Posted June 2, 2016

 

(Editor's note: To be included in next week's part 4 coverage, please return your questionnaire. If you did not receive one, please send email here.)

 

By Devin Steele (DSteele@eTextileCommunications.com)

 

ATLANTA – Reviews of the three co-located Atlanta shows – Techtextil North America (TTNA), Texprocess Americas (TPA) and JEC Americas – continued to arrive. Following are several exhibitor reports.

 

A.B. Carter, Inc.

 

A.B. Carter, Inc. of Gastonia, N.C., a 94-year-old supplier of machines, products, parts and accessories for the yarn, carpet, fiberglass and industrial sectors of the textile and composite industry, reported a good TTNA show.

 

“The show was well attended,” said Henderson Wise, national marketing manager. “We were pleased with the overall outcome.”

 

Wise said mostly domestic visitors stopped by the booth, but some international guests dropped by as well. “Most visitors were decision makers in their organizations,” he said.

 

Gaining a lot of interest was A.B. Carter’s Mesdan yarn splicing and MesdanLab products. Both product groups offer significant quality benefits in yarn manufacturing, fabric formation and composite manufacturing applications, according to Wise.

 

Adaptive Control

 

Adaptive Control, a U.K.-based company with U.S. offices in Huntersville, N.C., saw a good cross-section of visitors to its booth, although visitors from manufacturing companies seemed down, according to Sales Director Tony Webber.

 

“We saw a few of our current clients who, when asked pre-show, had shown little interest in attending,” said Webber, who said the Atlanta location and the venue were perfect for this show. “There was a large presence of our clients, but they were all on the sales end of their businesses.”

 

Adaptive Control, which designs, builds and implements control systems and software solutions, has a dedicated team of software and process control engineers to cater to projects of all sizes and budgets, Webber said.

 

“Adaptive had the usual interest from people seeking to eliminate wasted time and really look at their process,” he said. “In today’s market, it is so important to do it ‘right the first time.’ Precise control, look-ahead processing and the ability to review the entire process is getting more and more important.”

 

Adaptive serves as an agent for Shelton Vision, and its product complements this concept, he said. The ability to inspect a piece of fabric, yarn or produced item and recording a complete digital image of this has become an area of great interest, he added. Shelton introduced its latest online weaving inspection and “got their costs to an acceptable level for multiple machines,” Webber noted.

 

“These woven fabrics are inspected right at the weave head and can detect faults immediately and actions can be taken immediately to prevent further faults from occurring,” he said.

 

Adaptive also highlighted its latest partnership with a company providing online/real-time color monitoring. This can look at fabrics side to side and over the entire length. “This allows a very unique approach in the industry that Adaptive Control has embraced – total, complete digital process control and the ability to review and record the entire process digitally,” Webber said.

 

This week, Meridian Specialty Yarn Group announced that it has purchased new monitoring and control systems for all of the new dyeing equipment from Adaptive Controls for its Valdese, N.C. plant.

 

Alvanon

 

At Texprocess Americas, Alvanon of New York, N.Y., had a team of experts in their booth demonstrating their capabilities as apparel industry consultancy.

 

According to company President Edward Gribbin, the company helps apparel clients grow sales and improve profitability by aligning their internal teams and strategic suppliers; engaging consumers; and implementing world-class innovations throughout their product development processes and supply chains.

 

Its team of apparel business and product development experts have worked with the world’s largest and most successful apparel organizations and amassed an unparalleled wealth of knowledge and expertise on people, processes and supply chain alignment; best practice product development; and customer engagement and retention, he added.

 

Alvanon was founded in 2001 when it developed a unique and innovative data-driven approach to solving the challenges of sizing and fit inherent in the apparel industry.  Since that time it has evolved into a global consulting firm. The company works with its clients across multiple apparel sectors in 89 countries.

 

Cold Jet

 

Cold Jet demonstrated its dry ice cleaning and surface prep technology.

 

Lint, glue and other buildup are common problems within the textile industry, a company representative said. With dry ice cleaning, buildup can be removed without disassembly or damage to the equipment.

 

Dry ice cleaning utilizes recycled CO₂ in the form of solid dry ice particles that are accelerated with compressed air through high velocity nozzles onto the surface being cleaned. The combination of the kinetic impact, thermal dynamics and gas expansion breaks the bond between the contaminant and the substrate, allowing the contaminant to be flushed away.

 

The dry ice particles sublimate on impact, disappearing as they transition from solid to gas, leaving no secondary waste. Conveyors and other equipment can be cleaned in place, with little or no disassembly, making it faster than traditional methods.

 

Daikin America, Inc.

 

A representative of Daikin America, Orangeburg, N.Y., part of the Japan-based Daikin Global, reported noticeably less traffic than the 2014 shows, which he attributed to the conflict with the IDEA16 nonwovens exhibition in Boston.

 

“But the visitors were of high quality, with most being from the Southeast,” said Thomas Poston, key account executive. “We saw many current customers and met potential others.”

 

Daikin has developed, manufactured and sold fluoropolymers and chemistry since 1924. In Atlanta, personnel discussed multiple repellent products and some stain release options, Poston said.

 

Genkinger-HUBTEX, Inc.

 

Markus Heinis, president of Genkinger-HUBTEX, Inc., Greer, S.C., called the shows “fair to good,” but added that the quality of visitors was “excellent.”

 

“We saw some prospects, customers and other suppliers we hardly see and could exchange with them our information, interests and views,” he said. “And this is the only show of this kind left in North America and therefore an excellent opportunity to present – a definite ‘must do’ occasion for us.”

 

Traffic seemed down from previous years, but the company generated the same amount of qualified leads, Heinis said. Noticeably, fewer visitors from Latin America were on hand this go ’round, he added.

 

Genkinger-HUBTEX exhibited a new warp/pattern hanging truck coming in from the factory for trial.

 

“It was good timing, because we had some interest for this kind of truck before the show, so we invited these interested parties to the show to see, touch and operate this kind of equipment and, yes, they came to check out the equipment.”

 

The company has exhibited at TTNA during the last four Atlanta cycles, Heinis noted.

 

“We can only speak for us, but we had in 2016 about 20 percent less traffic on our booth than in previous years,” he said. “That said, we will for sure participate again.”

 

Gerber Technology

 

Gerber Technology, a world leader in integrated software and automation solutions for the apparel and industrial markets, showcased its Digital Solution at Texprocess Americas.

 

Gerber representatives demonstrated each step of its Digital Solution to illustrate how companies can network their software and smart machines to form an end-to-end solution to help meet the workflow challenges of mass production and mass customization.

 

“Regardless, if you’re producing 10,000 shirts a day or personalizing jerseys for a sports team, the key to success is a digitized network that allows you to move information throughout your supply chain down to the equipment level and back,” said Mike Elia, CEO of Gerber Technology. “Integrating the flow of data and leveraging IoT (Internet of Things) technology provides companies with the valuable insight they need to remain agile and optimize their supply chain.”

 

The hub of Gerber’s Digital Solution is YuniquePLM® product lifecycle management software. Serving as a central repository of critical data, YuniquePLM eliminates problems companies often face when using multiple Excel® spreadsheets or tracking documents to communicate throughout the stages of product development and management.

 

YuniquePLM creates a single version of the truth, connecting a company’s creative process with their supply chain and production processes. YuniquePLM transfers data to AccuMark® and AccuPlan™, Gerber’s industry leading intelligent pattern design, grading, marker making and production planning software.

 

Jason Mills

 

A representative of Milltown, N.J.-based Jason Mills, a manufacturer of polyester and nylon knit mesh fabrics and textiles, said the company considers all trade shows to be good events, TTNA and TPA notwithstanding.

 

“Where else can an exhibitor get an audience of companies such as Nike and General Dynamics?” asked Brenda Stamboulian, director of Sales and Marketing. “I felt the show was not as well walked as it has been in the past, but again, it’s not the quantity of leads and visitors an exhibitor may get to their booth, it’s about the quality of them. While it may take some time to turn a lead into a loyal customer, staying present at these shows is what keeps us moving forward in the technical textile area.”

 

Regarding show visitors, she added that they have always been difficult to qualify/quantify, but Jason Mills did welcome guests from all over the U.S. and abroad.

 

“We exchanged samples and information, but in the end some of these leads may not come to fruition until a year later,” Stamboulian said.

 

Here are a few styles that Jason Mills recently researched and developed and highlighted in Atlanta:

 

• Style 413 – 100% polyester that is soft, fire resistant, water repellant and UV treated. This “No-See-Um” fabric protects against the penetration of baby ticks (nymphs), ticks and mosquitoes while still offering ventilation and breathability. This fabric is intended for tent windows/doors, sleeping bags and is also used in the apiary (beekeeping) industry as part of their protective clothing;

• Style 280LP – a unique, multi-layer material with liquid management capabilities and ultra high-load bearing qualities. This is used in the medical field in patient lift systems and many other medical applications;

• Style 260 – 100% polyester that is fire resistant and meets Federal Aviation Spec FAR25.853 12 Second Vertical Burn. This fabric is used in interior aeronautical applications.

 

Jason Mills was one of the most active companies using the new TTNA/TPA show app.

 

“I was impressed this year with the advances that Messe Frankfurt made for exhibitors as well as attendees,” Stamboulian said. “The implementation of their new app was a great step forward. The app was easy to set up and easy to work with. From the lead retrieval to the exhibitor listings to the constant updates, it was informative and very useful.”

 

Lang Ligon & Co.

 

The Atlanta shows were overall positive and about what Lang Ligon & Co. expected, according to company President Harrell Ligon.

 

“Though we could have been busier sometimes, the quality of visitor authority and the level of genuine interest in taking steps forward was great,” he said.

 

The 53-year-old, Greenville, S.C.-based company represents in the Western Hemisphere a number of family-owned European companies.

 

At the show, LGL feeders' innovative braking systems benefits were well appreciated, Ligon said. New changes in Ferber truck designs revitalized previous interest in some customers and the added exposure for Comsat warping was just what the company wanted, he reported.

 

Lectra

 

Lectra, a global advanced technology leader in digitizing the cutting room, demonstrated the scope of its solutions for fashion/apparel, automotive and furniture markets from design concept and pattern making to production and delivery.

 

Lectra is a world leader in integrated technology solutions (software, automated cutting equipment, and associated services) specifically designed for industries using fabrics, leather, technical textiles and composite materials to manufacture their products.

 

Lectra’s solutions, specific to each market, enable customers to automate and optimize product design, development and manufacturing. With more than 1,500 employees, Lectra has developed privileged relationships with prestigious customers in more than 100 countries, contributing to their operational excellence.

 

Headquartered in Smyrna, Ga., an Atlanta suburb, Lectra North America includes 129 employees in the U.S., Canada, Central America and Mexico.

 

North America is central to the company’s growth in 2016, according to company officials. With rising costs in China, North America is poised for growth in several industries, such as furniture and automotive. As the second largest fashion market in the world, the region has opportunities to expand this year. In addition, approximately 25 percent of Lectra’s contract revenues come from North America.

 

National Spinning Co.

 

Washington, N.C.-based National Spinning Co., exhibiting for the second time at Texprocess Americas as part of the USA Supply Chain Pavilion, said this was a better show than the last Atlanta edition.

 

“We had more traffic at our booth during this show than we did in 2014,” said Mitch Hensley, Technical Products business manager. “In addition, we had more new ideas discussed at this show.”

 

He added that National Spinning enjoyed a high level of quality visitors from all over the U.S., and several discussions about immediate business opportunities occurred.

 

“I was pleased with the show,” Hensley said. “We saw numerous customers and suppliers over the three-day period. “It is probably the best networking venue for the entire market that is available. There are other good networking events, too. This event had textile companies from every segment of the market and people from various geographic regions.”

 

National Spinning, founded in 1921, is best known as a yarn spinner and dyer, supplying yarn for apparel, home furnishings, consumer, protective and industrial uses. The company highlighted its dyeing capability, particularly for high-performance yarns.

 

“Most visitors were impressed with our proficiency in dyeing high-tenacity yarns, aramid yarns and the offerings of moisture management-dyed yarns,” Hensley said. “In addition, we were showing customers the ability of National Spinning to produce high-end yarns with highly specialized blends to fit whatever performance characteristic is desired.”

 

Navis TubeTex

 

TTNA offered Navis TubeTex of Lexington, N.C., an opportunity to showcase in the U.S. its Marshal & Williams (M&W) brand, a longtime name in the textile machinery market, according to David Russell, PE, director of the M&W Stenter Business unit.

 

“We had people who had known M&W before express some interest that we were still in business,” he said. “We also had conversations with people who had lost sight of who we were through M&W activity, meaning they purchased a company that included one of our older machines but didn’t know who to contact.”

 

Marshall & Williams manufactures tenter frames (stenters), mercerizers, hot-flue ovens and pre-dryers.

 

Navis TubeTex, which manufactures in the U.S. finishing machinery for the global industry, didn’t see many people who weren’t “serious” visitors, mostly management, technical folks and buyers, Russell said.

 

“We wouldn’t rave but for expense it was OK,” he said. “It’s very unfortunate that it coincided with another show. We match well with the technically oriented producers and I am sure some were in Boston (at IDEA16). Our location was good, but I heard complaints from people in back areas. We had a few visitors who were not heading to our booth as a destination but stopped by because they were on the way somewhere and saw our name.”

 

Russell added: “We liked having our customers at the show. It gave us a networking opportunity with people who may not have attended otherwise.”

 

Olbo & Mehler

 

Olbo & Mehler presented a textile production technique made with RFL-treated basalt, allowing for the operation in temperatures up to 700°C (1346 °F) and at the same time has high-resistance to chemicals, the company said. This customized technique earned the Inova Textil award in the category Fabrics in 2015.

 

The company participated in TTNA as part of its strategy to invest in the U.S. market, through which it said it expects to increase its market share.

 

"After a deep study of north American market, we decided to focus our marketing strategy in three main market segments: mobiltech, indutech and buildtech,” said Alberto Tavares, CEO of Olbo & Mehler. “We believe that these segments should grow between 4 percent and 5 percent per year in the next three to five years and we are aligned with our business strategy.”

 

The company was established in Germany in 1930 and is now based near Portugal.

 

PA Group

 

A representative of software provider PA Group USA, Chattanooga, Tenn., had nothing but good things to say about the shows.

 

“This was my third Texprocess Americas/Techtextil North America as the marketing director of PA Group, and I have to say it was the best experience we’ve had so far – and the others were all very good,” said Josh Davis. “It seemed like some of the larger exhibitors had smaller footprints than in years past, but there were definitely more exhibitors, which made up for it.”

 

Davis noted that the booth had great traffic and higher-quality visitors than at previous shows.

 

“Software isn’t one of the main categories at these shows, and many attendees aren’t in the mindset to learn about software systems,” he said. “But this year was very different. We had great conversations with a lot of people who are directly involved in evaluating software for their companies, and we have already started the process of doing onsite visits and discovery meetings with several of the people we met.”

 

PA Group has three major software practice areas – ERP, CRM and Manufacturing Execution Systems. These systems can be deployed independently, they can work together or they can be integrated with other software platforms, Davis said.

 

“We are doing some amazing things with our Machine Monitoring system, and the fact that we have apparel and textile industry-specific solutions that are certified for a major software platform like Microsoft Dynamics really puts us in a unique position in the industry.”

 

SDL Atlas

 

In Atlanta, SDL Atlas of Rock Hill, S.C., presented its latest instrument, the Vortex M6 washing machine.

 

This is the only commercial washer machine currently on the market that meets the AATCC monographs, according to Martin Jansen, sales director. “The huge interest in this product during the show and beyond led to a waiting list for this washer,” he said.

 

Techtextil North America remains a strong show and a good opportunity for SDL Atlas to promote its products, Jansen added.

 

“It was a very lively show with a good representation of our target audience,” he said. “There was a lot of traffic at the booth. Many old customers came to see us, as well as some promising new potential customers.”

 

SYMTECH, Inc.

 

For a few of SYMTECH’s suppliers, Techtextil North America was better than two years ago, according to Erwin Holbein, president of the Spartanburg, S.C.-based distributor of major textile machinery and equipment.

 

But in general, the show seemed slower than the 2014 edition in Atlanta, probably due to the timing of the IDEA16 nonwovens show taking place in Boston the same week, he added.

 

“There are no regrets to be present,” Holbein said. “It was a good opportunity to see a lot of customers.”

 

SYMTECH represents many different products and the show result was different for each of them, he noted.

 

“Some of our suppliers had a good volume of visitors, with some very interesting prospects,” Holbein said. “For the majority of our products, it was a good opportunity to network and see current customers – mostly following up on ongoing projects and issues.”

 

Gaining interest in particular was a heavy-duty winder from SSM, the new DURO model, he added. “We were satisfied with the interest and visits and look forward to some good opportunities,” he said.

 

Not only does SYMTECH sell textile machinery, but it also assumes full responsibility for installation, warranty, repairs and field service, and carries a full line of spare parts. Unlike most agencies that only sell the machinery while the remaining services are provided from overseas or from a subsidiary in the U.S. SYMTECH provides customers with a partner who offers support and assistance long after the sale is made, Holbein said.