Coats plc
Coats Group plc is the world's leading industrial sewing-thread manufacturer and a Tier 2 supplier to global apparel, footwear and performance-materials industries, producing threads, structural components, insoles, zippers and composites across 50+ countries.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1896
- HeadquartersUxbridge, United Kingdom
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Coats plc does
Coats Group plc (LSE: COA, FTSE 250) is the world's largest industrial sewing-thread manufacturer and a Tier 2 supplier to the global apparel, footwear and performance-materials industries, headquartered in London with operational origins in Paisley, Scotland dating to the late 18th century. The company sells premium industrial threads, technical yarns, industrial zippers, structural components, insoles, composites (including carbon-fibre Synergex and Lattice fibre-laying products), fabrics and trims, alongside a Coats Digital software stack that integrates GSD, FastReact and ThreadSol plus standalone tools such as Colour Express, Coats Count, Shoe Engineer and the ShopCoats e-commerce platform.
The business is organised around three divisions — Apparel, Footwear, and Performance Materials — and a Vertical segmentation strategy focused on apparel manufacturers, footwear OEMs (athletic, athleisure, dress, protective and lifestyle), personal-protection and lifestyle/luxury accessories. Coats generates revenue through direct enterprise sales with multi-year contracts and B2B unit pricing tied to specifications, volumes and contract terms. Its principal customer bases include major global fashion brands and apparel manufacturers, over 500 footwear brands served through OrthoLite, automotive manufacturers for airbag/seatbelt/seat threads, and exclusive arrangements such as the Xinhongcheng Group thread-supply relationship in China.
The growth model is a mix of organic share defence in core threads and disciplined bolt-on M&A. Between 2015 and 2020 Coats acquired GSD, FastReact, Gotex, Patrick Yarn Mill and Pharr HP to extend into performance materials and digital services. In 2022 it added Texon ($237M) and Rhenoflex ($117M) to build a structural-footwear-components platform; in October 2025 it completed the $770M acquisition of OrthoLite (open-cell foam insoles, 36% market share, 14 facilities) and simultaneously divested its U.S. Yarns business to reallocate capital toward higher-margin footwear adjacencies. A £246M accelerated equity placing in July 2025 funded the OrthoLite deal and ongoing transformation. Sustainability is positioned as a core differentiator — EcoVerde (100% recycled threads), EcoRegen (lyocell), Rhenoprint (zero-waste reinforcement), Tex2Tex (textile-to-textile recycling) and Cirql (recyclable midsole foams) — and is validated by OEKO-TEX, GRS, GOTS, ZDHC, the 2025 CDP A List and FTSE4Good Index inclusion.
Coats plc firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Coats plc
- Legal name
- Coats Group plc
- Website
- https://coats.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1896
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Coats Group plc is the world's leading industrial sewing-thread manufacturer and a Tier 2 supplier to global apparel, footwear and performance-materials industries, producing threads, structural components, insoles, zippers and composites across 50+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Coats plc industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Threads & Textile Components
- NAICS
- Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing (31599), Apparel Knitting Mills (3151), Knit Fabric Mills (313240), Fabric Coating Mills (313320), Apparel Manufacturing (315)
- SIC
- Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300), Knitting Mills (2250), Wholesale-Apparel, Piece Goods & Notions (5130), Broadwoven Fabric Mills, Man Made Fiber & Silk (2221)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Outerwear & Performance Apparel Cut & Sew (IMAOAEAB)
Keywords
Where Coats plc is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Uxbridge
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices10 records
Markets served
Coats plc business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Industrial Thread Sales: Coats generates revenue primarily through the manufacture and sale of industrial sewing threads, serving as the world's leading provider of premium industrial sewing threads to the apparel industry. Revenue comes from direct sales to garment manufacturers and brands.
- Footwear Components: Sale of structural components (heel counters, toe boxes, reinforcements), insoles/boards, and yarns for footwear manufacturing. The segment includes products from acquired companies Texon and Rhenoflex, providing comprehensive footwear solutions.
- Performance Materials: High-performance materials including composites (Synergex, Lattice), technical yarns, and fabrics for aerospace, automotive, telecom, and personal protection applications.
- Zippers and Trims: Manufacturing and sale of industrial zippers and trim products including reflective tapes, interlinings, and hook-and-loop fasteners for apparel and accessories.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | B2B industrial product pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
Coats plc product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Coats plc is the world's leading industrial thread manufacturer and a major Tier 2 supplier to the apparel, footwear, and performance materials industries. The company manufactures and sells industrial sewing threads, technical yarns, zippers, structural components (heel counters, toe boxes, reinforcements), insoles and boards, composites, fabrics, and trims. Its portfolio also includes Coats Digital software solutions for the apparel industry and the OrthoLite open-cell foam insole business acquired in 2025.
Product overview
Coats plc is a world-leading Tier 2 manufacturer serving the apparel and footwear industries with essential materials, components, and digital solutions. The company operates a diversified portfolio centered on industrial threads (including EcoVerde, Nylbond, Drybond, Epic, Dual Duty, Gral sub-brands), high-performance technical yarns, industrial zips, composites (Synergex, Lattice), structural components (Rhenoprint, RX V 5000, ProWeave), boards/insoles, fabrics, and trims. The portfolio is complemented by Coats Digital platform integrating software solutions for design, sampling, ordering, and tracking, along with digital tools including Coats Colour Express, Coats Count, Denim Visualiser, and eComm. Following the 2025 acquisition of OrthoLite, Coats expanded into premium insoles, adding to its 2022 acquisitions of Texon (sustainable structural components) and Rhenoflex (reinforcement solutions). The company serves over 50 countries across six continents with manufacturing operations spanning Asia, Europe, Americas, and Africa.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Coats EcoVerde: First globally available 100% recycled premium polyester sewing threads
- Coats EcoRegen
- Coats Digital
- CoatsKnit
- Coats Signal
- Coats Connect
- Coats Admiral
- Coats Nylbond
- Coats Drybond
- ProWeave
- Rhenoprint
- Ecostrobe
- Synergex
- Lattice
- Cyclea
- Texon
- OrthoLite
- Cirql
Products and services
- Industrial Threads
- High-Performance Technical Yarns
- Industrial Zips
- Composites (Synergex, Lattice)
- Structural Components
- Boards and Insoles
- Fabrics
- Trims
- Coats Digital
- OrthoLite Insoles
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduced Scope 1 & 2 emissions by 30% (surpassing 22% target by nearly 40%)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Coats plc
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Coats plc technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Coats plc partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- JACKcoreCoats Group PLC signed a Memorandum of Strategic Cooperation with JACK to accelerate innovation for China's fast-growing small-to-medium-sized (SME) apparel manufacturing sector. The partnership aims to deliver integrated solutions for China's apparel manufacturing SMEs.
- Cleantech SolarcoreCleantech Solar signed a second long-term agreement with Coats Group plc to develop and operate a large-scale rooftop solar PV system for Coats Rejo Indonesia at their facility in Pasuruan, East Java, Indonesia. The combined project enables Coats to substitute 17.3% of total power consumption with renewable energy at zero capital investment, building on a first phase that reduced 1,011 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
- OrthoLite Holdings LLCcoreAcquired by Coats Group plc for $770 million. OrthoLite is the global market leader in open-cell foam insoles with 36% market share, supplying over 500 million pairs annually to 500 brand customers through 14 production facilities. Includes subsidiary Cirql developing proprietary foam technology for the midsole market.
- Rhenoflex GmbHcoreAcquired by Coats Group for $117 million. Rhenoflex is a Germany-based global producer of sustainable reinforcement solutions for footwear and accessories, with manufacturing operations in Vietnam, China, and Germany. Trading recovered to pre-Covid levels with revenues of $76 million in 2022.
- Texon International Group LtdcoreAcquired by Coats Group for $237 million. Texon is a leader in sustainable structural components for footwear, targeting zero-waste by 2025. The acquisition strengthens Coats' presence in the athleisure footwear market with innovative products and geographical reach in Asia and Europe.
- ValuatesminorCoats operates in the reflective sportswear fabric market which Valuates projects to grow from $397 million in 2024 to $557 million by 2031. This is market research data provider relationship.
- Fact.MRminorCoats Group is mentioned in Fact.MR's Shoe Insoles Market report projecting the market to grow from $6.7 billion in 2026 to $9.7 billion by 2036. Industry analyst relationship.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Coats plc competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- American & Efird (A&E): American & Efird is one of the world's largest industrial sewing thread manufacturers, directly competing with Coats in apparel, footwear, and industrial thread markets globally. Now owned by KPS Capital Partners, it serves the same Tier 2 customer base of garment and footwear manufacturers.
- YKK Group: YKK is the world's largest manufacturer of zippers and fastening products, directly competing with Coats' Industrial Zips segment. It serves the same apparel, footwear, and accessories customers and represents Coats' primary direct competitor in trim components.
- Amann Group: Amann is a German-based global manufacturer of industrial sewing threads, embroidery threads, and technical yarns for apparel, automotive, and footwear applications. It is a direct competitor to Coats across premium and specialty thread segments.
Broad incumbents
- Teijin Limited: Teijin is a Japanese chemical and materials conglomerate producing high-performance fibers (Twaron, Technora aramids) and composites serving aerospace, automotive, and protective applications. It competes with Coats' Performance Materials and personal protection segments.
- Toray Industries: Toray is a global leader in synthetic fibers, composites, and performance materials including carbon fiber for aerospace and automotive. It overlaps with Coats' Performance Materials segment (Synergex composites, technical yarns) and serves similar industrial customers.
- INVISTA: INVISTA is a major producer of performance fibers including Lycra spandex, Cordura, and polyester for apparel, footwear, and industrial applications. It competes with Coats' Performance Materials and technical yarns segments across the same end markets.
- Hexcel Corporation: Hexcel is a leading global manufacturer of advanced composites including carbon fiber reinforcements and prepregs for aerospace, automotive, and industrial applications. It represents the broader competitive set for Coats' Synergex carbon composites business.
- Hyosung TNC: Hyosung TNC is a major Korean producer of performance fibers including Creora spandex and recycled nylon. It competes with Coats' technical yarns and sustainable fiber lines in the apparel and footwear markets.
Emerging players
- Bemis Associates: Bemis Associates is a specialty manufacturer of thermoplastic films, adhesives, and seam-sealing tapes for apparel, footwear, and outdoor gear applications. It overlaps with Coats' structural components and trims segments, particularly for performance and waterproof applications.
- SAPSA (Soles & Articles de Protection et de Sport): SAPSA is a French manufacturer of insoles, comfort components, and specialty footwear materials. It is an emerging/niche player competing in the same footwear components segment that Coats OrthoLite now leads following the 2025 acquisition.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Coats plc social profiles
Digital presenceCoats plc compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance9 records
Coats plc financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Coats plc leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Coats plc subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries9 records
Coats plc funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Coats plc M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A8 records
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Coats plc
What does Coats plc do?
Coats plc is the world's leading industrial thread manufacturer and a major Tier 2 supplier to the apparel, footwear, and performance materials industries. The company manufactures and sells industrial sewing threads, technical yarns, zippers, structural components (heel counters, toe boxes, reinforcements), insoles and boards, composites, fabrics, and trims. Its portfolio also includes Coats Digital software solutions for the apparel industry and the OrthoLite open-cell foam insole business acquired in 2025.
Is Coats plc a public or private company?
Coats plc is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Coats plc founded?
Coats plc was founded in 1896. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Coats plc based?
Coats plc is headquartered in Uxbridge, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Coats plc make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Industrial Thread Sales are the primary driver. The others are footwear Components, performance Materials and zippers and Trims.
Who are Coats plc's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are American & Efird (A&E), YKK Group and Amann Group. Broad incumbents are Teijin Limited, Toray Industries, INVISTA, Hexcel Corporation and Hyosung TNC. Emerging players are Bemis Associates and SAPSA (Soles & Articles de Protection et de Sport).
Does Coats plc have an API?
No public API is recorded for Coats plc.
What industry is Coats plc in?
Coats plc's product category is Industrial Threads & Textile Components. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAOAEAB, Outerwear & Performance Apparel Cut & Sew. Its NAICS code is 31599 and its SIC code is 2300.