News for October and November 2005

Flocking Machine Installed at Hanes Finishing
Cowpens, SC - Zimmer Machinery Corporation, USA, a manufacturer of printing, dyeing and finishing machines, announces that it has delivered and installed the first ESCH Flocking machine build in the Spartanburg facility after acquiring the ESCH Company of Stolberg, Germany earlier this year. Zimmer has bought the complete know-how and all technical assets to build the superior line of DC Electrostatic Flocking Machines for roll-to-roll textile and other substrates.
Zimmer will continue to offer the complete line worldwide and will support all existing installations with spare parts and technical service as ESCH Textile Flocking Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary of Zimmer Machinery Corporation, USA.
The system was installed at the Mount Hope plant of Hanes Finishing Company of North Carolina. The total system comprises of a pre-dosing system and double dosing head with two brushes and a complete A/C room for the HF (high frequency) flocking of Rayon fibers.
11/30/05

Reebok Partners with Royal Park Uniforms to Launch Reebok Uniforms
Canton, MA – Reebok has joined forces with Royal Park Uniforms, Inc. of Prospect Hill, NC to unveil a new collection of Reebok branded youth, high school, college and adult team uniforms.  The uniform line, including uniforms for football, baseball, softball, basketball and several other sports, will be sold by Winning Edge Sales Group, Reebok’s team sales representatives.
“Our new relationship with Royal Park will allow us to provide althetes of all ages with the very best in team uniforms,” said John Frascotti, Reebok’s senior vice president and general manager of performance.  “Building upon the expertise we have developed in making uniforms for professional athletes, Reebok uniforms will feature innovative fabrications and designs enabling athletes at all levels to perform at their best.”
“The Royal Park Corporation welcomes the opportunity to partner with Reebok to develop their uniform business,” said William Royal, president of Royal Park Uniforms.  “We look forward to servicing team dealers in the same manner as we have serviced the school uniform market for many years, with innovative ideas, quality uniforms, and timely delivery in both the stock and custom categories.”
11/29/05

Stork Prints and La Meccanica Form Strategic Alliance
Boxmeer (Netherlands)/Urgnano (Italy) - Rotary screen printing technology developer Stork Prints and Italian textile machinery supplier La Meccanica today announced a strategic alliance in the field of digital textile printing equipment. The companies’ sales and distribution centers will pool resources and technical expertise, enabling enhanced service, and closer proximity to customers across regions.
La Meccanica, a provider of industrial feeding systems, has been closely involved in the development of Stork’s latest solutions for digital textile printing, the Jade and the Tourmaline. One of the new range’s most important novelties is a sophisticated fabric control mechanism, developed by La Meccanica: a precision unwind station, which guides the fabric on to the blanket smoothly and precisely.
“Its transport system is one of the new product range’s critical success factors,” says Mr Fred Boes, Managing Director of Stork Digital Imaging, “which makes La Meccanica more than just a supplier to us. The strategic alliance we are entering into, confirms La Meccanica’s status as a co-developer.”
“Both companies recognize the potential of digital textile printing,” says Mr Paolo Gastoldi, managing director of La Meccanica: “We have a mutual objective: to help our customers develop new business opportunities by making digital printing profitable. By joining forces in the field of development, sales and marketing, we anticipate today’s and tomorrow’s market demands. The industry will gain access to a broad portfolio of digital textile printing equipment through a single technology partner.”
11/18/05

Gerber Technology to Offer Fashion LifeCYcle Management™
Connecticut, USA– Gerber Technology today announced that it is marketing a new Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solution designed to meet the specific needs of the fashion market. Fashion Lifecycle Management™ (FLM) combines Gerber’s WebPDM product development management software with a proven apparel PLM workflow solution. The product is expected to be available in the second quarter of 2006. 
“While PLM developed out of the needs of discrete manufacturing, for example automotive and aerospace manufacturing, the PLM requirements of the fashion industry are significantly different,” said Holly Beum, director, software product management. “Fashion Lifecycle Management gives designers and manufacturers of apparel, accessories and home furnishings the exact tools they need to improve and shorten the development cycle.”
Gerber’s Fashion Lifecycle Management solution complements and integrates fully with WebPDM and includes image collaboration, project management functionality, product specifications and versioning, and integrated workflow. “Gerber Fashion Lifecycle Management provides a robust, enterprise-wide tool for global product management from concept to retail distribution. With Gerber FLM, our customers will be able to see the progress of all fabrics, trims and approvals and share this information with all those who need it - anywhere in the world. Users can more easily manage their tasks and managers can track processes, look for bottlenecks and adjust workflows,” added Beum.
11/17/05

Gerber Technology’s Seventh Annual Users Conference Focuses on Innovation and Collaboration to Accelerate Time to Market
Connecticut, USA– Gerber Technology recently held its seventh annual Users Conference, with nearly 200 WebPDM and AccuMark customers participating in two days of comprehensive product reviews, hands-on sessions and networking with fellow users. In addition, attendees were among the first to see a preview of Fashion Lifecycle Management™ (FLM), Gerber Technology’s new enterprise-wide tool for global product development.
Attendees chose from nearly 30 seminars including Gerber’s latest product releases of WebPDM, AccuMark, V-Stitcher, and 3D Direct. Customer case studies provided insight into how leading organizations are meeting the challenges of an increasingly competitive marketplace by accelerating their time to market using Gerber’s innovative technologies to suit their respective organization’s unique needs. “Our annual WebPDM and AccuMark Users Conference is an outstanding opportunity for our customers to come together, share their experience, learn about new products and network with other users who face the same challenges,” said Bob Rivera, executive director, global marketing and key accounts, Gerber Technology.  “We rely on the continued enthusiasm of our customers and this conference helps us showcase our commitment to supporting them with leading-edge products, solutions, programs and training.” 
11/17/05

PAXAR Helps Apparel Industry Combat Counterfeiting with Comprehensive Range of Apparel Identification Products and Services
White Plains, NY - Paxar Corporation, a provider of merchandising systems including bar code, RFID and identification technologies for leading apparel manufacturers and the retail supply chain, has developed a wide range of products and services designed to help combat counterfeiting in the apparel industry.  Paxar offers specialized label materials, integrated software programs, and label techniques designed for retailers, apparel manufacturers and brand managers.
“Our products play a significant role in helping brands deal with the problem of counterfeiting in the apparel industry,” explained Paul Chamandy, Vice President of New Business Development for Paxar’s Apparel Systems.  “By producing labels and the accompanying identification technology, as well as software systems, we are able to provide customers with an integrated approach to monitoring and protecting their brands.”
Paxar utilizes overt and covert technologies, such as holograms and other devices embedded into the labels, which provide a subtle approach to brand authentication.  In addition, they have developed a comprehensive software system, known as SpecStar, that effectively controls data going to a subcontractor’s printer and reports back all print activity that the subcontractor engages in.  The SpecStar program also facilitates adding unique batch identifiers into labels so products can be traced.
“Our products can act as the ‘eyes and ears’ for the brand,” Chamandy continued.  Paxar also offers brand managers a tool that monitors their products throughout the distribution channels. 
11/17/05

New Testing Unit From SDL Atlas Measures Moisture Transport Properties In Apparel
Charlotte, N.C. – New test equipment developed by SDL Atlas goes well beyond traditional absorbency and wicking evaluations by dynamically measuring moisture transfer across apparel materials.
The new Moisture Management Tester (MMT) measures dynamic the moisture transport properties of knit and woven fabrics and provides three critical parameters. These include the moisture absorbing rate of a fabric's inner and outer surfaces, one-way transportation capability from inner to outer surface and the moisture spreading rate.
“Demand for better moisture-handling undergarments for athletes and fitness enthusiasts on all levels is really taking off,” said Al Simpson, SDL Atlas General Manager for the Americas. “Our MMT unit provides the advanced technology needed to develop the next generation of performance fabrics.”
Designed to meet AATCC, ISO, and SN (drafting) standards, the MMT features upper and lower concentric moisture sensors. Technicians have only to lay a sample fabric flat under fixed pressure and apply a standard liquid solution to the fabric's upper surface. The MMT then automatically computes electrical resistance changes between the upper and lower sensors, records a measurement and charts a moisture profile.
10/24/05

Apparel Magazine to Honor 10 All-Star Award Winners
Columbia, SC — Apparel magazine will present its 2005 All-Star Awards to 10 outstanding apparel businesses at a ceremony Thursday, Nov. 10 at the Katie Murphy Amphitheater of the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, NY.
The 10 winners are: Bills Khakis, Chico 's FAS, Columbia Sportswear, FesslerUSA, Gerson & Gerson Inc., Harry Rosen Inc., Jones Apparel Group, Mothers Work Inc., Redcats USA and Stony Apparel/Great Escape Mfg. Corp.
“We are very pleased to recognize these 10 apparel stand-outs,” said Kathleen DesMarteau, editor in chief of Apparel. “Each has its own special brand of excellence. All of these firms are leading examples of the best in the business.”
The All-Star Awards presentation ceremony will follow the keynote address of the 2005 Apparel Tech Conference, a daylong event featuring presentations by technology and other solutions suppliers to the apparel industry, plus tabletop displays of sponsoring firms' solutions. The event, which runs from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., is produced by Apparel Magazine and [TC]², and hosted by the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). The Apparel Tech Conference & All-Star Reception will be held from 5-7 p.m. at Amuse Restaurant.
Apparel is proud to donate a portion of the proceeds from its 2005 Tech Conference and All-Stars Program to FIT's Apparel Production Management Department.
10/24/05

Lectra Participates in ITAA Program
Atlanta, GA, – For the ninth consecutive year, Lectra will confirm its commitment to educational programs that promote technology in the apparel industry by participating in the 61 st International Textile & Apparel Association's (ITAA) Annual Meeting, to be held November 2-6 at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center in Alexandra, Virginia. The meeting assembles leading university scholars, educators and students working in the textile, apparel and merchandising disciplines.
The company will present three awards during the ITAA Conference. The “Lectra Outstanding Faculty Designer Award” will go to the faculty member who has produced the most original garment. The winner will be awarded a trip to Paris , France that will include a visit to Lectra's world headquarters and an invitation to attend the renowned seasonal fabric exhibition show, Première Vision, in January, 2006.
Lectra will also award the “Lectra Innovation Award for Faculty Research” and the “Lectra Innovation Award for Teaching” to the authors of papers on pioneering technology applications for the apparel market. The two winners will each receive a $1,000 prize.
10/19/05

Bigger, Better SDL Atlas Facility In Stockport Designed For Growing Demands Of The Future
Stockport, U.K. – Two years after fire gutted its Stockport facility, SDL Atlas has opened a new, larger multi-purpose facility with enough square footage and advanced technology to easily accommodate the company’s sales, inventory, technical service and training needs for many years into the future.
The rebuilt, 13,000-square-foot location includes sales offices, a laboratory with the latest instrumentation, a dedicated calibration area and large inventory center. With its inventory of ready-to-ship finished goods worth more than $2 million, the 8,000-square-foot inventory center will supply products across the globe.
“Every cloud has a silver lining,” said Steve Combes, SDL Atlas Managing Director, U.K. “A major advantage of the new site is that we were able to design it to support our business now and include additional space to handle our needs and our customers’ needs for many years to come.”
Equipped with many of SDL Atlas’ best selling test units, the lab will also host demonstrations and customer trials. The company will use its new multi-media training center to resume popular hands-on training activities for customers both prior to and after SDL Atlas instruments are installed.
10/19/05

OptiTex™ LTD Announces Membership in the Microsoft © Certified Partner Program
Tel-Aviv, Israel - OptiTex LTD today announced it is now a member in the Microsoft Certified Partner Program. OptiTex, a software manufacturer for the Apparel, Sewn and Garment Industry has been named as a Microsoft Certified Partner after successfully proving competence with Microsoft latest technologies. Membership in the Microsoft Certified Partner Program will provide OptiTex with much needed resources to help OptiTex develop and deploy more robust Microsoft solutions that will ultimately help enhance customers' experience and time to market.
“OptiTex is extremely pleased with our new status as a Microsoft Certified Partner,” said Saar Machtinger, Product Manage for OptiTex LTD, “Being a member of the program gives us access to product information during the early development stages so that when our customers are ready to take advantage of the latest Microsoft technological solutions they can be sure that OptiTex is already using those. In addition, enhancements such as the new peer-networking opportunities will allow us to expand the types of solutions and services we can offer to our customers.”
“When customers are looking to implement a Microsoft technology solution for their business, their best bet is to turn to an expert—a Microsoft Certified Partner,” said Rosa Garcia, general manager of the Partner Programs Group at Microsoft. “Microsoft provides its Certified Partners with in-depth access to existing and emerging Microsoft technologies and related training and resources to help ensure that they have the technical intimacy needed to deliver quality solutions. Today, Microsoft recognizes OptiTex for demonstrating this level of expertise and welcomes it as a new Microsoft Certified Partner.”
10/13/05