Federal and Defense Textile Summit

May 20: Tours

Tour Option 1: Cotton Incorporated Research Center Tour


When. May 20, 2025 starting at 1:30 pm.
Location: 6399 Weston Parkway, Cary, North Carolina.
Parking Information. Due to limited parking, we do encourage carpooling.  Parking is available in the yellow highlighted areas on the parking map.

Please read the following:

  • Participants will enter the rotunda, receive a name badge and then will receive directions for an assigned conference room for a company overview before the tour begins.
  • In order to participate in the tour, you must be listed on the registration list.  RSVPing for the tour can be completed on your FEDTEX registration. The final registration list will be provided to the Cotton, Inc. three days prior to the event and only those registered will be able to participate.
  • Review the Safety Rules for Visitors prior to arrival and note the apparel and footwear requirements.  Safety is important to Cotton Incorporated. All guests should wear professional casual attire. Shorts and open-toed/open-heeled footwear are not permitted in Cotton Incorporated laboratories. ANSI-approved protective eyewear/safety glasses will be provided in all designated areas. Cameras are allowed in the laboratories.

Guests will view firsthand how cotton is processed from a fiber into a textile, then finished, and tested for quality assurance through a guided tour of Cotton Incorporated’s state-of-the-art textile pilot facility with five main laboratory areas. Expert research staff will guide guests through the Fiber Processing, Product Development, Dyeing and Finishing Applications, Color Services, and Product Evaluation Laboratories, sharing innovative research efforts and the textile manufacturing process. Guests will learn how Cotton Incorporated supports the U.S. Cotton Industry through research and promotion.

 

Tour Option 2: The Nonwovens Institute (NWI), North Carolina State University Centennial Campus

When. May 20, 2025 starting at 4:00 pm and ending at 5:00 pm.
Location: 1010 Main Campus Drive, Raleigh, 27606, CTI Building Front Lobby, NC State University
Parking: FEDTex tour participants can park in the parking garage attached to the rear of the CTI Bldg.

Join us for a behind-the-scenes tour of The Nonwovens Institute (NWI), the world’s first accredited academic program dedicated to the interdisciplinary study of engineered fabrics. Through a unique partnership between industry, government, and academia, NWI is at the forefront of developing next-generation nonwoven applications and training the field’s future leaders.

This tour will provide a firsthand look at state-of-the-art pilot and testing facilities transforming the latest textile innovations into market-ready fiber-based systems. Participants will tour labs featuring:

  • Spunbond & Meltblown Systems
  • Bonding Technologies (hydroentanglement, thermal calendar, through-air, and needlepunch)
  • Carding & Crosslapping
  • Filament Spinning & Coating
  • Advanced Lamination & Filtration Testing
  • Comprehensive Analytical Capabilities

Don’t miss this opportunity to see how non woven innovations are shaping the future and supporting DoD efforts.

Please read the following:

  • Due to tour space limitations, this tour registration will be limited to the first 30 registrants.
  • Required: Closed toe shoes and long pants are required (no shorts or dresses).  Safety glasses will be provided.
  • No picture-taking during the tour.  If you'd like pictures please make a request with NWI, or visit thenonwovensinstitute.com
  • In order to participate in the tour, you must be listed on the registration list.  RSVPing for the tour can be completed on your FEDTEX registration. The final registration list will be provided to the NWI three days prior to the event and only those registered will be able to participate.