Bentley Dye Building Polyester Mill

Calhoun, GA, Sept. 23, 2008--Calhoun-based Bentley Dye Services Inc., the largest wool supplier in the U.S., has purchased 42 acres for a new polyester extrusion/yarn mill manufacturing facility, according to the Calhoun Times.

Phase one of the new venture — a state of the art, environmentally friendly extrusion plant — will create 75 new jobs and represents in investment of more than $30 million.

Phase two of the venture is another $20 million investment with an additional 75 jobs if market conditions remain favorable.

“What we plan to do will be one of the best industrial projects that Calhoun and Gordon County have seen in a long time,” said Dale Bentley. “We are ready to continue to grow here.”

Bentley Dye will be building a plant with the latest equipment technology available. Some of the equipment will be the first of its kind installed and running in the U.S., Bentley said..

“It took several meetings and commitments from everyone to make this a reality. The fact that we already have a plant in Calhoun and that utilities were available at lower costs than surrounding counties, along with incentives from the Development Authority made our location decision much easier,” Bentley said.

Bentley Dye has long been a supplier of wool yarn to the high-end markets for rugs and carpets, and finding new markets for wool and product development have always been primary objectives for the company.

The company is in the final phases of testing and certification of one of its latest processes for wool, a patent-pending process that uses wool in the manufactured housing industry and reduces harmful levels of formaldehydes found in some of the new manufactured homes.

The new plant will produce polyester yarn designed for entry and mid-level markets.