While the political environment between competing universities would most likely be equated to Minnesota’s now famous, "Our governor can beat-up your governor," the gloves come off each year at the annual NTC Forum. The National Textile Center is a research consortium of six universities which grant academic degrees and have active research programs in textile technology and management. Through the NTC, Auburn University, Clemson University, Georgia Institute of Technology, North Carolina State University, Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science and the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth all share human resources, equipment, and facilities that serve the fiber, textile, fabricated products and retail complex.

The Center’s vision is to be an agent leading change in the industry’s future and in education for global competitiveness. It focuses its work on establishing the knowledge base to enable industry to develop new products and technologies. The American textile and apparel industry has had close to 500 Masters and Doctoral researchers enter the sector through projects they worked on with the sponsorship of the National Textile Center. Wild Ginger Software, Braiding Solutions, and 3-Tex are three companies that were developed out of NTC research.

The seventh annual NTC Forum, held in Myrtle Beach, SC January 28-30, displayed forty-five of its research projects. The projects presented cover virtually every aspect of the industry, from fibers, fabrics, dyeing and finishing, to product manufacturing and retail. The exciting results of the cumulative $50 million program was discussed in both exhibit and oral presentations to the 275 attendees from education and industry.

Research results were presented in four competency areas the NTC is building for the industry. The Materials Science competency area is devoted to research in the design of polymers and fibers. A highlight of this competency was the exploration of biotechnology for producing fibers. Using microbes, the Auburn research team has produced novel polypeptide structures, which show promise of being melt extrudable into fibers. Twelve additional projects were also reviewed, including biomimetic manufacturing of fibers, high stress elastic materials and nano fibers.

The Fabrication competency of NTC includes research in the design, development, manufacture and measurement of fibrous structures including yarns, textiles, and garments. A new understanding of high speed winding was discussed by a team led by Clemson University. This project, one of ten competency projects, focused on nonlinear mathematical models that predict the tension and balloon shape of yarns undergoing high-speed translation and rotation. Ten other projects were presented, including flock fundamentals, ultra-thick cross-section composites and automated 3D fabric part handling.

The Chemical Modification competency is focused on research in dyeing, finishing and waste reduction in textile processes. Under this competency, the Georgia Tech digital printing technology project is developing new technology for ink jet textile printing and other application methods. Dr. Wayne Tincher led a standing room short course on these techniques. Other presentations included moisture transport in textiles, biological renovation of reactive dyebaths and simultaneous dyeing and finishing.

The Intelligent Systems competency research focuses on computer technology and business processes to enable rapid response to customer and manufacturing inputs. Integrated supply chain analysis, North Carolina State University’s project was a key element in this competency. This project is attacking the supply chain integration and decision support problems by using fuzzy mathematics and neural network technologies. Other projects discussed included work on lifestyle aspiration as a purchasing motivation, predicting textile and apparel demand, building global brand image strategies, information integration and mass customization.

Dr. Marye Anne Fox, the newly appointed Chancellor of North Carolina State University, offered a motivating keynote presentation. "The role of Education in U.S. Competitiveness " emphasized the importance of developing partnerships between education and industry.

Four guest speakers brought to the attendees new insights into leading edge technologies. Dr. Richard Siegel of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute brought a new understanding of the world of nanostructure science and technology. Dr. Susan Kaiser of University of California, Davis discussed her studies on how gender, sexuality and race relate to the fashion industry. Stephen Gray from Nottingham Trent University, presented his work on developing tools to market textile products on the Internet. Yours truly, in my role as President of Imagine That! Consulting Group, offered my insights on how a variety of emerging technologies are changing the business paradigm to support unique products as well as the mass customization business model.

As Roger Gilbertson, Program Manager for Basic Research in the Office of Textiles and Apparel for the U.S. Department of Commerce, sponsors of the NTC Forum states "The NTC Forum brings together the core of textile and apparel basic research in the universities of the United States. I am a strong supporter of the ability to think "out of the box" during real-time personal dialogue, a process this forum supports."