Textile Recycling Center Expansion

Unifi, Inc. (NYSE:UFI) is proud to announce the expansion of its REPREVE® Recycling Center, which opened in Yadkinville, N.C., May 2010.  The expansion comes as Unifi dials up its commitment to Premium Value Added products, like REPREVE, which continue to be a strategic focus for the company. Recycling capacity at the REPREVE Recycling Center will increase from 42 million pounds to 72 million pounds, annually.  This increase is being driven by demand from new customer adoptions with companies such as Ford, The North Face, Nike, Volcom and Patagonia.

The expansion is expected to create 10 new jobs including two salary shift managers, four hourly operators and four hourly material handlers. The recent $5 million capital expenditure brings the total investment in the REPREVE Recycling Center, since its opening in 2010, to $15 million.

“Expanding our REPREVE manufacturing capabilities highlights our commitment to the REPREVE brand and provides increased flexibility to better serve our customers. As we bring the new machinery online, it’s clear that the increased versatility will help better position REPREVE to support the growth and demand for recycled products,” said Roger Berrier, president and chief operating officer of Unifi, Inc.

The largest and fastest growing segments for REPREVE continue to be apparel and automotive.  The expansion increases the availability of REPREVE product offerings such as lower deniers that support lighter-weight fashion trends, FR Flame Retardant yarns and WaterWise™ color technology.

“The expansion also reflects our commitment to remain the market leader in recycled products and sustainable solutions,” added Berrier.

Thank you for taking the time to read our textile industry news. We hope that you have found this information to be enlightening. 

Here is a bit more about the company.  The REPREVE® brand of recycled fibers is made from recycled materials, including pre-consumer manufacturing waste and post-consumer plastic bottles. REPREVE can be found in many products, ranging from apparel to office furnishings, and even socks. It is also used in industrial, automotive and medical applications. REPREVE has been adopted by some of the world’s leading brands and retailers, including Patagonia, The North Face, Haggar and Ford. REPREVE is a product offering of the U.S. based multi-national textile manufacturer, Unifi, Inc. (NYSE: UFI).

Unifi, Inc. is a multi-national manufacturing company that produces and sells textured and other processed yarns designed to meet customer specifications, and premier value-added (“PVA”) yarns with enhanced performance characteristics.  Unifi maintains one of the textile industry’s most comprehensive polyester and nylon product offerings.  Unifi enhances demand for its products, and helps others in creating a more effective textile industry supply chain, through the development and introduction of branded yarns that provide unique performance, comfort and aesthetic advantages.  In addition to its flagship REPREVE^® products – a family of eco-friendly yarns made from recycled materials – key Unifi brands include:  SORBTEK^®, REFLEXX^®, AIO^® – all-in-one performance yarns, SATURA^®, AUGUSTA^®, A.M.Y.^®, MYNX^® UV and MICROVISTA^®.  Unifi's yarns are readily found in the products of major brands in the apparel, hosiery, automotive, home furnishings, industrial and other end-use markets.  For more information about Unifi, visit www.unifi.com; to learn more about REPREVE^®, visit www.REPREVE.com.

By the way, Apparel Search reported on the launch of Repreve back in 2008. We are happy to see that the brand has grown so well over the years.

If you have comments or questions, please add your thoughts in the discussion area below.