Swatches

Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 2/24/2003 12:00:00 AM

Chiefs cite innovation

CHARLOTTE, NC — The California Fire Chiefs Assn. has given its Award for Innovation in Fire Protection to McKinnon-Land-Moran for its fire-resistant barrier technologies for upholstered furniture.

MLM, based here, says its Alessandra woven FR barrier and Basofil fiber FR highloft nonwoven barrier technologies can be used to produce flame-resistant residential or commercial upholstery. The products were demonstrated at the CFCA's 2002 technology showcase.

The barriers replaced non-FR materials to produce a chair that successfully passed all criteria of the California Test Bulletin 133 furniture fire safety standard. MLM said that was achieved without the use of FR chemical treatments, without changing seating comfort and without increasing the labor required to make the upholstered chair.

Finding fundamentals of flocking

BOSTON — The American Flock Association (AFA) will hold its annual Fundamentals of Flocking course from Aug. 13 to 15.

The course is designed both as an initial educational exposure to the field as well as a refresher and update for those in the industry.

Coursework covers a wide range of topics, from the various modes of flocking to fibers and preparation.

The course is held in conjunction with the University of Massachusetts.

New directors

CRANSTON, RI — Sandra Parrillo, president and ceo of Providence Mutual Fire Insurance Co., and Sheldon Whitehouse, a partner with Edwards & Angell in Providence, RI, have been elected directors of Cranston Print Works.

George Shuster, chairman, ceo and president of Cranston, made the announcement.

Exec and sales changes at Merrimac

NORWOOD, MA —Bill Fish has been promoted to the new position of vp, sales manager of the Merrimac Textile division of Barrow Industries, according to Jeffrey Barrow, president.

He was previously sales manager.

In other changes, Dan O'Shea, currently vp of exports, also became vp, retail sales. In his new capacity he will concentrate on the retail fabric businesses. He reports to Fish.

John Duggan, formerly manager of the company's Canton, MA, sample division, has been named manager of its new cut and sew business for home fashions as well as furniture. He reports to Michael Rice, executive vp of Barrow, who said "This is a growing segment of our business and we need someone responsible for it."

Also in the Merrimac division, Mitchell Bell, formerly with Mastercraft in the Tupelo, MS, region, has joined the company to manage sales in that territory. In North Carolina, Chip Finneran joins Claire Batts as a company representative. Finneran, who had represented Cone jacquards in that territory, and Batts, report to Rice.