From the Sector

Montalvo, an international specialists in web tension control, has been awarded the 2021 Exporter of the Year Award from the Maine International Trade Center for outstanding commitment to strengthening Montalvo’s businesses through international markets.

Montalvo Corporation CEO Robin Goodwin. "This award feels like a validation of our strategy and the teamwork we have at Montalvo. This is huge for us. We are a small, family-owned company, and all of us here are excited as this award is something every single one of our employees shares in.  We have some great product development going, new industry’s we are getting into, and expanding our capabilities and solutions offering, so it’s a very exciting time for the company and our employees, and this award has only energized us further."

Montalvo sells to over 70 countries across the globe, with their headquarters in Maine, USA, and with operations in China and Europe.

• A library of 1’440 off-the-shelf color standards, adding to the already available 4’320 colors of the ‘Color Atlas’ for cotton
• Online and physical library of colors allowing increased speed-to market for sportswear and fashion designers, brands, retailers and manufacturers.

Archroma announced the launch of its new Color Atlas by Archroma® Polyester Library, with 1’440 colors for sportswear, athleisure, swimwear, children's clothing, shoes, fashion and home textiles.

This original Color Atlas Cotton Library contains 4’320 colors, almost double compared to similar tools available to textile and fashion specialists, with options for purer ingredients and lighter resource usage for brands exploring more sustainable collections.

The new Color Atlas by Archroma® Polyester Library brings together colors in line with current trends, from the most neutral tones to the most vivid hues to fluorescent colors.

• The Techtextil and Texprocess trade fairs have a positive view of the future and invite the sector to take part at Frankfurt Fair and Exhibition Centre from 21 to 24 June 2022.
• Exhibitors who register well in advance benefit from an early-booking discount.

The dates for the next editions of Techtextil and Texprocess have been set and the leading international trade fairs for technical textiles and nonwovens and for the processing of textile and flexible materials are set to attract exhibitors and trade visitors from all over the world to Frankfurt am Main from 21 to 24 June 2022. Thus, the fairs are shifting the biennial cycle of events from odd to even years, which fits in perfectly with the sector’s international event calendar. Companies that book exhibition space at one of the two trade fairs no later than 31 August 2021 benefit from an early booking discount. “We see the future in a positive light and are confident that we will finally be able to give the sector the opportunity to meet and exchange ideas and information in June 2022. The desire for personal encounters, direct communication and new impressions is growing from day to day”, says Olaf Schmidt, Vice President Textiles and Textile Technologies.

Elgar Straub, Managing Director, VDMA Textile Care, Fabric and Leather Technologies, emphasises that, “Texprocess and Techtextil are the world’s foremost trade fairs for our innovative sector by a large margin. Both events offer customers an unrivalled overview of state-of-the-art innovations and technological developments – and beyond. Particularly when it comes to the latest trends for sustainability and digitalisation, Texprocess and Techtextil in Frankfurt represent the most important, future-oriented market. This makes it all the more important for both the exhibitor and visitor sides of the sector that we have the opportunity to obtain an overview of the latest market developments, to exchange ideas and information and to initiate new business. We are very relieved about this and hope that, next year, we will once again have the chance to generate new momentum for our sector in the international market.”

For the first time, Techtextil and Texprocess will occupy the western sector of Frankfurt Fair and Exhibition Centre with a total of four exhibition halls and, with a hybrid format, offer the best of both the physical and immaterial worlds: personal communication, virtual networking opportunities and maximum digital coverage. With a comprehensive hygiene and safety concept, Messe Frankfurt will ensure that all visitors and exhibitors can take part safely and with a good feeling.

• Guidelines of the EU Commission to implement the Single-Use Plastics Directive have been published
• Uniform labelling obligation for wipes and feminine hygiene products containing plastics as of July 03, 2021
• Lenzing’s wood-based, biodegradable VEOCEL™ branded fibers as a sustainable alternative to plastic

The Lenzing Group welcomes the issuance of the guidelines for the implementation of the Single-Use Plastics Directive (EU) 2019/904, which took effect on June 05, 2019¹. In these guidelines, the EU Commission specifies which products fall within the scope of the directive, thus providing clarity in the joint fight of the EU member states against environmental pollution from plastic waste. Lenzing’s wood-based, biodegradable cellulosic fibers such as those of the VEOCEL™ brand comprise a sustainable and innovative solution to this man-made problem.

Uniform labelling rules for some single-use plastic products
The Commission implementing regulation (EU) 2020/2151 applying to the Single-Use Plastics Directive stipulate uniform labelling requirements for some of the single-use plastic products on the packaging or the product itself starting on July 03, 2021. They encompass feminine hygiene products and wet wipes for personal and household care containing plastic.

Consumers want sustainable hygiene products
Even before the implementation of the Single-Use Plastics Directive, Lenzing already gives consumers clear guidance in their purchasing decisions. Products bearing the VEOCEL™ brand logo on their packaging are produced in line with stringent certification criteria. As a consequence, consumers can be assured that the products contain biodegradable, cellulosic materials.

A Marketagent survey carried out in German-speaking Europe in October 2019² concluded that nine out of ten consumers would immediately change their purchasing behavior for wipes if they found out that their current product contains plastic. This would seem to imply that new market dynamics will emerge once the labelling rules for single-use plastic products takes effect. According to a Smithers Report³, about 500,000 tons of petroleum-based fibers are used each year for the production of wipes.

¹ Directive (EU) 2019/904 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2019 on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment
² Representative Marketagent Online survey, n = 1,005 (14 - 69 years old, from Austria and Germany). https://itsinourhands.com/
³ Smithers Report “The Future of Global Nonwoven Wipes to 2023”, published in 2018, page 23, reference year 2018

Yoshiro Nagafusa ist neuer Epson Europa Präsident. Nagafusa unterstützt in seiner Funktion die Umsetzung der globalen Umweltvision 2050 des Unternehmens und den Businessplan „Epson 25“ im europäischen Raum. In diesen mittel- und langfristigen Planungen zielt Epson auf eine Reduzierung der Kohlenstoffemissionen gemäß dem 1,5℃-Szenario bis 2030 ab. Bis 2050 plant das Unternehmen besser als CO₂-neutral zu sein und CO₂-negativ zu wirtschaften sowie keine nicht-erneuerbaren Rohstoffe wie Öl und Metall zu verbrauchen.

Nagafusa war vor seiner Berufung zum Präsidenten von Epson Europe B.V. als Senior Vizepräsident bei Epson Europa verantwortlich für die Optimierung der Infrastruktur und der Vertriebsabläufe in der CISMEA-Region. Er hatte in seiner mehr als 30-jährigen Unternehmenszugehörigkeit eine Reihe von Führungspositionen bei Epson sowohl in Europa als auch weltweit inne. Ende der 90er Jahre (1997-1998) war Yoshiro Nagafusa bei der Epson Deutschland GmbH am früheren Standort in Düsseldorf im Einsatz.

Epson 25 Renewed und Umweltvision 2050
Über den mittelfristigen Plan „Epson 25 Renewed“ stellt Epson die Weichen für die Umsetzung der langfristigen Umweltvision 2050: Ziel des Plans ist, Nachhaltigkeit noch stärker in allen Unternehmensbereichen zu verankern und mithilfe von effizienten, kompakten und präzisen Technologien einen positiven Beitrag für die Gesellschaft zu leisten. Epson möchte Menschen, Branchen und Unternehmen mit intelligenten Lösungen ausstatten, die Personen, Dinge und Daten verbinden. Im Zentrum stehen dafür Initiativen in den Bereichen Nachhaltigkeit und Umweltschutz, digitale Transformation (DX) und gemeinsame Innovationen.

Das zentrale Ziel der Epson Umweltvision 2050 ist, bis zum Jahr 2050 eine negative CO₂-Bilanz zu erreichen. Darüber hinaus sollen keine nicht-erneuerbaren Rohstoffe (wie Öl und Metall) mehr verbraucht werden. Wesentliche Maßnahmen, um diese Ziele zu erreichen, sind Dekarbonisierung, das Schließen von Ressourcenkreisläufen, die Entwicklung von innovativen Umwelttechnologien sowie die Verringerung von Umweltbelastungen durch den Einsatz der Produkte. Ein Kernelement ist die Nutzung von Ökostrom. Epson ist RE100 beigetreten, einem globalen Kollektiv von Unternehmen, die sich zu 100 Prozent erneuerbarem Strom verpflichtet haben. Alle Standorte des Konzerns weltweit werden bis 2023 ihren Strombedarf zu 100 Prozent aus erneuerbaren Energiequellen decken. Epson Deutschland nutzt bereits seit über 10 Jahren ausschließlich Ökostrom.

Mansfield Sand Limited’s sports sand and rootzones are reinforced with polypropylene straight fibres from Beaulieu Fibres International.

• PP straight fibres manufactured in Belgium by Beaulieu Fibres International
• Fibres distributed in the UK by James Robinson Fibres
• Product developed and manufactured by Mansfield Sand.
• The technology increases pitch stability and resilience even with frequent and intensive use.

Fibresand and Reinforced Rootzones are manufactured in the UK by Mansfield Sand, one of the the leading suppliers of the product. Fibresand and Reinforced Rootzones are a natural sports product reinforced with Beaulieu’s PP Straight Fibre, distributed in the UK by James Robinson Fibres. Used in the top 100mm within the pitch construction profile, it enhances the natural grass root structure while giving the pitches increased stability and resilience.

Many Premiership, EFL and Scottish clubs are choosing Fibresand and Fibre Reinforced Rootzone.

Beyond football, Mansfield Sand Fibresand products are being used in a variety of winter sports pitches, the equine market and are increasingly being specified for urban public green space and landscape projects to reinforce natural grass areas and maintain aesthetics even when suffering from heavy traffic burden.

• Fashion Net Düsseldorf und Fashion Square einigen sich auf einheitliche Marke
• „DFD“ erfasst zukünftig als zentrale Dachmarke alle Aktivitäten des Fashion Square

Fashion Net Düsseldorf und Fashion Square verfolgen fortan eine gemeinsame Mission: Die Stärkung des Modestandorts Düsseldorf durch die einheitliche Nutzung der Dachmarke DFD.

„DFD erfasst zukünftig als zentrale Dachmarke nun auch sämtliche Aktivitäten des Fashion Square die bisher unter dem Titel Düsseldorf Fashion Week liefen“, sagt Angelika Firnrohr, Geschäftsführerin des Fashion Net Düsseldorf. Durch ihr kontinuierliches Engagement am Standort ist Firnrohr maßgeblich an der Weiterentwicklung des DFD Konzeptes, sämtlichen Aktivitäten der Showroom- und Messeorder sowie ganzjährig relevanten Maßnahmen am Modestandort beteiligt. „Die DFD Dachmarke zielt drauf ab, verschiedene Einzelinteressen in Düsseldorf innerhalb der Orderwoche abzubilden. Im Sinne einer konsequenten Standortförderung ist es daher notwendig, dass alle relevanten Player der Branche den DFD-Begriff für ihre Kommunikation nutzen“, erklärt sie.

Auch Klaus Kroeger, Geschäftsführer der Fashion Square Marketing GmbH sieht der Bündelung der Einzelinteressen von Fashion Net und Fashion Square positiv entgegen. Er freut sich darauf zukünftig Synergien aus dieser Kooperation zu ziehen und die Zusammenarbeit mit der Igedo und der Gallery FASHION & Shoes weiter zu intensivieren. „Seit mehr als zehn Jahren existieren die Begriffe DFD – ehemals CPD – und Fashion Week Düsseldorf parallel zueinander. Um Düsseldorf weiterhin als wichtigste Modestadt Deutschlands zu positionieren, ein emotionalisiertes Order- und Einkaufserlebnis zu schaffen und Fashion-Buyer weiterhin langfristig an den Modestandort Düsseldorf zu binden, ist eine gemeinsame Kommunikation zu den Ordertagen unabdingbar“, so Kroeger weiter

We aRe Spin Dye (WRSD) AB (publ) (“WRSD”) has entered into a collaboration agreement with the Norwegian brand Stokke®. Stokke AS, a Norwegian manufacturer of children's furniture and accessories, is well known among parents of young children, since their mission is to manufacture products that strengthen the bond between parent and child.

Stokke is known for creating products that are designed to last a lifetime. High production standards, durable and robust materials, flexibility and adjustment options, together with timeless design, is a guarantee of long life for Stokke's products.

Andreas Andrén, CEO of We aRe SpinDye views the collaboration with Stokke as a very exciting agreement with great potential:
-"Of course, our resource-efficient dyeing method is at the center of this collaboration. I have three children myself and as a parent of small children I know how important it is to have sustainable products. We aRe SpinDye will now be extending the life of Stokke's products. As a result of our textile fiber being homogeneously colored, our fabrics' test values are at the top for what is called "colorfastness to light". Our fabrics are thus bleached considerably less than conventionally dyed fabrics."

Janne Muri, project manager at Stokke for this collaboration, explains Stokke's view on sustainability.
"By taking care of our children, we also protect our planet. We strive for sustainable solutions in everything we do. High quality, sustainable materials and opportunities to adapt the products as the child grows, together with a timeless design, give our products a long lifespan that can last for generations. And with these core values in our group, it feels completely natural that we start a collaboration with We aRe SpinDye."

• Closing the loop from fiber to fiber in fashion

Lenzing, a leading global supplier of wood-based specialty fibers, and Södra, a producer of pulp, signed a cooperation agreement today, June 02, 2021. The cooperation involves the transfer of knowledge between the two companies, which have been proactively driving the circular economy issue for many years, and a joint process development followed by a capacity expansion for pulp from post-consumer waste. The jointly developed pulp OnceMore® will subsequently also be used as a raw material for the production of Lenzing’s TENCEL™ x REFIBRA™ branded specialty fibers.
The goal is to process 25,000 tons of textile waste per year by 2025.

OnceMore® by Södra is the world’s first process for industrial-scale recycling of textile waste of blended fibers, and it’s the forest who makes that possible. The process combines wood cellulose with textile waste to create a pure, high-quality dissolving pulp which can be used to produce new clothing and other textile products. During 2022, a new investment will ten-fold the production capacity of OnceMore® pulp and reach a higher level of recycled textile content. The goal for 2025 is to process 25,000 tons of textile and offer a OnceMore® pulp based on our wood material and 50 percent recycled textile material.

Flat knitting solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan, together with its Hong Kong subsidiary SHIMA SEIKI (HonG KonG) LTD., will participate in the ITMA Asia + CITME 2020 exhibition to be held at the national Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai, China in June.

Through its exhibit theme—Step Beyond—SHIMA SEIKI will present its vision of the future, while addressing a variety of solutions for the new normal, including proposals in Factory Automation, Digital Transformation (DX), and various online solutions.

At ITMA Asia SHIMA SEIKI will be making proposals for factory automation centered around the special manufacturing capabilities of our WHOLEGARMENT® knitting machines. WHOLEGARMENT® knitwear can be knit in one entire piece without the need for linking or sewing, and allows for on-demand knitting. SHIMA SEIKI will present its WHOLEGARMENT® knitting technology in the form of two of the latest machines. The flagship MACH2XS is the one of most advanced flat knitting machines, featuring proprietary four-needle bed and Slideneedle™ technology combined with spring-type moveable sinkers and i-DSCS+DTC® Digital Stitch Control System with Intelligence and Dynamic Tension Control, and capable of all-needle knitting of WHOLEGARMENT® items. MACH2XS is presented in ultrafine 18L gauge, shown for the first time in China. Also shown for the first time in China, MACH2VS, a flexible V-bed machine capable of knitting WHOLEGARMENT® knitwear using every other needle, or conventional shaped knitting using all needles. It also features spring-type moveable sinkers and i-DSCS+DTC® Digital Stitch Control System with Intelligence and Dynamic Tension Control. MACH2VS is presented in ultrafine 18G with auto yarn carriers as a prototype option.

ITMA Asia will also be the occasion for a sneak preview of next-Generation 4-bed WHOLEGARMENT® knitting technology. The new machine is named SWG-XR, adopting the SWG moniker from the first-generation WHOLEGARMENT® knitting machine introduced back in 1995. The "X" represents 4 needle beds arranged in an Xshaped formation as per the original SWG-X machine, while "R" stands for Reborn and Revolution, referring to a renewal of SHIMA SEIKI's WHOLEGARMENT® knitting that raises the technology to unprecedented levels. By increasing the number of systems from 3 to 4 and featuring auto yarn carriers, SWG-XR allows even higher productivity and vastly improved range of knitting.

In order to further support efforts in DX in the fashion industry, SHIMA SEIKI has released three new online services over the past year which will also be showcased at ITMA Asia: 'APEXFiz™' subscription-based design software; 'yarnbank ™' digital yarn sourcing web service; and 'SHIMAnAVI™' e-learning service.