fjordinc.com
The selection of the Innovation Award winner will be based on how the company uses innovation to improve their business. We seek evidence that the manufacturer achieved results in specific areas of innovation, such as the commercialization of new products.
Fjord, Inc. Earns the 2025 North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership Innovation Award
Headquartered in Burlington, North Carolina, Fjord, Inc. is the global leader in developing effective and economical solutions to protect synthetic lines from chafe abrasion. Fjord is honored to be the recipient of the 2025 North Carolina Manufacturing Partnership Manufacturing Innovation Leadership Award.
Founded in 1967 by Gail and Capt. Edward Ratigan, PhD, the company began as Fjord Nautical Instruments, designing and manufacturing a compact, analog nautical range-finding calculator. This innovative tool was created to aid navigation along the coasts and rivers of Southeast Asia, where visual navigational aids were often sparse.
Since 1968, Fjord has continuously expanded its product offerings, using proprietary materials and designs tailored to the evolving needs of its customers. Today, the company holds 20 patents with several more pending, and serves a wide range of markets—from mega yachts and commercial vessels to mountain climbers and industrial rope access professionals.
In 1991, Fjord pioneered the Chafe-Pro® concept to protect marine lines from chafe abrasion. By 1995, the company was awarded a U.S. patent for its unique hook-and-loop wrap-around design. Thanks to a high-grade proprietary nylon weave, Chafe-Pro® products consistently outperform all other removable anti-chafe solutions under identical testing conditions. As a result, Chafe-Pro® is trusted by over 95% of the U.S. Coast Guard fleet and more than 70% of the U.S. Navy fleet. The product is also widely used by firefighters, first responders, window washers, and other rope access professionals.
Continuing its commitment to innovation, Fjord developed and patented an abrasion testing machine and method, incorporating key variables such as weight, internal and external abrasion, angles, and speed. This groundbreaking advancement sets a new benchmark for evaluating materials used in rope protection and is poised to become an industry standard.
In 2023, Fjord was honored with the Coolest Thing Made in North Carolina award. The company also plays an integral role in GRIMPDAY, the international search and rescue world championship, by providing standard and custom rope and edge protection systems that safeguard both ropes and infrastructure.
“At Chafe-Pro and STREP, innovation is at the core of everything we do. For over two decades, we’ve been committed to protecting critical rope systems—whether it’s mooring lines in the maritime industry or lifelines for rope access and rescue professionals. My father and I are proud to have been awarded 20 patents, with several more pending, as a testament to our dedication to advancing the industry. We even developed a patented abrasion testing machine that replicates real-world conditions, ensuring our products perform when it matters most. Being recognized as innovators in the manufacturing industry is both an honor and a responsibility we carry with pride.”– Michael Ratigan, CEO, Fjord, Inc
With a legacy of innovation and a future focused on performance, safety, and excellence, Fjord, Inc. continues to lead the way in rope protection technology.
