Technology Press Releases
Visual 2000 Partners with Skerpa Design to Raise the Bar for Footwear PLM
Montreal, QC CANADA - Visual 2000 International Inc. is partnering with noted footwear design and development consultants Skerpa Design to create a next-generation product lifecycle management (PLM) solution for the footwear industry. The new footwear-specific PLM is based on Visual 2000’s VisualPLM.net®, a comprehensive PLM solution proven in the fashion and softgoods industries. To be released this month, the new footwear edition promises to provide footwear retailers, brands, and manufacturers with a robust, best-fit solution for managing their merchandising, design, product development, pre-production, and sourcing processes.
Built around a team of international and multidisciplinary specialists, Skerpa Design specializes in design and development of footwear for sporting and outdoor markets. The company’s clients include Aldo, CCM Sports, Kamik, Salomon, and TSL Outdoor.
“We enjoy the opportunity to work with Visual 2000 to align their PLM solution to the specific requirements of the footwear business”, noted Skerpa Design Founder and President Daniel Thibault. “With PLM quickly becoming a requirement in this competitive and fast-paced industry, we applaud Visual 2000 for their focus on footwear and their initiative to custom-fit PLM to this important industry.”
8/16/10
Eton Systems Names Freedman Regional Manager for the Americas
ALPHARETTA, GA and GÅNGHESTER, SWEDEN – Eton Systems, a world leading provider of unit production systems (UPS) for the apparel and other light-manufacturing industries, announces the expanded role of Gary Freedman to Regional Manager for the Americas. A 30-year veteran of the UPS market, Freedman has served Eton in a variety of positions for eight years and managed sales in Latin America for the past four. The move comes in response to the continued growth and opportunity the company is experiencing in the western hemisphere.
“We are pleased to gain the expertise and leadership that Gary brings to our efforts in North America,” noted Per Bringle, vice president of Eton Systems Inc. “With three decades of experience in sewn products manufacturing and unit production, he is among the most valuable UPS resources in the market. We look forward to working with him to accelerate growth and discover new opportunities in the region.”
8/10/10
Lectra Extends its Leather Offer with the New PLF and PLH Ranges
Paris – Lectra, a world leader in integrated technology solutions dedicated to industries using soft materials—textiles, leather, industrial fabrics and composite materials—, today announced the launch of two new leather cutting ranges: the PLH, specially designed for the leather goods and technical footwear markets, and the PLF, available in two versions—PLF Auto and PLF Furniture. The results of major investments in R&D, these two new cutter ranges expand Lectra’s leather offer. Specially designed for small-run production, the PLF and PLH ranges benefit from know-how developed by Lectra for its high-end systems.
The PLF and PLH ranges give manufacturers who need to cut leather a unique advantage over the rest of the market. These solutions boast the largest usable leather-cutting area, for all types of hide, measuring 3m by 3.2m on the PLF and 3m by 1.3m on the PLH. This ability to handle and process the largest usable area on whole hides (or half-hides) in one go, combined with powerful software based on sophisticated algorithms, enables operators to achieve optimal nesting efficiency and gives manufacturers a particular competitive advantage in terms of optimizing materials. At mid-range prices, savings can reach €100,000 per year, using either the PLF or the PLH.
Other sources of savings can be found in the simplified and optimized use of the solutions by teams in charge of their management. Particular care was taken with ergonomics in order to make the PLF and PLH cutters as simple to use as possible, even for operators with little training. The fact that the solutions are quick and easy to learn is particularly valuable, especially in emerging countries and countries with high team turnover. In other countries, it allows operators to make better use of their skills by enabling them to focus more on added-value activities.
The PLF and PLH ranges also incorporate production log and data management functions, which record the characteristics of hides used as cutting proceeds. Operators therefore have a log of data entered automatically when the hide was scanned. The data log relates to the hide’s surface area, leather quality, the number of flaws detected, nesting choices made, hide consumption per model, etc. This valuable information makes it easier to make an objective comparison of hides delivered by suppliers and improve quality control for raw materials purchased.
8/5/10
OptiTex Creates Open Platform Wiki as Help Resource for Users Online
Petach-Tikva, Israel - 2D/3D CAD/CAM Software Company OptiTex has another service for the OptiTex fan base. OptiTexHelp is a comprehensive Wiki business website allowing those interested in OptiTex solutions unlimited access to the OptiTex knowledge base, and technical information regarding OptiTex products and services.
OptiTexHelp offers CAD users and OptiTex customers the experience of cutting edge technologies in a unique approach with a 100% satisfaction rate. Customers can visit the OptiTexHelp free of charge at help.optitex.com to access a broad spectrum of information regarding OptiTex products and function.
“Such access to OptiTex is unprecedented in our field. Our decision to make company and product information available to the public has enabled users to make the right decisions when it comes to the OptiTex brand and the world of advanced CAD in general.” Says Ran Machtinger, CEO of OptiTex Ltd. “Since the website’s launch; OptiTex fans have viewed the website almost a million times.”
The successful addition of OptiTexHelp as another customer friendly service is followed by OptiTex Web Services, an even newer website offering online access to OptiTex and features known products such as the automated Nesting Service using exclusive Marker Making and Nesting algorithm software to generate high-speed nested layouts that minimize fabric waste.
8/4/10
¿Qué Talla es México? A Sizing Study of the Population of Mexico
Mexico City and Cary, NC USA: Cámara Nacional de la Industria de la Industria del Vestido (CNIV), the Mexican Apparel Industry Association, along with [TC]² is launching a sizing study of the Mexican population in early August.
Using [TC]²’s NX-16 3D body scanners, the study will target 16,000 individuals ages 18 to 65+ in four areas of the country – North, Central, Bajío (Guadalajara area), and the Southeast. Twelve cities are potential scan sites to attract a cross-section of the population. Each person will be scanned and will complete a demographic questionnaire that will address questions such as marital status, education levels, lifestyle definitions, and shopping preferences.
The survey has been reviewed with the Instituto Nácional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI), which is the Mexican government office in charge of statistics concerning populations, census, agriculture, manufacturing and many other industries. The site locations and number of subjects has been determined through consultation with INEGI to result in a valid representation of the population. The project also has the support of the Economic Ministry of Mexico.
No similar study has been conducted in Mexico, and with the information that will be derived from the survey, brands and manufacturers will be able to design and produce apparel that will fit a broader segment of the population.
[TC]² is working closely with CNIV to plan and conduct the sizing survey. Sponsors and scan sites are currently being sought. For more information, contact acastro@cniv.org.mx.
7/2/10
Improving Fiber ID—AATCC Releases Textile Fiber Supplement
Research Triangle Park, N.C., USA—AATCC's Textile Fiber Supplement provides new tools and reference data for fiber identification. The Supplement is a companion document to AATCC Test Methods 20 (Fiber Identification: Qualitative) and 20A (Fiber Identification: Quantitative). These methods are recognized around the world and are particularly valued for their longitudinal and cross-sectional reference images of more than 60 fiber types.
The supplement adds color, polarized, first-order red plate micrographs; Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) curves; and other resources to aid in identifying both common and novelty fibers.
Fiber sources for the reference material in the Fiber Identification Supplement include standardized and readily-available multifiber fabrics. This means labs can easily check their results against the Supplement data, using the same fibers.
Based on data from the ongoing AATCC Fiber Identification and Analysis Proficiency Program (www.aatcc.org/programs/prof), the Supplement provides a table of interlab variations for quantitative analysis of various fiber blends
6/29/10
TRICOR Systems Model 600 Non-Contact Imaging Color Spectrophotometer
Elgin IL – TRICOR Systems, Inc.’s Model 600 is a true non-contact imaging spectrophotometer that is capable of measuring reflective, transmissive and emissive color over large areas from 380nm to 780nm at one time. It is ideal for measuring and ensuring the correct color of any product or graphic. Users now have a means to evaluate, track and correct the color of their final products thus eliminating the subjectivity of visual assessments or spot inspections.
The Model 600 is also ideal for measuring graphics of packaging, prints, fine art, textiles, flooring, wall treatments, illuminated displays, backlit panels, projection systems, overlays, foods, pharmaceuticals, powders, liquids, plastics, paints, coatings, inks, etc. No longer is there a need to rely on color bars, sample plaques and swatches when you can measure the actual image/product. With TRICOR's auto aligning software, comparison of identical sample patterns to a standard image can be accomplished in seconds.
The Model 600 is the ideal quality control instrument for any industry where color is critical because of its ability to make a non-contact measurement of color over a large area. This unique color spectrometer will prove to be an essential tool for the quality oriented manufacturer.
6/24/10
VisualPLM.net® Receives Usability, Change Management, and Data Migration Updates
Montreal, QC CANADA and New York, NY USA -- Visual 2000 International Inc. announces the release of version 3.10 of its popular VisualPLM.net®) product lifecycle management software for fashion and softgoods retailers, brands, manufacturers, and suppliers. The new release builds on the already functionally complete PLM solution by adding advanced change management capabilities designed to save time and increase productivity for merchandising and product development teams as well as their vendor partners. The updated software also gets improved data migration tools that facilitate the import of large amounts of product information from spreadsheets, PDM, and other legacy systems. Other notable improvements include greater user control for managing the display of information in the system and integration of the Crystal Reports® Engine within VisualPLM.net.
Visual PLM.net provides retailers, brands, and their supply chain partners with a configurable, out-of-the-box software solution for managing all product information and images, colors and raw materials, merchandise and line plans, size and technical specifications, sampling and costing, time and action calendars, and other critical business assets and processes. By making this always-up-to-date information readily accessible to all, Visual PLM.net improves team and partner collaboration, increases process visibility, reduces product costs, and streamlines the entire concept-to-delivery business process.
5/5/10
Oeko-Tex® to Offer Textile Safety Webinar Series
Greensboro, NC - The International Oeko-Tex Association has announced the creation of a free webinar series entitled “Oeko-Tex® Connects” that will provide textile, apparel, and retail executives with critical information on textile safety, testing, and global regulations. The seminars will be presented by textile scientists with specific expertise in each particular topic.
The first installment of Oeko-Tex’s webinar series is scheduled for May 5, 2010 at 12:00 noon EST and will focus on the recent enhancements to the global Oeko-Tex® Restricted Substances List (RSL) and to the Oeko-Tex® Standard 100 Certification which ensures that textiles are tested to be free from dangerous levels of more than one hundred substances believed to be harmful to human health.
The webinars are offered free of charge to textile, apparel, and retail personnel as well as to members of the media. For more information, contact Dina Dunn at 336-471-5584 or dina@blinkready.com.
3/26/10
Gerber Technology Expands Educational Alliance with FIT
Tolland, Conn., USA –Gerber Technology, a business unit of Gerber Scientific, Inc. and a world leader in automated CAD/CAM and PLM solutions for the apparel and flexible materials industry, is helping the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) to both expand and upgrade the college’s software tools to ensure its students are best prepared for careers in fashion. The expanded relationship with FIT is part of Gerber Technology’s ongoing educational alliance program that reflects its commitment to help expose students to the latest technology by providing software and hardware solutions that meet the rapidly changing needs of the apparel industry.
With Gerber Technology’s underwriting assistance, FIT is increasing the number of AccuMark seats by 67% and upgrading to version 8.4. With nearly 50,000 installations worldwide, AccuMark has long been the industry’s leading software for pattern design, grading, and marker generation. Launched in February 2010, AccuMark 8.4 provides users with enhanced capabilities to work more efficiently and with great accuracy across geographic borders and language barriers.
In addition to instructing its students on AccuMark, FIT leverages many other Gerber Technology solutions, including the GTxL GERBERcutter®, the XLs125 GERBERspreader™, the Silhouette™ Drafting Table, the Infinity™ Plotter and webPDM™.
Gerber Technology’s Educational Alliance Program works with more than 1,000 educational institutions across 82 countries worldwide to help them provide hands-on experience to integrate Gerber’s latest software and hardware technology into their curriculum.
3/23/10
RFID Wizard For EASYLABEL® Labeling Software
Brunswick, OH -- EASYLABEL®’s RFID Wizard allows the easy creation of EPC (Electronic Product Code) and DoD (Department of Defense) smart labels. The RFID Wizard prompts for necessary information and EASYLABEL will do the rest. RFID projects that do not require the EPC or DoD RFID code can use EASYLABEL to directly program HF (High Frequency) or UHF (Ultra High Frequency) smart labels in a hexadecimal or ASCII format.
With EASYLABEL, there is an option to import parts or all of RFID data from sources such as: databases, serial files, user input, existing bar code or text fields, and external text files. RFID data, encoded in the RFID tags, may also be printed on smart labels as a text or bar code field.
An additional EASYLABEL RFID feature is the ability to write and print a report that includes the data used to program your printed smart labels. This report can then be used as part of an ASN (Advanced Shipping Notice) or to keep a record of labeled items.
3/5/10
INVISTA’S CORDURA® Brand Team Unveils New ‘Hard Working Comfort ‘ Denim Fabric
Wichita, Kan. – INVISTA’s CORDURA® brand team announces a new line of CORDURA® Denim fabrics that offer improved durability and comfort. Based on an 88/12 intimate blend of INVISTA’s T420 Nylon 6,6 fiber and cotton the Hard Working Comfort CORDURA® Denim fabric was created for use in full garments.
“Anyone who is looking for denim that lasts should be particularly interested in the new CORDURA® Denim fabric,” said Susannah Rayfield, EU regional CORDURA® brand manager. “The fabric offers our brand’s renowned long-lasting durability without compromising the authentic look and feel of traditional denim.”
CORDURA® Denim fabrics and garments will be available from Artistic Milliner. INVISTA’s CORDURA® brand team and Artistic Milliner worked together to optimize the performance characteristics of this exciting new fabric.
3/4/10
Gerber Technology Upgrades webPDM™
Tolland, Conn., USA – Gerber Technology, a business unit of Gerber Scientific, Inc. and a world leader in automated CAD/CAM and PLM solutions for the apparel and flexible materials industry, announces the release of webPDM version 6.1. This newest release of webPDM provides highly visual and intuitive user interface (UI) features used to manipulate, display and analyze data and is available as a free download for customers with software subscription contracts.
webPDM is an industry standard Product Data Management (PDM) application used by more than 1,000 brands, retailers, manufacturers and educational institutions globally. In line with Gerber Technology’s recent PLM acquisition and its commitment to protect and extend its customers’ investments, the webPDM product will continue to receive enhancements, maintenance and support.
webPDM 6.1 also features an attractive and intuitive online help capability that includes content, index and search capabilities to make locating information fast and easy. The online help provides users with self-service help on-demand and reduces companies’ internal support demands. In addition, the online help feature can be customized and made accessible through a company’s own specified URL.
2/9/10
SPESA EXPO 2010 to Highlight “Supply Chain of the Americas”
Raleigh, North Carolina (USA) - The Sewn Products Equipment & Suppliers of the
Americas (SPESA) has expanded its May 18-20, 2010 SPESA EXPO event in Atlanta, Georgia through the addition of a special “Supply Chain of the Americas” exhibit that will highlight the unique opportunities and wide-ranging resources available to sewn products manufacturers, brand marketers, and vertical retailers in the region. Comprising textiles and components, design and development services, production and logistics providers, country and industry association pavilions and more, the new exhibit will complement what is already the largest and most comprehensive exhibition of sewn products equipment, technology, and education in the Western Hemisphere. Supply Chain of the Americas will expand the event’s coverage to the entire concept-to-delivery sewn products lifecycle and provide value to design, development, engineering, sourcing, production, logistics, distribution and other industry professionals.
The new exhibit is also expected to attract a significantly broader audience to the triennial event, which has historically focused primarily on equipment and machinery exhibits. “Interest in producing in close proximity to the U.S. market is growing,” noted SPESA managing director Dave Gardner. “By expanding the scope of SPESA EXPO, we are working to fill the need that sewn products manufacturers, brands, and retailers have to better understand the opportunities and identify the resources available to them in the Western Hemisphere. We believe
that, as the largest sewn products technology and educational event in the region, SPESA EXPO is the perfect venue to bring together the complete range of products, services, and resources available to companies that consider the Americas as part of their supply chain strategy.”
For the first time ever at SPESA EXPO, the Supply Chain of the Americas exhibit will welcome the full range of product and service resources that serve sewn products manufacturers, brands, and retailers; including fabrics and textiles, trims and components, textile and screen printing, trend and design, product development and engineering, CAD/CAM, spreading and cutting, contract and package providers, laundry and garment dying, logistics and distribution, product identification and labeling, testing and compliance, sourcing and supply chain, fit and
sizing, consulting and education, and other related products and services.
SPESA EXPO will also co-locate with Techtextil North America and ATME-I/Megatex to form the first-ever Textile and Sewn Products Industry Week in Atlanta, Georgia on May 18-20, 2010.
2/5/10
SPESA EXPO 2010 Attendee Registration Opens Online
Raleigh, North Carolina (USA) – SPESA – The Sewn Products Equipment & Suppliers of the Americas (SPESA) is pleased to announce that free attendee registration for SPESA EXPO 2010 is now available online at http://www.spesaexpo.com. Executives and professionals from every business segment and functional department of the diverse fashion and sewn products industry can now register to attend the world’s largest and most comprehensive industry event of 2010 to be held on May 18-20 in Atlanta, Georgia (USA). As an integral part of Textile and Sewn Products Industry Week, SPESA EXPO attendees will need to register only once to gain entrance to all three co-located trade events, including Techtextil North America and ATME-I/Megatex.
In addition to show registration, the newly launched registration site also enables registrants to purchase discounted advance registration in the thirty industry issue workshops and seminars offered in the SPESA EXPO Forum. Other valuable tools available to attendees at the site include event schedules, local hotel information, business visa information and invitation letters for international travelers, and other important event and local area information.
“The SPESA EXPO registration site has been redesigned to make registering for the 2010 event easier while providing more information than ever before,” noted SPESA President Benton Gardner. “By registering in advance, attendees can also save money through discounts and package pricing on our comprehensive educational programs. Of course, the fact that a single badge gives attendees access to three major industry events is the ultimate convenience.”
2/2/10
Gerber Technology Releases AccuMark® Version 8.4
Tolland, Conn., USA – Gerber Technology, a business unit of Gerber Scientific, Inc. and a world leader in automated CAD/CAM and PLM solutions for the apparel and flexible materials industry, releases AccuMark version 8.4. In line with the company’s commitment to meet the rapidly changing needs of its customers, the enhancements to this industry-leading software focus on enabling users to work with improved efficiency and accuracy.
“Enhanced communication improves efficiency and reduces errors,” said Bill Brewster, VP of Gerber Technology and head of the Gerber Software Systems Group. “In order to make our AccuMark user experience easier and more efficient, we improved the integration between AccuMark and other applications, as well as provided several new tools to support collaboration.”
A key feature to AccuMark 8.4 focuses on the customers’ need for collaboration regardless of location or native language. Clearly communicating product specifications is critical to ensuring quality and on-time delivery. Language barriers in a global environment are a common cause of errors in product development, which in turn causes costly production delays. Gerber Technology has incorporated a translation library into AccuMark 8.4, which enables users to create notes on piece and marker data in one language and deliver it in another.
Enhancements to AccuMark 8.4’s Pattern Design Software (PDS) component improve productivity and reduce the risk of error. Users can now directly reference measurement specifications when making pattern changes and the addition of a calculator enables quick calculations while editing pieces. In addition, Gerber Technology has introduced support for customers wanting to expand their business into new geographic markets. The Pattern Wizard feature offers the ability to generate patterns simultaneously to different body and fit specifications for different geographic markets.
2/2/10
Lectra and X-Rite/Pantone Sign Partnership Agreement to Deliver Integrated Color Technology for Enhanced Design Workflow and Seamless Color Communication
Paris – Lectra, a world leader in integrated technology solutions dedicated to industries using soft materials—textiles, leather, industrial fabrics and composite materials—, is pleased to announce the signature of a new partnership agreement with X-Rite, the world leader in color management, measurement and communication technologies.
X-Rite, and its subsidiary Pantone, develop, manufacture, market and support innovative color solutions through measurement systems, software, color standards and services. They have extensive expertise in inspiring, selecting, measuring, formulating, communicating and matching color, which translates to better quality and reduced costs for users in a range of industries.
Lectra and X-Rite will provide fashion companies with a seamless solution for color management—a challenge that many customers face. This partnership will enhance Lectra’s value-added solutions, including Lectra Fashion PLM, a fashion-specific product lifecycle management solution, Kaledo®, the fashion and textile design suite, and Modaris 3D Fit, Lectra’s 3D virtual prototyping application. X-Rite technologies that will be highlighted in Lectra solutions include ColorMunki™, an all-in-one color solution for selecting, creating and controlling new colors and PANTONE® FASHION + HOME color references, and CxF (Color Exchange Format) a file format designed to accurately and unambiguously communicate all commercially relevant aspects of color across devices, applications and geographies. Through the ColorMunki’s compatibility and PANTONE FASHION + HOME directly integrated into these Lectra’s solutions, creative, development and production teams can easily and accurately manage and communicate colors both internally and with external partners and suppliers.
“Color is critical in design, but it is an expensive business that can be very hard to control. Integrating X-Rite and Pantone technology into Lectra’s solutions will provide designers with a tool to enhance the quality and speed of exchanges between design, development and production, while keeping to the company’s original design concept as closely as possible,” said Daniel Harari, Lectra CEO.
1/29/10
OptiTex reveals new software module CutPlan
Petach Tikva, Israel – OptiTex software developers have unveiled the latest module to benefit the fashion industry, CutPlan. CutPlan will allow OptiTex users to control their costs by offering a global solution by dramatically reducing material waste, the amount the remnant pieces and control production costs when handling smaller order sizes.
CutPlan provides production with detailed spreading information for multi-color plies and a superior nesting engine for maximum market efficiency. With the CutPlan software, manufacturers’ orders are guaranteed to be produced with more accuracy and optimal detail. OptiTex CutPlan software compliments OptiTex’s already existing Marker and Nesting modules. Nest++2 drastically increases material efficiency, elevates overall nesting standards and reduces time and labor.
“By broadening our software range to accommodate multi color plies, we make the world more colorful by allowing users to produce accurate cuts for more of their lines", says Ran Machtinger, CEO of OptiTex.
The CutPlan software helps the user define fabric quantities, properties, size, cost and weight. The software then provides accurate cost production calculations in the form of real time Excel and XML file reports file for all the stored data and nested MRK files.
1/4/10