From the Sector

DyStar announces the plan to restructure its Ludwigshafen facility located in Germany. The strategic decision is made by the company in response to changing business conditions and market shifts.

Mr. Xu Yalin, Managing Director, and President of DyStar Group said, “This is an important strategic move for DyStar. We will focus on developing key emerging markets, which have been shifting over a decade. In the wake of higher energy costs and inflation, DyStar is determined to further improve cost efficiency and drive sustainable productivity as we continue to deliver the highest quality of innovative products that support the global supply chain.”

Mr. Eric Hopmann, Chief Commercial Officer of DyStar Group said, “The restructuring of this facility will be carried out in a phased manner. DyStar will diversify the production activity out of Europe and start with the reduction of manpower as a consequence. DyStar’s customers can be further assured of undisrupted supply, hence their production should not be affected as we will work closely to meet their specific requirements.”

The facility has been an integral part of DyStar’s global network. DyStar inherited this facility from their founders who started the Indigo research and manufacturing more than 125 years ago.

adidas TERREX announces a multi-season collaboration with National Geographic, consisting of high-performance outdoor wear. The inaugural collection is built to celebrate the role of photography in the culture of outdoor sport - as well-equipped hikers turn their ability to explore more places, and spirit of adventure, into stunning content.

To celebrate this relationship, designers at adidas TERREX combed the National Geographic photography archives for stunning stills of some of the most remote yet moving locations on earth, integrated in unique all over prints in a bold new hiking collection. All pieces are unified by National Geographic’s iconic yellow icon.

Places celebrated in the collection include a snow-covered sandstone monocline in Comb Ridge, Utah, a 120-mile-long, north to south stretch that defines the State’s red rock landscape, as well as textured portraits of shale, - captured on the coast of Norway’s northernmost county - highlighting the sedimentary rock’s distinctive formations.

The 51-piece collection includes women’s, men’s, and gender-neutral offerings – all built to equip the wearer in multi-terrain environments:

• A part of the collection is the RAIN.RDY Jacket; a 2.5L waterproof and seam-sealed outer garment built to facilitate epic adventures. The men’s jacket features a bold print of the shell formations in the Porsanger Peninsula, Norway, while the women’s is inspired by stills of White Sands National Park in New Mexico.
• A long sleeve shirt is finished with the bold National Geographic yellow icon and reflective details.
• The TERREX Swift R3 GORE-TEX Hiking shoes offer the peak combination of a lightweight construction and cushioning as seen in trail running shoes with the stability of a hiking boot. Finished in a print inspired by a stunning aerial shot of Earth, the hiking shoes come with a GORE-TEX lining and membrane seal so water is kept out, and a Continental™ Rubber outsole for optimal grip in wet or dry conditions.
• The WIND.RDY: GET SHELTERED Jacket, with wind-resistant technology and a water repellent ripstop fabric, allows explorers to feel protected and confident in many weather conditions. The men’s and women’s versions come with bold prints inspired by photography including that of sandstone and snow at Comb Ridge, Utah. Smart design features including a bungee-cord enabled adjustable hem, a lightweight fabric and reflective details. Additionally, it features a bold new lenticular logo design that alternates between Terrex and National Geographic from different perspectives – and is made in part with recycled materials.

Shareholders Adopt All Motions Proposed by the Board of Directors

• Distribution of a dividend of CHF 1.50 per share approved
• Remuneration Report 2022 and future remuneration of Board of Directors and Group Executive Committee formally accepted
• All members of the Board of Directors who stood for re-election were elected
• Thomas Oetterli newly appointed to the Board of Directors
• KPMG newly elected as statutory auditors
• Amendments to the Articles of Association approved

On April 20, 2023, 325 shareholders, who represent 66.2% of the share capital, attended the 132nd Annual General Meeting of Rieter Holding Ltd.

Dividend
The shareholders approved the proposal of the Board of Directors to distribute a dividend of CHF 1.50 per share. The dividend for the 2022 financial year will be paid on April 24, 2023.

Annual Report, Financial Statements, Consolidated Financial Statements and Remuneration Report
The shareholders also adopted all other motions proposed by the Board of Directors, namely approval of the annual report, financial and consolidated financial statements for 2022. Moreover, they formally approved the actions of the members of the Board of Directors and those of the Group Executive Committee in the year under review.

By way of a consultative vote, the shareholders also approved the Remuneration Report 2022.

Remuneration of the Members of the Board of Directors and the Group Executive Committee
In two separate binding votes, the proposed maximum total remuneration of the members of the Board of Directors and the Group Executive Committee for the 2024 financial year was approved.

Re-Election of the Members of the Board of Directors
The Chairman of the Board, Bernhard Jucker, and the Directors, Hans-Peter Schwald, Peter Spuhler, Roger Baillod, Carl Illi, Sarah Kreienbühl and Daniel Grieder were confirmed for a further one-year term of office. In addition, Thomas Oetterli was newly elected to the Board of Directors for a term of office.

The members of the Remuneration Committee who were standing for election –
Hans-Peter Schwald, Bernhard Jucker and Sarah Kreienbühl – were likewise re-elected for a one-year term of office.

Election of KPMG as Statutory Auditors
The shareholders also adopted the proposal of the Board of Directors to elect KPMG AG, Zurich, as new statutory auditors for the financial year beginning January 1, 2023.

Amendments to the Articles of Association
The shareholders further approved the proposals of the Board of Directors to amend the Articles of Association of Rieter Holding Ltd., in order to implement the requirements of the reform of the Swiss company law, which came into force on January 1, 2023.

PrimaLoft, Inc., ein Unternehmen für Materialtechnologie, macht mit der Einführung von PrimaLoft® Insulation with Ocean Bound Plastic einen weiteren wichtigen Schritt in seiner Relentlessly Responsible™ Mission. Die Innovation verwendet Plastik, das in Küstennähe gesammelt wird, um Hochleistungsisolationsfasern herzustellen. So wird verhindert, dass weiterer Plastikmüll ins Meer gelangt. Helly Hansen und Isbjörn of Sweden sind die ersten Marken, welche die neue Isolation in ihren Herbst/Winter 2023 Kollektionen verwenden.

PrimaLoft® Insulation with Ocean Bound Plastic ist eine leistungsstarke Isolation, die zu 100 Prozent aus recyceltem Material besteht, wovon 60 Prozent aus Plastikflaschen stammen, die in einem Umkreis von 50 Kilometern um Küstengebiete gesammelt wurden. Da das Plastik noch vor dem Erreichen des Meers abgefangen wird, kann es zur Verarbeitung der hochwertigen PrimaLoft-Isolation genutzt werden. Gleichzeitig wird verhindert, dass die Weltmeere weiter verschmutzt werden.

Das Verfahren ist von OceanCycle zertifiziert, einem sozialen Unternehmen, das sich darauf fokussiert, die Verschmutzung der Ozeane durch Plastik zu verhindern und die Lebensbedingungen in Küstengemeinden durch Zertifizierung und direkte soziale Maßnahmen zu verbessern. Die unabhängige OceanCycle-Zertifizierung stellt sicher, dass das Material auch wirklich aus Küstennähe stammt, die Beschaffung ethisch-korrekt und die Rückverfolgbarkeit lückenlose ist. Zudem gewährleistet sie eine lückenlose Dokumentation von der Sammlung bis zur Herstellung.

Umwandlung von Ocean Bound Plastik in PrimaLoft-Material
Die Relentlessly Responsible™ Mission von PrimaLoft hat zum Ziel, durch Innovation sowohl Leistung als auch Nachhaltigkeit seiner Produkte immer weiter zu steigern. „Unsere neueste Entwicklung ist eine wichtige Lösung sowohl für die Umwelt, als auch für die Recycling-Lieferkette“, sagt Tara Maurer-Mackay, Senior Vice President, Product Strategy. „Die Qualität von Kunststoffen verschlechtert sich schnell, sobald sie den Elementen im Meerwasser länger ausgesetzt sind, was sie für die meisten Recyclingmaßnahmen unbrauchbar macht. Indem wir Kunststoffabfälle auffangen, bevor sie ins Meer gelangen können, sind wir in der Lage, das Material zur Herstellung unserer hochwertigen Produkten zu verwenden, und damit unseren Markenpartnern und Verbrauchern eine perfekte Mischung aus Leistung und Vielseitigkeit bei geringerer Umweltbelastung zu bieten." PrimaLoft® Insulation with Ocean Bound Plastic besitzt alle Leistungsvorteile, für die PrimaLoft bekannt ist, darunter leichtgewichtige Wärmeleistung sowohl bei trockenen als auch bei nassen Bedingungen, praktische Packbarkeit und lange Haltbarkeit.

Yanfeng has reached another milestone in its sustainability journey by bringing the power of solar energy to its plants in South Africa. The global automotive supplier already uses renewable energy at all its locations in Europe – some of which are already operating with 100% green energy – and now will supplement its operations in South Africa with sustainable and emission-free solar energy generation.

Many sectors are facing major challenges with the transition to a low-carbon economy. The automotive sector in particular faces many operational and economic challenges when transforming production plants into net-zero emission operations. Thanks to its commitment to sustainability, 100% of the solar energy generated by the PV systems is used to power Yanfeng’s production plants in South Africa, helping them save around 2,559 tons of CO2 annually while reducing their monthly costs and increasing efficiencies.

The solar energy systems were funded by SolarAfrica, which will also operate, maintain and monitor the systems going forward. “From the outset of these projects, Yanfeng’s focus was on reducing their CO2 emissions and SolarAfrica is proud to partner with them to make their journey towards sustainability a success,” said David McDonald, CEO of SolarAfrica. “It’s inspiring to see a global company like Yanfeng invest in world-class facilities in South Africa, contributing to our country’s green economy and supporting job creation in the automotive industry.”
 
All Yanfeng European plants were converted to renewable energy by the beginning of 2022. With this new PV system, Yanfeng has implemented a milestone in the conversion to net-zero emission production at its two plants in South Africa.

Archroma, a global leader in sustainable specialty chemicals and solutions for the textiles, packaging & paper, paints and coatings industries, announced its transition plan for the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Heike van de Kerkhof, CEO of Archroma since January 2020, will step down effective April 30, 2023, to focus on other career opportunities. Mark Garrett, a seasoned industry executive, will assume the role of interim CEO.

Miguel Kohlmann, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Archroma, said “On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to thank Heike for her leadership and tireless dedication to Archroma. Heike joined the company in January 2020 as CEO and has meaningfully advanced the company’s sustainability, innovation, and customer-focused business model, while also successfully closing the transformational acquisition of Huntsman’s Textile Effects business, which will substantially enhance Archroma’s capabilities in serving its customers and markets. We would like to thank Heike for her great contributions through this substantial period of growth and wish her continued success in her next endeavors.”

Kohlmann continued, “The Board remains committed to accelerating the growth of Archroma and to continuing to provide our customers with the systems, solutions, innovation and technical support that they have come to expect from us, while providing enhanced opportunities for Archroma’s employees. We are enthusiastic about Mark Garrett joining Archroma as interim CEO, a seasoned executive who brings substantial industry experience which encompasses directly relevant knowledge of Archroma’s product portfolio and end markets. Mark has served in the capacity of Chairman and CEO and in senior executive leadership roles with companies such as OMV/Borealis, Marquard & Bahls, Ciba Specialty Chemicals and DuPont. He is a proven leader and the perfect choice to serve as Archroma’s interim CEO. The Board has strong confidence in Archroma’s leadership team and is focused on continuity during this period of transition.”

Carbios, a compnay in the development and industrialization of biological technologies for reinventing the life cycle of plastics and textiles, announces its operating and financial results for the year 2022. The financial statements as of December 31, 2022, were approved by the Company’s Board of Directors at their meeting on April 5, 2023.

• Project to build, in France, the world’s first PET biorecycling plant: Progress in line with 2025 unit commissioning target6
• Excellent results from the demonstration plant validating the industrial scale-up of Carbios technology
• Carbios licensing documentation ready for worldwide industrial and commercial deployment
• Long-term exclusive strategic partnership with Novozymes to ensure supply of enzymes at industrial scale for the Reference Unit and all future licensee plants
• Creation of fiber-to-fiber consortium with On, Patagonia, Puma, PVH Corp., and Salomon
• CE-PET research project successfully completed
• Participation in WhiteCycle project co-funded by Horizon Europe and coordinated by Michelin
• Publication of scientific articles in the prestigious Biophysical Journal and in Chemical Reviews
• Carbios hosts world’s first PET Biorecycling Summit
• Carbios publishes first Sustainability Report and outlines objectives for environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives
• Carbios joins Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s circular economy network
• €30 million European Investment Bank loan drawn down in 2022
• Group’s cash position of €101 million as of December 31, 2022

Zünd, ein Spezialist für Zuschnittlösungen für die Polstermöbelindustrie, stellt unter dem Motto «Efficiency to rely on» auf der Interzum 2023 (09.–12.05.2023) die Produktivität und Zuschnitteffizienz in den Fokus.

Am Stand erfährt das Fachpublikum die Vorteile des integrierten Lederzuschnitts am Beispiel eines Zünd D3 Cutters mit Doppelbalkentechnologie. Zünd widmet seinen Messeauftritt sämtlichen Prozessen zwischen Hauterfassung, Zuschnitt und Absortierung. Das Fachpublikum kann sich über modulare Lösungen für die Digitalisierung und das Nesting, den Textil- und Lederzuschnitt und softwareunterstützte Teileentnahme informieren.

Darüber hinaus rückt Zünd seinen integrierten Beratungsansatz in den Vordergrund: «Wir bieten Workflowlösungen für unterschiedlichste Anforderungen und erarbeiten individuell mit unseren Kunden, welche Lösungen am besten zu ihren Herstellungsprozessen und verwendeten Materialien passen. Das bedingt einen einheitlichen Beratungsansatz, der Hardware, Software und Servicedienstleistungen einbezieht», erklärt Manuel Enriquez, Segment Manager Leder.

LEIBINGER, ein weltweit tätiges deutsches Familienunternehmen für Kennzeichnungssystemen, hat sein Top-Management erweitert und Christophe Lopez zum Chief Commercial Officer ernannt.

Christophe Lopez bringt mehr als 15 Jahre Erfahrung in der Kennzeichnungsindustrie mit, in denen er zahlreiche Führungspositionen mit Vertriebs- und Marketingverantwortung bekleidete. In der Position als Chief Commercial Officer bei LEIBINGER wird Lopez die kommerzielle Entwicklung des Unternehmens verantworten und den Ausbau der globalen Vertriebs- und Marketingaktivitäten vorantreiben.

Lopez hat einen Abschluss der Ingenieurshochschule INSA Rennes und einen Executive MBA mit höchster Auszeichnung der Management-Universität HEC Paris. Er war langjähriges Mitglied des Executive Committee beim Wettbewerber Markem-Imaje, wo er diverse globale Führungspositionen, unter anderem mit globaler Gesamtverantwortung für den Vertrieb und das Marketing, übernahm und zuletzt als Président des Hauptstandorts in Frankreich über 600 Mitarbeiter führte. Zudem baute er das E-Commerce-Geschäft erfolgreich auf einen Umsatz von über 100 Millionen US-Dollar aus.

Lotus Teknik Tekstil A.Ş., Türkiye, has successfully started up a complete line to produce nonwoven roll goods for biodegradable, plastic-free wet wipes. This line has been delivered, installed, and commissioned by international technology group ANDRITZ.

The neXline wetlace CP line combines the benefits of two technologies: wetlaid and spunlace. Natural fibers are processed gently to create a high-performance and sustainable wipe. This next-generation wipe, called Newipe®, combines the benefits of spunlace fabric, in particular remarkable strength in all directions, with the biodegradability and softness of a WetlaceTM fabric. It is produced with a lower carbon footprint, has a low lint rate, and does not generate dust during production.

Lotus Teknik Tekstil A.Ş. is a leading nonwoven roll good producer and a member of a group company. The group company consists of 4 companies that operate end-to-end manufacturing including nonwovens, cardboard packings, plastics, and finished wet wipe products. Headquartered in Istanbul, Sapro is the leader in Türkiye and one of the four leaders in the manufacturing of wet wipes in Europe. The company produces, converts, and supplies 161 million sheets of wipes per day for personal, household, and industrial use, exporting 70% of its production to 65 countries all over the world. Sustainability plays a prominent role in Sapro’s business strategy.