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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Shaw Industries Group Expands Andalusia, Alabama, Campus

12/12/2017
Shaw Industries Group, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, will invest $184 million to expand its manufacturing campus in Andalusia, Alabama. The facility creates fiber used to manufacture carpet.

Dalton, Georgia-based Shaw said the project includes construction of new and expanded building assets, and installation of substantial amounts of new manufacturing equipment.

“These investments will ensure the long-term viability of this critical operation within Shaw’s portfolio of manufacturing facilities. They are designed to improve the plant’s ability to compete successfully in the marketplace for the short and long term,” Shaw Chairman and CEO Vance Bell said. “This facility upgrade will utilize state-of-the-art technology and innovative processes that will be industry-leading in cost and quality.”

The changes will improve efficiency and production as well as ergonomics and safety for the more than 1,000 associates who work at the Alabama plant, Shaw said. Additionally, improvements to chillers and the use of new equipment stand to improve energy efficiency. Demolition work is under way at the facility, and new equipment is set to be in place and operational by mid-2018. The facility will remain operational throughout the transition.

“Shaw’s significant new investment in its Andalusia manufacturing facility is a welcome development that positions the plant for the future and demonstrates the company’s confidence in its large Alabama workforce,” Governor Kay Ivey said.

“We’ve made it a priority in Alabama to assist companies like Shaw that are reinvesting in their facilities and upgrading their operations to enhance competitiveness and efficiency,’ said Greg Canfield, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.

“This project shows Shaw’s commitment to its Andalusia facility, and it will benefit employees there for the long haul.”

Ron Fantroy, the manager of Shaw’s Plant 65/Andalusia, said the major investment in the facility illustrates the company’s continual effort to improve operations and employ advanced manufacturing techniques to meet the needs of associates and customers. “The Shaw decision to make such an investment in the Andalusia plant’s renovations could not have been made without the help and cooperation of the City of Andalusia, Southeast Gas, PowerSouth Energy Cooperative, the Alabama Department of Commerce, Governor Ivey and many others. This an example of a public/private partnership that has made Shaw a part of our community for over 35 years,” Rick Clifton, President & CEO of the Covington County Economic Development Commission noted.

“For the past 35 years, Shaw has been a respected community partner in Andalusia and the surrounding communities and one of our most-valued customers. This major investment is another example of Shaw’s continued success and their commitment to manufacturing in this region, and Southeast Gas is honored that we were a part of the process that led to this expansion,” Greg Henderson, Southeast Gas President & CEO said.

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