#Software

2020-07-30

Longratex renews partnership with Gerber to enable dual workflows - customization and mass production

For 32 years, apparel manufacturer, Longratex, has relied on Gerber Technology’s innovative solutions for their baby and children’s brand, Patachou, and women’s brand, Sophia Kah. With Gerber’s unique end-to-end solution, Longratex is able to manufacture over 2,000 pieces daily and also meet the challenge of customization.

By leveraging Gerber Technology’s innovations, which include 2D/3D CAD solution, AccuMark®, sophisticated cut planning solution, AccuPlan™, and nesting solution, AccuNest™, as well as the Gerber Paragon® and automated spreading, Longratex has the agility and flexibility necessary to adapt to the world around them and meet every challenge they encounter, whether it’s customized, short run or mass production. Since using Gerber’s robust suite of software solutions, Longratex has been able to increase productivity by 50%, improve fabric economy by 3-5%, and boost efficiency by about 50%.

COVID-19 has acted as an accelerator for eCommerce and customization, forcing manufacturers to completely re-evaluate their supply chain. By leveraging digital technologies, Longratex implemented a flexible and agile workflow, beginning with online ordering, that allowed customization, shortened production cycles and accelerated time to market. With Gerber’s solutions, Longratex effectively meets the need for on-demand products while still being able to mass produce when necessary.

“Today, digitalizing the supply chain is the only viable option for manufacturers to efficiently produce on-demand garments,” said Theo Ostendorf, Vice President & General Manager of Europe, Middle East and Africa of Gerber Technology. “Our end-to-end solution empowers both on-demand and mass production, allowing companies of all sizes to conquer any challenge they may face.”

Founded in 1988, Longratex has the broad manufacturing know-how to successfully provide over 600 retail stores in Portugal and the UK with products of the highest quality at an affordable price while also managing their own children’s wear and women’s wear brands. The manufacturer credits much of its success to their skilled workforce and Gerber’s advanced innovative solutions.

“The full integration of our Gerber cutting room with the AccuMark Platform was essential when we decided to launch our own brands seven years ago,” said Paulo Campos, General Manager of Longratex. “We were adding more and more small series, and even customized elements, to the fundament of mass production. We needed an integrated solution to increase productivity and responsiveness.”

"Gerber has responded fully to our needs of training, assistance, and innovation, which encourages continuity in the business relationship,” said Campos. “Through the new solutions presented to the market challenges, Gerber has given us reason to believe that it remains the right technology partner to support us in this new digital era.”

Mango joins TextileGenesis pioneering traceability solution, a Lectra company, for a transparent value chain

Mango, one of the leading international fashion groups, has joined TextileGenesis, the pioneering traceability solution for the fashion and textile industries, to trace their natural and animal fibers, synthetics, man-made cellulosic fibers and leather. TextileGenesis, a Lectra company, offers a complete and secure cutting-edge technology with its six-dimensional (6D) offering and unique “fiber forwards” approach. Mango, has long been committed to maintaining a fully transparent supply chain, and TextileGenesis will reinforce this commitment.

Embee International Selects Coats Digital’s GSDCost Solution to Drive Accuracy, Efficiency, and Global Competitiveness

Coats Digital is pleased to announce that leading global apparel manufacturer, Embee International Industries, has implemented Coats Digital’s GSDCost solution across its operations to eliminate inaccurate costing, streamline production processes, and boost competitiveness in international markets. The move forms a key part of Embee International’s digital transformation strategy to drive greater efficiency, improve quality, and strengthen partnerships with its portfolio of top global brands.

38th International Cotton Conference Bremen: Let´s Talk about Cotton!

The 38th International Cotton Conference Bremen, to be held on 25-27 March 2026 in Bremen’s parliament building on market square, once again sends a powerful signal for professional excellence and international dialogue. The focus is on the latest market trends and technical innovations throughout the entire value chain – from agriculture and quality assurance to processing and the circular economy. With its high-calibre speakers, the conference remains an indispensable forum for anyone involved in shaping the cotton industry scientifically, technically, or economically.

More safety and comfort for protective clothing thanks to auxetic fabrics

When everyday materials are pulled, they stretch or elongate in the direction of the pull and become narrower in cross-section. We can also observe this property in two-dimensional textiles. Auxetic structures behave differently here. They have the striking property of not changing under tensile stress or even increasing their width or thickness. These properties are advantageous, for example, in protective textiles or textile filter media. The DITF are researching auxetic fabrics for various applications.