Mohawk Calls SmartStrand One of Best Intros Ever

Dalton, GA, May 17, 2010-—On the one-year anniversary of the Federal Trade Commission’s ruling to approve triexta as a new class of fiber, Mohawk said that its SmartStrand carpet, which is made with the fiber, is one of the most successful new product introductions in the 130-year history of the company.

As a result, DuPont Tate & Lyle, maker of a key triexta component, said it is expanding its facility in Loudon, Tenn.

The DuPont division recently announced it will boost by 35% its capacity for making Bio-PDO, a key ingredient in Mohawk SmartStrand carpet. The expansion starts in June and is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2011, and further reinforces the company’s position as the world’s largest producer of Bio-PDO.

“SmartStrand with DuPont Sorona is steadily gaining consumer acceptance and expanding retailer commitment,” said Tom Lape, president of Mohawk Residential. Mohawk has exclusive rights to the fiber for the residential market.

“Consumers are coming in asking for SmartStrand by name. Retailers are so positive about these carpets that many have rearranged their showrooms to accommodate the SmartStrand Sorona Colorwall, making it the first thing consumers see."

SmartStrand has been the subject of a series of high-profile public relations events in the last year. This visibility has provided effective additional support for retail sales efforts, Mohawk said.

(For more information, see today's FloorDaily interview with Tom Lape of Mohawk.)