What Westex does

Westex, a Milliken & Company brand headquartered in Spartanburg, South Carolina, manufactures proprietary flame-resistant (FR) and arc-rated (AR) textile fabrics used as the thermal protection layer in protective workwear. Founded in 1941 (originally producing FR insulation for Allied bombers during WWII), Westex has over 60 years of FR/AR fabric manufacturing experience and sells to garment manufacturers, industrial launderers, and safety product distributors who convert the fabrics into finished protective apparel for utility workers, oil & gas personnel, electrical maintenance crews, and metals industry workers. The product portfolio spans multiple proprietary fabric brands including UltraSoft (an 88% cotton / 12% high-tenacity nylon blend introduced in 1996), Westex DH (TENCEL Lyocell / modacrylic / aramid blend), Westex DH Air (a patent-pending lighter variant), Westex Indigo (FR denim via Cone Denim partnership), TrueComfort knits, the Polartec FR Collection (Power Dry FR, Power Grid FR, Wind Pro FR), and legacy lines including Indura, Synergy, CXP, Vinex, AllOut, InsulAir, and G2. All major fabric lines are certified to NFPA 2112 (flash fire) and NFPA 70E (arc flash), with hi-vis variants certified to ANSI 107. Technical performance claims include guaranteed flame resistance for the life of the garment, 75%+ higher abrasion resistance than all-cotton FR fabrics, and ANSI 107 color brightness retention through 100+ industrial launderings.

The business model is exclusively B2B, with zero direct-to-consumer distribution. Westex earns revenue from fabric sales to garment manufacturers, brands, and industrial launderers (the latter managing daily wear rental programs for end-user companies). Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is set through direct inquiry. The go-to-market relies on a global network of channel partners including major garment brands (Bulwark FR, Workrite Uniform, Steel Grip, Chicago Protective Apparel, National Safety Apparel, Tyndale, Wrangler FR, Red Wing Shoes) and industrial launderers (Cintas, Unifirst, ALSCO, Vestis), supplemented by specialty safety distributors across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, and South America. Westex positions itself as a safety educator first and fabric supplier second, investing heavily in technical content marketing, industry events (NSC Safety Congress, ASSP Safety, A+A Düsseldorf), and safety standards advocacy through organizations including the Partnership for Electrical Safety, National Safety Council, ASSE, and NCTO. The company is a wholly-owned brand of Milliken & Company, a privately held conglomerate founded in 1865; Westex shares Milliken's 150+ years of manufacturing expertise and benefits from Milliken's acquisitions of Springfield LLC (2015) and Polartec (2019).

Name

Westex

Legal name

Westex (A Milliken Brand)

Website

http://www.westex.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1919

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Westex is a manufacturing company that manufactures flame-resistant fabrics used to protect workers from arc flash & thermal hazards.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Protective Textiles

NAICS

Textile and Fabric Finishing and Fabric Coating Mills (3133), Broadwoven Fabric Mills (31321), Knit Fabric Mills (313240), Fabric Mills (3132), Apparel Manufacturing (315)

SIC

Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300), Broadwoven Fabric Mills, Man Made Fiber & Silk (2221), Knit Outerwear Mills (2253), Textile Mill Products (2200)

akta.pro primary industry

Protective & Safety Textiles (FR/Arc/Heat/Cut/Chemical) (IMAOADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fire-Resistant (FR) & Arc-Rated Apparel (CRAAALAD), Technical Fabric Mills (Performance/Protective/Medical Substrates) (IMAOABAH), Protective & Work Accessories Manufacturing (Safety Gloves/Hi-Vis Accessories) (IMAOAFAH)

Keywords

• Flame resistant fabrics
• Arc rated textiles
• Protective workwear fabrics
• Industrial safety apparel
• FR/AR fabric manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. FR/AR Fabric Sales to Garment Manufacturers: Westex manufactures and sells flame-resistant and arc-rated textile fabrics to garment manufacturers, brands, and industrial launderers who produce finished protective apparel and manage daily wear rental programs for end-user companies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Westex manufactures and sells flame-resistant and arc-rated (FR/AR) textile fabrics by the yard to garment manufacturers, brands, and industrial launderers. Its proprietary fabric portfolio protects workers in utility, oil and gas, electrical maintenance, and metals industries against arc flash, flash fire, combustible dust, and molten metal hazards, and is certified to NFPA 2112, NFPA 70E, and ANSI 107. Westex does not sell finished garments itself; channel partners convert the fabrics into finished protective apparel and daily-wear rental programs for end-user companies.

Product overview

Westex, a Milliken Brand, is a leading manufacturer of flame-resistant and arc-rated (FR/AR) protective fabrics. The product portfolio consists of multiple proprietary fabric brands including Westex DH (with patent-pending DH Air variant), Westex UltraSoft (including UltraSoft AC variant), Westex Indigo (produced in partnership with Cone Denim), and Westex TrueComfort Knits. Additionally, Westex offers the Polartec FR Collection (Polartec Power Dry FR, Polartec Power Grid FR, and Polartec Wind Pro FR) through the company's acquisition of Polartec in 2019. These fabrics are sold to garment manufacturers and industrial launderers who convert them into protective workwear for utility, oil and gas, electrical maintenance, and metals industries. The company also offers a mobile application for product selection. All fabrics are certified to key safety standards including NFPA 2112 and NFPA 70E, with many also meeting ANSI 107 for high-visibility applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• UltraSoft®: Most popular cotton-rich FR fabric brand with excellent balance of protection, comfort and durability
• UltraSoft® AC
• Westex® DH
• Westex® DH Air™
• Westex Indigo®
• Indura®
• TrueComfort™
• Synergy® Pro
• Synergy®
• CXP®
• Vinex®
• AllOut®
• InsulAir®
• G2™
• Polartec® FR Collection

Products and services

• Westex InsulAir
• Westex G2
• Westex Mobile App
• Westex DH
• Westex DH Air
• Westex UltraSoft
• Westex UltraSoft AC
• Westex Indigo
• Polartec Power Dry FR
• Polartec Power Grid FR
• Polartec Wind Pro FR
• Westex TrueComfort Knits
• Westex Indura
• Westex Synergy
• Westex CXP
• Westex Vinex
• Westex AllOut

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 75% higher abrasion resistance compared to all-cotton FR fabrics
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cone Denim (International Textile Group)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWestex and Cone Denim have an exclusive partnership to provide innovative flame resistant denim apparel fabrics. Cone Denim contributes over 100 years of denim heritage, quality, and innovation; Westex contributes guaranteed flame resistance and FR fabric engineering expertise. The partnership provides end users stylish FR denim with reduced shrinkage and soft hand while maintaining safety. Partnership was originally announced January 2015 and extended in June 2019.
• Polartec (Milliken & Company)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTwo Milliken & Company businesses collaborate to integrate Westex FR/AR fabric technology into Polartec's performance fabric constructions (Power Dry, Power Grid, Wind Pro). Polartec, acquired by Milliken in 2019, contributes expertise in performance knits, fleeces, and weather-resistant fabrics. The Polartec FR Collection was announced December 2020.
• Lenzing GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership announced June 2022 between Westex/Milliken and Lenzing Group focused on protective textile sustainability. Lenzing provides sustainably sourced wood-based TENCEL Lyocell fibers made in an environmentally responsible closed-loop production process. These fibers are used in Westex DH and DH Air fabrics.
• Partnership for Electrical Safety (PES)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerWestex is a proud member of the Partnership for Electrical Safety, an organization dedicated to ensuring equal protection for all electrical workers against arc flash hazards. PES played a crucial role in advocating for enhanced safety measures including the November 2024 OSHA Arc Flash Protection guideline updates.
• National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee for the Electrical Industry (NJATC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWestex entered agreement with NJATC (a nonprofit founded by NECA and IBEW) to create the Westex Personal Protective Equipment Academy program to train the next generation of union electrical workers. Over five years, Westex donated $650,000 in cash, product, and training support to enhance IBEW/NECA training efforts with state-of-the-art learning technology and curriculum additions.
• American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSE)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerWestex and ASSE signed a 2-year Gold Sponsorship extension covering 2014-2015. Westex provided financial contribution along with product and educational support to ASSE membership. Sponsorships included the Manufacturing Practice Specialty, Oil & Gas Practice Specialty, 4 PDC educational sessions, and the ASSE Leadership Conference. Collaborated on a non-commercial scientific research project.
• National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerWestex is listed as an industry partner alongside NCTO, indicating membership and collaborative engagement on textile industry policy and advocacy.
• National Safety CouncilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWestex is listed as an industry partner with the National Safety Council, indicating collaborative engagement on workplace safety education and advocacy.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• DuPont (Nomex & Kevlar): DuPont is the leading producer of Nomex meta-aramid fibers used in inherent FR fabrics (e.g., Westex Synergy and CXP use 100% Nomex IIIA). It is the most established competitor in high-end FR/AR fibers and competes directly with Westex's proprietary engineered blends for the same electrical, oil & gas, and military end markets.
• Teijin (Technora, Teijinconex): Teijin is a major aramid fiber producer supplying para-aramid (Technora) and meta-aramid (Teijinconex) fibers used in FR protective fabrics. It competes with Westex/DuPont for specification slots in FR garment programs across oil & gas, electrical, and military applications.
• Solvay (formerly Cytec): Solvay supplies technical fibers including those used in FR/AR protective fabrics. As a global specialty chemicals and advanced materials company, it competes in the technical textile fiber supply chain that feeds the same FR garment manufacturers served by Westex.
• Glen Raven (GlenGuard): Glen Raven produces GlenGuard FR fabrics and other technical textiles used in protective apparel. It serves overlapping electrical, oil & gas, and industrial safety markets with similar B2B fabric distribution through garment manufacturers and launderers.
• Mount Vernon Mills (FR fabrics): Mount Vernon Mills is a US textile manufacturer with a flame-resistant fabric portfolio that competes with Westex UltraSoft, DH, and other lines in the utility, oil & gas, and industrial safety apparel markets, often through similar garment manufacturer and industrial launderer channels.

Emerging players

• PBI Performance Products: PBI Performance Products produces PBI fiber and fabrics for high-performance FR applications, particularly fire service and military. It overlaps with Westex's most demanding end uses (fire service, molten metal, military) but serves a more specialized niche.
• Kermel (Kermel Tech): Kermel is a European manufacturer of polyamide-imide FR fibers and fabrics used in protective apparel for firefighters, electrical workers, and industrial safety. It competes with Westex in selected European and global FR apparel specifications.
• Hyosung TNC (creora FR): Hyosung TNC supplies technical fibers used in FR protective textiles, including spandex and nylon blends for stretch FR garments. It is a partial-overlap competitor providing fiber inputs that compete with Westex's proprietary blend formulations.
• Newtex (Z-Flex, Z-Shield): Newtex produces high-temperature and FR fabrics (Z-Flex, Z-Shield) used in industrial, welding, and molten metal protective apparel. It overlaps with Westex Vinex and metals-industry applications but focuses more narrowly on extreme heat and welding protection.

Broad incumbents

• 3M (Protective Equipment Division): 3M is a broad incumbent in worker safety products with FR/AR protective apparel offerings as part of a much larger portfolio spanning respiratory, hearing, and fall protection. It overlaps with Westex's downstream customer base but is not a direct fabric mill competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/westexfr
• Xx.com/westex
• Facebookfacebook.com/westexinc

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Westex