National
News
- February 2006
Bozeman , MT , January 12, 2006 (TextileWeb) — Imagine
a world where software helps us to make brighter inventions
and gets new products to market faster. That world is upon
us at US Army Natick Soldier Center where a new software
product developed by TEXbase of Bozeman, Mont., was developed
and tested. The software can reduce direct labor by 55
percent and greatly improve the speed with which new textiles
can be engineered for Army use.
TEXbase software is currently hosted through subscription
via the Internet, but for security reasons, Natick wanted
to evaluate a version of the software that was installed
on its premises, which ensured internal control of its
database. Through a special collaboration called a CRADA
(cooperative research and development agreement), the TechLink
Center , a Department of Defense funded technology transfer
organization, brokered the partnership between TEXbase
and the Natick Soldier Center for joint development and
testing of an installed version of the proprietary Advanced
Textiles R&D software. One of the Natick Soldier Center
missions is to assure a material edge for the 21st century
warfighter, and it has responsibility for developing advanced
textiles for personal comfort and protection, and for integration
of textiles into battlefield systems.
Under the cooperative R&D agreement TEXbase supplied
its novel software, installed the database, and provided
training in its use to the lab personnel. Natick provided
feedback on the utility, functionality, and special needs
of the laboratory and helped TEXbase customize its product
for the site. In the latest analysis of the project, the
TEXbase Advance Textiles R&D software had improved
Natick 's speed of R&D, project reporting, and analytical
capabilities of management. The net effect of these improvements
is an increase in the efficiency of operation and a reduction
in the overall cost of engineering new materials for the
Army.
TEXbase was also able to introduce and implement tablet
PC compatibility along with the Advanced Textiles R&D
software for Natick . Tablet PCs allow users to directly
input information into a personal computer by using a pen
to enter data on a special computer tablet. The use of
the tablet PC completely eliminates paper and pencil and
removes an en! tire step in the project reporting process.
Overall, the step-saving software and tablet PC compatibility
resulted in a 55 percent reduction in direct labor required
to test, document, calculate, and report findings in the
engineering of new Army materials.
For TEXbase, the joint R&D project with the Army
helped the company to create an installed version of its
software and improve its overall usability and functionality
with specific feedback from Natick . The improvements were
made to what TEXbase calls its "Lab Data Manager" solution,
one of six different solutions for textile professionals
in all parts of the textile development supply chain, from
raw material manufacturers to brand name wholesalers.
TEXbase serves customers in six countries and clients
throughout the material development supply chain. Its customers
include polymer (raw material) and fabric manufacturers,
as well as brand owners.
OH, December 27, 2005 (PRNewswire) - Cintas Corp., the
biggest U.S. supplier of workplace uniforms, posted a lower-than-expected
quarterly profit, citing rising energy prices and business
interruptions caused by this year's hurricanes.
Earnings rose 6 percent to $78 million, or 46 cents per
share, in the second quarter, ended November 30, from $73.6
million, or 43 cents per share, a year earlier.
Analysts on average expected profit of 48 cents per share,
according to Reuters Estimates.
Sales rose 10.4 percent to $835.8 million, slightly ahead
of forecasts.
The Cincinnati-based company said results "have
taken the full brunt of the negative impact of the hurricanes" in
the U.S. Gulf Coast. It said it has not yet settled with
its insurance company over losses and is not certain when
a deal may be reached.
Cintas also said it expects continued cost pressures
from energy, despite the recent retreat in the price of
gasoline.
It said it expects 2006 earnings in a range of $1.93
to $2 per share, compared with $1.96 expected. It estimated
2006 sales between $3.35 billion and $3.45 billion. Analysts
expect $3.39 billion in full-year sales.
December 29, 2005 (Investor’s Business Daily) -
Two upstart companies look to give new meaning to the term "power
suit."
Konarka Technologies and Textronics are developing clothing
that could double as a source of energy. The goal is to
create designer outfits that tap light rays to power personal
electronic devices.
A blouse, handbag or jacket might soon become the source
of power for cell phones, music devices, computers and
game players, explains Daniel McGahn, Konarka's chief marketing
officer.
"This is a matter of how to best integrate the power
solution into the garment," he said.
Konarka of Lowell, Mass., makes novel power plastics
that convert light into useful energy. Its polymer strips
can be attached to goods or even printed out like labels.
"We envision being able to print (power plastics)
in patterns -- to place them in the reoccurring patterns
of fashion brands," McGahn said. "In this way,
we could literally create the power of the brand."
Wilmington, Del.-based Textronics, meanwhile, is an electro-textile
maker. That means it develops fabrics that can conduct
or sense energy. Textronics is working on prototypes of
electronic outdoor wear that can heat up chilly campers
and hikers.
The partnership to create wearable power draws on the
core strengths of both Konarka and Textronics, says Stacey
Burr, chief executive of Textronics.
"We provide the interconnection or interface between
Konarka's power sources and traditional textiles," she
said.
Wearable power also holds potential for the military
and service sectors. Soldiers could lighten their loads
by carrying fewer heavy batteries into battle. And service
workers might simply plug their tools into their uniforms
while working.
The concept is made possible by new breakthroughs in
material science and nanotechnology. Nanotech exploits
the unusual properties of matter and energy at the molecular
scale.
Nanotech is used to engineer organic compounds that make
up Konarka's power plastics. The technology converts any
light input into a useful stream of electric current.
But in order to succeed, such a high-tech idea must appeal
to regular consumers -- not just geeks, says McGahn. He
envisions power sources that blend seamlessly with cool-looking
clothes.
"We're trying to change the impression out there," he
said. "Because when most people think of solar power,
they envision satellites or something. We want to go from
the aesthetic standpoint of being strikingly noticeable,
to making it something that someone would actually want
to wear."
Konarka and Textronics are still in the development stage
of their project. They've held early talks with some large
manufacturing and fashion companies, but no distribution
deals are in place.
If marketing partners do sign on, a testing phase would
begin. Actual products could then be rolled out to consumers
within two to three years, Burr says.
"The purpose of our current program is just to prove
the notion," she said.
Burr is confident that wearable power will someday hit
the mass market. There's been an explosion of new personal
devices that require power, she notes. And fabrics are
a natural power source, since they're everywhere.
Fabrics make up about 70% of the items that people come
into contact with each day, Burr says.
"This is an opportunity to look at how people use
fabrics, where they are on the body, and how to take advantage
of that space for power usage," she said.
January 13, 2006 (Arkansasbusiness.com) - Columbia Sewing
Co., which has manufacturing plants at Magnolia and Hope,
has been awarded a five-year, $42.2 million contract to
make uniforms for the Marine Corps.
The company was awarded the contract by the Defense Supply
Center at Philadelphia .
The contract will enable the Magnolia-based company to
create a total of 40 new jobs in the two towns.
The camouflage uniform that the clothing contractor will
make uses a digital pattern and can have woodland or desert
colors.
In 2004 the company was awarded a $2.9 million military
contract to produce 120,000 Iraqi National Guard uniforms.
During the past decade, Columbia has manufactured uniforms
and other necessary clothing for military personnel in
Iraq , Afghanistan and around the world.
Reading, PA, January 2, 2006 - Elbeco Inc. a leading
manufacturer and wholesaler of branded uniforms for public
service agencies, announced today the appointment of TJ
Virk as the company’s new director of product development.
In this position, TJ will oversee the company’s product
development and merchandizing activities, with a focus
on expanding new product initiatives and broadening the
company’s sourcing and supply chain capabilities.
Over the last 18 months Elbeco has introduced a number of new products, utilizing
the most recent innovations in fabric technology. “Elbeco’s history
as the industry’s premier uniform manufacturer is well recognized, and
we have moved aggressively to build upon our fine reputation with other lines
of clothing”, said David Lurio, President of Elbeco. “TJ Virk brings
a unique set of experiences from both within our industry and from outside
that will enable him to offer new ideas and perspectives to our business.”
TJ‘s professional background is strongly anchored in the apparel industry,
with a strong emphasis in sourcing, supply chain management and product development
and merchandizing responsibilities. Prior to joining Elbeco, he was employed
by Key West Collections LLC, a Tampa-based company specializing in clothing
design and production of resort wear.
Spartanburg, SC, January 9, 2006 (TextileWeb) - Spartanburg-based
Milliken & Company ranks as the 38th best company in
Fortune Magazine's annual “100 Best Companies to
Work For” listing. The list and related stories appears
in the January 23 issue of Fortune and at www.fortune.com
. Milliken is the only South Carolina-based company to
make the list.
Additionally, Milliken ranks 15th among mid-sized companies.
“It is no secret that the best companies are made
up of the best people - and we are certainly blessed in
that regard,” stated Dr. Ashley Allen, president
and CEO of Milliken. “Milliken associates have worked
together to build a great place to work, and I am glad
we can all be recognized as the thirty-eighth best company
in America,” continued Allen.
Despite the benefits that companies on the list offer
employees, globalization has made it harder for even the
best of them to treat employees well. "The good news
is that some companies are doing it anyway," says
Fortune Senior Editor-at-Large Geoffrey Colvin in his introduction
to the list. "Extraordinary by definition, America
's 100 Best Companies to Work For have pushed their employee-pleasing
ways further than ever in the past year, blazing a trail
for all organizations wanting to thrive in today's economic
world."
Regarding Milliken, the Fortune web site answers the
profile question of, “What makes it so great?”,
with the following: Employees have great affection for
CEO Roger Milliken, whose family founded this textile company
in 1865. "Thankfully, someone in this country cares
about the American worker and what he stands for," said
one employee.
Milliken has long been a fierce advocate for preserving
American jobs. The Company has faced tough Asian competition
in recent years as part of the embattled textile industry.
Milliken also evokes pride in other ways. “It is
easy to take pride in a company that promotes environmental
stewardship and safety to the degree that Milliken does,” stated
Richard Dillard, director of public affairs. The Company
landfills less than 1% of its waste -- a result of stringent
recycling efforts, and touts an accident incident rate
of only .55 compared to the textile industry average of
4.0 and to 6.6 for all U.S. industries. (Source: US Bureau
of Labor Statistics).
"The 100 Best Companies to Work For" list is
compiled for Fortune by Robert Levering and Milton Moskowitz
of the Great Place to Work Institute in San Francisco ,
based on two criteria: an evaluation of the policies and
culture of each company, and the opinions of the company's
employees. The latter is given more weight; two-thirds
of the total score comes from employee responses to a 57-question
survey which goes to a minimum of 400 randomly selected
employees from each company. More than 100,000 employees
from 466 companies participated in the survey this year,
up from 356 candidate companies last year. It asks about
things such as attitudes towards management, job satisfaction,
and camaraderie within the organization. The remaining
one-third of the score is based on an evaluation of each
company's demographic makeup, pay and benefits programs,
and culture. Companies are scored in four areas: credibility
(communication to employees), respect (opportunities and
benefits), fairness (compensation, diversity), and pride/camaraderie
(philanthropy, celebrations). Companies that are at least
seven years old and have 1,000 or more employees are eligible
for the list.
January 6, 2006 (Cosmetics design.com) - As many of the
global leaders are busy implementing RFID tagging systems
to their product packaging, a study carried out by the
American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) and the
Voluntary Interindustry Commerce Standards Committee (VICS)
finds that a close analysis of the specific retail environment
is vital to success.
The report, which was prepared by Kurt Salmon Associates
(KSA) and entitled ‘Moving Forward with Item-Level
Radio Frequency Identification in Apparel/Footwear,” considers
specific business practices and process impacts of RFID
on manufacturing, distribution, inventory management, store
operations, finance, loss prevention and merchandising
in an effort to help companies determine the correct starting
point for their RFID evaluations.
The point of departure is an in-depth evaluation of the
retail environment, the report highlights. Accordingly,
The report also highlights that a detailed study can create
'significant' payback by determining the correct means
to implement item-level tagging.
“ The results of the white paper indicate
clear benefits for RFID item-level tagging for the apparel
and footwear value chain, especially at the store level.
Companies running pilots are beginning to realize the potential
benefits of this technology,” said Mary Howell, vice
president, industry relations, American Apparel & Footwear
Association.
Although the characteristics of the apparel and footwear
industry vary from that of the personal care industry,
the basic principles to assess the implementation of RFID-tagging
are very similar for all FMCG categories.
Another report finding is that no single upstream process
can absorb the tag and infrastructure investment of RFID.
However, it also pointed out that when combined with retail-level
benefits, costs can be offset by improvements in logistical
and operational efficiencies.
Considering this scenario, it is inevitable that it will
be the manufacturer who will either have to absorb the
cost of investment or somehow pass the cost of RFID tagging
on to the retailer, justifying this by the cost savings
this will present.
Obviously this is a gray area and has already proved
to be a source of confrontation, but with the immense power
of the world’s global retailers, it seems likely
that they will have the bigger say in the matter.
According to Joe Andraski, President and CEO of VICS, “Item-level
RFID has the potential to bring new levels of inventory
visibility and profit improvement, which could not be achieved
through conventional means, across the apparel industry.
We encourage retailers and suppliers who embark on item-level
RFID to responsibly address consumer privacy concerns by
adhering to EPCglobal’s Guidelines for Consumer Privacy.”
Although there is plenty of evidence to suggest that
RFID will benefit both manufacturers and retailers, implementing
systems at a grassroots level has not proved to be so easy.
A recent study by ABI found that RFID manufacturers -
many of them relatively new companies - don't understand
retail; and many retailers don't understand how RFID can
benefit them. This leaves them frustrated and slows down
market adoption, the research company reported.
Despite the problems it seems that RFID will be unavoidable
in the future. Currently the RFID market is estimated to
be worth $1.94 billion, but market research firm IDTechEx
indicates that massive growth is inevitable in the coming
years, which means that by 2015 the industry will eventually
be worth an estimated $25 billion.
January 5, 2006 (Company Release) - Rivers' End ® is
pleased to announce the opening of a new distribution center
in Reno , Nevada for all private label and activewear brands.
The new Reno distribution center will provide:
- A vastly improved 1-day ground shipping radius to
all major cities in California
- 1-day ground shipping to Salt Lake City , Utah and
Las Vegas , Nevada
- 2-day ground shipping to the Pacific Northwest and
Phoenix , Arizona
- A 54% larger facility to allow for deeper inventories
in private label and activewear products
- A streamlined supply chain and greater flexibility
regarding ports of entry
- An expansive showroom
- Will Call pick-up availability
At the same time Rivers' End has closed their Anaheim
, California facility. The city of Anaheim is re-zoning
the land around the Angel's baseball stadium into a high-density
retail and residential area in 2006. As a result, Rivers'
End was not able to renew the lease and was forced to close
the facility at the end of 2005.
Inventory was transferred from Anaheim to Reno during
the month of December. All Rivers' End private label and
activewear brands are available at the new facility.
The new Reno facility is located at: 625 Waltham Way,
#107 , Sparks , NV 89434
Rivers' End Trading is a wholesale distributor of imprintable
apparel and accessories. The Rivers' End brand offers over
100 styles of apparel including outerwear, wovens, sport
shirts, ladies apparel and much more. The new 2006 catalog
offers 15 product brands and features more than 400 imprintable
styles from Fruit of the Loom, Hanes, Jerzees, Gildan,
Storm Creek, Arnold Palmer, Bill Blass, Izod, Outer Banks,
Toppers and Yupoong. New for 2006 is Solar Shield performance
apparel by Rivers' End, NYNE fashion and lifestyle brand
and DRI Duck specialty canvas work wear. The new spring
catalog is available now.
Call 1-800-488-4800 or visit www.riversendtrading.com for your free catalog or additional information on Rivers'
End Trading Company .
February 1, 2006 (Company Release) - Smith & Warren
has launched a new Internet-based dealer site designed
to help authorized dealers streamline their badge business.
The new website, called VBadge, can only be accessed
through Smith & Warren’s homepage, www.smithwarren.com.
It includes a web-based ordering system that makes placing
orders for any Smith & Warren product quick and easy.
VBadge willallow Smith & Warren to cut days
off manufacturing time.
In addition to placing orders, dealers can use VBadge
to track existing orders, to view order history and to
easily reproduce or modify previous orders. By using their
unique assigned logins and passwords, dealers can go on
to VBadge from any computer that has Internet access at
any time.
Smith & Warren dealers who wish to use VBadge should
contact Pat Renz at Smith & Warren at 800-53-BADGE
to get their password and login as well as a guided tour
of the site.
Smith & Warren has been a leading manufacturer of
public safety badges and insignia for over 80 years. Every
Smith & Warren badge is manufactured within three weeks
and comes with a lifetime warranty. Smith & Warren
only sells through authorized dealers and makes all products
in the USA .
Questions or requests for a free catalog can be directed
to: contact@smithwarren.com or 800-53-BADGE.
North Carolina , January 12, 2006 (Washington Times)
-- American Fibers and Yarns Co. had laid off about 400
workers during the past five years, a common story among
textile manufacturers struggling with foreign, especially
Chinese, competition.
But the Chapel Hill , N.C., company
this year is expanding production and adding 25 to 30 jobs
at a factory in Georgia , a slight uptick that reflects
an industry that after years of sharp decline may be steadying.
"Now that our competitors have either exited the yarn business or gone out
of business all together, I end up having to add some jobs back," said Michael
Apperson, president and chief executive of the 500-employee company.
"So what I think you are seeing across the board is an industry consolidation
that is starting to play out," he said.
The U.S. textile and apparel industry added 2,600 jobs in November and December
last year, and factory output stabilized, Labor Department and Federal Reserve
data show.
It is a tiny addition to an industry that shed 787,600 jobs, almost 55 percent
of its work force, from December 1995 to December 2005. But trade groups say
it is a sign that the companies spinning yarn, weaving fabric and sewing clothes
still have life left in them.
"It sends the message that this is not a dying industry," said Cass
Johnson, president of the National Council of Textile Organizations, a Washington
trade group.
Mr. Johnson said American producers won a reprieve as the Bush administration,
at the industry's request, imposed quotas on a range of Chinese-made goods,
and then in November struck a deal to limit imports on 30 product lines for
three years.
U.S. manufacturers complain that China competes unfairly by manipulating
its currency, abusing the environment and paying workers poorly.
"The agreement put the most unfair player in the corner for a while. [It]
made importers realize they couldn't shift everything to China , so it brought
some jobs back," Mr. Johnson said.
Importers, who have resisted efforts to limit trade with China , dispute the
analysis, noting that two months of job increases is too short a time to indicate
any trend, and that figures show textile and apparel purchases by retailers
shifting from China to other Asian producers, not back to the United States
.
"We have absolutely no evidence that shows that the China safeguards have
had any beneficial impact on the U.S. textile industry in terms of increasing
orders and production," said Erik Autor, international trade counsel at
the National Retail Federation.
China exported $19.5 billion in textiles and apparel to the United States through
October, a 58 percent increase from the same time the previous year. Worldwide
imports increased 7.8 percent to $75.7 billion.
Imports from the Caribbean , Central America and Mexico , meanwhile, declined
slightly, while other major suppliers, including India , Indonesia , Pakistan
and Vietnam , saw slight rises.
The steady demand for inexpensive imported clothing and fabric has killed
off scores of U.S. companies, and the shake-out may not be complete.
Dan River Inc., for example, this month confirmed that India 's Gujarat Heavy
Chemicals Ltd. completed the purchase of the Danville , Va. , bedding manufacturer.
City officials expect the elimination of 600 to 1,000 factory jobs as production
moves to India , while about 600 warehouse and white-collar jobs will remain.
It is still not clear if job losses, like those at Dan River , or new hires,
like those at American Fibers and Yarns, will be the rule this year.
Atlantic City (AP), January 6, 2006 (USA Today) — For
want of a vacuum cleaner, the guest room carpets at Trump
Plaza Hotel & Casino stayed dirty.
For want of a dollar, Trump Taj Mahal couldn't add a
hotel tower like its competitors did.
For want of a little novelty, slot players at Trump Marina
took their coin cups next door to the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa.
But luck is turning for Donald Trump's casino company,
which emerged from bankruptcy last spring and is aggressively
trying to make up lost ground. With new management in place
and money to spend, Trump Entertainment Resorts is getting
its houses in order — renovating rooms, adding restaurants
and spending money on employee cafeterias and new uniforms.
Most importantly, it's making money: In its first full
quarter since the Chapter 11 reorganization, Trump Entertainment
made $3.2 million, a paltry sum by casino industry standards
but an indication that the company's fortunes are finally
looking up.
"We're thrilled to death. This is a long time coming," said
Trump Plaza cocktail server Marie Sheehan, a 22-year employee
who says she's getting bigger tips lately because of the
improvements.
The company, which owns three Atlantic City casinos,
struggled for years under the weight of $1.8 billion in
junk-bond debt, with interest payments eating up most of
the cash generated at the slot machines and blackjack tables.
After going public in 1996, it never turned a profit.
Skimping on upkeep and unable to pay for upgrades, the
Trump casinos scraped by at a time when other Atlantic
City casinos were building new hotel towers, opening new
restaurants and sprucing up their entertainment lineups
to woo customers.
At the Plaza, the red ink made for dirty carpets. Housekeepers
had to make do with 45 vacuum cleaners for the 904-room
casino hotel and vacuumed rooms every other day instead
of daily because there weren't enough, company officials
said.
The Chapter 11 reorganization slashed the company's debt,
reduced interest payments on it by $102 million a year
and provided for a $500 million line of credit. It also
provided for changes at the top. Trump, the New York real
estate mogul and star of television's "The Apprentice," ceded
majority control to bondholders and gave up his job as
CEO.
Trump remains chairman of the board, earning $2 million
a year under a contract that calls for him to make at least
six appearances a year promoting his Atlantic City properties.
His replacement as chief executive is James B. Perry,
55, a veteran casino executive known for his ability to
turn around struggling properties.
Since emerging from bankruptcy court protection eight
months ago, Trump Entertainment has been on a spending
spree, spending $32 million to renovate rooms at all three
casinos, revamp the casino floor at Trump Plaza and build
a glitzy new Boardwalk-fronting bar there.
It also jettisoned Trump Indiana , a Gary , Ind. , riverboat,
hoping to focus instead on the big job of updating the
Atlantic City casinos.
"The fact that they showed that profit is a reflection
that good management is paying off," said Dennis Gomes,
a former Trump executive and Tropicana Casino & Resort
president. "But it takes about five years to turn
a company around."
In addition to renovated rooms, the company's flagship
casino — the 1,250-room Trump Taj Mahal — plans
to build a 800-room hotel tower beginning in June. That's
a key element of the turnaround, since overnight guests
typically spend more in casinos than day trippers.
A $25 million upgrade of the Taj Mahal's main concourse
is also planned, along with renovations to the employee
cafeterias at all three casinos, new uniforms for workers
and the use of live music on the Taj's casino floor.
Vacuuming is on the rise, too. Thirty new vacuum cleaners
have been bought at the Plaza, so every room gets vacuumed
every day.
"It's going really well," Trump said. "Business
has been very good. People love the buildings. And the
stock price is up. The numbers are good now, and they'll
get better and better."
Wilmington, MA, January 25, 2006 (Company Release) – UniFirst
Corporation, a leading provider of workplace uniforms
and protective clothing, has announced its two apparel
manufacturing facilities in Mexico have been awarded
ISO 9001:2000 certification following 15 months of
preparation and a two week quality system audit by Perry
Johnson Registrars, an internationally recognized certifying
authority.
The ISO 9001:2000 certification applies to the quality
management systems UniFirst has in place at its plants
in Valles and Ebano in the Mexican state of San Luis Potosi
. Operating under the name Uniformes de San Luis, SS de
CV, a wholly owned subsidiary of UniFirst, the two facilities
manufacture uniforms, work clothing, protective apparel,
flame resistant garments, and related textile products
for customers throughout the United States and Canada .
“Our key manufacturing objective has always been
to provide our customers with the highest quality garments
possible,” said Steve Gaykan, UniFirst Vice President
of Manufacturing. “Being awarded this internationally-recognized
certification underscores our commitment to that objective.
We’re proud of all our Team Partners in Valles and
Ebano for their hard work that enabled achievement of this
certification on our first review.”
Earning ISO 9001:2000 certification required the two
UniFirst manufacturing facilities to extensively document
all their workflow processes—from those used to evaluate
suppliers to those that confirm apparel measuring devices
are accurately calibrated to those used to gauge overall
customer satisfaction. The preparations also included the
creation of detailed training and communication programs
for all Team Partners on maintaining appropriate procedures
for quality control.
Local General Manager Jose Del Angel explained the ISO
9001:2000 certification also validates that UniFirst has
continuous improvement processes in place “to ensure
that we consistently meet or exceed all of our customers’ expectations.” Del
Angel added: “We believe we’re the only major
company specializing in uniform rental that has received
the ISO 9001:2000 certification for their garment manufacturing
facilities. As a result, the certification should give
UniFirst an additional competitive advantage—particularly
with the growing number of companies that give preference
to suppliers who have achieved this quality designation.”
UniFirst, founded in 1936, is a leading supplier of work
clothing, uniforms, and careerwear to businesses of all
sizes and types. The company also provides facility services
cleanliness products, such as restroom items and floor
mats. UniFirst currently serves more than 195,000 customers
throughout the U.S. and Canada and outfits more than 1
million people in their work clothes every business day.
For more information, contact UniFirst at (800) 225-3364
or visit www.unifirst.com
Broken Arrow , OK , January 18, 2006 (PRNewswire) --
E47 Technologies today announced the availability of new
anti-odor/antimicrobial performance fabrics. E47 is the
exclusive licensee of SmartSilver nanotechnology-enhanced
anti-odor additives for fibers and fabrics from NanoHorizons,
Inc. The new E47 fabrics boast permanent anti-odor properties
and are ideally suited for performance apparel, footwear,
sporting goods and industrial products such as helmets,
gloves, uniforms, upholstery and carpets.
E47's new anti-odor fabrics with SmartSilver nanotechnology
are immediately available and are currently being produced
by mills in North America and abroad, including North Carolina
's Cari Fabrics, LLC, Hardwick Knitted Fabrics of Massachusetts
and Colotex Industrial Co. in Taiwan .
Virtually any polyester or cotton fiber and fabric can
be enhanced with permanent anti-odor properties using E47
SmartSilver. E47 fabric costs roughly 30% less per yard
than the "silver" fiber fabrics that do not offer
permanent anti-odor properties.
E47 offers the only high-performance, permanent anti-odor
solution for designers seeking to work with a choice of
fibers and fabrics, including polyester and cotton. Nylon
and polyurethane will also be available shortly. E47's
exceptional and versatile anti-odor performance is derived
from SmartSilver(TM), a nanoscale-engineered additive that
permanently bonds to fibers without altering their native
characteristics. The result is a line of fabrics and fibers
that offer permanent anti-odor properties at less than
half the cost of other effective silver-based offerings.
"Anti-odor fabrics have previously been either too
expensive or ineffective," said JT Griffin, President
and CEO, E47. "E47 was developed from the beginning
to be permanent, versatile and cost-effective. E47's permanent
anti-odor properties set a new benchmark for products ranging
from apparel, sports equipment and industrial fabrics such
as carpets and upholstery."
While silver is a powerful natural antimicrobial, using
it in fabrics has previously presented significant design
challenges. Silver-coated fibers and so-called "nano" silver
powders are difficult to work with and force fabric design
compromises. E47 SmartSilver is the first anti-odor/antimicrobial
solution that safely and permanently transforms virtually
any compatible fabric into an anti-odor fabric with no
impact on dyeability, hand, stretch, strength or other
fabric properties.
E47 is the exclusive licensee of NanoHorizons SmartSilver
additives for fibers and fabrics. SmartSilver is a nanoscale-engineered
additive that permanently bonds to fibers, creating anti-odor/antimicrobial
properties for the life of a wide range of end-products.
SmartSilver was designed from the ground up to solve durability,
manufacturability, safety and cost challenges for products
that require anti-odor/antimicrobial properties. SmartSilver
is scientifically tested for effectiveness, and all products
manufactured using E47 are continually tested for anti-odor
effectiveness.
E47 currently has agreements with Domestic and Asian
mills. Domestic production of E47 fibers and fabrics is
Berry Amendment compliant.
For more information, visit http://www.e47nano.com/
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