Aurora Specialty Textiles Group (ASTG) announced the opening of a new North America textile factory that offers ultra wide width coating and finishing capabilities. The streamlined 124,000 square foot, state-of-the-art manufacturing operation is located in Yorkville, IL in the U.S. A highlight of the plant is the company’s new fully automated EHWHA ultra wide width coating and finishing line, which works easily with a broad range of woven and nonwoven substrates up to 134” wide.
 
The company made the announcement in conjunction with the Techtextil North America show taking place in Houston, TX, this week, where the company is discussing the latest technology addition, the brand new 134” EHWHA tenter frame with coating capability, according to the company’s president Dan LaTurno.
 
The equipment and plant represent a significant, multi-million dollar investment by ASTG. The EHWHA’s ultra wide width capabilities work with fabric weights from 85 to 407 gsm. The EHWHA also has a finishing pad, weft straightener, Matex Coating Head with high precision knife over roll and knife over air coating and a reverse roll coater. 
 
Functional capabilities include bleaching, fabric preparation, singeing, sanding, finishing, coating, calendering, slitting, dyeing and sheeting. Topical finishes include, but are not limited to, flame retardants, water-repellents, non-wicking agents, release coat agents, soil and stain release agents, antimicrobials, a full range of starches, prepare-for-print, crease-resistant finishing and wrinkle-free finishing. Overall, the EHWHA enhances Aurora’s ability to serve both current and new customers, including those in the print media industry.