In late 1997, Guard Industries began distributing specialized plastics for the Orthotic, Prosthetic and Pedorthic Industries. Shortly thereafter requests began for hosiery materials to serve as an interface between molds and the heated plastic. Initially we could only find hosiery which came in mixed boxed containing different sizes, lengthes, widths and weaves. Customers would have to sort through the box to find what they needed for a certain fabrication pull.
Within a short period of time, calls from technicians and practitioners alike began requesting specific hosiery that met their needs i.e, small or long. The mixed box contained hosiery they could not use or it took too long to find exactly what they wanted for a specific application.
After many requests Guard sought a manufacturer who could weave a hosiery that would meet the requirements of Guard and its customers. Eventually, with much research and help from technicians and practitioners, the SG20 was developed. A 5lb box contains approximately 400 pieces. Each piece is approximately 20" long and 3 1/2" wide, with an extremely sheer weave and a sewn toe. They have exceptional stretching capabilites to accommodate both children and adult size molds.
We regularly would comment to a customer and they in turn would agree that a box of vacuum forming hosiery would be "just like a box of Kleenex"; you pull one out of the box and the next one would be just like the last one. Customer satisfaction was reached.
Sometime later we started to receive requests from customers, who were using the SG20, to develop or modify the hosiery to better fit their pediatric needs. Back to the drawing board and with the help again of Guard customers and the manufacturer the SG100 was "born". This hosiery is approximately 36" long and 1 1/2" in width. It too has an extremely sheer weave but is open at both ends. The narrow width is ideal for smaller/pediatric molds and the longer and open to ends gives the option of multiple pulls. It comes with a slightly heavier weave so that multiple layers won't be needed in most cases.
Due to the tighter fit over the mold, stretching and stapling are almost eliminated. With the SG100 there are approximately 180 pieces in each 5lb box.
Both the SG20 and SG100 are made of non-stick nylon lycra which present a silky smooth finish.
With the help of our customers and manufacturer we were able to go from the mixed box of sizes to two very different superior quality vacuum forming hosiery to help those professionals who work each day to assist their patients.
