New plant to bolster manufacturing capacity, recycling capabilities
December 5/12, 2016; Volume 31, Number 13
By Ken Ryan
Shaw Industries, the largest carpet tile producer in North America, officially unveiled its new carpet tile manufacturing facility in Adairsville, Ga., on Dec. 1. The $85 million facility, which became operational this quarter, will provide added capacity and recycling capability for the company’s Patcraft, Philadelphia Commercial and Shaw Contract modular carpet brands.
Known as Shaw Plant T1, the 600,000-square-foot facility complements the company’s existing carpet tile manufacturing, recycling and warehouse facilities in Cartersville, Ga., and in Nantong, China. The China facility opened in mid-2013 to serve the Asia Pacific market.
Vance Bell, chairman and CEO, who spoke during the ribbon-cutting event, noted that Shaw already invests hundreds of millions of dollars annually in new and expanded facilities, enhanced equipment, technology and processes, and improved distribution systems. “This is a prominent example of that commitment,” he explained, adding the new factory would allow Shaw to innovate across its broad portfolio of products for both residential and commercial applications.
Brenda Knowles, vice president, commercial marketing and product development, said there is a great deal of innovation built into this facility in terms of design features, dimensions and patterns. “The efficiencies that it has will continue to drive further innovation.”
In the commercial market, carpet tile represents an estimated 54.6% of the market in dollars and 44% in volume (FCNews, June 27) and is growing in the high single digits. It is growing robustly in the commercial arena at the expense of a declining broadloom segment. “There have been years over the past six to eight years where there has been double-digit growth in carpet tile,” Knowles said. “We see a bright future for continued growth.”
Shaw’s carpet tile facility currently employs 170 associates. The company estimates the plant will create 500 new jobs once it reaches full capacity. The carpet tile equipment takes up about one-third of the 600,000 square feet of space, which is all under one roof. There are plans to add more equipment in the building and, ultimately, more buildings to the 115-acre industrial site.