60 Years of Future, What's Next? Loepfe Celebrates 60th Anniversary

Quality Control Specialist in the Textile Industry
 

In 1955, the two brothers Helmut and Erich Loepfe founded the Loepfe Brothers LTD. in Zurich. Technical innovations for the textile industry were the driving force behind the development of the company over the last six decades. Loepfe introduced weft feelers and weft stop motionthe first electronic sensors for looms at a time, when electronics itself was still in its infancy. The big success in weaving technology was transferred to the world of spinning. The first electronic yarn clearers and a data management system contributed to the success. In 1991 Loepfe developed the first yarn clearerYarnMaster, which was able to detect not only classic yarn defects but also foreign fibres as well as the first online classification of NSLT. The next breakthrough development was the online detection of yarn imperfections leading to an integrated laboratory. With the launch of the YarnMasterZenit generation, the yarn clearers are now also able to clear synthetic foreign material like polypropylene. The YarnMasterZenit+, which has been introduced in 2014, is the successor of the successful yarn clearer, offers an user-friendly 15.6 inch wide touch-screen, completely new graphical user interface with a dashboard view of top ten cuts, trends over the last few days, all these useful information at a glance. Today, Loepfe offers the new MillMaster TOP online data management system, which monitors and analyses the quality data from all Loepfe yarn clearers in a winding room in real-time. During the last six decades Loepfe gained a market leading position in electronic quality control in weaving and winding.

Loepfe employs approximately 150 staff in its headquarter in Wetzikon. The company is present in all major textile markets worldwide withagents and service partners. With its high percentage of research and development Loepfe plans to contribute substantially to future developments in the textile industry. 

New Sales Director SSM
 

Mr. Steven Lin is promoted to Sales Director China. The newly formed sales team has started their activities on first of July 2015

SSM will modify their sales structure, in order to strengthen their position in the market of the P.R. China. The main objective is to get closer to their customers, without the use of any agency as intermediary. In this process, their longstanding sales representative in China, Mr. Steven Lin, is promoted to the position of Sales Director China.

Mr. Lin will lead a newly formed sales team with the existing and new sales managers. This new organization is effective as of July 1st, 2015.

Despite the competitive situation in the textile machinery business, SSM has been able to maintain its market leadership and to excel within the holding company Schweiter Technologies. SSM will continue to strengthen its personnel, thereby retaining strong market position.

SSM wishes Mr. Steven Lin lots of success in his new function and responsibility. 
 

Stable World Cotton
Trade Expected in 2015/16
 

World cotton imports are projected to remain unchanged at 7.6 million tons in 2015/16. While China is likely to remain the world’s largest importer in 2015/16, its imports are forecast to fall by 12% to 1.6 million tons. This represents 30% of its peak volume of imports in 2011/12. In 2015, the Chinese government restricted imports to the minimum volume required by the World Trade Organization to encourage mills to purchase domestic cotton. In July and August 2015, it sold nearly 60,000 tons from its reserve, but still holds 11 million tons. Given the large volume of production and reserves, imports are likely to be restricted again in 2016. Meanwhile, imports by other countries are expected to grow 4% to 5.8 million tons. Imports in Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Indonesia, the next three largest importing countries, are all projected to grow in 2015/16. Bangladesh imports are forecast to increase 1% to 972,000 tons while Vietnam’s imports are forecast up 2% to 956,000 tons. After decreasing in 2013/14, Indonesia’s imports recovered 13% to 735,000 tons in 2014/15, and are expected to increase 6% to 782,000 tons in 2015/16. The United States is forecast to lead in export volume, although its exports are projected down 9% to 2.2 million tons due to a smaller volume of production in 2015/16. After declining 48% in 2014/15, India’s exports may recover 34% to 1.2 million tons. Exports in the next three largest exporting countries are likely to decrease due to reductions in their exportable surplus. Brazil’s exports are forecast down 10% to 766,000 tons, Uzbekistan’s down 5% to 565,000 tons and Australia’s down 10% to 467,000 tons.

World cotton area is projected to fall 7% to 31.1 million hectares in 2015/16 due to significantly lower cotton prices in 2014/15. As a result, world cotton production is expected to fall by 9% to 23.8 million tons. India’s cotton area is estimated down 5% to 11.6 million hectares, and production down 2% to 6.4 million tons. China’s cotton production is set to decline by 16% to 5.4 million tons due to a 12% reduction in area and a 5% decrease in the average yield as a result of unfavorable weather. After a 24% expansion in 2014/15, cotton area in the United States has receded 13% to 3.3 million hectares with production declining 11% to 3.2 million tons. Pakistan’s production is projected down 11% to 2.1 million.

World cotton consumption could grow 2% in 2015/16 to 25 million tons with consumption growth remaining flat or slowing in many countries compared with last season. Consumption in China, the largest cotton consuming country, is expected to remain flat in 2015/16 at 7.7 million tons. India’s consumption growth is expected to slow to 3%, reaching 5.6 million tons, while Pakistan’s consumption growth remains steady at 2%, reaching 2.6 million tons. 
 

Source: ICAC

HeiQ presents seven new enhanced
sustainable textile finishing products at ITMA

Throughout its ten years of business, the Swiss textile innovator HeiQ has constantly strived for utmost product performance while simultaneously keeping sustainability as its guiding star. At this year's ITMA Milan exhibition, HeiQ will present seven performance enhanced textile technologies including environmentally-friendly water-repellency, its enhanced dynamic cooling technology and long-lasting odor control as well as the CO2 and water saving dyeing accelerator DYEFAST.

Performance and sustainability are at the heart of HeiQ's innovation expertise. HeiQ has developed a full range of successful high-performance textile effects in the past decade, which recently led to the recognition of HeiQ as one of the Top 10 McKinsey ETH Venture start-ups of the last decade. In terms of sustainability HeiQ has repeatedly been proven to be one step ahead with OilguardHeiQ launched a clean-tech product for beach protection in 2010 and was awarded the Swiss Technology Award and the European Environmental Press Award. In 2012, HeiQ was one of the first to pioneer fluorocarbon-free durable water-repellent(DWR) technologies, and in summer 2015 HeiQ launched the CO2 and water saving dyeing accelerator DYEFAST. HeiQ stands for globally compliant products and a commitment for sustainable chemistry within the standards of Oekotex and bluesign.

At this year's ITMA, taking place from 12-19 November 2015 in Milan, Italy, HeiQ will present the latest performance enhancements of its core product families and will convey the sustainability of each of its technologies.

Widely adoptedfluorine-free water repellent finish BARRIER ECO was one of the first of its kind and offers competing performance and durable results. This technology is blue sign approved and one of the best in its class. HeiQ focuses fully on fluorine-free DWR solutions, a choice supported by research and development investments of CHF 3 million over the next 2 years to push performance results even further. At ITMA, HeiQ will present the performance enhanced version of its sustainable fluorine-free DWR technology, an all-round product applicable to all fiber types. In addition, new formulations specifically developed for cotton and polyester will be launched.

Its dynamic cooling technology, ADAPTIVE, is HeiQ's most successful technology and has been applied globally to over 300 million consumer products for performance brand partners like Hanes, Champion, New Balance, Skins, Canterbury of New Zealand and Kjus. At ITMA, HeiQ will launch a new ADAPTIVE product version specifically designed for cotton and one for synthetics to further boost the cooling and moisture control performance potential.

HeiQ's odor control technology PURE will be extended with performance enhanced and optimized products, developed to minimize cost, chemical usage and wastewater for the technical application in padding and exhaust. PURE offers the best durability and odor control performance available on the market while being compliant with global regulatory standards and beating other technology providers on costs. HeiQ provides the full range of testing services and capabilities including technical support and performance testing. PURE-treated textiles keep unpleasant odors at bay, are washed less frequently and help to reduce the environmental footprint of the treated garments.

HeiQ delivers environmentally sound textile effects but also revolutionary processing technologies, such as the recently launched DYEFAST. DYEFAST enables a faster polyester dyeing procedure leading to a better dyed product, 1/3 less energy and 1/3 less water consumption and 1/3 reduced carbon footprint. Process-time savings of 33% is a direct outcome of the utilization of this green technology which has the potential to revolutionize polyester dyeing and save up to 50 million tons of CO2emissions per year.

At ITMA, HeiQ will unveil the specific details for each of these technologies, from 12-19 November 2015, booth number H8-E105. Additionally, HeiQ's CTO Prof. Dr. Murray Height will give a deep knowledge presentation about “Water repellency without fluorine Learning from Nature” at the Textile Colourant and Chemical Leaders Forum on 14 November, held in parallel to the ITMA show. 

The global garment and apparel industry is now focusing its energies on South Asia. As garment manufacturing shifts from China to South Asia, the potential for intra-regional trade is growing exponentially.

Realising there is a need for an international textile sourcing show in the South Asian region, Intex South Asia was created with the sole purpose of converging the South Asian industry by bringing together suppliers and buyers from across South Asia on one single networking platform. Intex South Asia is the first and only 'International Yarn, Apparel Fabric & Accessories Trade Fair' in South Asia promoting intra-regional trade.

Sri Lanka is the location of choice for the show because its politically neutral status ensures a conducive business environment for entrepreneurs from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh to meet and do business together. In the near future these traits could see Sri Lanka transform into the central business district for South Asia.

Created with a global objective, Intex South Asia is attracting international suppliers to the show as they are increasing their focus on the South Asian market. Their interests lie in the fact that South Asia manufactures 80% of the world's brands and is considered the next garmenting hub of the world. It is also recognised as one of the best manufacturing, sourcing and distribution destinations for garments, textiles, accessories and finish. India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka & Pakistan together exported garments worth US$ 49 billion in 2014-15 and are expected to reach US$ 84 billion by 2020.
South Asia is also the fastest growing region in the world its economy expanding by 6% in 2015 & 6.4% in 2016 and has the largest youth population in the world. Giving an insight, Ms. Arti Bhagat, Director, Worldex India says, "A purchase of just one extra garment by South Asia's 487 million fashion conscious youth would instantly lead to consumption of 974 million garments a year. Imagine the potential."

South Asia is therefore on a seamless and relentless process of setting up a unique platform to accomplish global growth through superior quality, incomparable turnaround time and adoption of state-of-the-art technology.

Intex South Asia is the only international sourcing textile show in the region connecting global exhibitors from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, China, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia and more.

Intex South Asia is co-organised by Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), in association with Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF); Sri Lanka Apparel Exporters Association (SLAEA); Sri Lanka Apparel Sourcing Association (SLASA); Sri Lanka Apparel Brands Association (SLABA); Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PRGMEA); Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF); Tirupur Exporters' Association (TEA), Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI); The Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (TEXPROCIL) and the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SGCCI).

Major product exhibits include yarns like Acrylic, Cotton, Viscose, Synthetic, Carded, Combed, Ring Spun, Linen, Polyester, Nylon, Wool, Textured, Viscose Rayon, Filament Yarn, Fancy, Poly/Cotton, Blended, Open-end Yarns, Ply Yarns, elastic, etc. Fabrics like Cotton, Knitted, Woven, Printed, Hosiery, Blended, Dyed, Jacquard, Poly/wool, Poly/viscose, Functional, Linen, Denim, Satin, Greige, Organic, Voile, Poly/Cotton, Textured, Chiffon, Silk, Jute, Georgette, etc. and accessories manufacturers. Accessories include Lace, Embroidery, Trimmings, Buttons, Stamping foil, Tape, Labels, Elastic, Cord, Ribbons, Rivets, Velcro, Motifs, Interlining, Zippers, etc.

Buyers can mark this show on their calendar, understanding that Intex South Asia is the place to be at, meet at and do business at. 

 

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