From the Sector

Monforts Textilmaschinen GmbH & Co. KG will be providing information on its extensive range of coating and finishing technologies for the production of nonwovens and technical textiles at the forthcoming Techtextil India exhibition.

“India is already a very important market for Monforts and there are exciting prospects ahead for Indian manufacturers of technical textiles, who are well positioned to capitalise on growth opportunities,” says Monforts Head of Denim Hans Wroblowski, who will be at the Monforts stand in Hall 4, booth C52 at the show. “India has one of the largest working-age populations in the world and a complete textile value chain for both natural and synthetic fibres.”

In addition, he adds, India’s government, through its Ministry of Textiles, has been actively promoting the growth of technical textiles through various programmes based on investment promotion, subsidies, the creation of infrastructure and the stimulation of consumption.

As a result, India’s Ministry of Textiles is forecasting that the growth of technical textiles in the country will be over 18% annually in the next few years, from a value of US$16.6 billion in 2018 to US$28.7 billion in 2021.

Value addition

High value-added technical products such as wide-width digital printing substrates, carbon fabrics for high-performance composites, filter media, flame retardant barrier fabrics and heavy-duty membranes are now being coated on Monforts texCoat ranges and finished with the company’s industry-leading Montex stenters.

“Since we acquired the technology that our coating units are based on in 2015, we have made a lot of refinements,” says Hans. “All of these developments are reflected in higher coating accuracy and the resulting quality of the treated fabrics. At the same time, our latest multi-functional coating heads offer an unprecedented range of options, with a wide range of modules available.”

The texCoat user interface is now equipped with the unique Monforts visualisation system and the magnetic doctor blade has greater power reserves. Options include a carbon fibre-reinforced composite coating drum with a more scratch-resistant surface and maximum rigidity and remote control which simplifies exact adjustment for the operator.

Montex stenters in special executions are meanwhile ideal for the drying and finishing of both technical woven fabrics and nonwovens and characterised by high stretching devices in both length and width.

“The European-built Montex range of stenters has earned its leading position in the technical textiles market due to the overall robustness, reliability and economy of these machines,” Hans concludes. “Whatever the intended end-product – and we continue to discover potentially new areas in which technical textiles can be utilised all the time – we have the machine specification and know-how to turn ideas into reality. In India we also benefit from the strong sales and service support of A.T.E. Enterprises.”

Texchtextil India takes place alongside World of Composites at the Bombay Exhibition Centre in Mumbai from November 20-22.

• Forward AM is the company’s new brand name
• Innovative portfolio and services for all AM technologies
• Outstanding scalable applications and industry partnerships
• Presentation of 3D printed footwear

BASF 3D Printing Solutions (B3DPS) will be exhibiting at Formnext 2019, the leading sector show for additive-based manufacturing, with an expanded product range and a new brand presence. Sector specialists are warmly invited to meet B3DPS specialists in person from November 19 through 22 at Booth D21, Hall 12.1 at the Frankfurt Trade Fair. With the introduction of its new Forward AM corporate brand, B3DPS continues to pursue its goal of driving industrial scalability as the next phase of additive-based manufacturing. “Forward” stands for future-oriented, leading-edge materials and technology, while “AM” stands for “additive manufacturing”. The new arrow-symbol brand logo and “Innovating Additive Manufacturing” baseline emphasize the company’s dynamic approach to this exciting industrial manufacturing sector.

Extensive product portfolio with expanded service offer
Under the Forward AM brand the company offers end-to-end materials and service solutions along the entire value chain – from an initial product idea right through to its serial manufacture. Forward AM has the most extensive materials portfolio in the industrial 3D printing market today, encompassing powder bed fusion, advanced plastic and metal filaments, and the latest photopolymers.

Direct-to-garment system for polyester “is ideal for handling a wide variety of products in small quantities, which should help us attract new customers” says Image Magic CEO

Kornit Digital (Nasdaq: KRNT), announced that Tokyo-based Image Magic has installed two Kornit Avalanche Poly Pro systems, expanding its longstanding digital direct-to-garment capabilities to imprint polyester and poly-blend fabrics. The move supplements Image Magic’s continuous development of internal efficiencies, and increases capacity for an operation that has observed 40% year-over-year growth. The brand serves a mix of corporate clients, including some of Japan’s leading apparel brands, and general consumers via a predominantly internet-based sales model.

Using the eco-friendly NeoPigment™ Olympia ink set, Kornit Avalanche Poly Pro was developed to extend digital design complexity, color gamut, and durability to polyesters, which have grown in popularity as a result of sportswear and “athleisure” trends.

• Comprehensive 3D printing expertise in the automotive, aerospace, consumer goods and medical application sectors
• Hands-on application presentation with a leading RV and trailer manufacturer
• Content-rich Live Talks with industry-leading business partners
• Live demonstration of pigmented plastic filaments with BASF Colors & Effects

BASF 3D Printing Solutions (B3DPS) exhibited for the second time at K 2019 in Düsseldorf, Germany. At the world’s biggest trade show for plastics and rubber industry, B3DPS welcomed visitors from October 16 through 23 at the BASF SE stand C21/D21 in Hall 5 and presented its extensive portfolio of 3D printing materials and service solutions aiming at enabling industrial additive manufacturing at scale. What’s more, the company’s 3D printing experts did offer insights into the latest technological innovations and application developments in the “competencies” section.

Customized 3D printing highly attractive to RV and trailer market
The Concept Caravan at the BASF stand gave visitors hands-on experience of the impressive spectrum of applications offered by B3DPS. Alongside complex samples of printed modular construction elements, over one hundred individual parts have been 3D-printed using advanced photopolymer, filament and powder-based ready-to-print material formulations. The RV and trailer market is exceptionally attractive as it can greatly benefit from unique advantages offered by additive-based manufacturing, namely the high customizability of parts with complex geometries as well as the rapid availability of production parts without incurring tool costs. The very diverse material characteristics of the construction elements meet the production requirements for both vehicle exteriors and interior fittings. In addition, the final coating of manufactured parts plays a decisive role in many application areas, and this is also covered by the comprehensive BASF technology portfolio.

At PRINTING United in Dallas (Texas), Sappi presents its high-quality speciality papers to meet the highest demands

To be close to the market and to anticipate customers’ needs: this is what Sappi, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of innovative sublimation, printing and speciality papers, is known for. At this year’s PRINTING United tradeshow in Dallas, Texas (USA), Sappi is going to present its new Transjet Drive dye sublimation paper at booth 5123 from 23 to 25 October as well as different papers for large format inkjet printing. In addition, Sappi’s Ultracast casting and release papers will be shown. These products deliver superior textures with 100% replication for a wide range of aesthetic and functional applications.

“Dawn of a new era” is the promising title of the PRINTING United pre-announcement, as this year all relevant technologies and manufacturers will be present in one place for the first time. For Sappi, this tradeshow is the perfect platform to showcase its ground-breaking portfolio of high-quality speciality papers.

Paper Converting Machine Company (PCMC), part of the Barry-Wehmiller Converting Solutions Platform, is joining with RDP Marathon Inc. and IPT Digital, and expanding its offerings for customers to include digital printing technology.

RDP Marathon has delivered engineered machine solutions for a variety of printing and packaging markets for 30 years. Through a partnership with IPT Digital, RDP Marathon also provides systems that convert existing presses into high-speed digital printing platforms, broadening its capabilities and reach across multiple packaging markets. Adding this innovative technology to PCMC’s portfolio of solutions not only will accelerate the company’s growth in its current markets, but also support its expansion into new markets, particularly the folded carton business.

In addition to launching its new and expanded website, A. Monforts Textilmaschinen GmbH & Co. KG has issued two new publications celebrating the achievements of its major customers.

The first edition of Monforts World of European Textiles profiles a range of companies at the forefront of manufacturing in Europe serving a wide range of end-use markets – from high-end silk and polyamide fabrics for the luxury brands to nonwovens and technical textiles for digital printing, protective clothing, wallcoverings and more.

The seventh edition of Monforts World of Denim meanwhile charts the latest developments from the global market leaders in denim production. Monforts enjoys a global lead in the supply of finishing technology for the denim industry and is currently extremely busy responding to the interest shown at ITMA 2019 in its new CYD yarn dyeing system for this market.

Both publications are now available to download from the new website at: https://www.monforts.de/en/latest-news-media/downloads/

• For Soft Vibrant And Durable Pigment Prints

Reinach, Switzerland - Archroma, a global leader in color and specialty chemicals towards sustainable solutions, has recently launched at the ITMA exhibition its new Helizarin® LTC New liq, a formaldehyde-free* low temperature curing binder for pigment printing on all kinds of fibers.

Prints are increasingly popular in apparel and interior textiles, as they allow us to express ourselves through vibrant colors and patterns. Consumers are especially drawn to the soft touch of an elegantly printed fabric.

Creating soft and vibrant prints can however be challenging for textile manufacturers: Pigment printing is usually applied to the fabric with a binder that often contains formaldehyde, needs a high temperature for curing, and can make the fabric harsh to the touch.

That is why Archroma developed its new Helizarin® LTC New to allow textile manufacturers to address these challenges.

The innovation was developed in compliance with “The Archroma Way: safe, efficient, enhanced, it’s our nature”. The approach finds its origin in Archroma’s deep belief that it is possible to make the textile industry sustainable, economically and ecologically.

Helizarin® LTC New is a binder designed for low temperature curing or no curing. This allows to reduce the fixation temperature and time compared to conventional pigment printing processes. In addition, manufacturers will not experience the change of shades that sometimes occur with high temperature processes.

When using Helizarin® LTC New, textile manufacturers can therefore improve the productivity of their printing process and reduce their energy consumption.

Helizarin® LTC New is also a welcome solution for textile manufacturers who do not have curing equipment, since it offers similar to better fastness than commodity binders that have been treated through a full process, and excellent fastness on synthetic fibers such as polyester and polyamide.

When it comes to the final result on the fabric, Helizarin® LTC New allows the creation of soft and durable prints for premium quality articles.

The new product will be the core of Archroma's Cool Print, a complete formaldehyde-free* system that keeps printed textiles soft and durable, and the planet cooler.

The system, which combines Helizarin® LTC New with Luprintol® softening and fixing auxiliaries and Printofix® pigment preparations, allows manufacturers to realize potential savings of up to 30% in processing time, 45% in energy consumption and 44% CO2 emissions – compared to benchmark pigment printing.

Helizarin® LTC New, as well as the Cool Print system, is formaldehyde free* and registered under REACH. It can be used in line with the ZDHC & bluesign® requirements, is compliant with the Oeko-Tex Std 100 Class 1 standard for baby wear, and with the MRSL of the most major brands.

“Helizarin® LTC New was developed by Archroma’s R&D team together with experts at our Global Competence Center for Printing, based in Barcelona, Spain”, says Joaquin Femat, Head of Business Development for Printing, Brand & Performance Textile Specialties, at Archroma. “As The Archroma Way is based on Safe, Efficient and Enhanced as its three pillars, we designed an innovation that offers our customers a balanced combination of resource optimization, safe handling, and controlled effluent. Because it’s our nature!”
 

With less than three months remaining until Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles celebrates its 25th anniversary edition, a number of quality suppliers have already confirmed their participation in the 28 - 31 August event. Amongst the 1,000-plus exhibitors from some 25 countries & regions taking part are more finished products suppliers, while solutions for the contract business and whole-home sectors will once again be a highlight of this year's fair.

While Intertextile Shanghai's product offerings cover all sourcing needs - bed & bath, decorative, upholstery & window treatment fabrics, carpet & rugs, wall & interior decorations, editors, whole-home solutions, design studios and digital printing technology - it is finished products that are seeing the most growth this year.

Archroma, a global leader in color and specialty chemicals towards sustainable solutions, will be at ITMA to launch its latest innovations and system solutions aimed to help textile manufacturers with optimized productivity and/or value creation in their markets.

Archroma offers a wide portfolio of dyes and chemicals aiming to increase sustainability and innovation along the entire value chain, from fiber to finish.

Archroma is reputed for its continuous flow of ground-breaking innovations, such as the EarthColors®, a range of dyes made from non-edible natural waste from the agricultural and herbal industry, Inkpresso®, a digital printing system that enables ink mixing on site and on demand, Smartrepel® Hydro, a nature-friendlier protection that keeps cotton, polyester and polyamide textiles dry, the Color Atlas, a revolutionary color system comprising of a physical and online library of 4,320 new colors developed on cotton poplin.

More recently, Archroma introduced the purest indigo, Denisol® Pure Indigo, an aniline-free* synthetic pre-reduced liquid indigo launched in 2018, Appretan® NTR, a new nature-based binder for nonwovens, and Fadex® AS New, a new “super UV protector” for automotive & transportation textiles, both introduced in May 2019.

At ITMA, Archroma will present 24 solution systems and 5 innovations, and will hold “Innovation & Solutions Sessions” at its booth to present them.

The systems and innovations presented by Archroma have all been selected for their compliance with “The Archroma Way: safe, efficient, enhanced, it’s our nature”. The approach finds its origin in Archroma’s deep belief that it is possible to make the textile industry sustainable.