Springs Global to reopen Frances plant

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 3/10/2006 1:06:00 PM

Fort Mill, S.C. -- In a surprising reversal of industry trends, Springs Global said it will reopen, at least temporarily, the Frances sheet weaving plant it had closed when the elimination of quotas put U.S. textiles producers under stepped-up pressure from imports.

About 40 workers have been rehired and will start work next week, according to Ted Matthews, Springs spokesman. "We hope to have looms running by the end of the month," he added.

Matthews said, "We'll bring yarn up from Coteminas (the mill's Brazilian partner in Springs Global) and weave it at the Frances plant. We need the capacity now. We can use the yarn out of Coteminas and weave it here competitively. We'll be making cloth by the end of this month."

Springs Global, he said, "is certainly pleased we're able to do it, but our expectation is that it will be temporary, probably not beyond the end of the year."