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select the appropriate certified fabric to meet their needs. each IP-protected index. As a result, designers will be
such compounds is questionable with respect to Fabric goes through a rigorous testing process to able to create the perfect casual bra that delivers the Whats New
Whats New Hohenstein Group reports. apparel reduces labor by 50%
shape and support women need, and the comfort
possible adverse ecological and toxicological
ensure it meets the predetermined parameters of
they want, the company explains.
effects. In addition, these compounds are
generally expensive, said is so by the
A new research project at the Hohenstein Group
Gerber’s AutoMatch™ for
deals with antimicrobial effects of Lewis acids
that are applied on textile surfaces. According to
the information provided by the group, the
results of this work may significantly contribute to
countermeasures against multi-resistant bacteria
as found, for example, in medical facilities.

Lewis acids exhibit an acidic surface effect and
an antimicrobial effect has been demonstrated
as well. Therefore, these compounds can
already be found in applications such as the
cleaning of floors in hospitals. However, they
have not been applied on textile surfaces. In
presence of moisture, Lewis acids (metal oxides,
New e.g. zinc oxide) generate low pH-values on their
surfaces resulting in antimicrobial effects
antimicrobial comparable to the natural protective acid mantle
of human skin.
solution for Compared to commercially available
antimicrobial substances, Lewis acids have
textiles proven to be useful against different pathogens Auto-Match for apparel provides cutting accuracy system is costly and more likely to result in waste as
like fungi, bacteria and even viruses.
a result of poorly matched patterns. In addition to
ensuring that stripes, plaids or other patterns flow
and stable even during exposure to human
Anti-microbial protection is something Furthermore, they have found to be very effective seamlessly from a bodice to a sleeve and throughout ensuring greater accuracy, Auto-Match helps manu-
facturers save on labor costs: The system utilizes a
any garment without interruption. Testing of
demanded both in professional and personal sweat and proteins. Besides, estimations Auto-Match comes with some impressive statistics single operator, and – unlike the manual alignment
life. Such effect on textile surfaces is recently suggest that the use of Lewis acids in including a reduction in labor costs by as much as method – it does not require extensive training or
achieved by using silver or ammonium antimicrobial textile coatings may result in 50 percent while increasing throughput and improve- labor skilled in apparel design and pattern matching.
containing compounds. However, the use of cost-reductions of up to 90%.
ments in cut part accuracy. “Pattern continuity is a Visit Gerber Technology in stand E2-A22 at CISMA to
hallmark of quality for the fashion industry. However, see Auto-Match and other industry-leading solutions
ensuring continuity can be extremely time consuming that help ensure accuracy, optimize productivity,
and prone to errors, adding significant time and cost maximize material utilization and minimize labor costs.
Introducing Lycra Bra with wasted materials and labor associated with Gerber Technology delivers industry-leading software
re-cutting.
Fabric Finder The Auto-Match technology captures a piece of and automation solutions that help apparel and
industrial customers improve their manufacturing
fabric in a single digital image and automatically
and design processes and more effectively manage
Invista says it has developed the Lycra Bra Fabric comfort and support level they need: Active fabrics corrects for placement errors, pattern repeat varia- and connect the supply chain, from product develop-
Finder in response to the current consumer-driven are meant for high support and medium comfort; tions and distortions. Auto-Match is accurate and ment and production to retail and the end customer.
shift towards casual bras. Invista, owner of the Everyday fabrics grant a mix between comfort and repeatable, and most importantly, it can help apparel Gerber serves 78,000 customers in 130 countries,
original elastane Lycra fibre, aims to strengthen its support; Leisure fabrics provide high comfort and manufacturers slash costs over conventional meth- including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies in
leadership position in the intimate apparel category medium support. ods that rely on teams of operators to manually align apparel & accessories, home and leisure, transporta-
with the development of a new proprietary tool: the patterns before cutting. tion, packaging and sign & graphics. The company
Lycra Bra Fabric Finder. This is then followed by the shaping type – either develops and manufactures its products from
natural shaping for a softer, truer silhouette, or power Traditional matching methods require highly-skilled various locations in the United States and
First of all, casual bra designers identify the desired shaping for more defined curves. Then, they can workers and rely solely on the human eye for accura- Canada and has additional manufacturing capabili-
cy. In addition to being time consuming, the manual ties in China.
October/November 2017 October/November 2017