RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC — The American Association of Textile Chemists & Colorists (AATCC) is accepting nominations for its three annual awards.
The Olney Medal is awarded for achievement in textile chemistry. This award signifies outstanding achievement in textile chemistry, or in polymer or other fields of chemistry of major importance to textile science, including the development of chemical agents or chemical processes used in the manufacture of textiles, or methods for their evaluation.
The Olney Medal is given to encourage and afford public recognition of such achievements and contributions. It is AATCC’s highest scientific award.
Nominees’ qualifications are evaluated by the committee without regard to the number of nominations for a particular candidate. The candidate must be an American citizen, but not necessarily a member of the AATCC. Nomination is by a senior member of AATCC.
The Harold C. Chapin Award is presented each year to a senior member with at least 20 years continuous membership in AATCC who has contributed outstanding service in enabling the association to attain the objects for which it was founded.
• education: to promote increase of knowledge of the application of dyes and chemicals in the textile industry;
• research: to encourage in any practical way research work on chemical processes and materials of importance to the textile industry; and
• communication: to establish for the members channels by which the interchange of professional knowledge among them may be increased.
Nomination is by a senior member of AATCC.
The Henry E. Millson Award for Invention is given for an invention that is recognizable as an innovation, and will be judged solely on its merits and its impact on the U. S. textile, fiber, polymer and medical industries. It is not necessary that the invention be patented.
The award is not limited to citizens of the United States or to members of AATCC. The award can be given to more than one individual. The award can be given posthumously.
Recipients of all three awards will be selected in May, and awards will be presented at the AATCC International Conference & Exhibition, to Oct. 25-27 in Boston.
Deadline for receipt of nominations is April 1, 2005. Nominations should be sent to John Y. Daniels, secretary, at AATCC, P.O. Box 12215, Research Triangle Park, N.C. 27709-2215; by fax at 919-549-8933; or by e-mail at danielsj@aatcc.org.
The British Society of Dyers and Colourists (SDC) has presented DyStar with the SDC Innovation in Colour Award 2004 for the development of the electrochemical dyeing process.
This accolade recognizes the environmental benefits and controlled coloration from this new dyeing method.
DyStar is developing the electrochemical dyeing process in collaboration with the University of Innsbruck’s Institute for Textile Chemistry and Textile Physics in Dornbirn, Austria, and machinery manufacturer Thies of Coesfeld, Germany.
The new technology is suitable for Indanthren vat dyes, Indigo and Cassulfon sulpher dyes. While conventional dyeing methods use non-regenerative reducing agents, electrochemical dyeing is based on an electric current and a regenerative Fe2+/Fe3+ redox system (mediator).
Dyeing is controlled by monitoring the redox potential of the dye liquor. This method therefore minimizes the use of reducing agents.
Alongside the patent for electrochemical dyeing, DyStar holds basic patents for electrochemical bleaching and decolorization of textile effluent.
NEW YORK — Lacoste USA today Dec. 28 the seizure of counterfeit Lacoste dress shirts, knit polo shirts, sweat suits, hats, jeans and other counterfeit Lacoste fashion items valued at more than $170,000 in raids it conducted at 21 locations across Puerto Rico.
The counterfeit merchandise was seized from flea markets, Internet retailers, wholesalers, street vendors and storefront establishments in San Juan, Ponce, Aguadilla, San German, Mayaguez and other cities. The crackdown was conducted with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service in Puerto Rico.
“We’re sending a strong message to counterfeiters in the U.S. and its territories,” said Robert Siegel, chairman and CEO of Lacoste USA. “We intend to aggressively police our brand and protect it from unauthorized copiers who harm both the legitimate merchant and the consumer. We will work with the authorities to seek out and prosecute trademark violators wherever they operate.
“Without a doubt, the high quality and workmanship embodied in genuine Lacoste product is not duplicated in the counterfeit apparel,” Mr. Siegel added.
SPARTANBURG, SC — Synalloy Corporation, a producer of specialty chemicals, dyes and pigments, stainless steel pipe, vessels and process equipment, announced Dec. 28 that it has entered into an agreement with Greenville Colorants, LLC to sell certain of the assets associated with its Blackman Uhler LLC dye business.
The transaction, which is scheduled to close by the end of this month, involves the sale of the dye business inventory, certain manufacturing equipment and certain intangibles used in connection with the business.
The purchase price is $4.95 million, with $4.1 million being payable in cash on closing and the balance of $850,000 being payable over time based on the operations of the purchaser.
With certain limited exceptions, Synalloy and its affiliates agree not to compete with the purchaser in the manufacture and sale of dyestuffs. Synalloy will toll product for the purchaser for limited periods following the closing.
The dyestuff business being sold accounts for about $22 million in sales in 2004 and was not profitable.
CHARLOTTE, NC — Honeywell announced a price increase of up to 8 percent over the current price of all staple, filament and fiber-grade resins for residential and commercial carpet fiber applications from Honeywell Nylon LLC, effective Jan. 17.
The company re-evaluated its pricing on all carpet fiber products because of the continued high costs of raw materials and increased energy and transportation costs.
