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[TC]² Bi-Weekly Technology CommunicatorSporting Goods Manufacturers Association and Technology ConvergenceBy Kim Anderson, Ph.D., [TC]²
The Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association and Technology Convergence was held at the Estancia Resort & Spa in La Jolla, California, on October 24-26. At the international event leaders in the sporting goods industry and leading technology companies came together to learn how technology will impact fitness equipment, sports apparel and accessories.
Dr. Bruner introduced the latest generation, the NX-16, a 4.5 x 4 foot scanner, which will be available in 2007. The newest version has the attributes of the previous scanners with the added bonus of enhanced privacy and a reduction of floor space. Dr. Bruner explained how the scanner is able to collect body measurements, generate a point cloud, reduce the data and extract measurements and patterns in seconds. [TC]²’s scanner technology is being used to develop made-to-measure clothing, assist in initial product development and predict size. Recently, [TC]²’s scanner technology has been used in a variety of health and fitness applications, specifically—body composition and measurement tracking, and shape comparison. Dr. Bruner detailed some of [TC]²’s commercial scanner deployments with Speedo; Novaptus Systems, Incorporated; Lori Coulter; Benchmark Clothiers; and Brooks Brothers.
[TC]² Activity - 2006 Apparel Tech ConferenceBy Kim Anderson, Ph.D., [TC]²
The conference was a dual event, consisting of leading vendors exhibiting in tabletop format and educational seminars. Vendor products focused on services designed to give apparel and retail companies a competitive edge. Educational content included subjects in design; product development; manufacturing; information technology; sourcing; transportation; and retailing. Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) tools were prevalent on the vendor floor as well as a topic of discussion in the educational seminars. PLM packages have been designed to help companies manage and control product data and imagery throughout the supply chain. An added benefit is that companies often see an increase in ‘speed to market.’ Color specifications and communication are notorious bottlenecks in the textile and apparel industries. To minimize potential errors in the color process, Color Lifecycle Management (CLM) tools have been developed and were on display. The major goal is to bring the right color to the market while simultaneously streamlining the product development cycle. Brother® exhibited a digital garment printer. Detailed images can be manipulated in a variety of software packages, then sent to the printer, and printed in less than a minute. Water based pigments are utilized. Designs can be applied to cotton, polyester, silk and wool fibers. The pile and denim printed fabrics that were displayed demonstrated a good ink penetration and soft hand. A new tool designed to integrate consumers into the product development process was introduced. The new tool, dubbed Products Preferred®, is an online system that obtains input from actual consumers in real time. Knowing the consumer’s preferences about color, design placement, style and price could potentially reduce merchandising mistakes, increase adoption rates, save time and money, improve brand equity and increase revenues. Cognis Corp. showed their latest developments in textile finishes. Utilizing the micro encapsulation technology, particles filled with active ingredients are applied to fabrics or garments for long-lasting effects. Cognis Corp. introduced an insect repellent and a sun protective finish. The insect repellent repels mosquitoes, ticks, ants, flies, chiggers and midges. It has no odor and last up to 25 home launderings. Sun Protection Belfasun™ uses nano particles of zinc oxide to protect the wearer from harmful UV rays. Belfasun™ can withstand up to 40 home launderings. Member Profile
Made in Italy Industrial Sewing Machines to Dress the World By Karen Davis, [TC]² Rimoldi of America, based in Miami, Florida, is part of the CF Italia Group, owner of Rimoldi. It is responsible for sales and service of Rimoldi and CF Italia products in the western hemisphere. The Miami location houses a multilingual staff, with sales and technical offices, parts and machine warehouse, workshop, show room, and a training center. CF Italia Group, located in Gallarate near Milan, produces industrial sewing machines “Made in Italy,” with CF Italia and Rimoldi brands, folders, binders, original spare parts and auxiliary devices for these machines. Special sewing machines, the result of years of design and experimentation, are recognized internationally as quality products with solutions for any problem regarding feasibility, productivity and quality. A full line of spare parts are available in-stock, and can usually be shipped out the same day. 2007 will be a year of celebration for Rimoldi - its 125th anniversary. To highlight this occasion, the company will be making new product announcements. An example is the technological renewal of Fenix II, Sirio III and Libra II machines in the first months of 2008. Thanks to production of a new upper arm that will be the same for all models, the quality of machines will be improved and costs will be kept under control.
During 2007 a new line of work stations will be presented: the Vega and Libra for jeans production and the Fenix and Sirio for wide top-stitches (15-20 mm). Rimoldi’s team of experts, including technicians, sample makers and production managers, can oversee all the necessary operations to set-up a sewing line to obtain the quality and production results desired. The company is internationally represented through its extensive network of distributors and agents. In addition to its extensive presence in Europe and Eastern Europe, apart from Rimoldi of America, there is representation in South America, in the Far/Mid/South East Asian Markets, and Africa. For more company details, and to view a complete line of products, visit: http://www.cfrimoldi.com. 2007 [TC]² Summer Student Internship
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SEAMS Fall Networking Conference, Asheboro, NC. Visit www.seams.org for details. |
January 2007
19 |
Deadline for 2007 [TC]² Student Internship applications. |
23-25 |
Colombiatex 2007, Medellin, Colombia. For details, visit www.colombiatex.com. |
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Thanks to the techexchange site sponsors
Apparel Magazine, Gerber Technology, Intentia, Lectra, Methods Workshop and Reach Technologies.
A Look Ahead in the Newsletter
SEAMS Fall Meeting
Colombiatex
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Dr. David Bruner, VP of Technology Development at [TC]², gave a presentation titled Body Scanning and Applications in Sports Apparel and Health/Fitness. Dr. Bruner began the presentation with an overview of the development of [TC]²’s 
The 2006 Tech Conference, produced by Apparel Magazine, was held at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City on November 8th-9th. 
A future product, Digiflex, is a synergy of best practices from leading companies in the textile and garment manufacturing industry that has been transformed into integrated modular software. Each module is tailored on the needs of the customer and can interact with systems already in place. Digiflex is an efficient software tool with monitoring hardware to plan, control and manage in real time textile/garment factories with the aim of efficiency and profit maximization.
