South Pittsburg, Tenn.—Shaw Industries said it will invest at least $40 million and hire more than 25 new associates in South Pittsburg, Tenn., to meet the growing demand for its Epic engineered flooring.
The expansion will add more than 60% capacity to the existing hardwood manufacturing facility. Construction is set to begin in late 2013 and is the latest in Shaw’s efforts to expand and enhance its hardwood manufacturing.
The plant, which currently employees 200 associates, has already grown by 65 employees this year as a result of Shaw increasing the number of shifts it is operating at the facility. Shaw said it transformed the former yarn plant into one of the most sophisticated and technologically advanced hardwood flooring manufacturing facilities in the company as well as the largest engineered flooring facility of its kind in the world.
Additionally, in recent months, the company said it implemented $26 million in technology and automation to improve efficiency, cost, safety, material yield and waste reduction improvements at its hardwood facilities in Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina. “The expansion of the South Pittsburg hardwood operation is an important component in our overall hardwood strategy,” said Shaw chairman/CEO Vance Bell. “By investing in this plant and our other hardwood facilities, we are enhancing our ability to offer the widest product mix, the most innovative design, and the greatest quality and service to our customers.”
Shaw produced hardwood flooring under the Shaw, Anderson and Zickgraf brands and operates nine hardwood facilities.