Rainier Industries Expands To East Coast With Acquisition Of Statesville, N.C., Facility
Rainier Industries, Tukwila, Wash. — a manufacturer of tents, awning and screen systems, yurts,
industrial fabric products, and commercial graphics products — has acquired a 220,000-square-foot
(ft2) former John Boyle Co. manufacturing facility in Statesville, N.C., from specialty and
technical fabrics manufacturer Glen Raven Inc., Glen Raven, N.C.
Rainier initially is investing $2 million to $3 million to refit the facility with new machinery and equipment for the manufacture of retractable awnings and screens, and expects to employ 25 workers at the plant in the first year. The company notes that the acquisition will enable it to provide improved service and delivery times to its East Coast dealer network, and plans to begin shipping product from its new facility in the first quarter of 2013.
"This facility will be state of the art - capable of producing all our existing and future product lines," said Scott Campbell, president, Rainier Industries. "Our future growth is targeted at this plant and we expect that employee count to rise steadily as some other product lines expand east."
Rainier, first known as Puget Sound Tent & Awning, was established in 1896 as a supplier of tents, custom fabric products and awnings; including tents and camping supplies for Alaskan Gold Rush prospectors. Since 1984, when Campbell took over the business, it has grown an average of 17 percent annually, through both acquisitions and facility expansions. The company today comprises four divisions including Display, Shelter, Shade and Fabric; operates a 140,000-ft2 manufacturing plant in Tukwila; and has a workforce of approximately 200 people. Campbell noted that the Tukwila facility is operating at capacity and he expects the employee count there will remain stable.
On the heels of its acquisition of the John Boyle property, Rainier announced a further expansion with the acquisition of The SEC Group, Wilsonville, Ore., a manufacturer and manager of tent product lines — including tent systems, tent liners, tools and accessories — for the special events and tenting industries. Campbell expects SEC's business will grow and anticipates that Rainier's establishment of operations in North Carolina will be an important factor in that growth as well.
October 30, 2012
Rainier initially is investing $2 million to $3 million to refit the facility with new machinery and equipment for the manufacture of retractable awnings and screens, and expects to employ 25 workers at the plant in the first year. The company notes that the acquisition will enable it to provide improved service and delivery times to its East Coast dealer network, and plans to begin shipping product from its new facility in the first quarter of 2013.
"This facility will be state of the art - capable of producing all our existing and future product lines," said Scott Campbell, president, Rainier Industries. "Our future growth is targeted at this plant and we expect that employee count to rise steadily as some other product lines expand east."
Rainier, first known as Puget Sound Tent & Awning, was established in 1896 as a supplier of tents, custom fabric products and awnings; including tents and camping supplies for Alaskan Gold Rush prospectors. Since 1984, when Campbell took over the business, it has grown an average of 17 percent annually, through both acquisitions and facility expansions. The company today comprises four divisions including Display, Shelter, Shade and Fabric; operates a 140,000-ft2 manufacturing plant in Tukwila; and has a workforce of approximately 200 people. Campbell noted that the Tukwila facility is operating at capacity and he expects the employee count there will remain stable.
On the heels of its acquisition of the John Boyle property, Rainier announced a further expansion with the acquisition of The SEC Group, Wilsonville, Ore., a manufacturer and manager of tent product lines — including tent systems, tent liners, tools and accessories — for the special events and tenting industries. Campbell expects SEC's business will grow and anticipates that Rainier's establishment of operations in North Carolina will be an important factor in that growth as well.
October 30, 2012
Advertisement