Providência USA Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of Brazil-based nonwovens manufacturer Companhia
Providência Indústria e Comércio, last week celebrated the opening of its $80 million manufacturing
facility in Statesville, N.C., and announced that it would invest an additional $60 million on a
facility expansion, with construction expected to begin this month. The current and planned
investments combined represent the largest manufacturing investment announced in Statesville in
nearly a quarter century.
In addition to company executives, state and local government officials including North
Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue participated in the official ribbon-cutting ceremony at the
facility.
“This marks a new era in the company’s history: the international expansion of its
operations, will initially serve US clients currently exporting from Brazil,” said Providência
President Hermínio de Freitas. “This will account for approximately 50% of the new plant’s
production capacity. Furthermore, we will have the ability to supply new customers in the
disposable hygienic segment and focus in the healthcare segment. Not to mention we will supply
other regions in which we were not competitive, such as Mexico.”
“Providência is an example of how our textiles industry is transforming, and the company’s
leaders know that North Carolina will provide a highly-skilled workforce and top-rated business
climate that will fuel Providência’s innovation and growth,” Perdue said.
In phase one of the project, Providência built a 90,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility
and installed a Reicofil spunbond line to manufacture nonwoven fabrics for use in disposable
hygiene products such as diapers, sanitary pads and medical/surgical drapes and gowns. The plant
currently employs 53 workers, with three more to be hired in the next month, has an annual
production capacity of 20,000 tons and already has a backlog of orders from customers. In phase
two, which is expected to be completed in the second half of 2012, the company will install a
second spunbond line, add 28 more employees and double production capacity to 40,000 tons.
February 1, 2011
