U.S. Textiles Sector Gains Ground with New Construction

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Written by Eric Funderburk for IIR News Intelligence (Sugar Land, Texas)

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Summary

The U.S. textiles sector appears to be having a moderate boost in construction activity as projects gain ground both now and for the future.

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New Activity

A wave of 1980s offshoring took U.S. textile companies to new plants in foreign locations, particularly Asia. This trend was exacerbated in 2005, when a textile quota system in the West expired under the World Trade Organization and the floodgates opened even further, gaining particular ground in China, Bangladesh and Vietnam. Recently, the textile sector has gained a bit of ground again in the U.S. as companies build new plants with the latest technologies or delve into specialty and alternative textiles. Industrial Info Resources data show more than $850 million in current and planned construction activity in the U.S. textiles sector.

Specialized Activity

Most of the current and planned textile activity in the U.S. isn't geared toward traditional clothing or fabrics, but rather toward textiles for specialty markets. Among the plants currently under construction, for example, Seaman Corporation is building a grassroot plant in Bristol, Tennessee, that will produce specialized textiles products for roofing and architectural uses, the military, and coated fabrics for industry use. Work on the plant began last year, and Phase I is expected to wrap up by the end of this year, followed next year by completion of a second stage of construction that includes significant warehousing space. Readers can access details of the project, including construction timelines, key contact details, and equipment and service needs, by clicking here.

Specialized coated fabrics also are on the books for a brownfield site in Gaffney, South Carolina, where Fenner Precision Polymers is performing significant renovations at a 113,000-square-foot vacant site.

Automotive Textiles

South Carolina is the project destination for another textile end-market, the automotive sector, which also is leading to project activity in other states. In Spartanburg, South Carolina, Auria Solutions broke ground earlier this year on an expansion project that will increase production of automotive carpets and floor mats for the likes of BMW and Honda.

Upholsteries for buses and coaches will be produced at a new 30,000-square-foot facility in Minneola, Florida, that Sardo Bus and Coach Upholstery is building from the ground up.

Advanced Textiles

Acrylic textiles are made from manufactured synthetic fibers and are known for qualities such as warmth, softness and resistance to weathering. In addition to clothing, they can be used in upholsteries, carpets and other decorative applications. Glen Raven's plant in Norlina, North Carolina, produces acrylic yarns that ultimately go on to form products such as awning and shading products, boat covers, and casual furniture. Since completing one expansion at the plant in 2023, Glen Raven has been considering an additional expansion, including further building and equipment additions. While the project has been in planning for some time and has seen its anticipated start date previously pushed out, the new expansion could break ground next year.

While polyester is perhaps not the most cutting-edge of textiles, a production process that Reju wants to implement at a brownfield site in Rochester, New York, represents the latest in manufacturing processes. Rather than using virgin material, Reju will acquire post-consumer polyester textiles and PET (polyethylene terephthalate) waste and, in a repolymerization process, will produce new polyester that can be made into new textile products. Reju completed site selection for the plant earlier this year, and the project remains in an early stage of planning, but potentially could break ground next year, pending a positive final investment decision. It would represent one of the largest textiles projects seen in the U.S. in some time.

Key Takeaways

• While construction in the U.S. textile sector isn't exactly booming, movement is being seen for specialized and advanced products.
• Industrial Info Resources data show more than $850 million in current and planned construction activity in the U.S. textile sector.
• The Carolinas represent a strong destination for U.S. textile projects.

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About Industrial Info Resources
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, Industrial Info Resources is tracking over 250,000 current and future projects worth $30.2 trillion (USD).