Unifi Inc. celebrated the groundbreaking of its new production facility-an 85,000-square-foot addition to the company’s Repreve Recycling Center in Yadkinville, NC. The expansion will increase capacity to produce Unifi’s recycled fiber brand, Repreve, and other premier value-added products (PVA) by up to 60 million pounds. The $10 million investment is expected to add an estimated 18 to 20 new jobs in the Yadkin County area.
“We are very encouraged by the continued growth of Repreve and the opportunities it brings for Unifi and our customers,” said Roger Berrier, president and chief operating officer of Unifi, Inc. “This investment affirms our commitment to sustainability and allows us to provide increased resources for the needs of our customers.”
The additional investment in the Repreve Recycling Center will support the growth of Repreve as a result of new and expanding value-added programs with customers, and increased consumer demand for environmentally responsible products.
“Unifi’s expansion underscores its continued growth and commitment to textiles in North Carolina,” said Governor Pat McCrory. “We welcome these new jobs and the investment in Yadkin County, as well as the continued development of North Carolina-based innovation.”
The recycling center addition is estimated to be finished in Spring 2016, and is being completed by NC-based Omega Construction, Inc.
As part of Unifi’s company-wide commitment to sustainability, the Recycling Center was built with environmental benefits in mind. The addition will aim to incorporate many of the same sustainable features as the original building, such as skylights to take advantage of natural sunlight, energy-efficient light fixtures, low-flow fixtures for reduced water usage and building materials comprised of recycled content
Adding to the focus on sustainability, a newly installed solar farm could provide roughly 10 percent of the energy at the Recycling Center. The solar farm has a 1-megawatt capacity and sits on six acres of land at Unifi’s G. Allen Mebane Industrial Complex in Yadkinville.
“Unifi has been an integral part of Yadkin County for nearly 45 years,” said Bobby Todd, president of Economic Development Partnership and executive director of Yadkin County Chamber of Commerce. “We are pleased that Unifi continues to grow and bring economic growth and job opportunities to our area.”
Unifi, Inc. is a multi-national manufacturing company that produces and sells textured and other processed yarns designed to meet customer specifications. The company also produces and sells premier value-added (“PVA”) yarns with enhanced performance characteristics.
The Repreve brand of recycled fibers is made from recycled materials, including pre-consumer manufacturing waste and post-consumer plastic bottles. Repreve can be found in many products, ranging from apparel, to office furnishings and even socks. It is also used in industrial, automotive and medical applications. Repreve has been adopted by brands such as Patagonia, The North Face, Haggar and Ford.
