Posted July 22, 2014

 

CALHOUN, Ga. – Mohawk Industries, the world's largest flooring company, announced it is investing $10 million in its Spartanburg County, S.C., commercial carpeting facility over the next 10 years to substantially upgrade its looms and improve technology to support future business growth.

 

The upgrade is expected to create about 20 new jobs at the facility, which currently employs around 160 people. 

 

"By modernizing the looms at the Landrum facility, we can update the styling of the carpet we produce there and keep the business viable for the men and women at the facility,” said Miles Wright, vice president of commercial manufacturing for Mohawk Flooring. “This is a good investment for Mohawk and will help us remain the industry leader in high-end performance woven carpet. Mohawk is proud to be one of the few American companies making these types of products."

 

Mohawk Industries, based here, operates two manufacturing facilities in South Carolina, including the Landrum plant in Spartanburg County as well as a facility in Bennettsville in Marlboro County. The 340,000-square-foot Landrum facility produces high-end, woven contract commercial carpeting for both domestic and international customers. Additionally, the plant manufactures aviation carpet for most domestic and some international airlines and airplane manufacturers. 

 

Over the past decade, Mohawk has grown its business profile from an American carpet manufacturer into the world's largest flooring company with operations in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Europe, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Russia and the United States. In the U.S., Mohawk produces carpet, carpet cushion, rugs, ceramic tile, laminate and hard wood flooring. It held the largest share of the domestic flooring market in 2013, according to industry reports. 

 

The Landrum facility was built by the Sanford-Bigelow carpet company in 1953. Fieldcrest Cannon acquired Sanford-Bigelow in 1986 and merged the company with its Karastan division. In 1993, Mohawk acquired Karastan-Bigelow from Fieldcrest Cannon. Today, the Landrum team is part of Mohawk's global workforce of more than 31,000, with around 1,150 employees in South Carolina at manufacturing sites in Landrum and Bennettsville as well as a distribution center in Orangeburg.