COMPANY Ascend Performance Materials

INDUSTRY Chemical Processing

EMPLOYEES 3000

DATE Initiated in 2008

PRODUCTS GlenGuard™4.5 / GlenGuard™ 6.4

BENEFITS Maximum ComfortLightweightHighest Safety Attributes

I F T H E Y C H E AT W H E N T H E Y W E A R I T, I T ’ S N O T C O M P L I A N T

GlenGuard™ keeps Ascend employees compliant while managing the conditions of the toughest and hottest environments.

BACKGROUND

Ascend Performance Materials produces chemicals, polymers and fibers at five

manufacturing locations in the southeastern United States. Their products are

found in thousands of commercial and industrial products, including carpet,

tires and apparel. Ascend employees work in a variety of work environments

including those where flammables are present. The site staff is composed

of operators, engineers, maintenance personnel and support personnel. The

large maintenance department handles activities ranging from major unit turn-

around to installation and repair of sensitive equipment instrumentation.

CHALLENGE

Safety is the most important aspect of Ascend’s work. The company invests considerable

effort in ensuring and maintaining a safe work environment. Before a new FR Safety

Program was initiated, there were only a small percentage of employees who wore FR

cotton/nylon. “The biggest challenge was the culture shift,” says Janet Noble, industrial

hygiene team lead. Keeping employees cool and comfortable while maintaining

compliance is a primary concern. Headquartered in Texas with manufacturing locations

in Florida, Alabama, South Carolina and Texas, workers are constantly faced with some of

the harshest weather conditions both indoors and out. “Most employees work in open

air, inside non-air- conditioned buildings, or even to the extreme of very hot buildings,”

says Janet. “In addition to safety, important factors were comfort, wearability and cost.”

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CASE STUDY ASCEND PERFORMANCE MATERIALS

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SOLUTION

Ascend engaged a two-fold solution. For employees who currently wore FR cotton/

nylon, Ascend selected 4.5 oz. GlenGuard™. By choosing this product, employees

realized better FR protection in a garment that weighs 39% less than what they were

previously wearing. Secondly, employees who were currently not wearing any FR gear

needed to be outfitted in the most comfortable FR protection available in order to

enhance their safety. “We looked at a number of different companies and products.

We looked at weight of the fabric, and we took into account how it would look and

hold up,” says Janet. The 4.5 oz. GlenGuard™ offered superior comfort and the lightest

weight for the level of protection required.

When it comes to safety, Ascend knows firsthand GlenGuard™ has a quality combination

of protective materials. Ascend manufactures the No-Shock® antistatic fiber that is

woven into the workwear. The inherent fabric also incorporates Kermel® fibers and is

solution dyed for long-lasting wearability and color retention. It is this cutting-edge

technology and high quality fabric that keeps GlenGuard™ as the leader when it comes

to comfort and safety.

RESULTS

Ascend has more than 3,000 employees and contractors across five locations outfitted

in GlenGuard™. “It’s more comfortable than other FR garments we’ve tried,” says

Janet. “When it comes to wearability, they’re holding up well. GlenGuard™ offers great

protection and has really done what we have asked of it. If we had to make the decision

again today, we would still choose GlenGuard™.”

CASE STUDY ASCEND PERFORMANCE MATERIALS

I F T H E Y C H E AT W H E N T H E Y W E A R I T, I T ’ S N O T C O M P L I A N T

Lightweight gear means comfort for employees who work in hot and humid conditions. Only GlenGuard™ offered safe and comfortable PPE that Ascend’s employees will wear compliantly.

Glen Raven Technical Fabrics, LLC1831 North Park Avenue | Glen Raven, NC | 27217-1100 | USA 800.630.3759 | glenguard.com

©2015 Glen Raven, Inc. All rights reserved.

GlenGuard™ is a trademark of Glen Raven Incorporated.No-Shock® is a registered trademark of Ascend Performance Materials.

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