President's Message

By Bill Putnam

Welcome to the latest edition of the Cordage Institute Newsletter. I hope all enjoyed a nice summer and had a chance to recharge.

We enjoyed a tremendous Annual Conference in Colorado Springs in May. If you were unable to attend the conference, all presentations are available to members on the website.

We announced at that time a re-vamping of the CI website. The outcome of that effort is now in place. The back-end ability to provide easier updates and keep the site more relevant was part of the goal and that has been a success. The site has a new, fresh look, and is far more user friendly for all visitors.

CI continues to be in the forefront of rope standards. We are an integral part of the OCMIF working group, along with European members and partners that are updating the purchase and test guidelines for SPM hawsers. This is part of an ongoing effort to have our standards lead other rope-related specifications. 

We have one new member since May, Buccaneer Rope Company of Scottsboro, AL. We are pleased to have them join our association.

Our in-person Fall Technical meeting will be held October 3-4, 2023 in Philadelphia. Our winter technical meeting will once again be a virtual event so don’t miss the chance to take part in the face-to-face version in October. We expect updates from many committees and technical standards. Details are on the website. 

It is never too early to block your calendars for next year's Joint Conference with Eurocord to be held in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina on June 16-19, 2024.

Thank you for your support of the Cordage Institute. Now, more than ever, is a time for improving standards and test methods for fiber ropes.

Rollin Stirman, a long-time member of the Cordage Institute, was posthumously awarded the 2023 Gale Foster Award of Merit during the President’s Night Dinner at the Cordage Institute’s 2023 Annual Conference in Colorado Springs. Named after the well-respected former Cordage Institute Technical Director, the Gale Foster Award of Merit is presented to individuals who have contributed outstanding service to the organization and to the industry over a substantial period of time.

We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Cordage Institute’s new website, www.ropecord.com, featuring an updated look and improved navigation. Enhanced features include photos and highlights from past conferences and an online membership application.

Once logged in to the site, members can view and download member resources, presentations from past conferences, and all Cordage Institute publications at no cost. They can also now calculate and pay their membership dues online. 

Please check out the new website today! 

It is with great pride and enthusiasm that we introduce the new Vice Chair of the Cordage Institute Technical Committee, Mr. Loet Hoppe!

Mr. Hoppe’s appointment to this position is no surprise to those familiar with his exceptional contributions to the cordage industry. Loet was nominated and elected with overwhelming support, and he has proven himself as a leading expert and technical contributor, making him an ideal choice for this role.

Loet has been an integral part of the cordage industry for over 30 years, during which he has garnered a wealth of knowledge and experience in the manufacturing, testing, and applications of ropes and twines. His passion for innovation and commitment to advancing the industry have been evident through his numerous projects and research initiatives.

Loet has played an active role in the Cordage Institute for 15 years, contributing to various groups and subcommittees, sharing his insights and expertise, and fostering collaboration among members. He will continue to strengthen the technical work of the Cordage Institute.  

Congratulations to Loet Hoppe on this election!

HERZOG was able to attend the ITMA show in Milan recently. There they displayed braiding machinery, both large and small, along with bobbin winding and rewinding equipment. Interesting and friendly conversation took place with everyone that visited their booth.

BRILEN is pleased to inform to the market the approval of a new investment on High Tenacity Polyester Yarn capacity at our premises of Barbastro (Spain).

During this year’s spring, we have started up 4 new state of the art spinning lines, which will provide the market with additional 5000 mt of BRILEN® range yarns. The total capacity of BRILEN will reach 26.000 mt per year. This new enlargement leads BRILEN to the first position in terms of yarn name plate capacity in Europe, for technical textile applications, and allows us to keep on being flexible, quick reactive at the same time that we offer more yarn availability for the growing local market.

BRILEN demonstrates once again, the firm and constant commitment to the European Industry of Technical Textile Applications, and our focus on building long term close commercial and technical collaborations with our faithful customers.  

We also would like to take this opportunity to publicly recognize and thank them for their reliability and good partnership all these years, as they are the reason for our growth and continue development.

The due date for responding to the 2022 Economic Census has passed, but it is not too late to respond. Businesses that received an invitation to respond but have not yet replied are receiving past due notices with instructions on how to respond and if needed, how to receive assistance. Response to the economic census is required by law. Responses are past-due and by invitation only, but the Census Bureau accepts submissions until November 1, 2023. Your response makes a difference.

Economic census data serve as the foundation for the gross domestic product and other leading economic indicators for the nation. Trade associations, economic development agencies, governments, and individual businesses use the data to make decisions and create policies. By completing the economic census, companies contribute to a wealth of valuable data that can help grow their business. Data compiled from the 2022 Economic Census are only possible because of the participation of businesses like yours.  All responses are confidential. 

Upon completion of data collection, the U.S. Census Bureau will begin data processing and preparation for the release of the first 2022 Economic Census publication in March 2024.