ITG and China Ting plan plant

-- Home Textiles Today, 12/10/2004 11:42:00 AM

GREENSBORO, N.C. — International Textile Group (ITG) has formed a joint venture with Hong Kong-based China Ting Group to build a dyeing and finishing plant in the Linping Industrial Area of Hangzhou, China. ITG is the merged company that includes the former Burlington Industries and Cone Mills businesses.

China Ting is a vertical manufacturer of textiles products. ITG currently has a sourcing arrangement with China Ting for top-of-bed fabrics. The new plant will be used for mattress tickings, furniture and top-of-bed fabrics.

ITG also will build a warehouse and distribution center in the same complex to support its growing business initiatives in the region. The combined investment will be $20 million. The plant will be under the direction of the Interior Fabrics division of ITG and is scheduled to be operational by the end of 2005.

At the same time, China Ting has entered into a licensing agreement with ITG to develop "Burlington House Retail" as a free-standing home furnishings store concept in China. The first prototype, in Linping, has been opened and is about 2,500 square feet. By the end of 2005, the companies expect to open 25 stores, which will range from a 400-square-foot store-in-a-store up to 2,500 square feet. The stores will carry top-of-bed and window products as well as lamps and tables.