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: November 08, 2024
Lenzing Nonwovens Expands its LENZING™ Lyocell Dry Fiber Portfolio
Lenzing Nonwovens, a leading supplier of regenerated cellulose fibers, announced the expansion of its LENZING™ Lyocell Dry fiber portfolio with two new cellulosic fibers – a fine dry fiber that delivers strength and softness, and, a coarse dry fiber which provides enhanced liquid and air flow. These two innovative products enable customers to confidently broaden their use of LENZING™’s wood-based and biodegradable fibers into a wider range of applications while maintaining exceptional performance.
All LENZING™ Lyocell Dry fibers within the family (standard, fine, and coarse) have hydrophobic properties which ensure efficient liquid management suitable for extensive nonwoven applications.
The new LENZING™ Lyocell Dry fine fiber can produce nonwoven fabrics with higher density compared to LENZING™ Lyocell Dry standard fiber. With up to 30% more cellulosic fibers in the same space, customers can create strong and soft nonwoven products. These fibers are suitable for use in hygiene applications such as diapers or sanitary pads.
The new LENZING™ Lyocell Dry coarse fiber creates fabrics that are more open due to its extended fiber diameter, and thus increasing the pore sizes between the fibers in the fabric. This allows for more air or liquid to flow through the material. It is particularly suitable for the acquisition and distribution layer in hygiene products and is also being explored for industrial filtration applications.
Monique Buch, Executive Vice President Nonwoven at Lenzing AG said, “By offering a diverse range of hydrophobic cellulosic fibers from fine to coarse, which are not plastic according to the EU’s Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD), our customers can use alternative fibers for a wider range of applications whilst delivering superior performance.”
Lenzing will showcase its innovative LENZING™ Lyocell Dry fiber family at tabletop 202 during the Hygienix Conference, November 18-21, 2024.
Vidalia Mills Introduces Innovative Digital Tracker for Cotton Products
American textile company Vidalia Mills based in Vidalia, Louisiana, has implemented a technologically advanced digital tracking system that asks the industry to reconsider how companies trace cotton products throughout the supply chain. This technology, unprecedented within textile manufacturing, guarantees full accountability for all products Vidalia Mills creates.
The digital tracker, embedded into the cotton fibers themselves, enables Vidalia Mills to monitor the journey of their products from the initial stages of cotton cultivation to the final finished goods.
By integrating this advanced tracking system, Vidalia Mills aims to provide its customers with complete assurance regarding their cotton products’ origin, quality, and sustainability. Vidalia Mills’ digital tracking system is now available for all its cotton products, including its signature artisanal canvas and denim fabrics. Customers can access detailed information about the origin and journey of their clothing by scanning a unique QR code on the garment’s label.
The digital tracking information will be readily available for each product, providing customers with a comprehensive understanding of the item’s journey from seed to shelf.
Green Theme Technologies Closes $6 Million Series C Funding Round
New Mexico based Green Theme Technologies, Inc. (GTT), a leader in sustainable textile and materials science, announced the successful closing of a $6 million Series C funding round.
The funding will enable GTT to expand development, scale production, and meet rising demand for sustainable solutions in the apparel, footwear, and military sectors. Additionally, GTT plans to enhance its research and development efforts to refine its offerings and increase global impact.
Leading the round were Pangaea Ventures and Cottonwood Technology Ventures, two venture firms known for supporting innovations in advanced materials and sustainability.
GTT’s cutting-edge PFAS-free and water-free technologies provide sustainable alternatives to traditional textile treatments, eliminating harmful chemicals and drastically reducing water use. The Series C investment will enable GTT to expand its development capabilities, scale its technology, and meet the growing demand for sustainable solutions within the footwear, apparel, and military markets. The new funding will also drive continued RCD efforts to refine GTT’s product offerings and bolster the company’s global impact.
Rieter, ARISE IIP, Afreximbank Sign Framework Agreement for Africa Textile Renaissance Plan
ARISE IIP, the pan-African developer and operator of world-class industrial parks, has partnered with African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), and Rieter, the world’s leading supplier of systems for manufacturing yarn from staple fibres in spinning mills. The unprecedented partnership will spearhead the “Africa Textile Renaissance Plan” – a transformative initiative aimed at revitalizing the continent’s textile sector.
This ambitious project will leverage ARISE’s extensive network of industrial parks to support a new era of textile manufacturing in Africa.
In order to facilitate the implementation of the Africa Textile Renaissance Plan, Afreximbank, Arise IIP and Rieter AG signed a framework agreement in October 2024. The framework agreement outlines the collaboration to establish 500,000 metric tons of African cotton transformation capacity over the next three to five years, supported by USD 5 billion in financing. The Africa Textile Renaissance Plan aims to achieve the following key objectives:
- Establish 500,000 metric tons of African cotton transformation capacity over the next three to five years, with potential expansion of an additional 500,000 metric tons;
- Localise machine repair expertise in Africa
- Create up to 500,000 jobs
- Reduce Africa’s annual textile imports
- Boost exports to the US under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), focusing on full value addition within the continent and to export to the rest of the world
- Develop a strong financing structure to support capacity building
Countries benefiting from the program will be selected based on criteria such as power and gas availability, and textile parks with standard infrastructure or equity contribution. Training centers will be established in selected countries to develop and improve skill levels.
Teijin Frontier Launches OCTAIRTM High-Performance Insulation Fiber
Teijin Frontier Co., Ltd., announced it has launched OCTAIR™, a new premium brand of insulation fiber for bedding and apparel. This innovative product utilizes a short-cut polyester fiber featuring a unique, hollow, 8-fin cross section with radiating protrusions. OCTAIR™ meets growing demand for alternatives to natural feathers, which is experiencing declining production volumes and rising costs.
The company plans to expand its use across a wide range of materials. One of them is SOLOTEX™ OCTAIR™, an insulation material that incorporates polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT) fibers along with OCTAIR™ fibers. Teijin Frontier has begun domestic and international sales of SOLOTEX™ OCTAIR™.
In SOLOTEX™ OCTAIR™ insulation, the OCTAIR™ fibers’ hollow structure with an 8-fin cross section creates air pockets that provide excellent warmth, loft and lightweight properties. As a result, SOLOTEX™ OCTAIR™ delivers insulation performance equivalent to the same weight of down (based on tests using 30cm square mini quilts).
To enhance the SOLOTEX™ OCTAIR™ fibers, the PTT fibers’ unique helical molecular structure offers a soft texture, elasticity and good shape retention. Additionally, the tips of the fibers are soft, do not spread out easily and reduce tangling, making the blowing process for filling comforters and clothing smoother than with conventional polyester insulation. This new insulation also offers sustainability benefits through the incorporation of plant-based raw materials.
