Mohawk Expanding Backing Production in Alabama

Roanoke, AL, Oct. 29, 2009--Mohawk Industries said it plans to expand production at its Roanoke carpet backing manufacturing facility, according to The Randolph Leader newspaper.

The company will invest in extrusion technology and relocate a significant amount of manufacturing equipment to the facility. The expansion will initially create 35 new positions at the facility while more jobs are anticipated as the economy recovers.

Jamie Welborn, Mohawk's vice president of residential manufacturing, said Mohawk's decision to invest in the Roanoke facility was based on quality, efficiency and cost.

Welborn added that one of the major changes at the facility will be the addition and conversion of extrusion technology, which melts plastic to produce the synthetic material used to manufacture the carpet backing. He explained that these changes would allow the facility to generate a higher yield, produce better quality backing and reduce the physical labor involved in the manufacturing process.

"Upgrading technology is a major investment," said Welborn, "but everyone wins when we do this. Our customers get a better backing on their carpet, our company enjoys a good return on the investment through improved productivity and our people leverage the technology to make their jobs less physically demanding."