The company celebrated the end of a two-year period that began with the decision to invest in a new, state-of-the art North American textile manufacturing operation, in a new location. The company unveiled its new logo and Mission Statement before a gathering of approximately 100 customers, staff and community leaders.

Transition

The event marked the formal launch of the company’s new high tech manufacturing facility and the company’s commitment to investing in state-of-the-art technology while moving into new global markets for wide width coating and finishing, including print media.

“Today is a tremendous day for Aurora Specialty Textile Group,” said Dan LaTurno, president of Aurora. “It marks the symbolic end of our transition from the Aurora plant to our new Yorkville operation, and the beginning of a new, exciting era. We’ve been committed to becoming a global leader in wide width coating and finishing and this new plant, which could not operate today without the hard work of the people here, is testament to what we are calling today ‘The New Aurora.”

According to LaTurno, the “new Aurora” reflects the company’s commitment to staying ahead of the industries it serves. “As the world changes, we now have the world-class capabilities, state-of-the-art equipment and expertise within R&D to meet those challenges,” he said.

Supporting domestic manufacturing

“From my first involvement in Meridian in 1968, I have believed in investing back in the business and in being in the forefront from a technological, manufacturing and innovation standpoint,” said Meridian owner, Bruce Pindyck.

“I have always felt that our businesses needed to be nurtured and supported. I am also committed to a strong manufacturing presence in our country. Meridian is my life’s work and I am passionately committed to having our companies be successful for the benefit of all of our constituencies.”

The presentations by LaTurno and Pindyck were followed by a guided tour of the company’s new 124,000 square foot manufacturing operation.

New generation equipment

Founded in 1883 on the west side of the Fox River in Aurora, Illinois, USA, just north of downtown, Aurora operated solely as a bleaching operation before adding finishing, dyeing and coating capabilities. Pindyck purchased Aurora in 1977.

Recently, as the global textile industry changed, company leadership saw the opportunity to move into ultra-wide-width coating of textiles and establish Aurora as a premier textile coater. That move required finding a larger manufacturing facility and investing in new equipment. After reviewing the options at hand, the company decided to move forward with the new plant and equipment and began adding new employees, while also training existing employees to operate a new generation of equipment.

The plant features the company’s new EHWHA ultra-wide-width coating and finishing line, which is said to work easily with a broad range of woven and nonwoven materials up to 134” wide.

www.auroratextile.com