From the Sector

Trützschler and the Indian company Gimatex have a long relationship that began in 2006. Gimatex has used Trützschler’s IDF in direct spinning and are now using it to turn textile waste into ring yarn.

Gimatex Industries Pvt. Ltd. operates fully integrated facilities with ginning, spinning, recycling, weaving and processing units in Hinganghat, within India’s cotton-growing region of Vidarbha. It also runs a fabric processing unit in Dholka, near Ahmedabad. Together, Trützschler and Gimatex are working in close collaboration with the shared aim of extending that long history far into the future.

Trützschler’s Integrated Draw Frame (IDF) technology is at the heart of this collaboration. Gimatex is using these solutions to produce high-quality yarn. In particular, IDF enables Gimatex to produce yarns from a wide variety of raw materials – from 100 percent cotton through to polyester, recycled fibers and blends of various different inputs.

Gimatex mainly uses Trützschler IDF to manufacture rotor yarns in a direct spinning process. Direct spinning means shortening the spinning process by eliminating draw frame passages. Fiber slivers are fed directly from the card into the integrated drafting passage. This direct spinning concept uses less electricity and less space than conventional draw frame passages, which helps Gimatex to cut costs while increasing output volumes – with no compromise in quality. Most often, IDF technology is used for rotor and vortex spinning. However, the team at Gimatex is now also one of the first spinning mills in India to develop a special IDF process for producing traditional and recycled ring yarn. This allows the company to leverage the same setup it uses for open-end yarn. The ring yarn produced in this unusual way is mostly coarser varieties and recycling blends for cotton / spandex (lycra) products, with Ne 10s and Ne 16s. The yarn goes through a blow room into a TC 15 card with IDF, before entering a Trützschler TD 10 draw frame, a speed frame and a ring frame.

Mr. Thomas Olsen, EVP Americas, will leave Suominen to pursue new opportunities outside the company. Mr. Markku Koivisto has been appointed as interim EVP, Americas in addition to his current role as EVP, EMEA and CTO.

The process to recruit a new EVP, Americas will start immediately.

“I want to thank Thomas for his contribution in leading the Americas business area and for being a valuable member of our Executive Management Team,” says Tommi Björnman, President and CEO of Suominen.

Source Home & Gift, which takes place on the 1st – 4th September 2024 at NEC Birmingham, welcomes exhibitors from new regions including Peru, South Korea and Portugal, as well as returning pavilions from Philippines, Egypt, Nepal, China, and India. Over 180 manufacturers are expected to show at the next edition.

Hailing from Portugal, Bioneurodesign is a company that integrates principles of biology, neuroscience, and design to create products aimed at enhancing emotional and psychological well-being. This approach transcends traditional aesthetics and functionality, addressing the profound interactions between human consciousness and the environment. Bioneurodesign's mission is to revolutionise product design through scientific principles that foster harmony between humans and their surroundings striving to create objects that not only serve practical purposes but also contribute significantly to the mental and spiritual health of their users. Their latest collection of ceramics and iron is a testament to this approach. Inspired by riverbanks, the River collection blends the delicacy of ceramics with the strength of iron, creating unique pieces that are both functional and contemplative. Produced in Portugal, the creations embody the heritage and craftsmanship of the region.

From South Korea, Ecomass is an eco-friendly kitchenware and household goods manufacturer using materials such as sugarcane and recycled plastic. Ecomass specialise in climate solutions by providing technologies, services, products, and raw materials for green management, sustainability, and eco-friendly consumption.

Sumaq Qara’s mission is to support female victims of terrorism and domestic violence in Peru. They offer a wide portfolio of knit, embroidery, crochet and macramé products, working with natural wools and fibres. Sumaq Qara, words in Quechua that mean "Beautiful Leather", was founded in 2006 with the purpose of helping more than 500 women who were victims of physical and psychological abuse during the time of terrorism. With more than 15 years of exporting, they offer a portfolio of products made with ancestral techniques such as embroidery, knitting, crochet and macramé using natural fibres such as alpaca, merino wool, sheep wool, and cotton.

National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) President and CEO Kim Glas issued the following statement on news of the passing of Congressman Bill Pascrell (D-NJ).

Statement by NCTO President and CEO Kim Glas:

"The entire U.S. textile industry is mourning the loss of Congressman Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), a true leader and advocate for critical manufacturing policies aimed at bolstering the domestic supply chain and confronting ongoing threats from predatory trade practices.

We commend his significant contributions – not just to the U.S. domestic industry—but for American manufacturers and workers everywhere.

Rep. Pascrell had served as co-chair of the House Textile Caucus with Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) since 2013 and was an ardent fighter for the U.S. textile industry and beyond.

In April, Congressman Pascrell championed a bill titled the Import Security and Fairness Act led by Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) that would exclude all Chinese imports from de minimis treatment, as highlighted in our blog post on a House Ways & Means markup.

He also penned an op-ed with Congressman McHenry highlighting the urgent need to drive investment and for onshoring and nearshoring textile and apparel production and to not weaken the critical U.S. and Central America  Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR)..

In addition, he co-sponsored legislation aimed at strengthening the American PPE supply chain which would expand the Berry Amendment to nearly all federal purchases of PPE.

As is evidenced above, Congressman Pascrell took on every policy battle in support of U.S. textiles and manufacturing in general as an unwavering supporter of maintaining and expanding a vital domestic manufacturing chain.  He worked closely with Rep. McHenry on critical textile issues to advance the cause for our domestic industry and its workforce.

He will be missed deeply by the industry and to all who knew him. We extend our gratitude to a manufacturing warrior and express our condolences to the entire Pascrell family and his staff team."

adidas Originals and Edison Chen present the next chapter of their collaboration with the debut of an updated CLOT Gazelle in linen khaki and blue. The ongoing collaboration debuts its first global apparel range with the CLOT August Collection by Edison Chen.

As Edison Chen continues to build bridges between East and West, Chen brings together renowned Spanish football players, Vicky Lopez and Mapi Leon, and Tino El Pingüino, an influential rapper in the Latin music scene, to celebrate this new collection through a campaign that opens the door to their own imaginations. Coming together as one, each collaborator invites to experience a taste of their daily reality and the adventurous paths they tread along the way, igniting creativity and inviting consumers to step into new realms through the creative lens of Edison. With this campaign, Edison Chen was inspired to bring together fashion and cultural impact through the sport of football and music, all inspired by Chen’s extensive travels throughout Europe. The campaign embarks on a journey to create something new out of a classic with an untraditional execution for sportswear.

The CLOT Gazelle by Edison Chen arrives with premium nubuck details on a jute upper and an espadrille sole now adorned with blue stripes. The espadrille gives the shoe a luxurious touch while the khaki coloring achieves a playful, relaxing tone. Derived from the study of traditional Espadrille-making and inspired by classic Espadrille artisans, the stitching was applied to the final construction of the CLOT Gazelle, with special attention given to how the upper is assembled to the bottom. The cotton tape is all custom engineered for the shoe and beaded using an intricate process inspired by Eastern influence. Finally, the midsole is custom engineered for maximum support, highlighting the new construction process.

Lohia Corp Limited (LCL) announced two milestones that mark their expansion in the global market.

The company has acquired J.J. Jenkins Inc., specialized in machine manufacturing for high-tech industries, through their US subsidiary, Leesona Corp, a pioneer in winding machines. This acquisition aligns with their strategic vision to expand their specialty yarns and tapes portfolio in medical and defence applications.

In addition, LCL has formed a strategic Joint Venture with Italy's O.M.G.M. sas, leading to the creation of OMGM Extrusiontechnik Srl. With LCL holding the majority stake. This JV represents a diversification of their product portfolio, introducing solutions in Extrusion and Winding systems for a variety of technical applications.

TESTEX, a provider of textile and leather testing and certification, has joined the International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) as a Corporate Member. This membership strengthens their commitment to advancing the global textile industry through collaboration and innovation.

Mr. Christian Schindler, Director General of ITMF: “ITMF is delighted to welcome TESTEX as its latest member. Testing and certifying is an integral part of the textile value chain. It is important for ITMF to have TESTEX actively participate in ITMF. This step does not only strengthen ITMF’s position as a unique international platform for the global textile value chain, it also helps ITMF and its members to discuss topics related to testing and certification in close partnership with the leading testing and certifying organization”.

Mr. Marc Sidler, Group CMO of TESTEX: “By becoming a member of ITMF, TESTEX is joining an organisation that brings together the entire textile value chain from fibre producers to manufacturers of garments and home textiles. Having access to the ITMF’s publications, statistics, and surveys as well as events like workshops, conferences, and webinars enables us to better understand the global dynamics of the textile value chain as well as to strengthen the network with associations and companies around the world.”

With effect from July 1, Eugen Friedel is leading the business of Reifenhäuser Blown Film as the new part of the dual management team alongside Dr. Andreas Neuss. Friedel succeeds Marcel Perrevort, who has moved to the Reifenhäuser Group holding company as Chief Sales Officer.

Friedel, who has a degree in business administration, has held various sales positions at Reifenhäuser Blown Film for over 25 years - most recently as Sales Director. In addition to focusing on sales, he is also responsible for product management and purchasing within the dual management team.

Neste is expanding its logistics infrastructure for liquefied recycled raw materials at its refinery in Porvoo, Finland, including materials such as liquefied waste plastic and liquefied rubber tires. This lays the foundation to handling larger amounts of liquefied raw materials to support Neste’s strategic aims to advance chemical recycling and transform the Porvoo refinery into a renewable and circular solutions hub.

The new logistics installations comprise dedicated unloading facilities: At the refinery’s harbor, Neste is building an unloading arm with a heating system as well as pipelines to connect the harbor with dedicated storage tanks. Unlike regular crude oil, liquefied waste plastic or discarded rubber tires require heating to stay liquid. At the same time, the systems need to come with higher resistance to corrosion. In addition to the unloading arm and pipelines, Neste is also building a vapor recovery unit, contributing to emission control of the operations.

The new logistics infrastructure is expected to be completed in 2024. It will, therefore, be available when Neste finishes construction of its liquefied waste plastic upgrading unit at the Porvoo refinery, which is currently being built as part of the project PULSE, planned to be finalized during 2025. At the upgrading unit, the liquefied raw materials are turned into high-quality feedstock for the plastics and chemicals industry.

Cascale, formerly the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, has published a white paper that details how the organization’s Higg Brand & Retail Module (BRM) can help companies meet their regulatory reporting obligations under European Union (EU) law. The paper, titled “How the Higg BRM Supports CSRD Reporting Obligations,” speaks specifically to how the tool is continually evolving to support companies in meeting their regulatory reporting requirements under the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

In the face of today’s challenging and ever-changing legislative landscape, brands and retailers require reliable tools to support them in meeting compliance requirements. The Higg BRM is the leading framework specific to the textile, apparel, and footwear industry designed for brands and retailers to evaluate, assess, and improve Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance. The tool assesses 11 critical impact areas along global value chains to foster a holistic approach to sustainability, and is available on Worldly, a sustainability data and insights platform.

The Higg BRM has evolved to assist brands and retailers in fulfilling reporting obligations, while also supporting companies in the development of consistent corporate sustainability strategies to streamline efforts and reduce redundancy across sustainability initiatives. Beginning in 2024, Cascale conducted a thorough analysis of the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), which provides specific guidance on how companies should report on sustainability. Cascale mapped how the standards align with the Higg BRM, offering a clear pathway for organizations aiming to comply with ESRS. As detailed in the white paper, there is a 65 percent content overlap between the ESRS and the Higg BRM.

While the Higg BRM aligns broadly with ESRS on sustainability topics, it also delves deeper into issues that are specific to the textile, apparel, and footwear sector. This focus on sector-specific material issues ensures Higg BRM users can expect a comprehensive tool that not only meets general reporting requirements but also emphasizes the nuances and priorities unique to the industry.

Cascale is currently hosting an ongoing webinar series titled “Navigating Legislation & the Higg Index,” which highlights how the Higg Index tools serve as a valuable resource and can offer specific guidance on reporting requirements. The most recent webinar, co-hosted by Cascale and Worldly, provided an in-depth discussion on how the Higg BRM intersects with key pieces of legislation at the EU level, such as the CSRD.

Cascale is committed to continuously evolving, updating, and refining the Higg Index to meet the needs of its members, Higg Index users, and the industry. In collaboration with Worldly, the Higg BRM will be further refined to enhance alignment with the CSRD and other relevant regulations. By identifying and bridging gaps, the Higg BRM continues to support stakeholders in achieving a more structured and transparent approach to sustainability reporting.