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Groz-Beckert has a wide range of products from the weaving segment ranging from healds, drop wires and heald frames to machines for weaving preparation. The jacquard heald is a new addition to the product range. The transparent large circular knitting machine has a gage gradient of E10 to E50. There are two other transparent machines from the flat knitting and warp knitting fields. Each of the three acrylic glass machines has individually removable elements for detailed viewing.
The litespeed needle impresses with its optimized needle geometry, which increases the service life, reduces oil consumption, reduces the machine temperature and leads to energy savings of up to 20 per cent in the knitting process.
In addition to special needle solutions for the filter industry, Groz-Beckert has solutions for the geotextile, filter and paper-machine felts and automotive applications. For high tensile strength as required in filters, a needle with a teardrop-shaped working part, like the Teardrop from Groz-Beckert, offers clear advantages.
Groz-Beckert is offering special products for the nonwoven carding sector to supplement the extensive product range for the short and long staple spinning industries. With the innovative EvoStep and SiroLock metallic card clothing, the company is responding to the ever increasing requirements on the market.
Last March, the governments of the East African Community that includes Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi had proposed a ban on imports of secondhand clothes to their regional trade bloc. The ban would outlaw donations of clothing from wealthier countries by 2019. The logic was that by ending the trade of used garments, the apparel industry in these countries would be revitalised, it would create jobs and help exports and bolster their economies.
Imports of secondhand clothing has been rising over the past two decades with Uganda and Tanzania witnessing a 233 per cent and 1,100 per cent growth respectively in imported worn clothing in the last 20 years. While many traders are earning a living through the sale of these donations, the governments proposing this ban argue that they will be able to create better jobs within the textile industry, more than offsetting any economic loss faced by the traders.
It seems unlikely that the ban will actually become a law. But the very fact that it exists is fascinating on several levels. Once again, we see unintended consequences of well-meaning foreign aid. In Uganda, for example, it is estimated that secondhand garments make up for 81 per cent of all clothing purchases leaving little market share for locally produced apparel. Uganda imports 1,500 tons of used clothing each year from the US alone that is just one of many countries to which the country exports used clothing. Kenya had a clothing industry that at its pinnacle employed 500,000 people and today only sustains roughly 20,000 jobs. Even if enacted, the ban won’t necessarily spur local apparel production.
US-based Polartec, LLC, that manufacturers fabrics for garment manufacturing companies and is best known for inventing fleece materials for companies like Patagonia, North Face and LL Bean is relocating part of its textile operations from Massachusetts to south eastern Tennessee at its Cleveland factory. The company that makes specialized fabrics for outdoor wear as well as the military acquired the United Knitting Mills in Cleveland a year ago and started the process of shifting from Massachusetts.
Polartec President Gary Smith said that the company is investing nearly $10 million into the United Knitting Mills site in Cleveland for plant upgrade and new equipment which will bring total employment to 200 people by next year. Merging the two companies will allow Polartec to employ its innovative technology — the company has more than 150 patents — in a more efficient plant, said Jerry Miller, the former head of United Knitting Mills who will continue as president and general manager of Polartec's Tennessee manufacturing operations.
Tennessee’s business friendly environment including lower energy and tax costs compared with Massachusetts and strong work ethic in Cleveland are a draw. They are making a big bet on this facility, but they see a real opportunity for them. Smith says he is moving the company to a better mix of business with more efficient production to help the textile company survive and thrive in the United States, rather than move production offshore as most other US textile and apparel companies have done over the past half century.
Polartec is the successor company to the 110-year-old Maldin Mills in New England. The company was later renamed Polartec LLC in March 2007.
The Director General (DG) of Nigerian Textile Manufacturers Association (NTMA), Hamma Kwajaffa has disclosed that the country currently spends over $4 billion annually on importing textiles and readymade clothing, despite the government’s intention to revive the textile sector in recent times. Textiles used to be Nigeria’s foremost industry and the second largest employer after the government. Then it used to use indigenous raw materials such as cotton.
Kwajaffa is of the opinion that Nigeria has the potential to produce textiles for the local market of 170 million people. It also exports textiles to the ECOWAS market of 175 million people as well as to the developed world such as the United States under AGOA and EU GSP scheme which Kenya, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Madagascar and a number of African countries are already exploiting. The prevailing unprecedented harsh environment has undoubtedly dealt a serious blow to the already fragile industry. He said unless urgent steps are taken by the government to address key issues raised by the industry, the ray of hope that had arisen from the recent government initiatives may be lost.
Influx of smuggled goods continues to flood major textile markets. It not only undermines the local industry but also steals their jobs and importantly deprives government of revenue.
Ahmedabad-based Chiripal group company Nandan Denim’s net profit for the first quarter ended June 2016 is Rs 15.97 crores as against Rs 15.50 crores for the corresponding quarter a year ago, a rise of three per cent. The company's net sales for the period stood at Rs 300.39 crores, a rise of seven per cent over corresponding net sales of Rs 280.51 crores last year. Nandan started in 2004 has a capacity for 120 million meters a year.
Nandan makes products from three ounce to 15 ounce. It has backward integration of spinning and fancy attachments. It has economies of scope and scale. It gets value addition from fabrics. Its response time is fast. Plans are on to shift from being a denim manufacturer to a fashion driven brand. The aim is to have growth with value. The group turnover last year was Rs 2500 crores and Nandan’s share was Rs 1200 crores.
The company expects with much larger production capacities and product baskets it would be optimally placed in competitive markets to cater to the larger demand arising from India and overseas markets.
The Ministry of Textiles is celebrating ‘Colours of Independence (Azadi Ke Rang)’ on the occasion of the 70th Independence Day. The Ministry has chosen 70 locations across the nation to infuse the passion of freedom and patriotism among Indians especially the youth from August 9-15.
Over 60 per cent of India’s population is youth and the Ministry of Textiles wants to relate to them the importance of this born freedom which has been achieved after years of struggle by our freedom fighters. On this occasion, textiles minister Smriti Irani congratulated the nation and urged the people to thank and honour our defence forces who continuously fight for the safety of India as we are safe in our homes only due to them.
A flex board of 12ft x 9ft, created with khadi canvas has been put up in a prominent place in each identified location for view of the general public to express their views for the Independence Day. People can participate through social media network also. The mounted fabric with ‘Colours of Independence’, as expressed by the public will be displayed for one week at various locations across the Nation.
Millennials aren’t wearing jeans any longer. They are switching from the traditional denim jeans to stylish (and far more comfortable) sweatpants or yoga pants from Lululemon, Nike or Under Armour. And it’s a trend that is definitely starting to manifest itself on retail shelves as well, as a recent study by Synchrony Financial revealed. Nearly 80 per cent of those surveyed said they have worn athleisure clothing defined as casual clothing, like yoga pants, sweatpants and hoodies on occasions other than working out while 69 per cent saying they wear athleisure in place of jeans at least once a week.
Apparel retailers should consider investing in the new trend of customers wearing yoga pants to the studio and beyond, said the Synchrony study. Not long ago, a Morgan Stanley study in October 2015 too had found sales of footwear and sports apparel have grown by 42 per cent over the past seven years to become a $270 billion industry.
Emerging markets like China, where health and fitness trend is just beginning to take off, are also expected to fuel growth in the coming years. Morgan Stanley estimates that the industry could see about 30 per cent growth or $83 billion in new sales by 2020.
But growth has come at the expense of traditional denim jeans as athleisure is much more acceptable nowadays. Sales of athleisure make up 28 per cent of all apparel purchases among teens, up from 6 per cent in 2008. It’s more popular and selling better than denim among upper-income teenage women, with athleisure sales amounting to 15.6 per cent of all sales among teenage girls in the Spring of 2015 compared to just 9.1 per cent for denim.
Even Levi’s, has started feeling the heat with Bloomberg noting the company has seen its sales dip by several billion over the past couple of years while its stock too have dipped.
The Karnataka government plans to revive the state-owned Karnataka Handloom Development Corporation (KHDC) and Caurvery Handlooms. Along with, it also plans to transform the handloom industry into an organized profession. According to Karnataka Commissioner for Textile Development R Raju this initiative will benefit 80,000 weavers and 600 handloom cooperative societies. Currently, there are 227 cotton, 88 silk and more than 50 woollen co-operative societies operating in the State that make numerous products.
At present, the government has ensured the market linkage for handloom products such as uniform cloths, bed sheets and blankets to school children in the State, which ensures business to the tune of 100 crore annually. In the next two years, products of KHDC and Caurvery Handlooms will be aggressively marketed.
Plans are also afoot to market Ilkal sarees, Malakamuru silk sarees and Udupi cotton sarees which have acquired GI (Geographical Indication) accreditation for their uniqueness and endemic to the specific regions. The other sarees on the radar are ‘Guledaguddakana’ and large varieties of Priyadarshini silk.
For the second quarter of 2016 Indorama Ventures’ core profit after tax and non-controlling interests rose 74 per cent year-on-year driven by margin recovery in the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) segment and contributions from additional feedstock volumes. Core EBITDA saw PET growth of 19 per cent underpinned by excellent growth in the fiber segment of 46 per cent year-on-year.
The company’s blend of focused businesses is expected to transform it as one of the most competitive producers in its space and provide it downside protection on volumes and integrated margins while preserving its upside potential as the industry recovers. Thailand-based Indorama Ventures, is one of the world’s leading petrochemical producers and a leading global manufacturer of wool yarns. Its products serve major players in diversified end use markets including food, beverages, personal and home care, health care, automotives, textile and industrial.
The company’s portfolio comprises necessities and high value-added categories of polymers, fibers, and packaging. With a focus on cost and efficiency, Indorama Ventures is now positioned among the lowest cost polyester chain producers in the world. In a proactive move towards maximising its value chain and operational synergies, Indorama Ventures has expanded its PET and polyester businesses in recent years.
This fiscal (2016-17) production of cotton in the country is expected to hit a seven-year low because of a reduction in area under cultivation and pest attacks in Gujarat, even as domestic prices have started firming up after a poor season. Cotton imports in 2015-16 may have been the highest in a decade, say experts. Imports may see a new high this fiscal as the overall area where cotton has been sown has declined 8.7 per cent.
According to the Agriculture Ministry, area under cotton as on August 5 was 96.48 lakh hectare as compared to 105.68 lakh hectare a year ago. India's cotton production in 2015-16 declined to 338 lakh bales (one bale of 170 kg each), down 12.4 per cent from 386 lakh bales in the previous year to hit a six-year low, according to last month's update of Cotton Advisory Board (CAB).
NK Sharma, MD, Gujarat State Co-operative Cotton Federation feared that cotton production would further fall to 310-315 lakh bales in 2016-17. Scientists and industry insiders said cotton production is expected to fall in key states such as Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana.
Higher production in Maharashtra, where weather conditions are favourable as of today, is not expected to fully compensate for the fall in Gujarat and Punjab. Pink bollworm in Gujarat and white fly in north India had led to severe crop damage last year. This year, scientists of Central Institute of Cotton Research (CICR) say that white fly infestation is restricted to pockets such as Fazilka and Abohar in the North. But, the late sown cotton in Gujarat which is 30 per cent of the total cotton sown is likely to get affected by pink bollworm on a large scale.
