Leigh Fibers has idled a nonwovens line in Wellford, SC as part of a restructuring plan aimed at further integrating its businesses with ReVive Fiber (formerly Martex Fiber), which it purchased last year. Other parts of the plan include the consolidation of the company’s operational footprint, a renewed focus on its core competencies and the streamlining of its internal structure to position the company for profitable, long-term growth.
Leigh Fibers will retain a small presence in Wellford, SC after condolidating the majority of this operation into ReVive Fiber's facility, in Spartanburg, SC. All office staff will be relocated to ReVive's offices in Spartanburg. The Brownsville, TX facility will continue to operate as is without any lost production capabilities.
Moving forward the company's focus will be on its engineered fiber business, its global trading business and its continued leadership in the second life and sustainability efforts being put into diverting post-consumer textile waste from landfills. In addition, the company plans to return to its roots of being present in the market and providing solutions and support to its customers and industry associations.
"Since buying ReVive Fiber 11 months ago, the leadership team has been deliberate about taking the time to understand what the next chapter needed to look like for both of these companies,” says John Peoples, President of both Leigh Fibers and ReVive Fibers. “Between Leigh's 100 years in business and ReVive's 50, we wanted to make sure we maintained the best of both and rekindled the spirit and culture that made these companies great. By making these moves, we've put ourselves in a position to quickly restore profitability to the business and be able to make the investments necessary to support the needs of the market. Our experience, expertise, and capabilities are unmatched by anyone in the industry and with the appropriate focus, I have no doubt we will be successful for years to come."