Bentley Dye Services Starts Construction

Calhoun, GA, Oct. 31, 2008--Bentley Dye Services broke ground on a yarn manufacturing facility Thursday.

“We are in a slight recession at this time, but things will get better,” Dale Bentley told the Calhoun Times.

Bentley Dye Services Inc., the largest wool supplier in the United States, announced last month that it had purchased 42 acres in the park for a new polyester extrusion/yarn manufacturing facility.

“Our decision to go forward with this project demonstrates our confidence that the economy and the future will be better,” Bentley said.

Phase one of the new venture — the extrusion plant — represents in investment of more than $30 million. Phase two of the venture is another $20 million investment.

“We have long-term plans for Phases three and four,” Bentley said. “We plan to fill up the entire 42 acres.”

Bentley predicted the economy will begin to turn around by the third quarter of 2009.

“We will start to see a recovery, but we could not wait for the third quarter to get this project going,” he said. “We have to be positive in our statements and in our actions to be ready for that time. The manufacturing backbone of the United States is strong and will survive in this time of recession.

“I have had people question my sanity in committing $30 million in this project at this time, but we cannot wait for prosperity to return.”

The new plant will be state-of-the-art, he said, with the latest equipment technology available. The equipment is energy efficient and environmentally friendly. The plant will also be climate controlled, offering a work environment that will be second to none for workers’ comfort. Some of the equipment will be the first of its kind installed and running in the United States.

Bentley said earlier that the new plant will be in production by September 2009.