GASTONIA, NC — RadiciSpandex’s office, manufacturing and distribution complex here will soon become the company’s primary headquarters as the Radici Group consolidates vital elements of its U.S. operations under one roof.
The sprawling compound here, which overlooks Interstate 85 just west of Charlotte, is already home to the company’s mid- to heavy-denier spandex fiber spinning operation, fine denier warp finishing, several corporate functions and its global distribution warehouse.
With this consolidation, all corporate functions will move to the 3145 Northwest Boulevard address, thus closing the small office RadiciSpandex has maintained at 125 Hartwell Street in Fall River, MA, since 2001.
“This move marks the end of an era and our formal association with Fall River, with which this company has deep historic ties. It’s a logical next step in our continued transformation of the company to be what it has to be to compete in this market,” said Rob Rebello, chief executive officer.
“This is also a conscious move on the part of our parent Group to identify itself as a cohesive U.S. concern,” he added.
RadiciSpandex is also the official sales agent for RadiciNylon (Type 6 and 6.6) and RadiGreen (synthetic turf fibers) in the United States and those sales are coordinated through the Gastonia office.
A vital component of the consolidation involves the restructuring of the sales, marketing, logistics, planning and technical customer service functions of the company into one functional element, characterized as Technical Sales.
Preston Kelly, who has held the position of global product manager for Fashion Applications for several years, has been promoted to the position of director of Commercial Operations. He will head the new sales, logistics and technical services group. He will be assisted by Marty Moran, who has been promoted to the position of sales manager for the company.
“On the heels of the many product and manufacturing systems improvements already under way here in Gastonia, this further consolidation of functions and different way of looking at how we sell and service our markets is going to create a real powerhouse for effective market significance,” Rebello said. “Gastonia will see the addition of an entire staff of accounting, planning and customer services jobs in the community. All of these measures are aimed at making us the preferred spandex supplier in the western hemisphere.”
In conjunction with the consolidation, the Gastonia fiber spinning operation will undergo a temporary shutdown of operations in order to install new spinning equipment and to conduct other necessary equipment related projects. The new production machinery adapts technology from Radici’s state-of-the-art Tuscaloosa, AL, spinning plant and upgrades production to meet demand for new mid- to heavy-denier products recently developed for production in Gastonia.
Gastonia spandex fiber production focuses on products going into narrow elastic fabrics, hosiery, specialty medical textiles and personal care disposables, such as baby diapers. The Gastonia spandex warping operation provides high-quality fine denier spandex products for use in intimate apparel, athletic-wear and swimsuits.
