QTN’s Pro-Cut™ Service Featured in Specialty Review Magazine
03-12-2026
How Custom Cutting and Stocking Programs Help Manufacturers Work Smarter
Quality Thread & Notions (QTN) is proud to be featured in the March issue of Specialty Review magazine, the publication of the Advanced Textiles Association (ATA). The article, “Service that Sells” (pages 30–31), highlights how innovative service offerings can help manufacturers improve efficiency—and showcases QTN’s Pro-Cut™ custom cutting service as a solution designed to meet real production challenges.
Turning Customer Needs Into New Services
QTN, based in Solon, Ohio, supplies high-performance sewing materials to manufacturers across industrial, military, commercial, and recreational markets. Over time, the company began receiving increasing requests for cut-to-length webbing and hook-and-loop materials.
Recognizing the opportunity to better support customers, QTN launched Pro-Cut™, a custom cutting service designed to deliver materials precisely cut and ready for production.
“We were getting numerous inquiries about cut-to-length webbing and hook and loop and saw a great opportunity to support our customers even more,” says Bob Heintz, President of Quality Thread & Notions, in the article.
Helping Manufacturers Address Labor and Efficiency Challenges
Demand for precut materials comes from a wide range of companies—from large manufacturers to smaller fabrication shops. Many are looking for ways to streamline production and overcome labor shortages.
“When businesses face labor shortages, they’re looking for smarter ways to streamline production,” Heintz explains.
With Pro-Cut™, manufacturers receive materials cut to precise lengths, allowing them to move directly into production. Eliminating the need to pull inventory, measure materials, and cut pieces internally can significantly reduce labor time while improving accuracy.
Smart Systems Behind the Service
Efficiency is built into the Pro-Cut™ program on the QTN side as well. The system was developed through the collaboration of Notions Product Manager Doreen Langa and Product Data Manager Paul Stegall.
Their program calculates the optimal way to fulfill piece requirements while minimizing scrap, often aligning orders with roll lengths to maximize material yield. This approach helps ensure customers receive consistent, accurate cuts while reducing material waste.
Investing in Advanced Cutting Technology
QTN experimented with precut services nearly two decades ago. While customers responded positively to the concept, the original equipment had limitations in cut types and material widths.
With the investment in a new dual-mode hot- and cold-cutting machine, QTN has significantly expanded the capabilities of the program. According to Heintz, the new system allows Pro-Cut™ to fulfill approximately 80% of the cutting needs customers request, offering more versatility and intricate cut options than before.
The advanced equipment enables precise cutting of materials such as:
- Webbing
- Hook-and-loop fasteners
- Elastic
These materials can be hot- or cold-cut to exact lengths, helping customers reduce waste while improving manufacturing efficiency.
Fast Quotes and Streamlined Ordering
To keep the process simple for customers, QTN developed a custom quote generator that calculates pricing based on the material type, cut length, and order quantity.
This automation allows customers to receive accurate quotes quickly, helping them plan projects and control costs more effectively.
A Complete Supply Solution: QTN’s Stocking Program
While Pro-Cut™ focuses on preparing materials for production, QTN’s customer stocking program provides an additional layer of support.
Through this service, customers can store their inventory in QTN’s temperature-controlled facility and schedule shipments when materials are needed. This helps manufacturers:
- Reduce upfront inventory costs
- Free up warehouse space
- Receive materials aligned with production schedules
In many cases, Pro-Cut™ and the stocking program work together to create a complete supply solution—from material preparation to delivery.
“That’s one of the pillars of Quality Thread & Notions,” Heintz says. “We hold inventory and make things easier for our customers. Whether they need zippers, thread, or reels of hook-and-loop, we can stock it, cut it, and ship it directly to their door.”
Materials Ready for Production
Pro-Cut™ orders are bagged, labeled, and shipped ready for immediate use. Customers can also request planned releases, allowing materials to be delivered in stages based on their production schedules. This approach further helps reduce inventory carrying costs while ensuring materials are available exactly when needed.
Supporting Manufacturers With Smarter Solutions
The recognition in Specialty Review highlights QTN’s continued commitment to helping manufacturers operate more efficiently through innovative service offerings.
By combining precision cutting, smart automation, and flexible stocking programs, QTN is making it easier for manufacturers to focus on what they do best—producing high-quality finished products.
To learn more about Pro-Cut™ custom cutting services or QTN’s stocking program, contact the team at 800-521-4308.
Click here to read the full article in Specialty Review Magazine.
Click here to Request a Quote.
