American Flock Association
The American Flock Association is a non-profit trade association founded in 1984 that represents flock manufacturers, coaters, and suppliers across North America, providing sales lead distribution, educational programming (Flock Academy), and policy advocacy through its NCTO affiliation.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersCherryville, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What American Flock Association does
The American Flock Association (AFA) is a non-profit trade association founded in 1984 that represents flock manufacturers, coaters of three-dimensional objects, and industry suppliers across North America (United States, Canada, and Mexico). The organization is the only dedicated industry body for the North American flock sector and is affiliated with the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), through which it engages in policy advocacy on trade, customs, and tariff matters affecting the textile industry.
AFA's core offerings revolve around three pillars: a Sales Lead Program that captures and distributes qualified customer inquiries from its flocking.org website to all full members; Flock Academy, an annual virtual educational workshop covering flocking processes and applications (free for members, $99 for non-members); and Flock 4.0, a communications and rebranding initiative launched in January 2024 that repositions flocking from a decorative technique to a functional technology with applications in electric vehicles, sound reduction, antimicrobial surfaces, and energy-absorbing materials. The association supports member research partnerships with UMass Dartmouth and NC State University, contributing to innovations such as the patented FEAM (Flocked Energy Absorbing Material) developed through the NFL Head Health Challenge, plus pending applications in auxetic fabrics, biomedical specimen collection devices, and battery coatings.
The association generates revenue through membership dues (full and associate categories), website advertising packages, and modest Flock Academy attendance fees. It is governed by an Executive Committee drawn from member companies (Cellusuede Products, EIS Fibercoating, Fifield, Key Polymer, National Velour, Flock Tex, Spectro Coating, Nyatex, SR Advantage) and managed by Steve Rosenthal as Managing Director. AFA maintains a small operational footprint (1-10 employees) under a Cherryville, NC mailing address while coordinating activity across North America through digital channels (LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube), annual meetings with NCTO, and trade show participation at events such as Automotive Interiors Expo and Techtextil North America.
American Flock Association firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- American Flock Association
- Legal name
- American Flock Association
- Website
- https://flocking.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The American Flock Association is a non-profit trade association founded in 1984 that represents flock manufacturers, coaters, and suppliers across North America, providing sales lead distribution, educational programming (Flock Academy), and policy advocacy through its NCTO affiliation.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where American Flock Association is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cherryville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
American Flock Association business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: Full membership and associate membership categories with annual dues from flock manufacturers, coaters, and industry suppliers across North America.
- Advertising: Low-cost, high-value advertising packages available to members on the flocking.org website, which ranks highly for 'flocking' searches.
- Flock Academy Fees: Flock Academy virtual sessions are free for AFA members; $99 USD for non-members. Revenue from non-member attendance.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | Flock Academy - Free for AFA Members |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels8 records
American Flock Association product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The American Flock Association is a non-profit trade association representing North American flock manufacturers, coaters, and industry suppliers. It delivers member services including the Flock Academy virtual training program, the Flock 4.0 communications initiative, and a website-driven sales-lead referral program. It also provides industry advocacy through affiliation with the National Council of Textile Organizations and convenes annual meetings and trade-show participation.
Product overview
The American Flock Association is a trade organization (not a product company) representing North American flock manufacturers and suppliers. Its core offerings include the Flock 4.0 industry initiative, Flock Academy training program, and member benefits such as a sales lead referral program. Member companies provide three main flocking service categories: roll-to-roll coating of textiles/papers/films, object flocking for 3D substrates, and graphic/screen print flocking. The association also publishes industry news and organizes educational events.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Flock Academy An online Zoom-based workshop providing an overview of the flocking process, including flock cutting and finishing, raw materials, application techniques, and finished product characteristics. Led by industry veterans with experience across textile and automotive applications. Target audience is industry newcomers, technicians, engineers, and product designers.
- Flock 4.0 A communications and marketing program designed to highlight innovative and functional applications of flocking technology in industries such as automotive (especially electric vehicles) for sound reduction, windshield glare prevention, flame retardancy, and antimicrobial uses.
Quantifiable outcome
- Close to 200 industry leaders attend annual combined meetings with NCTO
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use American Flock Association
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
American Flock Association technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
American Flock Association partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Automotive Interiors ExpominorAFA regularly exhibits at the Automotive Interiors Expo in Novi, Michigan to showcase flock applications in automotive interiors. The expo is the premier US automotive design show for interior materials and technologies.
- Techtextil North AmericaminorAFA exhibits at Techtextil North America, the only trade show in the Americas dedicated to technical textiles and nonwovens. Held at Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta with international attendance.
- Cellusuede Products, Inc. & Engineered Fibers Technology (EFT)minorCellusuede Products acquired 20% ownership interest in Engineered Fibers Technology, LLC (EFT). Partnership provides Cellusuede with technical and specialty fiber products while EFT gains fiber cutting capabilities and manufacturing footprint. Cellusuede acts as EFT sales agent for select markets.
- National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO)coreAFA is a member organization of NCTO, a non-profit trade organization representing textile manufacturers and industry suppliers in North America. NCTO lobbies on behalf of the flock industry in Washington, DC on matters of trade, customs, and tariffs. AFA participates in NCTO's annual meetings and joint events.
- University of Massachusetts, DartmouthcoreAcademic research partnership with Prof. Yong Ku Kim's laboratory. Sponsored FEAM (Flocked Energy Absorbing Material) research project for helmet safety. Hosts triennial Flock School on the UMass Dartmouth campus. Professor Kim received Scholar of the Year award.
- North Carolina State University College of TextilesminorAFA sponsors senior design projects at NC State's College of Textiles where students design new products using flock. A flocked wound dressing project was sponsored as follow-up to initial student work.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
American Flock Association competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Narrow Fabrics Institute (NFI): Specialty US textile trade association serving narrow fabrics manufacturers and suppliers, operating the same dues-funded non-profit model for a similarly niche fiber-based industrial segment — directly comparable in structure and scale.
- INDA (Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry): Trade association for the nonwovens industry — a directly adjacent textile category to flocked fabrics. Operates member services, education, advocacy, and trade shows (including IDEA) on a comparable dues-funded non-profit model.
- National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO): Parent affiliate and lobbying umbrella for AFA since 2013. NCTO represents the broader US textile manufacturing base in Washington, DC on trade, customs, and tariff matters, and co-hosts AFA's annual meeting — making it the most direct functional peer and governance counterpart.
- Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI): A larger US trade association serving industrial fabrics, with overlapping membership and exhibit presence (AFA regularly exhibits at IFAI EXPO). Operates the same not-for-profit trade-association model for adjacent specialty textile sectors.
- SEAMS (National Association for the Sewn Products & Industrial Fabrics): US trade association for sewn products and industrial fabrics, operating on a similar dues-funded non-profit model with member networking, education, and policy advocacy — directly comparable in scale and structure to AFA.
Broad incumbents
- Textile Exchange: Global non-profit focused on sustainable纤维 and textile materials, running industry standards, education, and member programs. Comparable non-profit trade-association model applied to a broader textile/fiber audience that overlaps with flock end-markets.
- American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA): US trade association representing apparel and footwear brands and suppliers, with policy advocacy and member education functions comparable to AFA — but operating at much greater scale across a broader downstream apparel ecosystem.
- Outdoor Industry Association (OIA): US trade association for outdoor industry brands and suppliers with comparable member services, advocacy, and education programs — relevant as an adjacency because flocked textiles are used in outdoor/consumer goods applications.
- Messe Frankfurt (Techtextil organizer): Operator of Techtextil North America, the flagship technical-textiles trade show where AFA regularly exhibits. Functions as an events/incumbent platform in the same ecosystem rather than a competing trade association.
Regional players
- European Flock Association (EFA): The European counterpart trade association for the flocking industry, serving manufacturers and suppliers across Europe with similar member services, education, and advocacy. The most direct international peer to AFA.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
American Flock Association social profiles
Digital presenceAmerican Flock Association compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
American Flock Association financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
American Flock Association leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
American Flock Association funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
American Flock Association M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about American Flock Association
What does American Flock Association do?
The American Flock Association is a non-profit trade association representing North American flock manufacturers, coaters, and industry suppliers. It delivers member services including the Flock Academy virtual training program, the Flock 4.0 communications initiative, and a website-driven sales-lead referral program. It also provides industry advocacy through affiliation with the National Council of Textile Organizations and convenes annual meetings and trade-show participation.
Is American Flock Association a public or private company?
American Flock Association is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was American Flock Association founded?
American Flock Association was founded in 1984. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is American Flock Association based?
American Flock Association is headquartered in Cherryville, United States, in the North America region.
How does American Flock Association make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are advertising and flock Academy Fees.
Who are American Flock Association's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Narrow Fabrics Institute (NFI), INDA (Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry), National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) and SEAMS (National Association for the Sewn Products & Industrial Fabrics). Broad incumbents are Textile Exchange, American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) and Messe Frankfurt (Techtextil organizer). European Flock Association (EFA) is listed as a regional player.
Does American Flock Association have an API?
No public API is recorded for American Flock Association.