TEXTILES.ORG
Autoliv buys Delphi assets
February 1st, 2010
Delphi Automotive LLP, Troy, Mich., emerged from a four-year bankruptcy in October 2009 and divested a string of businesses, including its North American airbag, seatbelt and steering wheel manufacturing facilities. Swedish seatbelt and airbag maker Autoliv Inc. acquired those assets at the end of December, consolidating its formidable position in the automotive safety industry. Autoliv, […]
Highland Industries expands S. C. plant
February 1st, 2010
The weft-insertion manufacturing facility in Cheraw, S.C., will expand and add jobs, says Highland Industries Inc., an industrial textiles manufacturer based in Greensboro, N.C. The state of South Carolina and Chesterfield County rolled out the red carpet for Highland in its attempt to attract new investment. “We believe today’s news will be the start of […]
Burlington Technologies brings 100 jobs
February 1st, 2010
Defying a depressed economy, Burlington Technologies, Burlington, N.C., will bring 100 new jobs to the city with its affiliate VitaFlex LLC, a manufacturing facility for nonwoven elastic fabric. The plant will manufacture face masks and stretchable painters’ hoods, but applications for breathable, durable and elastic VitaFlex include medical supply items such as masks, coverings and […]
Organic flame retardant from Albemarle
February 1st, 2010
Environmental concerns about flame-retardant chemicals surfaced when compounds were discovered in soil and ground water at fire training sites. Now Albemarle® Corp., Baton Rouge, La., is unveiling a new organic flame retardant suitable for use in textile, electronic and transportation products made of durable plastic resins. GreenArmor™, part of Albemarle’s Earthwise™ family of sustainable solutions, […]
Textiles REACH European markets
February 1st, 2010
Shirley Technologies Ltd., Leeds, England, offers new textile testing services to screen for substances of very high concern (SVHC) in garments, fabric, thread or other components of the textile product supply chain. The European Union law that requires companies to be responsible for chemicals used in product manufacture—Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation (and Restriction) of Chemicals, or […]
Funding carbon fiber research projects
February 1st, 2010
Lightweight, high-strength carbon fiber can potentially save energy by making vehicles lighter, which improves fuel efficiency. Its promising energy-saving aspects landed the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) $34.7 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to develop a new Carbon Fiber Technology Center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tenn. Researchers at […]
Industrial protective clothing markets
February 1st, 2010
As risk managers put a higher priority on protecting workers from injury—including exposure to infections such as the H1N1 influenza and potential terror attacks—personal protective equipment sales continue to grow. A new report on this market, “Industrial Protective Clothing: A Global Market Perspective,” has recently been released by BizAcumen Inc. Among trends discussed: technological advances, […]
Understanding European REACH standards
February 1st, 2010
In June 2007, the European Union introduced the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation (and Restriction) of Chemicals (REACH) protocols, which have significant impacts for companies making, importing or supplying clothing and textile products in Europe. The Association of Suppliers to the British Clothing Industry (ASBCI) developed a report answering key questions to help businesses meet legal obligations […]
ASTM product certification services
February 1st, 2010
ASTM International, originally known as the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), has established voluntary technical standards for materials, products, systems and services. Businesses seeking a second opinion on whether their products meet ASTM standards can now request certification for entities that require products to have an independent, third-party check on standards compliance. Any […]
Production trends in the Americas
February 1st, 2010
Reportlinker.com has announced the availability of a new report, “World Textile and Apparel Trade and Production Trends: the U.S.A., Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico, 2009 Edition” that describes market conditions in North and South America. No surprise, the struggling economy hit all markets hard in 2009. Among the highlights: a 10.6 percent drop in textile […]