United States : Polymer Group Inc set up New Spunbond Line in North Carolina

Polymer Group Inc announced it has installed a new spunbond line at its Mooresville, North Carolina facility to produce the highest quality materials available to the market for diapers and other applications.



The major plant expansion represents approximately a $40 million investment by the company and adds about 50 jobs locally. The new spunbond line will give PGI the leading hygiene market share in North America, where demand for its products continues to grow.

The engineered materials produced on the new line will be softer and lighter and have improved barrier qualities for use in diapers, feminine hygiene and incontinence products, as well as industrial filtration applications.

Elected officials from the state of North Carolina, town of Mooresville and Iredell County joined with company officials and business, community and industry leaders in opening ceremonies for the new line today. The line is currently capable of producing product and is expected to ramp up through the third quarter of 2006.

"This new spunbond line, along with our expansions around the globe, is part of a strategic growth plan," said PGI's chief executive officer James L. Schaeffer. "It's all part of growing strong and growing smart. We are growing strong by adding capacity where it's needed. And we're growing smart by driving technology and innovation."

"The company chose North Carolina for this latest expansion because of its skilled workforce and access to local research and educational facilities, the growing industry cluster of nonwovens resources in the state, and a business- friendly environment," said Mike Hale, PGI's vice president and general manager, U.S. nonwovens.

PGI also has announced plans to relocate its corporate headquarters from North Charleston, South Carolina to Charlotte, North Carolina by the end of next month, bringing together 100 employees in leadership, administration and other positions into one location. With the corporate move, PGI will employ approximately 450 workers in the state.

Polymer Group Inc, one of the world's leading producers of nonwovens, is a global, technology-driven developer, producer and marketer of engineered materials. With the broadest range of process technologies in the nonwovens industry, PGI is a global supplier to leading consumer and industrial product manufacturers. The company operates 22 manufacturing facilities throughout the world.

Source : Polymer Group Inc