Parkdale America is planning a $22 million expansion of its Edgefield County operating facility to be completed by the end of 2005.

At a time when textile industry growth appears to be stagnant, the yarn manufacturer is investing in state-of-the-art open-end equipment that will help it remain competitive in a global economy.

“We are extremely grateful that we have been able to successfully survive in an industry where margins are slim,” said Parkdale CEO Anderson Warlick. “This modernization will allow us to continue to offer our customers the latest technology and quality.”

“We’re excited about this,” said Lee Thomas, executive vice president of the open end division. “It’s a tribute to our leadership that we can provide this magnitude of modernization during a doom-and-gloom time for the industry.”

Thomas said the plant’s primary competition comes from China, putting the Edgefield facility into a globally competitive market. He added that the new equipment is the “latest and greatest” and “what we need to stay competitive.”

Parkdale acquired the Edgefield facility, formerly Delta Apparel, in January 2005. The Center for Advanced Technology Training (CATT) is offering programs to train Parkdale employees to properly use the new equipment.

"Encouraging new and higher-paying jobs is central to our mission of raising income levels in South Carolina," said Governor Mark Sanford. "That’s why we’re pushing for additional reforms like income tax relief that will make our business climate more attractive to both large and small companies."

For more than 80 years, Parkdale has been an industry leader in the production of cotton and cotton blend yarns. Combining innovative technologies with only the best people has enabled Parkdale to maintain its position as the world’s largest producer of yarn. Parkdale currently operates 30 facilities, mostly in North Carolina.

The company has five plants in Virginia, one in South Carolina, one in Mexico and one in Colombia, South America.