Hazlehurst, Ga. — Propex recently celebrated a significant milestone for the carpet industry at its Hazlehurst manufacturing facility. Fifty years ago, Polybac the industry’s first synthetic primary backing, was introduced. With Polybac, carpet manufacturers realized several new advantages including dimensional stability, durability, moisture non-absorption, mildew resistance, and tufting pattern definition as opposed to conventional jute backing.
“We have developed many innovative synthetic backing products through the years and Polybac was the first,” said David L. Gartshore, BU president–Furnishing Solutions. “With billions of square yards sold, Polybac was instrumental in the success and rapid growth of the carpet industry and it is still the dominant primary backing in the world today.”
“From Polybac came a whole new approach to backing carpet that spawned an entire industry of synthetic carpet backing systems,” said Tom Borders, business director, Domestic Furnishing Solutions.
Propex Furnishing Solutions Division is based in Dalton and is part of Propex Operating Co. LLC, headquartered in Chattanooga, Tenn. Among the other carpet backings made by Propex are Actionbac, a secondary carpet backing; Matrix, a composite primary backing; and Isis, a woven PET primary backing for modular tile made with 85% post consumer recycled materials.