#Software

2020-12-17

Gerber Technology and Burlington medical form long-term partnership to support Burlington medical’s digital transformation initiative

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when all elective surgeries were cancelled and healthcare facilities were limiting outside visitors, Burlington Medical knew they had to pivot production in order to avoid layoffs and keep their community safe. Burlington Medical, a manufacturer of radiation protection, leveraged Gerber Technology’s AccuMark®, AccuMark Made-to-Measure, and AccuNest™ as well a GERBERspreader™ and GERBERcutter® to quickly pivot their supply chain.

They also utilized Gerber’s PPE Task Force to retool their supply chain in about three weeks. In recent weeks, Burlington has continued their journey towards digital transformation by implementing 3DLOOK’s patented body scanning technology to their current AccuMark workflow.

“When crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic happen, manufacturers need to be prepared to adapt their production,” said Mohit Uberoi, CEO of Gerber Technology. “We are gratified and proud to see that Burlington Medical was able to not only do their part to keep their community safe during the pandemic but also keep their doors open and ensure their employees still have jobs.”

With support from Gerber, Burlington Medical was able to leverage production-ready patterns and the latest technology to quickly transition to producing a variety of PPE including: surgical and cloth masks, disposable gowns, face shields, protective eyewear, intubation boxes, and disinfecting wipes. At their peak, the Virginia-based company was producing 15,000 surgical masks a week. Additionally, they were able to save over 100 jobs and even hire more workers.

“If there’s anything this pandemic taught us it’s that we need to invest in the latest technology so that we can take people out of the equation and remain agile,” said Murry Pitts, CEO of Burlington Medical. “I’ve been a Gerber customer for over 20 years and am very impressed with their team and the ability they bring to the table.”

Burlington Medical was able to easily pivot back to their normal production by August and has since invested in new technologies that will allow them to easily meet market demands. By leveraging 3DLOOK’s body scanning solution, Burlington Medical will get precise body measurements remotely with just two photos and then seamlessly import them into AccuMark. This new workflow will allow the company to create production-ready radiation protection garments that fit perfectly.

“Production is a product”

From technical textiles and AI-driven robotics to the limitations of textile circularity: Professor Dr Thomas Gries looks back on more than two decades of development at ITA Aachen. In the interview, he explains why production technology remains a decisive success factor, discusses international collaborations and innovation ecosystems, and shares his views on the transformation of production landscapes and the challenges facing an increasingly regulated industry.

“We need to move away from the price trap and return to a value-driven mindset.”

With its new Textile Innovation Center, KARL MAYER is sending a strong signal for innovation, collaboration, and the future of textile applications. In this interview, Karl Josef Mayer discusses new opportunities in warp knitting, the processing of staple fibres, recycling, the changing role of machinery manufacturers, and why the textile industry must once again focus more strongly on the value of textiles. by Oliver Schmidt

“Innovation, resilience and international experience remain the great strengths of the Swiss textile machinery industry”

Geopolitical uncertainty, growing competitive pressure from China, new free trade agreements and the shift towards a circular economy are currently reshaping the global textile industry. In this interview, Cornelia Buchwalder discusses the current mood within the Swiss textile machinery sector, the industry’s distinctive innovative strength, new market opportunities in India and Asia, and the technological trends that could shape the upcoming trade fair cycle leading up to ITMA 2027.

Coats Digital appoints Himanshu Mehrotra as Managing Director to lead next phase of cloud and AI-driven innovation

Coats Digital is delighted to announce the appointment of Himanshu Mehrotra as Managing Director to lead the company’s strategic direction, innovation agenda, and global growth as it accelerates the development of its cloud-native, AI-powered software solutions for the global apparel and footwear supply chain.

Tunicotex Group boosts OTDP to 85%, cuts planning time by 25% & expands production capacity by 40%

Coats Digital is delighted to announce that following the implementation of FastReactPlan, leading Tunisian premium knitwear manufacturer, Tunicotex Group, has significantly improved its on-time delivery performance from 75% to 85%, reduced planning time by 25%, minimised delays and penalty costs, and unlocked 40% additional capacity to take on more customer orders and support sustained business growth.

Suzhou Tianyuan boosts costing accuracy to 98% with Coats Digital’s GSDCost

Coats Digital is delighted to announce that Suzhou Tianyuan Garments Co., Ltd., a leading manufacturer of high-quality sportswear and functional apparel for global brands such as Adidas, FILA, ANTA, and The North Face, has achieved remarkable productivity and cost management improvements following the implementation of Coats Digital’s award-winning method-time-cost optimisation solution, GSDCost.

KARL MAYER presents a textile TEXTRONIC® innovation at ITM 2026

With highly efficient machines and continuous textile innovations, KARL MAYER underscores its role as a reliable partner for discerning top-tier customers. Just in time for ITM 2026 in Istanbul, the industry leader is introducing a true innovation: an eyelash lace with its characteristic fringed look – combined with a previously unattainable 4-way stretch. While the established fabric could until now only be produced as rigid version or with one-dimensional stretch, the new elasticity in both dimensions expands the possibilities for cross-band panel fabrics.

DYNEEMA® and NP Aerospace advance personal protection for military servicewomen

Dyneema®, owned by Avient Corporation, an innovator of materials solutions, is supplying its high-performance unidirectional (UD) materials to world-leading armor manufacturer NP Aerospace, enabling the production of armor systems designed specifically to fit the female body. With 2,000 new armor systems, including 4,000 plates, made in the United Kingdom (UK) and delivered in June 2026, this collaboration addresses a long-standing lack of high-quality personal protection specially built for female defense and security personnel.

Textile Exchange publishes comprehensive polyester LCA study

Textile Exchange has released a new Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study on polyester, providing detailed data on the environmental impacts of both virgin and recycled polyester production. The study aims to strengthen understanding across the fashion, textile and apparel industries and support more informed decision-making regarding polyester sourcing and production.