DALLAS, N.C. — October 25, 2023 — The Gaston College Fiber Innovation Center, a world-class facility focused on the future of the textile industry, has received a $1.2 million equipment donation from Truetzschler, a German textile machinery manufacturer, building upon its anticipated opening next year.
“Truetzschler is excited to be a part of the new state-of-the-art Fiber Innovation Center at Gaston College and proud to show our commitment to the textile industry for the future,” said Greg Duncan, VP of Sales, Spinning at Truetzschler.
The donated equipment features technology that is focused on circularity and reducing the carbon footprint of fiber and textile production. Once finished, the facility in Belmont, North Carolina, will be the only facility in the world where scientists, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders can take a fiber idea and convert it to a textile product under one roof. Features of the innovation center include a new polymer development lab, a fiber extrusion line, and yarn preparation capabilities thanks to the Truetzschler donation.
“Thanks in part to our longtime partnership with Truetzschler, the Fiber Innovation Center will help revolutionize the textile industry as we know it,” said Stephen Sharp, VP of Fiber Innovation at Gaston College. “The current process for developing innovative textile solutions is expensive, timely, and highly fragmented. With this center, and through Truetzschler’s gracious donation, textile innovation can occur from conception to completion, all here at Gaston College.”
For over 75 years, Gaston College’s Textile Technology Center has provided technical assistance and support to the textile industry in North Carolina and around the world. While the industry has evolved, the Center has remained committed to helping companies and entrepreneurs meet new and emerging needs for developing and testing advanced fibers and fabrics.
The Textile Technology Center and Fiber Innovation Center allow students to get hands-on experience with the latest technology and equipment used in research and development, testing, and production processes for the textile industry.
Just last year, Gaston College, along with the U.S. Department of State, North Carolina State University, and Catawba Valley Community College, announced a partnership with Honduran-based Central American Technological University. Through this partnership, Gaston College is providing space to educate and train thousands of students for the next generation textile workforce to meet the rising demands of nearshoring and onshoring in Honduras, Central America, and the United States.
Posted: October 25, 2023
Source: Gaston College Fiber Innovation Center
