Description

On Friday, October 6, the Gaston College Textile Technology Center will host a Textiles Day open house in conjunction with the observance of North Carolina Manufacturing Day and Manufacturing Week. Manufacturing Day is also observed throughout the United States. The National Association of Manufacturers instituted Manufacturing Day in 2012 as an annual celebration of modern manufacturing with the goal of inspiring the next generation of manufacturers. The Textiles Day open house at the Textile Technology Center (TTC) is intended to improve the image of textiles in the local region, build on the rich local heritage of textiles, and interest people in pursuing a career in textiles. Attendees will learn about the cutting edge technologies that are used to manufacture advanced textile products, and about the multiple and diverse applications for modern textiles. Local textile manufacturing companies are lending their support to the event, with the goal of promoting the vibrancy of the textile industry and the many career opportunities that it offers. Presenting sponsors are American & Efird (A&E), Meridian Specialty Yarn Group, and Pharr Yarns. American Dornier, Parkdale, Saertex, and Seiren North America are the supporting sponsors. High school and college students and the general public are invited to attend the Open House. The free event will feature career discussions for those who may be interested in pursuing employment opportunities in the textile industry. The seven sponsoring companies will exhibit a cross-section of their products and the technologies they utilize, and will discuss possible careers with their companies. These discussions will take place at 8:30 a.m., 10 a.m., and 1 p.m. Tours of the Gaston College Textile Technology Center will provide insights into how textiles, yarn, and fabric are made, dyed, and tested. Tours will be conducted from 2:30 to 4 p.m. In conjunction with the Textiles Day Open House, local museums will be open with exhibits highlighting textiles in the region. The participating museums are the Belmont Historical Society, the Gaston County Museum in Dallas, and the Millican Pictorial History Museum in Belmont. The Textiles Day Open House on October 6 takes place at the Gaston College Textile Technology Center, 7200 Wilkinson Boulevard, Belmont, North Carolina.