From the Sector

Die Rösch Fashion GmbH & Co. KG in Tübingen hat gemeinsam mit ihrem Schwesterbetrieb Rösch Mode Kft.  in Kecskemét/Ungarn Mund- und Nasenmasken entwickelt, die das Umfeld vor Ansteckung durch Speichelaustritt schützen sowie gleichzeitig unnötige Berührungen im eigenen Gesicht  vermindern. Seit Mitte März läuft die Produktion der nicht-zertifizierten Masken mit einer wöchentlichen Kapazität bis zu 100.000 Stück.

Rösch Fashion hat auf die zahlreichen Nachfragen reagiert und gemeinsam mit Rösch Mode Kft. drei verschiedene Varianten von Masken entwickelt und getestet. Seit Mitte letzter Woche läuft bereits die Produktion unter anderem für eine internationale Organisation sowie für einen Apothekenverband. Gleichzeitig werden kontinuierlich neue Maskenvarianten, künftig auch für Kinder, entwickelt und getestet. Aktuelles Top-Produkt ist die dreilagige Maske aus Jersey, fixiert mit Vlies und Jersey. Die Maske wird mit einem Gummiband hinter den Ohren fixiert. Alle Materialien werden von langjährigen Partnern bezogen und in dem familienfreundlichen Betrieb in Ungarn und in Kleinmengen bei Rösch Fashion in Tübingen konfektioniert.

Die Wochenkapazität beträgt derzeit rund 100.00 Stück, wobei weitere Kapazitäten mit Nachdruck aufgebaut werden.
Die Masken werden mit Priorität an Großabnehmer aus dem medizinischen Bereich sowie an systemrelevante Firmen und Institutionen geliefert. Im zweiten Schritt ist auch eine Abgabe an Privatpersonen über den Online Shop www.roesch-fashion.com geplant.

Parallel entwickelt ein weiterer Schwesterkonzern, die RÖKONA Textilwerk GmbH & Co. KG, Textlilien für zertifizierbare Masken und Schutzanzüge. In Kooperation mit Rösch Mode Kft. kann auch hier die Konfektion bis zum Endprodukt auf Kundenwunsch abgebildet werden.

Join this webinar session with Kornit CEO Ronen Samuel and CMO Omer Kulka that will take place on Monday, 23rd March 2020 at 2:00 PM CET. To learn more about what the Softener is, how it works, and why it presents a great many opportunities for making the fashion industry more eco-friendly, more reactive to emerging demands, and more conducive to efficient and versatile business models.

We'll be presenting you with:

• our new NeoPigment™ Robusto Softener solution for Presto, the company’s system for digital, pigment-based roll-to-roll direct-to-fabric decoration. Kornit’s pigment-based print process can help companies achieve their sustainability goals. Traditional rotary reactive ink six-color printers use 60-80 liters of water per linear meter, and digital reactive ink for fashion designs use 14-40 liters; Kornit’s award-winning* NeoPigment™ Robusto ink set, which is both GOTS and ECO PASSPORT by OEKO-TEX® certified, is waterless.
• the Presto - Kornit’s Presto solution eliminates the need for pre- and post-treatment of fabric and allows for high-quality printing on an extraordinarily broad variety of fabric types and applications.

Please register for our webinar Here 

Major technological changes to Oerlikon Neumag’s RoTac³ tangling unit produce even more efficient BCF yarn tangling. On the one hand, the tangling nozzle has been flow - optimized, allowing the air pressure to be lowered by approximately 10 percent compared to its predecessor while maintaining the same knot strength. Furthermore, the nozzle bearing arrangements have been improved. Consequently, either higher speeds or nozzle rings with greater numbers of holes can be used, generating more knots in the yarn.

Even at high production speeds, tangling knots can be set considerably more evenly with the RoTac³ than in the case of other conventional tangling units. Frequent tangling dropouts are now a thing of the past. This ensures better yarn quality and has a positive impact on further processing. The result: the carpet has a visibly more even appearance.

Stable and efficient yarn production is hugely important to yarn manufacturers. Not only does the evenness of the tangling knots make the investment interesting, so too does the energy efficiency of the RoTac³. The tangling unit requires up to 50 percent less energy for generating compressed air. Against the background of rising energy prices, this represents an excellent prerequisite for optimizing production costs.

Oerlikon Neumag has been able to secure various retrofit contracts since the launch of the RoTac³ in 2015. And new systems are predominantly equipped with RoTac³. The RoTac³ is included in the standard scope of delivery for the newer BCF S8 system. The tangling unit is available as an option both for the single-end Sytec One system and the three - end S+ and it can also be retrofitted on request.

Anglo Recycling Technology is on course to deliver no less than a million of its special nonwoven mats for hydroponically growing herbs to a major customer in the Middle East this year. The Growfelt-branded products arose from the discovery back in the late 1990s by Anglo Recycling’s owner Simon Macaulay, that the Sussex-based retail supplier of salads, Van Heineken Brothers (now Vitacress), used nonwoven felts on which to grow its cress.

“I drove down to see the company’s production manager, Chris Moncrieff and discovered they were indeed growing cress on felts, but they were made from virgin materials and he liked the idea of maybe using a blend of virgin fiber offcuts of cotton, wool, and polypropylene,” he explains. “That’s how Growfelt was born. For the first six years, we supplied exclusively to Vitacress and in return, they helped us to bring our factory up to food-grade standard and to set in place a testing regime for Salmonella E-Coli coliforms and listeria.”

In recent years, however, Anglo Recycling, which is based in Whitworth, near Rochdale in the UK, has significantly broadened its customer base. It now offers a core of three growing media products to meet the differing needs of customers across Europe, the Middle East, and the Far East, whether for retail presentation and appearance or for water holding.

HeiQ, winner of the Swiss Technology Award and Swiss Environmental Award, launches HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03, an antiviral and antimicrobial textile treatment that is tested effective against coronavirus.

Since its inception 15 years ago, HeiQ has forged a solid innovation track record helping brands improve textile products. Catalyzed to action by the global fight against Coronavirus, HeiQ launches HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03, an antiviral and antimicrobial textile treatment which is proven effective against human coronavirus (229E) in face mask testing, significantly enhancing the antiviral log reduction from 2.90 of untreated face masks to 4.48, over 99.99% reduction of virus infectivity. (Remarks: a log reduction of 2 is equivalent to 100 times the effectiveness).

Chinese protective masks producer Suzhou Bolisi is the lead adopter of HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03. Treated masks will be available on the market as early as this April. American legwear manufacturer Kayser-Roth is planning to add the technology to their new product, Ghluv hands protector, while Lufeng from China is evaluating the technology on other types of fabric used for garments.

HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03 is a unique combination of vesicle and silver technologies designed to inhibit the growth and persistence of bacteria and viruses. The HeiQ vesicle technology targets lipid- enveloped viruses, such as coronavirus, providing rapid virus deactivation, while the HeiQ silver technology inhibits the replication of both bacteria and viruses. HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03 can be applied to a wide spectrum of textile surfaces including face masks, air filters, medical gowns, curtains, drapes and more. HeiQ also has a range of highly wash-durable antimicrobial and odor control textile technologies, called HeiQ Pure, combining silver-based and bio-based materials for all fabric types.

• „Virtuelles Druckfestival“ als Ersatz für verschobene FESPA 2020
• Veranstaltung mit Unternehmensneuheiten, Informationen zu neuen Produkten, Webinaren und Live-Fragerunden

Mimaki Europe plant eine interaktive Onlineveranstaltung unter dem Titel „The Mimaki Virtual Print Festival“ mit Informationen, Produktvorführungen, Wettbewerben und Networking-Möglichkeiten für Kunden und Interessenten. Auf dem Programm stehen Gruppen-Webinare und virtuelle Einzel-Meetings rund um die Chancen, Produkte und neue Features. Die Sitzungen beginnen am 24. März 2020, dem ursprünglichen Startdatum der FESPA 2020⁽¹⁾, und gehen bis Ende April.

Mimaki möchte bei der virtuellen Veranstaltung sein ursprüngliches Programm für die FESPA 2020 replizieren. Das Unternehmen bietet Kunden, Partnern und Interessenten die Möglichkeit zur Teilnahme an Produktvorführungen, Touren seines virtuellen FESPA 2020-Standes, Einzel-Meetings zu spezifischen Geschäftsanforderungen und Technologien und Live-Sitzungen für den Wissensaustausch mit FESPA-Führungskräften. Zur Sprache kommen Werbetechnik, industrieller Druck, Textildruck, Direct-to-Shape- und 3D-Druck und vieles mehr, wobei Mimaki einen offenen Dialog mit Branchenkollegen aus allen Sektoren fördern möchte.

Mit den Worten von Danna Drion, Senior Marketing Manager EMEA, Mimaki Europe: „Mimaki hat volles Verständnis für die Entscheidung der FESPA, die Messe zu verschieben, und freut sich schon jetzt auf die Teilnahme zu einem späteren Termin. Wir können zwar kein authentisches Messeerlebnis bieten, möchten aber Kunden und Interessenten den Zugang zu möglichst vielen der Informationen und Ressourcen über neue Produkte ermöglichen, die wir für die FESPA 2020 zusammengestellt hatten. Auf unserem virtuellen Druckfestival können sich Kunden und Interessenten interaktiv über die Anwendungen und Chancen mit unseren neuen Lösungen informieren und sich inspirieren lassen.“
Highlights:

• Branchentrends mit Mimaki und FESPA: Mimaki und FESPA veranstalten gemeinsam Webinare zu aktuellen Trends und Herausforderungen und stellen die neuesten Geschäftsmöglichkeiten in der Druckbranche vor.
• Produktvorführungen: Kurze Videos zeigen während der gesamten Veranstaltung die Vorteile und Möglichkeiten der neuesten Technologien von Mimaki. Im Mittelpunkt steht der vielseitige Tx300P-1800 MkII, der sowohl als Textildirektdrucker als auch als Transferdrucker eingesetzt werden kann.
• Virtuelle Kaffeepause und Einzelbesprechungen: Bestehende und potenzielle Vertriebspartner und Kunden können Einzelgespräche mit Mimaki-Repräsentanten vereinbaren, um sich gezielt eingehender über Technologien von Mimaki zu informieren oder individuelle Geschäftsanforderungen zu besprechen.
• Live-Chat mit Experten: Wer nur eine Frage hat oder keine Einzelbesprechung buchen möchte, kann während der ersten Veranstaltungswoche (24. bis 27. März) per Live-Chat mit Mimaki-Experten aus allen Sparten sprechen.

⁽¹⁾ FESPA 2020: Aufgrund der rasanten Ausbreitung von COVID-19 in Europa hat die FESPA die Verschiebung der FESPA Global Print Expo 2020, der European Sign Expo 2020 und der Sportswear Pro 2020 beschlossen. Weitere Informationen auf https://www.fespaglobalprintexpo.com/

• Move is in line with global growth strategy with a strong focus in the Asia Pacific region
• Zhejiang plant will be able to produce 50,000 tons of nylon compounds annually in the longer term
• Plant will be located in the convenient transportation port area of DuShan Pinghu city

DOMO Chemicals, a leading producer of high - quality engineering materials for a diverse range of markets, has announced plans for a new state - of - the - art plant in Zhejiang, China. The new plant will be capable of producing 50,000 tons of sustainable and innovative engineered nylon compounds each year. The company signed a new factory project through “cloud contract” with PingHu DuShan port Economic Development District on February 20, 2020. Production is expected to commence in the fourth quarter of this year.

DOMO Chemicals will invest €12 million in the new plant, which will have more than 11,500 m 2-floor space. The company plans to install multiple production lines at the first stage of development, which would offer an estimated capacity of 25,000 tons/year. There will be enough additional space available to cope with future demand requirements. The move is in line with the company’s global growth strategy with a strong focus on the Asia Pacific (APAC) region.

•  Historically difficult market environment – trade tensions put textile value chain under pressure in 2019
•  Prices for standard viscose at a historic low
•  Positive development of the specialty fiber business with a revenue share of already 51 . 6 percent
•  Strategic investment projects are progressing according to plan
•  sCore TEN targets for 2024 defined – EBITDA of EUR 800 mn

Lenzing – Despite a generally difficult demand environment for textile fibers and a drastic drop in prices for standard viscose, the Lenzing Group recorded a solid business development in 2019. The disciplined implementation of the sCore TEN corporate strategy and the accompanying focus on specialty fibers once again helped to mitigate the effect of unprecedentedly low standard viscose prices.

As a result, revenue dropped by 3.3 percent from EUR 2.18 bn to EUR 2.11 bn in 2019, driven by lower selling prices as well as standard fiber volumes. Due to positive mix effects and more resilient specialty fiber prices, the share of specialty fibers increased from 45.5 percent to 51.6 percent of revenue. The earnings development was largely influenced by the decline in revenue, but also by negative currency effects on material and personnel costs. EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) fell by 14.4 percent from EUR 382 mn to EUR 326.9 mn. The EBITDA margin declined from 17.6 percent to 15.5 percent. Net profit, at EUR 114.9 mn, was 22.4 percent lower than in the previous year at EUR 148.2 mn. Earnings per share amounted to EUR 4. 63 ( 2018: EUR 5 . 61 ).

• Discontinuation of assembly at the Winterthur location confirmed
• Reduction of 87 jobs
• Comprehensive social plan in place

On January 29, 2020, Rieter announced its intention to discontinue the assembly of machines at the Winterthur location due to structural changes in the market situation. The consultation process with employee representatives was completed March 11, 2020. After intensive discussion and detailed examination of the submitted proposals, the discontinuation of assembly and the associated reduction of 87 jobs was confirmed.

The final position was communicated to the employee representatives and the Office for Economy and Labor of the Canton of Zurich. Rieter’s employees were informed of the result. The decision will be implemented gradually during 2020.

Rieter has a comprehensive social plan. The focus is on the reintegration of affected employees with the support of the Regional Employment Centre (RAV) as well as a job center and the avoidance of hardship cases. The company intends to reduce the headcount by means of workforce turnover and early retirement, however some layoffs will be unavoidable.

Rejects Importer Attempts to Remove China 301 Tariffs on Finished Products

The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), representing the full spectrum U.S. textiles from fiber through finished sewn products, issued a statement today welcoming the Trump administration’s proposals on an economic stimulus package to gird the economy against the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, but the organization urged officials to reject any attempts by importers to remove China 301 tariffs on finished products as part of any relief package.

As part of a Phase One deal with China, the administration reduced duties on finished apparel and textile products implemented on Sept.1 from 15 percent to 7.5 percent. Finished apparel, home furnishings and other made-up textile goods equate to 93.5 percent of U.S. imports from China in the sector; while fiber, yarn, and fabric imports from China only represent 6.5 percent, according to government data.

NCTO is a Washington, DC-based trade association that represents domestic textile manufacturers, including artificial and synthetic filament and fiber producers.

• U.S. employment in the textile supply chain was 594,147 in 2018.

• The value of shipments for U.S. textiles and apparel was $76.8 billion in 2018.

• U.S. exports of fiber, textiles and apparel were $30.1 billion in 2018.

• Capital expenditures for textile and apparel production totaled $2.0 billion in 2017, the last year for which data is available.