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President's Message
By: Elizabeth Huntley
Hello Cordage Institute Colleagues!
Whew! We have made it through the long, cold winter. Blooming flowers and cheerful songbirds suggest that warmer days are ahead of us.
In a few short weeks we will be enjoying abundant summer sunshine and the stunning coastline of the Algarve region of Portugal during the upcoming Cordage Institute Annual Conference on June 14-17. The meeting will be held in conjunction with Eurocord and promises to be an excellent opportunity to network and collaborate with rope professionals from around the world. If you have not already registered, there is still time. The article on the Joint Conference includes additional information on the program, a schedule of events, and links to register and reserve your hotel accommodations.
I look forward to seeing you all soon!
Kind regards,
Elizabeth Huntley
| | Cordage Institute Happenings | | |
Highlights of the Cordage Institute Winter
2026 Virtual Technical Meeting
| | On January 27-28, 2026 the Cordage Institute held a Virtual Technical Meeting. The two-day event consisted of Technical Subcommittee and Task Group Meetings, and a meeting of the full Technical Committee. During the full Technical Committee meeting, reports from each Subcommittee and Task Group were provided. | | | Bill Putnam Selected for the 2026 Gale Foster Award of Merit | | |
The Cordage Institute is pleased to announce that Bill Putnam will receive the Gale Foster Award of Merit at the Eurocord and Cordage Institute 7th Joint Conference in Algarve, Portugal. Named after the well-respected former CI Technical Director, the Gale Foster Award of Merit is presented to individuals who have contributed outstanding service to the organization and to the industry over a substantial period of time.
This recognition honors his longstanding dedication to the Institute, including his service on the Board of Directors since 2015 and his tenure as President from 2022 to 2024. He continues to provide leadership and meaningful contributions to the growth of both the organization and the cordage industry. He began his career with Yale Cordage in 1984 as Rigging Shop Supervisor. After gaining entrepreneurial experience as the owner of Putnam Marine, he returned to Yale Cordage and progressed through a series of leadership roles, ultimately being named President in 2012. Outside of his professional accomplishments, Bill resides in Maine with his wife, Julie, and enjoys time with his family, as well as golf, boating, and travel.
He joins a distinguished group of past recipients who have made lasting contributions to the Institute and the industry, including Tony Bon, Steve Hudson, Rollin Stirman, John Flory, Steve Swiackey, Sim Whitehill, Tom Yale, and Bill Hagenbuch.
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Eurocord and Cordage Institute 7th Joint Conference
Registration continues for the Eurocord and Cordage Institute 7th Joint Conference, which will take place from June 14–17, 2026, in Algarve, Portugal.
While enjoying the beautiful seafront hotel, our community will once again meet to learn, collaborate, and connect. The area combines natural beauty with a vibrant atmosphere, making it an excellent setting for our international meeting.
This joint event will offer opportunities to connect with fellow members of both organizations and engage in technical and industry-focused discussions. The program will include a keynote speaker, parallel and joint technical working group sessions, business meetings, and more. Golf activities and an interactive community-building session in a “team-building” format will also be organized.
In addition, on the evening of Monday, June 15, the Cordage Institute will posthumously recognize Dr. Walter Paul with the Richards Technical Contribution Award, and Bill Putnam, a longtime member and former President of the Institute, will be presented with the prestigious Gale Foster Award of Merit.
Register Now for this fantastic event! Access full conference details including program highlights, registration, tour, golf and accommodation information.
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Cordage Institute's 2026 Technical Presentation Abstracts
The Cordage Institute Technical Operating Committee is pleased to announce the selection of technical presentations for the Eurocord and Cordage Institute 7th Joint Conference. These presentations will complement Eurocord's selected presentations and help conclude the Joint Conference.
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Emerging Low-Creep HMPE Fiber Technologies in China: An Interim Comparative Assessment – Yuhua Wang, Bingbing Hou, Tingting Huang, Jingbo Ji, Yanxi Li, Rafael Chou from Zhejiang Four Brothers Rope Co., Ltd. and Donghua University
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Internal Scanning and Condition Monitoring of Synthetic Rope – Elizabeth Huntley from Whitehill Manufacturing
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Heat Effects on Fibers and Ropes – John Flory from Tension Technology International
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Damage Characterization in Aramid Fiber Ropes Using Micro-CT and Spectroscopic Methods – Dr. T. Mishra, Dr. O. Allan, Prof. dr. ir. M.B. de Rooij, Ir. B.G.A. Rolink, and Dr. ir. B. Cornelissen from Surface Technology & Tribology, Faculty of Engineering Technology, University of Twente and Teijin Aramid BV, Arnhem
The presentations scheduled for Wednesday, June 17 were carefully chosen to align with the committee's aim of addressing current and significant topics concerning fiber ropes, cables, chains, and other synthetic tension members.
The abstracts for the Cordage Institute member technical presentations can be viewed by clicking on the link.
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New Cordage Institute Members
The Cordage Institute is happy to welcome the following new members:
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CORDEAST is a professional rope manufacturer dedicated to producing high-quality ropes. Since their establishment, they have been committed to the research and development as well as the production of various high-performance ropes. Their products are widely used in multiple fields such as mooring, port towing, ocean fishing, sea farming, heavy lifting, marine ranching, outdoors and vehicle towing. By virtue of their professionality, they have earned high recognition from customers all over the world. The outstanding quality and excellent service have enabled them to earn customers' deep trust for decades.
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Founded in 1962, PT Mepoly Industry is the leading manufacturer of high-quality ropes, hoses, and cordage products in Indonesia. With a commitment to using pure, premium-grade raw materials, Mepoly delivers exceptional performance while maintaining competitive pricing.
Serving as a trusted supplier to key industries including fisheries, agriculture, transportation, and mining, the company has built a strong reputation for innovation, durability, and engineering excellence.
PT Mepoly Industry welcomes opportunities to collaborate and expand its global network of partners.
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Affiliate Member
Chattanooga, TN
| | Textile Duo Consulting LLC has joined the Cordage Institute to support members with practical sourcing insight and access to competitive raw material options. They are representing Empire State Fibers, who is actively supplying heavy‑denier nylon for the rope and cordage market. Their goal is to help manufacturers strengthen their supply chains by identifying reliable, cost‑effective fiber solutions. In addition to sourcing support, they are also available for consulting activities related to sales strategy, market positioning, and raw‑material evaluation across the textile sector. | | |
Knots & Notes
By Sarah Padilla, Cordage Institute Technical Director
| | The Knots and N otes section of Ropecord News informs you of the standards being developed by the Cordage Institute, as well as by other industry organizations. As we develop this section of the newsletter, please let us know what type of content is of interest to you by sending an email to sarah@ropecord.com or info@ropecord.com.
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Standards Update
Updates from the Cordage Institute Standards subcommittees on how things are progressing since the last newsletter.
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The Standard Review
Updates from other standards bodies that are relevant to the cordage industry.
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| | Member News and Press Releases | | |
To Offset Tariffs, Nova Scotia Rope Maker Buys U.S. Firm,
Gets Federal Help
Glenn MacDonald, The Chronicle Herald
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United States tariffs left a Nova Scotia rope manufacturer in knots, so Novatec Braids Ltd. bought an American cordage company and accessed federal trade funding to untangle itself.
Novatec, which exports and manufactures custom-designed cords and specialty ropes, recently purchased Maine-based Custom Cordage, a maker of braided fibre ropes and twines.
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KATRADIS at Posidonia 2026 – Celebrating 90 Years of Maritime Excellence
Press Release - Katradis Marine Ropes Industry SA
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Greek rope manufacturer Katradis Marine Ropes Industry SA will return to Posidonia 2026, on June 1-5, for its twelfth participation since 2000, continuing a long-standing presence that has helped build its global reputation as a trusted supplier to the international shipping industry.
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TITAN SHIELDED™ HMPE: Performance Meets Visibility
Press Release - TP Industrial
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Introducing TITAN SHIELDED™ HMPE: TP’s latest innovation in high-performance yarns, designed to combine visual clarity with enhanced functionality. Based on our trusted TITAN-branded HMPE, this solution features a durable colored coating that not only enables clear identification, but also improves key technical properties. These include increased abrasion resistance, enhanced UV resistance, immediate dry performance when put under load, and improved process performance during handling and production. The result is a high-performance yarn that delivers both reliability and efficiency in demanding applications. Discover more about TITAN SHIELDED™ HMPE and its capabilities on the TP website
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Kuraray to Expand Reactivated Carbon Production Capacity in the United States
Press Release - Kuraray
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Kuraray Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Hitoshi Kawahara) announced that its U.S.-based subsidiary, Calgon Carbon Corporation (hereinafter “Calgon Carbon”), has decided to expand its reactivated carbon production capacity at the company’s Columbus Plant in Ohio, U.S.A., in response to the growing global demand for activated carbon.
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Eurocord Corner
Dear Friends of the Cordage Institute,
As we look ahead to our Joint Annual Meeting together, I am delighted that this year we will gather in Portugal’s sunny Algarve. It is a wonderful setting for our two organizations to come together once again and continue the long tradition of constructive cooperation that has shaped so much of our shared work.
This year’s program brings together the full breadth of our activities: Board discussions, technical meetings, working groups, joint forums, and opportunities to hear from new members and invited speakers. These sessions remain at the heart of our mission, allowing us to exchange knowledge, strengthen our standards, and support the continued development of our industry.
Equally important are the moments outside the meeting rooms. From our welcome gathering to the Ivory Dinner & Award Ceremony, and from informal social events to optional excursions around the Algarve, we hope these occasions will give everyone the chance to reconnect, meet new colleagues, and enjoy the company of friends from across our community. We have also included a light‑hearted activity designed especially for all who are active in our strong and resilient industry — a small reminder that our shared interests can bring both insight and enjoyment.
With each edition, our joint conference demonstrates the value of bringing our members together: the exchange of ideas, the strengthening of relationships, and the collective commitment to moving our industry forward. Your engagement and support make this possible, and we are grateful for the dedication you bring to our mutual endeavours.
I look forward to welcoming you to the Algarve and to sharing another productive, enjoyable, and memorable meeting.
Warm regards,
Jaibora Gusatto
Managing Director of Eurocord
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University of Victoria Students Rope in Climbers for Rising Business Venture
Christine van Reeuwyk, Coast Mountain News
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Faced with gruelling class schedules and potential for mounting debt, a pair of UVic students opted for the flexibility of creating their own business.
Kathryn Meers and Dylan Gyr embarked on a dog brand – but it didn’t sit right.
“We weren’t proud of what we were doing,” said Meers, an environmental studies student. “It didn’t make me feel very happy creating something that would end up in the landfill.”
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These 12,000-Year-Old Scraps of Elk Hide May be the World's Oldest Known Examples of Sewing
Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine
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Indigenous groups in present-day Oregon stitched the fragments together using cord made from plant fiber and animal hair. Experts think they may have been part of a garment, bag, container or portable shelter
Researchers say they may have identified the world’s oldest known evidence of sewing: two pieces of elk hide stitched together with cord. Found in a cave in Oregon, the tattered artifact was made around 12,000 years ago, during the end of the last Ice Age.
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Pilot Project to Test Biodegradable Ropes at Fads in Real Fishing Conditions in the Western Indian Ocean
G. Moreno, B. Orue, and V. Restrepo, International Seafood Sustainability Foundation
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This study summarizes the results of a pilot project to test biodegradable ropes at FADs in real fishing conditions. One of the difficulties when testing experimental FADs in purse seine fishery is that fishers fish on any FAD found at sea. FADs change hands very often making difficult to revisit experimental FADs to collect data and get significant results. The main objective of the pilot was learning from this experience to develop a large-scale deployment of biodegradable FADs at sea, by detecting potential difficulties and issues related mainly to effective data gathering on FADs under test. In order to compare the performance of biodegradable and nonbiodegradable FADs, ISSF deployed in collaboration with 6 purse seiners from INPESCA fleet in Indian Ocean, a total of 174 FADs, 89 non-biodegradable and 85 biodegradable. Two different FAD designs were tested working at different depths (10m, 30m, 50m and 70 m). A total of 74.913 biomass samples were collected using echo-sounder buoys attached to those FADs. Our results show similar aggregative patterns of fish (tuna and non-tuna species) for non-biodegradable and biodegradable FADs.
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WSTDA 2026 Annual Meeting
May 18-20, 2026
The Scottsdale Plaza Resort
Scottsdale, Arizona
Eurocord and Cordage Institute
7th Joint Conference
June 14-17, 2026
Grande Real Santa Eulalia Resort and Hotel
Algarve, Portugal
Techtextil North America
August 4-6, 2026
Raleigh Convention Center
Raleigh, North Carolina
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Cordage Institute
Fall 2026 Technical Meeting
October 6-7, 2026
Element Philadelphia Downtown |
W Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA
AWRF 50th Anniversary
2026 Fall General Meeting
October 18-21, 2026
Wailea Beach Resort
Wailea, Hawaii
International WorkBoat Show
December 2-4, 2026
Morial Convention Center
New Orleans, Louisiana
AWRF 2027 PIE Meeting
April 5-8, 2027
Marriott Marquis Houston
Houston, Texas
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Ropecord News
Ropecord News is published by the Cordage Institute. The Cordage Institute is an international association of rope, twine, and related manufacturers, their suppliers, and affiliated industries. Articles appearing in Ropecord News are the views of the authors and not necessarily those of the Cordage Institute. Members are encouraged to contribute articles and items of interest by emailing them to info@ropecord.com.
Rates for advertising are available from the Institute.
Peter M. Lance, Executive Director
Tel: 610-971-4854
Fax: 610-971-4859
E-mail: info@ropecord.com
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