InnovatusEdition 5 // Fall/Autumn 2016 // www.texon.com

Nailing style & safety in Europe

IN THIS ISSUE:

Taking safety seriously p.3

Amazing creations to suit every taste p.4

Texon initiatives are taking on a Global perspective p.8

A fond farewell p.9

Our European partners are

continuing to push innovation to the

limit for the world of fashion & to be the last word in safety.

2 Texon Innovatus // Fall/Autumn 2016

Materials User Guide // Box toe puff // Skiving preparation

14

Skiving preparation3.3

A. Grooved metal drive wheel. B. Sharp bell knife. C. Machine must be cleaned regularly to avoid adhesive build up.D. Water or lubricant/water lubricant drip feed system.E. Correctly shaped and adjusted pressure foot.

F. Use absorbent foam or fabric to control lubricant level.

1

2

3

4

A

B B

C

D

E

F

! Texon strongly recommend the use of separate skiving machines for box toe puff and leather components.

WelcomeIt’s been a remarkable few months here at Texon. As a result, we’re all

looking forward to the future with renewed commitment and confidence. I’m pleased to tell you that Navis Capital Partners (“Navis”) have

completed an investment in Texon. As a Management Team, we will also retain a significant stake in the ownership of the business.

NEXT STAGE OF GLOBAL GROWTHTexon has made significant progress in performance over recent years.

This deal provides new capital for the next stage of our global growth. The new investment will help us commercialise some exciting and innovative material development projects. It will also enable us to develop our presence in new markets, and allow us to consider the acquisition of complementary businesses.

AN EXCELLENT PARTNER FOR TEXONAs you may know, Navis are major investors. Founded in 1998, they are a

private equity firm with over 65 investments. Navis boast an enviable track record. Their presence and relationships are highly complementary to our growth plan. Altogether, this makes them an excellent partner for Texon.

EXCITING TIMES FOR EVERYBODYThis is an exciting development for our company. Everyone here at

Texon is anticipating great success with Navis’ backing.

NEW 'MUG' ARRIVES...

Materials User GuideTHIRD EDITION // 2016

The new Texon ‘Materials User Guide’ (MUG) has arrived. Developed and written by our skilled Technical Services Team, the third edition of MUG is an essential guide for getting the maximum performance out of Texon’s materials. Soon to be translated into additional key languages, this guide will prove indispensible wherever our products are in use. In order to receive a copy please register your interest by emailing sales@texon.com

Stan Lamb CEO Texon International Group Ltd.

Texon Innovatus // Fall/Autumn 2016 // www.texon.com 3

LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT T-427? Please email sales@texon.com

Raging fires. Buzzing chainsaws. Broken glass. Six inch nails. Vicious snakes. Wild boars. These are just some of the life-threatening hazards that our end users face every day.

With the specialist materials it produces, Texon is proud to help keep these brave people safe from harm. Watch this space for more details on high-performance products like our Magma, K-Felt and No-Tear.

Ever trod on a nail? The experience doesn’t come highly recommended. Even if you’re

wearing a sturdy pair of work boots, there is no guarantee of 100% protection.

To explain, traditional heavy work boots have either steel or fabric midsoles. Unfortunately, not even the best-designed boots of these kinds will give you complete protection. Steel, due to non-custom shapes can leave gaps whilst the EN 12568:2010 test methods used on current fabric midsole materials are being questioned as they are not consider to be up to the stringent standards users demand.

To the relief of workers everywhere though, Texon has developed an answer to these problems.

Our innovative Texon T-427 material has two layers and is made with ceramic fibres. It has passed all the new suggested guidelines for the nail penetration tests. Texon T-427 has none of the old problems that you get with steel-plated footwear and at the same time, offers the benefits of traditional fabric midsoles such as comfort, flexibility and 100% coverage.

Texon firmly believe that T-427 will reduce the agony of nail-related injuries.

Working partyWe should stress that the European working party looking at the EN norms for nail penetration in footwear is still a work in progress and that Texon and Texon Italia are very much part of this process. We will keep you updated on the working party’s progress during the coming months.

Texon makes a real point of safety across Europe

For some people, choosing the right

footwear really is a matter of life-and-death.

4 Texon Innovatus // Fall/Autumn 2016

EXCITING DISCOVERIESLCM’s team is led by Carlos and his son Paulo. Thanks to his extensive background in the leather industry, Carlos quickly realised the potential of Texon T484. He began experimenting with Texon T484 sheets, and the leather-simulating effects you can achieve with them. Carlos folded them, dyed then, sprayed them - you name it, he tried it. Paulo was on hand to help with the finishing process, and to record his father’s exciting discoveries.

When you see the leather effects the team achieve, you’d never know that Texon T484 starts its life as a fairly plain cellulose material. In its standard format, T484 is a flat sheet. So how does Texon T484 undergo such a remarkable transformation at the LCM factory? And how is the flair for design in Italy already taking advantage of Texon’s material? Let us explain...

COLOURS AND EFFECTS Texon T484 has a slightly rougher side, and a slightly smoother one. The smoother side is the one where the effects are applied. Colours are sprayed on, either by hand for smaller runs or by a printing press for larger orders. Once the coating has been applied, you’re ready to do a whole range of things with the materials.

To create the fashionable distressed look, for example, each sheet is scrunched by hand. The sheets are then added to a large cylindrical drum like a tumble dryer, where they’re processed until the desired finish appears.

Using die-stamping and similar methods, you can add an even wider variety of abstract and uniform patterns to the material. Heat transfer offers you yet more avenues to explore.

Amazing creatives...

...amazing creations

In the heart of the Italian countryside, something remarkable is happening. Using Texon’s versatile leather-simulating material Texon T484, the LCM factory is producing a wide range of colours and leathers patterns. You’ll see everything you can think of - from timeless plain tan to big and bold crocodile.

What’s more, you can use Texon T484 for all kinds of things. Jeans and hats, for example. Or picture frames and book covers. You can even use Texon T484 as a seat cover for motor scooters (a big favourite in Italy). Just like leather, no two sheets of Texon T484 are the same - and the possibilities are almost endless.

Texon Innovatus // Fall/Autumn 2016 // www.texon.com 5

...amazing creations

The primary market for Texon T484 was - and is - leather-simulating labels for jeans. As you may know, jeans labels need high stitch strength and tear resistance. They must be able to survive processes like stone-washing too. Any material that can offer these properties can also be used for many other leather-simulating purposes. That’s why the demand for Texon T484 is evolving all the time.

WELL WORTH THE WAITAlthough this particular factory are the main exponents, other factories across Italy are experimenting with Texon T484 to great effect. Anyone using Texon T484 will tell you that the treatment process cannot be rushed. Each stage involves considerable care, precision and patience. But when you see what can be achieved, we’re sure you’ll agree that it’s well worth the wait.

1980s

2006

2011

2014

2016

Texon T484 is invented

A metal-free version of T484 follows, marking a major step forward for the material.

Originally used for jeans labels, T484’s next big use is for hang tags.

Bookbinding companies successfully trial T484 as a material for book covers.

For the first time, T484 is used for bags and baskets.

Across the world, many different companies begin using T484 for a wide range of leather-simulating products and finishes

In particular, T484 starts building its reputation in the fashion industry.

Texon T484 achieves the prestigious Ökotex 100 standard.

TEXON T484 TIMELINE

6 Texon Innovatus // Fall/Autumn 2016

In the past business quarter Texon have either exhibited or attended a variety of different footwear shows and exhibitions around the globe – here are a few of the events;

In Portland, Oregon USA, the Northwest Materials Show was, ‘one of the largest and most well attended in recent history’ according to Roy Hill, Texon’s Global Accounts Manager.

‘We certainly had many people visiting the Texon stand during the course of the exhibition and showing a great deal of interest in our products’, added Roy.

Ben Su, our Business Integration Director received a special invitation to the Pou Chen Vendor Fair in Dongguan, China, whilst on the other side of the world, Matt Smith, Gary Hollins,

Ben Soto and other members of the Texon team attended the 40th annual FIMEC Show in Brazil.

Together with our friends at Texon Italia, we had a strong presence once again at Lineapelle. Held in Milan, Texon’s European Business Director, David Kirk, chaired a pre-show sales, product development and marketing meeting which was attended

by European distributors from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria and guests from the USA, UK and Vietnam.

On opposite sides of the globe, the AMPIC fair in Mexico and the Guangzhou show in China have both resulted in a good many enquiries for Texon, with visitor attendances high at both events.

Around the World...It’s been a busy period for Texon around the world. Here is a small selection of what’s been happening… and where...

AMERICAS

Putting names to faces in the Dominican Republic

Ben Soto and Emma Richardson have recently returned from visits to a number of key customers in the

Dominican Republic."It was a really productive week – extremely positive

meetings and great to finally meet up with clients whom, up to now, have only been the name at the bottom of an email!" Ben remarked.

Ben was invited to attend the Rocky Brands/Five Star summit in Santiago. As part of the summit, Rocky gave a series of presentations of their various business streams and brands, which Ben described as ‘a very well organized and informative event’. Ben and Emma were also given a tour of the new 10,000 square foot warehouse facility at USM D.R Corporation.

"It was clear to both Emma and myself that the various producers in the Dominican Republic want to do business with Texon" concluded Ben.

It’s Showtime!

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Texon Looks to the Future with Loughborough University

Building links with the academic and research world.

Texon are proud of our close links in the academic world. Simon Bradshaw, who is

responsible for innovation development, has been working closely with a number of research institutes, including Loughborough University

and other institutions on a number of research- based projects.

Thanks to the excellent working relationship between Simon and Loughborough University, Texon have been able to tap into grant funding and as a result are now looking to sponsor a PhD student on a three year research project which will be part funded by Texon and part research grant.

Pictured opposite are Simon (L) and Professor Robert Allison (R), Vice Chancellor of Loughborough University at a recent event to thank Texon for our continued involvement.

Technical Services Team Steps Up To The Plate in Indonesia

When it comes to problem-solving, the Texon Technical Services Team are hard to beat.

They are experts in helping our brand customers and footwear manufacturers overcome any challenges they face.

Just recently, Senior Technical Services Manager Leo Rusli helped an Indonesian footwear manufacturer crack a tricky problem with its bonding process. The manufacturer was convinced that there was something wrong with the material they were using. So they called in Leo to get his opinion and advice on what to do next.

ASIA

EUROPE

Serious mis-alignment in mold After a series of tests, Leo found that the problem wasn’t with the material. In actual fact, there was a serious mis-alignment between the outer and inner mold in the cold stage of the back-part molding process. This was causing the poor bonding problems plaguing the manufacturer.

As Leo explained to us: “It is essential that there is a firm and even pressure during the cold stage back-part molding. This crystalizes the cement and ensures a good bond.”

The client agreed, and following Leo’s advice the problem was quickly addressed. Well done to Leo and the rest of the team for their excellent work.

8 Texon Innovatus // Fall/Autumn 2016

Do you have something to add? Would you like to see something featured in future editions of Innovatus? Email us here: innovatus@texon.com

www.texon.com

Goodbye and Thanks to... Malcolm Downie

I helped develop a comprehensive test schedule for ‘Restricted

Substance Testing’ which met the requirements of all our customers. It is pleasing to note that this test has become somewhat of an industry standard”

As many of you may be aware, Malcolm Downie, one of the stalwarts of Texon Non

Woven Ltd plant at Skelton, in the UK, has decided to retire.

Malcolm first came to Skelton back in 1990 having previously worked for, amongst others, Johnson & Johnson where he was involved in R & D on a range of medical products.

He put these skills to good use in the footwear industry when he joined Emhart Footwear Materials Group at Leicester in the UK in 1987, before being transferred to Skelton three years later.

“When I first arrived at Skelton I helped to start up a product development group”, recalls Malcolm, “we carried out trials and looked at ‘productionising’ development products which were coming out of the lab in Leicester”.

“Over my years here the company has gone through various name and ownership changes; Emhart became Black and Decker, then BUSM and now thankfully, Texon!”

When the Leicester facility closed down in the 1990’s all manufacturing was moved up to Skelton. Malcolm’s various job roles during this period included production manager (for fabric

making), responsibility for new extrusion and hot melt coating areas, and technical manager with factory-wide responsibility for production support, specifically ‘quality’.

If the 90’s were busy, the new millennium bought even more work to his desk, as Malcolm explained, “During the early 2000’s I took on the ISO 9001 accreditation responsibility, becoming a trained auditor. I also helped develop a comprehensive test schedule for ‘Restricted Substance Testing’ which met the requirements of all our customers. It is pleasing to note that this test has become somewhat of an industry standard", he added.

Malcolm has continued in this role right up to his retirement and has also managed to find time to investigate customer complaints, edit an internal newsletter, ‘Skelton News’, serve on the works council and become a trained ‘environmental auditor’.

Everyone at Texon would like to wish Malcolm all the very best for the future and we all hope that he will pop in from time to time to say hello to all his friends at Texon in Skelton. Happy retirement Malcolm!