Maglieria Italiana n° 189 - 1° semestre 2019

ENGLISH TRANSLATION
ECO & EQUO (on page 204)
IAFIL
REVOLUTIONIZES THE FINISHING PROCESS
Washing and teaseling for zero impact with two types of patented
brushing balls
This January IAFIL Industria Ambrosiana Filati, presented two
items at Pitti Filati destined to transform finishing processes in an
eco-sustainable direction.
The name of the first innovation is WashingBalls®, highly magnetized
spheres which stabilize the water during the washing phase
thanks to changes in the magnetic fields, while releasing a natural
deodorizing and cleansing substance: sodium bicarbonate. In addition
to delicately washing clothing, bicarbonate is known for its
ability to eliminate odors and tenacious spots. Plus, it helps to soften
the clothing items, bolstering the effectiveness of the detergent
when it comes to keeping white garments brilliant.
Thanks to these remarkable WashingBalls® the bicarbonate is produced
naturally without any additives, making it possible to reduce
the quantity of detergent necessary and to achieve levels of whitening
and biocide action at 30° which are normally only obtained at
much higher temperatures. The action of the spheres also breaks
down limestone molecules, thus permitting the elimination of
waste water without the addition of specific products for this purpose.
The second new development involves the Brushing Balls®, little
spheres designed to enable an innovative new teaseling method for
knits and fabrics. The balls have been designed to turn with an irregular
rotary motion, guaranteeing both an initial abrasive operation
as well as a final mechanical one.
The fulling process – involving neither silicone softeners nor neutral
soaps – takes place in the drying tumbler without heat, resulting
in considerable savings in terms of water and energy consumption.
Moreover, no chemical acids are required to clean the tumbler
after use because the action of the spheres is actually self-cleaning.
The Brushing Balls® are GOTS certified due to the fact that they
contribute to a manufacturing process in full compliance with the
requisites stated in the standard.
In addition, they enable the GOTS certified yarns to maintain their
certification because they have been softened without the use of
silicone.
Iafil markets these products on a co-branding basis with Shima
Seiki and Electrolux professionals for the knit and fulling machines.
The spheres (balls) are covered by a European EPO patent
for industrial inventions registered in Milan on 02/08/2018 by Sergio
Sala, an engineer and member of the IAFIL SpA Research &
Development team.
COMPANY PROFILE (on page 289)
LANIFICIO DELL'OLIVO
POWER TO THE FANCY
Strong, deep roots – like those of olive trees – combined with creativity
and technical innovation qualify this yarn manufacturer as an outstanding
representative of the made-in- Italy phenomenon
For over 70 years Lanificio dell’Olivo has been producing fancy
yarns distinguished by the fine quality. It all got started back in
1947, when Rodolfo Querci decided to go against the current and,
during a period when all the Prato companies produced fabrics, begin
to produce yarns for knitwear. During the 50’s he was the first
to introduce pile yarns, while just a few years later he began producing
luxury yarns, such as alpaca and mohair, to this day the crown
jewel of the company collections. In the following decades Lanificio
dell’Olivo established itself on the Italian fashion landscape,
achieving goals of enviable growth and universal respect in an ever
more global marketplace. The introduction of new technologies enabled
the firm to produce increasingly sophisticated fancy yars and
beginning in 2000s Lanificio dell'Olivo increasingly specialized in
the production of fancy yarns, featuring innovative structures and
blended colors in exciting new fibers in order to obtain unique, original
items. From the very beginning, in other words, it’s always been
about research, creativity and character and these distinguishing
features have enabled the Prato yarn company to anticipate trends,
winning the business and loyalty of the best manufacturers of knitwear
and hand knitters in the world, developing a synergy with
them in order to satisfy every need, every wish. Lanificio dell'Olivo
has solid roots that reach deep down into the national soil, drawing
from its esteemed, time-honored tradition. The production plant in
Italy makes it possible to control every detail that has to do with
production and service, while the constant investments in machinery
and manufacturing capacity have enabled the company to grow
and evolve constantly down through the years. Furthermore, the
ability to selet the best fibers and render them unique in terms of
aesthetic appeal, tactile sensations and performance in no way contradicts
respect and concern for the environment, as the company’s
ambitious Going Green program amply demonstrates.
The foreign market currently accounts for fully two-thirds of Lanificio
dell'Olivo’s sales, with Europe, the United States and the Far
East representing the principal markets. In 2015 the company, having
remained until then in the hands of the founder’s family, was
further strengthened when the private equity fund, Gradiente Sgr.,
acquired a significant portion of the company stock. Thus began a
period of important changes as well as expansion into the international
markets. We spoke about this with Fabio Campana, the current
president of Lanificio dell'Olivo.
What has changed about the company since you came on board in
2017?
"Agreat deal has changed. I had the good fortune of finding an environment
brimming with talent and passion, made up of truly capable
people, genuinely attached to the company. Onto this healthy,
eager-to-grow tissue, we grafted a managerial culture based on
setting challenging goals and the pursuit of the same by means of
teamwork and the practice of making each individual responsible.
I am convinced that the efficiency and effectiveness of the company
has benefitted enormously from this and believe I can safely
say that the people who work here have had an opportunity to feel
more involved in the success of the same the more they were able to
personally contribute to it. Today, with the help of Gianluca Bazzi
on the financial side and Pierluigi Biagini on the area of operations,
we find ourselves at the helm of a company capable of important
achievments in a very positive atmosphere, rich with stimuli, where
people enjoy their success and are able to feel fulfilled.”
What’s the key to your success in the foreign markets?
"I think it’s similar to what has also enabled us to be leaders in the
Italian market: creativity and know-how when it comes to selecting
the materials, structures and colors of our yarns, combined with
manufacturing efficiency and, of course, reliability and service by
means of sampling an a further enhanced stock service. When it
comes to the foreign market, in addition to what I’ve just mentioned,
I think a determining role is played by the importance we have
placed on pursuing the goal of sustainability, a course our company
decided to pursue years ago, and, obviously, a conspicuous "Made
in Italy" identity, expressed in our capacity for innovation and the
distinctiveness of our products.”
What are your goals in the short and medium term?
"Our goals involve shoring up gains and achieving further growth,
for the benefit of our customers and stock holders. The Fondo Gradiente
Sgr, owner of 80% ofcompany capital (the Taddeucci family
holds the remaining 20%), asks that we continue creating company
value, and not just from the patrimonial / financial point of view,
but also in terms of the organization and the processes. For our customers,
on the other hand, we want to always be capable of supplying
them with unique products, items capable of amazing and thrilling,
always endeavoring to be more reliable, offering an impeccable
service package.”
How is the s-s collection for 2020 coming along?
"It’s still early to say, but the initial signals are quite positive. At Pitti
we say a great deal of interest in our products (the stand was, indeed,
very high-impact) on the part of some highly qualified buyers.
I think we have managed to achieve our goal of presenting a collection
deeply respectful of the Olivo spirit and, if possible, even more
in tune with the expectations of our customers. We have already
had a great requests for small trial orders, samples, if you will, and
this is getting our hopes up regarding future sales.