History

Our company has evolved from a Los Angeles, CA company producing corset and shoe laces; in the late 1930's Mr. David Lippy re-founded the company as Western Fishing Lines (WFL) and added braided fishing lines to the product offerings. In 1939 it was moved to Glendale, CA.

The arrival of World War II provided significant opportunity for WFL. Following the Japanese invasion of Pearl Harbor, the Allied Powers found themselves facing many serious problems. One problem was the availability of Oriental silk used extensively in the maufacture of the cloth used in parachutes and, more importantly to WFL, the shroud lines used to suspend the parachutist. As a result, many airmen flew without parachutes during the early part of the war.

With the invention of nylon, the first synthetic fiber, occuring a few years prior, there was an alternative to the silk constructions being utilized. A crash program sponsored by various governmental and military agencies was developed. Literally hundreds of companies across America were invited to Dayton, OH (present site of Wright-Patterson airfield, the Air Force's primary R&D facility). Among the attendees was Mr. Lippy. The meeting lasted several days and centered around the development and manufacture of nylon parachute cloth, cord, and related assembly techniques and hardware.

As a result of this effort, WFL was awarded a contract for over $200,000 to produce a new nylon parachute cord; WFL's technical expertise aided in the writing of the first military specification for this cord. During the next five years, millions and millions of yards of this cord were produced by WFL.

At the conclusion of the war, WFL had a large quantity of nylon yarn, but no new contracts for the cord. In an attempt to utilize the nylon surplus, a variety of braided fishing line constructions were attempted; unfortunatly each of these had certain drawbacks which made them unsuitable for fishing lines.

Realizing there was a substantial demand for quality fishing lines, WFL continued to pursue this recreational market. WFL recongnized the potential for extruded monofilament nylon as a fishing line and was one of the first companies in America to market the new monofilament fishing lines; these lines were marketed as the "W-40" brand of fishing lines with the "How To Catch A Mermaid" adversizing campain

WFL continued to prosper in to the early 1960's and was purchased in 1965 by International Fastener Research Corporation, a Los Angeles holding company. This transaction resulted in Western Filament, Inc. (WFI). With increased funding and new management, the future looked good for the new company with a 25 year history.

During the next few years, a half-hearted attempt to broaden the company's scope to include industrial products left the company without focus. By now the company produced fishing line, sewing thread, shoelaces, marine rope, upholstery twine, and some lacing tapes. However, the lack of focus and a poor financial showing resulted in a major corporate shake-up in 1973.

In early 1973 Burke Wright was made President of WFI; this followed four years as National Sales Manager - Industrial Products, during which time he attempted to focus WFI on the potentially more profitable industrial products. Upon this transfer of power, the management team was stabilized and the Company focus was redefined.

Over the next few years, many traditional commercial/consumer items were eliminated. In a three year period, products which at one time accounted for 75% of WFI's total sales were discontinued. These included many types of fishing line, sewing threads, shoelaces, and large ropes. In their place came industrially oriented products of a more technical nature. Many of these items remain in our present production line.

After five years as president, Burke Wright purchased all shares of WFI in 1978; with this transaction, WFI once again became a family owned business. Shortly after the purchase, management decided they wanted to move the company from populated California. After being wooed by many different cities, Grand Junction, CO was chosen as the new home for WFI. Thus, in Septemeber of 1990, WFI moved into its new, state-of-the-art 55,000 square foot facility.

In 1992 a Recreational Product division was recreated in order to recapture the market shares WFI used to hold in recreational sectors. At that time WFI introduced a new high performance Spectra® fishing line to the fishing community. The results were phenomenal and caused a revolution in traditional methods of fishing. The new breed of fishing lines offered increased sensitivity, longer life, higher abrasion resistance, and, best of all, a diameter less than 50% that of traditional monofilament line.

The recreational division went on to introduce a series of high performance kitestring, drawstring cords, and bowstring materials which offer performance unheard of five years prior. One of the bowstring materials is so advanced a patent was awarded for its construction in 1998.

In 1993 the reigns of presidency passed to Wayne Wright, Burke Wright's son. Under this leadership, WFI has continued to enter new markets and provide its customers with innovative, quality products.

In 2000 WFI decided to pursue ISO 9000 registration to ease approval as a supplier and to allow for increased expansion into the European Union. After only six months, WFI passed our initial audit with NQA-USA effortlessly.

WFI currently offers a product mix of both recreational and industrial use. Recreational products include premium braided fishing line and high performance kite line. Industrial products include lacing tapes, motor ties, expandable sleeving, and ultra high temperature sleevings.