Orian Rugs wins labor, production honors

-- Home Textiles Today, 11/25/2008 12:33:00 PM

Anderson, S.C. – Domestic woven area and accent rug manufacturer Orian Rugs was recently presented with two awards related to its manufacturing practices at its headquarters here.

The South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation honored Orian with its Annual Safety Award after the company logged nearly two million man-hours of continuous safety here. This span amounts to more than 1,000 days, or nearly three years, without a lost-time injury or accident at its plant.

At the same ceremony, the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance presented to Orian its Made in South Carolina Excellence in Corporate Responsibility Award.

Wim De Pape, coo of Orian, said the company is proud of the accomplishment. “With 30 employees on site and most of the operation working on a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week basis, this is a major achievement, and we want to thank every employee and every manager for working hard to make their environment safe,” he said.

Orian is in the middle of a three-year, $18 million investment plan to grow and improve the company’s business. This year, the company has invested more than $5 million in new equipment for the rug manufacturing plant. Part of the $18 million investment includes funds earmarked for its Goin’ Green sustainability initiative.

“We are a zero landfill plant,” De Pape noted. “All plant-wide waste is 100% recycled. We are committed to doing our part to help reduce, reuse and recycle.”