Hisaka Works establishes China-based affiliate
with new president Mr. Yasuhiro Minamimoto.

Hisaka Works (CEO: Mr. Shoichi Hayashi) has established "Hisaka (Shanghai) Co., Ltd." Mr. Yasuhiro Minamimoto has been installed as the president and it has launched operations, starting from October 10, 2006. This affiliate will mainly import and export various type of machinery, distribute them domestically and provide after-sales service to customers as a group business of Hisaka Works.

The location and details of Hisaka (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. are as follows.

Main lines of business:
　* Plate-type heat exchangers
　* Brazing plate-type exchangers
　* Food machines, disinfection/sterilization equipment
　* Evaporation/dry equipment
　* High-temperature and pressure dyeing machines
　* Automatic and manual ball valves

KB Seiren makes big investment in establishing new factory in Nagahama to increase production of wiping cloth for semiconductors.

KB Seiren completed establishment of the second factory in Nagahama in which they made a big investment to produce "Savina," a cleaner for semiconductors (wiping cloth). Savina will be produced and sold with integrated systems using ultrafine fiber which will be knitted in-house.

Hanayama Kogyo promotes hotmelt equipment globally.

Hanayama Kogyo (Technopark 29-2-7, Miono, Fukui-city) is intensifying its global promotion of hotmelt equipment. It places emphasis on designs that improve the control function to enhance the effectiveness of finishing of its production models, considering the worldwide increase of finishing stretch blend fabrics.

Mikawa Textile Research Institute achieves success in dyeing ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene fiber with combination of organic solvent soluble dyes and alcohol.

Mikawa Textile Research Institute of Aichi Industrial Technology Institute and Taisei Shokai (Gamagoori-city) have jointly succeeded in developing the technology to dye ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene fiber in desired colos. The method developed by them this time is easy for dyeing companies to introduce since it does not require any special equipment besides the combination of alcohol and organic solvent soluble dyes which are used for oil-based ballpoint ink, while dyes and water are generally used for dyeing fiber.

Dyeing method

Before dyeing　　　　　After dyeing

The ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene fiber has been quite a promising material for agriculture, forestry and fisheries, industrials and engineering and construction such as for ropes and nets because of its strength which is 4 times more than that of synthetic fiber for clothing, but applications for it had been limited, having the weak point that it stood out in surrounding areas because of its sparkling white color which could not be dyed. Increases in use and demand for ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene- based ropes and such are anticipated with this method developed by Mikawa Textile Research Institute.

Production capacity of dyeing and finishing in Turkey comparable to that of Western Europe.

According to Melliand International (one of our associated magazines), the production capacity of dyeing and finishing in Turkey has become comparable to the total amount of Western Europe.

Giving up liquid formation of imported vat dyes
with inevitable cost increases.

Importers of dyes had been considering the idea of liquid formation of imported threne dyes in Japan as a countermeasure for dust in dyeing firms, but they have determined the policy to supply them in powder form to the firms with an estimation that shows costs would increase with liquid formation carried out in Japan. Importing in powder form is difficult recently because of the worldwide increase in demand.

Komatsubara Iron Works in Wakayama innovates design of Vibro Washer.

Komatsubara Iron Works (3-25, Chikko, Wakayama), producing and promoting Floating Vibro Washer (for continuous washing of textile fabrics), has successfully innovated the design of Floating Vibro Washer to enhance its washing capacity more than before. Accordingly, an increasing number of washing tests have been carried out by dyeing firms with fabrics which they brought to Komatsubara Iron Works.

Toray Synthetic Fiber Cluster develops carbon-fiber soft composite which can be cut and sewn.

“Carbon Club,” miscellaneous goods made with carbon cloth soft composite sheet

Sowa Textile has begun selling carbon-fiber based "Carbon Club" (daily items/miscellaneous goods such as coin purses, key chains, seal cases and belts) as of November 2006, which uses "Carbon cloth soft composite" sheet, one of the composite materials with carbon-fiber textile and resin, of which "The sectional committee for carbon fiber" (chairmanship: Maruhachi Co., Ltd.) of Toray Synthetic Fiber Cluster has been advancing the development. 　Expanding its applications is now under review to interior goods like partitions, tapestries, wall covering materials, blinds and curtains, as well as daily items and miscellaneous goods.

"Carbon cloth soft composite" sheet has achieved a high level physical quality, which fuzz from being formed because of rubbing, by combining carbon fiber which is stronger and lighter than iron and high-resistant flexible resin.

On a technical level, Sowa textile's flat weaving technology for carbon fiber which is arranged evenly without distorting fiber bundles, and new technology of Hiramatsu Sangyo, one of the members of "The sectional committee for carbon fiber," which adheres special resin evenly on carbon-fiber textiles have been combined.

With this development, it can be very flexible for designing without losing carbon-fiber's high quality, and a wide range of applications in products have become available because it can be cut and sewn in the same manner as handling normal fabrics and leathers, which is impossible for industrial use carbon-fiber composite material (hard composite) that uses a firm resin like epoxy.

“Carbon cloth soft composite” sheet which can be cut and sewn

Description of “Carbon cloth soft composite” sheet

Prof. T. Hori of Fukui University presents research
on dyeing aramid fiber and PP fiber.

Prof. Hori giving presentation

A meeting for research presentations featured in "Development projects for supercritical carbon dioxide textile finishing technology" was jointly held by Kyoto Senshoku Kenkyu Kai (the Society of Kyoto Dyeing Research) and the supercritical-fluid study group at the Society of Fiber Science and Technology at the Kyoto Municipal Textile Technology Center on Oct 23.

At this meeting, Komatsu Seiren presented research results in which the use of supercritical CO₂ fluid treatment had enabled dyeing of polypropylene that was previously considered impossible, under the guidance of Professor Teruo Hori of the Fiber Amenity Engineering Dept., Graduate School of Engineering, Fukui University.

Sakai Ovex presented the results of the inclusion of chitosan into polyester textile with supercritical CO₂ fluid treatment.
Seiren presented research on thin metallic film finishing technology for textiles with supercritical fluid treatment.

Prof. Teruo Hori said that research into the use of supercritical CO₂ fluid treatment in dyeing areas during the 1990s was at the stage of finding out seeking where to start, but subjects of research had been brought into shape by industry-government-academia collaboration studies from 2003 to 2005, and it became possible to dye polypropylene and aramid fiber with supercritical CO₂ fluid treatment.

There are still problems that remain to be solved. Some changes are needed in equipment used, but what to improve has also been clarified, said Prof. T. Hori.

Komatsu Seiren presents the 2 research issue themes of PP dyeing
with supercritical fluid treatment.

Polypropylene fabric dyed with supercritical CO2 fluid treatment

Komatsu Seiren presented the 2 themes below as challenges for the future in research on polypropylene dyeing with supercritical CO₂ fluid treatment at the meeting for research presentations featured in "Development projects for supercritical carbon dioxide textile finishing technology" jointly held by Kyoto Senshoku Kenkyu Kai (the Society of Kyoto Dyeing Research) and the supercritical-fluid study group at the Society of Fiber Science and Technology.

(1) Looking for dyestuff with high affinity and high light fastness.
(2) Establishing control technology for level dyeing by scaling up supercritical treatment equipment

It is significant that they enabled polypropylene dyeing by using supercritical CO₂ fluid treatment which had been considered impossible.

Toray develops new fiber "DEEPLEM NT" with nano technology.

Toray announced that they had developed a new material making full use of nanotechnology, "Nano-Plem" for various applications and "DEEPLEM NT" for deep-black school uniforms.

Toray gave an explanation at the press conference about the development of "Nano-Plem" which will form the basis of new textile finishing technology with nanotechnology. "Nano-Plem," nano-scale finishing technology which can add new functions to fabric effectively, was developed by reforming the fabric surface and the inside at nano level after activating various synthetic fabrics such as polyester and nylon on the molecular level by applying high energy. This technology has made it possible to add entirely new functions to various synthetic fabrics and T/W blends, to balance several functions, to improve conventional functions and durability dramatically and to expand the range of applicable materials.

It became possible to carry out reformulation at nano level such as the introduction of functional groups, etching, cross-linking and graft because of "Nano-Plem" activating fiber-forming polymer on the molecular level by applying high energy such as ultraviolet rays, microwaves, electron rays, ions, electrons and radicals to fibers. It is possible to the reform fabric surface while maintaining the original characteristics of the fiber by adjusting the level of high energy applied, as well as reforming the inside of the fabric.

3^rd ISDF 2006 will be held from December 17 to 19 in Kyoto.

The 3^rd International Symposium on Dyeing and Finishing of textiles (ISDF 2006) will be held for 3 days from December 17(Sun.) to 19 (Tue.) 2006 at Kyoto Research Park (134, Chudoji Minamimachi, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto). The Symposium consists of invitational lectures and general poster presentations (amounting to 105) and 11 researchers/technical experts from America, Germany, Austria, China, Korea, Taiwan and Japan. (English is the official language in ISDF 2006, but simultaneous interpretation will be provided at the invitational lectures).

<Invited speakers and lecture keywords>

• Dr. Michael G. Lazzara (DuPont Artistri, U.S.A.) (Ink-jet)
• Mr. Hideyuki Anzai (Konica Minolta IJ Technologies, Inc., Japan) (Ink-jet)
• Prof. Sung-Hoon Kim (Kyungpook National University, Korea) (Functional colorants)
• Dr. Rita Anna Maria Mussak (University of Innsbruck, Austria) (Natural dyestuff)
• Prof. He Jinxin (Dong Hua University, China) (Photocatalysis, Waste water treatment)
• Prof. Yasunori Taga (Chubu University, Japan) (Visible-light photocatalysis)
• Dr. Yoshikazu Yamazaki (Japan Chemical Fibers Association, Japan) (Functional fiber)
• Dr. Volkmar v. Arnim (ITV Denkendorf, Germany) (Plasma treatment)
• Prof. Juin-Yih Lai (Chung Yuan University, Taiwan) (Hollow-fiber morphology)
• Dr. J?rg Schlangen (Lenzing AG, Austria) (Resin finishing of Tencel)
• Dr. Guifang Wu (Novozymes China) (Enzymes for fibers)

Kuraray Kuraflex starts mass production trial of new-type nonwoven fabric produced with high-speed steam heating.

Functional evaluation test of Flextar

Kuraray Kuraflex has started a mass production trial for a new-type nonwoven fabric "Flextar." "Flextar" is a nonwoven fabric produced with high-speed steam heating with the world's first steam jet technology using Kuraray's proprietary materials, and it has special features and functions never before achieved.

Kuraray's proprietary materials noted above are Eval fiber "SOPHISTA," water-soluble "Kuralon K-Ⅱ" and potential crimp fiber "microcrimp", and a wide range of products, thin, thick, soft or hard, can be developed by combining manufacturing conditions