Aquafil USA celebrates 16 years of innovation and growth in Cartersville
Today Aquafil USA celebrates the inauguration of its second North Georgia manufacturing facility and the expansion of its U.S. headquarters in Cartersville at the company’s 16-year anniversary gala. The event will be attended by local community members, government officials, media representatives and high-level executives from the carpet sector. Italian ambassador to the United States Claudio Bisogniero and Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp will address the audience on the importance of continued economic growth, environmental stability and strong international business relations.
Guests will receive a tour of both production facilities and learn about Aquafil’s nylon 6 reclaiming programs and sustainable carpet fiber production. Made from 100 percent regenerated nylon, Aquafil’s ECONYL® fiber helps divert global waste streams from landfills and oceans and is used to manufacture new carpets and apparel. The operation is projected to redirect 10.5 million pounds of spent carpet from landfills in 2015, and 30 million in 2016.
“We are proud to be celebrating 16 years of growth and success in Cartersville today,” said Franco Rossi, President of Aquafil USA. “The opening of our second facility confirms Aquafil USA’s continued success in the North American market and commitment to the carpet industry. As Aquafil USA expands, so does our ability to help the environment and provide economic benefits for our local community.”
Aquafil USA’s expanded first facility hosts the extrusion department as well as the state-of-the-art shearing technology operation to process used carpet and generate feedstock for the company’s ECONYL® Regeneration System. The carpet shearing capabilities at the Cartersville plant are unique within the company and allow Aquafil USA to process more than 10 million pounds of used carpets every year for the production of ECONYL. At the new finishing plant, Aquafil expects to produce more than 50 million pounds of carpet fiber for the North American carpet industry by the end of the year.
Aquafil is the largest Italian-based company operating within the state of Georgia. Since the end of 2012, Aquafil USA has created approximately 150 jobs within the Cartersville community, expanded production capacity by 30 percent, significantly increased revenues and established itself as one of the premier carpet fiber manufacturers in the industry. Aquafil USA was recently recognized as the Expanding Manufacturer of the Year at the 75th Annual Celebration of the Cartersville-Bartow County Chamber of Commerce for it flourishing business activities and impact on the local economy. As a local business leader, Aquafil is committed to benefiting the community through mentorship and service programs with the boy scouts, Cartersville Elementary School, and Georgia Institute of Technology.
Aquafil’s Cartersville plant is currently a waste negative facility and is working toward zero-waste certification. In 2014 the plant’s impressive solar installation saved more than 3 million KWh of energy, while its sustainability initiatives saved 4.5 million gallons of water and 11,028 trees worth of paper.
