Owner of Merrow Manufacturing Says First of Its Kind Training To Bring Thousands to Fall River

By Fall River Reporter

Fall River continues to show that manufacturing in the area, and in the country, is not dead.

Merrow Manufacturing CEO Charlie Merrow announced Saturday that he is headed to Atlanta for Texprocess Americas 2023 on May 10th to introduce the first USA based training program for sewing machines, ultrasonic welding, bonding and seam sealing and it’s based right in Fall River.

According to Merrow, the business at 502 Bedford Street is rolling out the first of its kind in-person and augmented reality training programs with ISAIC for mechanics, artists, designers and facility managers.

“Fall River, Massachusetts will become the hub for a decade of training programs designed to strengthen the soft good manufacturing industrial base nationwide. This is a big deal – and it will have a real impact for the South Coast as we recruit thousands of people to visit Fall River and the area to refine skills, earn certifications and then spread their knowledge across the nation.”

After previously building a new training center in Fall River, Merrow states they the company has partnered with some of the most important manufacturers in industry to feature new technologies, and hundreds of machines that will be center stage for the next great American manufacturing programs that will build everything from your t-shirts to military gear, automobile interiors, furniture, and more.

Merrow says that trainings will be offered throughout the year and will focus on a variety of different equipment. Certifications will be earned in designated classes where a curriculum has been approved by the Brand of Machine Builder (eg. Merrow, Pegasus, etc).

Established in 1838, Merrow is one of the largest textile manufacturing companies still in operation in Massachusetts’ south coast region. Brothers Charlie and Owen Merrow are the eighth generation to own and manage the company. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Merrow became the largest manufacturer of USA-sourced reusable and disposable medical isolation gowns in the country.

Read more about the Texprocess Americas training program in this issue of Behind the Seams.

This article was published in Fall River Reporter April 29, 2023. The Merrow Sewing Machine Company is a SPESA member.

SPESA members are encouraged to email news and releases to marie@spesa.org or maggie@spesa.org to be featured under Member Spotlights.