TEXTILES.ORG
New leadership for FESPA
August 1st, 2010
Gyorgy Kovacs, president of the Hungarian Screen Printers’ Association, assumed the presidency of the Federation for European Screen Printers Association (FESPA), which organizes international screen printing and digital imaging exhibitions. As a general director of sign-making machinery company Vasco Hungary Ltd., a former public school teacher, and co-driver of the Hungarian rally team, Kovacs’ vitality […]
Alliances help MOP up oil
August 1st, 2010
MOP Environmental Solutions Inc., Bath, N.H., holds the patent on the MOP™ Maximum Oil Pickup oil absorbent and booms, but the small company lacked the capacity to capitalize on the need for its technology in the Gulf of Mexico right now. The company recently formed strategic alliances with two bigger players: Leigh Fibers, Wellford, N.C., […]
TESTEX opens new office in Melbourne
August 1st, 2010
Australia imports and exports textiles, but the country has no controls on chemical substances in textile imports and limited safety requirements on exports. TESTEX AG, Zurich, Switzerland, just established a new office in Melbourne that can test both incoming and outgoing textiles to ensure they meet international standards; if they do not, it will seriously […]
ASTM paves the way for geotextiles
August 1st, 2010
When geotextiles are used to reinforce the base layers of flexible pavement, the interaction between the fabric and aggregates is important, as is the tensile property of the geotextile. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) has developed two new standards pertaining to these important features. ASTM D7499, Test Method for Measuring Geosynthetic-Soil Resilient […]
OSHA rules on hex-chromium exposure
August 1st, 2010
In 2006, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) dropped the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for hexavalent chromium from 52 to 5 micrograms per cubic meter, due to its known health impacts on workers exposed to high amounts. Employers were required to inform workers only when hexavalent chromium was greater than the PEL. Ralph […]
NCTO wants some fiber duties suspended
August 1st, 2010
The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) and 74 companies requested the U.S. Congress to suspend the duty on imported rayon and acrylic fibers that textile manufacturers use. The duty suspension expired at the end of 2009, and Congress is considering a Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act that would continue to suspend duty on […]
European nonwoven production down in 2009
August 1st, 2010
After years of double-digit increases, the weight of nonwovens produced in greater Europe dropped by 6.3 percent in 2009, as reported by EDANA, the trade organization for European nonwoven manufacturers. The most obvious fall was in polymer-based spunmelt nonwovens. However, the market continues strong despite the world recession, with the aggregate price of nonwovens remaining […]
EU commits to 6-point textile plan
August 1st, 2010
At the June general assembly of the Brussels-based European Apparel and Textile Federation (Euratex), EU vice president and commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship Antonio Tajani vowed to support the textile industry, setting forth a six-point plan for implementation over five years. Tajani described a greater focus on encouraging innovation; promoting efficient use of raw materials, […]
Vicar to distribute Renolit PVC sheets
August 1st, 2010
Kal Glas Pressed-Polished PVC sheets, manufactured by Renolit AG, Worms, Germany, are popular in the automotive aftermarket for use in convertible tops. Vicar Intl., Union, N.J., providing products to the automotive, marine, awning and RV industries, has been representing the product to convertible top manufacturers and distributors. Recently Vicar entered into partnership with Renolit AG […]
SunSetter energy upgrades
August 1st, 2010
SunSetter Products, Malden, Mass., has completed an energy efficiency upgrade in its 64,000-square-foot facility for manufacturing retractable residential awnings. Improvements include energy-efficient lighting and installation of two solar photovoltaic systems on the roof. The solar systems should generate approximately 138,000 kW of energy each year, allowing SunSetter to reduce utility purchases by 35-40 percent, reduce […]