By Roland L. Connelly Sr.
The American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) enjoyed a wide range of activities in 2003 and looks forward to the opportunities that lie ahead as we continue to build awareness of our test methods, educational and publications activities.
Many may not realize that AATCC was one of the first organizations to develop facilities in prestigious Research Triangle Park, NC. The year 2004 marks our 40th anniversary here in our Technical Center, after relocating from Lowell, MA. Since our founding in 1921, we had been housed at the Lowell Textile School, now Lowell University.
AATCC test methods and quality control materials are used in more than 60 countries worldwide. Our volunteers and staff have worked tirelessly to develop new test methods and activities that will benefit the global textile industry and our members.
During the past year AATCC Test Method 192-2003 Weather Resistance of Textiles: Sunshine-Arc Lamp Exposure With and Without Wetting was introduced and more than 25 methods and evaluations procedures were updated for technical content. A monograph, 2003 AATCC Standard Reference Liquid Laundry Detergent, was also developed.
We have also made available CD training videos that demonstrate the use of our color assessment tools: the AATCC Gray Scale for Color Change, Gray Scale for Staining and AATCC Chromatic Transference Scale. These items, as well as many other important quality control materials, may be purchased on-line at www.aatcc.org.
In 2003 we launched the AATCC Proficiency Program, whereby participating laboratories can compare test results of specific colorfastness tests that they conduct with those of other participating laboratories. The laboratories are all coded so as to maintain the confidentiality of all participants and their results. Samples are disseminated twice a year. To date, more than 60 laboratories are participating in this new offering, and 2/3 of those labs are located outside the United States. A second similar program will soon be launched. In this module, the association's popular appearance and physical properties methods will be included. What better way for labs to ensure they are testing and achieving the results similar to other participants-suppliers or customers?
AATCC has been conducting test method training at its Technical Center since 1964. We have trained thousands of individuals over the years in our popular Introduction to Textile Testing and Color Measurement Workshops. These are limited attendance programs to allow the participants to receive hands-on training.
This year we have expanded these offerings through a new Distance Training Program, initially targeted to India, and we will expand from there. Training was conducted in Madras, Bangalore and Tirurpur in 2003, with a full slate of offerings being developed for 2004.
In addition, the association is working to launch AATCC test method training in China, and other countries are being considered. We believe that as textile imports continue to increase, it is important that quality be maintained through the use of AATCC test methods and evaluation procedures.
Also, AATCC will once again serve as co-secretariat for the ISO/TC38/SC1 - Tests for Coloured Textiles and Colorants, and as secretariat for ISO/TC38/SC2 - Cleansing, Finishing and Water Resistance Tests, at their meetings in July in Terrassa, Spain.
AATCC has been extremely active in education, having produced a wide array of symposia, including "Nonwoven Enhancements, Coloring and Finishing," the association's first jointly produced program in June 2003 with the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA). We will keep offering our traditional textile wet processing programs, but felt it would be beneficial to develop new program offerings geared to segments other than the traditional apparel and home furnishings industries.
In that regard, we are now working with the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) to develop a new program "New Applications for the Outdoor Textile and High Performance Material Industries," which will be held in June. This month, we will conduct our first program aimed at the textile medical market, "Innovations in Medical, Protective, and Technical Textiles."
AATCC launched our Concept 2 Consumer (C2C) initiative two years ago, aimed at providing training and networking opportunities among the design and merchandising professionals. We believe we are in an excellent position to bridge the gap between textile manufacturing with our traditional members and the design and merchandising community, who are so important to new product development, coloration, and who are recognized as having a high degree of input into needed test methods for which we are known.
In addition to having about 1/3 of the 2003 annual International Conference & Exhibition's educational sessions targeted to these new C2C members and guests, the association held its first C2C-sponsored symposium, "Color: Emotion & Science," at the New School University in March in New York City. This initial C2C program was received so well, a second program will be offered in March, "Supply Chain Management: Just in Time Design."
Nearly 20 percent of the association's membership identifies with our new C2C initiative.
In addition to these C2C related programs, the association this year will publish the Technical Supplement aimed to explain the purpose and use of popular AATCC test methods and other procedures to those not as familiar with textile testing as our traditional technical members.
The association is also working diligently with color specialists around the world to develop a protocol for electronic communication of color spectra, which is targeted to be offered as an international standard at the aforementioned ISO meetings in 2004.
Publications have not been left out when it comes to accomplishments at AATCC. For the third time in as many years the association's monthly publication, AATCC Review, was the recipient of an Apex Award for Publications Excellence. A readership survey was conducted during 2003, which reaffirmed the tremendous value and high esteem our members hold of our monthly publication.
We have continued the prior year's practice of including articles each month pertinent to our C2C activities, and have achieved a good balance of staff-written feature articles, along with our peer-reviewed scientific and technical articles.
Again, we are working to bridge the gap between the textile manufacturing arena and the design and merchandising community, and AATCC Review is making great strides in this effort.
To continue to add value to AATCC membership, we are now planning some rather significant changes to the way we bring new products to our members. Beginning this year, we will print a normal issue of AATCC Review in July, which has traditionally been reserved for our printed Buyers Guide. Now we will offer a new on-line Buyers Guide as a Corporate Member benefit.
The products listed will be available to be viewed free of charge worldwide; however, product listings will be limited to AATCC Corporate members in a searchable, easily updated format, so that listings should always be current.
In addition to our magazine activities, we are developing plans for launching single-topic compilations of important topics from prior articles, as well as looking into launching a newsletter pertinent to AATCC membership activities.
Speaking of membership, AATCC continues to be the world's largest professional society devoted to textile design, processing and testing, with individual members in more than 60 countries. To make it easier to join AATCC, we have recently adopted individual anniversary dates, whereby individuals join for a year, regardless of which month they enroll.
To assist our members, we have also developed a new on-line portfolio for our Group Insurance Program, where our members can enroll in a variety of insurance options. We have recently launched the on-line AATCC CareerSite, where individuals can post resumes and companies can post jobs.
AATCC Foundation Inc, a public charitable organization that supports the ideals of the association through activities such as student research grants, held its popular golf outing fund-raiser during the annual International Conference and Exhibition.
This year AATCC Foundation will host another golf outing at Verdae Greens Golf Club in Greenville, SC, on Tuesday, September 14. This is during the week of the ATME-I machinery show at which AATCC, will co-locate its International Conference & Exhibition (IC&E).
We at AATCC are looking ahead to another active year as we bring new test methods, programs and publications to our members. We invite all interested to get involved in our host of activities.
Roland L. Connelly Sr., director of Enterprise Color Management Solutions at GretagMacbeth LLC, is president of the American Association of Textile Chemists & Colorists (AATCC), Research Triangle Park, NC.
