Business and industry

...sues Zimmer for patent infringement

1 March 2004

Lenzing AG has filed a legal action with the Regional Court Frankfurt against Zimmer AG, as well as Zimmer's subsidiary, Alceru Schwarza GmbH, for infringement of the German part of a European patent.

Koch Industries acquires Invista to integrate with KoSa

1 March 2004

Two subsidiaries of Koch Industries Inc have reached a definitive agreement with DuPont to purchase Invista, formerly DuPont Textiles & Interiors, for $4.4 billion in cash.

New Group Director at Coloplast

1 March 2004

Coloplast Group Director Maxwell Stringer is to retire on 31 March 2004 after 23 years with the company.

BSN acquires casting business

1 February 2004

BSN Medical, the German-based 50/50 joint venture between Beiersdorf and Smith & Nephew, has acquired the casting and splinting business of DePuy, a Johnson & Johnson company.

Vanson HaloSource licenses antimicrobial technology

1 February 2004

Vanson HaloSource of Redmond, Washington, USA, has licensed its HaloShield N-halamine technology to US medical supply group Medline Industries.

Israeli unit accused in class action suit

1 February 2004

A subsidiary of American Israeli Paper Mills is facing a class action suit for allegedly misleading Israeli consumers about the number of diapers in a package.

Czech prostheses maker acquired by hospital

1 February 2004

The Na Homolce Hospital in Prague, Czech Republic, is the new owner of the VUP textile institute, which produces vascular prostheses and knitwear.

Major investor for UK tampon maker

1 February 2004

Accantia, the UK-based maker of health and beauty products and feminine hygiene items, has secured the backing of a new investor.

PGI plans new plant in China, completes Mexican installation

1 February 2004

Nonwovens producer Polymer Group (PGI) is to install a Reifenhauser spunmelt line at a new facility near Shanghai, China.

Major Vietnamese order for Picanol

1 January 2004

Belgium-based Picanol has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Vietnam's 8 March Textile Co regarding an investment programme for 150 weaving machines.

Judge rules in favour of Paragon Trade Brands in indemnity case

1 January 2004

A US bankruptcy judge has ruled in favour of the bankruptcy estate of Paragon Trade Brands in its indemnity action against Weyerhaeuser.

US nonwovens demand to reach nearly $5 billion in 2007

1 January 2004

Demand for nonwoven roll goods in the USA is expected to increase 3.9% a year to reach $4.9 billion in 2007, according to the latest survey.

Properties of geomembranes

1 January 2004

ASTM Subcommittee D35.10 on Geomembranes, part of Committee D35 on Geosynthetics, is developing standard test methods for the strip and grab tensile properties of reinforced geomembranes.

Polymer Group redefines strategy

1 January 2004

Polymer Group (PGI), the world's fifth largest nonwovens producer, has announced new mission and vision statements as well as a strategic plan to guide the company's future operations.

Landfill covers standardized

1 January 2004

ASTM committee D35 on Geosynthetics is proposing a Specification for Geosynthetic Alternate Daily Covers to evaluate products that cover landfills.

Rapra reviews polymer enhancements

1 January 2004

The latest review from Rapra Technology, Polymer Enhancement of Technical Textiles, examines the potential for these materials.

Judge rules in favour of Procter & Gamble in Playtex tampon suit

1 January 2004

A US federal judge has dismissed a patent-infringement claim made by Playtex Products against Procter & Gamble (P&G) over a tampon applicator.

US medical textiles conference set for Pittsburgh, October

1 January 2004

To address market demand and new textile applications in surgery and medicine, Medical Textiles 2004 will be held at the David L.

DSM urges changes for the health of caprolactam business

1 January 2004

Restructuring of the caprolactam business is urgently required, according to DSM Fibre Intermediates:

Pertex to make Russians warmer

1 December 2003

Russian company BASK has chosen UK-based Perseverance Mills Ltd to be the main supplier of fabrics for its range of down clothing and sleeping bags from 2004.

Saint Gobain Technical Fabrics acquires Gividi's fine-yarn glass fibre fabrics

1 December 2003

Saint-Gobain Technical Fabrics America has acquired the assets and technology of Gividi USA of Ridgeway, South Carolina.

Enka tecnica acquires rival Wetzel Micro Products

1 December 2003

Europe's two biggest suppliers of spinnerets have joined forces.

Hartmann to sell German diaper plant to Ontex

1 December 2003

Paul Hartmann is selling its diaper production plant in Recklinghausen, Germany, to Ontex of Buggenhout, Belgium.

UK company enters market for reflective tape and industrial safety apparel

1 December 2003

YSL Reflective Technology (YSL) says it has successfully broken into the reflective tape and clothing market with a turnover of GBP599 000 in its first six months and a modest profit.

DuPont chooses Chinese partner for brush filaments

1 December 2003

DuPont Engineering Polymers and Wuxi Xingda Nylon Co Ltd of Wuxi, China, will form a joint venture for the production and distribution of filaments used in toothbrush, paint brush, cosmetic and indust

BWF Tec invests in needlefelt line in Offingen, Germany

1 December 2003

BWF Tec is building a new needlefelt production line at its plant in Offingen, Germany.

Ahlstrom to close Swedish medical products converting facility

1 December 2003

The FiberComposites division of Ahlstrom has announced changes at its nonwovens manufacturing facility in Stalldalen, Sweden.

National Presto acquires absorbent products business

1 December 2003

National Presto Industries of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, USA, has purchased the assets of privately owned NCN Hygiene Products, a small manufacturer of adult incontinence products and housetraining pads f

DuPont files complaint over surgical fabric contract

1 November 2003

DuPont has launched a multi-million dollar lawsuit against Cardinal Health and two BBA Group businesses over an alleged breach of contract and various patent violations.

Getting started in technical textiles

1 November 2003

An extremely competitive global market is making it harder than ever for companies to succeed in the consumer textile sector, forcing many to look to high added-value products for salvation.

Centerpulse recommends Zimmer Inc offer of US$3.2 billion

1 November 2003

Zimmer Inc has won its takeover battle for the Swiss-based Centerpulse after the directors of Europe's biggest orthopaedics company recommended its US$3.2 billion cash and shares offer ahead of Smith

Picanol buys Spanish and French reed makers

1 November 2003

With the takeover of the French firm Burckle and the Spanish company BCN Lamina-dos, the Picanol Group says it has completed two more steps in its strategy to be a global supplier to the textile indus

Invista in alliance with Foss

1 November 2003

Invista, formerly DuPont Textiles & Interiors (DTI), has announced a strategic alliance with New Hampshire, USA-based Foss Manufacturing, a vertically integrated producer of speciality synthetic f

Brazilian acrylic acid complex postponed to 2007

1 November 2003

BASF and the Brazilian state-owned oil and gas producer Petrobras have agreed not to realize their project to build an acrylic acid complex in Brazil before 2007.

Zimmer AG buys Fleissner

1 November 2003

Zimmer Ag has acquired Fleissner, a leading manufacturer of fibre and nonwovens machinery.

Aramid makers in US military battle

1 November 2003

DuPont Co could become the US military's only source of para-aramid fibre for bullet-resistant helmets and body armour (vests) under US Government legislation to boost US-made products.

DuPont invest in nylon airbag fibres

1 October 2003

DuPont Textiles & Interiors (DTI) has announced a $15 million investment over three years, beginning in 2003, to support the growing need for industrial nylon 6.6 fibres in automotive and other in

Hercules to buy polypropylene manufacturer Meraklon

1 October 2003

Hercules Inc has agreed an undisclosed price for the purchase of Meraklon SpA.

Changes for SCA's European hygiene operations

1 October 2003

SCA's European hygiene operations have undergone a number of organizational changes.

Joint venture formed to make glass fibre reinforcements

1 October 2003

Owens Corning and Saint-Gobain have announced plans to form a joint venture to construct a state-of-the-art, innovative manufacturing facility to deliver high-quality glass fibre reinforcements to the

Acordis separates polyester and polyamide fibres businesses

1 October 2003

Acordis Industrial Fibers has created two separate organizational business units within the company--Diolen Industrial Fibers and Polyamide High Performance respectively.

DuPont acquires cleanroom apparel line from White Knight

1 October 2003

DuPont Nonwovens has acquired the nonwoven-based cleanroom apparel line from White Knight Engineered Products, a manufacturer of reusable and disposable textile products based in Charlotte, North Caro

Koch in negotiation for DTI while DTI changes name to Invista

1 October 2003

DuPont has confirmed it has entered exclusive negotiations with subsidiaries of Koch Industries Inc, Wichita, Kansas, USA, regarding the sale of DuPont Textiles & Interiors (DTI).

Pantex to concentrate on feminine hygiene business

1 October 2003

Italy's Pantex Group is to cease production of spunlaced nonwovens to concentrate on its core feminine hygiene business.

Centerpulse board recommends Zimmer offer

1 October 2003

Zimmer has won its takeover battle for the Swiss-based Centerpulse after the directors of Europe's biggest orthopaedics company recommended the US$3.2 billion cash and shares offer from Zimmer ahead o

European Disposables and Nonwovens Association elects officers

1 September 2003

The Brussels-based European Disposables and Nonwovens Association (EDANA) has elected Dr Rolf Altdorf, Vice-president and Managing Director EuMEA, PGI Divisional Headquarters Europe, The Netherlands,

SCA establishes business unit for hygiene growth markets

1 September 2003

Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget (SCA) has established a new business group - SCA Hygiene Growth Markets - to further exploit growth potentials in the hygiene sector outside Europe and North America.

Koch negotiates purchase of DuPont Textiles & Interiors

1 September 2003

DuPont has confirmed it has entered exclusive negotiations with subsidiaries of Koch Industries Inc, Wichita, Kansas, USA, regarding the sale of DuPont Textiles & Interiors (DTI).

Management buyout at BFF

1 September 2003

Directors David Lamb and Chris Burhop have bought out BFF Nonwovens of Bridgwater, Somerset, UK, from parent company Lamont Holdings plc, which went into receivership earlier this year.

Four technologies hold key to the dawning of a new age

1 September 2003

Natural fibre production was perfected in the Industrial Age (1775-1850). Synthetic fibre production fuelled developments in the textile industry during the Chemical Age (1870-1980).

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