Optimer Expands Spinning Resources
Optimer Performance Fibers, maker of branded Dri-release with FreshGuard fibers, has licensed three new spinning facilities in Europe and Asia.
With the addition of Elan Textile Co. Ltd., in Taipei, Taiwan, Sunshell Group in Qingdao, China, and Zwickhauer Kammgarn in Zwickhau, Germany, Optimer’s licensees in Europe and Asia now total 11.
Elan is a 35-year-old company that manufactures its ring spun yarns for knits and wovens. Zwickhauer specializes in long staple, worsted yarns and technical yarns for apparel applications as well as transportation interiors. The company, originally founded in 1830, also has a sister facility in the Czech Republic. Both Elan and Zwickhauer will manufacture Optimer’s new Dri-release Wool, a moisture-management performance fabric with the added warmth of wool. Sunshell, founded in 1956, has facilities in Qingdao, Beijing and Shanghai and specializes in ring spun yarns.
The new spinning facilities will help Optimer provide its customers with its moisture management fibers. Dri-release is a patented blend of synthetic and natural fibers that has an improved water-release rate, which helps push moisture and perspiration to the outside of the fabric. According to the Wilmington, Del.–based company, Dri-release dried four times faster than cotton and faster than other performance fabrics. FreshGuard is an odor neutralizer that is embedded in Dri-release fabrics.—Alison A. Nieder
