Saturday 25 April 2009

Get the best out of KnittingIndustry.com and share it with colleagues

Manchester – In order to make it easy for you to keep up with our daily news, features and other content, we have introduced some brand new ‘free to use’ features. We have also made it easy for you to share content with friends and colleagues.

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Stoll: CMS 730 T Knit & Wear

Stoll Knit & Wear Class

Knit & Wear Less making-up processes, shorter throughput times and even greater pattern variety - to produce Knit & Wear garments fast and economical, that's the strength of the Stoll Knit & Wear machines. All machines are equipped with a take-down comb and a clamping and cutting device.

One model includes additional features such as: presser foot unit, closed spring loaded holding-down jacks, second stitch tension, motor controlled stitch preparation cams and magnetic thread clamp device. Furthermore, one model is also equipped with additional beds.

CMS 730 T Knit & Wear

The productive one for fine knitting – The CMS 730 T knit & wear is equipped with additional beds allowing Knit & Wear garments to be produced with all needles in the fine gauge range. It has 3 systems, a working width of 72"/183 cm and is available with the gauges E 6.2 and E 7.2.

Further information and full technical specification

Smart Fabrics 2009 - Conference Review

Cath Rogan reports from Rome

RomeCath RoganIntertech Pira’s excellent annual Smart Fabrics conference is now in its 5th year and this year (March 10th-12th 2009, Rome) welcomed over 150 delegates to an agenda packed with practical advice, inspirational ideas and of course, a handful of spectacular but occasionally entirely baffling scientific data charts.

Stacey Burr, CEO of Textronics Inc. opened the conference with a highly motivating keynote speech outlining how the E-textiles small business sector is “growing up” in what has suddenly become a far more challenging business climate due to the global financial crisis.

Sharing some of the experiences and lessons learned by Textronics as it developed from a Dupont spin-off into a global market leader, recently acquired by Adidas, Stacey offered practical advice and key pointers to survive and thrive during the current challenging business environment.

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New Features on KnittingIndustry.com’s Used Machinery market place

Manchester – KnittingIndustry.com has upgraded its Used Machinery market place by offering buyers and sellers of used knitting machines a range of new features which will enhance their trading experience. The online news and technical resource for the knitting industry, allows sellers to upload machines they have for sale, into their own space on the site, free of charge.

Easy search and improved results display

Used Machinery on KnittingIndustry.com is categorised so that buyers can find exactly what they want quickly. For example, if a buyer is looking for a used Shima Seiki SES122S machine in 12 gauge, all they have to do is select ‘Flat & Fully Fashioned Knitting’ and then drill down the search by selecting a manufacturer name and gauge. A list of results is then displayed and the buyer can click on each result for full technical and seller details. Results are now displayed 30 to a page so that buyers can identify easily what they are looking for in KnittingIndustry.com’s extensive lists.

Another new feature offered to sellers is the ability to include links to images and video clips when they are uploading their machines for sale.

Power Sellers get higher visibility in search results lists

Setting up an account and listing machines on KnittingIndustry.com’s Used Machinery market place is easy to do and is free of charge. However, for those seeking higher visibility in search results, becoming a Power Seller is a very good option.

Power Sellers pay a low monthly fee to receive the following benefits;

Power Seller’s machines go to the top of all search results lists and are highlighted in yellow, making them much more visible to buyers;Power Sellers also get a button with their logo on it, which appears at the top of all search results pages in the used machinery category they have selected. This raises the Power Seller’s profile with buyers; When a buyer clicks on a Power Seller button they are presented with a list of all machines for sale by that particular Power Seller. The buyer is then focussed on the Power Seller’s machines only

To view the Power Seller feature click here.

Friday 24 April 2009

Barcodes help blind people check out fashion show

Derby, UK - A fashion show where outfits ‘tell’ blind and visually impaired visitors what they look like, and a life-size game pitting players against zombies are just two of the projects in a hi-tech University of Derby showcase.

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Hot Stuff - How heated mitts helped Matt recover movement in his hand

Glasgow – Heating textiles specialist EXO2 is finding new applications for its technology outside of the company’s traditional heating motor cycle gloves market. Recently the company has been exploring healthcare applications and has used a heating mitt to assist a young Glasgow man who is recovering from a spinal injury.

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Oeko-Tex standard 1000 certifies production facilities

Greensboro, NC - The International Oeko-Tex Association is known around the world for its Oeko-Tex Standard 100 which certifies that textile products are tested to be free from harmful levels of more than 100 substances believed to be dangerous to humans. Oeko-Tex is also rapidly gaining global acclaim for its Oeko-Tex Standard 1000 which evaluates textile production facilities and certifies that they are employing best practices in environmental and social management.

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Technora para-aramid fibre used in deep sea probe cable

Osaka - Teijin Techno Products Limited has announced that its high-performance Technora para-aramid fibre has been adopted by the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) for the 160-metre secondary cable of a deep-sea probe named ABISMO (Automatic Bottom Inspection and Sampling Mobile), which is being used to explore the world's deepest oceans.

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First Oerlikon Barmag eFK texturing machine goes to China

Remscheid - The first Oerlikon Barmag eFK-type texturing machines will soon be installed in China. A contract for ten machines, which premiered at the ITMA Asia 2008, was recently signed with Jinxing (Fujian) Chemical Fibre and Textile Industry Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Fujian Jinxing Group. According to Oerlikon Barmag, the decisive factor for the contract was the energy-efficient godet technology, which the company has been successfully using in its MPS- and COCOON-type texturing machines for some years now.

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Stoll: CMS 730 S Knit & Wear

Stoll Knit & Wear Class

CMS730S Knit & WearLess making-up processes, shorter throughput times and even greater pattern variety - to produce Knit & Wear garments fast and economical, that's the strength of the Stoll Knit & Wear machines. All machines are equipped with a take-down comb and a clamping and cutting device.

One model includes additional features such as: presser foot unit, closed spring loaded holding-down jacks, second stitch tension, motor controlled stitch preparation cams and magnetic thread clamp device. Furthermore, one model is also equipped with additional beds.

CMS 730 S Knit & Wear

The specialist – Everything on the CMS 730 S knit & wear is optimized for the production of Knit & Wear garments. It is equipped with three systems, a working width of 72"/183 cm and offers a gauge range from E 3,5.2 to E 9.2.

Full details at KnittingIndustry.com's Machinery & Equipment Guide

Anvil Knitwear launches carbon-neutral recycled cotton t-shirt

New York - Anvil Knitwear, has announced the launch of a t-shirt that uses less energy and water during production, has a net zero carbon footprint and is made from 69 percent pre-consumer recycled cotton. Anvil claims to be the sixth-largest purchaser of organic cotton worldwide

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Green T-shirt competition to help defeat global poverty

Green T-Shirt24 April 2009, New York – Hessnatur, a leading German organic apparel brand has joined forces with Planet Green, a multi media company devoted to the environment, to create an online contest offering the American public a chance to make an environmental statement by designing a limited edition organic t-shirt. The winning t-shirt will be sold internationally and manufactured by Grameen Knitwear in Bangladesh, a subsidiary of the Grameen Foundation, founded by Nobel Peace Prize recipient Dr. Muhammad Yunus. Fifty percent from the sale of each t-shirt will be donated back to the Grameen Foundation, which uses the power of microfinance, technology and innovative solutions to defeat global poverty.

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Karl Mayer shows Seamless Smart at Shanghaitex

German warp knitting machine builder to show DJ 4/2 double needle-bar machine for seamless garments and hosiery in Shanghai

Shanghaitex, 12 – 15 June 2009, Shanghai New International Expo Centre, Shanghai, P.R.C.

21 April 2009, Obertshausen – Leading builder of warp knitting machines Karl Mayer, will exhibit two of its warp knitting machines at this year’s Shanghaitex on stand B90 in Hall W2.

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Friday 17 April 2009

Experts call for increased R&D collaboration in EU textile industry

More than 100 participants from across Europe attended the Information Day organised in Brussels by the Spanish textile research centre AITEX

17 April 2009, Brussels – “New Textiles. Research and innovation in the textile-clothing-technical textile industry” was the title chosen for the Information Day hosted earlier this month by AITEX. A whole day of conferences and scientific roundtables discussed the most promising lines of research in the near future and how innovation can contribute to the survival of the textile industry in Europe.

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Comeztronic CT-11B to feature at Istanbul show


Cilavegna, Italy - Narrow fabrics machinery specialist Comez SpA, will exhibit along with its agent Benteks A.S, at the forth coming ITM2009, to be held in Istanbul, from 6th to 10th June 2009. The company will show its Comeztronic CT-11B, a versatile electronic crochet machine for the production of an extensive range of laces, bands and ribbons, in both rigid and elastic fabrics.

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Wednesday 15 April 2009

Shima Seiki: MACH2X


Dramatic improvements in productivity for high quality Wholegarment knitwear

Like the SWG®-X on which it is based, the new MACH2®X is a WHOLEGARMENT specialty machine that features 4 needle beds and Shima Seiki’s original SlideNeedle™. And like the SWG®-X, it can knit beautifully shaped, high-quality WHOLEGARMENT® products which conform to the body for improved comfort and a more elegant silhouette.

As the “MACH” name suggests, what sets the MACH2®X apart is its speed and productivity. The new R2CARRIAGE® system increases maximum knitting speed and permits quicker carriage returns for higher effi ciency per knitted course. New Split Stitch technique furthermore allows effi cient knitting by eliminating empty courses. Additionally, on the 15L gauge machine a special large-hook version of the SlideNeedle™ is used for knitting 12-gauge fabrics at 15-gauge needle pitch for even higher productivity. The 15-gauge needle pitch also allows for a tighter fabric especially for ribs, contributing to higher-quality WHOLEGARMENT® items.

i-DSCS® Digital Stitch Control System with Intelligence is also standard. Additional improvements include a new control unit that is built-in to the machine for simplified shipping and installation, easier maintenance, and more efficient use of space. A USB memory interface and a backup power supply are standard. The new machines also feature a lower overall height for improved access to top tension units. Dramatic improvements in both quailty and productivity make the new MACH2®X the ideal machine for high-quality WHOLEGARMENT production.

Machinery & Equipment Guide at KnittingIndustry.com

Dr. Hassan Bodaghi joins DelStar Technologies

Middleton, DE - DelStar Technologies, Inc. announced today that Dr. Hassan Bodaghi has joined their executive team as Vice President of New Business Development, reporting directly to Mark Abrahams, CEO.

Dr. Hassan Bodaghi received his Ph.D. in Polymer Engineering from the University of Tennessee and has over 25 years of experience in Corporate Research & Technology, as well as business development. As a visionary and holder of over 20 patents, Dr. Bodaghi will focus on accelerating DelStar’s new business growth through product and technology innovations.

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Karl Mayer to show its versatility at Techtextil

Obertshausen - Karl Mayer and its subsidiary Karl Mayer Malimo Textilmaschinenfabrik GmbH, are among the innovators in the technical textiles sector and are therefore almost compelled to exhibit at Techtextil. This year the company will show its versatility by exhibiting a range of machine developments for a wide range of technical applications.

Examples of this are machines for the production of biaxial and multiaxial multi-ply structures. These textiles which have enormous strength are made from high-performance fibres such as carbon, glass or aramid and form the basis for fibre-reinforced composites. The web structures, which are bonded by thermosetting or thermoplastic means, are used mainly in lightweight constructions, such as car body parts and aircraft components, rotor blades for wind power plants, materials for sports equipment, moving parts for machines, and also in the building sector, where they are used as reinforcing components for textile-reinforced concrete, amongst other things.

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Novacel 9357 protective film is recyclable and solvent free

Chicago - Novacel, a leader in surface protection, has furthered its work in developing protective solutions for the carpeting and textiles market by introducing its Novacel 9357 range, an innovation demonstrating the company’s determination to manufacture products that are more environmentally friendly.

Devoted to the protection of showroom carpeting (polypropylene or needle punched fibres), and more widely to textiles, this 30-µm-thick, transparent, colourless polyethylene film is designed to resist substantial traffic and soiling during booth setup (trampling, passing pallets and other various devices, dirt or gravel dumping). The innovation stems from its new, solvent-free adhesive mass resulting from a more environmentally friendly manufacturing process.

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China textile machinery manufacturing grows but profits low

Dublin - China's textile machinery market has been growing rapidly in recent years, and the gross industrial output value of textile machinery manufacturing in China reached RMB72.64bn in 2008, up by 4.9% year-on-year, according to a recent report. Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "2008-2009 Report on China's Textile Machinery Market" report to their offering.

Although the total profitability of the sector continues to rise rapidly in Chinas manufacturing of textile machinery, the profit margin is low, the report says. The gross industrial output value of textile machinery manufacturing sector in China reached RMB72.64bn in 2008, up by 4.9% year-on-year, and the gross profit was RMB4.07bn, up by 9.6%. But although the profit of the sector increased a generous RMB356m from a year ago, the profit margin was only 5.6%, far lower than average profit margin of the manufacturing in China as a whole.

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Thursday 9 April 2009

Universal Fibers partners Rouse in industrial eco fibres

Bristol, VA - Universal Fibers has announced that it has entered into an agreement with David T. Rouse, owner of Rouse Enterprises LLC, to represent their solution dyed industrial products. Rouse Enterprises, LLC will represent Universal's industrial solution-dyed yarn products and capabilities to the marketplace in the United States and Canada.

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Invista innovations on show at Hong Kong Mode Lingerie


Hong Kong - Invista, one of the world’s leading producers of integrated fibres and polymers, is exhibiting a series of innovations at this week’s Hong Kong Mode Lingerie held in Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center from April 7-8, 2009, along with its key mill customers from intimate apparel and swimwear.

In addition to exhibiting its innovations such as Lycra 2.0 garment technology, Lycra Xtra Fine Collection fibre, Lycra freshFX fabric and Xtra Life Lycra fibre, the company will also present its new environmental framework ‘Planet Agenda’. Through this exhibition, Invista says it continues to introduce innovations to the textile industry, bringing added value to customers throughout the apparel value chain. Invista says it is certainly more vital than ever, as customers look for advantages to help them weather the significant current economic challenges.

This will be the fifth time Invista has cooperated with Eurovet in Mode Lingerie, where the company’s main theme will be ‘Seduction’ with several new Lycra products, including the brand-new innovation Lycra 2.0 tape being on show.

Lycra 2.0 tape provides bonded hems, bands, and seams for garments that stretch and recover in response to body’s movements. It enables the design of a garment which reduces undergarment lines associated with bulky narrow elastics, providing wearers of intimate apparel with sleek, smooth, all-day fit. As the first product of this innovation, Lycra 2.0 tape can exert less compression on the body during wear than bulky narrow elastics, and extend the durability of a garment. A recent design contest challenged student designers from all around the world to use Lycra 2.0 tape to demonstrate the new design possibilities created by this innovative new product. It is the first in a full-line of new products planned from the Lycra 2.0 garment technology platform.

Invista will also show its Lycra Xtra Fine Collection fibre or ‘second skin’ which, provides a feeling of refinement, elegance with style in a range of weights from 120 gram/m² or less, which are designed to give wearers a feeling of well-being and lightness, via ‘barely there’intimates.

Invista’s Lycra freshFX fabric helps to keep wearers fresh, carefree and confident, the company says. Wicking fabrics with quick dry benefits are created with nylon fibre with a unique four-channel capillary cross-section. Invista claims that it not only helps transfer moisture and dries quickly, but also has an exceptionally soft hand.

Also on display in Hong Kong this week is the company’s Xtra Life Lycra fibre which, the company says, delivers beautiful, long-lasting fit that counters the curse of 'bag and sag'. According to Invista, Xtra Life Lycra fibre also resists chlorine and other pool chemicals, allowing garments to keep their shape 5 to 10 times longer than unprotected elastic fibre.

Invista says that together with its key mill customers, it always brings excitement to trade events, and this time their cooperation at Hong Kong Mode Lingerie will once again provide the latest innovations, concepts and technologies for garment manufactures, designers, retailers and both domestic and overseas consumers.

Dogi International Fabrics, is a Catalan textile company founded in 1954 and a European leader in the manufacture of elastic fabric that serves the upper range of the intimate apparel and swimwear sectors. Dogi offers fabrics containing Lycra Xtra Fine Collection fibre for intimate apparel, Xtra Life Lycra fibre for swimwear and Lycra freshFX fabric (X6300) for intimate apparel and these have brought Dogi opportunities to supply fabrics to multiple international famous brands, Invista says.

GuangDong Derun Textile Co., Ltd. was founded in 1990 and is one of the largest factories specialized in elastic fabric manufacture in China. As one of the qualified and accredited mills working with Invista, Derun will display a an range of fabrics containing Lycra Xtra Fine Collection fibre for intimate apparel and Xtra Life Lycra fibre for swimwear.

Guangzhou Tianhai Lace Co. Ltd, is a large vertical textile manufacturer established in 1988, specializing in design and manufacture of high quality warp-knitted laces for intimate apparel. Lace with Lycra fibre supplied by Tianhai is expected to attract broad attention at the show, as it has at previous shows.

Haining Dejun Knitting & Dyeing Group was formed in 1994 and produces over 30 million metres of fabric each year. Dejun adapts the latest technology to the fashions that influence design, research and development and manufacture and its fabrics containing Lycra Xtra Fine Collection fibre for intimate apparel and Xtra Life Lycra for swimwear look set to get attention at the show.

Through product research and development based on consumer insights, and also working closely with upstream mill customers, Invista expects to further consolidate its leading position and continue to contribute to creating long-term value to the value chain of textile industry.

Terrot to emphasize wide ranging applications at ITM2009

Chemnitz - As a leading builder of circular knitting machines, Terrot will be amongst the exhibitors at the forthcoming ITM2009 or Tüyap Fair, which will be held from June 6-10, 2009 at the Convention and Congress Center, Beylikdüzü, Istanbul, Turkey. The company will emphasize the wide ranging applications of its circular knitting machines under a new exhibition concept.

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TenCate and Airbus continue composites partnership

Almelo - Airbus has recently signed an extension of its existing Memorandum of Understanding with TenCate, Stork Fokker AESP and The Netherlands Aerospace Group, in Toulouse, France. The entry of another six Dutch industrial companies and knowledge institutes to the Thermoplastic Affordable Primary Aircraft Structure (TAPAS) consortium is expected within a few weeks.

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Monday 6 April 2009

Invista innovations on show at Hong Kong Mode Lingerie

Hong Kong - Invista, one of the world’s leading producers of integrated fibres and polymers, is exhibiting a series of innovations at this week’s Hong Kong Mode Lingerie held in Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center from April 7-8, 2009, along with its key mill customers from intimate apparel and swimwear.

In addition to exhibiting its innovations such as Lycra 2.0 garment technology, Lycra Xtra Fine Collection fibre, Lycra freshFX fabric and Xtra Life Lycra fibre, the company will also present its new environmental framework ‘Planet Agenda’. Through this exhibition, Invista says it continues to introduce innovations to the textile industry, bringing added value to customers throughout the apparel value chain. Invista says it is certainly more vital than ever, as customers look for advantages to help them weather the significant current economic challenges.

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Shima opens Spanish subsidiary

Barberá del Vallés, Spain – Shima Seiki Mfg. Ltd., has announced the opening of its new Spanish subsidiary, Shima Seiki Spain S.A.U. The leading Japanese flat knitting machine builder has set up a subsidiary company which will act as a sales and service organization for Spain and Portugal. The company will be headquartered at Barberá Del Vallés near Barcelona in northern Spain.

Mr Yoshihiro Sakuma, who has been appointed Managing Director of the new subsidiary, will also continue in his role as Managing Director of Shima Seiki Europe Ltd. Mr Xavier Arquerons has been appointed Sales Manager of Shima Seiki Spain S.A.U., and the company will operate out of the same premises previously occupied by Arbitex S.A., Shima’s former agent in the territory, in Barberá Del Vallés.

Contact details:

SHIMA SEIKI SPAIN, S.A.U.

Pol. Ind. Can Salvatella

Calle Comadrán, 39

08210 BARBERÁ DEL VALLÉS

(Barcelona)

Tel. +34 93 729 37 27

Fax. +34 93 718 06 26

www.shimaseiki.es

shimaseiki@shimaseiki.es

Sunday 5 April 2009

Technical Knitting for Innovation - One Day Conference

‘Technical Knitting for Innovation’

One Day Conference

1st May 2009, Manchester, United Kingdom

Technitex, a UK government funded knowledge transfer group within the Materials KTN, is hosting ‘Technical Knitting for Innovation’, a one day conference, which will focus on innovation in knitted technical textiles. The event will highlight new products and technologies, and present novel research in knitted textiles.

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Oerlikon presents innovations at Shanghaitex

Remscheid - Oerlikon Textile, a leader for spinning and texturing machines, embroidery machines, production lines for synthetic yarns, lines for nonwoven fabrics, BCF yarns and manmade staple fibres and one of the five major producer of textile machinery in China, will present its innovations especially for the Chinese market at the forthcoming Shanghaitex. The company will exhibit its latest offerings at its 400m² booth in Hall E2 B01 from 12 to 15 June 2009.

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Saturday 4 April 2009

Wings conquers China

Remschied - The first POY system with WINGS winding units in China started producing successfully at Zhejiang Tong Kun at the beginning of the year. In terms of the commissioning, the WINGS concept once again proved that it keeps its promises. The polyester POY spinning system with 48 positions was assembled, commissioned and signed off in a record time of only 18 days.

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Optima-Life proves perfect fit for Vital Jacket

London - Vital Jacket HWM (Heart Wave Monitor), the intelligent t-shirt that can continuously monitor ECG and heart rate, is now exclusively available in the UK through Optima-life. The London based health and sports performance company has linked with Portuguese owners Biodevices3 and acquired the UK distribution rights.

The arrival of the Vital Jacket marks a major step forward in vital signs monitoring, for the performance sport and health and fitness arenas, Optima-life says.

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Glasshard shafts from Dienes

Spencer, MA - Dienes, a leading manufacturer of slitting systems and knife holders, has introduced its improved glasshard shafts to the market.

The quality of the glasshard counter shaft is of decisive importance to achieve optimum crush cutting results, the company says. Dienes offers glasshard shafts tailored to customer demand and adjusted to the respective knives and knife holders for optimum tool service life. In addition, Dienes can provide surfaces with super finished or polished quality, and optional dynamic balancing.

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NanoHorizons joins Silver Institute’s new silver nanotechnology working group

State College, PA - NanoHorizons Inc., the developer and manufacturer of SmartSilver nanoscale antimicrobial additives for textiles, health care, and industrial applications, has joined with four other companies to create the Silver Nanotechnology Working Group under the sponsorship of the Silver Institute and the Silver Research Consortium. The group’s purpose is to collect and generate data that more completely document the performance benefits of silver nanoparticles in consumer and industrial applications.

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ViaMat nonwoven organic reinforcement for electronic packaging

East Walpole, MA - Hollingsworth & Vose has introduced its ViaMat aramid paper as a new nonwoven organic reinforcement material for electronic packaging. The new ViaMat paper delivers improvements in dimensional stability and enables higher interconnect densities.

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New PBW 130/2 pattern beam warper makes lace production even more efficient

Obertshausen - Modern lace production requires high-tech solutions at every stage of the manufacturing process and that is why Karl Mayer is constantly improving and revamping its range of lace raschel machines and coming up with new innovations in warp preparation at the same time. One of the latest innovations to come from the renowned manufacturer of warp preparation equipment is the PBW 130/2 pattern beam warping machine.

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DS 21/30 EC practical warper makes in-roads in world markets

Obertshausen – Karl Mayer’s new DS 21/30 EC direct warping machine has been used successfully in the Asian market since August 2008, and has been available on the world market since January of this year.

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Thursday 2 April 2009

‘Technical Knitting for Innovation’ - One Day Conference

‘Technical Knitting for Innovation’

One Day Conference

1st May 2009, Manchester, United Kingdom

Technitex, a UK government funded knowledge transfer group within the Materials KTN, is hosting ‘Technical Knitting for Innovation’, a one day conference, which will focus on innovation in knitted technical textiles. The event will highlight new products and technologies, and present novel research in knitted textiles.

MORE