BURLINGTON – Shawmut Corporation has expanded its Park Avenue Technical Centre – one of the largest and most technologically advanced fabric finishing operations in the USA, supplying more than 50% of all the cars produced in North America with laminated headliners.

In addition, the facility makes laminated materials for automotive pillars, sun visors, sunshades and panoramic roof roller shades, seating, door and trim laminations, package trays, and parcel shelves.

The expansion offers Shawmut customers easier access to advanced materials design and increased speed, agility, and flexibility for custom solutions development. Customers have access to Shawmut’s design, engineering, technical, and programme management staff all under one roof.

The overall facility, which includes offices, lab, manufacturing and warehouse space for the location’s 145 employees, features:

• A newly constructed office and customer experience wing.
• A rapid colour formulation centre.
• Technical, quality, and colour labs.
• Investments in on-site customer collaboration and accelerated product development processes.

“The southeast is a hub for the US textile industry, and the updates we have made in the heart of this region will allow us to further our commitment to helping customers solve pressing business challenges through advanced materials innovation,” said James Wyner, CEO of Shawmut Corporation.

The centre supports several of Shawmut’s core markets, including military and protective, health and safety, and custom solutions, but the main focus is on automotive-related advanced materials.