Glen Raven Technical Fabrics LLC -- a division of Glen Raven, N.C.-based technical fabrics manufacturer Glen Raven Inc. -- has added fabric lamination capabilities to its Park Avenue finishing plant located in Glen Raven. The company has moved lamination equipment from its Statesville, N.C., facility to the Park Avenue plant and is offering its Statesville employees the opportunity to transfer as well.  The Park Avenue plant's associates will work on further enhancing the process and developing new product applications.

"By adding lamination capabilities at Park Avenue, we are leveraging our other existing resources and capabilities in warehousing, inventory management and materials handling," said Ricky Michael, vice president for finishing services, Glen Raven Technical Fabrics. "Best of all, by bringing lamination under the Park Avenue umbrella, we can explore ways to make these processes more efficient, and we can also develop new product lines using lamination."

Current applications for the laminated fabrics include curtains used in mines to increase ventilation and airflow; pool covers and tarps; and Glen Raven's AutoGuard product line, which protects components during vehicle assembly. The mine curtains are manufactured by Glen Raven's Wilkinson, W.V.-based subsidiary R.J. Stern.

July 6, 2010