About

Welcome to the Blog and website of Malcolm Sims and Associates.

Malcolm Sims & Associates

A new international consulting business specialising, but not exclusively, in yarn, carpet and wool.  We will also be offering services  in synthetics, carpet manufacturing equipment, auxiliary equipment and materials, as well as general textiles.

‘After many years in senior management roles and international product development, I am looking forward to using my experience to help clients build on their business’s’.

Malcolm Sims & Associates  are an international consulting business for textiles, specialising in carpets and can help develop new product lines and new markets. With expertise in all aspects of carpet manufacture and marketing we can play a small part in a designated project or play a major role within a business.

Working in over 20 countries for 40+ year period Malcolm Sims has an established product development reputation and strong relationships in the international carpet and yarn market.

The following are some of the services available:

• Strategic Market Reviews
• Product Development
• Colour range development
• Fibre and yarn selection
• Carpet construction
• Mill technical troubleshooting
• Product sourcing
• Training, presentations and seminars
• Expert witness in related court cases
• Communications, trade press commentator
• Technology transfer and technical marketing
• Environmental expertise
• General management and business reviews
• International network
• Testing and Grading advice

Malcolm Sims

Malcolm has over 40 years experience in Wool and Synthetic carpet and yarn manufacturing and marketing. For 25 years he has been responsible for International Product Development and has worked with manufacturers from around the world.

He has held senior management roles in 3 countries over the years and latterly was Vice President of Operations for a leading wool carpet company in the US, before starting an International Consulting business in 2012.

Malcolm has ‘hands on’ manufacturing skills and many years of creative product development and senior strategic management experience.

Experience

Company: Malcolm Sims and Associates –International Textile Consultants.  Date: 2012 to present.

Projects with: Wool Growers, Wool Exporters, Spinners, Weavers, Tufters, Dyestuffs, machinery suppliers and marketing organizations.

Company: Bellbridge Carpets – USA   Date: Jan 2007 – June 2012   Position: Vice President of Operations

Responsibilities:  Operational staff – Marketing, Technical, Customer Service, Warehouse distribution, Complaints, Accounting and Credit.   Mill technical liaison, Environmental issues, Technical specifications and Contract, Problem solving, Claim supervision, senior management strategic role, Sales team support and Machinery Purchases.

Company: Wools of New Zealand – UK   Date: 1997 – 2007   Position: Product Development Manager and General Manager of the International Development Center:

Responsibilities:  All staff – Marketing, Technical, Global Product Development for yarn and carpet, Design, Testing, and Accounting, Commercial projects, Trend setting in colour and carpet, international industry coordinator for WONZ, Major contributor to research science directions, Member of the WONZ strategic management team.

Company: International Wool Secretariat – UK   Date: 1989 – 1997   Position: Senior Technologist and Manager of Carpet Product Development and Design

Responsibilities: All Carpet Development and Design staff. International Product Development, Trends and colour forecasts, industry coordinator.

Company: New Zealand Wool Board – NZ   Date: 1986 – 1989   Position: Senior Carpet Technologist

Responsibilities:  Product Development NZ/Australia, Woolmark carpet grading scheme, carpet inspections in claim disputes, industry interface and expert witness in carpet related court cases.

Company: Bremworth  Carpets – NZ   Date: 1981 – 1986   Position: Dyeing Technologist and Product Development Manager

Responsibilities:  Product Development manager for all wool products, Printing and dyeing techniques, Specifications, Grading, technical interface with sales team.  Also the technical liaison between Bremworth and Hycraft carpets Australia and Product Development Manager of Hycraft NZ (Nylon Carpets)

Company: Abingdon Carpets – UK  Date: 1974 – 1981  Position: Supervisor in – Tufting Department, Latex and Foaming backing, Space Dyeing, Printing and Dyeing, Dye Laboratory.

Responsibilities:  Staff management in all above departments, Production role in all above, Trainer for company.  Experienced in the production of Nylon, Acrylic, Polypropylene, Polyester and Wool carpet manufacturing processes.

Company: ICI Fibres – UK   Date: 1969 – 1974   Position: Carpet Technologist

Responsibilities:  Nylon product development, Tufting machine setups and sampling, Latex carpet sample production.

Skills:

• Product development of yarns and carpet
• Creative thinker, commercial values
• Team management
• Relationships and ability to work at all levels of the business
• Technical aspects of yarns and carpets, including dyeing, testing,  grading and performance
• Wool – from sheep to carpet
• Environmental issues
• Very wide international network of contacts at all levels of the carpet industry
• Technical troubleshooting
• Excellent knowledge of carpet machinery
• Intimate knowledge of the world wool yarn and international carpet manufacturers, having visited most
• Technical Marketing
• Technical Sales support
• Product Sourcing network
• International market perspective – as well as very good knowledge of individual countries
• International speaker and trade press contributor for many years
• A Fellow of the Textile Institute (CTexT FTI)