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Author Archives: mike@jasonmills.com

  1. Nylon vs Polyester: Resistance to Water, Fire, Sun (UV) and Mildew

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    Nylon and polyester are synthetic fabrics that see wide use across many industries. They most commonly appear in the garment-manufacturing industry, but they’re versatile enough to be used as specialty fabrics in aerospace, automotive, and medical applications. Comparing nylon with polyester shows that they have many similar properties, but several crucial distinctions still exist between them.

    Nylon comes in various types like Nylon 66, Nylon 6, Nylon 510, etc. Polyester comes in two types: PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and UPR (unsaturated polyester). Both nylon and polyester are available as high tenacity yarns.

    Nylon vs polyester

    Nylon or Polyester? Understanding the Differences and Similarities

    Nylon is a cloth material made from polyamide. Both polyamides and polyesters are polymers, i.e., long chains of simpler molecules.  Synthetic textile fiber manufacturers build both of them through chemical processes using petroleum-derived compounds.

    View Nylon and Polyester Mesh materials

    Nylon and PET are both thermoplastics, meaning they can be repeatedly melted and cooled without degradation. UPR is a thermosetting resin, so when heated after hardening, it burns instead of melting. Additionally, both types of polyester absorb more water than nylon.

    Many industries prize both materials for their strength. However, nylon is stronger, so it’s more widely used for making parts like durable plastic gears. Military manufacturers also use nylon to make parachutes, and because it’s elastic and has a silky look and feel, nylon also is the material of choice for tights and stockings.

    Polyester resists stretching and shrinking, and it also dries quicker than nylon, making it widely used in fabrics for outdoor use.

    Resistance to Different Elements: Water, Fire, UV, and Mildew

    Whether for commercial or industrial use, a fabric’s ability to resist the elements influences its selection.

    Polyester mesh water resistantFire resistant

    Both nylon and polyester resist water, but polyester resists it better than nylon. Additionally, polyester’s water-resistant properties increase as the thread count rises. However, neither material is fully waterproof unless it’s coated with special materials.

    Nylon and polyester are both flammable, but each reacts differently to fire: nylon melts before burning, whereas polyester melts and burns at the same time.

    Polyester has a higher flammability temperature than type 6 nylon, so it catches fire less easily.

    Polyester also resists UV much more effectively than nylon, which quickly fades when exposed to sunlight. However, both hold up equally well to mildew.

    Using Nylon and Polyester in Different Industries

    Nylon and polyester - different types

    For automotive and aeronautical applications, nylon and polyester form critical, flame-resistant components of seat supports, literature pockets, and cargo nets. These fabrics also resist saltwater corrosion and fading in marine environments.

    In clothing, these fabrics help repel water and mildew, and they also don’t tear easily. These properties also make them beneficial to medical applications.

    Find the Perfect Fabric at Jason Mills

    Jason Mills provides both nylon and polyester fabrics for use in a wide variety of industries. We ensure that our fabrics can withstand anything nature throws at them, no matter the application.

    Our fabrics comply with FAR 25.853 and MVSS 302 for aerospace and automotive applications.

    Contact us today if you would like to learn more about our synthetic fabric solutions.

    Contact the team today

  2. Welcome to 2019

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    Happy New Year- bring on the excitement! The start of the new year and the ending / continuation of the previous chapter in our business lives for me at least is always a time of anticipation. On the one hand we can look back and chart where we’ve been- have we hit the check marks we set out for ourselves? And on the other hand, we can refine and review places or marks we missed and at the same time set new goals. Thus, in a nutshell, here are my reflections on the year that has passed, and goals for the year that lies ahead:

    Our new operating system got on up and running on 3/1. It was a period of high frustration and angst as the implementation of any new system is. But with the dedication of our Jason Mills employees and the support of the Jomar team we have an ERP system that is working and providing useful data for the years that lie ahead.

    Our new website is up and out on the web. Check it out here: www.jasonmills.com. Leaner, and more consolidated that our previous version we feel that this version promotes the vision of not only Jason Mills, but the textile industry in general when we say: “innovation, design, and performance”.

    On the new material front we developed a lightweight polypropylene fabric for an Israeli medical supply company. We also continue to work on our phase change material with nano-particle cooling effects. Our recently developed material for our 4th generation of golf impact screen is in the field now for testing. Initial feedback is good.

    On the trade show circuit, we are ensconced now with 3 shows: SHOT supplier showcase, Techtextil and IFAI. We’ll continue to walk PGA to visit our golf screen customers as well Outdoor Retailer. The trade shows are an invaluable part of our growth model offering an immeasurable ROI.

    Just a quick note about SHOT. You can see us January 21 – January 22 in booth S 1618. A few of our materials will also be available in the military booth.

    Going forward into 2019 we are optimistic that our business will continue to grow. We will continue to invest in development of fabrics and processes that will promote our overarching mantra of design and performance.

    See you in the new year!

  3. Back To Work

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    We are just past the half-way point of 2018.  There has been a whole lot accomplished in the past six months, but in a lot of ways it seems as though it’s just setting the table for the second act.

    Take for instance the recently completed Techtextil trade show that we displayed at in Atlanta.  Here we saw representatives from a cross section of industry; ostensibly all in need of textile solutions.  This group included industries such as:  aeronautical, automotive, healthcare, building, filtration, outdoor retail, occupational safety and a diverse group of others that I can prattle on about but you get the idea.  All of these folks had projects or programs that required material solutions (textile materials) to either enhance, manufacture or develop products that are being consumed or someday will be consumed in the vast global marketplace.

    This leads me to 2018 Part II. The leads we acquired in May/June at Techtextil and elsewhere are bearing fruit in July.  These leads will turn into orders that will stretch through 2018. The table has been set; it’s now up to us to serve the dinner and show that the Jason Mills organization is ready to serve those industries that come to us needing support.  This is what makes our industry so compelling.  It is that textile materials are omnipresent and that the need for fabric resolutions remains undiminished.  Remember:  we are only limited by our imaginations.

    In other blog news, I’d like to begin a short feature called fabric of the month.  This will highlight a material that is either an established fabric in our line or something new we want to feature.

    July’s material is Jason Mills style 280 (our line is identified by numbers; someday we may start to incorporate trade names).

    Here are the end use markets as well as the features and benefits of style 280:

    • Developed for the healthcare textile industry- patient slings / lift systems
    • Also, for outdoor retail- hammocks, chairs, cargo bags, pocketing …
    • Supports over 1,500 pounds lift capacity
    • Lightweight when compared to similar products (this is due to the unique knit construction)
    • Open mesh knit for maximum vapor transfer
    • Smooth surface
    • Fire resistant
    • Low minimums for color
    • Knit and finished in the USA for superior quality control

    280

    Thank you for taking the time to read this month’s blog.  See you in August!

  4. March – Back to School

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    In this industry, and I guess one could say in most industries, there is never enough time in the day to consume and absorb all that there is to learn about new technologies, processes and developments. Fortunately for textiles and fabrics there is the North Carolina State University program designed for industry professionals. Last month’s program, dedicated to technical fabrics, explored not only the entire process of fabric manufacturing, but also the product development of new technical materials. In addition to exploring the linear production flow from fiber/yarn to knitting/weaving to dyeing/finishing, we also learned about the real world practical applications of the growing number of industries and niche markets in which technical fabrics are finding a need and a home.

    As noted above, the “process” is a linear evolution: fibers, either natural (cotton, wool for example) or synthetic (nylon/polyester for further example) are treated in such a way that their ultimate evolution into yarn (through the application of heat and orientation) affects the material in which they are ultimately made. To get “there” the yarn must be knit or woven into particular designs or structures, and ultimately dyed or finished. Or, in the case of non-wovens, bonded together to form an entirely different product.

    Our company, Jason Mills LLC, is using dyeing and finishing methods to delve into the nano textile world of phase change (cooling affects to the touch), the finish combination world of water repellency paired with fire resistance and UV resistance, the knit combination world of mixing inherent anti-microbial yarn with micro deniers along with moisture management finishes to create a product that is soft, moves moisture and contain anti-microbial properties that will never wash out. These products – that we knit, dye & finish in the USA – are viewable on our website (www.jasonmills.com). If you visit, please check out 601 PCM, 413 and 280 LP.

    The larger point here is that the methods and process’ that we use are continually being enhanced and developed to produce materials and textiles for medical products, outdoor recreation and general industrial end users (to name a few). Its an exciting time to be in the textile industry. We are greatly appreciative that there are schools such as NC State University to invest time and intelligence into the growing US market. We look forward to being part of that growth.

  5. Celebrating 10 Years as Jason Mills LLC

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    Jason Mills LLC, a New Jersey based textile convertor will celebrate its 10 year anniversary this month as a provider of knit, industrial textiles. Incorporated originally in 1976, the current incarnation was purchased in 2007 by long time employee Michael Lavroff. We have grown and changed in many ways since those early days of manufacturing fabrics for laundry bags.

    Materials are going through tectonic changes with the growth and use of nano textiles. The goals, and ultimately the mission of the company today is to harness the power of these changes and apply them in practical manners to best supply the industries we serve.

    Combining product design and engineering along with finishes and inherent fibers are the key drivers for the company’s expansion into areas such as personal/occupational safety, automotive, aeronautical and healthcare textiles.

    Our objective is to continue to improve upon current processes and materials so that corporations with fabric needs – both now and in the future – will have a supplier-partner to turn to. To borrow the mantra from Apple, we want to be where the puck is going, not where it’s been.

    The next ten years are right around the corner. We’ll see you there.

  6. June 2017: Showtime Pt I

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    TTNA 2017

    Rt 66 begins in Chicago and stretches southwest to California. We are way past the days when Martin Milner drove his Corvette down that road looking for adventure, but in less than two months Jason Mills LLC will travel to Chicago to display our materials at the annual trade show called Techtextil. We will not have time to explore the beginning of that legendary highway, as we will have our own business adventure.

    There is no Corvette, just United Airlines taking us into the windy city. Jason Mills, LLC will display from June 20th through June 22nd. If you are interested in a show pass please contact us at info@JasonMills.com by June 1st. We are offering these show floor passes to anyone who would like to meet with us to discuss our line of knit, industrial fabrics.

    The great thing about Tectextil is that it attracts a specific technology driven attendee base, which of course is right where we want to be with our Innovative, Performance and Quality driven products. Using combinations of yarns and finishes Jason Mills has developed and placed materials for use in markets as varied as healthcare, aeronautical and outdoor retail. Water repellency, softness, stretch, fire resistance are just a few of the attributes that our materials offer. We look forward to meeting both old and new customers next month at McCormick Center. Please stop by booth #1021 to say hello, or better yet reach out to us now to schedule an appointment

  8. Where We’ve Been

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    In business, there are weeks and months where the routine is just that, routine. The sales department follows up on inquiries and sniffs out new leads; the marketing department’s focus is to continue to push for greater recognition and influence in new and varied markets (“what is the need for animal transport slings”?) and ownership works with finance to keep a healthy bottom line. These are business fundamentals; do it correctly and repetitively and everybody succeeds.

    There are times when the routine changes, dramatically. That is when the sales and management teams hit the road; which is where we’ve been in January. Coming out of the holidays allowed for final preparations for four shows in two weeks: Las Vegas for SHOT, Atlantic City for Pool and Spa and Orlando for PGA Merchandise and Tent Expo.
    SHOT (Shooters, Hunters and Outdoor Trades) offered a one day supplier exhibit showcase. This allowed for suppliers such as Jason Mills to display materials that are used by the manufacturers to produce products such as tents, tactical vests, back backs. The Jason Mills contribution to that supply chain includes materials such as mosquito netting (style 417), no see um netting (style 413), tactical mesh (styles 1992 and 1998) and spacer mesh (styles 101, 201, 301, 601 and 701).

    NESPA (also known as the Northeast Pool and Spa Association) was a show we walked. Respecting the process of the trade show; those displaying are there to sell, not be sold to, we nevertheless picked up several new leads in the end use materials for skimmer nets (styles 65, 1926, 8610 and 2495), filtration (styles 3333 and 513), and flotation devices (styles 280 and 65).

    Lastly, held concurrently but at separate locations, the PGA Merchandise show (along with the Tent Expo) offered us an opportunity to show our newest products for the world of high definition impact screens for golf simulation. We have been in development here on what we consider cutting edge material for indoor golf retail. To wit, a single layer, front impact screen material that can withstand thousands of close range impact shots and yet not destruct for many, many months was the ultimate goal. We have developed not one, but two such materials (styles 1920 and 801). The response to these two fabrics was very positive. Our target is to have both of these materials out in the marketplace in force by early March.

    If you missed us at any of these shows, and if these materials- as well as any of our other US based product line is of interest please contact us at info@JasonMills.com for samples, pricing and more data or visit our website, www.JasonMills.com. We look forward to seeing you at our next trade show.

  9. Fall 2016: On the Road

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    Fall 2016: On the Road

    The fall months bring football, baseball playoffs, hockey, basketball, apple picking and beautiful foliage. It also brings about the travel season for the textile industry. In the next two months we will be attending trade shows concerning safety, sanitation and supply in Anaheim and Chicago and displaying at the Industrial Fabrics Association Expo in Charlotte.

    Our first stop is Anaheim, CA, about a mile or so from Disneyland, the convention center opens its doors to the best in personal safety protection at the National Safety Show. We will be walking that show. Our interest in that area lies in cut resistant fabrics, high visibility materials, spacer for fall protection harnesses and virtually anything we can manufacture to provide the newest and best product to the manufacturer. Currently, Jason Mills manufactures a cut resistant nylon product; the end use is for protective sleeves that handlers wear in the glass industry. We sell thousands of yards a month of this material to producers and sewers of these sleeves and aprons as well. This material is always in a constant state of development as we strive to improve cut resistance through the use of new and interesting fibers and yarns.

    From Anaheim we jet back to the east coast for our flagship event in Charlotte, NC. Being held October 19th – 21st, the IFAI Expo is a gathering of peers, customers, suppliers and competitors. We prepare for this event for many months. We can’t underestimate the importance of these three days. Venues such as these put us face to face with 50 to 70 potential new accounts and allow us to display new products such as our inherently anti-microbial patient slings and our water resistant mosquito/no-see-um net. These new materials are in addition to the 50+ materials that are part of our stock line.

    Finally, we finish the month of October in Chicago. The ISSA/InterClean show is a gathering of the leaders in the sanitation and supply industry. With a heavy focus on anti-microbial finishes and other advance methods in bacterial minimization, this is a great venue to walk and identify textiles needs for the many manufacturers.

    It’s a busy season. We look forward to it. Busy trade show seasons bring busy sales seasons.

    See you on the road.

  10. July – The Heat is On!

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    “Ninety in the shade” is paradise when the heat of an old time textile plant gets cranking in the summer. Fortunately here in the US, modern plants offer some relief through proper machine ventilation and material advances in construction. Still, you hear stories today of plants that get so hot at the ceiling that the sprinkler system gets triggered and that the average daily temperature on the floor hovers between 100 – 110 degrees F.

    Anecdotal tales aside, the heat of summer presents very real challenges not only to personnel but to material as well. For example, nylon by its nature will expand in the heat by sucking up humidity, thus causing the fibers to swell. One of the consequences of this action is material treated with heavy acrylic resins for stiffness will have almost a wet, slightly soft feel. The really odd thing is that this is not always apparent immediately out of production. The material may feel that it has met the required hand standard but unless it is moved to a cool, dry environment it will immediately begin to suck up moisture.

    So what are the answers here? How do you prevent your QC staff from doing “high fives” on a perfect stiff finish and then have a customer call you five days later asking you if you had gloves on when you checked the hand? Incidentally, checking for hand or proper stiffness/softness is still done by subjective feel. There is no magic machine that will say, “YES, THIS IS CORRECT”. This is where we turn to our friends in the lab to work on a formulation for the ultra humid weather, and also where you make sure that your packers understand that goods must be bagged and moved out of harm’s way ASAP.  It is also a good idea – if time allows – to have QC check for finish just prior to shipment.

    So, this is a small example of heat created mayhem. Not just for the materials, finishes and dyes, but for your employees as well. Care must be taken to insure hydration and cool break areas. This is not an easy business under the best of circumstances. Working to insure that quality is maintained, and most importantly that accidents and heat related injuries are avoided is everybody’s responsibility.

    Have a safe and happy summer.

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