Guilford’s True Textiles bought by Quebec firm

By Darren Fishell
BDN Staff

BANGOR — The Quebec holding company Duvaltex has purchased specialty textile maker True Textiles, which has a production facility in Guilford, for an undisclosed price.

The purchase combines True Textiles with the Quebec-based Victor Textiles, which Duvaltex said will make it the largest manufacturer of commercial or interior fabrics in the United States and Canada.

Both companies make fabrics used for office, institutional, health care and hospitality customers. Duvaltex said in a statement that it expects the combination to benefit the Guildford business and Victor Textiles, with “opportunities to create synergies and efficiencies across the organization.”

“The company plans to improve each operation’s competitive positioning by leveraging the individual strengths of each business unit across the organization,” the announcement from Duvaltex said.

True Textiles, headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has locations in North Carolina, as well as a design and development office in New York City.

Jeremy Bakken, a spokesman for Duvaltex, said it’s “business as usual” for locations other than True Textile’s North Carolina plant, which is in the process of relocating.

Bakken said that he did not know whether in the long term there would be changes to employment levels at the Guilford facility.

“While Duvaltex is planning to explore opportunities to create internal efficiencies, Victor Textiles and True Textiles will continue to operate as independent business units,” Bakken said.