This page was printed from https://makers.textiles.org

Shawmut Corp. announces new Military & Protective Materials business unit

June 16th, 2021 / By: / Company News, News

Photo: Shawmut Corp.

Shawmut Corp., West Bridgewater, Mass., has established a Military & Protective Materials business unit that will apply the company’s trademark advanced materials, textile manufacturing and process innovation techniques to produce high-quality, U.S.-made, ultra-high-specification and high-performance technical fabric solutions.

The company’s military and protective solutions feature waterproof, windproof, flame-resistant and chemical and biological protection applications recommended for high-stakes usages required in the military and by in-the-field professionals who need high-performance gear to safely do their jobs.

This new business unit, announced in a press release, is an extension of Shawmut’s 105-year history in advanced materials manufacturing and builds on the company’s experience in materials innovation, design and manufacturing expertise. Dating back to World War I, Shawmut has supplied engineered materials and garments for critical military applications. The company is also known as a leading producer of laminated components for high-performance technical fabric applications, such as wind, flame and water resistance used in rainwear, packs, footwear and body armor.

“Military personnel and other high-performing individuals in the utility industry are living and working in a high-spec, high-stakes world. Yet, many of the leading market fabrics and designs for military and protective wear are not up to par with the demands of these jobs,” said James Wyner, CEO of Shawmut. “We’re excited to leverage our expertise in textile engineering, process innovation and commitment to excellence to produce the highest quality materials for the highest performing individuals.”

Noelle Christensen

To lead the development of this new business unit, Shawmut has hired Noelle Christensen, a seasoned leader in the military and high-performance protective materials industry with more than 20 years of supply chain and business development experience. Christensen brings a diverse perspective and wealth of knowledge across textile manufacturing, domestic and federal garment supply chain, business development, operations and innovation to Shawmut.

Prior to joining Shawmut, Christensen spent 14 years at Massif, a developer of advanced flame-resistant clothing for military and other high-performance applications. Most recently, she served as Massif’s vice president and general manager, leading the brand through exponential growth as it launched new textile innovations and high-performance clothing categories.

“As a previous customer of Shawmut, I bring a unique perspective to the team, having witnessed its engineers solving seemingly unsolvable problems,” Christensen said. “I am excited about how much more Shawmut has to offer than the market is aware of, such as our ability to quickly solve complex problems and test products on the fly for rapid innovation, and our dedication to quality control that ensures premium, consistent outputs for our customers. The commitment the company is making to sustainability initiatives while expanding our presence in this market is a natural extension of its core expertise learned in another exacting market vertical—automotive.”