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HISTORY OF
1930:
STEDFAST is founded in Granby, Quebec.
The company is owned by Stedfast Rubber Co. of Boston, MA, a supplier to the shoe, bookbinding and travel bag sectors.
1979
A group of Canadian investors buys the company to transform it into a specialized manufacturer of high-tech fabrics.
1986
Stedfast obtains AQAP-4 (Allied Quality Insurance Program) certification. The company becomes an official supplier to the Canadian Department of National Defence.
1988
Stedfast creates a Research and Development (R&D) department. It makes massive investments to equip its new laboratories and hire a team of engineers and chemists to develop the most high-performance barrier fabrics on the market.
1990
First major innovation, leading to a contract to produce the Canadian Department of National Defence’s Woodland camouflage net, the first Temperate Woodland net to be manufactured in Canada.
1991
The company purchases a state-of-the-art laminating unit, enabling its research team to develop a new array of “breathable” textile products that allow moisture vapour transmission.
STEDFAST invests one million $ in a central recovery system to control volatile organic compounds, reinforcing its position as the North American leader in rubberized fabrics.
1997
Stedfast opens its US Sales office.
Stedfast continues to innovate, designing the first Canadian product certified UL to meet the stringent standards of NFPA (the National Fire Protection Agency) of the United States. The product is a flame-resistant moisture-vapour permeable barrier fabric, welcomed by firefighters throughout North America.
1999
A year marking the start of an unprecedented expansion phase for Stedfast, now recognized as North America’s leader in high-tech, value-added barrier fabrics:
- The Stedfast Granby plant obtains ISO 9002 certification
- First contract for the U.K. Ministry of Defence
- Purchase and installation of a clean room (class 100,000) enabling the company to develop products for the medical market
2000
The company obtains several export contracts in the military field. STEDFAST USA is incorporated. The production facility is located in Charlotte, North Carolina.
2003
The company obtains ISO 9001 certification.
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