Edward C. Gregor is Managing Director of Edward C. Gregor & Associates, LLC, a consulting company specializing in new business development and the creation of growth for companies having under-exploited or breakthrough technologies, patents or manufacturing capabilities in the polymer, fiber, textile/nonwoven fabrics, and filtration industries. Prior to forming his own company, he was Division Manager at Sefar America, Inc., the leading world manufacturer of monofilament fabrics, Vice President and General Manager at Gelman Sciences Technology, Inc. Gelman Sciences, was first tier manufacturer of polymeric microporous membranes. Previously, he was in sales and product development at Haartz Mason, Inc., a manufacturer of coated fabrics.

Mr. Gregor has been instrumental in the business and/or technical developments and commercialization of a number of specialty polymer, fabric and filtration developments over the years. They include the first automotive air bags evaluated and field tested by Ford and General Motors. He was a pioneer in the creation and development of coated fabric single-ply membrane roofing materials. As the business manager, Ed lead a team of scientists which won an “R&D 100” Award for the development of oleophobic microporous membranes using electron-beam polymerization technology in 1989.

He helped create a business platform for Halar® fluoropolymer meltblown fabric in 1994 with Ausimont, Inc. (acquired by Solvay Specialty Polymers), followed by strategy and business development for Cargill/Dow Chemical, LLC (rebranded as NatureWorks™) PLA polymer for use in Ingeo™ fibers beginning in 1998. With Polymer Group, Inc., (now Berry Global) he conceived and developed a product and market for Durapex™ brand hydroentangled nonwoven, an alternative to needlefelt fabric for use in baghouse filtration in 2001. In 2007 continuing activities led to the licensing of a patented silicon carbide filter from Industrial Ceramics Solutions, LLC to Honeywell. The filter is designed to meet legislated USA, European and Asian diesel exhaust particulate exhaust requirements, with an anticipated $3-5 billion market potential in the 2015/2016 timeframe. Other activities include one of the world’s strongest fibers at 2.5 million psi and 84 million modulus from ReMaxCo. These were followed by a new light-weight fire resistant (intumescent) polypropylene polymer from Dynamic Modifiers, LLC being “fast-tracked” for incorporation in commercial aircraft and a polyolefin with non-detectable toxicity as an alternative to PVC for use in coated fabrics and fibers which became a 2009 recipient of an “R&D 100” Award . Fibers and yarns with anti-static properties from R.STAT and low-friction and/or abrasion properties from Whitford Corporation for a number of performance technical/industrial and apparel applications. Finally, we access quality reduced-cost aramid and other technical yarns and fabrics from overseas. Our business platform is based solely on specialty, performance and differentiated materials technology.

Edward C. Gregor & Associates, LLC  has a partnership with Gherzi Textile Organization AG in Zurich Switzerland. Ed Gregor represents Gherzi interests in North America and reciprocally, Gherzi represents Ed Gregor and his partner, John Lovell in the rest of the world in the area of technical and industry consulting.

Ed and his M&A business partner John Pullo Sr. provide M&A services to small and medium size specialty polymer, fibers, technical textile, nonwoven fabric and filtration companies with annual sales between $30 million $1 billion as Live Oak Capital, LLC.

Ed Gregor is co-founder of the American Filtration & Separations Society in 1987, and has served as past Chairman in 1990 and 2004 and recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009. Mr. Gregor is the chairman of International Filtration News magazine technical advisory board and interviews company CEO’s for each magazine issue and has been on the textile advisory board of the Journal of Industrial Textiles and Coated Fabrics for 15 years.

Mr. Gregor has extensive industry experience, but more importantly, he understands trends, dynamics and those factors that create success in the introduction of new products and technologies with the strategic savvy to maximize long-term benefits and returns for his clients.