#Software

2020-05-14

Gerber technology partners with PCIAW to increase production of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the U.K.

With a large part of the global production of personal protective equipment (PPE) happening in the United States and China, much of Europe is experiencing a major PPE shortage, putting millions of lives at risk. In order to combat the shortage, the Professional Clothing Industry Association Worldwide (PCIAW) is partnering with Gerber Technology to make PPE more widely available. Through their PPE Task Force, Gerber has already helped over 1,200 manufacturers across the globe successfully convert their manufacturing capabilities to PPE production.

“Nobody should have to go without the proper protection and risk being infected by COVID-19,” said Richard Jessup, Sales Director, EMEA of Gerber Technology. “Here at Gerber, the health and safety of people all around the world is a top priority. We are working tirelessly with our partners and customers to help and rapidly increase the production of PPE to ensure nobody is without.”

The Gerber PPE Task Force is helping their global network of manufacturers switch to production of protective masks, gowns, face shields, and other PPE by providing free resources such as production-ready patterns, sharing best practices, and connecting manufacturers and suppliers through the PPE Manufacturer Matchmaking Program.

“We are absolutely thrilled to partner with Gerber as their expertise in PPE is unmatched,” said Yvette Ashby, founder and CEO of PCIAW. “Their advanced knowledge, innovative solutions, and helpful resources are going to help vastly increase the availability of PPE in the U.K. and all of Europe.”

Orient Rongheng connects production planning across China and Bangladesh with FastReactPlan

Chinese apparel manufacturer Orient Rongheng is implementing Coats Digital’s FastReactPlan to digitalize production planning across its manufacturing operations in China and Bangladesh. The project aims to connect capacity, materials and order planning across multiple factories while integrating these processes with the company’s existing ERP and Manufacturing Execution System (MES).

Lectra launches Apogy with agentic AI for fashion product development

Lectra has launched Apogy, a new cloud-based solution for fashion product development that combines product data, collaborative workflows and agentic artificial intelligence. The platform is designed to connect the different stakeholders and processes between initial design and production while using AI agents to automate tasks and support decision-making throughout the development cycle.

Coats Digital launches AI-powered GSD RealMotion for motion analysis

Coats Digital has launched GSD RealMotion, an AI-powered solution designed to provide apparel manufacturers with greater visibility into factory-floor operations. By analysing shop-floor video and applying Coats Digital’s GSD methodology, the solution turns video recordings into structured, motion-by-motion method studies.

180 years of TESTEX: From Zurich silk testing to global certification

For 180 years, TESTEX has developed alongside the textile industry while maintaining the same underlying purpose: creating trust through independent and reliable measurement. Founded in Zurich in 1846 as the Zurich Silk Conditioning Institute, TESTEX has grown from a local institution serving the silk trade into an international Swiss testing and certification institute for textiles and leather.

Moving Advanced Recycling from Innovation to Implementation

The Advanced Recycling Conference 2026 explores technologies, markets, financing and scale-up of innovative recycling solutions for waste streams including mixed plastic waste, textiles and PVC. Europe’s chemical and materials sector faces growing pressure to close carbon loops, strengthen raw-material safety and resilience and meet increasingly ambitious EU recycling targets. Against this backdrop, the Advanced Recycling Conference (ARC) will bring together industry leaders, technology providers, researchers, innovators and policy-makers on 17–18 November 2026 in Cologne, Germany.

German textile industry and retailers form alliance to shape textile EPR system

Germany’s textile and fashion industry and retail sector have joined forces to establish the “Alliance for Textile Circularity” (Allianz für textile Kreisläufe). Initiated by the German Textile and Fashion Industry Association (Gesamtverband textil+mode) and the German Retail Federation (HDE), the alliance aims to contribute industry expertise to the development of Germany’s future Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system for textiles and footwear.

Cascale launches member-led process to shape 2030 strategy

Cascale has launched a member-led process to define the industry alliance’s strategic direction for the next decade. At the Cascale Annual Meeting 2026 in Athens, CEO Ying McGuire announced that members will contribute to an industry system map that will inform Cascale’s 10-year vision, its 2030 strategy and priorities for 2027. The new strategy is scheduled to be finalized in December.