From the Sector

International technology group ANDRITZ has received an order from Fouani, Nigeria, to supply two baby diaper lines for its facilities in Lagos. The lines will produce a wide range of diaper products with absorbent cores made of pulp and SAP (super absorbent polymer). Start-up is scheduled for 2022.

Fouani Nigeria Ltd was established in 2001 as a subsidiary of the Fouani Group of Companies. The company has grown to be a pioneer and the sole distributor of LG, Hisense, and Maxi products in Nigeria, Africa, thus winning several awards for its proactive market penetration.

The two baby diaper lines feature the most advanced forming technology for the absorbent core and SAP dosing.The lines are equipped with a web tensioning control system and quality check devices to ensure a high level of production quality. In addition, ANDRITZ will provide services for installation and start-up of the machines.

US Vice President Kamala Harris announced significant multimillion-dollar investments by Parkdale Mills and six other companies today, as part of the Administration’s Call to Action to the private sector to promote economic opportunity in the region, as her office works to address the root causes of migration.

Vice President Harris, who is overseeing diplomatic efforts with El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico, announced several private sector commitments to strengthen economic opportunities in the Northern Triangle and made remarks at a White House roundtable, which included Anderson Warlick, Chairman and CEO of Parkdale Mills. The textile and apparel co-production chain is one of the most essential supply chains for employment and economic development in both the United States and the Northern Triangle region, currently supporting over 1 million jobs in the United States and the Central American region. The Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) and its strong rules of origin are the primary reasons this co-production chain exists, which is seeing significant growth this year.

North Carolina-headquartered Parkdale Mills, one of the largest manufacturers of spun yarn and cotton consumer products in the world, will make a multimillion-dollar investment in a new yarn spinning facility in Honduras and make an additional substantial investment to support existing operations in Hillsville, Virginia. This investment will help customers shift 1 million pounds of yarn per week away from supply chains in Asia and China and enhance U.S. and CAFTA-DR co-production resilience and increase regional product offerings. Parkdale’s announced investment will create hundreds of jobs in Honduras and further support hundreds of employees in Parkdale’s Hillsville operations.  

Recently, administration officials from the U.S. Trade Representative’s office and the Vice President’s office met with the U.S. textile industry to reaffirm the importance of rules of origin in nearshoring production chains, helping address labor and environmental challenges and mitigating supply chain risk.

“I would like to sincerely thank Vice President Harris for making this announcement and leading the effort with private industry to create more economic opportunities in northern Central America and the United States,” said Anderson Warlick, Chairman and CEO of Parkdale Mills. “Parkdale’s investments will support good paying jobs in the United States and in the Central American region and significantly increase our extensive product offering and capacity, including the production of sustainable specialty yarns.

Parkdale sees an enormous opportunity for brands and retailers to re-shore and nearshore production supply chains and double the size of U.S.-CAFTA-DR trade, because of the rules of origin in our trade agreement and a shift in sourcing by brands and retailers mitigating their supply chain sourcing risks.  We are excited about what this opportunity means for jobs in the U.S. and the region for this critical production chain and couldn’t be more thrilled to be part of this effort.  We look forward to working with the Vice President and her team on strengthening the textile and apparel production chains in the U.S. and region.”

National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) President and CEO Kim Glas, said, “This is an exciting and important announcement by Parkdale and Vice President Harris. Our industry has invested billions of dollars in the U.S. and in the region as a result of the investment-based rules of origin in the CAFTA-DR agreement, which ensures the job benefits of the agreement are reserved for the parties to the agreement.  Additional substantial announcements on further investment in textile and apparel production are expected soon.

As brands and retailers are seeking more environmentally sustainable, vertically integrated, transparent, and quick turnaround supply chains, our collective industries stand ready to work with companies that are seeking to mitigate sourcing strategies as Asian supply chains have faced enormous production constraints.  Further verticalization in the industry, like Parkdale’s announcement today, allows broader product diversification and grows jobs across the textile and apparel production chain.

We are thrilled with today’s announcement because it is a win-win for American and Central American workers and our environment and a huge opportunity to further recalibrate supply chains out of China and Asia. This valuable co-production chain between the U.S. and the CAFTA-DR region accounts for $12 billion in two-way trade and billions of dollars of investment. Significant growth is occurring in our sector and is expected to continue as supply chains continue to recalibrate.  We are delighted about this today’s announcement and appreciate the Administration’s strong support.”

Maruti Printing transformed its business as the first printer in India to adopt the latest LED-UV curing technology from AMS Spectral UV, a Baldwin Technology Company. The hybrid system, which includes traditional UV modules, has been in production for nearly two years and has significantly expanded the offset printer’s capabilities for its customers, including adding the ability to print on all types of plastic substrates.

Not only does Maruti have the distinction of being an LED-UV trailblazer in India, but it also is first in the market to upgrade a high-speed, high-performance Heidelberg Speed Master 72F+L six-color printer with coating tower—which prints up to 15,000 sheets per hour—with AMS Spectral UV’s high-power AMS XP9-I Series LED-UV and P3 Smart UV curing modules.

Established in 1986 and headquartered in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Maruti serves customers throughout India, providing offset printing of scratch cards, banners, booklets, brochures, calendars, danglers, pamphlets, posters, stickers and envelopes.

In January 2020, Maruti took delivery of two AMS XP9-I Series LED-UV modules to cure colors in the interdecks. The modules are ideal for the highest-speed curing situations that require consistent peak intensity to the substrate, which is the case for Maruti’s offset printing standard of perfection with every cure.

To cure ink, as well as a growing variety of LED coatings, Baldwin’s AMS Spectral UV modules can be located after print units, or in the press delivery after the coater. When inks and coatings are cured with LED-UV, they become instantly dry via photopolymerization, allowing for printing on any substrate, including plastics and metallized stocks. Plus, work can be immediately finished and sent to the bindery once it comes off the press, without the need for heat, spray powder or drying time.

In addition, Maruti took delivery of two P3 Smart UV curing modules for installation at the end of the press to cure any type of UV coating and expand the company’s scope of coating compatibility to general UV coatings in order to offer its customers the widest range of UV printed choices in the Indian market.

The P3 Smart UV housings are completely liquid-cooled to ensure safe, consistent performance and increased uptime, and modules feature a universal design, so that any unit can fit any print unit location. P3 modules can be changed, inspected and cleaned quickly and easily, without tools, and lamps slide and lock into place smoothly and securely.

The durability of the equipment and its chipset was a critical deciding factor in India’s climate. The latest-generation power-and-control cabinets are dust- and moisture-resistant, allowing them to withstand extreme heat and humidity, as well as powder and airborne contaminants, making the equipment ideal for operation in stressful conditions anywhere in the world. AMS Spectral UV’s latest generation of LED chips, designed for the highest-intensity curing applications, enable the curing of LED inks and coatings at record-setting speeds. They are built with resilient components, and the semi-conductor components are sealed, which allows the chips to work in a variety of rugged environments. Additionally, integrated circuits incorporated into the design electronically protect the LEDs and the entire system.

Die Firma Lindauer DORNIER GmbH spendete der Fakultät Textil & Design der Hochschule Reutlingen eine neue Hochleistungs-Luftdüsenwebmaschine. Das Familienunternehmen mit Sitz in Lindau am Bodensee zählt weltweit zu den Technologieführern im Bereich Textilmaschinenbau.

Die gespendete Maschine verfügt über die hochmoderne, patentierte Antriebstechnik und ist eine wertvolle Ergänzung des weltweit einzigartigen Maschinenparks der Fakultät Textil & Design im Bereich der textilen Lehre. Inhaber und Geschäftsführungsvorsitzender, Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Peter D. Dornier, übergab “das Geschenk“ persönlich und betonte dabei, die seit Jahrzehnten und bereits zu Zeiten der Gründung der Lindauer DORNIER GmbH in den 50er-Jahren bestehende, vertrauensvolle Partnerschaft mit der Fakultät Textil & Design und deren Vorgängerorganisationen.

Studierende der Fakultät Textil & Design erhalten an der neuen Luftwebmaschine Praxis-Unterricht auf dem neuesten Stand der Technik.

Das Schussgarn wird mittels Luftstrahl ins Webfach eingetragen. Eine Technik, die insbesondere bei hohen Schusseintragsfrequenzen elektronische Regelungen für Luftdrücke und Blaszeiten der Luftdüsen im Millisekundenbereich für einen stabilen Maschinenlauf und eine hohe Gewebequalität erfordert. Die Webmaschine verfügt über die weltweit einzigartige und patentierte Antriebstechnik DORNIER SyncroDrive®. Zwei servogeregelte Motoren sorgen hier für den separaten Antrieb von Webmaschine und Fachbildeeinrichtung mit elektronischer Synchronisierung. Das Ergebnis ist die Minimierung der Gleichlaufschwankungen und die Schwingungsreduktion und damit die Maximierung der Konstanz der Gewebequalität.

Die konsequente, konstruktive Umsetzung physikalisch-technischer Zusammenhänge wird in dieser Maschine an einer Vielzahl von Einzelheiten erfahrbar und begreifbar. Damit wird die Theorie aus der Vorlesung in idealer Weise eindrücklich unterstützt und ergänzt.

In einer, nach aktuellen Verordnungen, klein gehaltenen Feierstunde brachten der Präsident der Hochschule Reutlingen, Prof. Dr. Hendrik Brumme und der Leiter des Fachgebiets Weberei, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ulrich Scholze der Firma Lindauer DORNIER den Dank für die Spende zum Ausdruck. Dipl.-Ing (FH) Peter D. Dornier wünschte sich in seiner kurzen Rede eine interdisziplinäre Nutzung der Webmaschine durch Textiltechnologie sowie Design-Studierende und zeigte die vielversprechenden Chancen der Textiltechnologie für die Gestaltung einer nachhaltigeren Zukunft auf.
Die großzügige Spende ist ein Meilenstein in der langjährigen Beziehung zwischen der Fakultät Textil & Design und der Firma DORNIER, deren Inhaber sich auch als Stiftungspräsident der Walter-Reiners-Stiftung stark für den textilen Nachwuchs engagiert.

Ergänzt wurde die Spende der Webmaschine mit dem von der Kuenzel GmbH, Münchberg, kostenlos überlassenen Webblatt, sowie der gestifteten Webkette und Schussgarne durch die Zweigart & Sawitzki GmbH & Co.KG, Sindelfingen.

At the subsidiaries of the German Mahlo GmbH + Co KG, two branch managers are celebrating anniversaries this year. Alan Lavore, CEO of Mahlo America Inc., has been with the machine builder for 25 years. Michel Bruni, CEO of Mahlo Italia, has been part of the Mahlo family for 40 years.

Bruni began his career at Mahlo in 1981 as a service technician in the French branch Mahlo Ouest. Just one year later, he moved to Mahlo Italia, where he was appointed branch manager in 1996. He still holds this position today. Bruni is also sales manager for the Benelux countries, the Maghreb countries and Madagascar. The Mahlo Italia CEO's recipe for success includes expertise paired with experience and passion. To remain loyal to a company for so many years also testifies to a special relationship. "Then as now, I work with a dynamic and committed team. We also have a very good relationship with the employees of the parent company in Germany," says Bruni.

The culture and integrity with which business is conducted in the family-owned company were among the reasons why Mahlo America Inc. CEO Alan Lavore has also been with Mahlo for 25 years. "I just love working with all the great people at Mahlo." Lavore joined Mahlo in 1996 as a territory sales manager and took over as CEO in 2005. During this time, he drove the company's expansion from a textile specialist to a supplier for various production sectors such as film, paper, coating and converting or nonwovens.

Fibre Extrusion Technology, UK is celebrating a successful INDEX20 nonwovens exhibition in Geneva, Switzerland, which closed on 22 October. Although the company has a long history in supplying meltspinning equipment for the nonwovens sector, this represents its first venture at a dedicated nonwovens show.
 
FET’s Managing Director, Richard Slack explains. “Techtextil and ITMA have previously been our main exhibitions of choice, but INDEX20 was an ideal vehicle for FET to launch our new laboratory scale spunbond system, which enables client development of nonwoven fabrics in a number of formats and polymers.”
 
FET already has spunbond systems in the field, including composite systems which utilise both spunbond and meltspun functions. The growth in global nonwovens technology, partly driven by demand for pandemic-related materials, is forecast to continue.
 
“We were delighted with the response at INDEX”, continued Richard Slack. “There was considerable interest shown in the new spunbond system and its potential for lab scale innovation. It’s clear that the industry is seeking new alternatives to synthetics at the moment, and our technology is able to assist with the testing and assessment of many of the new feedstocks being pioneered in this extremely inventive sector, where everyone is suddenly talking and cooperating with everyone else, regardless of whether they are generally competitors. We recorded in excess of 20 serious enquiries from totally new contacts and sectors, including blue chip companies in the hygiene, medical and packaging industries.”
 
“There were initial concerns about projected attendance figures, especially from China and USA companies, but we experienced good footfall from key decision makers, especially those from Europe. It was encouraging to at last experience the opportunity for face-to-face contact with old and new customers on a large scale and we are now starting to reap the benefits with enquiries continuing to flow in”.

Die Verleihung der Förder- und Kreativitätspreise 2021 der Walter Reiners-Stiftung des VDMA, Fachverband Textilmaschinen an Studierende und Nachwuchswissenschaftler:innen deutscher Universitäten für Spitzenleistungen in Studium und Promotion fand am 09. November 2021 im Rahmen der Aachen-Dresden-Denkendorf International Textile Conference 2021 statt. Die bundesweit ausgeschriebenen Förder- und Kreativitätspreise wurden erneut online durch Herrn Peter D. Dornier, Vorstandsvorsitzender der Walter Reiners-Stiftung, verliehen.

Dr.-Ing. Martin Hengstermann wurde mit dem mit 5.000 EUR dotierten Förderpreis beste Dissertation des Deutschen Textilmaschinenbaues 2021 für seine am Institut für Textilmaschinen und Textile Hochleistungswerkstofftechnik der TU Dresden erarbeiteten Dissertation „Entwicklung von Hybridgarnen aus recycelten Carbonfasern und Polyamid 6-Fasern für thermoplastische Verbundbauteile mit hohem Leistungsvermögen“ geehrt.

Gegenstand der Dissertation ist die Entwicklung und Umsetzung von neuartigen Hybridgarnen aus recycelten Carbonfasern (rCF) und Polyamid (PA) 6-Fasern für thermoplastische Verbundbauteile. Diese Hybridgarne können die hervorragenden mechanischen Eigenschaften der rCF im Gegensatz zu bisherigen Lösungen in hohem Maße ausnutzen. Bedingt durch deren spezielle Fasereigenschaften (insbesondere hohe Querkraftempfindlichkeit, Sprödigkeit und fehlende Kräuselung) wurde dafür die Prozesskette der konventionellen Stapelfasergarnherstellung, bestehend aus Krempel, Strecke und Flyer, umfangreich analysiert und technologisch-konstruktiv weiterentwickelt, wodurch erstmalig eine schonende und gleichmäßige Herstellung der Hybridgarne ermöglicht werden konnte.

Picanol has introduced its latest generation of airjet and rapier weaving machines, which have been called the “Connect” generation. These new generation weaving machines focus on connectivity and an increased level of data availability. With this new generation, Picanol is launching several new functionalities such as a digitalized Gripper stroke setting, Gripper tape monitoring, Climate control, Shed angle measurement, and fully integrated Power monitoring.

“Following the successful launch of our digital platform PicConnect earlier this month, we have now released a new generation of weaving machines, which are known as the Connect generation. Our Connect generation weaving machines can provide the correct data and are loaded with new and never-before-seen functionalities. This is clear proof that for Picanol “Driven by Data” is not just a slogan but a commitment. Not only have these innovations allowed us to make big improvements when it comes to our four design principles – Smart Performance, Sustainability Inside, Intuitive Control, and, of course, Driven by Data – but when combined with our new digital platform they will allow you to amplify your own intuition.” comments Johan Verstraete, Vice President Weaving Machines.

From now on, the range of Picanol weaving machines will have the “Connect” suffix. For the airjet weaving machines, this means: OmniPlus-i Connect and TerryPlus-i Connect, while for the rapier weaving machines, this means: OptiMax-i Connect and TerryMax-i Connect. These new machines are built around Picanol’s four main design principles:

Smart Performance
On the OptiMax-i Connect, Picanol has introduced a lubrication monitoring sensor in combination with a temperature sensor. The combined data they provide allow the user to make sure the gripper tapes are in optimal condition for maximum performance. As an option, a gripper stroke measurement sensor is also available. This not only dramatically simplifies the setting of the gripper stroke, but also enables the user to realize higher machine speeds when weaving reduced widths – a pure extra output combined with more user-friendliness.

Sustainability Inside
Even though it was 25 years ago that the Sumo Drive concept was launched, it remains the most powerful, versatile and energy friendly machine drive available. And it has been even further optimized. It features an optimized sheet metal package for lower energy consumption, optimized oil cooling circuit for a better performance and a built-in temperature monitoring. Moreover, the Connect machines can be equipped with a Power monitoring module, which allows the user to keep track of the power consumption of each machine over time. Every Connect machine also has a built-in ambient temperature and humidity sensor, which will help to optimize the climate control in the weaving shed at the lowest cost. And as raw material is the biggest cost factor, each machine can also be equipped with raw material use monitoring.

Driven by Data
As the machine has more sensors than ever before, it also generates more data. To enable a fast reaction to all these sensor data, the BlueBox control unit has been further optimized: better heat management guarantees short reaction cycles combined with the long lifetime of components. To have a good view of all of the data generated, a special sensor dashboard screen is available in the BlueTouch display: with a simple touch of the screen, the current and historical power consumption, temperature, humidity, material consumption, and – on the OmniPlus-i Connect – also the air consumption, can be monitored. The BlueTouch display is now also equipped with an Action center, an electronic logbook where all actions such as maintenance interventions can be logged or scheduled beforehand. The machine manual is now available on the BlueTouch display, and with the context-based help function the help pages related to the operation the user wants to perform appear with one touch of his/her fingertip. The built-in web browser even allows the user even to consult, for example, tutorial videos on the web to guide them through a setting procedure.

Intuitive Control
The Connect generation was designed to focus on what really matters: weave the highest possible grade A fabrics at minimal costs. A large set of tools have been installed to facilitate this goal. One of the most remarkable ones is the Harness frame stroke measurement – until recently, it was only available on the revolutionary SmartShed, but it is now also available on the cambox and dobby machines. Combined with the shed visualization and simulation, it offers a quantum leap in terms of optimizing the user’s shed settings without losing any time or taking any risks. The colors of the programmable Smart signal lights with stop timing functionality are now repeated around the push buttons, allowing even better visibility and the prioritization of interventions by the weaver. A full-fledged Access control system not only limits the access to certain pages and settings depending on the user, but also allows a tailored dashboard to be established for each user profile.

Im Rahmen eines Workshops der „RUDOLSTÄDTER KUNSTSTOFFTAGE“ stellte das Thüringische Institut für Textil- und Kunststoff-Forschung e.V. (TITK) am 4. November 2021 eine wichtige Neuinvestition vor: eine Anlage für den pulverbasierten 3D-Druck. Damit können die Forschungsaktivitäten auf dem Gebiet der Additiven Fertigung deutlich ausgebaut werden. Das Druckzentrum kostete knapp 250.000 Euro und wurde dank des Thüringer Corona-Sonderförderprogramms „FuE-Schub“ für wirtschaftsnahe Forschungseinrichtungen möglich.

Das am TITK ansässige 3D-Druck-Kompetenzzentrum Rudolstadt arbeitete bisher nur mit dem sogenannten FDM- bzw. FFF-Verfahren. Die Abkürzungen stehen für Fused Deposition Modeling bzw. Fused Filament Fabrication und beschreiben die schichtweise Herstellung eines Werkstücks aus einem schmelzfähigen Kunststoff. Dieser wird als Endlosfaden zugeführt. „Ausgehend von unserer Historie und der langjährigen textilen Kompetenz unseres Hauses haben wir zunächst nur Filamente für den 3D-Druck genutzt und erforscht“, erläutert Patrick Rhein, Leiter der Forschungsgruppe Additive Fertigung. „Mit der Anlage zum selektiven Lasersintern ist es uns jetzt möglich, auch thermoplastische Pulver einzusetzen und weiterzuentwickeln.“

Im Gegensatz zum filamentbasierten 3D-Druck nach FDM- bzw. FFF-Verfahren wird beim selektiven Lasersintern (SLS) ein Pulverbett angelegt und erhitzt. Laserstrahlen verschmelzen bzw. sintern das Material dann hochgenau und ebenfalls Schicht für Schicht. Da immer wieder ein neues Pulverbett darüber aufgetragen wird, sind hierbei keine zusätzlichen Stützmaterialien nötig, die man anschließend wieder herauslösen müsste. „Außerdem ist die Festigkeit der Produkte deutlich höher, sie können gleichmäßig Zugkräfte in alle Richtungen aufnehmen“, sagt Projektingenieur Henning Austmann.

In Sachen 3D-Druck kehrt damit endgültig Industriestandard am TITK ein, der sich nicht nur zur Prototypenentwicklung, sondern auch für den Nachweis einer Prozessfähigkeit eignet. Mit der SLS-Anlage lassen sich Teile mit einer Kantenlänge von bis zu 45 Zentimetern herstellen. Zudem werden technisch relevantere Werkstoffe verarbeitet, so etwa Polypropylen (PP), Polyamid (PA) oder Thermoplastische Polyurethane (TPU), während man vom filamentbasierten Druck vor allem amorphe Werkstoffe wie ABS und PLA kennt.

„Mit der neuen SLS-Anlage können wir unsere Arbeit nun thematisch erweitern“, sagt Teamleiter Patrick Rhein. Das Pulverdruck-Verfahren brauche zwar in der Regel eine längere Vorbereitung, sei aber letztlich deutlich schneller. Zudem handele es sich beim Druckzentrum am TITK um eine offene Anlage, das heißt sämtliche Parameter können selbst bestimmt und voreingestellt werden. „So haben wir alle Möglichkeiten, um gemeinsam mit Partnern aus Industrie und Wissenschaft neue Materialien zu entwickeln und zu erproben“, freut sich Rhein. Denn das Angebot an Ausgangsstoffen für das Pulverdruckverfahren sei aktuell noch recht überschaubar. In Forschungskooperationen sollen nun beispielsweise Zusatzstoffe für Pulverisierungsverfahren getestet werden, um bei der additiven Fertigung etwa eine höhere Wärme- oder elektrische Leitfähigkeit sowie Flammschutz oder verbesserte Steifigkeit zu erzielen.

Passend zu den neuen technischen Möglichkeiten am TITK stellte am 4. November auch der Workshop die Vor- und Nachteile von filamentbasiertem und pulverbasiertem 3D-Druck gegenüber. Mit an Bord waren diesmal renommierte Maschinenhersteller, Materialanbieter, Forschungseinrichtungen sowie Anwender aus der Industrie, die in acht Vorträgen die neuesten Entwicklungen aus der Branche vermittelten.

From 26/10/2021 til 29/10/2021 PFAFF INDUSTRIAL has participated at thw A + A fair in Düsseldorf/Germany - one of the few IN-PERSON-EVENTS in 2021. The A + A event is the leading International trade fair for safety, security and health at work. 1,204 exhibitors from 56 nations and more than 25,000 trade visitors travelled to Düsseldorf, Germany to attend the sector’s most relevant trade fair. PFAFF INDUSTRIAL showcased several industrial sewing- and welding solutions on a common booth with Duerkopp Adler.

PFAFF 1591:
Electronic postbed shoe machine with new programmable thread tension device. The machine is stepping motor driven - no tolerance of the stitch lengths at different speeds. Top-quality for all assembly and decorative seams are ensured.

PFAFF 3590:
CNC Large-area sewing unit (500 x 400 mm sewing area) for full-automatic topstitching of work shoe uppers. The machine guarantees accurate seam quality due to the intermittent feed (feed stop when needle enters material); shifting of the material in the work clamp is avoided and wear on the hook is reduced. The vertical hook system ensures excellent multi-directional sewing properties.

PFAFF 8303i:
Hot-air taping machine for welding continuous seams on water-resistant, waterproof and breathable materials. The fair machine has been shown with post from back which is predestinated for the show production.

PFAFF 8323:
Hot-air welding machine for welding of reflective strips on work, sports, protective and saftey wear with up to 70% time savings compared to conventional processing

PFAFF 8311 (005 001):
Ultrasonic welding machine with sonotrode (steel) and automatic welding force control.

PFAFF 8311 (105 001):
Ultrasonic welding machine as C&S DUAL version – Cutting and welding a second seam in ONE operation. New and key feature of this version - the cutting wheel can be switched on and off via the touch control panel.