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: September 10, 2024
Lohia Acquires J.J. Jenkins
Lohia Corp Limited (LCL) announced that they have acquired J.J. Jenkins Inc. a respected name in machine manufacturing for high-tech industries, through US subsidiary, Leesona Corp, a 130-year-old pioneer in winding machines. This acquisition aligns perfectly with the company’s vision to expand their specialty yarns and tapes portfolio in medical and defense applications.
In addition, Lohia has formed a strategic Joint Venture with Italy’s O.M.G.M. sas, leading to the creation of OMGM Extrusiontechnik Srl. With LCL holding the majority stake. This JV represents a significant diversification of our product portfolio, introducing solutions in Extrusion and Winding systems for a variety of technical applications.
Suzano Completes Purchase of 15% Stake in Lenzing AG
Suzano, the world’s largest pulp producer, announces the completion of its acquisition of a 15% stake in Lenzing AG, the Vienna-listed leading global supplier of sustainable premium cellulosic fibers for the textile and non-wovens industry, from B&C Group. As announced in June this year, the transaction value is EUR 230 million (or EUR 39.70 per share). The agreement was subject to regulatory approval, which was granted without restrictions.
The long-term partnership between Suzano and B&C Group establishes that Suzano has the right to hold two seats on Lenzing’s Board and the option to acquire an additional 15% stake from B&C Group until the end of 2028. Following the sale of the 15% stake, B&C Group now holds 37.25% of Lenzing’s share capital.
James T. Glerum, Jr. Appointed to the Board of Directors of Berry Global Group, Inc.
Berry Global Group, Inc. announced that James T. Glerum, Jr. has been appointed to its Board of Directors.
Glerum, age 64, retired as Vice Chairman, Investment Banking at Citigroup in July 2024. Prior to joining Citigroup in 2011, Mr. Glerum held senior leadership positions in investment banking at UBS and Credit Suisse in Chicago and New York City. Over his 40-year investment banking career, Mr. Glerum executed more than 325 corporate finance and strategic transactions with an aggregate value of over $500 billion. Mr. Glerum’s clients spanned multiple industry sectors, including manufacturing, healthcare, consumer and retail. Mr. Glerum serves on the board of trustees for several Midwest non-profit institutions, including Denison University, The Ravina Festival and The Griffin Museum of Science.
Mr. Glerum earned an M.B.A. from The Harvard Business School and a B.A., cum laude, in Economics and Mathematics from Denison University.
“On behalf of Berry and its Directors, I would like to welcome Jim to our Board,” said Steve Sterrett, Berry’s Chairman of the Board. “Jim’s extensive investment banking, capital markets, capital allocation and packaging industry experience will further enhance our Board’s existing business acumen, while bringing additional insights and perspectives in capital allocation and portfolio evaluation activities.”
Microban® and CiCLO® Enhance Functionality and Sustainability in Textiles
Microban International, a leader in antimicrobial solutions, and CiCLO® Technology, a pioneer in reducing microfiber pollution from synthetic materials, have formed a strategic partnership to build sustainable performance functionality into synthetic fibers, yarns, and fabrics. This collaboration combines Microban’s advanced odor control technologies with CiCLO’s innovative biodegradable technology, providing textile manufacturers with solutions that enhance performance and sustainability goals in various textile applications.
This partnership introduces a unique combination of technologies. Microban’s odor control and antimicrobial protection offer long-lasting odor neutralization, extending the life and freshness of textiles. Microban technology helps reduce consumers’ reliance on washing and prevents damaging odor build-up on synthetic fabrics. CiCLO® technology enables polyester and nylon to biodegrade in end-of-life environments. It also accelerates the breakdown of synthetic fibers shed during manufacturing and laundering, helping reduce the environmental impact of microplastic fibers.
By integrating these technologies, manufacturers can now offer textiles that meet consumer demands for durability and freshness and align with growing environmental concerns. CiCLO’s technology helps ensure that synthetic fibers behave more like wool, a natural fiber, in their end-of-life process, reducing the persistence of microplastic fibers in the environment. These combined technologies address critical industry challenges and set a new standard for the next level of sustainable textile production.
The textile industry solution bringing CiCLO® and Microban technologies together debuts at New York Home Fashion Market week September 11-14, 2024, in New York.
Three Finalists to Compete for the 2024 RISE® Innovation Award
INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, has announced the finalists for the 2024 RISE® Innovation Award. On October 1-2, technology scouts, product developers, and business development professionals will gather at the James B. Hunt, Jr. Library, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, to explore groundbreaking nonwoven research and advancements.
Finalists will present their innovations to RISE participants on Tuesday, October 1st. The Award winner will be revealed on Wednesday afternoon, October 2nd.
Meet the 2024 Award Finalists:
Dual-Layer Filtration Media by Ahlstrom Italia S.p.A. – Ahlstrom’s new dual-layer filter media technology enhances engine air intake filtration performances, offering up to double the dust holding capacity and extending filter lifetime by over 50% compared to single-layer media. It also enables smaller, lighter filter designs, meeting current and future engine specifications, including fuel cells. Dual-layer filter media can be offered with flame-retardant functionality for various transportation and industrial applications, ensuring safety, improved performances and reduced environmental impact.
ENDURA™ rPP Spunbond & SMS by Berry Global – A pre-consumer recycled Spunbond and SMS product, recognized by SCS Recycled Content Certification. With Spunbond products containing up to 90% recycled content and SMS products containing up to 40% recycled content, customers/consumers are provided a product with greenhouse gas emissions benefits, validated with life cycle assessment tools assumptions based on the actual production. ENDURA Spunbond products have the opportunity to reduce CO2 emissions per kilogram of production by 70%, versus previous generation of product.
PlantPanel X by Hempitecture Inc. – PlantPanel X is a rigid continuous insulation material used in exterior above-ground applications. With an R Value of R3.25 per inch, PlantPanel adds to thermal and acoustic comfort and performance. Engineered with a density to resist compression and deflection, PlantPanel is used in split-insulation wall and roof assemblies with either a rain screen cladding or roofing material, depending on the application. With 100% biobased and recycled content, PlantPanel is a sustainable, low carbon continuous insulation solution that’s easy to install and safe to handle.
2023 RISE Innovation Award winner:
TiHive won the 2023 RISE Innovation Award for their SAPMonit technology. TiHive’s innovation, SAPMonit – a technology breakthrough, inspects millions of diapers weekly. SAPMonit delivers lightning-speed inline inspection of superabsorbents’ weight and distribution, optimizes resources, detects flaws, and accelerates R&D.
For more information or to register for RISE, visit www.riseconf.net
Evonik and ICIG Complete Sale of Superabsorbents Business
Evonik has successfully completed the sale of its superabsorbents business unit to the International Chemical Investors Group (ICIG). The closing of the transaction took place on August 31, 2024, following approval by the competition authorities. Superabsorbents are powdered polymers that are used as absorbent materials in diapers and other hygiene products. The division generated sales of €892 million in 2023 and has around 1,000 employees. It includes three locations in Germany and two in the United States.
The unit is the second of a total of three parts of the Performance Materials division that Evonik has put up for sale. Following the divestment of the Lülsdorf site and its associated businesses (also to ICIG) and the sale of the superabsorbent unit, only the former Performance Intermediates business line is left. Here, Evonik is currently sounding out the market situation for a possible start of the sales process.
ICIG is an experienced chemical investor based in Frankfurt am Main. Together with the superabsorbent activities, the Group now generates annual sales of well over €4 billion at around 50 locations worldwide and with more than 7,800 employees.
Indorama Ventures, Dhunseri and Varun Beverages Joint Venture Plans Cutting-edge Recycling Facilities in India
Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited, a global sustainable chemical producer, through its direct subsidiary – IVL Dhunseri Petrochem Industries Limited – and Dhunseri Ventures Limited have formed a joint venture with Varun Beverages Limited, PepsiCo’s second-largest bottling company globally outside the US, to establish several greenfield state-of-the-art PET recycling facilities in India. This strategic alliance marks a substantial move towards meeting the increasing demand for recycled content throughout India, representing the companies’ collective dedication to sustainability.
The joint venture has already begun the construction of two PET recycling facilities, planned for completion within 2025, with potential for more. One facility is in Kathua within the Jammu Division of the Indian Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, situated in Northern India, while the other is in Khurdha within the State of Odisha, located in Eastern India. The aim is to reach 100 kiloton annual capacity of recycled PET (rPET) across all the facilities when combined.
This initiative aligns with the escalating demand for rPET content in India, driven by both regulatory mandates and a collective effort towards a circular economy for PET. The surge in demand reflects a significant shift, with projected volumes increasing from approximately 400 kilotons in 2025-2026 to over 1 million tons by 2031. Mandates such as the Indian government’s compulsory requirement of 30% recycled plastic content in plastic packaging by 2025-2026, escalating to 60% by 2028-2029, underscores the urgency and importance of this transformation. Moreover, this move aims to effectively cater to the needs of India’s beverage Brand Owners, many of whom have established ambitious sustainability goals in line with regulatory directions.
Milliken & Company Names Allen Jacoby Textile Business President
Diversified global manufacturer Milliken & Company announced Allen Jacoby as EVP and president of its textile business, assuming full operational responsibility for the company’s textile product portfolio. Jacoby has served as the company’s Chief Strategy Officer and SVP of Corporate Development and Innovation since 2021 and will succeed David Smith who is retiring after 45 years of dedicated service to Milliken, starting as an intern and working his way to the board room.
“Allen is known for his enterprise thinking and has demonstrated the ability to drive growth and value creation through strategic initiatives,” said Halsey Cook, president and CEO at Milliken. “We look forward to all that he will accomplish as the new leader of our textile business and wish David the very best as he moves toward his well-earned retirement.”
During his early tenure at Milliken, Jacoby led the growth of several product lines in the textile business. In 2013, he took responsibility for the plastic additives segment of Milliken’s chemical business where he successfully led technology transitions and implemented new strategies for growth. Prior to Milliken, Jacoby worked as a consultant for Scient and Arthur D. Little. He holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Purdue University, and an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
