Springs eliminating 465 manufacturing jobs

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 10/18/2006 11:51:00 AM

Fort Mill, S.C. – As indicated by Springs Global earlier this year, manufacturing capacity at the Grace Complex in Lancaster, S.C. is being reduced; a total of 465 jobs will be eliminated in the latest phase, the company said yesterday.

The layoffs are expected to be completed by early 2007. Equipment shipped to South America is coming on line there. The Grace plant, which currently employs about 1,500, processes bedding fabrics and produces sheets and pillowcases.

“Grace Complex will continue to operate and enable us to provide fast and reliable service to our customers,” said Springs Global co-chairman Crandall Bowles. Remarking on the shift of production to lower-cost South America, Bowles said, “After this capacity is in place, Springs Global will be not only the world’s largest producer of home textiles, but also one of the most competitive manufacturers globally.”