HIGH POINT — Fabric finisher TSG, celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, is one of the oldest — and quietest — companies involved in upholstery fabric.
TSG, The Synthetics Group, does the finishing work that makes fabrics look and feel soft and washed, and provides such things as latex backing, stain resistance and flame retardants.
Based in Pennsylvania, TSG is believed to be the largest commission finisher in the business. The company doesn't reveal financial information, but says its client list reads like a who's who of the textile industry. It has just completed a major facility in North Carolina.
Founder Jacob Levy launched predecessor company Levy's International Water Shrinking and Drying Co. in 1901 in Baltimore, specializing in preshrinking haircloth and canvas for apparel manufacturers.
In 1913, leaving his son Robert to manage the Baltimore plant, Levy moved his family to Philadelphia to personally manage a floundering operation begun there three years earlier. Daughters Jeannetta, Myrtle and Fannie, working without pay, shoveled coal, stacked piece goods, ran machinery and did the bookkeeping. With their help, Levy was able to save the company. He died in 1939.
In the 1940s, Fannie's son Dan Goldman and Myrtle's son Fred Rosenstein went away to school and then joined the service during World War II. When they returned, Goldman and Rosenstein began a new venture called Synthetics Finishing Corp.
Growth in the past 50 years has been steady. Here are some of the historical highlights:
In the '50s
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TSG developed proprietary technology for the formulation of chemical compounds, the application of latex backings and water and stain repellents, first silicones, then fluorochemicals. It became the largest licensee of 3M for the processing of upholstery fabrics with Scotchgard until its discontinuance in June 2000.
In the '60s
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Levy's Shrinking was phased out as a corporate entity and Synthetics Finishing became the foremost focus.
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Goldman, who was serving as salesman, chemist, machinery designer and process engineer, and Rosenstein, who was functioning as office manager, production scheduler, personnel manager and general administrator, began to hire specialists for these functions as the company grew. Thus, they began building the management team that runs the company today, including Goldman's son, Jeff, and Rosenstein's son, Jack.
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The company branched southward, opening one plant in High Point for the application of 3M's Scotchgard and DuPont's Zepel (later known as Teflon), and another complete finishing plant in Hickory, N.C.
In the '70s
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A new division, Combeau Inds., was formed to manufacture the company's first consumer product, textile wall coverings. The unique methods of manufacturing also gave birth to Long View Machinery, another production arm of TSG.
In the '80s
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To cut costs and improve efficiency in the face of difficult business times, the plants in Philadelphia and High Point were closed. Those measures proved successful and the company made a turnaround in the mid-'80s.
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TSG began computerizing the finishing and manufacturing operations. The finishing plants were linked via phone lines with many customers.
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The commission finishing business was regenerated. Weaving mills that had their own finishing equipment were running out of capacity and were sending the fabric they couldn't handle.
In the '90s
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In 1992, TSG purchased the assets of competitor Geltman Corp., which brought TSG increased sales as well as a group of capable managers and supervisors.
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The fifth generation of the family came aboard when Brian Rosenstein (Jack's son, Fred's grandson) joined TSG in 1995, and Jennie Dinenberg (Dan's granddaughter) joined in 1997.
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In 1996, Combeau, as a maker of paper and wall covering products, was phased out, and the division became the nonwoven finishing arm of TSG.
Today, TSG comprises four divisions: SynFin Inds., Synthetics Finishing, Combeau Inds. and Long View Machinery. There are six facilities totaling more than 500,000 square feet, and the company's finishes and services are shipped throughout the world every day.
| TSG founder Jacob Levy. |
| As TSG celebrates 100 years, these family members operate the business: Brian Rosenstein, left, Jack Rosenstein, Fred Rosenstein, Daniel Goldman, Jeff Goldman and Jennie Dinenberg. |
