Textile Insight

March/April 2018 ~ Textile Insight • 17 textileinsight.com Schoeller exec Fawn Knadler at the NW Show. Looks from Schoeller's latest active collection. Nike's Lauren Graebner with an alpaca attendee. through to high denier weaves with luscious handfeel and uncompromised movement. 3. Comfort + Performance Sheehan Sales' new etc. MD takes its popular etc. anti-friction material and adds a multi- directional stretch for flexibility against the skin. Poron's new cost-conscious Embrace allows footwear to forgo a sock liner. The memory foam material, most likely to be found in lifestyle and after-sport styles, won't pack out, resulting in maximum comfort and longevity. Texon Vogue washable paper now carries an FSC accreditation, ensuring the product is sourced from responsibly managed forests. New for Texon, its Texon Glacier insulation helps footwear retain heat and block cold. MatMarket's PLEX is offering a 3-layer foam package, produced in Vietnam and China for faster lead times and greater customization from a variety of mills. 4. The Future of 3D Printing and Footwear In the Fall, Lubrizol announced its partnership with HP's Open Materials and Applications Platform to accelerate its Estane Engineered Polymers in 3D Printing. At the NW Materials Show, attendees were able to see and touch components up close. Lubrizol is currently in the proprietary testing phase, looking at longevity and performance, seeing how these 3D components can provide different func- tionality. "3D printing is becoming more and more important," said Gert-Jan Nijhuis, direc- tor global strategic marketing of engineered materials, Lubrizol. "Right now we're not replacing the molded process, but the future could open doors to local manufacturing and very personalized parts." 5. Consumer Powered Arkema, known for its lightweight technical polymers, hopes to make Pebax a household name. The company is launching its consumer- facing brand, aiming to become a sought-after technical element for athletes wanting light- weight, high-energy return and unsurpassed durability. "Consumers are becoming more and more educated in regard to what's in their products, and are seeking out specific technologies," said Ryan Zakszeski, global communications manager, Arkema. "We want to be able to communicate what's inside to the athlete." The consumer website, www. pebaxpowered.com is launching soon. O "There are a lot more young professionals in attendance. It's the next generation of the industry, and it's great to get face time with them and established customers." Alex Cox, sales engineer, Rogers Corporation The Northeast Materials Show, for one of the first times since its inception in 2005, proceeded its sister event due to Chinese New Year and a need to accommodate both vendors and exhibitors. "About 60 percent of our suppliers/exhibitors are from Asia, and we didn't want to encroach on their family time and holiday," explained Show organizer Hisham Muhareb, who added that the early first day attendance at The Aleppo Shriners Auditorium in Wilmington, MA was also impacted by a snowstorm. Nonetheless, repre- sentatives from Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Puma, Adidas, Reebok and New Balance were among those that turned out to visit the 145 exhibitors. Exhibitors introduced a number of new products at the NE Show. Among them: Ortholite introduced Eco Hybrid, a foam made from recycled scraps on its production floor, that it sees as a sustainable story to the end user. The insole is said to create a cooler drier environment inside footwear. FayTex debuted Dri-Lex Energy, a performance fabric containing nylon yarn that produces Far Infrared Emissions (FIR), for both footwear and apparel in 2019, that is said to improve blood circulation, support regeneration, and may improve muscle recovery after exercising. Matmarket rolled out Plex, a three-layer foam com- posite material whose surface and back layer can be customized. The performance footwear product will be available in both Vietnam and China. The company intends to introduce a Plex lifestyle range for 2020. Vibram says its Arctic Grip outsoles, available in the outdoor performance, work and industrial footwear markets, is being introduced by 25-30 brands in the fashion space, some of which will debut at retail this fall. Baiksan, a South Korean supplier to Nike and Adidas factories for approximately 30 years, introduced 40 new upper materials and treatments for 2019. Dow, which is touting its "larger toolbox" following its merger with DuPont including its ability to provide adhesives and coatings for uppers, has its Infuse athletic midsole foam being used in Under Armour's new HOVR running shoe models. Freudenberg introduced a binder-free insole board for use in Spring 2019 footwear. The thermally-bonded material, which has no chemicals added, has the same functional properties but weighs less than traditional strobel board. – Bob McGee NE Materials Show: A Mix Of Functionality, Eco & Lifestyle

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