West Point, Ga.-based home textiles manufacturer WestPoint Home Inc. will close its last two greige
weaving plants in the United States in November 2006, eliminating approximately 700 jobs. The
company made the decision to shutter the plants, located in Lanett, Ala., and Opelika, Ala., as
part of its strategy to improve its competitive position in the global market, according to Carolyn
DAngelo, senior vice president, corporate marketing.
D’Angelo declined to provide details of severance benefits for the affected employees, but
she did say they will be eligible for assistance from the US Department of Labor under the terms of
the Trade Act of 1974.
WestPoint Home still operates a finishing plant in Opelika and will continue to employ some
2,500 workers in the greater Valley, Ala., area, D’Angelo said. Nationwide, the company’s workforce
will total approximately 7,000 following the closure of the two greige plants. The company also
continues to manufacture terry towels in the United States, although it recently closed its
Scotland towel weaving plant in Wagram, N.C., and plans to have its new towel manufacturing
operation in Pakistan running at full capacity in the first half of 2007. It also recently
announced plans to acquire the vertical bedding assets of Bahrain-based Manama Textile Mills
W.L.L., which currently supplies bedding products to WestPoint Home.
September 12, 2006
