Profile of Alpha Pro Tech: A Rising Star in the US Supply of Disposable Protective Products

10 pages, published in Issue 80, 1st quarter 2010   Report price: Euro 275.00; US$ 365.00

Alpha Pro Tech is a producer of protective products made from fabrics. It was established in 1989, and has corporate offices in Canada and manufacturing and storage facilities in the USA. The company consists of three business units?Disposable Protective Apparel, Building Supply, and Infection Control. These units supply products for a wide range of markets, including cleanrooms, industrial safety manufacturing environments, health care facilities and building sites. In addition, the company supplies pet beds.

Financially, Alpha Pro Tech did exceptionally well in 2009?even though this was a year of global recession. Its sales rose by a remarkable 66.8% and its net income soared by a staggering 478.1%. The company?s success has been due in no small part to the fact that it manufactures face masks which have been approved by the US government as being effective against the H1N1 Influenza A pandemic?known commonly as ?swine flu?. Another factor in its success is that it sources its raw materials from Asia, thus giving it a cost advantage over rivals who source from higher cost developed countries. That said, this sourcing policy proved to a weakness at the height of the swine flu panic when fabric supplies were swallowed up by local Asian manufacturers.

In March 2010 the company suffered a major setback when its largest distributor, VWR, announced that it was to become a competitor. However, Alpha Pro Tech has adopted a positive approach by making its products available through a broader distribution network.

For 2010 and beyond the challenge will be to find another ?boom product? merely to maintain sales, let alone maintain growth. Predicting such spikes in demand is difficult, and therefore the company has chosen to become a significant force in other areas? particularly the market for house-wrap and roofing underlay products for the construction industry. In these areas, the company has achieved notable success in growing its market share?despite the fact that it is operating in very competitive markets, and many of its rivals are much bigger and better resourced.

Profile of Alpha Pro Tech: A Rising Star in the US Supply of Disposable Protective Products

• Summary
• Introduction
• Products and Markets
• Distributors and Competitors
• Financial Performance
• Outlook

Buy this Report now	Buy this Issue (80) now	Subscribe

• Performance apparel markets: product developments and innovations, 1st quarter 2010, (1st Quarter 2010)
• Performance apparel markets: personal protective clothing: ensuring worker safety, 1st quarter 2010, (1st Quarter 2010)
• Performance apparel markets: profile of Cosalt: a European provider of protective apparel with global ambitions, 1st quarter 2010, (1st Quarter 2010)

Four times a year, Technical Textile Markets provides an overview of the global man-made fibre, nonwoven and technical textile industries. It provides market data and analysis of new and established markets for technical textiles, and is essential reading for senior executives in (or supplying) the man-made fibre, nonwoven and technical textile sectors ? as well as for those who are not involved in the industry on a day-to-day basis, but who need an authoritative source which helps them to quickly gain an understanding of the key issues facing the companies which are actively involved in this fast-growing sector.
Reports in Technical Textile Markets include:
	company and country profiles ? giving you the opportunity to learn from strategies employed by others, in terms of production, sourcing, import/export, infrastructure and development, and plans for the future.
	profiles of the world's top 40 producers of nonwovens ? updated each year with details of developments from each of the leading producers, including acquisitions, investments and divestments, and analyses of trends which the "rising stars" are using to their advantage.
	statistical reports ? including consumption data, by fibre and end-use applications. Regular updates are published for fibre consumption in Japan, the rest of Asia, the USA, and Western Europe.
	market sector information ? analyses of important commercial end-user applications, and profiles of both established and emerging markets which take into account such innovations and developments as nanotechnology and intelligent textiles.
	regular updates on innovations in fibres, technical textiles, apparel and machinery ? including developments in the following categories: fibres and yarns; technical textile fabrics for industrial applications; machinery; technical textiles for apparel; composites; other technical textile products; and technical textile treatments and finishes.
	reports on new technological developments and other topical issues ? with clear, authoritative comments on their economic and commercial significance. The reports bring to your attention the key issues which you can use to develop your business, and provides contact details of useful organisations.
So whether you are involved in man-made fibres, nonwovens or technical textiles ? in manufacturing, converting, import/export, or end use ? or if you are in education or consultancy or investment or finance ? a subscription to Technical Textile Markets will tell you what you need to know about the key trends in the industry.
Technical Textile Markets is available on subscription ? either in printed format only, or in printed and electronic format. If you choose the printed only option, you will receive 4 printed publications a year. Each issue contains five research-based reports (see above) and an editorial.
Electronic supplement If you choose the printed and electronic option, you will receive an extra service. You will still receive each issue in printed format, delivered to you by traditional post. In addition, you will be able to download PDF files containing the same information ? but the PDF files will be available immediately on publication, so you don?t have to wait for the printing and mailing. You also have all the benefits of electronic files: instant access even when you are away from the office; convenient storage in your PC or laptop; portability; electronic search facility; and copy/paste facility. You will also receive a monthly update of business news, called "Technical Textiles Business Update" delivered to you by email, free of charge.
Technical textiles are used in a wide range of end-use applications and markets, including agricultural; automotive; building/ construction/ engineering; medical and hygiene; packaging; protective clothing; sports and sportswear; and transport. A subscription to Technical Textile Markets will support your decision making, and provide the information you need to expand into new markets.