2020 Massachusetts Manufacturing Awards 49
M
anuel Chaves emigrated
from Portugal in 1967, and
when he arrived in Hudson,
MA, he immediately went to work in
the textile industry. Chaves spent
15 years working at Thomas Taylors
& Sons, one of Hudson's largest
employers.
Fifteen years later in 1982, Chaves
launched United Stretch Design
Corporation with 30 machines.
His family-run firm now has 1,200
machines and has enjoyed steady
growth over the years, acquiring
other firms in the industry and adding
staff. Currently there are 20-25
employees in Hudson and another
15 employees at a Rhode Island
subsidiary.
With all of his experience and
expertise, however, Chaves did
not predict the current state of the
business. United Stretch Design
Corporation has seen demand
skyrocket for the flat elastic it
manufactures and sells by the yard
since the COVID-19 pandemic
began. United Stretch's flat elastic
is used to make the straps for the
face masks and plastic shields that
millions of Americans are wearing as
protection against the coronavirus.
"Parts of our business came to
a screeching halt at the start of
the pandemic," said Eric Chaves,
operating manager for United
Stretch Design Corporation.
"Manufacturing elastic for face
masks helped make up the
difference."
Before the pandemic, United
Stretch Design would typically
produce 50,000 yards of flat elastic
per week. This spring, demand
surged with calls for millions of
yards, prompting United Stretch
to increase its working hours,
hire additional workers, and keep
machines running around the clock
to meet demand.
United Stretch
Design Corp.
City/Town: Hudson
Total Employees: 20+
Year Company Founded: 1982
Nominated by:
Representative Kate Hogan
M A S S A C H U S E T T S
Manufacturing Awards 20 20
Pictured: Rep. Kate Hogan
(D-Stow), Manuel Chaves, Eva
Chaves and Eric Chaves
