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Tech Talk with Frank M. Nickerson, Jr.
RadiciSpandex Technical Sales Representative

The advantages of doing business with RadiciSpandex Corporation include our focus on meeting customer needs and the technical support that we provide. As a Technical Sales Representative I work directly with R&D managers, engineers, technicians, operation managers, plant managers, maintenance personnel and operators as well as owners and purchasing representatives. What I enjoy most about my work is helping customers be successful. At RadiciSpandex we know our success depends on partnering with our valued customers to enhance their success.

Challenges as Learning Opportunities
One of my hosiery customers recently experienced some spandex banding and breakage after replacing their Giudici Model RJ6 air-covering machines with new high-speed, automated Giudici Combi texturing and air-covering machines. We observed that the cause was a difference in the design of the spandex feed system on the new machines, so we changed to the appropriate spin finish for the new equipment and ran some trials to determine the optimum finish content of the spandex. RadiciSpandex then successfully adopted this decreased finish content for other customers. During this process the customer developed and implemented some modifications to the new machines and discovered some changes in operating settings that also improved performance.

Keeping Pace with Technology
These new machines feature automatic doffing and operate at higher speeds, offering hosiery manufacturers impressive operating efficiencies. Joining our customers in their technical upgrades, RadiciSpandex invested in the new winding equipment and resources necessary to develop and provide an optimum size spandex package, which improves the efficiency, utilization and operating costs of hosiery plants running heavier denier spandex.

Asking the Right Questions
I’m always looking for unique ways to help hosiery companies reduce costs. During a recent plant visit, a customer requested a larger 125 denier spandex package in order to improve operating efficiency. Knowing him and his operation very well, I asked a few key questions and suggested what turned out to be a much better alternative. We replaced the 125 denier spandex with a 105 denier and worked out a pricing structure that not only improved his operating efficiency but also provided him a significant yield improvement. Making the necessary adjustments in our mutual products resulted in the customer discovering a new product that he likes much better while realizing a significant cost savings as well.

Have technical questions regarding spandex? Contact Frank Nickerson at 704-836-3126. www.radicispandex.com