8  FABRICARE
KNOWLEDGE
DLI CEO Mary Scalco to Chair AATCC Professional 
Textile Care Test Methods Committee
MARY SCALCO, DLI’S CEO ACCEPTED AN INVITA­
TION TO SERVE AS THE NEW CHAIRPERSON FOR THE 
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF TEXTILE CHEMISTS AND 
COLORISTS (AATCC) RESEARCH COMMITTEE RA43 
(PROFESSIONAL TEXTILE CARE TEST METHODS, 
FORMERLY DRYCLEANING TEST METHODS). The com­
mittee develops, maintains, and supports test methods for 
measuring the effect of professional textile care including 
drycleaning, wet cleaning, finishing, and spot removal, on 
the properties of textiles.
Scalco began working with the AATCC through her work 
as a textile chemist for DLI’s Textile Testing Department 
in the late 1970s. Her department’s work helped advance 
standardized cleaning procedures and textile care test meth­
ods. DLI’s laboratory capabilities have supported AATCC 
initiatives over the years by providing access to specialized 
equipment and solvents that are not widely available in 
many testing environments.
“AATCC is excited to reactivate a research committee with 
a specific focus on drycleaning and professional care of tex­
tiles.,” said Gregg Woodcock, AATCC Executive Director. 
“This is an important area in the care of textiles, and it has 
been under-served in recent years. Mary’s extensive expe­
rience will bring instant credibility and leadership to this 
committee. The world continues to evolve and change, and 
AATCC, along with strong partners like DLI can ensure 
that industry-accepted test methods are accurate, up-to-
date, and reflect the current environment in the industry.”
As committee chairperson, Scalco will help guide con­
versations and standards development at a time when the 
drycleaning industry is rapidly evolving, particularly as 
legacy processes and test methods tied to perchloroethylene 
(perc) are replaced by new alternatives.
“This invitation melds two worlds: the garment manufac­
turing world and the drycleaning professional care world, 
essentially before care and after care,” Scalco said. “The 
continued on page 9
Mary Scalco, DLI’s CEO, will chair the AATCC’s research committee on drycleaning processes, giving garment care professionals 
a voice in how cleaning standards are developed. 

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