Since the beginning of the health crisis, Groupe CTT, TechniTextile Québec, and Vestechpro, have contributed to coordinate Quebec textile and clothing sectors stakeholders in order to mobilize them and respond to the urgent need for personal protective equipment (PPE) for the health sector and the general public.
Although they are not usually involved in the production of PPE, some companies have come and innovated in times of crisis: « Texel Matériaux Techniques » (a division of Lydall Inc), a manufacturer of non-woven materials for technical use, and « Les Tissus Geo ». Sheard Fabrics, a manufacturer of seating and partition fabrics, are part of these companies.

Texel develops a nonwoven that meets health sector standards
Texel, one of North America's leading manufacturers of technical nonwoven materials, launched the Versaflex Medical Grade product line on April 23. The nonwoven materials, obtained by assembling textile fibers without weaving or knitting, were developed with the requirements for the manufacture of medical protective gowns in mind. The company Atlantics Coated Paper located in Windsor, Quebec, has extruded a protective membrane to produce the textiles required for the manufacture of protective level 2 medical gowns. Canadian clothing manufacturers can now source this 100% Quebec material.

Geo Fabrics. Sheard Fabrics offer a sustainable and ecological alternative to disposable masks.
For its part, Geo. Sheard Fabrics, active in the sector since 1930, has developed the ProtecTex solution for the manufacture of masks. This fabric offers an alternative to disposable and often uncomfortable masks.
Protectex offers comfortable, effective daily respiratory protection that can be reused. It is a 3-ply material consisting of a sustainable cotton outer shell, a polyester inner layer and a polyester interlining.

This crisis is challenging all activity sectors. There is no doubt that innovation and flexibility have enabled some stakeholders in the textile and clothing sectors to bounce back while responding to urgent health issues.
Do you have any innovative projects? Or would you like to take part in the mobilization to produce PPE, but you need financial assistance? Consult our article on the aid programs available to businesses (hypertext link). We also offer a new accompanying service to support you in adapting your production floor to make PPE.

Contact us for more information: contact@vestechpro.com

Textile innovation at the heart of the response to personal protective equipment needs