Virginia Governor Tours Universal Fibers Plant

Bristol, VA, Sept. 2, 2010--Universal Fibers welcomed Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell to its Washington County, Va. headquarters for a plant tour on Wednesday.

McDonnell got a first hand look at the improvements, innovations and growing number of employees that have helped the company's recent growth. Universal Fibers has expanded production capacity and hired more than 200 new employees.

In his remarks the governor called Universal Fibers a Virginia success story. “I just wanted to come by and say thanks for what you are doing here,” he said.

The company is undergoing a $13 million expansion that is partly funded by a $150,000 grant from the governor’s Opportunity Fund.

Universal Fibers produces solution-dyed fibers for the commercial flooring, transportation, industrial fiber, and textile markets, and has been located in Washington County for 40 years. The company also has operations in Thailand and China.

“We like to say we export products, not jobs,” remarked Universal Fibers CEO Marc Ammen. “We’ve welcomed 200 new families here this year and we’ve done it by creating a sustainable product that is in demand in markets around the world."

Universal Fibers was the first in the industry to produce post-consumer solution-dyed nylon fiber in a broad color line.

The Universal brand is called refresh fiber, which is made from a multi-step process that takes post-consumer carpet fiber and turns it back into usable nylon fiber. The fiber has won several environmental awards including the inaugural Bloom Award given by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) in partnership with Interiors & Sources magazine.

(For more information, listen to Wednesday's FloorDaily interview with Ammen.)

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