The CORDURA® brand provides long-lasting performance fabrics based on the belief that Sustainability Begins With Products That Last™. And for more than 50 years, it has been committed to this value by innovating durable performance-driven fabric solutions.
The brand’s parent company, INVISTA, continues to seek additional ways to enable increased innovation opportunities around fiber properties and manufacturing performance, and in May 2017, it aimed to further expand capacity of its nylon 6,6 fiber used in a diverse range of applications. INVISTA’s investment in state-of-the-art fiber production equipment at its U.S.-based Camden, South Carolina facility helped significantly increase domestic U.S. capacity of high-tenacity, specialty fibers used in CORDURA® fabrics and is the foundation for the launch of its new CORDURA® TrueLock™ branded fiber platform. This launch propels and underscores the CORDURA® brand commitment to best-in-class solution dyed nylon (SDN) 6,6 fiber technology innovation to develop the durable, eco-efficient solutions of tomorrow.
CORDURA® TrueLock™ fiber is powered by INVISTA’s solution dyed nylon (SDN) fiber technology for enhanced color durability. This technology locks the color in at the molten polymer extrusion level to create deep, durable color throughout the entire fiber structure—a color that is consistent and repeatable. With color-fastness locked in at the fiber level, excellent shade consistency lot-to-lot and across multiple textile components (such as fabric and webbing), UV strength stability, and long-lasting vibrancy are made possible.
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The manufacturing process for CORDURA® TrueLock™ fiber also allows for the production of fiber engineered with Near-Infrared (NIR) capability. This capability is currently an inherent component of the six classic CORDURA® TrueLock™ fiber colors designed to not fade or diminish over time—Desert Sand, Tan, Coyote, Ranger Green, Camo Green and Black.
Wolf Gray is the latest durable color added to the CORDURA® TrueLock™ nylon 6,6 filament fiber portfolio. Known for being one of the most notoriously difficult colors regarding shade uniformity, using the solution-dyeing process to create “Wolf Gray” helps ensure a consistent shade for multiple textile components used in applications such as large volume standard issue programs for military, tactical, law enforcement and workwear.
The latest CORDURA® Wolf Gray TrueLock™ fiber was developed in collaboration with the brand’s authorized mill, MMI (USA), a full-package supplier to the textile industry for over 21 years for fabrics, webbings, elastics, and trims. MMI is the exclusive North American provider of fabrics and webbing made with the new Wolf Gray CORDURA® TrueLock™ fiber, now through December 2018.
CORDURA® TrueLock™ fiber technology is a key component of the CORDURA CaresSM initiative and aligns with INVISTA’s efforts to communicate its commitment to conserve resources, reduce emissions, protect the environment and increase the utility and durability of its products, with the end-goal of providing long-term value to its customers and society.
Finished products made with CORDURA® TrueLock™ fiber have tough, long lasting performance, but also help to offer a reduced environmental footprint through the conservation of water/energy and minimization of the production of CO2 in the textile manufacturing process.*
Plans currently being put into action at Camden include expansion of the CORDURA® TrueLock™ nylon 6,6 filament product line to introduce additional standard colors and deniers, as well as the flexibility to work to smaller minimum order quantities and custom colorways. To stay up to date on the CORDURA CaresSM initiative and CORDURA® TrueLock™ fiber technology news, visit www.cordura.com.
*2013 LCA study based on the average comparison of conventional level acid Piece Dyeing to SDN at 3 independent/3rd party dyeing and finishing mills.