08.28.08
After a month of uncertainty following a bankruptcy filing by its parent company, the Clinton, TN manufacturing facility of Western Nonwovens Inc. was purchased by private company HarVest, CI. The purchase of Climashield and the Clinton plant came just a month after California-based WNI declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The business was purchased by Climashield president and CEO Ken Hardin and Chicago, IL-based private investor Jon Vesely in a deal that closed Friday.
“We've been interested in this part of WNI for quite some time,” Mr. Hardin said. “We are very excited about the opportunity. We know the industry well and we're very committed to it.” Mr. Hardin and Mr. Vesely are looking to continue to build the Climashield product, a high-tech insulation used in outdoor recreation apparel and gear, concentrating especially on environmentally friendly products. “From my point of view, the Climashield business was still very healthy, and, we felt, fundamentally strong,” Mr. Hardin said.
Operations at the Clinton manufacturing facility, open since 2005 and employing about 35 people, had continued throughout the process.
WNI’s other larger division, which manufactures nonwoven products for geotextiles, upholstery and mattresses, was purchased by Milliken & Co.
“We've been interested in this part of WNI for quite some time,” Mr. Hardin said. “We are very excited about the opportunity. We know the industry well and we're very committed to it.” Mr. Hardin and Mr. Vesely are looking to continue to build the Climashield product, a high-tech insulation used in outdoor recreation apparel and gear, concentrating especially on environmentally friendly products. “From my point of view, the Climashield business was still very healthy, and, we felt, fundamentally strong,” Mr. Hardin said.
Operations at the Clinton manufacturing facility, open since 2005 and employing about 35 people, had continued throughout the process.
WNI’s other larger division, which manufactures nonwoven products for geotextiles, upholstery and mattresses, was purchased by Milliken & Co.