Collins & Aikman Corporation was an automotive manufacturer of cockpit modules and automotive floor and acoustic systems and a supplier of instrument panels, automotive fabric, plastic based trim and convertible top systems. The Company's operations spanned 15 countries, incorporating about 120 facilities and approximately 25,000 employees. It entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy on May 17, 2005 and went out of business on October 12, 2007. Business summary Collins & Aikman Corporation (C&A) was engaged primarily in the design, engineering and manufacture of automotive interior components, systems and modules. The company supplied products from three main categories: plastic components and cockpits, soft trim and convertible roof systems. Its products included instrument panels, fully assembled cockpit modules, floor and acoustic systems, automotive fabric and interior trim, as well as exterior trim and trim set, backlights, well slings, tonneau covers and power actuating systems. In North America, Collins & Aikman manufactured components for approximately 90% of all light vehicle production platforms. Sales were primarily made to North American-based original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), as well as Asian- and European-based OEMs. It conducted all of its operating activities through its wholly owned subsidiary Collins & Aikman Products Co. Decorative Fabric group Collins & Aikman was also involved in the manufacturing of decorative fabrics and in 1976 acquired Mastercraft Corporation of Spindale, North Carolina, the world's largest maker of woven Jacquard fabrics. Andrew Major, Mastercraft's owner, became president of the Collins & Aikman Decorative Fabric group, overseeing its seven plants and 6000 employees. They developed a synthetic material with the name Sherpa that resembles wool. Sherpa was a registered trademark of Collins & Aikman. History Collins & Aikman began in 1891 when Charles M. Aikman, who joined Gibbons L. Kelty's home furnishings business in 1870, became partners with William Collins, with Kelty's interest being sold. The company went public in 1916 with the sale to Thomas Doody and Melville Curtis. The company acquired Bangor Mills of Pennsylvania in 1960 and Imperial Paper in 1971. The Wickes Companies bought Collins & Aikman in 1987 for $1.16 billion. The next year The Blackstone Group and Wasserstein Perella bought Wickes and changed its name to WCI Holdings Corp., which in turn changed its name to Collins & Aikman in 1992. Also in 1992, Collins & Aikman moved its headquarters from California to Charlotte, North Carolina. In March 1998, Collins & Aikman submitted a site plan for a move by its