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, 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 development 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 in 1972. He was a pioneer in the creation and development of coated fabric single-ply membrane roofing materials in 1977. 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, followed by strategy and business development for Cargill Dow, LLC NatureWorks™ PLA polymer for use in Ingeo™ fibers beginning in 1998. With Polymer Group, Inc., 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 2010/2011 timeframe. Current activities include the potential commercialization of the world’s strongest fiber at 2.5 million psi and 84 million modulus from ReMaxCo and an a new light-weight fire resistant (intumescent) polypropylene polymer being “fast-tracked” for incorporation in commercial aircraft and a TPO alternative to PVC for use in coated fabrics and a 2009 recipient of an “R&D 100” Award from Dynamic Modifiers, LLC.

Ed and his M&A business partner John Lovell provide M&A services to small and medium size specialty polymer, fibers, technical textile, nonwoven fabric and filtration companies with annual sales between $10 and $300 million under recently formed GL 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 Filtration News magazine technical advisory board and on the textile advisory board of the Journal of Industrial Textiles and Coated Fabrics.