Springs Global

Company Profile

Founded in Fort Mill, S.C., as a single mill in 1887, the company evolved into Springs Mills and later Springs Industries, a leading home furnishings supplier in North America. As the industry quickly changed into a marketplace of global suppliers, Springs and Coteminas, the leading textile manufacturer in South America, formed a joint venture company in 2006 to compete on a global scale. Springs Global employs about 20,000 people worldwide and has operations in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico and the United States. Springs Global is based in Brazil. North American headquarters are in Fort Mill, S.C.

In June 2007 Springs announced that it

will cease bedding manufacturing operations in South Carolina and close the Grace and H.W. Close plants about August 31.

The announcement affects 540 people at the Grace Finishing and Grace Fabrication facilities in Lancaster, S.C., and 210 people at the Close Plant in Fort Lawn, S.C. A distribution and warehouse operation at Grace will continue and employs about 150 people.

The Grace facilities, in operation since 1948, produces finished bed fabrics and sheets. The Close Plant, built in 1989, makes comforters and bedding accessories.

Said Crandall Bowles, co-chairman and co-chief executie officers: "This marks the end of 120 years...The closing of these plants reflects the global nature of the textile industry, which has made U.S. textile manufacturing uncompetitive."

After the closings, Springs will employ approximately 700 people in South Carolina, primarily at two distribution facilities in Lancaster and Fort Lawn, and two sales and administrative offices in Fort Mill.

Springs has been an NTA Member since August 5, 2004, and is active in the NTA Textile Bedding Committee.

Plant Closings and Layoffs

Chronological list