SIC 2298 Cordage and Twine

SIC 2298

This classification covers businesses that make rope, cable, cordage, twine, and related products from abaca (Manila) sisal, henquen, hemp, cotton, paper, jute, flax, manmade fibers including glass, and other fibers. Products include binder and baler twine, blasting mats and rope, fiber cable, camouflage nets not made in weaving mills, cargo nets, braided cord, fish nets and seines, fishing lines, insulator pads, rope nets, rope, rope slings, and wire ropes.

NAICS CODE(S)

314991

Rope, Cordage and Twine Mills

As of the mid-2000s, there were roughly 166 companies producing rope, cordage, and twine products, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. These businesses shipped $617 million worth of products in 2005. They employed 4,196 people (3,081 production workers) and had a total estimated payroll of $144 million. The industry spent $394 million on materials and paid $22 million for capital expenditures. States with the largest concentrations of businesses in this category included Texas, California, North Carolina, and Washington.

Generally speaking, cordage and twine plants are not as modern as other textile producers. Most serve niche markets with closely controlled product specifications. The marine industry constitutes one of the largest markets for this category. During the mid-1990s, though, that market declined when boat sales dropped because of a new luxury tax that was levied on that industry. After a brief peak during the booming economic years of the late 1990s, that market declined again in the early 2000s when the U.S. economy slipped into a recession.

Almost all cordage and twine makers buy their yarn from yarn mills. Two or more strands of yarn are then twisted (plied) a certain number of turns per inch. Depending on the intended use for the product, cabling follows the twisting process. Cabling is similar to twisting except that where twisting involves wrapping several single strands of yarn together, cabling wraps several strands of plied yarns together. The cabling continues until the proper size of twine, cord, or rope is developed.

Among the largest of the establishments in this industry was Wire Rope Corporation of America Inc. of St. Joseph, Missouri, with about 500 employees and sales of approximately $77 million in 2005. Sackner Products (a division of Jason Inc. based in...

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