Polymer Group, Inc. held a ceremony celebrating the installation of a spunbond line at its Mooresville, NC plant. Elected officials from the state of North Carolina, the town of Mooresville and Iredell County joined company officials and business, community and industry leaders at the ceremony, held last week. The plant expansion represents an approximate $40 million investment by the company and adds about 50 jobs locally. The engineered materials produced on the new line will be softer and lighter and have improved barrier qualities for use in diapers, feminine hygiene and incontinence products, as well as industrial filtration applications. The line is currently abel to make product and is expected to ramp up through the third quarter of 2006.

“This new spunbond line, along with our expansions around the globe, is part of a strategic growth plan,” said PGI’s chief executive officer James Schaeffer. “It’s all part of growing strong and growing smart. We are growing strong by adding capacity where it’s needed. And we’re growing smart by driving technology and innovation.”

“The company chose North Carolina for this latest expansion because of its skilled workforce and access to local research and educational facilities, the growing industry cluster of nonwovens resources in the state and a business-friendly environment,” said Mike Hale, PGI’s vice president and general manager, U.S. nonwovens.

PGI is currently relocating its company headquarters from N. Charleston, SC to Charlotte, NC.