******* For Immediate Release *******
Date: May 12, 1995 Contact: David Trumbull
Ph.: 671-542-8220 Karen
DeAngelis
Fax: 617-542-2199 Karl
Spilhaus
NTA
Holds Successful “Wool 2000” Trade & Technical Seminar
The annual “Wool 2000” technical seminar was held on May 2-3, at the Sheraton Tara Wayfarer Inn in Bedford, NH. Over 80 representatives of the woolen and worsted industry from South Carolina to Quebec gathered to hear about the latest developments in technology.
“Wool 2000” is sponsored by Northern Textile Association, the nation’s oldest trade association and the principle voice for the woolen and worsted industry in New England and the rest of the country. NTA’s Wool Council began the program with a business meeting on Tuesday afternoon. For the 31 members of the Wool Council, international trade, fair labeling of products for content, and environmental concerns continue to be important issues. Tuesday evening attendees enjoyed a cocktail reception sponsored by associate and supporting members.
Wool Council chairman, David Jagger, of Jagger Brothers, began the Wednesday program with an update on NTA’s activities over the past year. Mr. Jagger provided a brief overview of NTA’s activities representing the interests of the woolen and worsted industry in environmental affairs.
Legislative affairs is another area in which NTA has represented the concerns of the woolen and worsted industry. November elections were characterized by Jagger as mixed results for the textile industry. “We have a huge task ahead of us in advocating for an orderly and fair transition from the Multifiber Arrangement to a regime of free trade”, said Jagger. He continued, “We now reach out to cultivate friendships among the newer members of Congress. As we learn to live with GATT, probable expansion of NAFTA to other countries such as Chile, and the extension of Most Favored Nation status for China, it is more important than ever that we educate lawmakers about textile industry concerns”.
International trade issues continue to be of importance to the woolen and worsted industry. Jagger reported on NTA’s current work with congressional delegations to seek a limit on coat imports from Russia. “The Senators and Representatives from the New England States have been responsive to legitimate industry concerns and have alerted the Clinton administration to the importance of controlling this flood of cheap imports before it causes even more damage,” said Jagger.
Jagger also pointed out how NTA helped to get the duty on wool carding and spinning machines eliminated, saying, “This will save millions of dollars for American firms importing European cards and spinning machines”.
“This program has gone far toward exposing consumer fraud and protecting American textile manufacturers from unfair, unethical, and illegal activities of foreign competitors,” said Jagger of NTA’s wool testing program. He continued, “Scientific testing revealed that Russian coats labeled 100% wool were in truth heavily blended with nylon and other synthetics, with actual wool content frequently as low as 80%.”
Jagger concluded his remarks with a brief summary of NTA’s Statistical Services and Import Reports program which provides industry with timely reports on important issues.
The Wednesday morning program continued with a presentation on “Optimized Gripper Technology for the Production of Fine and Fashionable Wool Outerwear” by Louie Dejonckheere, V. P. - Marketing, Sulzer Ruti, Inc., Spartanburg, SC. “Ten Most Common Errors in the Weave Shed Latest Developments in Reeds, Heddles, & Drop Wires” was the next subject presented, with Richard Batson, Vice President, American Dornier Machinery Corporation and Fred Lambert, Sales Manager, Grob Corporation sharing the floor.
Gerald Smith of Milliken & Company spoke on “Waste Minimization Through Material Source Reduction.” Milliken in 1990 implemented a solid waste management strategy of eliminate, reduce, re-use, recycle, waste to energy that has resulted in 90% of their solid waste stream being diverted from landfills.
The focus shifted during lunch with an informative and entertaining talk on mill management for the 21st century by Ronald D. McNeil, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Business and Industry, UMass Dartmouth.. Dr. McNeil countered the prevailing view that the American textile industry is declining by pointing out that the textile and apparel complex is the second largest industry in American. McNeil further explained that this $219.3 billion per year industry has evolved into an efficient, high-tech, capital intensive industry.
The afternoon sessions featured Karil Kochenderfer, Assistant Director for Environmental Affairs, ATMI, who targeted environmental concerns, and James T. Rodier, an attorney with expertise on energy issues, who gave an update on the status of “Wheeling” in the retail electric industry. “Wheeling is the transmitting of electricity generated by one entity over lines owned by another entity.
“Wool 2000” 1995 was brought to a close with an overview of AMTEX, the government/industry research project for textile competitiveness, given by Richard Quisenberry, Executive Director of AMTEX. Using defense conversion money, and the high-tech know-how developed in the cold war, AMTEX has had some initial successes, and is facing the challenges of technology.
- 30 -