For at least 15 years, the U.S. textile industry, and to some extent the European industry as well, has been plagued with a variety of financial onslaughts, leading to considerable losses in labor and output. But reports from the Department of Commerce have also made it clear that different parts of the industry have been affected differently. If you remove apparel, home goods and many textile commodities from the equation, the outlook changes. According to our 2012 State of the Industry report (published in the February issue of the Review), overall business and sales figures improved in 2011 for many segments of the specialty fabrics industry-especially for companies that implemented production and distribution efficiencies and are focused on value and product innovation. Growth is especially strong in markets such as con- struction,transportation,recreation and the military.
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