Nonwovens / Technical Textiles – Textile World https://www.textileworld.com Mon, 12 Feb 2024 17:38:45 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.5 Columbia Sportswear’s Omni-Heat Infinity Supports Historic U.S. Return To The Moon https://www.textileworld.com/textile-world/nonwovens-technical-textiles/2024/02/columbia-sportswears-omni-heat-infinity-supports-historic-u-s-return-to-the-moon/ Mon, 12 Feb 2024 17:38:45 +0000 https://www.textileworld.com/?p=92876
Rendering of Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C lunar lander on the surface of the Moon. Columbia’s Omni-Heat Infinity technology will help protect the lander from the harsh temperatures of space. Photo – Business Wire

PORTLAND, Ore. — February 12, 2024 — In a move to advance technologies, material innovations and lay the foundation for a sustainable human presence on the Moon, heat insulation technology used in outdoor apparel will be implemented on a lunar lander in a first-of-its-kind partnership between Columbia Sportswear, a global innovator in outdoor, active and lifestyle products, and Intuitive Machines, a space exploration company focused on pioneering the commercial landscape of the Moon.

Omni-Heat™ Infinity, a propriety heat-reflective technology developed by Columbia Sportswear, is set to go to space with the upcoming launch of Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C lunar lander. In laboratory simulations leading up to this launch, Intuitive Machines’ researchers determined that the gold metallic foil of Columbia’s innovative Omni-Heat Infinity fabric will provide benefits toward insulating the lunar lander against the harsh temperatures of space, which can vary between -250° and 250° Fahrenheit.

A close-up of Omni-Heat Infinity reflective technology that is featured in Columbia’s jackets and the company’s other winter products. This same technology is being used to protect Intuitive Machines’ lunar lander from the extreme temperatures of space. Photo – Business Wire

Following a multi-year scientific partnership first announced in 2021, and a shared commitment to innovation and exploration, Columbia is proud to put its Omni-Heat Infinity technology to the ultimate test in new frontiers as a scientific partner.

“As an apparel company developing outdoor products for all seasons and all activities, it’s imperative that we test our technologies in the most extreme conditions and find ways to innovate beyond our customers’ current needs,” said Dr. Haskell Beckham, Vice President of Innovation at Columbia Sportswear. “Taking key learnings from this partnership, we’ll be able to create new products that will help people enjoy more of the outdoors – regardless of conditions – and ultimately unlock the outdoors for everyone here on Earth.”

Selected by NASA to deliver scientific payloads to the surface of the Moon with its Nova-C lunar lander, Intuitive Machines is hoping to mark the United States’ first return to the lunar surface in 50 years. The liftoff of the IM-1 lunar mission is targeted for a multi-day launch window that opens no earlier than February 14, 2024 and the mission will be streamed live on NASA TV and https://www.intuitivemachines.com/im-1.

“Columbia is focused on developing and testing new technologies in challenging environments and our ongoing partnership with Intuitive Machines has the potential to drive even more innovation for our brand. As we look forward, we have an opportunity to set new standards – for ourselves and for the industry,” said Joe Boyle, Brand President of Columbia Sportswear.

The full assembly of Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C lunar lander. Photo – Business Wire

IM-1 will be Intuitive Machine’s first of three scheduled lunar landings as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (“CLPS”) initiative, a key part of NASA’s Artemis lunar exploration efforts. The science and technology payloads sent to the Moon’s surface as part of CLPS will lay the foundation for a sustainable human presence on the lunar surface and the commercial development of the Moon.

“Creating and defining the lunar economy requires innovation beyond the industry norm,” said Steve Altemus, President and CEO of Intuitive Machines. “By integrating Columbia’s Omni-Heat Infinity technology into our IM-1 lunar mission, we believe we’re trailblazing a path for near-term Earth solutions and the next generation of commercial space exploration that will open access to the Moon for the progress of humanity.”

To celebrate this historic moment, Columbia is taking over the exterior of Sphere in Las Vegas on February 19 to highlight the important role that Omni-Heat Infinity technology is playing throughout this important mission.

Posted: February 12, 2024

Source: Columbia Sportswear Company

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INDA, The Association Of The Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, Elevates Sustainability As Top Priority For 2024 https://www.textileworld.com/textile-world/nonwovens-technical-textiles/2024/02/inda-the-association-of-the-nonwoven-fabrics-industry-elevates-sustainability-as-top-priority-for-2024/ Mon, 12 Feb 2024 16:46:51 +0000 https://www.textileworld.com/?p=92865 CARY, NC— February 12, 2024 — INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry , proudly announces Sustainability as a primary focus for 2024. This strategic initiative, backed by resounding support from INDA’s leadership, is a direct response to feedback from association members affirming that sustainability remains one of the nonwovens industry’s highest priorities.

INDA’s sustainability endeavor will center around three core pillars crucial to the industry’s future: Responsible Sourcing, End-of-Life Solutions, and Innovations in Sustainability. This multifaceted initiative will introduce a spectrum of new and enhanced offerings, including:

  1. Cutting-edge webinars addressing sustainability issues impacting members and the industry.
  2. Specialized technical and government affairs committees enabling members to collaborate on sustainability opportunities and challenges.
  3. The inaugural release of a comprehensive sustainability report from INDA’s Market Intelligence department.
  4. A dedicated sustainability special edition of the International Fiber Journal, produced by INDA Media.
  5. Significantly enriched sustainability programming at INDA events, including a dedicated focus at the IDEA® 2025 conference.

“INDA member companies are at the forefront of innovation, actively investing in research and development to pioneer eco-friendly materials, explore alternative production processes, and integrate recycled and biodegradable materials, all while advancing circularity,” stated INDA President Tony Fragnito. “This heightened emphasis on sustainability resonates with the nonwovens industry’s dedication to minimizing environmental impact, and underscores INDA’s commitment to driving positive change within the industry to meet evolving member and customer desire for minimizing environmental impact,” he continued.

As INDA embraces sustainability as a theme for 2024, its commitment extends far beyond this year’s horizon. Ongoing efforts will continue to evolve and expand, with a strategic emphasis on amplifying influence and fostering relationships with stakeholders beyond the industry’s confines. INDA anticipates close collaboration with its members and welcomes their feedback on how the association can serve the needs of the industry on this important topic.

Posted: February 12, 2024

Source: INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry

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Technical Absorbents Limited: Innovative Absorbent Solutions To Be Presented In Vietnam https://www.textileworld.com/textile-world/nonwovens-technical-textiles/2024/02/technical-absorbents-limited-innovative-absorbent-solutions-to-be-presented-in-vietnam/ Fri, 09 Feb 2024 17:45:25 +0000 https://www.textileworld.com/?p=92851 NORTH EAST LINCOLNSHIRE, UK — February 9, 2024 — It’s been a while since super absorbent manufacturer Technical Absorbents exhibited at an industry tradeshow, but the UK company will head to Vietnam as it displays its Super Absorbent Fibre (SAF), Fabrics and Yarns at the Vietnam International Trade Fair for Apparel, Textiles and Textile Technologies (VIATT).

Organized by Messe Frankfurt, the event – which takes place between 28th February and 1st March in Ho Chi Minh City – is promoted as a one-stop sourcing platform for all textile industry needs. Technical Absorbents has opted for a small booth – #A-L18, Hall A – and will also present a paper at the event conference to educate visitors about the versatility of its unique superabsorbent technologies.

“Vietnam is the third largest textile and apparel exporter, and one of the highest importers of textile machinery in the world,” explains Technical Absorbents Commercial Director Paul Rushton. “As a company it is a region that we have monitored the growth of for some time.

“Vietnam’s textile and garment industry achieved staggering annual growth of 20 – 26% from 2018 – 2022, and high-quality textile materials are increasingly sought-after for production. We feel that now is the time that there could be real development opportunities for our absorbent fibre, fabric, and spun yarn technology.

“We have already established tolling partners in Asia that can process our fibres and convert them into a wide range of absorbent nonwoven fabrics. We also work with industrial knitters who can take our yarns and make extremely flexible absorbent woven materials. Current growth areas for our technology are within wound care, premium incontinence and period products, moisture management and cooling within the apparel sector, dewatering of oils and fuels and geotextiles for waterproofing.

“During the event, I will be providing an overview of our unique technology at the conference and would be keen to talk to anyone who is keen to learn more or potentially trial our absorbent materials in their products.”

Posted: February 9, 2024

Source: Technical Absorbents Limited

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INDA: The World Of Wipes® International Conference 2024 Opens Registration https://www.textileworld.com/textile-world/nonwovens-technical-textiles/2024/02/inda-the-world-of-wipes-international-conference-2024-opens-registration/ Wed, 07 Feb 2024 20:35:58 +0000 https://www.textileworld.com/?p=92790 CARY, NC — February 7, 2024 — INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, announced that registration and tabletop exhibit reservations are open for the World of Wipes® (WOW) International Conference. WOW 2024 will take place June 17-20 at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, Minneapolis, MN. The theme for this year’s event is “Wipes Innovation & Sustainability – From Inception to Perfection.”

WOW will feature not-to-be missed content in responsible sourcing, end-of-life solutions, and innovations in sustainability. Industry leaders, such as The Clorox Company, Kimberly-Clark Professional, and Nice-Pak, amongst others, will present their sustainability insights in formulations, industrial and institutional wipes, alternatives to plastics, production technologies, recycling options, and regulatory issues.

Preceding WOW will be three pre-conference webinars led by wipes experts:

  • Berry Global – “Unveiling Sustainability: Navigating the Complexity of Raw Materials Through Life Cycle Assessments” – Wednesday, May 29th, 11 am EDT
  • NatureWorks – “EU Biopolymer Regulations” – Wednesday, June 5th, 11 am EDT
  • RFA – “#FlushSmart – Fighting Toilet Crimes All Over the U.S.” and INDA – “Flushability Standards and Labelling” – Wednesday, June 12th, 11 am EDT

Full details for the conference and the webinars, including abstracts and speaker information, will be released in the next two weeks via the WOW website. https://www.worldofwipes.org/index.html

New this year is the Formulations 101 Workshop to be presented by Doug Cole, Vice President – Global Product Development, Rockline Industries. The Workshop will take place during lunch on Tuesday, June 18th and the focus will be on skin care formulations and preservatives.

WOW kicks off with the WIPES Academy, June 17-18. The course will be led by Heidi Beatty, Chief Executive Officer, and her team of wipes professionals from Crown Abbey LLC. Participants will gain insights from product concept to commercialization. Participants will develop insights about materials, design, manufacturing, packaging, and cost implications for industrial, institutional and consumer wipes applications.

Back by popular demand is Lightning Talks. Tabletop exhibitors will give a five-minute presentation on their technologies, innovations, and capabilities. Participants may then follow up with the tabletop exhibitors during the evening reception.

Nominations are still being accepted for the World of Wipes Innovation Award®. Nominees will be selected from a range of products and technologies that have been commercially available two years prior to WOW 2024. Products and technologies may include end product components, fabrication techniques, or end-products that use a nonwoven technology. The deadline for submissions is Friday, April 15th. Finalists will make their presentations to WOW participants on Tuesday, June 18th, with the Award being presented Thursday morning, June 20th.

To register or reserve a tabletop display, visit WOW 2024. https://www.worldofwipes.org/index.html

Posted: February 7, 2024

Source: INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry

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Datatex: Interview With Gilda Santos, Protection & Defence Area Manager At CITEVE — The Technical And Military Textile In Portugal https://www.textileworld.com/textile-world/nonwovens-technical-textiles/2024/02/datatex-interview-with-gilda-santos-protection-defence-area-manager-at-citeve-the-technical-and-military-textile-in-portugal/ Tue, 06 Feb 2024 19:08:27 +0000 https://www.textileworld.com/?p=92680 ZUG, Switzerland — January 31, 2024 — Datatex recently shared an interview with Gilda Santos, currently Protection & Defence Area Manager at CITEVE (Centro Tecnológico Têxtil e Vestuário) Textile and Apparel Technology Center. Santos coordinated different influential Portuguese and European product research and innovation projects, in the technical textile field and the textile production for the military sector.

Datatex: In the technical textile world, of protective and functional clothing, and work garments, the timing to develop a product are very different to the fashion-textile: you work over long timescales with significant investments. What are the most interesting and innovative projects that you followed in recent years?

Santos: In recent years I have worked in several interesting projects for both civil and military sectors. Regarding the civil sector, I would like to highlight some personnel protective equipment for work and sports, namely Seab2 (clothing system with integrated inflation for sea work and sports practice), Golf jacket (smart multifunctional jacket with passive an active heating system and presenting water and dirty repellence, UV protection and anti-mosquito for golf players), ColdFit Moto (motorcycling protective suit with improved high visibility through led technology, improved thermal insulation and reinforced impact zones), STORM System (water proof, active heated storm shelter for adverse weather under urban caos condition, autonomous lighting and heating integrated system).

For the military area I was involved in three interesting Feasibility Studies of Combat Equipment for Dismounted Soldier (CEDS) funded by the European Defence Agency: ACCLITEXSYS (Stabilizing body temperature), ACAMS (Adaptive camouflage) and LIVEST (Lightweight ballistic protection).

ACCLITEXSYS (ACCLImatisation TEXtile SYStem) was focused on military thermal comfort with the goal of developing a smart acclimatisation textile system. Potential active and passive technologies that can act as temperature regulators (heating and cooling) through monitoring and responding to the soldier’s body needs, considering different environmental conditions were analysed and the most promising were selected for the development of the acclimatisation textile system: Active Fan Cooling, 3D Textile Structures, Thermoelectric Heating/Cooling (Peltier elements) and Heating Elements.

ACAMS (Adaptive CAMouflage for the Soldier) aimed to study methods for camouflage, concealment with adaptation to the operating environment and different scenarios. The focus of this project was on avoiding the detection and identification of the soldier by enemy sensors and recognition by electromagnetic radiation at different wavelengths. After the analysis of different textile technologies, an equipment based on an inflatable and reversible poncho with application of thermochromic pigments, adaptive in the range of the visible and infrared spectrum, was developed and produced as a proof of concept.

LIVEST (uLtralIgtht weight bullet-proof VEST) main objective was to develop a soft ballistic protection with significant 3D structures of Raschel technology, to reduce weight and minimize the trauma of the impact of a projectile on the user. In fact, the impact of a projectile can cause trauma and even drop the wearer of ballistic protection vests, causing different degrees of damage, so it is very important to minimize its effect. The scope of this feasibility study was based on the development of lightweight ballistic protection.

More recently I worked on two projects under the Preparatory Action on Defence Research (PADR): ACAMS II (Adaptive Camouflage for the Soldier II) and VESTLIFE (Ultralight modular bullet proof integral solution).

ACAMSII follows on from its predecessor ACAMS and aimed to develop adaptive camouflage to protect the soldier in military conflicts that occur in a multinational context in various types of environments. Adaptive camouflage mechanisms, namely thermochromics, LEDs, PCMs, radar absorbing elements, among others were studied to achieve multispectral signature management.

VESTLIFE aimed to develop a new integral solution anti-ballistic, lightweight and modular, which also included a CBRN detection system. The protective clothing presents a greater coverage area, maintaining comfort, in addition to a reduction in the weight of the ballistic panels, thus ensuring the ideal balance between protection and comfort, in a modular way to provide the possibility of adapting the protection to the mission risk. Additionally a new design for optimizing gender issues regarding ballistic hard plates was developed taking into account an anthropometric study carried out with Portuguese military subjects about the most predominant type of female and male bodies. Technologies as computer aided design, 3D body scanners and additive manufacturing were used.

I want to highlight also STILE, an OB study launched by EDA dedicated to “Smart textiles in defence: looking at the soldiers of the future”, aiming at integrating different functionalities related to the field of smart textiles into a single smart combat system. Main functionalities considered for the proof of concept are signature management, monitoring of environmental parameters and CBR threats, flame retardancy, water and dirt repellence and anti-mosquito solution, physiological monitoring, self-thermoregulation (heating and cooling), communication and wireless exchanging data. Smart textiles technologies such as technical embroidery and printed electronics for integration of electronic components in textiles, seamless knitting for achieving a body mapping patchwork of several structures with different functionalities and specific innovative textile finishing processes were studied and developed to achieve simultaneously ergonomics, mobility, homogeneous distribution of weight, lightness, flexibility, comfort, freedom of movement and functional properties.

And last but no least, I was involved in two projects for the Portuguese Army: SCS (Soldier Combat Systems) Survivability domain and ACU (Advanced Combat Uniform). These projects aimed to protect the soldiers against multiple risks associated to different environmental conditions, using innovative technologies and new materials providing flexibility, comfort, increased protection and other relevant features by developing novel uniforms (underwear set, combat uniform, waterproof set, daily uniform), tactical pack systems (assault rucksacks, hydration system and first aid bag) and boots among other equipment’s. The new multicam camouflaged pattern was developed to increase the soldier’s operational performance. To achieve the solutions, CITEVE worked with a group of highly specialized Portuguese companies namely DAMEL, RIOPELE, ASAMPAIO, ICC LAVORO, INEGI and MONTE CAMPO and in close cooperation with the Portuguese Army.

Datatex: The textile production for the military sector represents a growing market, and the Russian war in Ukraine is determining important investments for the defensive purpose by the European Union. How have military textiles changed over the years, and what are the most innovative projects and studies regarding the clothing of soldiers and military today?

Santos: Over the past years textile has played a vital role in providing protection to certain extent to the soldiers. Up to now, we could see many developments in the field of providing protection in all forms to the soldiers. Beginning with the use of natural fibers for providing protection on the war field (these were very heavy and bulkier) and gradually introducing the use of high-performance fibers in the textiles used for defence. Even though there are many developments in this field, it is very difficult to provide all the required functionality in a single garment, it must be provided through layers of materials. Looking over the years, we can understand the path travelled by the protective garments provided to the defence personnel, starting with the heavy metal gears used by the soldiers of the past to today’s lightweight armors. Due to the technological evolution observed in recent years, nowadays it is very common to associate textiles with electronic components, with the aim of broadening the spectrum of functionalities/properties of textiles. However, although the integration of these two components is already a reality, these two areas (textiles and electronics) are often seen as distinct areas, especially about standardization. Smart textiles, also called e-Textiles require a knowledge of textile design and technology, of chemistry, physics, electronics and computer science but greatly enlarge the possibility for innovative solutions. Some relevant study areas for the military textiles and clothing are:

-Environmental protection – The military forces have to work in all parts of the globe, in a wide range of environmental conditions, like rain, snow, fog, wind, lightning, sunlight, dust, heat, cold, wet, high UV areas, and wind-chill.

-Thermal insulation – working in cold/dry conditions like Arctic and Antarctic, and other mountainous regions of the world implies to carry clothing, sleeping bags, personal equipment with high levels of thermal insulation.

-Water vapour permeability / water proofing – In extreme war operations facing harsh climatic conditions or intensive activities it is mandatory to wear waterproof breathable fabrics to avoid injury or death due to hypo/hyperthermia.

– Camouflage concealment and deception – should be effective in all the wavebands of detection used by the military forces (UV, near IR, far IR, …).

-Flame retardant heat protection – military can face deliberately planned events presenting flame and heat threat, open flames, radiant weapon flash, exploding munitions, toxic fumes.

-Ballistic protective materials – ballistic protective materials are not to just stop the speeding bullets but to protect the military from fragmenting devices as well, i.e. form grenades, mortars, artillery shells, and improvised explosive devices.

-Impact protection – high-performance apparel should protect against high energy impacts without sacrificing flexibility, breathability or ease of use.

-Biological and chemical protection – toxic agents are insidious mass destruction weapons that cause emotional and lethally horrific effect.

-Monitoring vital signs, activity levels and sending alerts – the first smart textile project called “Wearable Motherboard” was developed in 1996 by the Georgia Institute of Technology (USA) for the NASA. It was a uniform composed of optic fibers which enabled the transmission of information on the health status of a soldier in a hostile environment.

Datatex: The technical textile sector — and the textile sector more generally — what weight does it have today in the Portuguese economy? What is the situation of the textile industries in Portugal and how is the sector evolving in the face of today’s complex international scenarios?

Santos: Today textiles are everywhere — from the clothing we wear, cars we drive, and furniture we occupy to the roads we travel, bandages we use to heal, and structures that shelter us for protection, each fabric should be carefully selected for its unique construction and properties. Technological advances are the basis of the innovative products even if some are still facing problems of acceptability and technical stakes connected with their lack of maturity. In fact, technical and smart textiles take use of multiple disciplines such as electronics, chemistry or computing and approach various markets like protection, military, health, sports, transportation, construction, furniture, fashion) and target specific consumers (from newborns to seniors). The Portuguese sector is approaching all these markets which enlarge the commercial possibilities.

The textile sector weight, according with data from the Associação Têxtil e do Vestuário de Portugal (ATP), represented 9% of the national exportations (2020/2021) reaching 5,4 billion euros (4% higher than 2019). Concerning the number of employees, the sector comprehends 140 thousand workers, approximately 18% of the transforming industry. The positive results are due mainly to the development of innovative textiles and products, manufacturing of high added value products, high quality and commitment with sustainability. Digitization, industry 4.0 and circular economy are important factors together with a strong resilience. To highlight what happened when COVID-19 appeared with the huge need of masks and other PPE. The entire sector started immediately to search for technical information and expertise to develop materials and protective equipment to face the cancellation of the usual production.

Currently, the complex international scenarios are bringing new challenges and creating a difficult situation regarding the production costs with special focus on energy, logistics of raw materials supply chain among others, so new demands for resilience, innovation and persistence …

Datatex: In your opinion, what could be the most significant innovations in the world of technical fabrics and functional clothing in the future? And if you had a magic wand, what would be the invention you would like to create to improve fabrics and clothes?

Santos: For me the defence sector is one of the most demanding and looking for innovative solutions. In view of the countless and varied adversities to which the dismounted soldier is currently exposed, there is an urgent need to develop innovative technical and protective equipment to respond to the real needs that arise in the theater of operations. In this way, advanced and digitalised smart textiles present several innovation opportunities for smarter, safer and faster military performance, namely:

  • Improve protection against natural and battlefield threats;
  • Maintain thermo-physiological comfort or survival in extreme conditions;
  • Improve compatibility between and within different clothing components;
  • Reduce weight and bulk of materials;
  • Integrate functionality so that fewer layers provide multi-layer protection;
  • Create emitters that can send data and receivers;
  • Develop fibers that can act as batteries;
  • Develop textiles that can monitor heart rate, track the physiological condition, dispense medication, and even transmit immediate notification if the wearer of the textile were to fall;
  • Develop color-changing fibers for camouflage concealment and other properties;
  • Reduce life cycle costs by making systems more effective, durable (reducing maintenance costs) and recyclable and by buying few components in the system.

Simultaneously, smart textiles can contribute to the EU’s transition to a climate-neutral circular economy in which products are designed to be durable, reusable, repairable and recyclable. As technology advances, there will be a growing demand for more sophisticated and smarter textile products.

And if I had a magic wand I would create a very special suit for the dismounted soldier – a suit that make the soldier invisible and at the same time providing protection against natural and battlefield threats, providing thermo-physiological comfort or survival in extreme conditions, self-powering with sensing, monitoring and acting for good physiological condition preservation.

Posted: February 6, 2024

Source: Datatex AG — Edited by Luigi Torriani and Elisa Graziola

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INDA, The Association Of The Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, Announces Advocacy And Fly-In Summit https://www.textileworld.com/textile-world/nonwovens-technical-textiles/2024/02/inda-the-association-of-the-nonwoven-fabrics-industry-announces-advocacy-and-fly-in-summit/ Mon, 05 Feb 2024 18:16:42 +0000 https://www.textileworld.com/?p=92635 CARY, NC  — February 5, 2024 — INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, will join the ISSA – The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association to host the 2024 Clean Advocacy Summit, April 10-11, in Washington, D.C. This advocacy and fly-in summit will offer participants the “inside scoop” on the key public policy issues facing their business and industry, including labor and supply chain challenges, cleaning product regulations, promoting healthy workplaces, ending period poverty, and more.

“INDA is delighted to be partnering with ISSA to co-host the annual Clean Advocacy Summit,” stated Wes Fisher, director of Government Affairs at INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, “As an association representing the manufacturers of many cleaning products, such as wipes, and many other personal care products, we look forwarding to leveraging our partnership with ISSA to make this the most successful cleaning and nonwovens industry fly-in event to date.”

The summit will include networking opportunities and scheduled meetings with members of Congress and their staff to discuss key policies and legislation pertaining to the nonwovens industry. Attendees will have the chance to advocate for their businesses to support innovation, growth, and sustainability within the industry, while also highlighting their contributions to economic development and job creation.

The registration fee for INDA members and non-members is $250. To register for the event, visit https://www.inda.org/2024-issa-clean-advocacy-summit/.

Posted: February 5, 2024

Source: INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry,

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SRTX Announces New Fully Vertical Global Headquarters In Montreal https://www.textileworld.com/textile-world/nonwovens-technical-textiles/2024/02/srtx-announces-new-fully-vertical-global-headquarters-in-montreal-canada/ Fri, 02 Feb 2024 17:57:51 +0000 https://www.textileworld.com/?p=92625 MONTREAL — February 1, 2024 — SRTX, best known for its first technology, the patent-pending Sheertex® Rip-Resist knit, proudly announces the inauguration of its new global headquarters. The state-of-the-art facility, now fully vertical, marks a significant milestone in SRTX’s unwavering commitment to durability, sustainability, and technological innovation.

SRTX Announces New Fully Vertical Global Headquarters in Montreal Canada

Founded in 2017 by Katherine Homuth, SRTX has made it its mission to build textiles with materials designed for longevity and environmental responsibility. The new global headquarters, now spanning an impressive 300,000 square feet — more than double the size of the first 120,000-square-foot facility, marks a pivotal move in SRTX’s commitment to vertical integration. This expansion positions SRTX to oversee the entirety of the production process, including the in-house extrusion of the high performance polymer ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). This polymer is a key part of what makes Sheertex tights practically unbreakable. SRTX’s goal is to take this polymer and make it available outside its traditional industries of bullet-proof vests, fishing line, and climbing equipment through apparel grade quality and mass market pricing. With SRTX’s new facility you can expect UHMWPE to begin entering all aspects of apparel, enabling stronger, lighter weight, hydrophobic, and traceable garments that will make nylon and teflon a thing of the past. SRTX will not only be using its extruded fibers for Sheertex tights, but will begin introducing new ingredient technologies to the apparel industry like membranes, and fabrics using UHMWPE.

The strategic shift towards end-to-end integration focuses on vertically enabled cost reduction and production of apparel grade UHMWPE, ensuring comprehensive control over product quality and solidifying SRTX’s position as an industry leader in the pursuit of vertical excellence.

SRTX is B-corp certified, aligning the brand’s commitment to technological innovation with the highest standards of social and environmental responsibility. A global pioneer, SRTX stands among very few companies worldwide achieving such vertical integration, especially in the domain of UHMWPE. In terms of financial investment, the new facility underscores SRTX’s dedication to creating a world-class production hub and is a major milestone in the company’s journey, having raised over $200 million in both equity and debt to achieve vertical integration. Coinciding seamlessly with SRTX’s sustainability goals, the new global headquarters incorporates eco-conscious practices in every aspect of the brand’s operations.

Despite achieving success throughout North America, the decision for the headquarters to stay in Montreal was paramount to the brand. Hamouth emphasized that this choice transcends mere business strategy; it represents a heartfelt commitment to bringing manufacturing back to North America.

Hamouth shared: “Keeping our global headquarters in Montreal is more than a strategic decision. It is an effort to produce a North American factory that is a beacon for others looking for a roadmap to bring manufacturing back to North America through vertical integration and best in class automation. Montreal’s rich textile history is not only a backdrop for our operations, but it is woven into the very fabric of SRTX’s identity. This city has inspired us, nurtured our growth, and provided a home for our innovative spirit.”

Beyond technological advancements, Hamouth asserted that “the expansion of our global headquarters has already generated an additional 100 jobs, with plans to increase employment to nearly 500 in the next few years. This not only contributes to local economic growth but also aligns with our commitment to making a positive impact on a global scale.”

Posted: February 2, 2024

Source: SRTX

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Solesis To Open First Manufacturing Site In Costa Rica Dedicated To Custom Polymer And Textile Healthcare Solutions https://www.textileworld.com/textile-world/nonwovens-technical-textiles/2024/02/solesis-to-open-first-manufacturing-site-in-costa-rica-dedicated-to-custom-polymer-and-textile-healthcare-solutions/ Fri, 02 Feb 2024 17:35:42 +0000 https://www.textileworld.com/?p=92619 TELFORD, Pa. — February 1, 2024 — Solesis — a custom designer, developer, and manufacturer of textile- and polymer-based healthcare solutions for the medical device and biopharmaceutical industries — has announced plans to build a new manufacturing site in Costa Rica. This is the first site dedicated to producing implantable textile components, polymer-based devices and components, and single-use technologies. The Solesis family of companies is comprised of Secant Group, Polyzen, Charter Medical and SanaVita Medical, who together enable technologies and therapies for next-generation patient care.

“Expanding into Costa Rica will significantly increase our global capacity, enabling us to rapidly expand and optimize our resources to provide our customers with comprehensive business continuity avenues that mitigate supply chain risks,” said Jeff Robertson, COO of Solesis. “Costa Rica is a global medical device hub and a prime location for expanding the production of our critical healthcare solutions. In fact, many of our customers already have established manufacturing operations in this region and we look forward to continued collaboration with them.”

The world-class facility is scheduled to begin operations in the spring of 2025 in the Greenpark Free Trade Zone, the first industrial park and Free Trade Zone in Latin America that is environmentally sustainable. The new site will encompass cleanrooms to produce high-quality healthcare solutions that are critical to customers, and ultimately to the patients they serve.

“This expansion is a significant milestone for Solesis and we are looking forward to being part of the San Jose community,” said Lindsay Walker, vice president of Human Resources of Solesis. “We are excited to work with the strong talent pool that lives in Costa Rica and plan to announce which roles we will be recruiting for in the latter half of 2024.”

“We extend a warm welcome to Solesis as a significant contributor to the rapidly expanding medical devices industry in our country. Our leadership, talent pool, extensive experience, and sterling reputation in the precision and medical equipment sector (constituting 42 percent of the country’s exports in 2023) have inspired confidence, leading companies such as Solesis to choose Costa Rica as the location for establishing their facility,” said Manuel Tovar, Minister of Foreign Trade in Costa Rica.

Posted: February 2, 2024

Source: Solesis

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Freudenberg To Showcase Innovative Surface Veils, Flow Media And Spacers At JEC World 2024 In Paris https://www.textileworld.com/textile-world/nonwovens-technical-textiles/2024/02/freudenberg-to-showcase-innovative-surface-veils-flow-media-and-spacers-at-jec-world-2024-in-paris/ Thu, 01 Feb 2024 16:12:48 +0000 https://www.textileworld.com/?p=92584 WEINHEIM, Germany— February 1, 2024 — Freudenberg Performance Materials (Freudenberg) will exhibit a wide range of technical textile solutions for the composites industry at JEC World, the leading international composites show, in Paris, France. This includes surfacing veils for fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) components and Enka® Solutions flow media and spacers for composites manufacturing. Visitors can meet Freudenberg experts at booth P82.4 of the Baden-Württemberg International booth in Hall 6 from March 5-7, 2024.

Freudenberg´s glass fiber surfacing veil Source: ©Freudenberg Performance Materials

Freudenberg addresses the evolving requirements of manufacturers of FRP parts with high-performance nonwovens. To achieve this, the leading supplier of innovative technical textiles uses a variety of technologies such as wetlaid, drylaid and spunbond processes, which enables a wide range of options for the choice of fibers, filaments and compositions. Freudenberg offers a comprehensive portfolio of nonwovens, including glass, PAN, and PET. These materials are specifically engineered for applications such as anti-corrosive coatings in piping and tank construction, UV-resistant facade panels, and various other end products. Surface veils are a crucial component of FRP components, ensuring abrasion resistance, corrosion protection, smooth surfaces, and enhanced mechanical strength. Freudenberg’s nonwoven solutions deliver exceptional performance across all these aspects, making them an ideal choice for a wide range of FRP applications.

High-efficiency flow media and spacers for composites manufacturing Enka® Solutions products are designed for efficient resin infusion and foam injection molding processes. Thanks to their distinctive 3D entangled polymeric filament structures they are exceptionally well-suited as flow media and spacers in composites manufacturing processes.

Enka® Solutions flow media for vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) and resin transfer molding (RTM) processes promote extremely fast and reliable resin distribution ensuring full wet-out of the internal structure, whilst keeping the glass fiber reinforcement nettings and components surface in place. A superior bond, enhanced mechanical properties and even a reduced risk of wrinkling is then achieved.

The Enka® Solutions spacer applied in reaction injection molding processes using foam pushes the reinforcement matting and composite skin against the mold. This allows polymer foam to flow freely through the mold, filling the cavity completely and resulting in faster production processes that ensure reproducible high-quality finished products.

Posted: February 1, 2024

Source: Freudenberg Performance Materials Holding SE & Co. KG

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Exhibit Space For IDEA®25 Is Selling Fast https://www.textileworld.com/textile-world/nonwovens-technical-textiles/2024/02/exhibit-space-for-idea25-is-selling-fast/ Thu, 01 Feb 2024 15:44:06 +0000 https://www.textileworld.com/?p=92579 CARY, NC — February 1, 2024 — INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, announced that exhibit space reservations for IDEA®25 are rapidly approaching 70 percent capacity. INDA encourages all potential exhibitors to make their reservations as soon as possible to ensure they receive the best location for their booth. IDEA is being held April 29-May 1, 2025 at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami Beach, Florida.

Global suppliers and manufacturers who exhibit at IDEA will connect their technologies and innovations to C-suite leaders, R&D developers, and specifiers. Exhibitors can demonstrate their products to participants from around the world, answer their technical questions, and collaborate on new products.

INDA is responding to customer feedback with reduced expo pass fees for attendees and exhibitors to drive additional networking and business development opportunities. FiltXPO™, the International Filtration Conference & Exhibition, will again be co-located with IDEA bringing additional value to all participants. Registrants can attend both shows whether they are attending the expo or the conference and expo.

Tony Fragnito, INDA President, said, “Our theme for IDEA25 is ‘Nonwovens for a Healthier Planet’ and will culminate our 2024 focus on Sustainability with pillars on Responsible Sourcing, End-of-life Solutions and Innovations in Sustainability.  We are excited to see the diversity of companies showcasing their commitment to sustainable concepts. This event is where the future of nonwovens will be on display.”

“Exhibit space for IDEA is being reserved at a brisk pace, with interest from both prior exhibitors as well as companies exhibiting for the first time. This show is where nonwoven companies can cement their status as a solution provider, acquire competitive market intelligence, and grow their business with new market applications,” said Joe Tessari, INDA Associate Director of Sales.

IDEA is the largest North American exhibition dedicated to the next generation of nonwovens and engineered materials. To learn more about exhibiting at IDEA, visit www.ideashow.org.

Posted: February 1, 2024

Source: INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry,

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