Many of the paper machine clothing products in use today are a result of our company's research and development. The synthetic forming fabric itself was invented by Weavexx many years ago, as were many of today's forming, press, and dryer clothing technologies. These new products have generated unprecedented performance and productivity enhancements for papermakers around the world.

Nearly as old as the papermaking industry itself, the companies that would become Weavexx, Huyck and Niagara Lockport, were among the oldest established companies in the paper machine clothing business with origins in the mid 1800s.

Until about 30 years ago, paper machine clothing was made from bronze wire and woolen felts. Traditionally a felt maker, Huyck recognized in the late 1950s that bronze wire could be replaced by a textile and invented the modern "plastic wire." Huyck became the founder of the forming fabric industry that exists today. Today forming fabrics, though now synthetic, are still sometimes referred to as wires, while press and drying fabrics are referred to as felts.

Despite the difference in technology required to produce these two types of fabrics, Huyck (Weavexx) realized the benefits of supplying both types of fabrics and created two divisions: Huyck Formex and Huyck Felt, which included its Formex companies in the U.S. and around the world.

Niagara Wires of Canada and Lockport Felts in the U.S. date back to 1870. Niagara Wires manufactured bronze wires, and Lockport Felts was primarily a woolen felt manufacturer with the capability to manufacture dryer felts. In 1977, Niagara Wires, Inc. acquired the assets of Lockport Felts and changed its name to Niagara Lockport Industries, Inc., and entered the market as a full-line supplier.

BTR Paper Technologies acquired Huyck in 1980 and Niagara Lockport in 1990. The companies have been combined under the Weavexx name in North America since 1992.

As an integral part of the global technology group Xerium Technologies, Inc., which includes Huyck.Wangner, Stowe Woodward and Mount Hope, Weavexx is uniquely positioned as the premier solution provider for the North American paper industry.