Movers & Shakers June 2024: KARL MAYER GROUP Wins Patent Dispute in China


The KARL MAYER GROUP has scored an important victory in the fight against product piracy in China.
The KARL MAYER GROUP has scored an important victory in the fight against product piracy in China.

In the dynamic and global textile fiber industry with its various manufacturing processes and end-uses, news and information is breaking on a daily basis. International Fiber Journal is tracking stories relevant to our industry from manmade to natural to bio-based fibers, innovations in nonwoven, woven, braided and technical textiles, technologies for additives, bonding, coatings and polymers, and applications from apparel to hygiene to transportation, and more. Here we will post news stories relevant to textile fibers and their downstream applications on an ongoing basis. Please check back for regular updates. If you have news that you feel should be added to this summary report, please email it to Ken Norberg at ken@ifj.com.

Most recent update: June 28, 2024

Autoneum Spotlights Fully Recyclable Polyester Trunk Side Trim

Autoneum's fully recyclable trunk side trim made of 100 percent polyester.
Autoneum’s fully recyclable trunk side trim made of 100 percent polyester.

With the fully recyclable 100% polyester trunk side trim, Autoneum is putting the rear of the vehicle at the center of its efforts for a more circular economy in the automotive industry. The latest addition to Autoneum’s growing portfolio of sustainable monomaterial products made entirely from polyester is based on the existing Pure technology Propylat PET. The component demonstrates an excellent environmental performance in terms of recycled content, waste-free manufacturing and end-of-life recyclability. In addition, it is characterized by its material stiffness, geometrical adaptability and appealing aesthetics.

New regulations such as the revised End-of-Life Vehicles Directive in Europe are accelerating the automotive industry’s transition from a linear to a circular economy. In this context, the recyclability of vehicles at the end of their service life is becoming increasingly important. This in turn raises the demand for automotive components that have an excellent environmental performance across the product life cycle and at the same time meet the highest standards of material quality and technical performance. Autoneum’s new 100% polyester trunk side trim helps customers achieve their ambitious sustainability targets while offering optimum durability, design flexibility and aesthetics.

As with Autoneum’s environmentally friendly monomaterial carpet systems, the new 100% polyester trunk side trim is fully recyclable. Production cut-offs can be reclaimed, processed and reused, ensuring a closed material loop. Thanks to Autoneum’s high-value recycling concept, the recycled fibers can also be granulated and spun into new fibers, which reduces the need for virgin raw materials and thus conserves natural resources. The carrier material is based on the lightweight Autoneum Pure technology Propylat PET and contains at least 50% recycled fibers. Like all variants of Propylat, the technology features a high proportion of recycled material and can be produced waste-free thanks to its complete vertical integration. In addition, Propylat PET consists of 100% PET and is therefore fully recyclable. The new monomaterial trunk side trim made exclusively from polyester is also available under the Autoneum Blue sustainability label. Blue products feature at least 30% recycled PET that was collected from coastal areas, thus making an important contribution to preventing plastic pollution in the oceans.

Autoneum’s sustainable concept for 100% polyester trunk components is not limited to side trim but can also be applied to tailgate and other trunk trim. Thanks to their unique material composition, the Propylat-based trunk trim parts are lightweight and sound-absorbing, thus contributing to the attenuation of tire and rear e-motor noise. In addition, their geometry can be tailored to individual customer needs while the textile surface improves the overall aesthetic of the parts and at the same time offers a high resistance to scratches.

Autoneum’s eco-friendly 100% polyester trunk trim is available in Europe, North America and China.

www.autoneum.com

Lenzing Appoints Au-Yeung as EVP of Commercial Textiles

Lenzing Group announced the appointment of Kit Ping Au-Yeung as the executive vice president of Commercial Textiles, effective immediately.

Kit Ping Au-Yeung
Kit Ping Au-Yeung

This strategic leadership appointment highlights Lenzing’s continuous commitment to strengthen its integral leadership roles and fuel the growth of its core textile businesses. Au-Yeung succeeds Florian Heubrandner, who will take on a new role as executive vice president of Filament to reinforce the expansion of Lenzing’s global filament business.

In her new role, Au-Yeung will be leading the expansion strategy and development of Lenzing’s textiles business, which comprises of fiber offerings under the flagship TENCEL™ and LENZING™ ECOVERO™ brands. With decades of experience working with partners across the textile value chain, she will continue to foster the development of Lenzing’s textile business through driving innovative fiber and application solutions for customers, and ultimately bring benefits to consumers.

Prior to joining Lenzing, Kit Ping held several regional and global commercial and operational leadership roles at Coats Group, as well as more recently at Amann Group. Her experience will add value to Lenzing’s core business, affirming Lenzing’s dedication to driving a positive impact across the industry ecosystem.

www.lenzing.com

KARL MAYER GROUP Wins Patent Dispute in China

The KARL MAYER GROUP has scored an important victory in the fight against product piracy in China.
The KARL MAYER GROUP with its innovative textile machinery has scored an important victory in the fight against product piracy in China, dating back to a patent granted in China in 2011.

The KARL MAYER GROUP has scored an important victory in the fight against product piracy in China.

The innovative textile machinery and plant engineering company has reported a patent infringement by its competitor, Fujian Xin Gang Textile Machinery Co. Ltd. and, after several years of dispute in court, has been vindicated in the second instance. The proceedings started back in 2021 before the Shanghai Intellectual Property Court.

Following an appeal by the KARL MAYER GROUP, the final judgement was handed down by the Supreme People’s Court of the People’s Republic of China in May 2024. It ruled in favour of the German plaintiff. Fujian Xin Gang Textile’s counterclaim for cancellation of the patent in question was dismissed, and the Chinese manufacturer must immediately cease manufacturing, selling and advertising the machines with the technical solution that was the subject of the legal dispute. A fine was also imposed.

The subject of the legal dispute was a constructive system for heating the carrying-lever shaft of Tricot and Raschel machines. This clever solution enables the technology leader’s machines equipped with carbon bars to compensate for changing ambient temperatures. A patent for the technical innovation was granted in China in November 2011.

www.karlmayer.com

ZIMMER AUSTRIA Reorganizes Operations in USA, Canada — Partners With Fi-Tech

ZIMMER AUSTRIA announced strategic changes in its sales and service structure for the United States and Canada. These changes aim to bolster the company’s presence and effectiveness across Northern America.

Partnering with Fi-Tech, they anticipate a significant enhancement of their market presence through the reorganization of our sales network.

This strategic move, which involves expanding their local team significantly, will not only strengthen their sales capabilities but also improve service to existing customers’ installations. This enhancement comes at a crucial time and is expected to provide additional leverage in a challenging market environment.

Fi-Tech Inc., established in 1972 by C.L. Basset, is now led by his sons Todd and Jeff Basset. Serving as a crucial link between machinery and plant manufacturers from both Europe and the United States, and their users, FI-Tech Inc. has evolved into a leading service partner for industries related to textiles. The company enjoys the trust of customers and suppliers alike, with a portfolio that includes some of the most renowned brands in the textile and carpet machinery industries from Europe and the United States. This trust and expertise made Fi-Tech Inc. the ideal choice to spearhead our expansion into the US and Canadian markets.

www.fi-tech.com

Autoliv Introduces Airbags Made with 100% Recycled Polyester

Autoliv airbags
Autoliv airbags

Autoliv, a global leader in automotive safety solutions, continues its journey to a sustainable future by introducing airbag cushions made of 100% recycled polyester which significantly reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint of airbags.

In collaboration with key supply chain partners, Autoliv has developed yarns, fabrics, and cushions made from 100% recycled polyester for use in airbag production. The completed testing of the new material demonstrates that the airbag cushion provides equal safety functionality to a standard polyester airbag while reducing GHG emissions by approximately 50% at the polymer level.

Using this new recycled material is a crucial step toward Autoliv’s commitment to reduce emissions across its product range and will contribute to Autoliv’s ambition to achieve net-zero GHG emissions across the supply chain by 2040.

Autoliv’s Chief Technology Officer, Jordi Lombarte, states, “We are walking the talk on our climate ambitions at Autoliv, by bringing the first technology to create airbags using 100% recycled polyester fabric. We have successfully proven the technology and are ready to offer it to our customers worldwide.”

Autoliv continuously develops processes and products in a resource-efficient manner while minimizing environmental impact. The airbag cushion made with 100% recycled polyester is now part of Autoliv’s product portfolio, and the new material is available for global customers.

www.autoliv.com

ANDRITZ to Supply Needlepunch Line to Belgium and Turkiye

International technology group ANDRITZ has received an order from Sioen Technical Felts to supply a complete needlepunch line for its production plant in Liège, Belgium. The new line will enable Sioen to produce heavy fabrics in a single step.

Complete ANDRITZ needlepunch line.
Complete ANDRITZ needlepunch line.

Sioen’s Liège plant specializes in the production of technical fabrics used mainly in industrial applications such as pipe lining (CIPP), acoustics, and filtration. The ANDRITZ equipment will allow the customer to produce fabrics of more than 3,500 gsm in a single step, using different types of fibers (recycled PET, OxPan, bicomponent) and finenesses. Normally two or three layers have to be needled off-line in a second step to achieve such a fabric weight.

The single-step process results in a higher quality end product by minimizing the risk of delamination, i.e. the separation of layers during use. It also increases productivity by reducing the need for fabric handling.

The ANDRITZ DF-4 needleloom, which can operate in double and single stroke modus, gives Sioen high flexibility to process fabrics with different mechanical charasteristics. Operators can easily switch modes via the remote-control touch screen. The line will be equipped with ANDRITZ’s latest fabric weight profiling technology, ProWin™, to ensure maximum weight evenness.

Start-up of the new needlepunch line is scheduled for Q1 2025.

Sioen Technical Felts is part of Sioen Industries, a global leader in technical textiles and protective clothing headquartered in Ardooie, Belgium. Established in 1960 as a family venture, the company has continuously expanded its business driven by consistent innovation.

ANDRITZ has also received an order from the Turkish insulation felt manufacturer Şiteks to supply a complete needlepunch line for its production plant in Tekirdag.

With this investment, Şiteks will significantly expand its production capacity to meet the international demand for needlepunched nonwoven insulation products in the automotive and construction sectors. The line is scheduled to start up in the first quarter of 2025. This is the second line that Şiteks has purchased from ANDRITZ.

www.andritz.com

Rieter to Install World’s First Complete Air-Jet Spinning System with J 70 Technology

Guangxi Baisheng Textile Co., Ltd. has signed an agreement with Rieter to implement the world’s first complete spinning process using Rieter’s latest air-jet spinning technology J 70. This project will elevate automation levels and reduce conversion costs at Baisheng’s operations, setting a new benchmark in air-jet spinning in terms of quality and productivity.

From left to right: Sheng Du, Sales Engineer, Rieter, South China; Renguan Lian, Regional Sales Manager, Rieter, South China; Michael Hubensteiner, Country Managing Director Rieter China; Yiyu Zhan, Chairman of Guangxi Baisheng; Chanhong Feng, Manager of Guangxi Baisheng; Michael Wang, Senior Vice President, Rieter, Sales China.
From left to right: Sheng Du, Sales Engineer, Rieter, South China; Renguan Lian, Regional Sales Manager, Rieter, South China; Michael Hubensteiner, Country Managing Director Rieter China; Yiyu Zhan, Chairman of Guangxi Baisheng; Chanhong Feng, Manager of Guangxi Baisheng; Michael Wang, Senior Vice President, Rieter, Sales China.

Guangxi Baisheng Textile Co., Ltd. decided to expand its air-jet spinning capacity with Rieter’s J 70 thanks to its outstanding productivity. This move will enable the vertically integrated textile company based in Guangxi, China, to further ensure a steady yarn supply for its knitting operations. Rieter’s air-jet spinning machine J 70 offers exceptional production efficiency and features 200 individually automated spinning units that independently manage quality cuts and natural ends down quickly and efficiently. The J 70 also boasts delivery speeds of up to 600 meters per minute and supports up to four lots simultaneously. In addition, Rieter’s latest generation yarn clearer identifies weak yarn during production, ensuring top quality.

www.rieter.com

Lenzing, DVF Join Forces to Bring Responsible Fashion to Mainstream

Lenzing Group, a leading global producer of wood-based specialty fibers, announced a global collaboration with iconic fashion brand Diane von Furstenberg (DVF) to bring to mainstream fashion TENCEL™ and LENZING™ ECOVERO™ branded fibers made from sustainably managed wood sources.

DVF clothes made with Tencel and Ecovero
DVF clothes made with Tencel and Ecovero

Through the collaboration, these resource-efficiently made fibers significantly contribute to DVF’s flagship collection of everyday fashion items and selected accessories. The current collections featuring the respective fiber brands are already available globally in DVF online store and global store locations. Upcoming collections made of both fiber brands will debut from Q3 2024. This partnership marks a significant milestone in both companies’ commitment to environmental responsibility while raising awareness of conscious fashion choices.

Given Lenzing’s TENCEL™ and LENZING™ ECOVERO™ branded fibers are certified with the EU Ecolabel for environmental excellence, by leveraging the low environmental impact of the fibers, the collaboration will help elevate DVF’s iconic design aesthetic by creating clothing items that blend style and comfort with preferable sustainability performance.

www.lenzing.com

INDA: Registration, Tabletop Reservations for Hygienix™ 2024 Now Open

INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, announced that absorbent hygiene professionals can register, sponsor or reserve a tabletop exhibit for Hygienix™, November 18-21, Nashville, Tenn.

Industry leaders from around the world will gather for four days of networking, presentations and business opportunities.

Hygienix 2024

The theme for this year’s Hygienix is “Driving Absorbent Hygiene Product Innovation: Consumer Desires, Market Dynamics & Sustainability Solutions.” The event’s focus is on price tiering, shipping and trade impacts, FemTech, period poverty, pet care, adult care innovations, the UN Plastic Treaty and PFAS regulations. Hygienix will offer three training opportunities on Monday, Nov. 18th. The full Hygienix program will be announced at a later date.

Prior to Hygienix, there will be a series of up to four complimentary pre-conference webinars. INDA is pleased to announce that Good360 has confirmed their participation in one of the webinars. Good360 is the global leader in product philanthropy and purposeful giving, a nonprofit that distributes goods to communities in need. More details and participating organizations will be announced in the coming weeks.

Hygienix will include a networking opportunity with two Lunch Around tables where table hosts connect with fellow participants to discuss industry hot topics. Seating is limited, so participants are encouraged to reserve their seat early.

Back by popular demand are the Lightning Talks. Tabletop exhibitors will have 5 minutes to highlight their products and services before the tabletop exhibits and reception opens Tues. and Wed. evenings.

Nominations are being accepted through Sep. 16th for the Hygienix Innovation Award™. Three finalists will be selected to present their absorbent hygiene technologies on Tuesday, Nov. 19th. The winner of the Award will be announced at the end of the event, Thursday, Nov. 21st.

www.hygienix.com

DuPont Unveils Latest Generation Breather Membrane, DuPont™ Tyvek® Trifecta™

DuPont Tyvek Trifecta
DuPont Tyvek Trifecta

DuPont Performance Building Solutions, a leading innovator in material science, has announced the launch of its latest generation breather membrane, Tyvek® Trifecta™. The innovative product offers exceptional fire safety and moisture protection, making it an ideal solution for external walls of high-rise buildings in a convenient and light-weight roll size of 1.5m x 25m. Tyvek® Trifecta™ is a non-combustible breather membrane designed to provide all the benefits of a standard Tyvek® breather membrane, but with A2-s1, d0 Class Fire Performance to the current European Fire Classification Standard EN 13501-1. It surpasses current UK Building Regulations, which require membranes to meet Class B.

www.dupont.com

Lenzing and Cobalt Fashion Partner with Exponent Envirotech to Revolutionize Fashion with ECOHUES™

ECOHUES brand hangtags that carry NFC chips.
ECOHUES brand hangtags that carry NFC chips.

Lenzing Group, a leading global producer of wood-based specialty fibers, has partnered with technology start-up Exponent Envirotech to introduce ECOHUES™, a waterless dyeing technology to wood-based cellulosic fibers. The technology, regarded as a possible alternative to conventional water-based dyeing, can be applicable to cotton and linen yarns. Through collaboration with Lenzing, for the first time, ECOHUES™ is applied to cellulosic fibers, namely TENCEL™ branded lyocell and modal fibers, as well as LENZING™ ECOVERO™ branded viscose fibers, which are certified with the EU Ecolabel for environmental excellence. Joining forces with Hong Kong-based innovative knitwear manufacturer Cobalt Fashion, the dynamic trio is set to bring the scientific breakthrough to the mainstream textile market.

For every ton of yarn, 120 tons of water is required in the traditional dyeing process. This usually involves pre-treatment, water-based dyeing, washing, and finishing under a chemically intensive environment. ECOHUES™ technology effectively replaces the use of water in the dyeing process with a non-aqueous solvent that is 99.8% reusable and streamlines the pre-treatment and finishing processes by nearly removing the need for soap washing after dyeing. This helps to reduce the overall water usage by 95% compared to traditional dyeing methods. The simplified process not only lowers water and energy consumption but also boosts cost-effectiveness and production efficiency by significantly reducing the traditional dyeing duration from 12 hours to 6-8 hours.

www.lenzing.com

Altor acquires remaining Renewcell assets

Swedish investment firm Altor has acquired the remaining assets of the bankrupt textile-to-textile recycling company Renewcell. The acquisition includes the company’s intellectual property and the production site in Sundsvall, Sweden, marking a new chapter for the pioneering recycler now rebranded as Circulose.

Renewcell mission was initially creating a circular economy for textiles within Europe.

Renewcell, known for winning the Best Sustainable Textile Innovation at Drapers Sustainable Fashion Awards in 2023, faced financial difficulties earlier this year. The company filed for bankruptcy in February after failing to secure sufficient financing. Last month, its production site in Kristinehamn, Sweden, was acquired by the biomaterial company Biosorbe.

Under Altor’s ownership, Circulose is set to thrive with new investments aimed at expanding its global footprint. The financial specifics of the deal remain undisclosed, but the move is expected to inject the necessary resources to bolster Circulose’s innovative recycling technology. Circulose produces textile pulp from end-of-life garments and textile waste containing natural fibers, a revolutionary product in the drive towards a circular economy in the textile industry.

www.altor.com

STOLL Launches Trend Collection NOCTURNO

STOLL, a leading flat knitting machine manufacturer and a business unit of the KARL MAYER GROUP, announced the launch of its latest trend collection, NOCTURNO.

Stoll logo

Crafted by the esteemed Fashion & Technology department at Reutlingen, NOCTURNO draws inspiration from the captivating facets of nocturnal life, seamlessly merging intimate wear with elegant styles.

This collection showcases STOLL’s commitment to innovation and excellence in flat knitting. With a keen focus on pushing the boundaries of knitting technology, NOCTURNO introduces a range of technical advancements such as Versatility in Gauge; Innovative Knitting Techniques; Redefining Shapes; Fashionable and Functional Ideas for Stoll-knitrobotic® automation and AI in the Creative Process

www.stoll.com

Nominations Are Open for the 2024 Hygienix Innovation Award™

The 2024 Hygienix Innovation Award™

INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, has opened nominations for the Hygienix Innovation Award™. This Award recognizes a new product or technology in the absorbent hygiene, personal, pet, and wound care industries that expands the usage of nonwoven fabrics.

The Award will be presented at Hygienix™ 2024, Nov. 18-21 at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. Nominations will be accepted through Mon., Sept. 16th via www.inda.org/awards/hygienix-innovation-award.html.

Nominees will be selected from a broad range of new products or technologies that have been commercially available at most two years prior to Hygienix 2024. Eligible categories include, but are not limited to: raw materials, roll goods, converting, packaging, active ingredients, binders, additives, and end-use products.

Three finalists will present their innovations to industry leaders at Hygienix Tues., Nov. 19th. The winner will be announced Thurs., Nov. 21st.

Last year’s Hygienix Innovation Award was presented to Sequel for their Sequel Spiral™ Tampon. The Sequel Spiral™ Tampon features a proprietary spiral design that is engineered to be more fluid mechanically efficient, meaning it is designed to absorb more evenly and not leak before it’s full. In August 2023, the Sequel Spiral™ Tampon received clearance from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a medical device.

www.inda.org/awards/hygienix-innovation-award.html

Online Visitor Registration Opens for ITMA Asia + CITME

Visitors to Asia’s leading business platform for textile machinery – ITMA ASIA + CITME 2024 – can register their visit online to take advantage of early-bird rates. The exhibition will be held October 14-18, 2024 at the National Exhibition and Convention Centre, Shanghai.

ITMA ASIA + CITME 2024

Visitors who pre-register on the combined show websites (itmaasia.com) by October 13 will enjoy early bird rates which are at a 40% discount. The early-bird rates are USD$9 (RMB 60) for a five-day badge and USD$5 (RMB 30) for a one-day badge. Standard onsite rates are RMB 100 for a five-day badge and RMB 50 for a one-day badge.

The combined show owners – CEMATEX and the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT (CCPIT-Tex), China Textile Machinery Association (CTMA) and China Exhibition Centre Group Corporation (CIEC) are pleased with the positive response received for space application. Compared to the previous edition, the size of the exhibition is expected to be bigger.

At the end of May, 1,700 leading textile machinery manufacturers had applied for space. Among them are CHTC, Cixing, Fadis, Groz-Beckert, Itema, KARL MAYER, Memminger-Iro, Murata, Picanol, Rifa, Saurer, Savio, Shima Seiki, SPGPrints, Staubli, Tsudakoma, Truetzschler, Toyota, Vandewiele and Yoantion.

www.itmaasia.com

Leesona Corp. Merges With J. J. Jenkins

Leesona Corp. announced that it has merged with J. J. Jenkins, Inc. For almost four decades, J. J. Jenkins, Inc. has been the supplier of the finest slit tape and monofilament lines in the synthetic fiber industry. The company manufactures heated and ambient roll stands, single and multi-pass hot air ovens and liquid draw ovens – combining these and other components with their own proprietary control system, J. J. Jenkins supplies the complete yarn manufacturing process.

Leesona was founded in1892 and holds a strong reputation across the industry. This partnership will allow the company to supply turnkey solutions for your individual fiber production and winding needs.
Since its founding in 1984, J. J. Jenkins has forged lasting relationships with customers and vendors alike, and Leesona looks forward to helping build upon these cherished relationships even further. The core of the J. J. Jenkins team remains involved as we proceed together, including Joe Jenkins Jr., Jim LaLonde and Wilda Mitchell.

www.leesona.com

Syre to Make Textile-to-Textile Recycling a ‘Hyperscale’ Reality

Syre
Syre recycling

Sweden-based Syre recently announced a $100 million Series A raise, the bulk of which will go towards making textile-to-textile recycling a reality “at hyperscale,” starting with polyester.

H&M Group and impact investor Vargas launched the company in March of this year to help shift the textile industry away from virgin polyester and bottle-to-textile recycling, and towards a more circular system.

At launch, H&M group also announced an offtake agreement with Syre worth $600 million over seven years, which will cover “a significant share” of the H&M Group’s recycled polyester in future.
The textile industry accounts for roughly 10% of global CO2e emissions, while less than 1% of the global textile market comes from recycled materials. Everything else goes to the landfill or incinerator.

Syre will also acquire North Carolina based Premirr Plastics, which has the technology and patents to transform post-consumer waste into circular polyester.

www.syre.com

First Quality to expand in Georgia

Georgia governor Brian P. Kemp announced that First Quality Baby Products, LLC will invest $418 million to expand its footprint in Macon-Bibb County, creating 600 new jobs.

First Quality products
First Quality products

“We’re always thankful when job creators like First Quality choose to expand in Georgia, and we’ll keep working to strengthen these long-term partnerships that enrich communities in every corner of the state,” said Gov. Kemp. “More than 70 percent of last year’s economic development projects were expansions of businesses already operating here in our state, and thanks to companies like First Quality, that positive trend will continue.”

First Quality Baby Products, LLC and its affiliates manufacture baby diapers; youth and training pants; a full line of adult incontinence, feminine hygiene and wipes products; paper towels; and bath tissue while also packaging products for healthcare, retail and commercial channels.

www.firstquality.com

Stein Fibers Acquires Banyan Plastics

Stein Fibers Ltd. logo

Stein Fibers, LLC, a leading global supplier of sustainable fiber and polymer solutions, has acquired Banyan Plastics, LLC, a renowned distributor of recycled materials. The acquisition will accelerate Stein’s growth strategy in the sustainable polymers market, while providing desired distribution services to the most strategic PET manufacturers around the globe. This acquisition will further Stein’s ability to enable sustainability solutions to a diverse customer base throughout multiple end use markets.

www.steinfibers.com

Kimberly-Clark Exits Nigeria

Kimberly-Clark plans to close its production facility in Nigeria due to declining production and difficult economic conditions, according to multiple media outlets. The maker of Huggies diapers and Kotex feminine care products began production in Nigeria in 2012 but paused after five years in 2019 due to unfavorable conditions. Operations resumed in 2021 when the company opened a $100 million facility in Lagos. Since 2022, the company has downsized shifts and cut down on running days to reduce costs.
According to sources, the company has battled with high energy costs, raw materials and reduced demand from customers due to the prevailing economic situation.

Last year, K-C competitor Procter & Gamble announced it would shift its efforts in Nigeria to an imports only model.

Finalists Announced for 2024 World of Wipes Innovation Award

INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, announced the three finalists for the World of Wipes Innovation Award. The award will be presented at the annual World of Wipes (WOW) International Conference, June 17-20, at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis in Minneapolis, MN.

The three products vying for this award are multi-purpose cleaning wipes from Kimberly-Clark Professional, a bio-binder technology from OrganoClick, and facial care wipes from Rockline Industries.

The winner will be announced on Thursday, June 20.

The three companies competing for the Award are:

Scott Xtreme Multi-Purpose Cleaning Wipes by Kimberly-Clark Professional:
Scott Xtreme Multi-Purpose Cleaning Wipes are great for tackling extreme cleaning tasks, like removing oil, grease, grime, paint, adhesives, caulk, and more, yet are gentle enough to clean hands. Featuring a patented citrus cleaning solution, the dual-action cleaning fabric incorporates a textured side to increase scrubbing action for cleaning tough soils and a smooth side for wiping surfaces clean. Scott Xtreme Multi-Purpose Cleaning Wipes are truly a must-have for any DIY job and cleaning on-the-go.

OC-Biobinder Lily1450 by OrganoClick:
OC-Biobinder represents a series of bio-based and biodegradable binders intended for the nonwoven and paper industry. They are produced from renewable raw materials and residual streams from the food industry and replace traditional fossil-based plastic binders. OC-Biobinder is available with many different properties adapted to the production of home compostable nonwoven materials such as premium napkins, tablecloths and wet wipes.

Facial Care Wipe with Glycine Amino Acid Complex by Rockline Industries:
Rockline’s development of a facial wipe product containing a unique multifunctional complex of two glycines, a phospholipid compound and a blend of glycols allows for a multitude of skincare benefits as well as providing a self-preserving system for cellulosic nonwovens. Believed to be the first application of glycines in a wet wipe formulation, the product offers improved skin smoothness, elasticity, and hydration alongside an anti-aging claim.

INDA’s Technical Advisory Board selected the finalists based on the creativity, uniqueness, and technical sophistication employed in finding novel ways to expand the utilization of nonwovens. Categories considered for the award were wipes-related raw materials, roll goods, converting, packaging, active ingredients, binders, additives and end-use products.

www.worldofwipes.org