WEKO, Weitmann & Konrad GmbH & Co. KG, a leading German company in functional finishing equipments for printing, nonwoven, tissue, and textile finishing, has launched latest non-contact, minimum application system that allows applying minimal amounts of liquid, with high precision on nonwovens, with more savings of chemicals, energy, and production times. Manufacturers and finishers of high-quality nonwovens offer a large selection of different functionalisations, for example hydrophilic, hydrophobic, antimicrobial, perfuming, flame-retardant, dirt-repellent, or smoothing finishings. Liquid, water- based dispersions applied to the nonwovens are usually used for these functionalisations. The application system by WEKO offers high production and cost benefits compared to conventional application methods. Using the slogan ‘Don’t play – work with precision’, WEKO positions itself on the international market with a high-precision system that applies finishing chemicals on the nonwoven web in exactly metered quantities and absolutely clean without gimmicks and wasting resources. Finest micro-droplets are generated with the WEKO application system and then applied to the web by kinetic energy. Even smallest amounts of liquid can be applied to webs up to 7 metres wide, uniformly and consistently. The liquid applied mostly consists of water and the actual ingredients that give the functional properties. Because water needs to be diverted again, the amount and cost of the chemicals are in direct relationship to the drier energy. The WEKO system can control the application quantity so that the desired function of the finishing is reliably provided while reducing the amount of liquor required to a minimum. WEKO application systems work contactless. The web remains dimensionally stable, both in length and width, and retains its original volume. Compared to touch and roller systems, the nonwoven web is not stretched by system-related tensile forces and does not require squeezing through rubber rollers either. Liquid application can be freely selected depending on the configuration of the system. Hydrophobic applications can be applied to one side, for example, to facilitate lamination of the back side. WEKO application systems also score very well when it comes to sustainability. The capacity of the liquor tanks is variable and can be chosen according to the respective application conditions. Only a small amount of residual liquor is generated. Non-contact application also prevents fibres, particles or pigments from being carried over into the downstream application liquors.

Gerber Technology, a leader in integrated software and automated solutions for the apparel and industrial markets, has announced that Rich Colburn, simulation engineer at the company, will speak at the Blender Conference 2016 on October 28 in Amsterdam. Blender is a suite of free, open-source 3D content creation software created by global network of users. Blender software, supported by the Dutch non-profit organisation Blender Foundation, is also the rendering engine behind Gerber’s AccuMark 3D technology. Colburn’s talk, titled ‘Blender as a Garment Design Tool’, will highlight the ways Blender can be utilised by the fashion industry. His presentation will provide an in-depth look at Gerber’s latest innovations in 3D and the company’s work with fashion designer Danit Peleg, who used AccuMark 3D powered by Blender to support visualisation, animation and simulation in the creation of a five-piece line of 3D printed garments. Peleg recently partnered with Gerber to help the company develop and evolve its YuniquePLM and AccuMark line of products in their efforts to make it easy for anyone in the world to design, produce and sell great products and get from concept to market quickly and seamlessly. Colburn is a veteran Blender Conference presenter. Last year, he discussed how his work at Gerber was leveraging Blender to create virtual cloth, a key to transforming the design process. His 2016 talk will take a deeper dive into the ways fashion designers can use technology such as Blender and AccuMark 3D to design, create and modify digital clothing. “One of the most amazing things about Blender is its versatility,” Colburn says. “This software has uses in just about every industry imaginable. Gerber is using Blender to create tools that accelerate and improve the clothing development process for both traditional and 3D printed clothing. With 3D, designers can create and adjust virtual sample garments and use animated characters to model them, saving vast amounts of time and costly materials.” Other events on the schedule for Blender Conference 2016 include an animated film festival; workshops focused on using the software to create art and video games; French- and Italian-language roundtable discussions; panel discussions; and an ‘ask us anything’ session with Blender’s core development team. Held annually in Amsterdam, the three-day Blender Conference draws hundreds of visitors from a wide variety of industries, including fashion, automobile design, animation, sports, gaming and more.

Invista’s Cordura brand and Marlane, a leading producer of fabrics collaborated to make the new Cordura Combat Wool fabric apt for making elegant casualwear. They have also unveiled the Officina Endurance by Marlane Fall 2016 collection of the new wool fabric for menswear, crafted to merge fashion and function in the contemporary suiting market. The Cordura Combat Wool woven fabric offers enhanced abrasion resistance and longevity, and brings soft comfort and high performance to the dynamic professional’s wardrobe. As for the Officina Endurance collection, it is the epitome of fashion meets function for the modern male. The new portfolio of fabrics is designed for garments that can keep professionals feeling top-notch, well-groomed and comfortable in every situation. “Cordura Combat Wool fabrics are designed not only to look fashionable, but to function comfortably – making them an ideal choice for the stylish professional on-the-go. Marlane is a prestigious addition to our family of Cordura brand authorised mills. Based on their highly innovative approach to cutting-edge suiting fabrics, we are excited about the opportunities this collaboration will bring in the emerging world of performance wool,” said Cindy McNaull, global Cordura brand and marketing director. “Our mill has a young, contemporary target market, and we believe that Cordura brand’s innovative characteristics and performance are appealing to this group. Our Officina Endurance collection of Cordura Combat Wool fabrics offer a sophisticated yet traditional look and feel, with a technical edge that is an exciting option for designers developing stylish apparel for young urbanites,” said Patrick Lonn Wennberg, sales and marketing director, Marlane. The Officina Endurance range of Cordura Combat Wool fabrics was recently showcased at the Milano Unica China trade fair held in Shanghai.