Australian and international wool industry representatives working together to market the natural benefits of wool as the ideal fibre to help reduce global warming.

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New CB coverall for combat vehicle crewmen

Spartanburg , SC and Newark, EDEL - Milliken & Company and W.L. Gore & Associates, have announced the launch of the new JSLIST Chemical/Biological (CB) Coverall for Combat Vehicle Crewman (JC3). The coverall uses a two layer fabric system consisting of Milliken’s Abrams flame resistant (FR) fabric and the moisture vapour breathable GORE CHEMPAK Selectively Permeable protective barrier liner.

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PGI acquires spunbond producer Tesalca-Texnovo

Charlotte, NC - Polymer Group, Inc. today announced it has signed an agreement to acquire the Barcelona, based Tesalca-Texnovo nonwovens businesses from Grupo Corinpa, S.L. in a two-phase process. The purchase is expected to close by the end of November, subject to customary closing conditions.

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Milliken introduces lightweight FR workwear fabric

Spartanburg, SC - Milliken & Company, one of the world’s largest privately-held textile and chemical manufacturers, has announced the launch of a new lightweight flame resistant (FR) fabric, as part of its Amplitude line of workwear fabrics. Amplitude is the company’s line of patent-pending premium, high-performance FR fabrics for industrial workwear.

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Eco-friendly cotton for sustainable workwear

Wangen – German high quality workwear fabrics manufacturer Melchior Textil is to present its new ‘Organic Cotton’ line of environmentally friendly fabrics for workwear at next week’s A+A Safety & Health at Work exhibition in Düsseldorf.

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Polyolefin gold rush could benefit technical textile producers

Dublin – According to a new report from Research and Markets, the global structure of polypropylene and polyethylene production is poised to change dramatically as capacity rises in China and soars in the Middle East. As a result, the shares of Western Europe and the USA are set to fall substantially, the report says.

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Mayer & Cie: “Insolvency will not impact on our customers”

Albstadt – Insolvent circular knitting machine builder Mayer & Cie., has issued a statement which is intended to reassure the company’s customers that its sales and service will not be affected adversely by the company’s insolvency.

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