Marlatex doubles capacity in N.C.
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, January 12, 2004
BELMONT, N.C. — Upholstery fabric producer Marlatex doubled its production space with a move last month into a new 50,000-square-foot facility here near Charlotte, N.C.
Barnabus Martonffy, who started the family-owned business about 20 years ago, invested about $3 million in the building and equipment. The facility has 32-foot ceilings designed to accommodate five new jacquard looms and is located on eight acres that will allow for further expansion in the future.
Marlatex, a mill that focuses on cotton and cotton-blend plaids, stripes, novelties and textures, found its business growing to the point that more space was needed to service its customers, which include Thomasville Inds., Braxton Culler, Lee Inds. and Craftmaster. The former plant was about 25,000 square feet and located in Gastonia, N.C., about 10 miles away.
"We are a niche player," Martonffy said, "and our niche is elegant casual. We try to make very honest fabric with lots of picks and lots of yarn."
Martonffy expects Marlatex's business to increase at least 25% to 30% in the coming year.
