texturing area, as well as high-precision metering pumps. The main focus is on a quick and simple supply of original parts in a new, attractive shop, as well as component repairs with most modern machine equipment in the new workshop and a local, competent customer support and advisory service.

 

Next to Charlotte, N.C., Dalton was selected for strategic reasons, as a new location within the scope of the regional Customer Services expansion to increase customer value. The town is situated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Western Georgia and is known as the “Carpet Capital of the World.”

 

With Mohawk Industries, Shaw Industries, Engineered Floors and Beaulieu of America, the largest and most significant carpet producers in the world call Dalton home. As the market leader with a market share of more than 80 percent worldwide, Oerlikon Neumag has installed several hundred positions of most modern BCF technology in this region.

 

The local support of these highly efficient and highly utilized large plants necessitates a closeness to the customer and his production facilities. Short distances are, in this case, often the key to success.

 

“In the new Service Center in Dalton, our aim is to further improve our response times to customer inquiries,” said Chip Hartzog, president of Oerlikon Textile, Inc. “We know that our customers in the region will continue to invest in innovations and we want to quickly and effectively support them and help further increase their competitiveness.”

 

Extended service offer

 

Also all customers of other technology sections from the product portfolio of Oerlikon Neumag and Oerlikon Barmag can look forward to an extended service offer. The new Service Center in Dalton will coordinate all services in close cooperation with Charlotte and the worldwide service network of the Manmade Fibers Segment and will therefore be able to respond quicker.

 

Further milestones in 50th year

 

In the jubilee year, the expansion of the service offer of the Manmade Fibers Segment is a further milestone in the now 50-year old history of Oerlikon Barmag and Oerlikon Neumag on the American market. The American market played a dominating part in the global manmade fiber industry half a century ago and also in the late ’90s. At the beginning of the century, the filament spinning and the texturing systems, for example, more and more moved to Asia, especially to the People’s Republic of China. The focus on specialties, for example, in the area of technical textiles as well as covering the local demand for high-quality clothing articles of well-known brand products, further offers a large potential for American producers.

 

However, the leading role on the world market of the carpet production sector makes the American textile and carpet industry economically attractive in line with the motto: “quality, not quantity.” In this case innovative technology solutions are necessary, such as the product offerings of Oerlikon Barmag and Oerlikon Neumag.

 

Growing sales

 

With now 31 locations in North, Central and South America, the Swiss Technology group Oerlikon is represented on the local markets with all of its four segments: Surface Solutions, Manmade Fibers, Drive Systems and Vacuum. Here the company generated around 15 percent of the total company turnover with 1,650 employees. Higher turnovers were generated during past years, especially in North America.

 

The positive forecast of the American economy, with an expected economic growth of approximately 2.5 percent, also has further growth potential for Oerlikon and its segments.

 

Source: Oerlikon