Gaston College opens fiber innovation center

Gaston College in North Carolina is making big waves in the textile industry with the launch of a facility it believes will change how textiles are developed and produced. Gaston College’s Kimbrell Fiber Innovation Center, a 39,000-square-foot facility, now offers everything from polymer development and automated extrusion to yarn and filament processing. It also includes incubation space to support textile entrepreneurs.

This centralized approach will significantly simplify textile research and production, which usually involves multiple facilities across different locations. The new facility will not only support students at Gaston College but also offer customized training and degree programs for industry professionals.

“This center is a game changer for the textile industry because now the entire fiber development process can happen in one place,” said Davis Warlick, Executive Vice President of Parkdale Mills. “And it won’t be happening overseas, it’ll be developed right here in Gaston County.”

“This is a milestone moment for both Gaston College and the future of the textile industry,” said John Hauser, President of Gaston College. “The Fiber Innovation Center is a symbol of our commitment to sustainable growth, job-ready training, and regional economic development.”

“Textiles today are far more advanced than in the past,” Warlick told Spectrum News. “With this new center, we’ll be able to develop next-generation fibers and fabrics for high-tech uses, all at one site. It’s going to reshape the way the industry works.”