March 21, 2023
Glen Raven Inc. announced it has begun to phase out PFAS chemicals across its global fabric portfolio. The company began incorporating optimal non-PFAS solutions into production last month and all production will be transitioned to non-PFAS by the end of 2023. In addition, all new fabric designs, including for the company’s flagship Sunbrella® brand, will be …
March 20, 2023
Tex-Tech Industries, a manufacturer of specialty textiles, will create 49 new jobs in Forsyth County, Governor Roy Cooper announced. The company will invest more than $24.8 million to build a new manufacturing center in Winston-Salem, N.C. “North Carolina’s leadership in textile manufacturing helps companies like Tex-Tech stay on the cutting edge of innovation,” said Governor …
March 15, 2023
Accelerating Circularity is an action-oriented nonprofit focused on textile-to-textile recycling at a commercial scale through a collaborative, stakeholder-led approach. In mid-2022, they launched Polyester textile-to-textile trials and have been working to define the products and value chains for cellulosics; four cellulosics value chains have been defined thus far. “Circularity is a team sport,” said Ms. Karla …
March 13, 2023
Mezger Inc. announced that they are now the official distributor for Reiners + Fűrst rings and travellers in North America. R+F is a family-owned German company, now in its third generation. This allows them to plan for the long-term while enabling them to make important decisions in the short term. Nearly 100 experienced employees meticulously …
March 13, 2023
Japanese biotech company Spiber Inc., the makers of branded “Brewed Protein” fibers derived from sugar cane and agricultural residues, expects to increase its production capacity shortly due to its partnership with U.S. industrial biomaterials developer ADM. The company is also researching how to make its polymers from cellulosic textile waste. According to a report in Ecotextile …
March 13, 2023
Scientists at Tufts School of Engineering, Medford, Mass., have developed a way to detect bacteria, toxins and dangerous chemicals in the environment using a biopolymer sensor that can be printed like ink on a wide range of materials, including gloves, masks or other garments. Using an enzyme similar to that found in fireflies, the sensor …
March 13, 2023
Images full of camouflage patterns and army combat gear are seen frequently in the news, no doubt in part because of the ongoing war in Ukraine. Next to weapons systems, the bullet proof gear and garments we are so used to seeing are, in fact, occupying an important place in defense procurement. But these images …
March 13, 2023
Boennigheim, Germany–based testing services provider Hohenstein has acquired the DAkkS accredited QAT Services Ltd. laboratory in Hong Kong. With this acquisition, Hohenstein is integrating the hardgoods knowledge of QATS employees into its portfolio. As a result, Hohenstein will provide full-service capabilities for Greater China and beyond. “The expansion is a strategically important step for Hohenstein,” …
March 13, 2023
Cortland Biomedical, a medical textiles product development company in Cortland, N.Y., has announced that it now has capabilities for processing radiopaque fibers. By incorporating radiopaque fibers into diagnostic and interventional medical devices, it allows the devices to become clearly visible under fluoroscopy while maintaining the mechanical properties desired for the specific application. Improved visibility under …
March 9, 2023
Nassimi – a textile manufacturer and pioneer in sustainable performance upholstery materials – continues to lead the industry toward higher product standards with a move to eradicate Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) from all new production. As the first textile company to produce phthalate-free faux leather in the early 2010s and remove flame-retardant chemicals from …
July 7, 2021
Messe Stuttgart announced that its new U.S.-based show Sun Shading Expo North America will not be held in 2021 as a separate trade show but will instead contribute its expertise in internal and external sun shading systems at IFAI Expo 2021 in the form of expert talks, open discussions and more. IFAI Expo 2021 will still take place …
May 10, 2021
Registration is open for IFAI Expo 2021. IFAI Expo celebrates the 100th anniversary of the show this November, and you won’t want to miss it! After a long hiatus of in-person events, this year’s show is the perfect place to reconnect with your industry. Register now to get the Early Bird rate! Early Bird rates end …
November 16, 2020
In a session at IFAI Virtual Expo 2020, “Smart Textiles Standardization, Active Illumination,” Dr. Jan Beringer, senior scientific expert Hohenstein Group, explained the new standard for active illumination that will soon be implemented in European Union countries. Organizations worked together to develop the standards. It is notable, he said that both textile and electronics industries …
November 13, 2020
The U.S. textile industry has stepped up to meet the demand for face masks, medical gowns, wipes and other products necessary to combat the coronavirus pandemic, but it needs policy changes from Washington so that the U.S. is not caught off-guard again in a future crisis, according to association leaders speaking at Industrial Fabrics Association …
November 12, 2020
Dr. Bryran Ormond, assistant professor, Wilson College of Textiles, NC State explained respiratory protection in an “Ask an Expert” session with Jing Liang, Medical PPE Consulting LLC. Dr. Ormand has typically worked in the area of chemical and biological protective equipment, but with the onslaught of the pandemic, began to focus on respiratory protection generally, …
November 11, 2020
All surgical gowns are not created equal, and a Nov. 11 presentation at IFAI Virtual Expo 2020 helped sort out the differences. The finer points of surgical gowns were discussed by Dr. Martin King, a professor at the Wilson College of Textiles, North Carolina State University, and Jing Liang, president of Medical PPE Consulting LLC. …
November 11, 2020
How do you create a channel from research to application? How do you create a pathway toward understanding complex human problems across supply chains and market sectors? STEM—a curriculum based on teaching science, technology, engineering and math—has branched out from basic chemistry and biology and physics classes, into collaborative efforts, including textiles, according to Stephanie …
November 11, 2020
At the 2020 Virtual Expo session, “Ask the Expert: Textile Electronics Testing and Standards,” Jesse Jur, a professor at the Wilson College of Textiles, North Carolina State University, discussed how standards and testing continue to evolve due to the evolution of textile-based electronics (e-textiles). Jur said that standards have long been a vital resource for …
November 10, 2020
Wildfires, hurricanes, a pandemic and civil unrest have wreaked plenty of chaos on the commercial insurance market in 2020. Steve Christenson, with Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC, offered guidance to business owners Nov. 9 at IFAI Virtual Expo 2020. “The business insurance market has been going through several changes this year,” says Christenson, with U.S. …
November 6, 2020
Thinking about selling your business—either to an outside party or the next generation? Then it’s time to start considering how your equipment and processes fit into your succession plan. Jonathan Palmer, the second-generation owner and CEO of equipment supplier Autometrix, and Autometrix director of global sales Truy Pham, led an educational session at IFAI Virtual …
March 13, 2023
Images full of camouflage patterns and army combat gear are seen frequently in the news, no doubt in part because of the ongoing war in Ukraine. Next to weapons systems, the bullet proof gear and garments we are so used to seeing are, in fact, occupying an important place in defense procurement. But these images …
February 27, 2023
Smart textiles for health and wellbeing are becoming both more diverse and interconnected. Three key market segments—home healthcare, healthcare facilities and work environments—are worth noting. Home healthcare has come to dominate the wearable medical device market globally, with an estimated 54.5 percent share in 2021, according to a report by Grand View Research. When considered …
February 13, 2023
Recent world events regarding supply chain issues, the ongoing war in Ukraine, market volatility and persisting inflation concerns are underscoring the need to diversify and strengthen the manufacturing sector. But in this scenario, there are opportunities for growth and diversification in developed and developing economies alike. Attention on advanced textiles The recent COVID-19 scenario has …
January 23, 2023
Editor’s note: This month in our features we’re looking at the question, “What defined the advanced textiles industry in 2022?” I asked the Advanced Textiles Association (ATA) board chair, Amy Bircher, and the ATA 1st vice chair, Roy Chism, to respond to my questions about the industry in 2022 and where we may be going in …
January 9, 2023
Will 2023 be the year that heralds a deglobalized, but more highly networked, textile industry? If so, what might that look like? One may look at this topic through four different lenses, starting with the supply chain, then robotics in manufacturing, 3D printing and the scalability of biotechnology. All have been hot topics over the …
December 19, 2022
“The U.S. health care system is responsible for an estimated 10 percent of national greenhouse gas emissions, which cause extreme weather events and contribute to worse health outcomes.” This is the sobering start to the U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee report, “Health care and the climate crisis: preparing America’s health care infrastructure,” issued …
December 12, 2022
The recently concluded COP-27 meeting in Sharm-El-Sheikh has affirmed the commitment of nations across the world to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees C and has called for a rapid decrease in greenhouse gas emissions by about 43 percent by 2030 compared to the 2019 level. This means that all textile sectors will need to …
November 28, 2022
There is an abundance of information available about sustainability that, while conveying much, can lack clarity and simplicity. A simple and clear directive regarding sustainability is needed: if you produce something, anything, to be “sustainable” (leaving aside the social aspects for the moment) you need to: Use renewable and/or recycled materials Create zero waste to …
November 14, 2022
At the Advanced Textiles Conference in October in Charlotte, N.C., Anil Kircalianli, head of automation, Orbital Composites (OC), discussed the important role of textiles as a driver for sustainability, particularly in footwear design. Kircalianli argued that the company’s use of 3D printing and robotic manufacturing has created a more sustainable and efficient means of making …
October 24, 2022
In the midst of the industry’s push to be more sustainable, one expert says, “There are no sustainable materials.” What Dr. Andrew Dent means is the goal for achieving circularity is to make the best choice in material (or materials) for that application. There are many variables in understanding circularity, and the path towards a more sustainable …
March 8, 2023
U.S. cotton producers intend to plant 11.4 million cotton acres this spring, down 17.0 percent from 2022, according to the National Cotton Council’s 42nd Annual Early Season Planting Intentions Survey. Upland cotton intentions are 11.2 million acres, down 17.3 percent from 2022, while extra-long staple (ELS) intentions of 184,000 acres represent a 0.5 percent increase. …
March 3, 2023
Retold Recycling – a convenient and sustainable textile recycling start-up – has received a $300,000 deal in exchange for a 25% stake in their company from famed Shark, Mark Cuban. Retold Recycling empowers consumers by making it easy and convenient to responsibly dispose of clothing and other fabrics, diverting that waste from landfill. Customers can purchase ready-to-ship Retold bags …
March 2, 2023
Economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted in February for the fourth consecutive month following a 28-month period of growth, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business®. The report was issued today by Timothy R. Fiore, CPSM, C.P.M., chair of the Institute for Supply Management® (ISM) Manufacturing Business Survey Committee. “The February Manufacturing PMI registered 47.7%, 0.3 percentage …
February 3, 2023
The global conductive textile market is estimated to be valued at $2.6 billion in 2023 and it is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 12.0% to reach $8.2 billion by the end of 2033. Conductive textiles are fabrics that are made using metal strands that are woven with fabric fibers or coating the fabric fiber with conductive metals such as carbon, gold, …
January 27, 2023
Accelerating Circularity is an action-oriented nonprofit focused on scaling textile-to-textile recycling through a collaborative approach. The mission is to create new supply chains and business models to turn spent textiles into mainstream raw materials in order to divert tons of textile waste from landfills and incineration. As part of that mission, Accelerating Circularity is releasing …
January 20, 2023
Dr. Michael Gore, noted scientist and professor in Cornell University’s School of Integrative Plant Science (SIPS), is the 2022 Cotton Genetics Research Award recipient. The announcement was made during the 2023 Beltwide Cotton Improvement Conference, which convened as part of the National Cotton Council-coordinated 2023 Beltwide Cotton Conferences in New Orleans. Gore, who was selected …
January 16, 2023
The U.S. Industrial Fabrics Institute and the Narrow Fabrics Institute, both divisions of the Advanced Textiles Association, are merging into one larger group. The new divisions will be known as the U.S. Industrial and Narrow Fabrics Institute (USINFI). NFI and USIFI have partnered in advocacy work and the Outlook Conference for more than 20 years, …
January 4, 2023
Economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted in December for the second consecutive month following a 29-month period of growth, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business®. The report was issued by Timothy R. Fiore, CPSM, C.P.M., Chair of the Institute for Supply Management® (ISM®) Manufacturing Business Survey Committee: “The December Manufacturing …
December 21, 2022
Following the early December 2022 European Council summit and its conclusions on the measures to tackle the energy crisis, the European textiles industry is extremely concerned about the fast loss of competitiveness of Europe and demands urgent action to save the industry. The chain of factors determining this sharp decline in our competitiveness is twofold. …
December 16, 2022
AATCC Foundation supports students studying in any textile-related field. Now, the AATCC Corporate Scholarship supports full- OR part-time students, including adult learners! https://www.aatcc.org/scholarships/corporate/ The AATCC Corporate Member Scholarship is a $1,000 scholarship available to AATCC Corporate Member employees and their children. The scholarship recipient also receives a free one-year AATCC student membership! This scholarship is …
January 9, 2023
Bridging the evolving leaps and bounds in technology with garment design, NEWFACET offers an innovative initiative imagining a conceptual clothing campaign. The designer makes use of an artificial intelligence (AI) program to explore ways of optimizing workflow and creative processes in visualizing unique concepts and cuts. The result is a series of highly realistic shots that depict AI-created …
November 28, 2022
Designer duo Tian Wang and Teague Miller have launched “Kickback,” a line of bullet-resistant loungewear and accessories prompted by the more than 100 firearm fatalities a day in the U.S. Handcrafted from heavy duty Kevlar©, the ‘Kickback’ bathrobes are lined with bulletproof body plates, offering protection and peace of mind. The collection also includes slippers and a …
November 14, 2022
Zena Holloway has launched a collection of biodesigns grown entirely from grass root. The London-based designer and multi-disciplinary artist is exploring the possibilities for root-grown textiles for fashions that are sustainable and compostable. In essence, Holloway is turning grass root into wearable art in a collection named “Rootfull.” The root itself forms botanical skeleton that …
October 10, 2022
British performance apparel brand Vollebak has released details of a new Thermal Camouflage Jacket, which could lay the foundation for an “invisibility cloak” that could conceal its wearer on the infrared spectrum, as well as the on the visible spectrum. The jacket is made with 42 patches of graphene, individually controlled via microcomputer to emit …
September 26, 2022
Jenny Sabin Studios, Ithaca, N.Y., is known for using knitting technologies to create structural and architectural applications. Sabin’s “exoKnit” at Neue House in New York City is a recent example of the designers pushing knitting beyond its traditional boundaries. The exoKnit project is a community-centered, public pavilion pergola designed to embody the kind of urban …
May 9, 2022
Researchers at the University of California, Irvine have invented a new insulation material designed to shield hands from heat, but, because it can be economically mass produced, the adaptive fabric could potentially have a range of uses. Drawing inspiration from cephalopod (squid) skin, the engineers in the Dept. of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering have shown that the …
April 25, 2022
NASA has agreed to test SpinLaunch’s technology, designed to launch a satellite into space at hypersonic speeds with an electric centrifuge instead of a rocket. The company says that modern carbon fiber is one of the main reasons why the technology was not possible until recently, as the fiber has transitioned to more widespread industrial …
February 21, 2022
Scientists have believed it’s impossible to induce polymers to form 2D sheets, but using a novel polymerization process, MIT chemical engineers have created a new material that is stronger than steel, as light as plastic, and it can be easily manufactured in large quantities. According to press information from MIT, the material is a two-dimensional …
February 3, 2022
Italian company Lapitech has created a cooking system that could be completely concealed under a modern sintered stone kitchen counter. Activated by a high-tech cooking mat, the Lapitec Chef features an electrothermal component developed in collaboration with the University of Padua. To operate the induction cooking system, the Lapitec Chef silicone mat is placed on …
January 24, 2022
Canadian designer Sarah Roseman is working in a new material that straddles the boundary between textile and glasswork. According to a story on designboom.com, Roseman began her research experimenting with knitting glass fibers, working to find innovative and sustainable industry alternatives in materials. The result is a material called “soft silica,” that can be formed into …
March 13, 2023
Cortland Biomedical, a medical textiles product development company in Cortland, N.Y., has announced that it now has capabilities for processing radiopaque fibers. By incorporating radiopaque fibers into diagnostic and interventional medical devices, it allows the devices to become clearly visible under fluoroscopy while maintaining the mechanical properties desired for the specific application. Improved visibility under …
March 13, 2023
Scientists at Tufts School of Engineering, Medford, Mass., have developed a way to detect bacteria, toxins and dangerous chemicals in the environment using a biopolymer sensor that can be printed like ink on a wide range of materials, including gloves, masks or other garments. Using an enzyme similar to that found in fireflies, the sensor …
February 27, 2023
Academics at Shinshu University in Japan report that they have developed a new method of integrating phase change materials (PCMs) within fabrics that could heat and cool the wearer depending on the environment. Hideaki Morikawa, corresponding author of an article published in ACS Nano, told The Indian Express, “This fabric can potentially be used as a …
February 27, 2023
The act of breathing comes naturally, but “behind the scenes,” the diaphragm—the dome-shaped muscle that lies just beneath the ribcage—automatically controls our lung capacity and is the major muscle responsible for our ability to breathe. When the diaphragm’s function is compromised, the breathing instinct becomes a laborious task. A new proof-of-concept design by MIT engineers …
February 27, 2023
A new antimicrobial suture material could provide a promising alternative for mesh implants and internal stitches. Science Daily reports that researchers at RMIT University (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology) in Australia have developed an antimicrobial suture material that glows in medical imaging. As surgical site infections are among the most common, the new material could provide a …
February 13, 2023
Soon after babies are born, they’ll wear a blanket swaddle and a knit hat, but a Louisiana State University (LSU) researcher thought the hat could be used for more than a warm covering. Sibei Xia, Ph.D., assistant professor in the LSU Dept. of Textiles, Apparel Design, and Merchandising is exploring ways to use smart materials …
February 13, 2023
Researchers at the University of Alberta in Canada have devised a way that could make virus-killing clothing a good fit for the production line. Typically, getting this kind of protective finish onto protective uniforms worn by soldiers, hospital workers, firefighters and first responders is a big challenge. “We want to take the technology from the …
January 23, 2023
Belgian producer Devan Chemicals has announced its biobased and readily biodegradable allergen control technology, Purissimo NTL. Allergies have an impact on the quality of life and are associated with other medical conditions. World Bio Market Insights reports that Purissimo NTL is designed to clean up pet dander, pollen and house dust mite allergens in textiles typically found throughout …
January 23, 2023
The time when it’s possible to carry a lightweight power source in your pocket, without being burdened by its size or weight, is getting closer. MIT engineers have developed ultralight and thinner-than-hair fabric solar cells that can transform any surface into a power generator within just seconds. The engineers tested the limits of a conventional solar panel by …
January 9, 2023
Researchers at the U.K.’s Nottingham Trent University (NTU) have developed an e-textile that’s embedded with 1,200 tiny photovoltaic cells. Led by Dr. Theodore Hughes-Riley, associate professor of Electronic Textiles at the Nottingham School of Art & Design, the experimental project is introducing solar power the garments and accessories. According to the researchers, the miniature panels …
