TenCate Protective Fabrics USA has reported a surge in demand for its TenCate Defender M product during the fourth quarter of this year. Sales for the year are forecast to reach approximately US $ 60 million during the last quarter of 2010 (29 million US dollars in fourth quarter 2009 alone).

Increased demand is expected to last well into the first quarter of 2011. 

According to TenCate, the ramp up of TenCate Defender M fabric consumption started during the third quarter after a temporary decline in sales as a result of style changes to camouflage print.

Current high sales levels relate to demand from the United States Army and the United States Marine Corps, where uniform distribution is being increased to support Operation Enduring Freedom and Global War on Terrorism. Fabric from the order will be used to manufacture the Army issued Flame Resistant Army Combat Uniform (FR-ACU) and the Marine issued Flame Resistant Organizational Gear (FROG).

TenCate says it anticipated the current trend and built inventory throughout the supply chain in advance. Fabric to fulfil the orders started shipping at the end of the third quarter of this year.

TenCate’s Defender M fabrics have repeatedly now been chosen by the US Army and US Marine Corps for ground troops in the FR-ACU and FROG programs. The fabrics are made from a fibre blend that includes Lenzing FR Rayon.

TenCate also provides fabrics used in other programs such as Army Aircrew Combat Uniforms (A2CU), Improved Combat Vehicle Coveralls (ICVC), Navy Shipboard Jackets and Army Flash Hoods.