New dye to lower textile production costs

Kenyan textile manufacturers, who had been relying on imported dyes so far, can look forward to substantially lower their operational costs by using a newly invented natural dye.

The textile industry in Kenya, which is striving to survive in the face of increased imports of second-hand clothes, can now expect a revamp, according to Prof. Richard Mibey, the principal researcher and Vice Chancellor of Moi University.

The research was carried out by Prof. Mibey, along with Dr. David Tuigon, Managing Director of Rivatex East Africa Textile Mills, and Billy Makumba of Moi University.

In 2007, Moi University acquired Rivatex East Africa after studying it for nine years as a basket case. The University launched many projects to boost the cotton industry as well as to provide better raw material for the Rivatex manufacturing unit.

Moi University also collaborated with Alexandria University of Egypt to help Kenyan farmers boost their cotton output.

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Nike partners with Dutch firm on waterless fabric dyeing

NIKE Inc announced it has entered into a strategic partnership with DyeCoo Textile Systems B.V., a Netherlands-based company that has developed and built the first commercially available waterless textile dyeing machines. By using recycled carbon dioxide, DyeCoo’s technology eliminates the use of water in the textile dyeing process. The name “DyeCoo” was inspired by the process of “dyeing” with “CO2.”

The partnership is illustrative of NIKE Inc’s long-term commitment to designing and developing the most superior athletic performance products for athletes and its overall sustainable business and innovation strategy.

"Waterless dyeing is a significant step in our journey to serve both the athlete and the planet, and this partnership reinforces Nike’s long-term strategy and deep commitment to innovation and sustainability," says Eric Sprunk, Nike’s Vice President of Merchandising and Product.

"We believe this technology has the potential to revolutionize textile manufacturing, and we want to collaborate with progressive dye houses, textile manufacturers and consumer apparel brands to scale this technology and push it throughout the industry."

Nike has been exploring this technology for the past eight years and expects to showcase cutting edge apparel using textiles dyed without water at events later this year, with an eye towards scaling the technology for larger production volumes. '

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DyStar joins Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC)

DyStar is pleased to announce that it has joined the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC), the collaborative venture established in 2011 by leading apparel retailers, suppliers and manufacturers with participation from academics and NGOs. The main objective of the SAC is to develop an Apparel Index which takes a full life-cycle view of an apparel product and identifies all major social and environmental impacts along the production chain from cradle to grave.

Dyes and chemicals are a key area of interest for the SAC as not only do they add significant value to the apparel in terms of color and performance but they can also have a major environmental impact at the wet processing stage of fabric production.

DyStar is the leading global supplier of dyes and chemicals to the textile industry and not only has a long history of action to reduce the environmental impact of the supply chain but also recently issued its first corporate Sustainability Report prepared according to GRI principles.

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Highly qualified presentations at ETAD-IOC seminar

The Ecological and Toxicological Association of Dyes and Organic Pigments Manufacturers (ETAD) based in Basel, Switzerland along with Indian Operating Committee (IOC) with its office in Vadodara, Gujarat recently organized a seminar titled “Ecological and Toxicological Aspects of Colorants – Current Implications, India and Global” on 24th January 2012 at The Mayfair Banquets, Mumbai India.

This is the second such seminar ETAD organized in India, encouraged by the response from the first one in 2009. ETAD consists of the leading pigment and dye manufacturing companies from all across the world.

This seminar was preceded by the 97th ETAD Board meeting which was held in India for the first time under the new President of the Board Mr Ravi Kapoor who is also the Managing Director of Heubach India. Board members from DNS Japan, BASF, Dystar from Germany, Huntsman from Switzerland were present at the seminar. The seminar was attended by more than eighty delegates from the leading Paint, Textile, Ink, Plastics, Pigment and Dyes industry of India.

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Burlington Worldwide Chooses Agion Active to Deliver Next Generation Odor Control to High Performance Fabrics

Sciessent, makers of the Agion Active brand of odor elimination technology announces its partnership with Burlington Worldwide, global textile leader to offer the Agion Active branded finish on new high performance fabric. The odor control performance feature will be incorporated into many of Burlington’s fabric lines for activewear and specialty sports brands.

The Burlington fabrics featuring Agion Active deliver a level of social confidence that can only come with unparalleled, long lasting freshness. Agion Active is a dual-action technology that not only provides antimicrobial product protection and industrial-strength odor elimination but also eliminates odors on and around the fabric. An antimicrobial technology based on elemental ions controls odor-causing bacteria on the fabric while a natural, proprietary odor-trapping solution captures molecules from ambient odors. Agion Active is designed to perform for the life of the garment, regenerating in each wash cycle.

“At Burlington Labs, we discover and promote new technologies in order to provide our customers with a continuous stream of differentiated, performance products,” said Bill DiIanni, director of research and development. “When we saw the quantifiable performance of Agion Active, we knew it would do just that.”

“We are proud to be working with Burlington, one of the most respected textile manufacturers in the world,” said Paul Ford, chief executive officer of Sciessent. “We are looking forward to a successful partnership that will continue to pioneer the latest in apparel options for leading brands.”
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2012 Texprocess Americas to address most pressing issues

2012 Texprocess Americas Symposium developed by leading industry experts to address the most pressing issues. The latest in product development, technology, and international trade updates for the sewn products industry will be presented by industry experts and leaders.

from around the world during the 2012 Texprocess Americas Symposium being held April 24 - 26, 2012 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia.

Held concurrently with the exhibition, the symposium will contain nine sessions with more than 42 presentations in a variety of formats that will cover a wide range of topics including sourcing to the European market, sourcing in the Americas, global market outlook, manufacturing technology and international trade updates.

Sourcing to the European Market
Recent European free trade agreements offer new opportunities for both regional sourcing and by extension, apparel brand marketing on a duty-free basis. Learn how sourcing in Central America, Mexico, Colombia and Peru can position U.S. Brands in the European market more competitively.
Sourcing in the Americas
Spiraling Asian labor costs, global raw material and energy costs, faster fashion and leaner retail inventory demands are driving reemergence of regional sourcing throughout the Americas. Don’t miss this dynamic panel of experts sharing their thoughts and strategies on the new sourcing landscape.

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Seminar on Ecological and Toxicological aspects of Colorants

The Ecological and Toxicological Association of Dyes and Organic Pigments Manufacturers (ETAD) based in Basel, Switzerland along with Indian Operating Committee (IOC) with its office in Vadodara, Gujarat is organizing a seminar titled “Ecological and Toxicological Aspects of Colorants – Current Implications, India and Global” on 24th January 2012 at The Mayfair Banquets, Worli, Mumbai from 1000 hrs to 1700 hrs.

This is the second such seminar ETAD is organizing, encouraged by the response from the first one in 2009. This seminar coincides with the first Board Meeting of ETAD that will be held in Mumbai.

The seminar will principally address the topics like REACh, Sunstainability, Waste Management , Responsible Care, GHS, Nanopigments etc. The Keynote address on “The Indian Specialty Chemical Industry – Focus on Colourants” will be delivered by Mr. Ravi Kapoor, President ETAD. He was elected as President ETAD in May 2011 and is the first Asian to hold this post in a growing awareness of the importance of India and Asia in the field of colourants.

Presentations will also be made by international and national experts from industry and Government like Dr. Clemens Grund from Dystar, Dr. Dileep Wakanker from Clariant, Dr. (Mrs.) Vijay Malik from BIS, Dr. Bernd Hochstein from BASF, Dr. Peter Scheibli from Huntsman (Switzerland), Mr. Reynold D’Souza from Sakata Inx, Mr. K. P. Nyati, CEO - SMI and Dr. M. U. Rahman from Atul Limited. The experts will address delegates from Paint, Textile, Ink, Plastics and Dyes industry.

The Indian Dyes and Pigments industry which is at present a $3.5 bn industry has the potential to become a $10-15 bn industry by 2020. India itself is a huge consumer and will continue to grow at an aggressive rate.

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Jay Chemical Industries Ltd has launched digital textile printing inks

Jay Chemical Industries Ltd (JCIL), one of the largest reactive dyes producers in the world and a market leader in the Indian market, has launched digital textile printing inks in the Indian market.

The digital textile printing ink – ‘Antelos’ was launched at the recently concluded Asia Interdye Exhibition in Ahmedabad. This was followed by seminars in Ahmedabad and Surat, which were well-attended by eminent experts from the industry.

Jay Chemical which has a strong international presence and an annual sales turnover of US $75 million sells its products under the names of Jakofix and Jakazol.

At the beginning of 2010, Jay Chemical set up a wholly owned subsidiary in Germany in the name of Solunaris GmbH, to manufacture and market digital textile printing inks.

Today, Solunaris GmbH successfully produces and markets ‘Antelos R’ reactive inks for digital printing on cotton, viscose, linen and silk and ‘Antelos A’ acid inks for digital printing on silk, polyamide and wool.
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Web-based application for the chemicals,dyestuffs and auxiliaries

The bluesign bluetool is a web-based application for the evaluation and of chemicals, dyestuffs and auxiliaries based on consumer safety and environmental criteria according to the bluesign standard substances list (BSSL).

The bluesign bluefinder allows manufacturers of textiles and accessories to online search bluesign approved chemical products.

The bluesign bluefinder is the most comprehensive and sophisticated positive list for safe chemicals, dyestuffs and auxiliaries for the textile industry.

These two unique online applications are patented now in order to permanently secure development of the bluesign system.

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MONSANTO and BASF announce project advancements in annual collaboration pipeline update

A diverse group of projects across research and development (R&D) platforms aimed at making agriculture more productive and profitable for farmers, and more sustainable for our planet, were reported during Monsanto Company’s annual pipeline update.

Biotechnology Platform
Within its Biotechnology Platform, Monsanto highlighted two projects in its yield and stress collaboration with BASF Plant Science. One of the Yield and stress projects in an advanced phase this year is Drought-Tolerant Cotton.

Drought-Tolerant Cotton
The drought-tolerant cotton trait is designed to deliver improved water use in cotton by providing yield stability in environments experiencing occasional or consistent water stress. The trait also has the potential to reduce water needs on irrigated acres. This is the first generation project in a family of drought-tolerant traits for cotton.

Agronomic Solutions Platform
Monsanto spotlighted several advancements in its agronomic solutions platform. In this field, Monsanto collaborates with BASF’s Crop Protection division to develop improved dicamba formulations.

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Kiri to raise Rs 3 billion to retire high cost debt

Kiri Industries Ltd has informed that a Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company will be held on January 09, 2012, to consider and approve alongwith other business to raise fund upto Rs. 300.00 crores by way of QIPs/FCCBs/GDRs/Preferential Allotment of Equity or domestic convertible bonds and/or non-convertible debentures with warrants.

For the purpose of reducing the cost of funds of the Company by replacing higher cost debt with lower cost funds, and to strengthen capital base of Company and for general corporate purposes.

Kiri Industries Limited (KIL), fully integrated manufacturer of Dyes, Intermediates and Chemicals has embedded the culture of enhancing life with the chemistry of colours in KIRI family.

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Scarce local inputs trouble Indonesian batik weavers

Indonesia’s traditional batik weavers are finding it difficult to obtain locally made inputs like textile yarns and colouring agents, which is forcing the majority of the textile producers to use chemical colouring agents, in spite of being aware that these are toxic and even harmful to the environment.

During a discussion on Indonesian cultural heritage, Irma Hutabarat, Chairwoman of Miyara Sumatera Foundation, said in spite of batik textiles forming a part of the country’s cultural heritage, not many people are keen on using local textiles.

Ms. Irma said there are some specific kind of batik textiles that are believed to be valuable and such rare pieces representing cultural legacy and art need to be preserved.

Making a mention of Ulos sibolang, she said, the blue-coloured traditional woven fabric hailing from the ethnic of Batak in North Sumatra is now becoming extinct. The fabric has an important place in the life of Batak communities as people of these communities wear it during traditional ceremonies to commemorate the joy of life, she added.

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