Florida-based Cerex Advanced Fabrics, a supplier of high performance spunbond nylon nonwoven fabrics, has been acquired by management and an investor group led by Jon Vesely, a Chicago-based private equity investor.  Prior to the acquisition, Cerex Advanced Fabrics operated as a division of Western Nonwovens, Inc.

According to a recent statement, the new ownership group is committed to building the business and realizing the long-term growth opportunities that nylon-based products provide in the specialty fabrics marketplace. Cerex Advanced Fabrics will retain its existing management structure, led by Jim Walker, president and CEO.  Offices and operations will continue to be headquartered in Cantonment, FL.

“We have benefited greatly from our relationship with Western Nonwovens over the past seven years and both Western and Cerex are poised for strong future growth,” said Jim Walker. “With a new portfolio of unique spunbond nylon fabrics based on state-of-the-art SpectraMax fine denier products, and the expanded production capacity that came on-line in 2006, Cerex is exceptionally well positioned to serve the growing needs of our customers in the specialty industrial and consumer fabric markets.”