Unilin Hiring for New North Carolina Facility

Thomasville, NC, March 2--Hiring continues at Belgian-based manufacturer Unilin Flooring as the company completes work on expanding its facilities to a total of 1.1 million square feet when complete, according to the High Point Enterprise. Unilin will start equipment trial runs in May and June with production startups likely to begin in July and August, Simmons said. The company is building a manufacturing facility on a 61-acre site near the intersection of Interstate 85 and N.C. 62. Unilin plans to hire 330 employees over the next five years. The company is locating its $80 million North American headquarters in Thomasville. Unilin, parent company of Quick-Step, manufactures glueless laminate flooring. The company will be one of the largest employers in Davidson County. During its first year, Unilin is expected to invest about $20 million in Davidson County. The company plans to complete its phase one building, which includes an already constructed press building and a cutting and milling facility, by late summer 2005. Phase one includes the hiring of the plant's first 100 employees. Phase two includes a packaging and distribution center, Bisher said. Additional hiring for those facilities will occur over the next 12 to 18 months, she said. The jobs at Unilin are expected to pay an average wage of $16 per hour over five years. The company was offered about $14 million in local and state economic development grants to locate its facility in Davidson County. The newspaper said the company currently has positions open for business analyst, production support engineer, electrical-mechanical technician and accountant positions, according to Human Resources Director Phil Simmons. Those interested in Unilin jobs should contact their local Employment Securities Commission office or apply online at www.quickstep.com, said Unilin spokeswoman Meagan Bisher.