Drake Extrusion
Drake Extrusion is North America's leading producer of polypropylene-based colored filament yarn and staple fiber. Staple fibers are produced in various diameters and cut to predetermined lengths. Customers process the fiber into synthetic fabrics or other materials used in the production of the final product. Filament yarn is yarn manufactured in various diameters before being delivered to customers, primarily in the furniture industry.
Staple fibers & Filament yarn
Drake Extrusion is North America's leading producer of polypropylene-based staple fibers and colored filament yarn. Filament yarn is primarily used by customers manufacturing fabrics for the furniture industry but can also be used in the production of sportswear, known as performance garments. The filament yarns make garments and fabrics easy to care for and durable. Staple fibers are used in manufacturing across various sectors, including flooring, carpets, furniture, technical filters, automotive interiors, and fiber cloths. Drake Extrusion consists of two production units located in Virginia and North Carolina, USA. Drake Extrusion holds nearly 80 percent of the North American market for filament yarns.
Sustainability
Drake Extrusion is committed to advancing its sustainability efforts and minimizing its environmental impact to leave a healthy environment for future generations. The company actively works to minimize hazardous and unhealthy raw materials. An example is their collaboration with the customer STI Fabrics to develop a PFAS-free protective apron with a longer lifespan than other commonly used disposable products in the American healthcare sector.
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a group of chemicals known for their dirt and water repellent properties, often used in textiles and beauty products. They have been shown to be reproductive and hormone disruptors and are extremely persistent in the environment. Problems arise when these chemicals are released from textiles and spread into water and the environment. In the yarn manufactured by IFG for the protective aprons, the water-repellent component is encapsulated within the yarn itself, preventing the water-repellent function from being washed away. Therefore, the aprons can be washed at least 50 times without losing their protective effect. This is in stark contrast to other commonly used fabrics made of polyester or polyester-cotton blends that use PFAS to achieve their water-repellent effect. In these common fabrics, the effect is washed away after about 15 washes, and at the same time, these substances are released into the environment.
Drake Extrusion
Drake Extrusion is North America's leading producer of polypropylene-based colored filament yarn and staple fiber. Staple fibers are produced in various diameters and cut to predetermined lengths. Customers process the fiber into synthetic fabrics or other materials used in the production of the final product. Filament yarn is yarn manufactured in various diameters before being delivered to customers, primarily in the furniture industry. The operations are located in Martinsville, Virginia, and Burlington, North Carolina.