TUSCALOOSA, Alabama — Phifer, the world’s largest producers of woven fiberglass and aluminum insect screens is becoming a more significant player in the outdoor woven jacquard and dobby fabric market through its Designed Fabrics Division, according to Hugo Benitez, national market manager.

In fact, this division helped Phifer realize an overall sales gain even during the slowdown in 2008/2009, Benitez said. “Today, Phifer sales are well ahead of that time period. The company sells one piece minimums on in stock items direct to manufacturers outside the USA but works through Trivantage, a U.S. based distributor for U.S. sales. Hugo Benitez

Phifer also produces a line of Sheerweave Fabrics for the window treatment market that is becoming increasingly decorative for the healthcare, hospitality and residential markets.

Although Phifer was founded in 1952, its Designed Fabrics Division is only five years old. “We may be very new to the upholstery business but we have become the ‘king of sling’ in our PVC Phifertex fabric lines,” said Benitez, a 26 year veteran of Phifer. “It’s something that grew out of our PVC coated sling and cushion fabric business. Phifer upholstery is woven from olefin and in some cases a combination of our olefin and PVC coated yarns,” he explained. “We want to offer a one-stop shopping experience to the outdoor furniture manufacturer,” he said.

The Designed Fabrics Division employs three fulltime in house designers under the eye of Carol Harkey, vice president, design. “We produce about 400-500 new designs each year and we’re finding that High Point is becoming a more important market for the casual furniture business,” he said. Phifer also offers its customers the ability to design custom fabrics. The company offers 100 stocked olefin fabrics in solids and patterns and added about 30 new fabrics to its line July 1. “We also make pvc wallcoverings which we supply to Knoll, Designtex and others that offer the Microban® antimicrobial protection, suitable for healthcare applications,” Benitez added. Phifertex Bally Castle Seaglass

Phifertex Jungle Beat Lagoon