Corporate News

BARMAG
ACQUISITION OF IWKA WINDER TECHNOLOGY
Barmag, a subsidiary of Saurer GmbH & Co. KG, is augmenting its proven program of winders by purchasing all internationally valid rights and patents for elastomer winders from Zentes Unitex Textile Machinery GmbH & Co. KG in Ettlingen.
With this strategic expansion of its product portfolio, Barmag anticipates technological synergy effects and the creation of a basis for further developments in the production of elastane fibers. The proven IWKA technology winders are designed for winding up to 16 filaments per position, with a range of between 11 and 120 dtex and at a maximum speed of 1,300 m/min.
The utilization of elastic filaments made from polyurethane (Spandex) when manufacturing yarns and textile fabrics has experienced huge growth over the last three years. Today, elastic filaments are no longer solely used for selected jerseys and hosiery, they are also increasingly a component of many textiles used in the apparel industry. This development, particularly with the large Asian textile manufacturers, is accompanied by a considerable increase in the production capacities.
Barmag will carry out the product marketing through its subsidiary Barmag Spinnzwirn in Chemnitz, which is already marketing the newly developed ELCOsin winder. Barmag will, also for modernization investments, continue to produce elastomer winders from the former IWKA program.
Providing customers with spare parts for all types of IWKA elastomer and POY winders to date will still be carried out by Zentes Unitex Textile Machinery GmbH & Co. KG in Ettlingen.

BARCO
launch OF wireless monitoring systems
Barco successfully launches wireless monitoring systems for textiles and plastics industries. Valeo Laval (France), Ideal Floorcoverings (Belgium) and Polimoon (Belgium) have opted for Barco wireless monitoring systems. Thanks to the Barco-designed wireless data collection terminals, production data can be collected, accessed and modified over Ethernet
Traditionally, production machines are connected with the monitoring system through cables. This wiring often proves to be a complex exercise for a plant engineer and makes it difficult to move or reconfigure production machines.

WeaveMaster by Barco
offers Converter Set for Loomdata.

New types of machinery often have an Ethernet connection to collect production data on the local network. But for existing machines that do not have an Ethernet connection, Barco has developed a family of stand-alone data collection terminals. This family of terminals can be used with Barco's production quality management solutions for the plastics (BarcoCIM) and textiles (WeaveMaster) industries.

DATATEX
fabric inspection sOFTWARE
AKIN producer of yarn dyed fabrics in the Turkish textile industry, has implemented CATS as part of a new automated visual inspection system.
CATS - Computer Aided Textile Supervision is the Datatex solution for cloth inspection, providing full management of the inspection process, including a highly effective cut optimization tool. It is part of the datatex ERP solution specific for the textile and apparel industries.
Akin has implemented the datatex ERP textile solution, taking full advantage of planning tools and scalable manufacturing modules, through the entire company.
CATS manages the full integration of the ERP, the existing machinery, and the new automated vision inspection system. It provides a flexible solution for Inspection and Data Collection, which can be tailored for datatex ERP as well as other ERP implementations. Its open architecture allows integrating rapidly to any other solution. The datatex ERP for textile is a suite of modules divided into the various functional areas of management such as sales, inventory control, manufacturing, planning, costing and quality management. The Datatex software for textile and apparel is adaptable to small and very large companies, producing any part of the supply chain from fiber to garment.

INVISTA
spandex production IN China
Invista, previously known as DuPont Textiles & Interiors (DTI) and recently acquired by subsidiaries of Koch Industries, has formed a wholly-owned company in China and signed a letter of intent with Foshan Plastics Group Co, Ltd to develop a new spandex production plant in the country and is expected to become the largest spandex producer in China by 2006.
The company would invest more than US$100 million in the new facility in Foshan, Guangdong. Jeff Walker, chairman and CEO of INVISTA said,"With its entry to the World Trade Organization and the likely elimination of the textile quota system, China's global lead in apparel production will continue to grow," said Walker. "As the world's leading producer of spandex we want to ensure INVISTA remains the leader in this industry.
"We are planning to install state-of-the-art production technology in Foshan to provide 12 kilotons of annual capacity when construction is completed in 2006. That will establish our production lead in China and take our spandex capacity across Asia to more than 50 kilotons."
The new plant will be the largest foreign investment ever made in Guandong's fiber industry and the single largest foreign investment in Foshan. Production efficiencies at the new Invista plant give it the lowest unit cost of any spandex producer.
Bill Ghitis, Invista Global Apparel President said, "With this expansion we will be able to increase product availability, capitalize on our innovative technology and offer products specifically designed to meet the quality and specifications of local fabric producers”.
"We have been active in the Chinese market for several years now, with fully-fledged production, sales and marketing programs. LYCRA brand is already recognized by the female consumers in major cities in China and brand investment has more than doubled in the past year with increased programs beyond Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou."
Last year Invista announced expansion in Lian Yun Gang with its joint venture partner and tripled capacity at its Qing Pu site in Asia with approximately 15 kilotons of new capacity. Some of the best-known global brands and trademarks in the industry include: LYCRA®, STAINMASTER®, ANTRON®, COOLMAX®, THERMOLITE®, CORDURA®, SUPPLEX®, TACTEL®, and in the specialty chemicals business: CORFREE®, DYTEK®, ADI-Pure® and TERATHANE®. Brands formerly marketed through the KoSa line include: Polarguard®, ESP®, Avora®FR, and Terate®Polyols.

Koch Industries
Koch Industries, Inc. is a privately held company based in Wichita, Kansas that owns a diverse group of companies which operate in more than 50 countries in core industries such as trading, petroleum, chemicals, natural gas, gas liquids, asphalt, fibers and intermediates, minerals, fertilizers, pulp and paper, chemical technology equipment, ranching, securities and finance, as well as in other ventures and investments.
Aalia Talpur, marketing communications manager, said, “Invista Dupont Pakistan Operations is one of the leading companies in the Textiles business in Pakistan. with global consumer brands like LYCRA®. We work with all the main apparel textiles manufacturers to help them add value and upgrade their products for export market. In addition, with the help of our retail account managers in US & Europe, we also promote their products to the all the major retailers and brand houses”.

NSC
Tailor-made Service Packages
All customers have production imperatives which are specific to them. NSC services’ mission is to meet these requirements effectively and economically, by offering its customers "Service Packages".
NSC services offers its customers - not only case by case interventions - but also a global solution for ongoing support of equipment including specifically:
· Technical support: audits and repair of machines and standard factory rebuilt replacement kits, where applicable.
· level 2 preventative maintenance follow-up: scheduled interventions, whether weekly or monthly.
· training programmes customized and adapted to the needs of the customer personnel.
· Technical consultancy, ranging from preparatory tests in NSC laboratories to assistance in fine-tuning industrial scale operations on the customer's own production lines.
The service can be adapted to suit the needs of each customer and involves a working partnership.
For more than one year, especially adapted packages have been set up and implemented for several European customers. By preparing a maintenance plan meeting objectives agreed jointly with the customer allows proper scheduling of maintenance operations and ensures savings in terms of:
· continuity of operation,
· reduction in the cost of downtime caused by breakdowns
· financial savings on the cost of curative maintenance.
To fulfill all the provisions of its Service Packages, NSC services relies not only on its own team of engineers and technicians, but also on a local network of technicians.
These local networks offer a two-fold advantage: not only physical and cultural proximity, but also fast reaction times with obvious savings for customers. NSC Services will also be ISO certified by mid 2004.

REVIRA
Reliance acquireS Trevira Europe
Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL), Mumbai announced that it has reached an agreement with Deutsche Bank AG (DB), Frankfurt to acquire the Trevira Group (Trevira), Hattersheim.
Trevira is a leading producer of branded polyester fibres in Europe with a manufacturing capacity of 130,000 tons per annum (polyester staple fibres and filament yarns) spread over four locations in Europe namely Bobingen and Guben (Germany), Silkeborg (Denmark) and Quevaucamps (Belgium). In addition, it has state-of-the-art research and development (R&D) facilities. The agreement to acquire Trevira is subject to certain conditions, including the receipt of regulatory approval from the European Union. This acquisition, when consummated, will be the second international acquisition by RIL and the first international acquisition in polyester.
Commenting on this development Mr. Subodh Sapra, President, Polyester Sector, RIL said: "We are delighted that Trevira is our first overseas polyester acquisition. We expect that the strong commitment of Reliance to the growth of polyester and our integration into polyester raw materials, will help both Trevira and Reliance to serve all our customers in Europe and other world markets with superior polyester products and even better supply chain services".
Bernd Sassenrath, CEO Trevira, said: The combination of Reliance and Trevira creates a global leader in polyester fibre and will significantly strengthen Trevira's competitive position going forward. We envisage that this transaction will enable Trevira not only to benefit from the access to new markets and raw materials sources but also to leverage the Trevira brand and contribute our marketing skills and technology in specialty polyester fibres”.
Trevira is a highly specialized manufacturer of polyester products. The company has several valuable patents and technologies together with a strong R&D setup with substantial accumulated research knowledge. Trevira is the market leader in Europe in high value applications of polyester, especially in automotive and home textiles.

Largest polyester capacity
With the acquisition of Trevira and RIL's expansion underway in India, the combined total polyester fibre and filament yarn capacity will exceed 1.5 mn tons, the largest polyester capacity in the world. RIL's strength in the integration and the management of large scale manufacturing facilities will provide operational advantage to Trevira. The Trevira brand and products will now have access through the established RIL sales network to India, one of the fastest growing textiles markets in the world.
About Reliance Group
The reliance Group founded by Shirubhai H. Ambani ( 1932-2002) is India's largest business house with total revenues of over Rs. 99,000 crore (US$ 22.6 billion), cash profit of Rs. 12,500 crore (US$ 2.8 billion), net profit of Rs. 6,200 crore (US$ 1.4 billion) and exports of Rs. 15,900 crore (US$ 3.6 billion).
The Groups's activities span exploration and production (E & P) of oil and gas, refinding and marketing petrochemicals (polyester, polymers and intermediates), textiles, financial services and insurance, power, telecom and infocom initiatives. The Group exports its products to more than 100 countries the world over. Reliance emerged as India's Most Admired Business House, for the third successive year in a TNS Mode survey for 2003.
Reliance Group revenue is equivalent to 3.5% of India's GDP. The Group contributes 9.4% of the country's indirect tax and 6.1% of india's exports. Reliance is trusted by an investor family of 3.5 million - India's largest.
India’s largest private company
Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) (www.ril.com) is India's largest private sector company on all major financial parameters with gross turnover of Rs. 74,418 crore (US$ 17 billion), cash profit of Rs. 9,197 crore (US$ 2.1 billion), net profit of Rs. 5,160 crore (US$ 1.2 billion), net worth of Rs. 34,452 crore (US$ 7.9 billion) and total assets of Rs. 71,157 crore (US$ 16.3 billion).
RIL emerged as the only Indian company in the list of global companies that create most value for their shareholders, published by financial Times based on a global survey and research conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2004. RIL features in the Forbes global list of world's 400 best big companies and in FT Global 500 list of the world's largest companies. RIL emerged as the `Best managed Company in India in a study by business Today and A.T. Keamey in 2003. The company emerged India's biggest wealth creator' in the private sector over a 5-year period in a study by Business Today - Stem stewart in 2004.
Courtesy: Trevira GmbH,
Marketing & Sales/Communications

LONATI
VIGNONI AND MEC-MOR Another Synergy inside Lonati Group

SANTONI (the knitting division of the giant mechanic and textile LONATI) has decided to unify under the same flag all brands relative to big diameter circular knitting machines, in this case Vignoni and Mec-Mor.Vignoni, founded in 1982, soon becomes one of the greatest and dynamic manufacturer of circular machines for the production of fabrics by metre.
With over twenty years of experience in the textile world at international level, in the lastest years has consolidated its fame of leader in research and development and patents innovative solutions among which the introduction of OPEN, for the cut of fabrics inside the machine directly, and the most recent TECNOLOGY EV, born for simplifying the contol of production cycle.
Mec-Mor has its origins in 1965 as manufacturer of hosiery machines, but towards the end of the sixties began to produce the new original and innovative model VARIATEX which gives the possibility to manufacture an open fabric whose width may vary and with an edge for the pullover production and outwear knitting in general. Both companies have been purchased by Santoni (Lonati Group) in 1998 and today the choice of joining them has a synergy of the technical and commercial skills of these two companies by centralizing planning activities and production in one plant only. (Source: thefastportal.com)

USTER TECHNOLOGIES
Innovation Award for the USTER FABRISCAN ON-LOOM

Uster Technologies has received Textile World's 2004 Innovation Award for the USTER FABRISCAN ON-LOOM. The American textile magazine honors every four years, after ITMA, the most exiting innovations for the textile industry.
"The Textile World 2004 Innovation award recognizes industry leaders that have developed and are producing technologies that make the difference in plants around the world".
We could not say it any better. It is and always will be our ambition to excite the textile industry with breakthrough innovations and outstanding standards that help our customers to produce textiles of superior quality, greater value and at lower costs. After the Innovation Award 1999 for the USTER QUANTUM CLEARER it is the second award that USTER received for its outstanding product developments.

Online Sourcing Website Launched For Trade Only Suppliers

In response to continued industry demand a unique website, www.tradedirector-e.com, has been launched to promote wholesalers, manufacturers and distributors of corporate wear, industrial workwear, promotional and accessories to trade only suppliers worldwide.
The business-to-business site includes a thorough directory incorporating clothing, accessories, equipment, fabrics, promotional items and surplus stock, as well as an up to the minute news and information service, which can be searched after a free registration process. In keeping with company ethos, members can quickly find the information they require in three clicks of a mouse.
www.tradedirector-e.com was designed and created by leading industry figures to serve the needs of trade only suppliers. It follows the successful introduction of fabric specific sister site www.fabricdirector-e.com, and the prosperous continuance of corporate clothing counterpart www.director-e.com.
"www.tradedirector-e.com allows trade only suppliers to search for and locate specific and relevant wholesalers, manufacturers and distributors of anything from aprons to ties to hats and protective wear, quickly and easily to assess which would best serve their individual needs.