Greensboro, N.C.-based textured yarn manufacturer Unifi Inc. has announced it will shut down its
polyester yarn beaming and warp drawing plant in Staunton, Va., and move that operation to its
manufacturing facility in Yadkinville, N.C. The approximately 140 employees in Staunton are being
offered jobs at Yadkinville.
According to Ronald Smith, Unifi’s CFO, the move will enable the company to reduce expenses
by removing the cost of transporting product back and forth between the two plants. In addition, he
said the company will implement upgraded beaming and warp drawing operations in Yadkinville to help
satisfy customer demands. The transition of operations is expected to be complete by the end of
September.
“We’re looking at savings, but we also will be improving our flexibility and the productivity
of our assets,” Smith said. He added that once the move is completed, the company’s entire domestic
polyester business, worth some $500 million to $550 million, will be located in Yadkinville and
will employ some 1,400 workers at that facility.
Unifi also has a polyester operation in Brazil. In addition, it employs about 1,000 workers
in its domestic nylon yarn business.
May 27, 2008
