Quality Fabric Of The Month: To Protect While Serving


DuPont, Wilmington, Del., has announced a new Kevlar® technology that is designed to protect law enforcement officers, corrections officers and military personnel against multiple weapon threats. Kevlar is a DuPont brand which is used in most bullet- and stab-resistant vests.

According to the company, this new Kevlar technology defends against threats from fire arms, commercially manufactured knives and puncture-producing weapons such as ice picks in a concealable,
soft body armor.


The Ice Pick Test

Unlike heavier garments worn on the outside of clothing, vests using this patent-pending technology are designed to be comfortable and flexible for everyday wear, and provides the same level of protection across the entire vest.

According to DuPont, multi-threat body armor made with the new Kevlar provides the wearer with ballistic protection for NIJ levels II, IIA and IIIA, and have surpassed the “California Ice Pick Test” using a standard ice pick and a Russell boning knife.

In the ice pick test, an ice pick or boning knife is attached to a 16.2-pound weight and dropped from a height of five feet. The energy level — measured at 81 ft.-lbs. or 110 joules — is equal to that of a tossed javelin or a golfer driving a ball 250 yards. The knife and pick failed
to puncture the Kevlar fabric.

The fact that this fabric can stop commercially manufactured knives and puncture-type weapons is important because these weapons are harder and sharper than hand-crafted knives, and are therefore more dangerous to law enforcement officers on the street.

Law enforcement officers never know what kind of weapon will be used against them,” said John Dottore, business segment leader at DuPont. “Knives and other sharp instruments are often the weapons of first opportunity in a given situation, such as a domestic dispute or crimes of passion.

“Under certain circumstances, such as courtroom security or prisoner transfer in a corrections or jail facility, a perpetrator may favor a knife of puncture-type instrument because it can be easily concealed and used surreptitiously. And there is always the ballistic threat. That
is why a multi-threat vest is the best protection for specific assignments in law enforcement and corrections.”

p78_1627

The force of 110 joules bends the blade of a Russell boning knife during the California Ice
Pick Test, but fails to pierce the multi-threat body.


Taking It To The Streets

The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and DuPont recently formed the Kevlar Survivors’ Club® to recognize and honor law enforcement and corrections officers who have survived potentially fatal/disabling injuries by wearing personal protective body armor. The partnership reported more than 2,300 documented cases where law enforcement officers were saved by their body armor.

The partnership is dedicated to reducing death and disability by having all law enforcement professionals wear body armor 100 percent of the time while on duty. Membership is open to any law enforcement or corrections officer who has survived a potentially life- or disability-threatening incident by wearing body armor. Officers are nominated by their chief, sheriff, warden or supervisor.

For more information on multi-threat level vests made with Kevlar, call (800) 4-KEVLAR
(453-8527).

December 1999

BASF Bayer And Hoechst Combine Textile Activities

BASF, Bayer and Hoechst, all headquartered in Germany, have announced the consolidation of the
companies textile activities into one newly created operation. According to the agreement, BASF
will combine its textile chemical business with DyStar, the joint venture of Bayer and Hoechst.
Each company will hold an equal share in this yet unnamed company. The newly formed company will
have annual sales of 2 billion marks ($1 billion) and have a work force of approximately 4,700
employees worldwide.This venture will create the world’s largest maker of textile dyes. The company
is scheduled to begin operation April 1, 2000.

December 1999

People

Columbia Sportswear Co., Portland, Ore., has named Angela Hult public relations manager. In new her
position, Hult will oversee public affairs, community and media relations and corporate
communication. Jones Companies Ltd., Humboldt, Tenn., has created three new positions within the
company.J.E. Jed Pratt has been named account vice president. Pratt, who joined the company from
GIW Industries, will manage sales outside the southeastern United States and Canada.The company has
also named Jim Thomas as materials manager. Thomas, who will work out of the Humboldt headquarters,
will be responsible for raw material purchasing. He has more than 21 years of experience in the
textile industry.Dudley Baker was named as Latin America business development and customer service
representative. Baker will manage the companys Latin American accounts.Johnston Industries Inc.,
Columbus, Ga., has recently named Steve Marrandino senior vice president of new customer
development for its greige fabrics division.Avondale Mills Inc., Graniteville, S.C., has announced
the appointed Jerry King as director, human resources, Western Operations. King will be responsible
for all human resources functions for the companys plants in Alabama and the companys yarn
manufacturing facilities. He has served as director of human resources for the companys yarn
division since 1987. He has been with the company for 30 years.

December 1999

DuPont39 S Supriva Makes U S Debut In Spring 2000 Line

DuPont, Wilmington, Del., has announced that its Supriva fabric will debut in the United States as
part of the Hartmarx womens division (IWA) HawksleyandWright Spring 2000 collection.Based on the
incredible customer response weve already received, we look forward to marketing Supriva in the
United States and demonstrating why its the ideal fabric for sophisticated career apparel, says
Katherina M. Valenta, business manager, DuPont Dacron®.Supriva made its debut in Canada as part of
the fall 1999 Fall Essentials Collection by Jones Apparel Group Canada Inc.Supriva was also blended
with wool for the WoolandSupriva line introduced by DuPont and The Woolmark Co. last spring.Tom
Hall president and CEO, IWA said: We are delighted to be one of the first American manufacturers to
bring this remarkable fabric to market. Supriva brings exceptional functionality to our
HawksleyandWright collection for easy-care apparel that looks great and feels good.

December 1999

HunterLab Introduces Spectrophotometer

HunterLab Introduces SpectrophotometerReston, Va.-based Hunter Associates Laboratory Inc. (HunterLab) now offers the UltraScan® VIS spectrophotometer designed to measure the full range of human color perception while meeting International Commission on Illumination (CIE) and ASTM International guidelines for accurate color measurement. Tristimulus color calculations are performed between 360 and 780 nanometers (nm), as is recommended by the CIE, and spectral data are reported every 10 nm. The UltraScan VIS features automated specular component inclusion/exclusion and uses diffuse/8° geometry for measurement. The spectrophotometer measures both transmitted and reflected color using its D65 illumination source, which is calibrated and controlled in the ultraviolet region to accurately measure whitening agents.Color sorting and sequencing of data measured by the spectrophotometer are simplified with EasyGroup software. EasyMatch® QC software is available for research and quality control applications.May/June 2007

Port Barre Apparel Re-Opens Plant After Almost Two Years

Port Barre Apparel Inc., Port Barre, La., reopened its production facility after being closed for
approximately two years.The reopening is expected to create more than 300 jobs. Thirty people were
initially hired to begin operations. Many of the workers displaced by the initial plant closing are
expected to be rehired. Prior to closing in October 1997, the facility was operated by Fruit of the
Loom.

December 1999

Strata Adds To Stratagrid Product Line

Strata Systems, Cumming, Ga., has added the Stratagrid 150 and Stratagrid 550 to its Stratagrid
product line.Stratagrid, which is used in geotextile applications, is a line of geogrids comprised
of high tenacity polyester (PET) fiber that is precision knitted and PVC saturation coated.The
Stratagrid 150 replaces the Stratagrid 100 line in the lightweight end of the product line.The
Stratagrid 550 is a new product line designed with tensile strengths targeted to fit between the
Stratagrid 500 and Stratagrid 600 styles. It was designed to optimize reinforcement requirements in
the design and constriction of mid- to high-segmental retaining walls (SRW) and reinforced steep
slope (RSS). Circle 302.

December 1999

BBA Nonwovens Integrates Filtration Business

BBA Nonwovens, Old Hickory, Tenn., has announced the integration of its filtration business in
North America.This integration will establish the Reemay, former Veratec and former Fiberweb
businesses under a single leadership.Frank Baker, filtrations business unit manager, will assume
the management of the new business.According to the company, this integration will enhance its
ability to coordinate technical efforts toward the development of new products, the improvement of
account management and the ability to serve customers more effectively.The filtration business has
plants in Lewisburg, Pa.; Bethune, S.C.; Washougal, Wash.; Simpsonville, S.C.; and Old Hickory,
Tenn.

December 1999

Day International Acquires Armstrong39 S Textile Business

Day International Group Inc., Dayton, Ohio, has announced the completion of its acquisition of the
textile products operations of Armstrong World Industries Inc., Lancaster, Pa.Day International
will continue to market a variety of items for the spinning industry.The sale of the textile
products business enables us to focus more of our resources on our core operations, which we feel
leads to greater value for our shareholders, said George A. Lorch, chairman and CEO,
Armstrong.”We’re very proud of our TPO (textile products operations) people and the position of
leadership they have attained within their industry. We appreciate the loyalty and support from all
the TPO employees and customers.”Dennis Wolters, president and CEO, Day International, said: “This
acquisition strengthens our worldwide textile operations providing us with a broader range of
products while continuing to provide value-added service to our customers.”

December 1999

TSSE Still Fighting Growing Pains

While improvements were evident, questions remain about the show’s future. The
Textile Supplies and Services Expo (TSSE), which ran from October 19 to 21, at the Palmetto Expo
Center, Greenville, S.C., saw an increased number of attendees from 1998, although the numbers were
not has high as was hoped.The reaction of many exhibitors was positive, as many felt the contacts
they did make at the show could possibly lead to sales.According to J. Robert Ellis, president and
director, Textile Hall Corp., there were 1,705 attendees at the three-day show. This was a 41.5-
percent increase from last years Textile Industry SuppliesandServices Exhibition and Conference
(TISSEC), which had 1,205 attendees. While this was a noticeable increase, it fell well below the
3,000 attendees the show had hoped to draw.I was disappointed in the number of attendees, although
it was up about 40 percent over last year, said Ellis. Most exhibitors I talked with seemed to have
a good show although some said otherwise.Impressions from the exhibitors were mixed. Many felt that
the number of quality attendees was much higher than the previous show. We looked at it as a
positive show. We found some new leads and customers, said Mark Reese, vice president of sales,
Lawson Hemphill. The quality of the attendees was excellent; there were a lot of decision-makers at
the show. I would say we probably have 30 percent more leads at this show than the last one.Also
making good contacts and customers at TSSE was Lois Foster, Kellett Enterprises: I had no problem
with the show. The people that came by the booth had quality visits.Many exhibitors also sited the
improved show hours, which this year ran from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., as another positive change
that allowed more people to attend the show. The traffic was better this year than last year and
the quality was better. Tuesday was good, but Wednesday and Thursday were slow, said Jeff Davis,
Alexander Machine. I would really like to see this show make it.For many of the smaller companies,
the TSSE show was an opportunity to show products and services that were not at the larger shows
such as ITMA 99.We felt like it was a good small show, said Steve Haygood, Briggs and Shaffner. I
thought the organizers did a good job promoting the show. We hated to see that it wasnt more
excepted by the industry though.There were some concerns over the show, many hinging on timing and
attendance. This years TSSE show fell not only in an ITMA year, but also within a few weeks of
other larger shows such as Bobbin Americas, in Atlanta, and the IFAI Expo, in San Diego.A concern
that resonated throughout many of the exhibitors was with the number of shows this year, combined
with the current state of the textile industry, many companies could not afford to

December 1999

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