Unilin Plans $30M Expansion of Laminate Plant

Thomasville, NC, August 6, 2007--Unilin Flooring will invest $30 million to expand its laminate plant in Thomasville. The expansion will increase production capacity and incorporate new technologies, giving Unilin the ability to make new products, according to the Dispatch.

“This expansion demonstrates Unilin’s commitment to Thomasville and the surrounding Triad communities,” said Randy Smith, general plant manager, in a press release issued by the Davidson County Economic Development Commission. “The company employs over 200 at two plants in Thomasville and plans to add more than 50 new jobs over the next 12 months.”

Since 1960, Unilin has been one of Europe’s leading high quality high technology manufacturing companies, employing over 2,300 people worldwide and turning over in excess of $1 billion sales. The company has 12 production sites in Europe located in Belgium, France and the Netherlands

Unilin operates two manufacturing sites in the United States. It began manufacturing laminate flooring in Thomasville in 2001 and completed construction at its 72-acre, state-of-the-art Cloniger Drive facility in 2005.

“This announcement surpasses the investment commitment Unilin Flooring made to Davidson County in 2004 when they announced their location choice,” said Steve Googe, executive director for the Davidson County EDC. “We continue to applaud Unilin’s great community corporate citizenship.”

The Unilin group has grown rapidly over the last 15 years to more than 1,000 employees and become an industry leader in high-quality laminate flooring. It was acquired by Mohawk Industries Inc. in October of 2005.