Part 1 of 3: Muratec Textiles Heritage Series

The textile industry helped shape the American South, transforming rural communities into centers of manufacturing innovation and creating generations of skilled workers whose contributions are still felt today. Few states are more closely associated with that legacy than North Carolina, where textile manufacturing became a cornerstone of economic growth and industrial development.

Textile manufacturers across the Carolinas rely on innovative Muratec yarn spinning technology.

For Muratec, this history is especially meaningful. Textile machinery is where Murata Machinery’s story began, and nearly a century later, textiles remain an important part of the company’s identity and engineering heritage. As Muratec continues to support the industry’s future through advanced spinning and winding technologies, it also remains deeply connected to the traditions and innovations that built the textile industry in the first place.

This article marks the beginning of a three-part series exploring the history of textiles, the advancement of textile machinery and the technologies helping manufacturers thrive in an increasingly competitive global marketplace.

North Carolina Textiles and the Carolinas’ Manufacturing Legacy

The history of textiles in North Carolina is, in many ways, the history of the state itself. During the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries, textile mills became the economic heartbeat of cities and small towns throughout the region. Entire communities grew around spinning, weaving and finishing operations, providing stable careers and fueling local economies for generations.

Chuck Butts, Muratec USA’s director of textiles operations, started his career at a Virginia textile company, Dan River Mills, before he started working at Muratec in 1992. The textiles industry brought so many jobs to the Carolinas, including 16,000 with Dan River in just one town.

“Textile manufacturing played a huge role for our communities,” Chuck said. “They provided housing, schools and churches along with good wages for families. Textile manufacturing plants made their own garments from the bale to finished goods, even selling them to the public. In manufacturing and mill outputs, I remember North Carolina historically leading the USA.”

The rise of textile manufacturing across North Carolina and neighboring South Carolina established the Carolinas as one of the most important textile-producing regions in the United States. What made these mills successful was not simply access to raw materials or labor. Their continued growth depended on a willingness to embrace new technologies that improved efficiency, quality and productivity.

Many of the industry’s most respected companies emerged from this rich manufacturing tradition.

Founded in North Carolina in 1880, Glen Raven evolved from a traditional cotton mill into a global leader in performance fabrics. Today, the company is widely recognized for innovative products such as Sunbrella® fabrics, demonstrating how textile manufacturers can successfully adapt to changing markets while remaining true to their roots.

Parkdale Mills, chartered in 1916 and headquartered in Gastonia, NC, has strived to be the best and the world’s leading spun yarn producer.  Parkdale has always committed to continuous improvement through innovation for their customers.

Milliken & Company, founded in 1865 and headquartered in South Carolina, has earned international recognition for its commitment to research, innovation and manufacturing excellence. Through continuous investment in new technologies and advanced materials, Milliken has helped redefine what is possible in modern textile production.

Greenwood Mills, a family-owned business for more than 130 years, also played a vital role in shaping the textile landscape of the Southeast. Founded in Greenwood, SC, the company became one of the region’s most recognized textile manufacturers and contributed significantly to the growth of textile communities throughout the Carolinas.

Greenwood Mills has relied on Muratec textile machinery for decades for manufacturing fabrics for work wear and the military.

While each company’s story is unique, they share a common thread: a commitment to innovation. The textile industry’s history has never been defined by standing still. Instead, it has been driven by a continuous pursuit of better processes, better equipment and better outcomes.

Muratec’s Place in Textile Innovation

That same spirit of progress is deeply woven into Muratec’s history.

Murata Machinery, Ltd. was founded in Kyoto, Japan, in 1935, with textile machinery serving as the foundation of the company. Over the decades, Muratec expanded into a global provider of advanced industrial automation and manufacturing solutions, but textiles have remained central to the company’s heritage and expertise.

From the beginning, Muratec’s mission has gone beyond simply building machines. The company has focused on helping textile manufacturers solve production challenges, improve yarn quality and increase operational efficiency through practical innovation.

As textile manufacturing evolved, Muratec evolved alongside it. New market demands, increasing global competition and changing workforce dynamics required manufacturers to rethink traditional production methods. Muratec responded with advancements in yarn spinning, yarn winding and automation technologies designed to help customers remain competitive in a rapidly changing industry.

One of the things that has remained constant over 90 years of textile innovation has been an emphasis on customer service, Chuck said.

We pride ourselves on being the best in customer service in the industry. We know our customers must run manufacturing 24/7, and we provide consulting, service, preventive maintenance, and quality improvements to ensure to meet the long-term needs,” he said. “Another constant is we always work closely with all our customers to hear their voices on innovation. Because of this we work together to get new ideas to form new technologies for textiles.  We also maintain the highest of quality and safety to manufacturing innovative products for our customers in the textile industry.”

Muratec USA Field Service Technician Luis Aguilar conducts a training class about the Vortex 870 yarn spinning machine at Filspec in April 2026.

That commitment to long-term partnership remains one of Muratec’s defining values. It is reflected not only in customer relationships but also in the company’s culture. Employees often build decades-long careers with Muratec, carrying forward institutional knowledge and a deep understanding of customer needs. This dedication to longevity and partnership is highlighted in the article, “Longevity at Muratec Is a Mindset, about Terry Bame, who retired from Muratec USA in 2026 after 42 years with the company.

Textile Innovation Today

Today’s textile manufacturers face challenges that would be familiar to previous generations: maintaining quality, improving productivity and remaining competitive. Yet modern operations must also navigate labor shortages, rising costs, sustainability goals and increasingly demanding customer expectations.

To meet these challenges, manufacturers are turning to advanced textile machinery and automation solutions that help maximize efficiency while maintaining consistent quality.

Companies across North America continue to demonstrate the value of investing in innovation. Manufacturers such as Filspec in King’s Mountain, NC, have built strong reputations through a commitment to producing high-quality specialty yarns while embracing modern production technologies that support efficiency and quality control.

Across the industry, the priorities are clear:

Increased Productivity

Manufacturers need equipment capable of producing more without sacrificing quality. High-speed spinning and winding technologies help increase throughput while minimizing waste and downtime.

Workforce Efficiency

Automation helps manufacturers do more with available labor resources. Streamlined processes reduce manual intervention, improve workflow consistency and support more efficient operations.

Superior Quality

Precision is critical in textile manufacturing. Advanced technology helps maintain yarn consistency, reduce defects and deliver dependable product quality.

Sustainable Operations

Modern textile facilities are increasingly focused on reducing waste, improving resource utilization and operating more efficiently. Productivity and sustainability are no longer competing goals. In many cases, they work hand in hand.

Muratec continues to support these objectives through innovative textile machinery solutions such as the VORTEX 870 EX High-Speed Yarn Spinner and the company’s line of automatic textile winders, helping manufacturers improve productivity while maintaining quality standards. 

Although US textile production has declined over the years, there is still a lot to be excited about, Chuck said, including smart textiles, sustainability, digital printing and AI-generated supply chains.

“Our textile industry is still strong and that Murata Machinery will be a substantial part of that going forward,” he said. “I am excited that Muratec is evolving into the future with our employees being energetic and passionate about the textile industry.”

Honoring Legacy, Building the Future

At Muratec USA, there is a deep respect for the companies, communities and individuals who helped build the textile industry.

From the mill villages that dotted the landscapes of North Carolina and South Carolina to today’s highly automated manufacturing facilities, textiles have always been about more than machinery and production numbers. They represent ingenuity, craftsmanship, resilience and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Companies like Glen Raven, Milliken, Greenwood Mills and Filspec have demonstrated what is possible when manufacturers embrace change while remaining dedicated to quality. Their stories reflect many of the same values that have guided Muratec USA since its beginning in textile machinery nearly a century ago.

While spinning frames, winders and automation systems have evolved dramatically over the years, one thing remains unchanged: the essential role textiles play in everyday life and the importance of the manufacturers who produce them.

Muratec is proud of its place within that story. The company’s roots in textile machinery continue to drive innovation today, helping manufacturers navigate new challenges while building on a legacy that has endured for generations. As the textile industry continues to evolve, Muratec remains committed to supporting customers with the technology, expertise and partnership needed to shape the next chapter of textile manufacturing.

Frequently Asked Questions about Muratec’s role in the North Carolina textiles industry

1. Why was North Carolina important to the growth of the U.S. textile industry?

North Carolina became one of the nation’s leading textile manufacturing centers during the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Textile mills provided jobs, supported local economies and helped build entire communities throughout the Carolinas. The region’s success was driven not only by manufacturing capacity but also by a long tradition of embracing new technologies and innovation.

2. How is Muratec connected to the textile industry?

Textile machinery is where Murata Machinery’s story began. Founded in Kyoto, Japan, in 1935, the company built its reputation by helping textile manufacturers improve productivity, quality and efficiency. Today, Muratec continues that legacy through advanced yarn spinning, winding and automation technologies used by textile manufacturers around the world.

3. What role does innovation play in textile manufacturing?

Innovation has always been central to the textile industry. From early spinning and weaving equipment to today’s automated production systems, manufacturers have continually adopted new technologies to improve quality, increase productivity and remain competitive. Companies such as Glen Raven, Parkdale Mills and Milliken have demonstrated the long-term value of investing in innovation.

4. What challenges do textile manufacturers face today?

Modern textile manufacturers must balance productivity, quality and profitability while addressing labor shortages, rising operating costs, sustainability goals and increasing customer expectations. Many companies are turning to advanced textile machinery and automation solutions to help overcome these challenges and improve operational performance.

5. How does Muratec help textile manufacturers improve efficiency and quality?

Muratec offers a range of advanced textile machinery solutions, including VORTEX yarn spinning technology and automatic textile winders. These systems help manufacturers increase productivity, improve workforce efficiency, maintain consistent yarn quality and support more sustainable manufacturing operations.

Muratec technology also plays a role in the production of many of the products people encounter every day. Textile manufacturers throughout the Carolinas use Muratec spinning and winding equipment to produce yarns for technical fabrics, flame-resistant apparel, military uniforms and other high-performance textile applications. By combining innovative machinery with decades of textile expertise, Muratec helps manufacturers meet demanding quality standards while remaining competitive in a rapidly evolving industry.

6. What is Muratec’s textile heritage?

Muratec’s textile heritage dates back to the founding of Murata Machinery in Kyoto, Japan, in 1935. While the company has expanded into industrial automation, machine tools and logistics systems, textile machinery remains a core part of its identity and engineering expertise.

Muratec’s connection to the Carolinas runs deep. In 1974, Murata Machinery established its North American headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina, largely because of the region’s concentration of textile manufacturers and spinning mills. Locating close to customers allowed the company to provide hands-on support while becoming part of one of the world’s most important textile manufacturing regions.

In Part 2 of this series, we’ll explore the evolution of yarn spinning technology and the innovations that continue to transform textile manufacturing around the world.