Armstrong Planning Expansion in Oklahoma

Stillwater, OK, December 27--Armstrong Holdings announced plans for a $17.5 million capital investment to expand manufacturing capability at its Stillwater facility, according to the Stillwater NewsPress. John Yuko, Stillwater plant manager, was quoted by the newspaparer as saying that the project will start in mid-summer and is expected to be completed by the end of 2005. Yuko said the plant expansion will "create new employment but the number of jobs are unknown at this time." The project will give the plant the capability to manufacture resilient sheet flooring products with new internal structures and high performance wear layers. "The changes will give the Stillwater plant the ability to move ahead in a very competitive flooring industry," Yuko said in a prepared statement. The 325,000 square foot facility on North Perkins Road, where the company produces and distributes felt-backed vinyl flooring products in various widths, opened in 1989. "In today’s manufacturing environment, if you’re not moving forward, you’re falling behind," Yuko said. "The continued investment in Stillwater reinforces Armstrong’s commitment to its leadership position in the flooring industry, and its intention to remain the industry’s best-cost producer." "The Stillwater community has always provided an outstanding environment for Armstrong. I believe the Forward Stillwater campaign will afford others the opportunity to see the advantages of bringing their organization to Stillwater." Forward Stillwater is a fund-raising drive led by the Stillwater Chamber of Commerce. More than $2 million has been promised toward the economic development initiative. "Stillwater is fortunate to count an industry leader like Armstrong World Industries among its outstanding corporate citizens," said John Fowler, chamber president and CEO. "This expansion and other recent improvements by Armstrong demonstrate the company’s commitment to Stillwater and help ensure the future of manufacturing in Oklahoma." The Stillwater plant recently received the Governor’s Award for Safety Excellence. The facility employs approximately 190 people and produces nearly 50 million square yards annually of vinyl sheet flooring for the residential construction market. The last major expansion of the facility was in 2000, when new technology enabled the production of Armstrong’s ToughGuard line.