The recent news of Alfa Group's decision to close its filament polyester production plant in Mexico has sent shockwaves throughout the industry. Companies that once relied on Akra's products are now faced with the daunting task of finding suitable alternatives. While many high tenacity polyester fibers can be readily replaced, the Akra Type 161 presents a unique challenge due to its distinct physical properties.

We sat down with Jen Hanna, the director of business development at Innegra™, to discuss the benefits of Innegra™ and how it can be put to the best use in a variety of applications. It’s a relatively new material to the market and many Service Thread clients have requested more information about it.

Trade tensions between the E.U. and the U.S. have continued to escalate after a preliminary list of $11 billion in tariffs was announced in April 2019. In response to European subsidies to Airbus and a subsequent World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling, U.S. textile importers have faced a duty of up to 100% on certain materials.

In our previous article, What is Innegra™?, we looked at the basic properties of this relatively new fiber and some common uses for it. Now we’d like to share some tips for deciding whether it’s right for your purpose.

Are you familiar with Innegra™? It’s a new fiber on the market not yet well known among buyers and manufacturers of fiber products. But it has a wide variety of uses, from innovative aerospace materials to extreme sports equipment.

The Berry Amendment was passed in 1941 to promote the use of U.S.-sourced materials in military uses. It primarily covers tools, food, and textiles for use at home and abroad in military operations. The amendment outlines specific rules that govern how these goods are produced.

If you’ve come across the term Cotton Count and were a bit confused, you’re not alone. The terminology of the yarn and thread industry can be tricky.

Typically Mil Spec sewing thread standards are long and divided into several sections. They define physical characteristics of thread and are a good reference point for manufacturers however, they can be confusing and its important to understand the basics.  Here is a quick guide to the 8 page standard, A-A-55195 (formerly MIL-T-44100) spun para-aramid sewing threads.