From the Sector

Die ersten KI-Trainer für Mittelständler der Textil- und Bekleidungsindustrie sowie des Textilmaschinenbaus starten am 1. September im Mittelstand 4.0-Kompetenzzentrum Textil vernetzt. Damit unterstützt nun auch Textil vernetzt kleine und mittlere Unternehmen (KMU) sowie das Handwerk bei der Anwendung Künstlicher Intelligenz (KI).

„Wir freuen uns, dass wir eines der ersten Zentren sind, die technologische und wirtschaftliche Potenziale der Künstlichen Intelligenz aufzeigen sowie punktgenaue Unterstützung bei der Erschließung geeigneter Anwendungsfelder für den textilen Mittelstand bieten“, zeigt sich Textil vernetzt-Geschäftsführerin Anja Merker begeistert.

Ab 1. September erhält Textil vernetzt zusätzliche Fördermittel. Vier KI-Trainer des Zentrums gehen zukünftig direkt in Unternehmen und bieten dort kostenfrei Informationsgespräche und Schulungen an. Neben der Grundlagenvermittlung sollen die Unternehmen selbst befähigt werden, Anwendungen für KI zu erkennen. Die KI-Trainer zeigen zudem Wege auf, wie KI in das Unternehmen eingeführt werden kann. Gleichzeitig ist eine Erweiterung der Demonstrations- und Schaufensterumgebungen von Textil vernetzt vorgesehen, vorerst an den Standorten der Partner Deutsche Institute für Textil- und Faserforschung (DITF) in Denkendorf sowie Hahn-Schickard in Stuttgart. Dazu wird ein eigens eingerichteter KI Escape Room mittels virtueller, realer und mobiler Demonstratoren gezielt intelligente Produkte und Services für den textilen Mittelstand erlebbar machen. „Dies ist mit dem Ziel verbunden, Vorbehalte abzubauen und neue Ideen sowie Kompetenzen für die Umsetzung durch den textilen Mittelstand zu schaffen“, so Anja Merker.

U.S. textile executives participated in a roundtable today with Representative Tom Rice (SC-07), a key member of the House Ways & Means Trade Subcommittee, at which they discussed the competitiveness of the domestic industry, outlined priority issues in Washington and explored ways to jointly push for passage of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

Congressman Rice, a leader on trade and competitiveness issues that heavily impact the domestic textile industry, participated in an executive roundtable hosted by Milliken & Company at its headquarters in Spartanburg, S.C.

"Milliken is honored to host Congressman Rice today to talk about innovation, competitiveness and the importance of passing USMCA,” Jeff Price, EVP of Milliken Operations stated.  “USMCA makes several key updates to NAFTA that will enable our trilateral trade to become stronger, which benefits this key industry in South Carolina. We greatly appreciate the Congressman being here today and appreciate his leadership.”

Congressman Rice stated: “I was honored to participate in today’s roundtable with leaders in South Carolina’s textile industry to discuss the need to pass the USMCA as quickly as possible. Modernizing outdated trade agreements to reflect our 21st century economy will support American manufacturers and enhance our global competitiveness. I will bring the valuable input I received today back to Washington as I continue working to advance the USMCA and keep our economy booming.”

Angesichts eines krisengeschüttelten Modemarktes steht das Unternehmen MODEMOBIL wie ein Fels in der Brandung im stabilen Wachstumsmarkt der BestAger und Senioren. Das Erfolgskonzept nach Beate Winklewsky, die das Unternehmen im Jahr 2003 gründete: „Wir gehen aktiv und persönlich zu unseren Kunden, Senioren in Einrichtungen unterschiedlichster Art; wir bieten individuellen Service von der typ- und bedarfsgerechten Modeberatung über Einzellieferungen bis zum maßgeschneiderten Änderungsservice und damit eine große Unterstützung für Pflegepersonal und Angehörige. Unsere Zielgruppe sind Menschen, die in ihrer Mobilität eingeschränkt sind und ihren Bedarf an saisonaler und funktionaler Kleidung im klassischen Modehandel kaum decken können. Ein exorbitant wachsender Markt steht einem immer weiter schwindenden Marktangebot gegenüber.“

Dieses riesige Potential machen bereits 30 Franchisepartner täglich zu ihrem persönlichen Erfolgskonzept. Ihr beruflicher Background ist so vielfältig wie die Aufgaben bei MODEMOBIL. Ob ehemalige Modeeinzelhändler, erfahrene Franchisenehmer oder Angestellte aus dem Pflegebereich, neben ihrer Affinität für Mode und den sozialen Aspekt hatten alle denselben Wunsch: selbstbestimmte Unternehmer in einem Markt mit Zukunftschancen zu werden. Entgegen dem allgemeinen Trend der jungen Generation, sich im Zeitgeist von Social Media & Digitalisierung bewegen zu wollen, gehören nun auch Auszubildende dem MODEMOBIL Team an, die die Attraktivität des BestAger Marktes als Chance für den Aufbau eines florierenden Unternehmens nutzen.

For the first time, Italian textile company Manteco showcases its ultimate innovations at Première Vision’s Smart Creation, the fair’s most cutting edge epicentre showcasing visionary innovators pushing for a sustainable change and making the difference in the fashion business. The Prato-based company is leader in the production New Generation Recycled Wool thanks to a specially designed KM0, traceable and circular economy model.

Behind the sustainable approach and the premium quality textiles there are generations of ‘saper fare’ - know-how, in Italian -, indeed, Manteco’s products are not only responsibly Made in Italy but imbued with the skills of the artisans and makers working within 10 kms around the company. “Made in Italy does not mean processing high-quality materials with international technologies and then label the final product for export. It means products grown, taken care of and handcrafted in the country.” Says Matteo Mantellassi, CEO of Manteco. “But there’s a further step to this: harnessing the local ‘genius loci’, meaning the skills, traditions and human potential of a territory. We are proud to say that since 1943 we have always been 100% Made in Italy.”

• Production capacities increased to 320,000 tons p.a.
• Investments of EUR 60 mn enhance self-sufficiency and strengthen autonomy from market prices
• Project serves as a significant economic driver in the region

Lenzing AG, producer of pulp and fibers from the renewable raw material wood, has concluded its expansion and modernization drive at the pulp plant at the Lenzing site. The company invested EUR 60 mn for this purpose, increasing production capacities for dissolving pulp extracted from beech wood from 300,000 to 320,000 tons per year. The coming on stream of the additional pulp capacities over the past weeks strengthens Lenzing’s self-supply of pulp in accordance with the sCore TEN corporate strategy.

“The successful expansion brings us closer to achieving our strategic objective of increasing our self-supply of pulp to a level of 75 percent, thus making us even more resistant to price fluctuations in sourcing pulp”, says Stefan Doboczky, CEO of the Lenzing Group. “We are also pleased that this project enables us to make a further significant contribution towards strengthening the Lenzing site as well as the regional economy”, Mr. Doboczky adds.

The expansion drive was completed in less than two years. In addition to 100 Lenzing Group employees, numerous external partner companies from Upper Austria and neighboring regions were involved in implementing the project. About 40,000 working days were needed by external companies in order to install the delivered machinery on site. The Lenzing Group secured additional jobs due to the pre-production work required in the factories of these suppliers.

In line with the corporate strategy of the Lenzing Group, the self-supply of dissolving wood pulp will be successively increased in the coming years to 75 percent of consumption. At present, Lenzing’s own pulp plants in Lenzing and Paskov (Czech Republic) cover 60 percent of the Group’s pulp requirements. The Lenzing site primarily makes use of beech wood which is not suitable for producing furniture, whereas it mainly relies on spruce wood in the Czech Republic. The remaining dissolving wood pulp is sourced from a variety of hardwoods and softwoods from international partners. In this case, in the spirit of sustainability, Lenzing applies procurement rules which are just as strict as when it purchases wood for its own pulp production.

Smartes Sourcing in Marokko - Wettbewerbsvorteile durch Nearshoring

• Nearshoring, der Zukunftstrend für die Beschaffung
• Marokko auf dem Vormarsch: Wirtschaftswachstum und Ausbau der Textilindustrie
• Optimierung der Lieferkette durch Produktion in Marokko
• Marrakesch, erste afrikanische Kulturhauptstadt

Vom 17. bis 18. Oktober 2019 präsentieren sich auf der Maroc in Mode - Maroc Sourcing circa 200 Top-Lieferanten, Komplettanbieter und CMT-Hersteller aus dem Mittelmeerraum den Einkäufern und Händlern aus Europa und Übersee auf ca. 5.000 qm Ausstellungsfläche auf dem Gelände der Autorennstrecke Moulay Hassan. Die Messe bietet einen umfassenden Überblick über die marokkanische Textil- und Bekleidungsindustrie von Fast Fashion, über hochwertige Produktion von Trendspitzen bis zum Angebot von nachhaltig hergestellten Kollektionen. Segmentiert wird die Messe in die Bereiche

• FAST FASHION
• DENIM
• JERSEY, STRICK, LINGERIE
• SPORTSWEAR, FREIZEITBEKLEIDUNG, TECHNISCHE BEKLEIDUNG
• LEDER, SCHUHE

Das Messeprogramm wird durch spezielle B2B-Meetings und Konferenzen ergänzt, die sich mit aktuellen Produktionsthemen befassen. Etwa 1.500 Besucher aus aller Welt werden erwartet.

• With a turnover of EUR 513 million, the CHT Group achieved a 12% increase in sales
• The result was impaired by high raw material costs and currency effects
• Investments remain high - approximately 13 million EUR invested in production sites and new technologies worldwide
• The acquisition in silicone specialties is bearing fruit despite a shortage of raw materials on the market
• 2019 - moderately optimistic business expectations in a difficult market environment

The situation on the world market deteriorated further in 2018, not least due to the intensification of the trade conflict between the USA and China. However, the CHT Group was again able to close the financial year with an increase in turnover. With consolidated sales of 513 million EUR, the previous year's success in the Group was exceeded by 12%.

• Contracts signed for seven projects
• Contract comprises delivery of compact- and ring-spinning systems
• Total amounts to roughly CHF 180 million
• Order intakes are anticipated to be realized in 2019; sales posted in the 2020/2021 financial years

Rieter Group has signed contracts with the Cotton & Textile Industries Holding Company, Cairo (Egypt), at the ITMA 2019. These seven projects entail a total of 180 million Swiss francs. The contract comprises delivery of compact- and ring-spinning systems over the next two years. This order is part of a comprehensive modernization program of the Egyptian textile industry. The order intakes are anticipated to be realized in 2019 with sales posted in the 2020/2021 financial years.

The contracts were signed at the ITMA in Barcelona, Spain, by Dr. Ahmed Moustafa Mohamed, Chairman Cotton & Textile Industries Holding Company, and Dr. Norbert Klapper, CEO Rieter.

Dr. Klapper was very pleased at the formal signing of contracts: “We would like to thank our Egyptian business partners for the confidence they are placing in Rieter by awarding us this contract. Rieter has been the partner of choice of the Egyptian spinning industry for decades. We are delighted to be given the opportunity of making such an important contribution to the modernization of the Egyptian textile industry.”

• Inspired by the health megatrend, the keynote theme for DOMOTEX puts wellbeing, naturalness and sustainability at the top of the agenda  
• Stronger focus on contract business
• Manufacturers invited to creatively frame their products as expressions of the keynote theme

Preparations are already ramping up for the 2020 edition of the world’s leading trade show for carpets and floor coverings DOMOTEX. The upcoming show, to be held from 10 to 13 January 2020, has ATMYSPHERE as its keynote theme, symbolizing its central focus on all those qualities of floors and floor coverings that contribute to wellbeing, naturalness and sustainability.
 
Examples of products from the floor coverings industry that possess these qualities include floors with acoustic properties or sound-insulation components; carpets that bind fine dust particles or have thermal insulation properties; resilient floor coverings that are hypo-allergenic; and natural-wood floorboards that improve the interior climate by capturing excess humidity and releasing it again when the air in the room is dry. Other qualities that enhance positive indoor atmospherics include softness and pleasantness to the touch, sustainability, and aesthetic details that help transform rooms into oases of personal wellbeing.
 
“This year, as indeed in previous years, the lead theme is inspired by a current megatrend,” explains Sonia Wedell-Castellano, Deutsche Messe’s Global Director DOMOTEX. “And that trend is society’s heightened focus on health. Health is synonymous with quality of life and living well – and therefore translates into high expectations of the spaces around us. Alongside this, considerations of sustainability and recycling – and hence natural materials – continue to play a major role in our society. In terms of floor coverings, these are considerations and themes that are currently very much to the fore with our exhibitors and their work, especially given the great importance of floors as elements of creative interior design. With the right materials and design, carpets and floor coverings can be important factors in personal wellbeing and in the design of homes and workplaces that promote it. That is why ATMYSPHERE is of such definitive importance for all our exhibitors and visitor target groups.”

The “Framing Trends” showcase at DOMOTEX 2020 is a unique opportunity for manufacturers, artists and students to stage interior designs inspired by the ATMYSPHERE keynote theme and hence position themselves as trend leaders in innovative products and solutions for today’s modern floors and their positive, lifeaffirming qualities. Applications for participation at the “Framing Trends” showcase  are now open. Interested exhibitors and flooring-industry companies are invited to submit their ideas for displays of indoor oases of wellbeing that are built from the floor up.

The last frontier of innovation in racing suits made with yarns in Metamicro is the model Prime SP-16+, designed in collaboration with the Team McLaren Honda F.1

The spinning mill Filidea, joint venture between Marchi & Fildi spa and Abalıoğlu Holding A.Ş specialized in technical and high performance yarns with natural and synthtic fibers, is parter of Sparco, italian Company leader for the production of automotive components and technical apparels for the most important world Championships. The cooperation between the two Companies located in Piedmont, northern Italy, is focused on the supply of yarns with Metamicro in an exclusive composition, that are used for the production of the racing suits Sparco of the Premium range for Formula 1 and the World Rally Championship. The fire resistant yarn Metamicro based on aramidic fibers are a product of the latest generation, for their production it is necessary a special spinning line. The production is following the strict Sparco standards. Sparco controls all the production chain of racing suits, from Filidea, who has the competence to dye all the yarns with aramidic fibers in its own dyeing plant, to the woven fabric, produced and dyed in its own plant, to the woven fabric made by the italian Company TAT, till the production of garments. The process is always improved and tested.

Metamicro yarns are made by an high peformance spinning process. They are used for the production of fire resistant fabrics, that make a protection barrier for the body against flames and high temperature. The very fine micronage allows the production of very light fabrics with thick texture, the perfect base for light and comfortable suits. These features assure easier movements to the driver and the maximum protection from fire, keeping high breathability.

Filidea has invested on its production capacity of corespun yarns with XLANCE® technology, fiber used for the production of longlasting workwear apparel with an excellent fitting.

The spinning mill Filidea, joint venture between Marchi & Fildi spa and Abalıoğlu Holding A.Ş specialize in technical and high performance yarns with natural and synthtic fibers, is increasing its production of blends with XLANCE®.

XLANCE® is the innovative elastolefin fibe, elastic, chlorine and UV resistant. It finds application on workwear and outdoor clothing, with natural and comfort fitting. The comfort stretch feature follows the the body’s natural movement during the day-to-day work. Workwear clothing are so light, resistant and with a contemporary look. Resistance to abrasion and to frequent industrial laundry cycles with chemical products meet the needs of several professional sectors. XLANCE® is produced by ©Xlance srl, Company located in Varallo Pombia (province of Novara – Piedmont – Italy) that found in Filidea the perfect partner for the development of specific yarns, that are getting more and more requested. An innovation that is getting more important thanks to the cooperation of the two textile Companies located in Piedmont. Filidea has been producing XLANCE® yarns since 2009 and has now a great know-how. The Company to strengthens its leadership in technical yarns, for the main applications on protetictive garments, workwear, sportswear, racing and automotive. Filidea has developed and consolidated several partnerships for the creation of complete supply chains and the collaboration with ©Xlance is a perfect example.