VitaFlex announces launch of unique elastic non-woven products

28 Nov '09

3 min read

Burlington Technologies, a leading manufacturer and distributor of fine upholstery fabrics, announced that its affiliate VitaFlex, LLC has begun the manufacturing and sales of elastic non woven fabrics and products.

VitaFlex is located in the company's flagship Pioneer Plant. This was the first plant built by the former textile giant, Burlington Industries. VitaFlex utilizes the proprietary, patented technology developed by Dr. De-Sheng Tsai which is used to create a latex-free, elastic non woven material. The company will manufacture various finished products from this innovative fabric. The target industries will include Medical, Pharmaceutical, Food-processing, Aerospace, Clean Room, Paint & Construction, Bio-Laboratory, and numerous other major markets.

VitaFlex, through its various innovations, will bring several advantages to the markets it will serve. In the past, non wovens have been favored for their lower weight, lower cost, and the ability to provide filtration capabilities far superior to traditional woven fabrics. However, the lack of elasticity has limited the potential uses of traditional non woven materials. To produce a non woven with elastic properties, manufacturers were forced to add expensive elastic components into the manufacturing process.

The VitaFlex latex-free elastic non woven fabric offers a superior, lower cost alternative, for numerous applications. Most products mentioned for the above markets are produced off-shore to take advantage of lower labor cost to add the elastic components, whereas, VitaFlex will produce all material and products locally. Due to the products inherent elasticity, VitaFlex is much more cost effective.

Burlington Technologies Chairman, Robert Sills, stated: “VitaFlex is a very strong addition to our platform of fine companies,which include Burlington Manufacturing Services, Se7en Upholstery fabrics, and our other affiliate, Diagnostic Chips. We are very pleased to be providing some much needed employment for the fine people of Alamance County, Burlington, and the surrounding areas”.

VitaFlex intends to hire approximately 100 employees during 2010. Mr. Sills was previously a veteran executive with Burlington Industries prior to founding what is now known as Burlington Technologies.

Dr. De-Sheng Tsai, the inventor of the latex-free non woven process, will serve as President and Chief Scientific Officer.Dr. Tsai comes to VitaFlex from DuPont de Nemours & Co where he served as a Research Fellow. Dr. Tsai has extensive management and entrepreneurial experience having started two companies in his native country Taiwan. Dr. Tsai stated: “I had worked closely with the management of the Pioneer Plant to commercialize my Elastic Non Woven Technology, and am very pleased to launch this new company which will fully utilize its capabilities”.

Commenting on the new company, Al Blalock, VitaFlex CEO said: “This unit will build on our core competency in elastic nonwovens and will take advantage of our unique and proprietary

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