Craftex Mills, Stillwater to produce coordinated lineup

Product to get finishing services of Virginia plant

By Carole Sloan -- Home Textiles Today, 8/6/2001 12:00:00 AM

BLUE BELL, PA —

Craftex Mills has formed a strategic alliance with Stillwater Inc., Augusta Springs and Goshen, VA; and Stillwater Sales, NY.

Craftex will act as sellers, marketers and designer for Stillwater's dobbies and textures in the contract market "but also will enter their products in the residential market as complements to our jacquards," explained Jack Eger, Craftex vp.

Craftex used to represent Stillwater, whose core business is uniform textiles in the contract business where it had been a significant player, Eger related. Stillwater for decades had been a major supplier to the contract trade in office seating, panel fabrics and wall coverings.

The alliance will include joint product developments for the decorative jobber and residential furniture businesses using common yarns as well as product developments for the contract trade.

Both product lines will utilize the complete range of finishing services at the modern facility of Goshen Finishing, Goshen, VA, Eger said. The Goshen facilities offer a wide variety of face finishes, state-of-the-art piece-dyed capacity and a full complement of backing and framing equipment.

The coordinated product offering will debut at Showtime January 2002. "But we are talking to jobbers now about specific programs," Eger noted.