When you change direction in sailing you tack or jibe. Dimension-Polyant (DP), a leading technical sailcloth producer, in addition to providing performance fabrics for outdoor gear including backpacks, duffle bags, tents, and other advanced laminate fabrics, has recently “tacked” to meet demands in the PPE market. DP films and lightweight woven and non-woven materials are now being used for face shields and gowns. Customers include Flowfold, G-Form, Space-X, Sail Works, and UK Sailmakers.

Thus far over 300,000 units have been produced and shipped to the front-line medical community.

Taylor North, Head of Technical Fabrics at Dimension Polyant, stated, “Our extremely lightweight spinnaker fabrics have been used in protective garments, aprons and patient transfer sheets. We can also apply specialized coatings to make them liquid repellent, slippery or soft.” He added, “Our fabrics and laminates could be utilized for partitions in containment zones or structural fabric tenting. They can easily be cleaned and disinfected. Our familiarity and access to optically clear films can be used for the fabrication of face shields.”

DP production facilities are located in Putnam, CT and Kempen, Germany.

‍Trinity Technology Group (TTG) has a new mask media program that takes advantage of the firm’s expertise in high-performance materials with a product tailored for distribution in three main channels: medical, textile and large Fortune 500 corporations.

The mask media is a 3-layer construction, made of polypropylene spunbond nonwoven with ePTFE fine filtration layer and a surface layer of polyester nonwoven, with a sonic lamination finish.

“The mask media features a ePTFE membrane to boost functionality and provide a higher degree of protection,” explained Greg Vas Nunes, CEO of TTG Inc., which is based in Higginsville, MO.

He added that making a mask media with a greater level of protection comes at a cost. “But we believe people will spend the money for the higher protection, plus the fact that the mask material is made in the USA,” Vas Nunes stated.

‍Allied Feather & Down is well known in the active/outdoor space and fashion sector but its bedding division is making a name itself these days churning out cotton masks at a weekly rate of 10,000+ per day at the company’s Los Angeles headquarters.

Allied is donating masks to worthy causes through the LA Mayor’s office, directly to LA’s homeless resource, Union Rescue Mission, and to first responders, in addition to selling to hospitality, retailers and direct to consumer.

The 80,000 square foot bedding division, Allied Home, switched a large portion of its production over to facemasks, using the tightly woven, allergen-barrier cotton usually reserved for fine pillows and comforters to make breathable, washable face masks.

Explained Steve Uretsky, founder and CEO of Allied Feather & Down, “By shifting as much of our bedding production as possible to making face masks per the recommendation of the CDC, we’re able to keep people working here in LA, while providing much needed PPE for front lines workers, those in essential positions who are unable to stay home, and look closely at where we could additionally help within our community.”