Union City-based TenCate Defense & Tactical has secured a $13 million order to supply flame resistant uniforms to the U.S. Marine Corps. Along with its corporate office in Union City, TenCate Protective Fabrics USA, Inc. operates plants in Thomaston and Zebulon and two others in Senoia, employing approximately 600 people.

The $13 million order is for “TenCate Defender M” fabric from Propper International, based in St. Charles, Missouri, for the manufacture of uniforms for the U.S. Marine Corps’ Flame Resistant Organizational Gear (FROG) program, according to company Business Development & Government Relations Vice President Tara Glover. It is the largest single order of TenCate Defender M for this Marine program, said Glover. Yarn and fabric to fill this order will be produced throughout 2009 and into the first quarter of 2010. This is positive news for the related supply chain of U.S. textile industry with over 10,000 employees, Glover said.

New TenCate products continue to be developed and are undergoing extensive wear testing by the U.S. military in new uniform applications designed to enhance soldier protection in Iraq and Afghanistan, Glover said. Today’s theatre presents new challenges from IED’s (Improvised Explosive Devices), rugged terrain and weather extremes. TenCate strives to engineer fabric solutions using the best fibers available to provide the soldier with the most protection from burn risks in all extreme environmental conditions, said Glover.

In addition to combat uniforms, TenCate Defense & Tactical also manufactures flame resistant fabrics for Army Aircrew Combat Uniforms (A2CU), Improved Combat Vehicle Coveralls (ICVC), Navy Shipboard Jackets, and Army Balaclavas, according to information supplied by TenCate.

Glover said both the U.S. Army and U.S. Marines gave commendations of appreciation to TenCate for the development and supply of TenCate Defender M fabrics in 2008. In 2009, sales of TenCate Defender M are scheduled to total $115 million for U.S. Dept. of Defense (DoD) uniforms. Additional DoD uniform programs with UCP Nomex are expected to be $55 million in fabric sales, said Glover.

TenCate Defense & Tactical is a global business unit of TenCate Protective Fabrics USA Inc., a global division of Royal Ten Cate. Southern Mills Inc., founded in the 1920’s by the Ellis family and acquired by TenCate in 2004, was the first textile mill to develop and commercially spin Nomex fibers into yarns and weave them into fabrics. Southern Mills now operates under the name TenCate Protective Fabrics USA Inc. With over 600 employees in Georgia, the company operates two plants in Senoia along with others in Zebulon and Thomaston, according to company New Business Development Manager Dan Tuttle.

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