Croscill closes window plant; expands sourcing

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 1/9/2004 12:00:00 AM

DURHAM, N.C. — As part of a greater initiative to step up its global sourcing, Croscill has shut its Mebane, N.C. cut-and-sew window facility and moved the operation to another plant in Durham that had been running at half capacity. The Mebane plant employed 200 workers in its heyday, but had been downsizing its workforce in the last few years. Sixty employees were transferred to Durham, while 140 positions were eliminated.

In addition, Croscill will be opening a new 126,000-square-foot distribution center on 30 acres in Oxford, N.C. in February, to begin shipping in March. The 35-foot-tall facility features the latest technology, such as high-speed laser-guided forklifts.

"Through a combination of efficiencies, changes in the business environment, the economy and imports — almost in that order — we've been able to consolidate [the manufacturing] part of our business," explained chief operating officer Doug Kahn, adding that the space necessary for manufacturing has decreased as operations have become more streamlined.

On the international front, Croscill will be expanding its Shanghai office in the Pudong area of China, adding five positions in quality control and merchandising to assist in finding and sourcing new product. Currently its sourcing office has a staff of three, which will grow to eight as the new positions are filled.