Oct. 21/28 2013; Volume 27/number 13
Lancaster, Pa.—Armstrong will build a $41 million luxury vinyl tile (LVT) plant here, where the company has its headquarters. This development will be the firm’s second major investment in its Lancaster operation since 2008, when it added CushionStep fiberglass-backed sheet vinyl manufacturing to the plant’s production portfolio, a $25 million undertaking. “By bringing this manufacturing to the U.S., we leverage our manufacturing expertise and create a strong cost, quality and service position for a very exciting product category,” said Frank Ready, CEO, Armstrong Flooring. By moving its LVT manufacturing from China, Armstrong expects to realize a more competitive cost structure with shorter lead times and improved customer service. Construction is scheduled to start during the first quarter of 2014, with projected completion in early 2015.
Company officials noted the addition of the plant—which is being built for the production of both residential and commercial vinyl tile—will result in 57 new onsite jobs. According to a report from Lancaster Online, Armstrong will start manufacturing the new lines inside the current Dillerville Road plant in the first quarter of 2014. Shipping of LVT from the 600,000-square-foot plant is set to begin in mid-2015.
The LVT market in North America is seeing double-digit percentage growth annually, Armstrong officials said, and the increase is attributed to the product’s look, durability and easy maintenance. Armstrong’s decision will restore commercial floor production to the Lancaster site after a decade-long absence.
To entice Armstrong to make its investment in Pennsylvania, the state gave the mill a $350,000 Pennsylvania First grant. Lancaster mayor Rick Gray believes the new plant will be a “great boost to the economy,” and was encouraged to see a company such as Armstrong “investing in its future here.” Armstrong first disclosed this summer its plans to build an LVT plant somewhere in the U.S. (FCNews, Aug. 5/12), but declined to say where the facility might be located.
According to Armstrong executives, the manufacturer chose to place the investment in Lancaster for a variety of reasons, including the fact that essential infrastructure is already in place thanks to the presence of the Dillerville Road plant. The company also cited the support of the plant’s workforce and the proximity of a distribution center, which is across the street from the plant. Furthermore, Armstrong’s research and development staff is nearby.
For more information, call 717.397.0611 or visit armstrong.com.