News for May 2006

New Industrial-Grade Label Applicator from Avery Dennison
Philadelphia, PA – A new industrial-grade label applicator for continuous-duty applications in shipping, packaging, loading-dock, warehouse and distribution center environments is now available from Avery Dennison Printer Systems. The applicator, called the Avery Dennison ALS 204, automatically applies preprinted product ID labels to cartons, boxes and other items at packaging-line speeds up to 40 meters per minute.
 "The ALS 204 is well suited for heavy-duty, round-the-clock labeling operations," says Dan Williams, marketing manager, Avery Dennison Printer Systems. "Unlike some applicators, which have plastic cabinet panels, the ALS 204 features die-cast, all-metal construction. It can even be upgraded to withstand direct water washdowns."
 The ALS 204 is equipped with advanced electronics and dual precision stepper motors for fast, accurate label application. The applicator is controlled directly or from a remote PLC via serial, parallel, wireless, Ethernet or software interfaces. It can also be optionally configured to apply encoded RFID labels.
5/16/06

Lectra Announces the Appointment of David Rode as President of Lectra North America
Paris,– Lectra CEO Daniel Harari announced today the appointment of David Rode as
President of Lectra USA, Inc. He will be responsible for all Lectra business in North America, which covers the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.
David Rode will be based in New York City, reporting directly to Daniel Harari. Lectra currently employs 150 people in New York City, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Montreal and Mexico City.
“I am extremely pleased that David Rode is joining Lectra. David brings tremendous professional experience and exceptional personal abilities to our North American teams and customers—20 years in general and sales management, and business development in the software and industrial sectors in the U.S. and internationally. He has the personality and leadership required to make a significant contribution to the implementation of the group’s overall strategy,” said Daniel Harari. “His mission will be to direct our North American operations, increase revenues from $50 million in 2005 to $100 million in the next five years, and to make Lectra the undisputed leader in all of our market sectors, including fashion—particularly in the fast-growing Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) domain—automotive, aeronautical, marine and furniture.” added Daniel Harari.
5/10/06

Gerber Technology Introduces Two New High-Performance Wide-Format Inkjet Plotters
Connecticut, USA – Gerber Technology today introduced the Infinity 45 and Infinity 85 wide-format inkjet plotters. These plotters are ideally suited for plotting in an ultra-wide format, yet compact enough to fit into any design, pattern making or marking/nesting operation. 
The latest additions to the popular Infinity series, the Infinity 45 and Infinity 85 provide faster throughput and increased flexibility to maximize large marker production. Using proven HP® printhead technology, the Infinity 45 uses standard 42 ml HP 51645a monochrome ink cartridges that are commercially available worldwide for maximum convenience. The new Infinity 85 uses the HP 350 ml bulk ink system for additional cost and time savings. With more than eight times the capacity of standard cartridges, the bulk ink supply will save customers an estimated 15% on ink costs and will decrease down time caused by ink cartridge replacement. A new capability for remote monitoring of ink and paper levels also ensures that the system is not idle due to paper or ink out.
“These new Infinity plotters cater to users who require maximum affordability and versatility. With their increased speed, remote monitoring capability, and the Infinity 85’s bulk ink supply, they provide fast and efficient wide format plotting,” said Ron Ellis, product manager of plotters/peripherals and control systems, Gerber Technology. “Any amount or type of information can be plotted – small pieces with extensive annotation, continuous lines, bar codes, sew lines, instructions – without compromising throughput and speed.”
5/10/06

Gerber Technology Announces Global Availability of the GERBERcutter GT1000
Connecticut, USA– Gerber Technology has announced global availability of the GERBERcutter® GT1000. The new GT1000 was specifically designed for the made-to-measure or easy order apparel markets and is especially suited for men’s or ladies’ tailored apparel. The GT1000 is available in a 1.7 meter width for “on-the-open” applications or a 1.0 meter width for “on-the-fold” applications. It cuts up to 8 mm (0.3 in) of compressed material, allowing users to cut multiple plies of lining and shirt materials as well as one or two single plies or folded suit material.
Made to measure applications can require more intricate details and very precise cut parts. The GT1000 uses a specially designed GERBER BRISTLE SQUARE® cutting surface and knife train to enhance material stability and optimize cut part quality to meet the most exacting customer requirements. Operators can easily adjust cut speed and knife speed according to the type of material being cut to maximize throughput. Long vertical knife strokes and automatic knife re-sharpening eliminate hanging threads ensuring quality cut parts.
When paired with Gerber’s InVision plaid and stripe matching system, the GT1000 provides an even higher level of customization. Invision improves the finished quality of plaid- and stripe-matched products by compensating for fabric irregularities and delivering thread-to-thread accuracy of cut parts. Through the use of an intelligent vision system, InVision makes matching and cutting plaid and stripe fabrics as easy as cutting solid fabrics. It eliminates the expense associated with employing operators highly skilled in fabric matching techniques and reduces material costs by eliminating the need for “block” cutting. 
“The GT1000 and InVision plaid and stripe matching system are an ideal combination for made-to-order manufacturing,” says Todd Rhodes, director of Gerber Technology’s hardware product management team. “The GT1000 caters to a very specific market segment that has largely gone unmet. With its flexible work zone design, multiple width offering, and superb accuracy, the GT1000 truly meets the unique requirements of custom apparel applications. It exemplifies Gerber’s commitment to offering our customers ‘system solutions’ that meet even the most exacting needs.”
5/3/06

Zara Fast Fashion Seminar on West Coast
Cary, NC and London, UK - [TC]² and The Industry Forum announce a Zara – Fast Fashion Workshop to be held June 2, 2006, at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, CA.
Acknowledged as the best practitioner in the fast fashion arena with the shortest lead times, Zara is enjoying a 20% net sales growth per year and an above industry average for return visits per customer per year. At 2005 year’s end, Zara had 852 stores in 60 countries with a further 130 planned in 2006.

Workshop highlights:

• Gain insight into Zara's ultra-fast supply chain cycle.

• Learn how Zara achieves less than 1% inefficiencies in its processes - from design to delivery; low inventories and markdowns substantially below the industry average.

• Identify key strategic actions to meet fashion consumer demand

• Understand the underlying principles of the Zara model and how these might be applied to other retail models

• Hear from a leading consultant about speed to market initiatives in the US.

The Zara Fast Fashion Workshop hours are 9:00am to 4:30pm, at Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, 919 South Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA. Workshop registration fee is $200.00. Lunch will be provided. Register now with Maria Muñiz at 919-653-3507 or use the [TC]² contact form.
5/3/06