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The nature of firefighting gear requires its manufacture be strictly regulated. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) sets standards for gear. Underwriters Laboratories tests to see standards are met. UL must first approve the component materials used in a garment, and then test the finished garment as well. It is a costly, lengthy process which would be foreign to many garment manufacturers, but not to Fire-Dex. “UL does testing for moisture, virus, heat, strength and durability. Unless we pass those tests, we can’t manufacture the product,” Biggart states matter-of-factly. Fire-Dex is also ISO 9001 registered. 
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Fire-Dex is an eighteen year old company employing 70 people, approximately 55 of them as sewing operators. Biggart maintains 120 machines in the 30,000 sq. ft. plant. Shortly after he began work at Fire-Dex two years ago, he came to the Technical Training Center to sharpen his sewing machine repair skills. “There were a lot of little things that I was missing, and they just filled in the gaps for me. The training was very helpful,” says Biggart.
For the future, Fire-Dex is reviewing a wide variety of Juki Union Special equipment. A new Union Special 36200 Flatseamer for seaming panels of fireproof hoods is a possibility, as is the Juki computer controlled cycle machine AMS-210DSS. They are also working with Max Adamski of Union Special Corp. in investigating automation of some operations. NE Editor’s note: After the September 11 attack upon the World Trade Center, Fire-Dex not only made a monetary contribution to benefit the New York City firefighters, they also sent needed firefighting gear to the FDNY. |
