The Department of Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, S. 1548, was recently signed into law by the US Congress which includes an amendment to allow the importation of FR rayon fiber - a key component of TenCate Defender M fabric for military uniforms.
The amendment exempts FR rayon fiber produced in certain countries from the Berry Amendment (BA) for a period of five years.
The Berry amendment requires the United States' Department of Defense to procure products manufactured within the United States, which includes garments (and fabrics).
TenCate Protective Fabrics, based in Union City, Georgia (TenCate) is the leading supplier of flame retardant (FR) fabrics to the United States armed forces.
As reported earlier, TenCate Defender M fabrics are made from a fiber blend that includes FR rayon from Lenzing AG of Austria.
The new bill ensures the longer term legality of FR rayon fiber and Defender M product for American military use. The inclusion of the waiver in the newly passed bill highlights the strategic importance and the critical need for reliable material suppliers that are able to deliver large volumes of flame protective fabrics for military clothing.
Utilizing its know-how and in close cooperation with Lenzing, TenCate offers a material (TenCate Defender M) that meets the rigorous performance standards of the US military forces.
With Defender M, TenCate met the enhanced need for flame protection spawned by frequent attacks with improvised explosive devices (IED's).