Supreme Nonwoven Inc., a manufacturer of advanced nonwoven materials and products, will establish its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Lexington, NC, through an investment of $25.8 million. The new facility will cover more than 200,000 square feet and is intended to serve as a center for technical collaboration with customers and partners throughout North America.
The company stated that the facility will support the development of customized material solutions while providing customers with responsive service, application-specific support, and access to advancements in nonwovens technology.
Supreme Nonwoven Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Supreme Group, India, which was founded in 1986 by Mohan Kavrie. The group serves customers in the apparel, automotive, filtration and industrial sectors through a broad portfolio of material technologies and product solutions.
“Our decision to establish this facility in North Carolina reflects a long-term commitment to serving the U.S. market with locally manufactured nonwoven materials,” says Amit Kavrie, Managing Director, Supreme Group. “We see this as an important step in bringing our material technologies and development capabilities closer to customers in the region while building a foundation for long-term growth.”
The investment was announced by North Carolina Governor Josh Stein, who said the project is expected to generate 50 new jobs in the region.
“I am proud to welcome Supreme Nonwoven and the good jobs it will bring to Davidson County,” said Governor Josh Stein. “This announcement reinforces what the world already knows: Our state is a premier destination for textile innovation. Our history in this industry is enhanced by a skilled workforce that is ready to support global companies seeking to establish and expand their presence in the United States.”
According to Manoj Swain, director of international opeartions, Supreme Group, Lexington provides the company with a strategic location to support customers through technical collaboration and operational execution.
“Lexington offers Supreme a strong base from which to support customers with responsiveness, technical collaboration, and reliable execution. As we build this operation, our focus will be on creating the right competencies locally while also drawing on the broader capabilities of the Group to serve regional customer requirements over time,” he says.
Commenting on the announcement, North Carolina Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley highlighted the state’s role in the textile sector.
“North Carolina’s textile industry continues to set the standard for excellence and innovation,” says North Carolina Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley. “As the home to the nation’s largest concentration of nonwoven firms and the second-largest textile manufacturing workforce, we have built an ecosystem that combines research, talent, and industry expertise, positioning our state to attract investment and create more opportunities for many years to come.”
To support the project, Supreme received a performance-based grant of $100,000 from the One North Carolina Fund. The fund provides financial assistance to local governments to encourage economic investment and job creation. Companies do not receive funding upfront and must meet specified job creation and capital investment requirements before qualifying for payment. The grant also requires matching participation from local governments.
The project involved support from multiple organizations, including the North Carolina Department of Commerce, the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, the North Carolina General Assembly, Commerce’s Division of Workforce Solutions, the North Carolina Community College System, Davidson-Davie Community College, Davidson County, Davidson Water, Inc., the Davidson County Economic Development Commission, Duke Energy, and the City of Lexington.