News for
June/July 2007

Gerber Technology Introduces the GERBERspreader XLs125
Connecticut, USA– Gerber Technology today introduced the GERBERspreader XLs125, the latest addition to its new series of performance spreading products, called the XLs Series. XLs Series spreaders are developed and manufactured to yield an exceptional price to performance ratio. The XLs125 is the second product in the new series and offers a higher weight and roll capacity as well as additional features to fit virtually every spreading application. The XLs125 is Gerber’s most flexible spreader. 
The easy-to-use XLs125 assures material rolls weighing up to 125 kg (160 lb) are spread without tension and edges are perfectly aligned. It is capable of spreading woven or knit materials in roll or flat form for a wide variety of applications. It provides accurate and consistent spread length and alignment of fabric edges which enables parts to be nested closer to the beginning, end, and edges of the spread, eliminating end loss and optimizes material utilization. The fabric roll cradle feed system tilts automatically for easy material loading and unloading of rolled material. The XLs125 also features a simplified Windows®-based icon-driven user interface that is easy to learn and easy to train new users to operate. Many languages are supported, including Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, and English.
The XLs125’s reliable, robust construction and strength of design ensures minimal downtime in typical use and easy maintenance with existing resources. In addition, the XLs125 offers low installation, training and other one-time costs as well as lower ongoing costs for parts and maintenance labor.
“We are pleased to expand our spreader line with this versatile and affordable system that is suitable for a variety of applications,” said Jorn Sorensen, product manager, GERBERspreader & GERBERlabeler Systems. “GERBERspreaders have long been recognized as the benchmark for spreading performance and our new XLs Series maintains that leadership position. Our goal with the XLs product line is to offer our customers spreading systems that deliver unprecedented accuracy, exceptional performance, and maximum repeatability at breakthrough price points.”
7/19/07

Global Testing Leader SDL Atlas Moves U.S. Headquarters To Rock Hill Airport Area
Rock Hill, S.C. – The U.S. headquarters for textile testing equipment giant SDL Atlas has completed its relocation to a spacious office and warehouse complex in northwest Rock Hill, SC near the airport.
Totaling more than 22,000-square-feet under roof, the new headquarters site provides more than double the square footage of the former headquarters near Charlotte. The headquarters is located at 3934 Airway Drive, Rock Hill, S.C. 29732.
With the expanded space, SDL Atlas is consolidating on-site its Textile Innovators division. Based for decades several hundred miles to the northeast in Windsor, N.C., Textile Innovators is a major source of specialized consumable testing materials to manufacturers in the textile, detergent and laundry machine industries. In addition to housing Textile Innovator’s library of thousands of standards-compliant consumables used in fabric and other tests, the larger quarters will host the division’s fabric cutting, sewing, dyeing, splitting and washing services.
“Our new facility provides much needed space to meet our continuing expansion plans for years to come,” said Al Simpson, a resident of Lancaster who serves as SDL Atlas General Manager, U.S. Operations. “We appreciate the efforts of everyone in York County who helped make this relocation possible. We’re committed to acting as a good corporate citizen.”
In the coming months, Simpson said, his operation will consider adding more equipment and a number of support and technical positions related to SDL Atlas and Textile Innovators business.
7/19/07

Moisture, Vapor Transport, Universal Testers Among SDL Atlas Products Set For Display At ITMA
Stockport, England – Sales staff and technical experts from SDL Atlas will be on hand to answer questions and conduct demonstrations of more than twenty SDL Atlas testing instruments at ITMA 2007 in Munich September 13-20.
SDL Atlas officials and agents will display a range of testing technology at their booth, including highlighting two of their newer offerings to the worldwide textile market; the Moisture Management Tester and Sweating Guarded Hotplate.
The M290 MMT is a table-top unit that measures how effectively knit and woven fabrics handle moisture transport in three key areas: absorption rate of inner and outer surfaces, the one-way transportation from a fabric’s inner to outer surface, and moisture spreading rate.
The M259B3 Sweating Guarded Hotplate – also called the “skin model” - simulates the heat and vapor transfer processes which occur next to human skin. That information is a critical concern among makers of leisure and casual apparel who market to comfort-conscious consumers. The M259B3 unit conforms to ISO 11092 measurement of thermal and water vapor resistance under steady state conditions. Housed in a conditioned cabinet, the instrument operates with user-friendly Windows software and prints out standard test reports.
Other products at the company’s ITMA booth include Tinius-Olsen universal testing equipment, QuickWash fabric shrinkage system, the new 45º Flammability Tester to ASTM and CFR standards, an Autoburst Digital Strength Tester and a complete Quickspin System.
7/16/07

OptiTex Launches a New Version of its 3D Runway Software Including Upgrades and New Tools
Petach-Tikva, Israel –Israel based OptiTex, a leading international developer of software for the fashion and textile industry, has just announced the release of its new 3D suite of tools incorporated into the latest version of its flagship software product geared for the textile, home furnishing, upholstery and other sewn products industries.  
OptiTex 3D Runway is a fabric simulation software system that allows for instant visualization of pattern modification using 3D on-screen models with adjustable body measurements. The system enables several simulated posture positions and continuity of movement with the garments while enabling the customer to evaluate and comment on the final product immediately, before any production material is used. Moreover, OptiTex 3D Runway provides the perfect tool to fully present animated current or future collections in a rich 3D environment with diverse backgrounds and the possibility of preparing a full Fashion Show with more than one avatar on screen.
This new Version of OptiTex 3D Runway includes a Fabric-Converter/Editor, which provides a comprehensive solution for OptiTex customers to create their own library of fabrics that were tested for use with the system.
A new partnership with DAZ 3D, market leaders in developing software and creating digital 3D content, has resulted in the development of a 3D dynamic solution for DAZ|Studio, art software for budding 3D artists as well as professional 3D designers, photographers, filmmakers, animators and illustrators.
7/16/07

IDEAL Fastener Chooses Unifi’s Eco-Friendly Repreve® Yarn for Sustainable Zippers
Greensboro, N.C. – Unifi, Inc. jointly announced today with the IDEAL Fastener Corporation, that IDEAL, one of the largest zipper manufacturers in the world, will offer eco-conscious manufacturers a new line of sustainable zippers.  The zipper tapes will be manufactured using Repreve®, 100% recycled yarns by Unifi.  The new eco-friendly line will be sold under IDEAL Fastener’s IDEAL Earth™ brand, which is designed to provide customers with a solution for a complete eco-package.   
The IDEAL Earth line of sustainable zippers are currently available in Coil, Delrin®, and Metal, customized to meet any style or application need.  IDEAL Earth zippers are available in a wide range of colors, as well as custom dye lots.  Unifi’s Repreve yarns will be featured throughout the entire line of IDEAL Earth sustainable zippers.  Repreve is a family of polyester yarns made from 100% recycled materials.  Because Repreve is made from recycled materials, it conserves natural resources by offsetting the need to produce virgin polyester.
“IDEAL Fastener is committed to providing innovative solutions to address the needs of our customers,” said Nancy Benko, product development manager for IDEAL Fastener Corporation. “Unifi has achieved a level of quality and consistency in its Repreve yarn that allows our engineering team to do what they do best, which is customized zipper design.  Our IDEAL Earth zippers with Repreve are the perfect solution for eco-conscious manufacturers looking to go a step further with their earth-friendly commitment.”
6/26/07

Daikin Introduces "Unidyne TechnaGard™ Series" Product Line for Fabric Stain Protection and Repellency
Decatur, AL - Daikin's introduction of a new line of protective and repellent products offers the best of both worlds:  superior fluorine based water and oil repellency and stain release in a C6 platform which enhances the environmental performance of the protective chemistry.
Daikin's Unidyne TechnaGard Series maintains the superior level of performance the market has come to expect from Daikin's current Unidyne Series products--C8 based products that have risen to become the industry standard.  The new technology provides excellent and durable repellency and general stain protection and soon, stain  release, for a broad spectrum of stains and soiling on an array of textile, carpet, nonwoven, and other substrates.  A product is also in the regulatory approval process for paper treatment
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has rigorously reviewed Daikin's Unidyne TechnaGard Series of protective and repellent products in 2007, and has given approval for manufacture and sales.
Unidyne Business Manager Mike Ladd noted that, "High performance is certainly the hallmark of the traditional platform, but our customers felt that they were spending too much time explaining levels of PFOA contained  therein.  With Daikin's new C6 platform, customers can concentrate on selling the added value of stain and soil protection, an area where resources are much better spent".
6/26/07

Sales of Lectra’s New-Generation Vector Cutters Tops 100 in Only Four Months
Paris - Today’s manufacturers face significant productivity and flexibility challenges, from increasingly diversified orders with constantly diminishing delivery times to the growing need to control costs and offer perfect quality. By proposing a technological response adapted to the growth needs of apparel, furniture and automobile interior manufacturers as well as companies using industrial fabrics, Lectra demonstrates the added value of its offering and ensures a rapid return on investment.
To enhance production capacity, the new-generation Vectors have a powerful motorization system that allows for the cutting of more garments more quickly, thus increasing productivity by up to 15%. It guarantees ultra-precise cuts, even with edges at a tangent, to optimize marker making and save up to 5% of materials per year. Manufacturers can deliver supplemental orders of up to 50%, thanks to the solution’s reliability and integrated preventive maintenance. Operating costs can be reduced by up to 20%, thanks to the energy saver system and the increased lifespan of spare parts and consumables.
 “The Vector is the first automatic cutting solution to successfully combine performance and intelligence.  That is the key to its success today, demonstrating the lead that Lectra has taken in its technology and services offering,” concluded Daniel Harari, Lectra’s CEO.
6/20/07

AAFA, THA Team Up To Offer Products Law Services
Arlington, VA– The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) and The Hosiery Association (THA) are teaming up to develop an exclusive advisory service regarding Proposition 65, and other product laws, for their members with the help of the renowned products law firm Farella Braun + Martel LLP.
Farella Braun + Martel LLP will provide AAFA and THA members with regular advisories regarding developments in Proposition 65 and other product laws relevant to the apparel, footwear, and hosiery industries.  The annual Proposition 65 list has grown to include nearly 775 chemicals to date, which businesses must inform California’s residents if the potentially dangerous substances are of significant amount in the products they purchase, in their homes or workplaces, or are released into the environment. 
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to collaborate with THA and to offer the respected services of Farella Braun LLP to our members who have come to expect this kind of benefit from our industry-leading associations,” said Kevin M. Burke, President and CEO, AAFA.  “Regulations and restrictions are complex and ever-growing, as are the legal risks of even an appearance of non-compliance.  All businesses operating in California need legal advice to stay current as the substances list expands, to understand the Proposition 65, and to take appropriate protective actions to ensure compliance.”
 “We are pleased to partner with AAFA in offering our respective memberships this value-added service,” stated Sally Kay, President and CEO, THA.  “Now, more than ever, companies must be proactive in understanding the ever changing landscape of consumer products’ industries.  The ability to work with Farella Braun + Martel LLP exemplifies the fact that our trade organizations want to ensure that our members are kept apprised of the latest developments and are able to make informed business decisions.”
In addition to published advisories, Farella Bruan + Martel will provide company-specific guidance concerning Proposition 65, similar product design, manufacturing or labeling laws, product defect claims, Consumer Product Safety Act, product recall counseling and other product stewardship advice upon request to association members for a discounted rate.
"Farella Braun + Martel is honored to provide AAFA and THA members with the latest in product law information and services,” said Jim Bruen, Partner, Farella Braun + Martel.  “Our international leadership role on product stewardship issues relevant to the apparel, hosiery, and footwear, industries will benefit members as consumer product laws and standards become increasingly stringent and complex.  We look forward to assisting individual members to address legal risks that might arise from the enforcement of California’s Proposition 65 and other product laws.”
6/18/07

Lectra Continues International Growth
Paris – Within the framework of its international development, Lectra is pleased to
announce the opening of its new headquarters in Munich as well as a new office in Greengates, near Leeds, England.
The growth recorded by the Eastern European countries (Poland, Romania, Croatia, Czech Republic and Russia) and by the German subsidiary, in charge of the region’s coordination, has prompted Lectra to move its Munich headquarters. The new, more spacious premises include training rooms as well as an area for demonstrating Lectra solutions and machines, to accommodate customers and prospects from the whole region. Customers and prospects will be able to discover all the solutions by attending presentations, topical seminars or even workshops.
Lectra recently opened a new office near Leeds, the historical birthplace of the British textile industry, to accommodate its customers from Northern England. Companies such as George Clothing, Laura Ashley, Furnico, Redcats and Vivienne Westwood attended the
inauguration of the new facilities and viewed presentations of Lectra’s solutions such as Lectra Fashion PLM, Kaledo, Modaris 3D Fit and DesignConcept.
6/13/07

First2Print Transforms Rooms for Television’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” with Digital Textile Printing
New York, NY— First2Print, a leader in large-format digital fabric printing services, announced today that it collaborated with “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” for the reveal of several custom-designed home makeovers.  “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” is an ABC television show where each episode features a deserving family and a team of designers who have seven days to rebuild a home.  The design team for “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” came to First2Print to digitally printing several custom textile patterns used to redesign several rooms and still be able to create a custom design as unique as the family in need.
 “We were honored to work for such a worthy cause and work with such a formidable design team as the one on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” said Tina Wagner, project manager for First2Print, New York.  “What made this project unusual was the exceptionally short time frame.  We really had to work closely with the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” design team to pick the right fabric that would be functional and beautiful, as well as durable enough to be in the bedroom of a home.  In addition, our digital printing process needed to match the textile colors from concept to final short-run production yardage – all within just a few days.” 
For this project, First2Print digitally printed pre-treated fabrics from DigiFab Systems for several of the makeover rooms.  For the pop-tab theme room with two color-ways of green and blue, a cotton sheeting was used.  It was ideal for the pillow shams, curtains and bedcovers of the room.  For another room on a different “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” show, First2Print printed on poly micro fiber which was chosen for its soft peach finish and feel – perfect for a softer more feminine decor. Both projects were printed using a Dupont Artistri printer with pigment inks on the cotton sheeting and disperse inks on the poly micro fiber.  All textiles were post-processed with a DigiFab Heat Press, then washed, dried and ironed for delivery to the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” design and production team, which sewed the yardage into final goods.
6/13/07

WFX Launches Web PDM and Web PLM  On-Demand
Miami, USA - WFX launches Web PDM and Web PLM On-Demand enterprise solutions to service the small and medium business segment with solutions that significantly reduce the total cost of ownership.
On-Demand software also known as software-as-a-service (SaaS), is an innovative distribution model in which applications are hosted by the service provider and made available over the web. A user simply logs on to the application online to create, communicate, collaborate and control his business - then logs off.
"The beauty of this pay-as-you-go, subscription-based model is that we know if you stop receiving value from our solutions, we lose your business. This is why we focus on assuring you simplicity, end-user experience and end-user value." Drish Paul, CEO.
6/8/07

Wasatch Supports HP Designjet Z Series Inkjet Printers
Salt Lake City, UT – Wasatch Computer Technology today announced it has added support for the HP Designjet Z6100 Printer Series.  This completes SoftRIP support for the full line of Z-series devices, also including the HP Designjet Z2100 and HP Designjet Z3100 series printers.  As the only inkjet RIP to offer 16-bit color rendering, SoftRIP will allow HP users to achieve unparalleled quality output.  Wasatch RIP products also include key features for sophisticated color management, intuitive direct-to-layout workflows, and automated Smart Nesting.
 HP's Z-series Designjet printers deliver exceptional quality output that is further enhanced with SoftRIP’s 16-bit pipeline for high-definition printing.  When pairing SoftRIP with the Designjet Z series, shade subtleties are reproduced with enormous detail, and vector gradients are perfectly smooth at any output size. 
 “SoftRIP maintains more data on every color point than other RIPs,” says Jay Griffin, Executive Vice President at Wasatch.  “With 16-bit color, a high quality device like the HP Z6100 will print high definition output that matches the original source image with incredible clarity.”
6/1/07