Industry Notes - June 2003

Dow Fiber Solutions (DFS) announced that the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has awarded the company's new elastic fiber, DOW XLA*, its own fiber subclass and generic name, Lastol. The FTC approval underscores the chemistry and properties of DOW XLA, an olefinic-based fiber combining Dow's INSITE* technology with a specially modified, cross-linked polymer. DOW XLA fiber is designed to add a low-to-moderate "comfort stretch" to natural, synthetic or blended fabrics without special manufacturing conditions or consumer laundering instructions.

Gerber Technology has appointed Tecnologa de la Informacin en Sistemas Administrativos S.C.P (TISA) as its sales and service agent in Mexico's Yucatn peninsula. The company also expanded its customer service operations in Central America with the opening of a full-service center in Honduras, staffed by local personnel.

Justwin Technologies Inc. and TUKATECH Inc. have formed a global alliance whereby the firms will integrate their products and seek to expand their distribution worldwide. TUKATECH offers a range of CAD/CAM, cutting, spreading and unit production systems, as well as online pattern and marker making services. Justwin offers its Collaborative Product Commerce (CPC) software for managing and tracking product development, sourcing and supply chain processes.

Productive Solutions, a new marketing consulting and services firm, has been created by industry veteran Rick Ludolph. Based in Marietta, GA, the company will provide full-service business strategy, integrated marketing and sales productivity solutions for companies engaged in the business-to-business marketplace. Productive Solutions will offer a wide range of consulting and support services designed to achieve measurable results for the company's clients. Services offered by the firm include strategic business/marketing planning and redirection, corporate and product brand management, market research and trend analysis, marketing campaigns and event management, product roadmap and launch, strategic alliance and partnerships, sales channel development, sales process improvement, and more.

Shore To Shore (STS) has expanded its presence in South Asia by opening a sales and service office in Singapore. STS has expanded its European operations into Scandinavia, to provide sales and service to Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland.

TUKATECH, in collaboration with Su Group, has opened a TUKAcenter in China. Located in the city of Guangdong, the TUKAcenter has 25 TUKAcad workstations and four TUKAjet plotters. The center provides TUKAcad training and pattern plotting services, and 24-hour support for TUKAweb pattern plotting and other services.