Blog Archives

Apr 04

AiryString® sustainable tapeless zipper allows you to sew elements directly to fabric while reducing emissions and water consumption during production.

Three Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing a Fastener for Wearables

By YKK Apparel, Blog No Comments

Despite being quite small, fasteners are integral to the performance of wearables. Since fasteners are the most frequently touched component of these types of products, it is crucial that wearables manufacturers do not make mistakes that can diminish performance or worse, render the garment completely unusable. While there are several…

Apr 04

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The Importance of Early Supplier Engagement

By YKK Blog, Solutions No Comments

In order to stay competitive in today's crowded and everchanging marketplace, manufacturers are tasked with delivering value in two ways. The first is by providing innovative products that ensure and improve safety and efficacy and the second is by maximizing cost-effectiveness throughout the product's lifecycle, from development to launch to…

Apr 01

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Water-Resistant and Waterproof Zippers for Outdoor Applications

By YKK Blog, FAQ, Sports & Outdoors, Zipper No Comments

After gaining a clearer understanding about the difference between water-resistant and waterproof YKK® zippers, the next step is learning about some best applications in the outdoor industry for these zippers. AquaGuard® Water-Resistant Zippers Backpacks For years it has been standard to use regular coil chain in backpacks. But then leaders…

Mar 29

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Customer-Intimate Suppliers and Continuous Innovation

By YKK Blog, Solutions No Comments

Suppliers are the most ideal resources to help manufacturers innovate due to their unique perspectives and abilities. Manufacturer-supplier innovation can be taken a step further when manufacturers choose suppliers focused on their relationships with their customers, also known as customer-intimate suppliers. According to Michael Treacy and Fred Wiersma, customer-intimate suppliers…

Mar 21

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What is the Best Invisible Zipper?

By YKK Apparel, Blog, FAQ, Zipper No Comments

Have you determined that your product needs an invisible zipper but you don’t know which is best? Allow us to introduce you to YKK’s lineup of CONCEAL® zippers, which come in a variety of element/teeth sizes, over 700 colors, and include Dye-to-Match (DTM) capabilities. Our lightest invisible zipper, the #2mm,…

Mar 14

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Gaining a Competitive Edge in Manufacturing: Choosing the Right Supplier

By YKK Blog, FAQ No Comments

Here's an important question: How do manufacturers cut costs and stay ahead of their competitors when developing new products? The answer is by evaluating Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) when new products are being conceived of and developed. TCO is the sum total of costs incurred throughout a product's lifecycle,…

Mar 08

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What is the best way to sew extruded plastic hook fasteners?

By YKK Blog, FAQ, Hook & Loop No Comments

SUMMARY This article explores the best way to sew extruded plastic hook fasteners in order to prevent tears. Considerations include sewing thread and stitch length as well needle size. POWERHOOK® FASTENER SELECTION POWERHOOK® fasteners are molded hooks produced with extrusion technology. They vary in material polymer and performance, and can…

Mar 03

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What is a Sustainable Zipper?

By YKK Blog, FAQ, Sustainability, Zipper No Comments

This is a question that more customers are asking as they seek to find ways to reduce the environmental footprint of their products. While the term “sustainable” would seem to be straightforward and easy to understand, it can be tricky as it has different meanings for different people. At YKK,…

Feb 24

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How Are Car Seats Made?

By YKK Blog, FAQ, Transportation No Comments

Summary Car seats are made up of 3 major components: a frame for support, foam for comfort, and a trim cover for appearance. The actual building of the seat follows in the same order. The frame is made of fabricated metal components and assembled. Then, the appropriately designed foam is…

Feb 15

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The Difference Between Pin Lock Sliders and Auto Lock Sliders for Zippers

By YKK Blog, FAQ, Zipper No Comments

Did you know there are different optional functions of a slider? Knowing the difference is important when making a choice of slider for different applications. While these two sliders may look the same, they are primarily different based on their individual function. Sliders can be differentiated according to the functioning…