Greensboro, N.C.-based textured yarn manufacturer Unifi Inc. has purchased nine draw textured yarn (DTY) machines and a sample machine for its Yadkinville, N.C., facility, which houses its polyester yarn twisting and beaming operations. The additional machinery will help Unifi to increase its production capacity for value-added products in the regional market. The company reports that synthetic apparel supply in the United States, North America Free Trade Agreement and Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement regions has steadily increased since 2009, especially as brands and retailers continue their commitment to regional sourcing.
"The number of lot changes required to support the needs of our customers has grown substantially over the years, which puts a premium on flexibility and the ability to provide shorter production runs and quicker turnarounds within our manufacturing process," said Unifi President and COO Roger Berrier. "The investment in the nine DTY machines will increase our capacity to support our overall volume growth, and will advance our objective of growing the volume of our premier value-added yarns by 20 percent annually. The new sample machine will provide additional product development capacity, which will allow Unifi to stay at the forefront of product innovation.
"The continued growth of synthetic apparel production in the region will lead to ongoing opportunities for the Company," said Unifi Chairman and CEO Bill Jasper. "This investment adds to our capacity and helps assure Unifi will be in a position to supply the increasing regional demand."
