Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell Applauds Universal Fibers® for New Hires, Sustainable Technology

BRISTOL, Va., Sept. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Fibers, Inc. welcomed Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell to its Washington County, Virginia headquarters for a plant tour this afternoon. Governor McDonnell got a first hand look at the improvements, innovations and growing number of employees that have helped ensure the company's success.  To service increased customer demand, Universal Fibers has expanded production capacity and hired more than 200 new employees.

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In his remarks the Governor called Universal Fibers a Virginia success story. "I just wanted to come by and say thanks for what you are doing here," said Governor McDonnell. The Governor continued, "A top priority for me is jobs and to foster economic development. You've got a good model of how to do that and it's something that needs to be duplicated."

The company is undergoing a $13M expansion that is partly funded by a $150,000 grant from the Governor's Opportunity Fund.

Universal Fibers is a leading producer of solution-dyed fibers for the commercial flooring, transportation, industrial fiber, and textile markets, and has been located in Washington County, Virginia for forty years. The company also has operations in Thailand and China.

"We like to say we export products, not jobs," remarked Universal Fibers CEO Marc Ammen. "We've welcomed 200 new families here this year and we've done it by creating a sustainable product that is in demand in markets around the world.

Universal Fibers is a pioneer in sustainable efforts in the fiber industry and was the first in the industry to produce post-consumer solution-dyed nylon fiber in a broad color line.  The Universal brand is called refresh fiber^®, which is made from a sophisticated multi-step process that takes post-consumer carpet fiber and turns it back into usable nylon fiber, maximizing the use of an abundant resource that would otherwise end up in a landfill.  refresh fiber^® has won several environmental awards including the inaugural Bloom Award given by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) in partnership with Interiors & Sources magazine.

Joining Governor McDonnell on the tour was Virginia Delegate Joe Johnson, Dulcie Mumpower, the chair of the Washington County, Virginia Board of Supervisors, Russell Owens, the Chair of the Industrial Development Authority of Washington County and Christy Parker, the Assistant County Administrator.

About Universal: Universal Fibers^® is headquartered in Virginia, USA with manufacturing operations in Thailand and China. Universal Fibers^® a multi-platform producer of solution-dyed synthetic yarns for the commercial, residential, transportation and textile markets. For more information, please call customer service at 800-457-4759 or visit our website at www.universalfibers.com.

SOURCE Universal Fibers, Inc.