WHAT'S NEW

• COMBEAU INDUSTRIES ANNOUNCES THE INSTALLATION OF A NEW HIGH-SPEED, WIDE-WIDTH SLITTER/REWINDER FOR NONWOVEN FABRICS
  
  
• SYNTHETICS FINISHING OPENS NEW MEGA-WAREHOUSE AND STORAGE FACILITY IN THE SOUTH
  
  
• COMBEAU INDUSTRIES TO INSTALL NEW HIGH-SPEED WIDE-WIDTH NONWOVEN FINISHING LINE
  
  
• DEFEND™ FAMILY OF PROTECTIVE FINISHES
  

HICKORY, NC – According to Ralph Krueger, Vice President for New Product Development, “This is our third slitter/rewinder devoted almost exclusively to the needs of the major nonwoven roll goods producers. It is capable of handling fabric widths out to 180” and roll diameters up to 60” and, as such, will fulfill a growing need in the wide commodity fabric business.” Combeau Industries has recently experienced increased demand for nonwoven slitting and rewinding, which augments it core service businesses, such as chemical coating, saturation, lamination, thermal bonding, needling, calendering, and embossing of woven and nonwoven fabrics.

HICKORY, NC – Commission fabric finisher, Synthetics Finishing, Division of TSG Incorporated, has just completed their largest expansion project in the company’s 100-year history. Recently opened is a new 2,400,000 cubic foot warehousing, shipping, and distribution center located on approximately six acres adjacent to its main finishing plant in Hickory, North Carolina.

According to Darryl Grater, Vice President of Southern Operations, ?This facility, our 5th in North Carolina, represents the company’s continuing commitment to the upholstery business and the southern furniture industry in general. For years many of our top customers, including mills, jobbers, and overseas exporters, have complained about the lack of fast, efficient warehousing, cutting, and shipping services available in the south. This installation should finally answer that complaint.”

The high-bay warehousing section of this installation, nearly 40 feet from floor to ceiling, reportedly contains the largest number of fabric storage tubes (all manufactured by Sunoco Products Company) at any single location in the United States. State-of-the-art material handling shuttles operating in seven 185 foot isles are capable of picking and placing individual fabric roles into their own storage locations.

HICKORY, NC - Commission nonwoven finisher, Combeau Industries, a division of TSG Incorporated, is in the process of installing a second high-speed wide-width nonwoven finishing line at its North Carolina location. The new equipment is capable of handling fabric widths out to 170” and roll diameters up to 60”.

According to Ralph Krueger, Vice President for New Business Development, “This line should expand our well-known wide-width capabilities beyond low viscosity saturation and spray application of light to medium weight nonwoven webs used primarily in the medical, hygiene, and filtration markets. Utilization of ultra high efficiency drying and curing technology, in addition to a newly developed multi-purpose coating station, should position Combeau perfectly to service ever-growing markets for high add-on single or double sided coating and high-viscosity impregnation, used primarily in nonwovens for roofing, geotextiles, and automotive applications.”

The new finishing line is expected to be fully operational in the second quarter of 2002.

HICKORY, NC - TSG Incorporated and its commission finishing division, Synthetics Finishing offers its Defend™ family of specially modified protective coatings for furnishing fabrics used mainly in commercial and institutional environments.

Defend™ finishes impart a variety of protective features to textiles while still retaining the original textured, fabric-like surface characteristics, breathability and hand.

The Defend™ coating is suitable for use with a multitude of fabric constructions, fibers, and weights. Many “loom state” high style fabrics can be successfully treated with Defend™ to withstand the rigors of the institutional market. Defend™ treated fabrics exhibit enhanced dirt, stain, and abrasion resistance in addition to antimicrobial properties which inhibit the growth of bacteria or fungus.

Defend™ treated fabrics are ideal for use in restaurants and food service areas where maximum abrasion resistance and easy removal of nasty food-born stains are of primary importance. Outdoor upholstery and fabric for medical/incontinent applications require the ultra-high liquid repellency of the Defend™ coating in order to perform adequately. Defend™ finishes have also helped create a whole new generation of “soft” fabric tote products (luggage, golf bags, backpacks, handbags) that display the beauty and design possibilities of real woven fabric while not sacrificing scrubability, scuff resistance and repellency.

Various Defend™ finishes are presently available, each individually tailored to specific styles of fabric and performance requirements. Contact your sales representative for more information.