New awning & marine fabric offers 25% more water repellency

November 14, 2008 (USA)

Glen Raven Custom Fabrics has introduced a “next generation” version of its industry leading Sunbrella awning and marine fabric, offering a 25 percent increase in water repellency with no loss of breathability. The new fabrics, which are already in distribution with awning and marine companies, also feature enhanced quality, strength and production efficiency.

“The new enhancements to Sunbrella awning and marine fabrics represents a significant technical breakthrough,” said John Coates, vice president for research and development for Glen Raven Custom Fabrics. “Historically, it has been extremely difficult if not impossible to enhance water repellency in a performance fabric without reducing breathability. After several years of intense development work, we have created a new fabric which shifts this paradigm.”

According to Coates, Glen Raven has developed process and material improvements throughout the manufacturing process for Sunbrella fabrics, from fiber formation to fabric finishing. It is this combination of changes that has produced new levels of performance which are being showcased during this year’s IFAI Expo in Charlotte.

“As a vertically integrated manufacturer, we are in an ideal position to enhance every step of the production process, beginning with proprietary polymer chemistry for the fibers we use,” Coates said. “Through technical changes at every step of the production process ?